His Right To Rule

“I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no [more], until he come whose right it is; and I will give it [him].” (Eze 21:27 AV)

The LORD is speaking generally of Israel and Judah as it was at the time of the Babylonian invasion.  Specifically, He is speaking of the failed monarchy, which fell from righteousness.  Beginning with Solomon, the monarchy of Israel degraded into idol worship, immorality, and paganism.  Therefore, the monarchy was done away with at the fall of Jerusalem.  Temple worship would also be interrupted.  Ezra and Nehemiah would resurrect it until Messiah came.  But once Jesus Christ came, the temple became obsolete.  The person whose right it is, and to whom the LORD will give it, is none other than Jesus Christ.  The world’s systems of governance are coming to an end.  Every system devised by man had failed.  Monarchs have fallen.  Dictators have been destroyed.  Democracies have become bloated with bureaucracy.  Socialism, communism, and capitalism have only realized short-term success.  Feudalism fell by the wayside.  Tribalism is cruel and lacks unity to defend a nation.  It matters not what manner of governance mankind has tried.  Without God as King, it fails.

Self-determination is a temporary privilege given to the human race.  We have been given the privilege of choice.  With the ability to choose came the word of God to guide us in the best possible choices we could make.  However, when Adam and Eve decided their self-determination was best enjoyed by doing exactly the opposite of the Creator’s wishes, they introduced unspeakable hardship on all their descendants.  Following the garden of Eden, the LORD gave mankind the privilege of following their conscience.  This failed as well.  Thus, He sent the flood.  When Noah disembarked, the LORD delegated to mankind the responsibility to govern itself.  The most extreme of crimes was murder, so the LORD required capital punishment as judgment on the offender.  Rather than the LORD directly inflicting justice, mankind was required to fulfill that role.  Ever since, mankind has attempted many forms of human government.  None has lasted very long.  Perhaps the longest continual forms of government were the Pharaohs of Egypt and the Roman system under their Senate and then the Ceasars.  Yet both have passed into antiquity.

God created all things.  All things belong to Him.  This includes the human race.  By virtue of being LORD, Master, and Owner, the LORD has the right to do with it as He pleases.  The book of Revelation teaches us that the kingdoms of the world belong to God.  He will abdicate them to the Son.  “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Re 11:15 AV)  Very soon, the trumpet will blow.  The church will be removed.  Earth will have seven years to try their best to conquer their Creator.  When those seven years are up, Jesus Christ will come.  He will set up a perfect government with the word of God and the rule of law.  He will be an absolute dictator, and all will bend the knee to Him.  Why?  Because He has created all things, and by Him all things consist.  It amazes me how the saints of God have treated their Creator.  There is no fear.  Respect is very shallow.  God exists for our service and not we, His.  He has the right to rule!  It all belongs to Him.  He will return.  He will dictate.  He will govern.  Our time is nearly up.

Working On The Flag

“Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.” (Ps 60:3-4 AV)

David is speaking of the hardships of Israel while in Egypt.  Bu inference, he is also including all of Israel’s enemies that have inflicted trouble upon them.  The hard things that the LORD has shown Israel are the hard lessons learned along the way.  They learned that the pagan gods of Egypt were nothing.  Jehovah God dispensed with them all.  For 40 years, they learned to trust the LORD for everything.  By taking the land promised to Abraham filled with heathen squatters, they learned that you have to fight for that which God gives.  They learned that God’s people and those who hate God might be decent neighbors, but they can never be your family.  Throughout the book of Judges, they learned that trying to assimilate with their heathen neighbors only resulted in hardship and loss of material goods.  They learned all these lessons so that the star of David could fly over the palace at Jerusalem.

If you have ever been involved in scouting, you know what merit badges are.  If you have ever been involved in AWANA, you know what patches are all about.  In scouting, there were dozens of merit badges one could earn.  If you were working toward Eagle Scout, there were mandatory badges and there were elective badges.  The scout had to complete all mandatory badges and then supplement the rest until he reached a certain number.  Along with a service project, the merit badges earned him the honor of the rank of Eagle Scout.  Few boys attained it.  There was a day when having that accomplishment listed on a resume meant something.  The Eagle Scout could wear his sash filled with merit badges and adorn his uniform with the Eagle Scout patch.  All the hard work paid off.  He was not recognized as a scout above all others.  The decoration could not be bought.  The honor could not be stolen.  It was hard work and dedication that resulted in the day that an honored judge, politician, or important man of the community bestowed on that scout the honor of Eagle Scout.

