Posts
“When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,”
Proverbs 4:3
I don’t know that a day goes by where my dad doesn’t have some sort of influence on my life. And I don’t mean that he’s calling me up with advice all the time or showing up at my home. No, even if he’s not around, his influence is there. It’s the influence of someone who took raising me seriously.
If I play softball with friends, I use the batting stance he taught me. Same with tennis. If I listen to music, I know that my tastes began to develop from the radio in his car. When I go to a restaurant, it is almost undoubtedly a place to which I went with him first.
Those issues are trivial, but that influence goes a lot deeper. My father is a very honest, very honorable man. I like to think I was influence in that area too. I see his working habits, his focus, and his reactions in my own every day.
When Solomon became king, he asked God for wisdom, and that wisdom was granted. Was that a sudden influx of wisdom, or had God placed Solomon on a path from birth to seek wisdom more than the normal man? By the very fact that Solomon was wise and humble enough to ask for wisdom suggests to me that he already had quite a bit of it.
The foundations of his hunger for wisdom is revealed here. Solomon, right in the middle of giving his son advice, pauses to recall a time with his parents, when he was the beloved son, listening to his own father, David.
And you know what? The advice David will give him in the following verses sounds a lot like the advice Solomon would later give his own son.
See, the issue here isn’t just about a father trying to guide his son. It is that, of course, but it is more. The issue is about God’s people influencing generations to come. It’s about David’s commitment to the Lord, and how that translated through Solomon and down the line.
When I teach my son, if God sees fit to give me one, a batting stance, it’s going to look a lot like my dad’s. My grandson’s stance will probably be pretty close as well. Those things we teach our kids don’t just last as long as Little League does, but continues through time. What I teach my kids about God may one day results in generations of people devoted to the Lord. That commitment might bring about missionaries, pastors, or evangelists. I may meet hundreds in heaven that were influenced by my commitment to teach my son about Jesus.
Or, if I don’t say anything at all, it may result in generations of lost people.
And people today wonder why it’s really important to have a father around? I tell you the truth – this world is going to feel the effects of our fatherless generation for centuries.
It matters. It matters beyond just your son what you decide to give him.
In the same way, Jesus came down from Heaven with the truth of His Father. It was His influence here that began everything. His death on the Cross means salvation for all who repent and believe. When we believe, we become adopted sons of the Father, who will teach us as a Father should. Through the Holy Spirit, we will grow and mature in Him. That heavenly influence spreads through the generations and over the nations, blanketing the earth with Grace. If you have not, turn to Him, repenting of all that time you only sought your own pleasure rather than His Glory.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Good advice, and the problem of taking it
[Listen,] “for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.”
-Proverbs 4:2
When I was very young, my father built me a great fort in the backyard. It was two storeys tall with walls any everything. We had it for several years, but I grew up, and there really was no need for it anymore. So he decided to take it down.
Since it was going to be destroyed, I asked permission to alter it for a few weeks. I made it more rugged and military-like, with a rope to climb to the second floor rather than a ladder, and boards taken out for easy water gun fire. I was generally making a mess. There were boards all over the backyard.
My dad was upset at this, and he told me to, promptly, clean up the mess before I stepped on a nail. I argued and rolled my eyes, but he would have none of it. Finally, I stormed off.
And as I was walking, I realized that there was a board stuck to my shoe. I had stepped on it as I stormed, and the exposed nail had gone into the sole of my shoe. I kept walking, hoping that my father had not seen it, since it proved every word he had said. In fact, he didn’t notice. I cleaned up the yard and told him the story years later.
It was a rather silly point. I cannot tell you why I was so opposed to cleaning the yard. I suppose I was just interested in my own thing, and that got in the way.
Is that how we view the Bible? As something that gets in the way of our own thing? In truth, the world is filled with pitfalls, and the Bible, in part, is designed to help us avoid them. It is designed to lead us to life.
Sometimes we are just too involved with what we are doing to notice that board in the yard with the nail sticking out. We say, “But I want to do this!”, not realizing that something more important is at stake. Something larger than our petty lusts and desires is going on.
When Jesus came, He came so that we could have life. But the words He was saying rubbed certain people the wrong way. They were only interested in this small issue, or this tiny pleasure. They were so blinded by things they were doing that they did not understand that something huge was going on.
So they killed Him.
Do we avoid the Word of God because we’re too busy with our own thing? Do we ignore some of its commands? We may think we would lose out of some pleasure if we turned to Christ, but we wouldn’t. Instead, we would gain something so much greater.
