Trust Amid The Silence

“Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.” (Job 35:14 AV)

Interspersed with some erroneous application, Elihu, above the other three, has really sound advice for Job.  The above is no exception.  Job desires answers from God.  Yet, God is to this point, silent.  The LORD has not shared with Job the purpose for his trials.  In fact, He never does.  Elihu rehearses Job’s position in the sovereignty of God compared with the silence of God.  Job stated that he may never hear from God as to why all this is happening, yet, God knows what He is doing.  Judgment is before Him.  He is almighty.  He is all-knowing.  He has a plan and Job’s suffering is part of it.  The plan assertion here is clear.  If God is sovereign, then trust in Him even if He gives you no answer.  The silence of God, although extremely frustrating and exhausting, is no reason to cease trusting in Him.

The element of trust does suggest a lack of all information.  We live by faith all the time.  Even without realizing it, we put a lot of trust in people or things that we cannot see or do not hear from.  I have flown only a couple of times.  As a kid, we flew from Buffalo to Toronto for the sheer experience of it.  Later in life, I flew from Chicago to Ireland and back.  Then I flew from Chicago to Pensacola by way of Houston, TX.  When we stop and think about it, we put a lot of faith in someone we cannot see and barely speaks to us.  In fact, as far as we know, the voice on the intercom could be prerecorded.  Who flies that plane?  Is he or she qualified?  If there is an emergency, does the pilot know how to return safely?  If there is a disturbance on the plane, can the captain maintain control of the craft as well as the passengers?  If something were to go wrong, no one would demand the pilot be in the cabin with his passengers to explain exactly what was going on, his step-by-step plan for safe return, and reassurances there is a reason for it all.  We would want him up in that cockpit with his full attention on the tasks at hand.  The last thing we would want is for him to be overwhelmed with our anxiety and make the situation all that much worse.  We place our lives in his capable hands and trust we will be ok.

Now, God is not a pilot.  He can handle a situation and also commune with us at the same time.  His plan would not come to a disastrous end if He took the time to keep us informed.  But here is the point.  Faith does not need all the answers.  It only needs the answers sufficient to the immediate set of circumstances.  Faith needs those answers so as to know how to respond.  Outside of that, faith needs no more light than God deems necessary.  Job’s frustration was from a lack of information.  He wanted to see the purpose in it all.  His friends took it to mean he was asking God to justify the trials of his life.  That is not what Job was seeking.  If he could simply see his life from God’s point of view, he would welcome the lot in life God had for him.  For Job, it was always about faith.  He had come to expect that if one lives right with God, he will only have the blessing.  What God taught Job was that He was sovereign and whatever He chose to do or allow was His sovereign right to choose.  God does not have to justify Himself to Job so that Job can feel better about the situation.  Job’s problem was faith battling with reason.  Job’s thoughts could not make sense of God’s actions.  That is ok.  That is life.  At that point, Job should have lived by faith.  This is Elihu’s point.  You know God is sovereign and judgment lies with Him.  Even though He is silent, trust Him!

Does The LORD Need You?

“And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.” (Lu 19:31 AV)

 

That which the LORD had need of was the donkey on which He rode into Jerusalem.  The twelve were sent to fetch this animal and if the owner inquired as to the actions of taking this donkey, they were to reply with the above.  Because the LORD hath need of him.  This really spoke to my heart this morning.  Does one wonder if the LORD has need of me?  This donkey was under some sort of constraint.  He may have been tied up.  He may have been in a pen.  He was under some sort of restriction.  Yet, the LORD hath need of him.  He was under some other burden.  He was dependent upon someone else for his needs.  Yet, the LORD hath need of him.  He was bought by his master for a specific purpose.  He was raised from a foul with grinding our other chores in mind.  But the LORD hath need of him.  The donkey had a very limited life working at the behest of his owner.  He didn’t have tomorrow to look forward to.  But, the LORD hath need of him.  Does the LORD hath need of me?

Imagine the significance of this statement.  The LORD who owns the cattle on a thousand hills needs this donkey.  It wasn’t just some random animal.  It was a specific animal the LORD had in mind.  This animal was chosen from all others.  All others which the LORD owns.  Yet it was this one animal the LORD needed.  But how utterly incomprehensible to think that the LORD needs anything.  Yet, He needed this animal.  The LORD hath need of him.  Secondly, there seemed to be no objection or debate.  No reason to think another animal would do.  It was this one and this one only.  The LORD hath need of him.  The owner didn’t offer another animal nor ask if someone else’s donkey would do.  Why?  Because the LORD hath need of him.  There was something about this donkey that set it apart from all others.  It was him.  This colt was the colt that would carry Jesus part of the way.  He would be the one that had the honor of carrying the King of kings and LORD of lords into the capital city.  It was him!  It was this young animal who would see the crowds as they strewn garments and palm leaves in the way as they cried, “Hosanna in the highest.”  It would be no other.  It would be him.