Israel went through deep waters.  They endured much more than any other nation on Earth.  Israel has the record for the longest people group continuously enslaved.  They suffered near extinction more than once.  Even today, they are hated, attacked, and suffer significant loss for no other reason but their heritage.  The saint endures similar trials of life.  Some because us need victory over sin.  There are lessons to learn about God that can come no other way.  Then there is the persecution inflicted on the believer.  We, too, will have a banner.  Our banner is the white robe of righteousness adorned by the precious jewels, silver, and gold given to us at the Judgment Seat of Christ.  We will be rewarded with five crowns to be cast at the feet of the One who died for us.  We can hear the voice of the Father say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”  There is a banner for our troubles.  This banner is in the making.  There are always manifestations of the trouble we suffer.  Some in the life.  Most in the next.  When our eyes are on our troubles, it might be a better idea to place them on the banner.  That banner flies high.  That banner flies gloriously.  That banner cannot be destroyed nor lost.  That banner is evidence of a life that surrendered to the hand of God.

Not Good For Much Else

“Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, [or than] a branch which is among the trees of the forest? Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will [men] take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?” (Eze 15:2-3 AV)

Although these two verses appear in a border context of correction, the Spirit had me consider the principle involved.  A grapevine is made of the same basic composition as other woods.  Yet it is not nearly as versatile.  An oak tree can be harvested for any number of things.  One can use it for hardwood floors, wall covering, and furniture.  There are old ships built with oak that sailed the seas.  Pine is a softer wood often filled with natural pitch.  In the ancient days, it was used as the primary wood for building homes.  Baseball bats, tool handles, and Christmas trees are some of the many uses of pine.  Cedar is a great wood for warding off insects.  Aromatic and soft, this wood is used to store precious and vulnerable things.  It often lines a closet and is used to build dressers.  The odor of the wood repels moths and other harmful bugs.  For the grapevine, there is little use for it outside of its greatest function.  Some use it to weave baskets, but it cannot be used for much else.  What it does best is produce fruit.  The passage of concern mentions using the grapevine and kindling for a fire.  The best use of the grapevine is to produce grapes.

God made Israel for a purpose.  Their purpose was to be an example to the rest of the world of godliness.  In their holiness, they were to be an attractant for the rest of humanity to Jehovah God.  The church was created for the same purpose.  It was created to take the gospel to the lost and disciple the saved.  If Israel and the church fail in the primary calling, there is little use for them.  Yet, the Spirit wants us to consider the same principle in a different light.  Individually, we are all created for a unique purpose.  There are general callings to which all souls came into being.  We are all to accept Christ.  We are all to glorify God.  We are all to serve God.  We are all called to sanctification.  There are many general callings to which all souls are called.  There are specific callings unique to us.  Sometimes they are simple.  Sometimes they are grandiose.  But all are necessary.  The lesson to learn is that if we stray from our unique purpose, we are of little or no use.  Some are like the oak that can be used in different ways.  Most are like the grapevine.  We were created to bring forth fruit.

Israel lost her way.  The church is repeating that pattern.  Israel is as wicked as any other nation on earth.  They have rejected their Messiah.  They have welcomed hedonism.  The church is quickly becoming a den of entertainment.  We have abandoned true preaching, soul-winning, and discipling for that which attracts a client base.  We run them like a business and not like a family.  The believer was created to bring forth fruit into the LORD.  We are all here for that reason.  Above that purpose lies one unique to you.  Find it.  Prepare for it.  Fulfill it.  Don’t chase other goals.  Don’t abandon purpose of life for the pleasures in life.  Produce that fruit meant to glorify the LORD.  If not, you and I won’t be good for much else.