-Proverbs 4:2
When I was very young, my father built me a great fort in the backyard. It was two storeys tall with walls any everything. We had it for several years, but I grew up, and there really was no need for it anymore. So he decided to take it down.
Since it was going to be destroyed, I asked permission to alter it for a few weeks. I made it more rugged and military-like, with a rope to climb to the second floor rather than a ladder, and boards taken out for easy water gun fire. I was generally making a mess. There were boards all over the backyard.
My dad was upset at this, and he told me to, promptly, clean up the mess before I stepped on a nail. I argued and rolled my eyes, but he would have none of it. Finally, I stormed off.
And as I was walking, I realized that there was a board stuck to my shoe. I had stepped on it as I stormed, and the exposed nail had gone into the sole of my shoe. I kept walking, hoping that my father had not seen it, since it proved every word he had said. In fact, he didn’t notice. I cleaned up the yard and told him the story years later.
It was a rather silly point. I cannot tell you why I was so opposed to cleaning the yard. I suppose I was just interested in my own thing, and that got in the way.
Is that how we view the Bible? As something that gets in the way of our own thing? In truth, the world is filled with pitfalls, and the Bible, in part, is designed to help us avoid them. It is designed to lead us to life.
Sometimes we are just too involved with what we are doing to notice that board in the yard with the nail sticking out. We say, “But I want to do this!”, not realizing that something more important is at stake. Something larger than our petty lusts and desires is going on.
When Jesus came, He came so that we could have life. But the words He was saying rubbed certain people the wrong way. They were only interested in this small issue, or this tiny pleasure. They were so blinded by things they were doing that they did not understand that something huge was going on.
So they killed Him.
Do we avoid the Word of God because we’re too busy with our own thing? Do we ignore some of its commands? We may think we would lose out of some pleasure if we turned to Christ, but we wouldn’t. Instead, we would gain something so much greater.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Podcast: The Trouble with Looking Over Your Neighbor’s Fence
This is a transcript of our current podcast. To subscribe to the podcast using iTunes, please click here. To listen to the podcast without iTunes, please follow this link.“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
-Exodus 20:17
Well, this is it. The last one. We’ve been going through the Ten Commandments for a couple of months here, and we’ve reached number 10. We’ve been building to this particular one for a while, if you think about it. The first half of the commandments deal basically with our relationship with God, and the second half of the commandments deal with our relationship with others. In that latter half, the first few of those have told us not to sin against them in deed. That’s where we shouldn’t steal or murder or commit adultery. Then we looked at how we shouldn’t sin against them in word. Now God tells us not to sin against others in thought.
And you have to admit, this is a big one. We are always jealous over the stuff other people have. I remember as a kid once, a friend of mine and I were playing with our toys, and he had this one vehicle the characters could ride, and that thing made me so jealous. I couldn’t imagine anything cooler.
As adults, this jealousy comes out in different ways. Only today I overheard a conversation two men were having about another man’s car. When one family remodels their house, suddenly their friends are discontent with their own décor. Sometimes this jealousy is over a wife. Sometimes it is over a family. Someone from a broken home will be jealous over someone down the street with a solid family structure. It can be income, possessions, or an automatic sprinkler system.
Sometimes we disguise that covetousness under the guise of virtue. We think, “That family has so much money, but they never seem to be doing anything for the church or the poor! It would make it so much easier if they would just give a little more.” Which may be true, but God calls us to be generous from our own purse, not someone else’s. It’s very easy to volunteer someone else’s money, but it’s not very holy.
This jealousy can so easily turn to resentment. It can so easily turn to discontentment. There will always be someone with more stuff than me. If I start comparing myself to those people, I will never be content with what I have. We start talking bad about our neighbors behind their backs. We start getting angry at God because we’re only just making it. It is this sin that leads to so many others.
But what this commandment tells us is this – to love our neighbors as ourselves. To care for them, whatever they have or whoever they are. No matter what they do, respond in love. And you know what? If you follow this commandment, you’re not going to have trouble with the ones that come immediately before it. You won’t steal, kill, bear false witness, or commit adultery. Because you can’t do those things against those you love.
But this is also the biggest challenge. I can, by sheer force of will, keep myself from killing and stealing and the like. But can I force myself from sinning in thought? Not likely. Not completely.