I wonder.  What is it about me that God needs?  The LORD hath need of him.  What is it that I can do for Him where He would choose no other?  Would He take the effort to set me apart from all others because for one particular purpose, because He needs me?  If the LORD makes no mistake, and I am who I am supposed to be, then what is it that He could possibly need?  Am I ready to be needed?  The ass was watered, fed, and in good health.  When the LORD had need of him, he was prepared to be used.  Am I in a similar condition?  Is there something I should be preparing for?  Is there a job that lies ahead for which He needs me?  What a great feeling to know that you are needed.  When it comes to a God who can do all things, how much does He really need me?  But he does.  Does He have need of thee?

If You Could Ask For Only One Thing...

“Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.” (Lu 18:41 AV)

 

This question really spoke to me this morning.  One would think the request was obvious.  One would think the question did not need to be asked.  After all, this blind beggar cried out for mercy and was hushed by the crowd.  That didn’t stop him.  The more they tried to hush him, the more desperate he became.  His actions should have spoken for themselves.  Yet, Jesus still asked the question.  What is it that you want me to do for you?  Then, I turned that question on myself.  If Jesus came by and asked me what it was that I would want him to do for me, how would I answer that question?  The question suggests a one-time answer.  At least at that time.  Perhaps the blind beggar could ask for something later in life.  But right here and right now, what is it that he wants the Savior to do.  If Jesus asked me right here and right now, what is the one thing You want me to do for you?  What would be my answer?

When someone asks that question to another, there are limits.  “What can I do for you” doesn’t mean the one asking the question could do anything asked of him or her.  There are limits.  I cannot go into a restaurant and when the waitress asks me, “What can I do for you” answer, “drive me to California.”  I cannot go to the emergency room and when the receptionist asks, “What can I do for you” respond by asking for a new house.  Even if the doctor comes in and asks the same question, I cannot respond that I wish him to do beyond his ability to perform the request.  I cannot ask the doctor to mend a broken bone in a matter of minutes.  He can set it.  He can cast it.  He can prescribe pain medication.  But he cannot heal it.  I can ask the captain of a ship to sail me across the ocean, but I cannot ask him to fly me in an airliner.  There are limits to that question.  I can ask my wife to love me unconditionally, which she does.  But I cannot ask her to love me with an everlasting love as God can.  There are limits.  “What can I do for you” is a wonderful question.  It is so nice to hear someone ask it.  We can hear the sincerity behind the question.  We can hear the genuine desire to help or be a blessing.  But there are limits.

When Jesus asks the question, the only limitations on the answer are His holiness and providence.  AS long as it does not violate the word of God nor go contrary to His perfect will, the options are limitless.  So, what if the Son of God asked you what it might be that He could do for you?  How would you answer?  This reminds me of Solomon.  The same happened to him.  He could have asked for a longer life or more material blessing.  Both would have helped him to reign more effectively.  His answer was wisdom.  What is it that we would ask?  What one desire would we have that He could accomplish if we were to merely ask for it?  Would it be better health?  Would it be a better job?  Or, would the answer be more of a spiritual one?   Would it be for victory over some struggle?  Would it be more faith?  Would it be soundness of heart?  Or, how about more effective soul-winning?  What would our one answer be?  Now, Jesus doesn’t limit us to one request alone.  In fact, we are told to daily ask for God's will to be done, for our daily needs, for forgiveness from God and towards others, and a life safeguarded from temptation.  We are asked to pray for those in authority, for the men of God as they serve, for missions, other church members and their needs, and for the furtherance of God’s kingdom.  We are told to pray for much.  Therefore, this question is one of priority.  The blind beggar wanted, above all other things, to receive his sight.  What would it be for you?  What would it be for me?

Reconcilable Differences

“But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2Co 2:5-11 AV)

 

The person to whom Paul is referring is the incestuous man disciplined from church membership in his previous letter.  This young man was living in fornication with his stepmother.  The church, rather than dealing with it, actually boasted about it.  When Paul addressed the utter wickedness of this relationship, the church disciplined this young man and removed him from membership.  Now, Paul addresses the process of reconciliation.  Church discipline is not intended to completely and forever remove a member.  It is for the purpose of correction and reconciliation.  They are told to forgive him and comfort him.  If they do not, the estrangement may swallow him up into spiritual defeat.  They are told to confirm their love for him.  The most pertinent of points here is the lack of reconciliation is referred to as a device of the devil.  This will be a tough one this morning.  Reconciliation is the spirit of the ministry of Christ.  Jesus came to reconcile the sinner to God.  If we refuse to reconcile with those who we have parted, then we are accomplishing just the opposite.