It's Ok to be OK

“Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.” (Ec 9:7 AV)

Ecclesiastics is an interesting book.  Solomon writes a treatise on the meaning of life if God does not exist.  Interspersed are spiritual truths.  Solomon is giving us the permission to enjoy that which God has given.  The pleasure of enjoying life is predication on being accepted by the LORD.  If our lives do not please the LORD, we have work to do.  We have consequences we must live with.  If we strive to live for the LORD, even if we fail from time to time, there are blessings to be enjoyed.  God does not want us to have miserable lives.  He wants us to enjoy the best life possible.  Sometimes that can be difficult.

This morning, I awoke at 3:30am and couldn’t fall back asleep.  I meditated on my current situation of life.  Melancholy was the temptation of the hour.  It usually is, that time of day.  My mind went to all the troubles that are part of growing older.  Saying goodbye to the ones you love is hard to do.  Losing what was once the definition of your life as duties, opportunities, and purpose change is a hard adjustment.  I reflected on the change taking place, with personal needs competing with ministry.  The trend is leaning away from ministry availability as the demands of my personal life increase.  Change is hard.  Then the Spirit led me to consider seasoned saints and how full of joy most seem to be.  My mind went to the luncheons we shared.  As their pastor, I took them out once a month to share a meal.  They spoke of the good old days.  Not with resentment.  Rather, with fond memories.  As I reflected on these things, I opened my phone and on my home screen, the above verse appeared.  The Spirit seemed to tell me that it is ok to have joy in life even though life is changing.  It is ok with the LORD.  We can take time to enjoy our lives as God has blessed them.  We do not have to feel as though life is miserable and we must suffer along with it.  It is ok to be ok.

We may not have had perfect lives.  There is much we wish we could take back.  No one is perfect.  There have been a lot of tears along the way.  There is much sadness.  But our lives don’t have to be a hallmark movie.  It is ok to be ok.  This is Solomon’s point here.  Life is the same for all.  No one is immune.  There will come hardships.  Loss is part of everyone’s life.  Eternity is what makes it all better.  There is a coming day when all that was unpleasant will be forgotten.  There is coming a day without sadness.  There is coming a day with no pain, no sorrow, no sickness, and no loss.  There is coming a day when for all of eternity, our problems will be forgotten and no more.  But we don’t have to wait for eternity.  Some of that can be experienced today.  It is ok to be ok.  There is nothing sinful about enjoying the blessings of God in the here and now.  It is ok to be ok.

A Fixed Heart is a Work in Progress

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” (Ps 57:7 AV)

To have a fixed heart is the greatest discipline of all!  That word is interesting.  To have a fixed heart means more than mere discipline.  To have a fixed heart means the desires and emotions David feels are set like cement.  They cannot be stirred.  They are not fluid.  His heart is set on convictions and purposes that do not waver.  This does not mean David was perfect in all his ways.  He wrote this prior to Bathsheba and the numbering of the people.  There were cracks in the cement.  Cracks that allowed some weeds to pop up.  But as a life-discipline, David was not a man of wild passion.  Reading the psalms, we see a man who expressed much emotion.  He went from the depths of depression to the heights of elation.  He was definitely an emotional man.  We wouldn’t have the psalms if David were dispassionate.  What David could do was focus his intense emotions on pleasing God.  His passion, anger, frustration, fear, etc were mostly governed by the virtues of God.  Having a fixed heart does not mean David was a Mr. Spock.  It meant his heart was exercised within the confines of God’s desires and purpose.

Discipline is a hard skill to learn.  Few can master it.  Even those who are highly disciplined is some areas may fail in others.  This takes me back to my days of military ministry.  One would think military personnel are the most successful in all areas of life.  That is not usually true.  I remember observing this for the first time.  I had the illusion that if they learned to march, slop through mud on their stomachs, get yelled at by a profanity-laced rebuke, and lose sleep days in a row; surely the rest of their lives would be equally in order.  I imagined the home life of the sailors, marines, airmen, soldiers, and coastguardsmen to be perfect.  I had this idea that when I went to visit a military family in their home that the inside would be as pristine as the outside.  I thought their children would be the best behaved in the world.  Their marriage would be perfect.  I had this idea that if the serviceman or servicewoman were highly trained, decorated, and faithful in the discharge of their military duties, their home life would be the same.  More times than not, at home they were just like the rest of us.  A work in progress.