We are sinners by nature. We can mold our actions with time, but our hearts are much harder to tame. We are filled with lust, greed, ambition, pride, and selfishness. We covet everything.
But that is why Jesus died. Instead of coveting the stuff of others, He gave up everything, even His life, out of love for us. He came to earth and died, and in that death He took the price we should have paid for our sin. If we repent and believe in Him, we will be saved. But more than that, we will be given the Holy Spirit to guide and train our hearts, making it possible for us to love our neighbors without getting jealous of that awesome surround sound system they have.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Shut up and pay attention!
“Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,”
-Proverbs 4:1
Okay everyone, shut up for a minute.
Seriously. When’s the last time you just listened? I’ve been around you; I know you don’t do it. I’ve seen you at meetings, giving your opinion about everything. I’ve seen you at church, talking about the flaws in the message. I’ve seen you with your family, where everyone is talking and not a word is heard. And you’ve seen me too.
As children, we learn to express ourselves long before we learn to be silent and attentive. We never seem to get that equation quite right. Can you imagine how many more words are spoken in this world than are heard?
Just today I was trying to speak to a customer about something, and she didn’t listen to a single word I said. It was fairly annoying, especially since she was complaining about something the law required me to do. But before I can get too annoyed, I have to wonder just how attentive I’ve been to others.
We have a big problem in this age with authority. The very word has a negative connotation now. Even Christians will often deny the right of the government to wield authority, or of church elders to hold them accountable for moral issues. “You can’t judge me” has become a common phrase even in sanctuaries.
We talk all day about the right to free speech. Which is great as things go, but what about the responsibility to listen?
Our desire to go our own way extends to the way we treat the Bible. Most Christians don’t read it at all. If they do, they ignore certain parts, saying those parts are cultural or doesn’t apply any more. We write books and blogs, justifying those low views of Scripture. We keep talking, so we don’t have to listen.
Solomon begins this section of Proverbs with, again, the call to listen. Pay attention, he is saying. This is important.
Authority is not a bad word. The right authority over our lives will save us from a thousand bad decisions and a thousand hurts. A good model of virtue will keep us from the wrong paths. A standard above us will draw us every upward.
Even Jesus, when He was on earth, placed Himself under the authority of the Father and Scripture. He studied the Word, learned it, and obeyed. When He was tempted, the Word provided His answers. When He was tested by the Pharisees, the Word gave Him His guidance.
He above us all could have claimed all the answers. In fact, He had them. But as an example for us, He walked in obedience to the Father. He listened, and He paid attention.
Have you been trying to go your own way in life? It may work for a while, but it won’t work forever. If it doesn’t catch up with you sooner, one day you’ll face death. And in death, there are only two paths – one that leads to God, and one that goes your own way. One that leads to life, or one you will stubbornly take to destruction.
Listen. Pay attention. This is a question of life and death. As a dying patient will put himself under the authority of a good physician, so should you place yourself under authority of He who can save you. Repent and believe, and you will be saved.
-Proverbs 4:1
Okay everyone, shut up for a minute.
Seriously. When’s the last time you just listened? I’ve been around you; I know you don’t do it. I’ve seen you at meetings, giving your opinion about everything. I’ve seen you at church, talking about the flaws in the message. I’ve seen you with your family, where everyone is talking and not a word is heard. And you’ve seen me too.
As children, we learn to express ourselves long before we learn to be silent and attentive. We never seem to get that equation quite right. Can you imagine how many more words are spoken in this world than are heard?
Just today I was trying to speak to a customer about something, and she didn’t listen to a single word I said. It was fairly annoying, especially since she was complaining about something the law required me to do. But before I can get too annoyed, I have to wonder just how attentive I’ve been to others.
We have a big problem in this age with authority. The very word has a negative connotation now. Even Christians will often deny the right of the government to wield authority, or of church elders to hold them accountable for moral issues. “You can’t judge me” has become a common phrase even in sanctuaries.
We talk all day about the right to free speech. Which is great as things go, but what about the responsibility to listen?
Our desire to go our own way extends to the way we treat the Bible. Most Christians don’t read it at all. If they do, they ignore certain parts, saying those parts are cultural or doesn’t apply any more. We write books and blogs, justifying those low views of Scripture. We keep talking, so we don’t have to listen.
Solomon begins this section of Proverbs with, again, the call to listen. Pay attention, he is saying. This is important.