Estrangement happens quite frequently in a house full of children.  Siblings can be rather cruel sometimes.  The times we ignored a sibling are far too numerous to remember a single event.  This happens in school classes all the time as well.  Someone is guilty of a minor infraction and the whole class is set against him or her.  If this becomes a pattern, then this classmate is a loner for his entire scholastic career.   With my siblings, spite was the most frequent motivator.  Perhaps we were playing and one of us didn’t play well with another.  The group would shun him or her.  It had to happen.  It is a proper and right response to bad behavior.  This shunning is meant to correct misdeeds and force the offender to comply.  As children, we take it one step further.  The punishment is often more severe than the crime.  We don’t talk to him or her.  We organize a new activity or game and do not include him or her.  Even after they apologize, our sibling is out of the circle of friendship.  If Mom got wind of it, she put a prompt stop to it.  No excuses.  It didn’t matter what our sibling did, enough was enough.  Our erring sibling had to be included in whatever we were doing or were going to do.  And, it had to be unconditional.  Punishing a sibling greater than the crime was cruel and tantamount to emotional torture.

No doubt this young man’s sin was serious.  To live together out of wedlock is bad enough.  But to do so with your father’s wife is immensely worse.  No matter the sin, however, the church is commanded to reconcile.  This does not mean the church is to look the other way.  They are to call out those in serious sin and seek confession before all.  If that occurs, then there must be reconciliation.  At the risk of offending, I will say this command to reconcile is not limited to church discipline issues.  We are commanded to forgive and reconcile and a pattern of Christian living.  We are told to seek unity and mutual care one for another.  No one can undo the offense that occurred.  No doubt, it stung.  But that does not give us the right to remain estranged from those who have offended.  We are commanded to forgive as Christ has forgiven us.  Paul takes it a step further here.  We are to affirm our love to the one who has offended us.  It is not enough to let sleeping dogs lie and avoid those who have offended.  We are to take the initiative and express our love to the one who has done the wrong.  This is exactly what Jesus means when He tells us to turn the other cheek.  We offer ourselves in such a way that more injury just might be possible.  Now, here is the really difficult part.  To refuse to do so is a device of the devil.  To refuse to reconcile is akin to what the devil might do.  Churches often fall to great conditions of disrepair because grudges persist.  Families fall apart because spouses refuse to reconcile.  Siblings become estranged because they refuse to talk to one another.  Irreconcilable differences are a device of the devil and we need to forsake it lest what we have is lost.

Difficult Times For Difficult People

“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.” (2Co 1:5-6 AV)

 

The suggestion here is the more one is afflicted, the more he or she will be that vessel of comfort to others who are also enduring suffering.  In particular, the word ‘salvation’ here is used twice.  This salvation could be emotional or spiritual.  The context is insufficient to determine which.  It could be Paul is referring to the consolation he would share with those in distress would alleviate that distress and be their salvation through a difficult set of circumstances.  Or, it could literally be their spiritual salvation.  As Paul and others suffer for the cause of Christ and through trials of faith, sharing consolation with others who have no hope could very well be that which would soften a hard heart to accept Christ as Savior.  To this end, the Spirit gave me meditation.  What if the LORD deemed it necessary to ask the church to go through deep affliction so that those without Christ may come to Him?  What if we are to suffer for the name of Christ so that others who may be softened by our circumstances would consider that which we cling to for hope?  What if our afflictions, we are but light and cannot be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us, are that medium by which the power of God can be seen by others who would otherwise never notice?  In short, I wonder if affliction might be a missing ingredient to today’s soul-winning efforts.

I know my way around a hospital.  As a chaplain, the LORD has allowed me to meet many people in many different sets of circumstances.  Most are minor and would eventually abate.  However, some have been rather serious, even leading to death.  A few were tragic deaths wherein the family had no time to prepare.  I still remember the very first time I had to minister to a family that had lost someone.  This was my very first death.  And it was a tragic one.  When I got the page and then the call, it was a bit late in the night.  The answering service let me know ahead of time what I would be walking into.  If I recall, it was some sort of accident or overdose.  I played through my mind what I might say.  I imagined a room full of people who were beside themselves unable to carry on a conversation or even function.  I imagine wailing and crying so loudly it would be difficult to do anything.  The more I rehearsed in my mind what I might be walking into, the more nervous I became.  How was I going to ease this family’s pain?  What was I going to say to make it feel any better?  I was so stressed.  Then, I arrived and found the family in a private conference room.  I walked in and found a family that was in obvious mourning, but not deeply distraught.  We were able to incorporate some of my PTSD training and help that family process their loss.  Thinking this was an anomaly, the next time I was called to a family who had lost someone, I went through the same thoughts.  It would be an impossible situation.  There would be nothing to say.  I would feel useless to people in such distress.  But the same thing happened.  When I arrived, the family was coping well with the loss of their loved one and we were able to have sweet fellowship and prayer.  In fact, I soon learned this was the norm.  God has a way of preparing people and consoling those in deep distress that we cannot seem to understand.  That is until we suffer the same.  I also learned the consolation that the grieving families’ experiences were also salvation to me.  In a manner of speaking.  I saw the awesome power of God on their lives and hearts and understood completely that God is able to meet us in ways we need but will never understand.  Their affliction worked to my consolation.