A fixed heart is a work in progress.  But a work in progress can be an overall trait.  Don’t let those who worship their self-discipline make you feel like a total failure.  The outward appearance is not always indicative of in inward condition.  If observation of our service personnel were limited to their public service, we might feel as total failures.  After all, they can stand at attention for hours on end.  We would have to sit down.  But having a fixed heart is the process by which we learn and apply emotional discipline.  It is the process by which we learn to exercise or control our emotions in a godly way.  As stated before, David wasn’t perfect.  He made serious mistakes.  His heart was not fixed one-hundred percent of the time.  He had lapses.  But like the service member who does PT, reports for drills, practices his or her disciplines, etc., being under control is learned.  It is honed.  It is taking one thing at a time and learning to control it.  Having a fixed heart is a work of yielding to the control of the Spirit rather than the impulses of the heart.  This takes time.  This takes a lifetime.  So, keep plugging away.  If your desires and purpose of life are controlled more by the Spirit than the old man, you can testify with David that your heart is fixed.

Folly Of Sin

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, [am] against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.” (Eze 5:8 AV)

It always surprises me how much mankind will endure just to enjoy sin.  I am no different.  Born under the sin of Adam, I continue in it because the old man in me demands pleasure at the expense of God’s purpose and plan.  The sinful part of my soul that still struggles against righteousness rears its ugly head strikes at the new man.  It is a wonder the LORD puts up with me!  That which we are willing to endure to please our old nature is a testament to how much we still need to grow.  The LORD brings severe adverse consequences on his people.  The previous chapter prophesies that famine will be so extreme that the people of God will turn to cannibalism.  The fathers will eat their sons, and the sons will eat their fathers.  For what?  Just so they don’t have to go to temple and allow the land to rest once every seven years?  What is the big deal?  What turn from God to enjoy a temporary thrill?

Many years ago, I had a church member who had severe COPD.  He couldn’t breathe.  The humidity didn’t help.  For the last few years of his life, he had to cart around an oxygen tank.  Unable to walk very far or do much, he retired early and sat at home.  There he was, struggling to breathe, with his green tank going everywhere he went.  He couldn’t drive himself anywhere.  He couldn’t shop for himself.  He couldn’t cook for himself.  If he tried to stand without assistance, it was only for a very brief time.  I felt sorry for him.  But part of his struggle was self-inflicted.  He was a chain smoker.  One would exit the back door and out on his patio were several ashtrays filled to the brim.  Several!  It was not out of the ordinary for him to break from our visit so he could go out and have a smoke.  This habit was sapping the life from him.  He was losing the liberty to smoke by smoking.  He tried several times to quit.  Short-term success was attainable.  Stress from business and family drove him right back to it.  Only when he could no longer get himself outdoors to smoke, was he finally able quit.  But it was too late.  A bit over a year and he was gone.

We may look at a life like that and shake our heads.  We may wonder what would possess a man to live that way.  We are no different.  We have strongholds.  We have those besetting sins that exact a heavy price, yet still seem to pursue us.  This is the futility of humanity.  Only by the grace of God can we overcome.  It is only by the empowering of the Holy Spirit, reading His word, and praying at the time of temptation that victory can be ours.  There was a saying I heard but cannot find the origin.  You have to hate sin more than you love the pleasure.  Only and only then will we be able to overcome it.  Israel paid a heavy price.  They should have.  The tragedy was that repentance ever followed.  There was no forsaking.  There was no confessing.  They doubled down on their sin.  That just goes to show us how depraved we are.  Only but for the grace of God would we do the same.

 

Take Your Medicine Even if You Feel Fine

“But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.” (Eze 2:8 AV)

The prophet receives the same word that the people do.  The word of God that comes to Ezekiel is the same word he shares with the rebellious.  The same words of judgment are the same for both.  Because there is potential for rebellion, God warns the prophet not to react to the word of God like the people to whom he was sent.  The phrase “take your medicine” comes to mind.  Ezekiel was not guilty of the things for which he was sent to warn.  The people had rebelled against God.  They were in captivity because of it.  Ezekiel was by the river Chebar in Babylon.  He, along with Jeremiah and others, were prophets to the people of Israel in captivity.  It would be easy to understand an adverse reaction on the prophet’s part.  Since he was not guilty of that which the people suffered, was not there because of his personal sin, loved the LORD, and served the LORD, any word of correction might not sit well with him.  After all, why should he be warned and corrected when he was not nearly as wicked as the people to whom he was sent?  The reasons could be numerous.

My Mom had eleven children.  When one was sick, she assumed to some degree, we all were sick.  If one came down with a cold, we were all in the process of coming down with a cold.  When one had the pox, we were all going to come down with it.  In fact, she got to the point that when one was ill, she would gather us all together so we could go through it together and get it all over with all at once.  This meant we took our medication regardless of how sick or health we were.  If one was coming down with it, she couldn’t let it drag out for eleven weeks.  Nope!  We were all going to have a puke bucket by our beds.  We lined up.  We all took our cough medication.  We all had vitamins at breakfast time.  We all drank extra orange juice.  Everyone had a vaporizer in his or her room.  It mattered not that we would never come down with the crud.  In my mom’s mind, if we were not sick enough to show, we were still sick.  So, no matter how well we were, we had to take our medicine.

The prophet could resent the implication that he was indeed guilty to the same degree as the people.  The prophet could become defensive that God would deal with his people in such a severe manner.  The prophet could resent the implication that he would have the potential of being as rebellious as the people to whom he was sent.  It is a difficult thing to sit in the congregation to which you minister and hear words from God meant for you as well.  It is hard to be a preacher and have to acknowledge you are no different from the people to whom you are sent.  Pride has a way of working into the heart of the messenger.  I haven’t known a messenger who was free from this struggle.  Every pastor under whom I served struggled with this.  I struggle with this.  So, if we all struggle with this, we can understand the LORD’s words to the prophet.  Take your medicine.  You may not need it right now, but think of it as preventative maintenance.  Ezekiel was required to internalize the message sent to captive Israel and not react in a spirit of rebellion.  Ezra and Nehemiah did the same.  They internalized the words of correction sent to remnant Israel even though they had never partaken of the sins of the people.  If the messenger is going to stay well, he has to take his medicine even though he may not feel sick.  So, open wide!

Mercies Never Fail

“For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.” (La 3:31-32 AV)

Sometimes, it is easy to forget that God’s mercies are limitless.  We have lived with parents, teachers, government, and even society that are limited in their mercies.  Mankind is not without impatience.  He will not tolerate us without some sort of limits.  God is not like this.  He is infinite in mercy and grace.  Or, it is better stated, God has limitless mercy and grace even though He is not obligated to exercise them.  Understanding limitless grace and mercy balanced with God’s will to offer them is key to understanding our walk with Him.  The LORD will not be used.  He will not be taken for granted.  The LORD is not required to allow His creation to live presumptuously.  We don’t want to be discouraged.  We simply want to be honest.  God’s mercies are without limit.  These mercies, however, may be contingent on our willingness to repent and forsake.  This is certainly the case of Israel.  They have yet to be completely committed to God for any extended period of time.  Yet the covenants remain in force.  That is mercy!

To say that I don’t understand the compassion of God would be an understatement.  This world is very short on it.  It seems as though the farther our world strays from God, the less compassion there is.  Just to other day I was driving five miles over the speed limit.  I was driving in the left lane while passing slower traffic in the right lane.  This wasn’t good enough for an aggressive driver who was tailing me.  As soon as it was safe to do so, I moved over.  Then, I immediately went behind him.  Not a second later, we had to stop at a red light.  He was clapping at me through his rearview mirror.  No compassion!  No patience!  A week ago, we were in the supermarket.  An elderly lady in a cart was trying to shop.  People were going around her with a disgruntled look or word.  No compassion.  No patience.  A few weeks back, there was a drive by.  Neighbors began to talk.  “Not surprised”, they said.  Considering the people and habits of the inhabitants.  No compassion.  No patience.  No doubt, most of what happens we bring about by our own actions.  Irresponsible behavior, ungodly desires, ignorance, or poor planning all play a part in the circumstances of life.  It is also interesting how much others expect forgiveness and mercy without extending it themselves.  Praise the LORD that He is not like us.  So, when the word of God teaches us that God is limitless in grace and mercy, it is hard to understand.