But what of evangelism?  Can the same be said of those with whom we have shared the gospel?  I can tell you this: it takes an especially hard person to abuse someone in deep distress.  They may reject the gospel, but they will not go so far as to have no compassion whatsoever.  Those under deep distress have an open door to share their faith with another.  I have used this time and again.  When someone is sharing with me their troubles, empathy with similar experiences gives the soul-winner an ‘in’ to the heart of the lost.  Just as true is that when we are suffering deep distress, even if they reject the gospel, they probably will not kick us when we are down.  So, the application is simple.  If we are to be effective messengers of the gospel of Christ, He might just ask us to suffer deep distress to do so.  It could be that the powers that be persecute us so that we might have the chance to witness to the guard who keeps the jail.  He just might ask us to suffer a difficult health situation that we might be able to hand the nurse or doctor a tract.  It just might be He asks us to go through hard financial times and lose everything that we might be able to share our faith with those who might be there to help.  Whatever the future holds, I think the church needs to be prepared that we share with those around us how God can console them as He is consoling us.

Four Commands To Men

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” (1Co 16:13 AV)

Pretty simple, huh?  It might be argued that Paul wrote this to a group of men who had failed in all four areas.  Corinth had some serious issues.  They struggled with envy and abuse.  They were suing each other.  They had a serious problem with pride.  But above all else, fornication was celebrated.  A mother-in-law was cohabiting with her step-son.  The fact of this relationship was bad enough.  What was worse is the church not only sanctioned it but took pleasure in it.  Again, one might say the problem lay squarely at the feet of male leadership.  Pagan Corinth worshiped the Greek goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.  By default, this made Corinth a matriarchal society.  The government, like all Roman governments at the time, was controlled and run by men.  But the real power was in the hands of women.  Whenever morality is an issue, men are weaker and women are stronger.  This explains the condition at the church of Corinth.  This also explains why Paul felt it necessary to tell the men to watch, stand fast, strive, and be strong.  Let us consider all four commands this morning.

Paul tells the men to watch.  To stand watch.  To be aware of everything around you.  But especially that which threatens one’s life, home, church, or nation.  We are to keep our eyes open and be realistic concerning the plausible threats that could attack at any moment.  This is not our wife’s responsibility.  This is not our church’s responsibility.  We are not to abdicate our responsibility to the preacher or pol.  It is on us to look at the horizon and guard against any and all harmful influences to our hearts and those of whom we are responsible.

Next, Paul commands that we stand fast in the faith.  This requires we be in the faith.  It requires we study, learn, memorize, and apply the word of God.  This also means we have enough integrity to stand on what is right and biblical, even if we stand alone.  To stand fast in the faith is more than merely standing for a body of doctrine.  The principles of the word of God are also ‘the faith’.  Standards of holiness, correct conversation among others, and a disciplined personal spiritual life are all objects of the faith.  To stand fast in the faith means to be a man of the word of God and not a man of the world.

Thirdly, Paul tells the men to “quit you like men.”  As Albert Barnes writes, “It means, to render one manly or brave; to show oneself a man; that is, not to be a coward, or timid, or alarmed at enemies, but to be bold and brave. We have a similar phrase in common use: “Be a man,” or “Show yourself a man;” that is, be not mean, or be not cowardly.”  The thing with a matriarchal cultural structure is that men are intimidated by strong women.  Men are not strong enough to stand up to their wives when their wives are wrong.  The old saying “happy wife, happy life” is a saying of the Corinthian church.  To think that we have to make our wives happy so that we can have a happy life is saying they control the relationship.  Not according to Paul.  When Paul confronted the fornicating couple, he placed all the blame on the stepson.  Regardless of her age, experience, and enticement, it is first on him.  Be a man and lead!

Lastly, Paul tells the men to be strong.  In a matriarchal society, the men are babied.  Wife becomes Mother.  The husband is waited and doted on.  He is the weaker vessel and not the lady.  As a society, we are already there.  As saints, we are quickly approaching this.  We are like little boys who skin their knees and have to run to mommy so she can kiss it and make it all better.  Be strong!  Rub some dirt on it!  I praise the LORD for my mother.  She raised eight boys and three girls.  She never let her boys fuss about anything.  She wouldn’t coddle us.  If we were hurt badly enough; like my broken arm or Greg’s head split wide open; she reacted appropriately.  But she never let us have a come-a-part.  Be strong.  Bear up and buck up.  Take the adversities of life as a man would.  And for heaven’s sake, if you are right and the LORD has directed you so, then be strong enough to tell your wife and kids the way it is going to be.

Our homes are a mess.  It is no one’s fault but our own.  We have allowed the gender roles to be blurred, then reversed.  Paul knew this.  He is reminding the leadership of the church and the home of their God-given roles and responsibilities.  He is reminding them they had better embrace them or all is lost.  So, men, let us pursue all four.  Let us watch, stand on what is right, be courageous, and not allow adversity to crumple us like tinfoil under an anvil.

An Empty House

“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Lu 14:23 AV)

The greek word for ‘compel’ means to necessitate.  It means to drive to or to constrain.  Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines the word as, “To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force.”  When one looks up the meaning of the word ‘compel’ he or she realizes our efforts to reach the lost are not as strenuous as they should be.  The result of proper compelling is that the house of God is full.  We have substituted compelling with enticement.  We offer different services coached as ministries.  We have lured the lost with different forms of entertainment.  We used to compel.  We allowed the scoffers to temper our efforts by embarrassing us into passivity.  We used to street preach.  We used to knock on doors and persist in conversation until we were dismissed.  Now, we simply act polite so that no one reacts adversely to our message.  This is not compelling.  This is not stating the need for forgiveness and redemption as a matter of urgency.  The gospel is no longer treated as the most important truth anyone would ever hear.  We present it as a choice that can be rejected with little to no consequences.  Our houses of worship are empty because a generation ago, we ceased to compel.  Now, we merely invite.

One of the events we like to attend is our State Fair.  In fact, we work a booth in an attempt to share the gospel with all who might pass by.  There are rules regarding how we comport ourselves while at our booth.  We have a corner booth, which is wonderful.  That means we only have one neighbor.  She is an eyelash salesperson.  Our ‘space’ is very well defined.  The rules that apply to us apply to all.  There are lines that we are not permitted to cross.  Literally.  Lines on the floor tell us we cannot go out into the crowd to compel them to come to our booth.  We cannot walk the building with advertisements to our booth.   We have to stay in our designated area and merely offer literature as a pretext of starting a conversation.  Some vendors have figured out a workaround.  There was one vendor which my father-in-law fell for.  This vendor was selling steel cookware.  He had a microphone on.  Like a Sham-Wow salesman.  He had the volume a bit louder than it needed to be.  You could hear him an aisle or two away.  There were seats spaced so we could sit and watch the demonstration.  To get an audience, he would work to make eye contact and address someone as they were passing by.  Actually, it was brilliant.  Once the conversation was started, it is hard to walk away.  He was selling this overpriced cookware as if the entire future of the planet depended on it.

We are required to restrain ourselves while working the State Fair in order to have a presence there.  But we are not if we are out in the general public.  We are failing to make the case for Jesus Christ.  We are not compelling.  We are asking. We are inviting.  We are enticing.  But we are not compelling.  We are not selling a product, mind you.  That is not what the LORD is asking us to do.  He is not asking us to be a high-pressure salesman in search of new customers.  Rather, we are physicians who can see with the naked eye that people are perishing all around us and we have the cure.  There needs to be urgency.  There needs to be more of an effort here.  There needs to be some kind of zeal that leaves the recipient of the gospel message in such a way as to know that God came down and begged them to repent.  There needs to be interaction is though we may never get another chance.  We need to compel.  This is why our houses are empty.  We are not compelling.  Not until we compel will we ever see that trend reversed.  Time to compel.

Giving Much While Giving Nothing

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” (1Co 13:3 AV)

 

When one thinks of charity, one thinks of benevolence.  We think about donating to our favorite cause.  After all, that cause is called a charity, isn’t it?  We think of doing something for someone else.  When we think of charity, we think of generosity.  We think of giving of our superabundance.  We think of easing the burden of someone else.  However, what Paul states here is contrary to that thinking.  It appears someone can give away every last penny he has and not be a charitable person.  He even goes so far as to say he could sacrifice his life to martyrdom and still not have a heart of charity.  What Paul does list as charity are attitudes of the heart towards others.  Things like humility, appropriateness, selflessness, patience, forgiveness, love for the truth, and wanting the best for everyone.  Charity thinks the best of everyone and not the worst.  These attitudes of the heart work themselves out in many ways.  In fact, generosity is not mentioned as a manifestation of charity.  For the simple reason, that generosity can include, or not include a charitable heart is why it is not listed.  Our attitude towards our fellow man is a greater indicator of charity than how much we part with.