There is a better question to be asked here.  Knowing what the word of God says, what should we do?  There are several appropriate responses.  The first would be to trust what the LORD tells us even though we have nothing to which to compare.  Next, we can show gratitude by fleeing the behavior that requires His mercy and forgiveness.  If we would forsake our foolishness, He wouldn’t have to show grace.  Next, we can allow that same spirit to work out in our own hearts.  If God is merciful and gracious to us, then we ought to be the same to others.  Lastly, we should take comfort in the promise.  Stop letting the adversary convince us we are beyond God’s mercy.  If God can and will restore Israel, then today’s saint still has hope.  God does forgive.  God does reconcile.  God does restore.  This is the heart of God.

Leaving Before Coming

“My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.” (Jer 51:45 AV)

This is the call to pre-captive Judah and Israel to come out of Babylon.  Babylon will invade and carry away Judah, where they will meet what is left of the ten tribes of Israel.  By the mouth of Jeremiah, God is calling Israel apart from Babylon when it will be possible.  They will have to serve Babylon for 70 years.  At the end of those seventy years, Cyrus the Great of the Medes and Persians will decree that the Jews can return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple.  Artaxerxes, a later Persian king, will send Nehemiah and a remnant to Jerusalem to repair the city walls.  Although the exact number returning under Ezra and Nehemiah is unknown, the approximate number was somewhere around 50,000.  That pales in comparison to the total number of Israelites.  If there are millions, then less than one percent decided to return.  The calling here is to come out.  One is not willing to go to a place unless he or she is first willing to come out.

In the early days of our nation, opportunity abounded.  It still does, but in different ways.  Back in the 1800s, Napoleon needed finances to fight his campaign.  To raise funds, Napoleon sold the middle of our nation to our government.  Now, the United States had a problem.  We had 875,000 square miles of property and no one to develop it.  So, the government sent surveyors out to the newly purchased territory and staked out property lines.  The day came to open the land for those brave enough to settle a wilderness.  There are paintings that depict this event.  People with their horses and wagons straddled the line.  At the designated time, they rushed off to the west.  When they came to a piece of property to their liking, they grabbed the stake and registered their plot with the government.  Without a nickel toward a purchase, the land became theirs.  What is interesting is the lack, or those who dared take the risk.  Free land was open to the public for private ownership.  Just a fraction ventured beyond their comfort zones.  As a result, there were many homesteads established in those few short years.  These families grew in wealth and prominence.  The opportunity of a lifetime, and few took it.

Why?  Why did few leave while others did not?  Because those who failed to go would not leave.  And that is the point.  To go to God’s call means we have to first leave.  Abraham is a great example.  To find the promised land, he must first be willing to leave Ur.  Abraham left a brother and father behind.  He had to leave what he was familiar with.  He had to leave a life to which he became accustomed.  Israel was no different.  To find the purpose and call of God, not to mention His presence in worship, they had to leave the life to which they had become accustomed.  They had to strike out and trust the LORD.  The thing is, the land rush of the 1800s was purely voluntary.  Israel’s exodus was not.  The settlers who established the Midwest did so because they had a choice one way or the other.  There was no moral obligation to take that risk.  The call above is mandatory.  Israel was not supposed to be comfortable in Babylon.  The same is true of the saints.  Leaving the world is a neutral choice.  God does not tell us to come apart because it is one option of many.  We are called to come out from among them.  We are commanded to live for the LORD, which includes separation.  The sad fact is that few do.

To Hoard or to Spend?

“[There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” (Pr 21:20 AV)

There is something to be said for the discipline of saving.  We look at resources one of three ways.  There are people who look at resources as nothing more than something to hoard.  Their view of material things is like that of someone who competes at a sporting event.  The one with the most points at the end of a game wins.  Wealth is nothing more than a status symbol.  Once one has the most, the game is won.  Charity is seen only in terms of what can be lost and still have the chance of winning.  Then there are those who see resources as that to be used until nothing remains.  This type of person finds a twenty-dollar bill laying in a street and immediately makes plans to spend all of it on something he or she would not normally purchase.  They use time and money the same way.  If it is something to possess, it is something to use.  Then there is the balance seen above.  Resources are to be used.  Like the oil stated above, it is used for cooking, heating, and giving light to the house.  He is not a hoarder.  But he is also not a waster.  He saves a portion of what he has as the means to an end.  He saves with a plan.  The wise man desires treasure.  Not to boast of what he has.  The treasures and oil exist for the same reason.  There is a purpose for it.  Rationing and saving ensures those purposes are met.