In many of the churches which the LORD called me to service, there were usually some very wealthy people.  Most of the time, it was one or two individuals.  These families were very good givers.  Financially, they were the backbone of the work.  In one particular church, the well-endowed member’s giving accounted for about twenty percent of the offerings received.  Not all the time, but enough of the time that it became a pattern, the highest giver was also that individual that caused the greatest amount of fuss in the church.  In several of those churches, the largest giver was also the most critical of others.  In one particular case, visiting with him was like visiting with the worst gossip in town who also happened to be a free-thinking critic of everyone.  What was truly puzzling was if someone was in a genuine need not of his own making, this fella would empty his bank account for that need.  I had witnessed him more times than not, give thousands of dollars to others who had a medical need or hire someone for his business who was out of work, or go the extra mile if someone got in a bit of trouble.  I have seen these men run to the rescue of some pretty hard cases.  However, the heart that would bleed for certain situations would also be extremely judgmental against those whom they could not accept or understand.  I remember one particular conversation where one of the gentlemen was extremely opinionated towards those who work in food service as being unambitious and irresponsible, yet hired people to work for him at the same living wage.  Just because someone is generous does not by default make him charitable.

Now, this is no excuse to stop giving to the church, missions, or one’s favorite charity.  These things are still commanded by God regardless of what our opinion is towards others.  What I believe the Spirit is trying to tell us is our attitude towards our fellow human beings matters.  We live in an age where there is little patience, if any at all, towards those with whom we disagree.  We think patience means compromise.  Not so.  What we need is a little charity.  It reminds me of a line in A Christmas Carol.  As Bob Cratchit is relaying Tiny Tim’s words spoken at church to the minister, he is sharing the spirit of Christmas as seen through this little boy's eyes.  Being a cripple, he noticed that it was at Christmas time he was treated a bit differently.  No one gave him anything.  No one offered to tend to his needs.  What he did notice was the attitude others had towards him and those around them.  He uses the word charity.  Modern versions corrupt the text and use love instead of the real word to be used here – charity.  Love in an emotion of the heart.  Charity is a spirit of the mind.  To esteem one another better than self is the essence of charity.

One For All and All For One

“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” (1Co 12:25-26 AV)

 

The context here is the gifts of the Spirit and the placing of everyone in the body of Christ for mutual care.  The Corinthian church was carnal and valued more visible gifts as more valuable.  The more public a gift was, the more important you were.  But that is not how God designed it.  This is not God’s value system.  It is the more comely parts, or the more unobtrusive parts, which are the more necessary.  It is not the mouth but the lungs that give it the air in which to produce the words.  However, what I wish to express this morning is a more basic understanding of these verses.  That is the end goal of all the gifts.  The abilities and gifts are given not that the church might segregate.  Rather, they are given that there might be unity.  And through that unity, there might be mutual care one toward another.  That the church might grow together and be one church that does not differentiate between ability or experiences.  There should be no cliques in the body and there should be no us and them.  We should love all equally.

I come from a rather large family.  Eight boys and three girls.  There was the obvious division of male and female.  This would only be natural.  This division did not become excessive.  We played together.  We lived together.  We may have had our fair share of skirmishes, but the one thing my Mom would not tolerate is a lasting feud between siblings.  As far as the guys went, mission accomplished.  We may have wrestled from time to time.  Before long, however, we were at the park knocking around a baseball.  Because of age differences, we were not exactly one another’s best friend, but we were not enemies, either.  When there was a large chore to do, my father would involve the entire family.  No exceptions.  Whether it was shoveling out of a snowstorm or falling trees for a campsite, all were involved.  This kept us close.  When it came to paper routes, we were responsible for our own route, but if the weather was contrary, we pitched in and helped our sibling complete their route.  When we earned our driver’s license, we became chauffeurs to our younger siblings.  We watched out for one another.  When a fight broke out we all stood together.  There were no large schisms in the family.  There may have been a minor one from time to time, but no major arguments where one party was permanently estranged from another.  This was how our parents raised us.

Every pastor wants the same for his church family.  When one rejoices, we all rejoice.  When one hurts, we all hurt.  This generation lives too private.  We do not involve ourselves in the lives of others nor do we allow others to get too close.  This breaks the heart of the pastor.  When he sees his church family in disagreement and fighting among themselves, nothing will age him faster.  The constant bickering and fighting wear the pastor down.  It did my mother.  When her children were fighting, it wore her down.  She would not even rise to solve the problem.  She lost all joy and enthusiasm for her family.  In short, she ceased to care.  The same can be true of the preacher.  When there are arguments and unforgiveness, he is worn down.  When he has to hear how one party is angry at another, he gets beaten down.  If it persists, he gets to the point that he ceases to care about his church family.  There is nothing he can do about it short of praying for them.  It is up to the kids to make up.  He cannot make them.  His desire for them is they dwell in peace and love toward one another regardless of their differences and they care about one another more than they care about themselves.