When I was a young child, banks were called savings banks.  Over the years, that has changed.  The word ‘savings’ has kind of dropped off.  I can also remember when banks used to promote savings accounts for minors.  My mom took each of us into the bank on a designated birthday and opened a savings account in our names.  I think it might have been around five years old.  To this day I can remember the branch my mom took me to.  I can even remember the sandwich board advertisement in the front lobby.  It was a very small branch adjacent to the grocer's.  We went in, and she opened my account.  The passbook was blue.  She opened the account with a quarter.  From that time forward, my allowance went into my savings account.  If my grandparents gave me any money, into my account it went as well.  When we delivered papers, those earnings went into our savings account.  We could not draw any out without my parents' permission.  When we turned 16, then we had full control over our account.  We could do with it as we pleased.  They were trying to teach us to save.  Saving, even if there isn’t an immediate plan for it, is a good discipline.  We saved for a few things we knew we would buy.  At 12 or 13, we could purchase our own ten-speed bicycle.  My first was a green Schwinn.  That was stolen, so my next was an orange Schwinn from a police auction.  Had I not saved, that second bike would have been impossible.  The point was my parents were trying to teach us to save.

Some see saving as a lack of faith.  This may be the case for some.  That is where hoarding comes in.  However, spending everything we have is foolish.  The balance between the two is where the wise live.  Solomon is sharing with his children that saving is a good thing.  If done in moderation and with a purpose, then saving is very wise.  Just because we have it doesn’t mean it has to be used.  Just because it is in storage doesn’t mean it comes out until it is gone.  A great barometer would be waste.  To use all resources up when they do not need to be is a waste.  But so is saving without intent or purpose.  If a farmer saves grain in a silo just to see how full that silo can be, much of the grain will spoil.  It will be of no use.  So too are all resources.  At some point, having more than we need without a purpose or plan will eventually see it go to waste.  So, seek that balance.  Where is that midway point between spending and saving?  That is where the wise dwell.

Wanting the Temporal

“Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest…And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek [them] not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.” (Jer 45:3,5 AV)

Baruch was Jeremiah’s scribe.  Seeing the blessing of God on Jeremiah, in so much as he was, Baruch was contemplating how the LORD might bless him.  Jeremiah was delivered from the dungeon and allowed to go wherever he pleased.  The Chaldeans put no restrictions on him because his ministry was to the erring people of Israel.  Why imprison a preacher who is preaching at the very people you just enslaved?  His ministry was a help to the captors.  Now that Jeremiah was free and able to establish households and a decent living, his scribe desired a bit of God’s blessing, too.  He wanted houses, fields, and material things.  Yet, the LORD was not done judging Judah.  What was left would be taken.  What was of any value would be stolen.  To desire a good life while the hand of God is heavy upon the land made no sense.  This is Jeremiah’s argument.  Why would Baruch look for material blessings in the midst of God’s judgment?  Why would Baruch be frustrated or disappointed?  It made no sense.

Baruch was promised one thing.  He would not have to fear captivity or death.  Nothing else in life was a guarantee.  He lived in troublous times.  He served a prophet who suffered much.  The faithful scribe was in and out of difficulty.  Yet, he never spent one night in jail nor ever had a spear pointed at him.  He may not have had much, but he had more than most.  It is easy to get blinded by overwhelming circumstances.  It is easy to forget how blessed we are.  Baruch was used of God to pen and preserve the written word of God.  Several times, the parchments upon which the word of God was written were destroyed by a hateful king.  Baruch risked his life to rewrite the word of God.  If it weren’t for Baruch, the book of Jeremiah may never have made it into the cannon.  Because of his faithfulness, countless lives down through the ages have been blessed.  Baruch had a good life.  He simply wanted more than was possible.

The things of life Baruch wanted, under different circumstances, would have been normal.  He was not seeking wealth.  He was not seeking status.  Baruch did not want to be well known or have more money than he knew what to do with.  Baruch wanted what would seem normal under peaceful conditions.  He wanted a permanent home.  He wanted fields to till.  Baruch wanted a stable life of productivity and usefulness.  Baruch wanted what would seem normal given a time of peace and not war.  Baruch wanted a life that would not seem extravagant nor selfish.  All he wanted was a life that he thought anyone could have.  It simply wasn’t feasible.  We want a perfect life.  We don’t want much.  Just a roof over our heads, trouble we can manage, and to live long without any major interruptions.  We want a bit of heaven while living on earth.  When looking at the logic of it all, we can understand Jeremiah’s words.  It was not that what Baruch wanted was unreasonable.  Given the present set of circumstances, however, it was unrealistic.  It would be better for Baruch to set his eyes on eternity and plod through life until God called him home.  The same can be said of us.  We waste so much emotional reserved wanting something that is impossible.  Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward.  Wanting something that simply isn’t possible is a waste of time and desire.  Being content in God’s calling is the key to happiness.

Discerning Ear

“Cease, my son, to hear the instruction [that causeth] to err from the words of knowledge.” (Pr 19:27 AV)

It is wise to weigh everything you hear against that which you know for certain.  Things one hears can be deceptive.  Solomon, that wise king, shares the importance of hearing with a discerning ear.  Instruction is not merely words.  It involves reasoning, argument, and support.  These words are not words in passing.  These words are intended to mislead away from that which has been proven reliable.  Solomon is not insinuating that the discerning soul does not think critically.  That is welcomed.  However, when an irrefutable conclusion is reached, then following arguments should fall on deaf ears.  This warning goes way back to the garden of Eden.  Satan used this device to entice Eve.  He questioned what they knew to be true.  They were not to eat of the fruit.  Yet, he added and removed from the word of God, gave erroneous cause for why they were prohibited, and then invited them to partake, promising benefits that outweighed the risk.  The rest is history.  Hearing with a discerning ear is a discipline of the mind and heart.

Many years ago, folks in the county we lived testified they had seen a black panther.  This animal had a legendary existence akin to the Loch Ness Monster.  Every now and again, there would be a story in the local newspaper of someone who had spotted this elusive cat.  The problem was, we lived way too far north for it to be a panther.  On and on the stories went.  It took on a life of its own to the degree of absurd.  The stories continued way beyond the normal lifespan of a panther.  Sure, on very rare occasions, a panther may wander from the southern Florida region and wander north.  Not as far north as we were.  But they do on occasion, wander beyond their normal habitat.  The Department of Natural Resources was called.  They set traps and cameras.  No one could get a picture of this cat, let alone catch it.  The DNR concluded it must be something else.  Then it happened.  I saw it!  Coming from my deer stand, I glanced across a harvested field and saw a large black animal moving like a cat across this field.  Too large to be a domesticated cat by far, I concluded I had just spotted the black panther.  Then, a funny thing happened.  My wife went to an animal rescue and picked out a black lab/blue healer mixed dog.  If you have ever seen a blue healer work cattle, you know they move distinctly different from other dogs.  This dog moved just like a cat.  It was uncanny!  What I had seen several months ago and thought it was a black panther turned out to be the dog we adopted.  My mind told me it could not have been a panther, but the words from other eyewitnesses brought my knowledge into question.

Solomon knows a thing or two about those who would attempt to counsel him out of what he knew was right.  Many had his ear.  Equally so, many were the motivations or agendas brought with those opinions.  No doubt he has a variety of facts, ideas, opinions, etc all meant to persuade.  As a king, he had to be a discerning listener.  Once settled on the truth, no additional facts could dissuade.  The devil wants to trip us up anyway he can.  He wants to confuse the situation so that truth becomes relative, or worse, unknowable.  Faith is his enemy.  If he can torment us by clouding the facts, then he will.  If he can blind the mind to what is real and true, he will attempt it.  Solomon is edifying his son to listen with a discerning ear.  If he knows something to be true, then settle it in his heart that nothing will change it.  We are apt to be tossed to and fro.  We are like children who are carried about be every wind of doctrine.  Rather, we must yield to the instruction of the Holy Spirit and rest it there!  Let the scoffers, doubters, or mockers do what they do.  It doesn’t change what is true and what is not.  Listen.  But not to the defeat of truth.