What a Day in Which We Live

“For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.” (Lu 10:24 AV)

 The prophets and kings are those of centuries gone by who heard of the Messiah and knew of the prophecies, yet because His appearing was not in their lifetime, they failed to experience His ministry and teachings.  It is not that the disciples had more insight, wisdom, or spirituality.  They were born at the right time and right place.  They had an opportunity others did not.  Our LORD may be sharing this bit of truth for different reasons.  Some perhaps should be more grateful for what they have because some never had or will have what they had.  I am sure David and Isaiah would have given their right arm to be one of Jesus’ disciples.  There should be no complaining while in the service of the King.  Or, perhaps it is to remind the disciples of the uniqueness of their station in life and to use it to its fullest.  They are the first twelve.  They are to whom the keys of heaven are given.  They are those who will relate the history and teaching of the Messiah and some will be moved by the Holy Spirit to perfectly write the scriptures.  What a blessing to be born in New Testament times!  Of all the times in human history, we have the most revelation ever given to man and the greatest opportunity to impact our world.

I practically grew up at a Scout Camp called Camp Dittmer. This camp is one of the oldest camps in the state of New York.  This camp has a rich history of working with the Army Corp of Engineers.  The larger projects requiring more than a group of boys are handed off to the Corp.  The Corp built a causeway across lake Remick that made travel from one half of the camp to the other a much shorter trip.  They also assisted in building the Mess Hall, the Trading Post, and the office building.  Sometime in the past of the camp, a beach was formed at Lake Remick so future campers didn’t have to recreate in the muck.  There is a dam at the far point of the lack.  From time to time, this dam needs attention.  One of the summers I worked at the camp, I served as camp clerk.  Basically, I sat in the office, answered the phone, and distributed mail every day.  Being the young and curious lad that I was, I snooped.  I looked through some files.  In looking at some of the files, I discovered the transition from what the camp originally was to what it had become.  I say surveys, land acquisitions, project plans, and property improvements.  There were even some old pictures included.  What struck me, and it always does, is the present generation has no clue as to what it took to realize what they currently experience.  They cannot imagine a time when the amenities seen today did not exist a generation before.  That which they now enjoy, previous scouts did not have.  The waterfront was once a few canoes and a lot of mud.  Now, a sandy beach, dock, and sailboats.  The Mess hall was a simple kitchen with a shelter.  Now, a full commercial kitchen with an airconditioned dining room.  What is true of the temporal things of life is also true of the spiritual.

The church exists at the most opportune time in human history.  We live in a time where we have the complete and plenary-inspired word of God.  Never before in human history has mankind had the complete word of God.  We live in such a time when doctrinal revelation has never been as extensive as it is now and especially with the invention of electricity, it is almost no effort to find any truth one desires.  Never before have we had the ability to be anywhere in the world at any time in under 26 hours.  Missions is nothing like it was just a hundred years ago.  We live in a time when generations before would have given anything to be in the time in which we serve today.  We live in the best possible time to share the gospel with the world.  This is evidenced by their radical rejection of it.  When we complain about the world and the direction it is headed, let us remember some have gone on before who, if they could have, traded places with us for the opportunity we have today.  We see churches shrinking.  We see persecution growing.  We see hard times ahead.  Those who have gone before see a time when the gospel is going worldwide and the glory of God goes forth unabated.  It is all a matter of perspective.  The prophets and kings desired what the Apostles had.  And I guarantee you, the Apostles desire what we have.  Let us remember that the next time we are tempted to complain.

God Does Not Kick Us When We Are Down

“Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.” (Job 23:6 AV)

 

Job, in his agony, utters words of which he is not fully aware.  He is not aware of how wise his own words are.  We know this because he keeps speaking.  He continues to try to work it all out rather than be silent and let God speak.  One cannot fault him, though.  Losing everything including his own family had to be so tragic it would send most into a deep depression and even worse.  He utters the words above and he will soon realize just how right he is.  Reading God’s response to Job might be cause for disagreement.  One would think words of compassion and empathy, or maybe even apology; might come from God.  But these words did not come.  Rather, words of rebuke came from God.  Words that pretty much said, “I am God and I do not have to answer to anyone’s curiosity why I permitted anything.”  In other words, God tells Job He doesn’t owe Job an explanation.  This is not necessarily how God answers all who are going through a severe trial, but most of us are not Job.  The sure thing is, when we are going through the mill, God will do the right thing resulting in increased strength to endure.  He will not seek to destroy us.  He will not kick us when we are down.  He will strengthen us that we, with Him as our guide, comforter, and strength, make it through.

There have been a couple of times when I came to the end of myself.  Not too many, but a few.  Usually, these times occur around my spiritual birthday.  These life-altering events are designed by the providence of God to grow me up and a major way.  What I can say of certainty is when the LORD asked me to endure hardship, He never laid on me more than I could bear. With His help, I’ve made it through each and every one.  I have buried family and friends.  I lost everything, financially speaking.  The lives of my children were threatened more than once.  I’ve lost close friends.  I’ve endured challenges of a bodily nature.  There have been many scares along the way.  A couple of times, there were possible cancer diagnoses.  Lawsuits threatened.  More than once, I have had my life threatened.  Add to that times of severe self-doubt and failure to gain victory over faults, and the trying times of my life are frequent.  But those times when I was knocked down do low I didn’t think I could ever get up is what we are talking about here.  Only a very cruel person would kick another when they are down.  This is what Job’s friends were doing.  Not God!  Job believed that with all his heart.  He knew the words of his friends were not of the LORD.  God wouldn’t do that.  But what we want to see is the faith Job had without realizing it.  He knew that if he prayed and did not give up on God, then God would strengthen him.

Job is one of those heroes of the faith which we hope we can emulate, but in reality, we fall short.  Not many saints could endure what he went through and walk with God afterward.  We would go through a whole host of emotions that would push us further from God.  One of those emotions, anger, Job never exhibited.  He was never angry with God because God allowed such travesty.  He may have been confused.  He may have been frustrated.  He may have been a lot of things, but he was never angry at God.  This is one of the reasons the LORD was able to strengthen Job.  Job, in the depth of his wisdom, believed that God would not kick him when he was down.  He knew that if he gave God the benefit of the doubt even though it did not make sense to him, then the LORD would strengthen him in the hour of deep need.  This God does often with the children of men.  He is not a tyrant who seeks to make our lives a horrible experience.  He has allowed mankind to make a mess of things.  Then, He is there to fix them.  When we are down, by either our own hand, the devil’s, or Gods we can rest assured He will strengthen us if we simply wait upon Him.

Honest Heart Means Hefty Harvest

“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Lu 8:15 AV)

 

This verse is found within the well-known parable of the four soils.  Jesus is speaking of four types of people who hear the word of God.  Three of the four produce no lasting fruit of fruit at all.  For one reason or another, the word of God is not effective in their lives.  However, there is one type of person who does produce godliness.  The above person produces fruit upwards of one hundred-fold.  What is the key?  Why is he any different?  It has to do with the heart.  In particular, the sinner who comes to Christ or the saint who produces fruit has a good and honest heart.  Putting it another way, he has a heart that is honest with itself and yields to the ministry of the word of God which then produces a good or pure heart.  It is the condition of the heart that determines how effective the Holy Spirit can be as He teaches us His word.  The heart must be an honest one.  That is, it must be truthful with itself and also in handling the truth.  Motive matters here as well.  Why we take in the word of God and what we intend to do with it also contributes to how effective it will be.  Honesty of heart is hard to come by.

I never liked job interviews.  Although I admit, I haven’t been to too many in my lifetime.  There are uncomfortable questions asked that do not pertain to the job at hand or one’s ability to benefit the goals of the company.  One such question sounds pretty noble but is manipulative.  “Where do you see yourself in five, ten, twenty, or fifty years from now?”  The question is designed to measure ambition.  The problem is, in the context of the company you are looking at, the question might be a ridiculous one.  “I hope to run this company and fire HR people who ask these questions.”  Or, “What would you say is the greatest impediment to your personal improvement goals?”  How about, “I am near perfect so I will soon run out of goals.”  But the one that gets me is “What would you say are your greatest weaknesses?”  How are you supposed to answer that?  No matter what you say, it will work against your chances of getting the job.  I have been the interviewer at times and was required to ask that question to candidates.  I will say this, it is a great question if you are trying to discern someone’s humility.  If he struggles to answer that question, then he may not evaluate his own job performance and improve where he can.  On the other hand, you did not look forward to hearing from someone with extremely low self-esteem as he droned on and on about all his faults.  There is such a thing as too much information.  What this question did do was to discern the honesty one might have about himself.  The interviewer would not be so concerned about faults as the willingness to express those faults.  To be honest with oneself is a great enduring quality.

When we sit down to read our Bible and listen to the voice of God, are we prepared in heart and mind to receive that which the Holy Spirit so freely gives?  Are we ready to hear?  Jesus tells us to not only take heed to what we hear but how we hear.  Are our hearts honest?  This does not mean perfect.  To have an honest heart does not mean to be free from all fault.  To have an honest heart does not mean we have failed to confess sin.  What it does mean is we have a heart absent of all pretense.  No matter what we hear from the voice of God, it will not be refused.  Nor will we read the word of God with a preconceived notion of what our soul needs and feed off that which we already have too much of.  We may not need to read any more encouraging words.  Maybe we need convicting words.  Or, perhaps we have been beaten up enough (and rightly so) and need to hear a promise or two.  Do we approach the word of God as an open book able to speak with us right where we are and willing to take in that which is said?  If we are to realize fruit unto holiness, then we must approach the word of God with an honest heart.  It will not work any other way.