Authority is not a bad word. The right authority over our lives will save us from a thousand bad decisions and a thousand hurts. A good model of virtue will keep us from the wrong paths. A standard above us will draw us every upward.
Even Jesus, when He was on earth, placed Himself under the authority of the Father and Scripture. He studied the Word, learned it, and obeyed. When He was tempted, the Word provided His answers. When He was tested by the Pharisees, the Word gave Him His guidance.
He above us all could have claimed all the answers. In fact, He had them. But as an example for us, He walked in obedience to the Father. He listened, and He paid attention.
Have you been trying to go your own way in life? It may work for a while, but it won’t work forever. If it doesn’t catch up with you sooner, one day you’ll face death. And in death, there are only two paths – one that leads to God, and one that goes your own way. One that leads to life, or one you will stubbornly take to destruction.
Listen. Pay attention. This is a question of life and death. As a dying patient will put himself under the authority of a good physician, so should you place yourself under authority of He who can save you. Repent and believe, and you will be saved.
Monday, July 20, 2009
What will you inherit?
“The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.”
-Proverbs 3:35
Today I’ve been thinking a little about what the world puts up as wisdom. And, honestly, the line of thoughts on this subject makes me very sad. I see people in the grocery store looking at the magazines, trying to find the sage advice that will fix their lives. I see people flocking to Oprah and Dr. Phil, hoping they will say something that will mend the mistakes. We turn to politicians, the great wise leaders of this age, for ideas to fix the problems other politicians created. And then we reelect those politicians when they only make things worse. We ask celebrities their opinions on everything, hoping some manner of wisdom will be gleaned. We turn to horoscopes and fortune cookies. We all bought into the great lie that we need to live for our own pleasure, our own greed, and then we desperately search for wisdom to fill us up when money and sex do not.
Those who come forward as “the wise” very rarely are. They spout axioms and encourage more greed and selfishness. Concentrate on yourselves, they say. Somehow, a change in job or spouse will solve everything.
In religion, the great thinkers tell us everyone is okay, that surely we’re just fine in God’s eyes, which may be the silliest statement of them all. And yet when someone points out that we’re not okay, and that we probably should start looking to God and living for Him, he is mocked as intolerant and narrow-minded.
Scientists are absolutely sure there is no God. Which is quite a bold statement, considering that we’ve only experienced a short sliver of time compared to the history of time, and that we’ve only seen a tiny slice of earth, which is a tiny slice of the Solar System, which is a tiny slice of the galaxy. Quite a bold statement to say that we can know for a fact that there is no God when we are not omniscient to know that for sure. (And if we were, we would be God.)
Wisdom in God’s eyes is not like wisdom in the world’s eyes. They can sometimes be as different as night and day, which is why Paul wrote of others, “Claiming to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22). Sometimes, the most amazing statements the world can offer (such as, “There is no God”) collapse under the weight of God’s understanding.
Is it wise to ignore the counsel of the truly wise? Obviously, it is not. So when the author of wisdom, God Himself, speaks to us, the wise will be silent and listen. That’s another part of wisdom the world does not understand – silence. The wise of the world tend to speak much more than listen.
The spiritually wise seek the ways of God, for those ways are unfailing, straight, and true. They lead to life.
It is Jesus who shows us this way. He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Who that is wise does not seek these things? Who does not want the way? Who that is wise does not seek truth? What about life?
The spiritually wise seek Christ. When I was lost, I thought myself wise. I thought so highly of myself. But it was when I submitted in humility to Him who is truth that I learned how foolish I had actually been.
When I follow Him, I am astounded at what I learned. When I repent when He tells me I should, I always find that He was right all along. When I obey, I find life in every step, and I will for eternity.
The wise will seek for themselves to see if these claims are true. Only the foolish will dismiss them. The fools may have the world, but that is all they will inherit. The wise will inherit life.
-Proverbs 3:35
Today I’ve been thinking a little about what the world puts up as wisdom. And, honestly, the line of thoughts on this subject makes me very sad. I see people in the grocery store looking at the magazines, trying to find the sage advice that will fix their lives. I see people flocking to Oprah and Dr. Phil, hoping they will say something that will mend the mistakes. We turn to politicians, the great wise leaders of this age, for ideas to fix the problems other politicians created. And then we reelect those politicians when they only make things worse. We ask celebrities their opinions on everything, hoping some manner of wisdom will be gleaned. We turn to horoscopes and fortune cookies. We all bought into the great lie that we need to live for our own pleasure, our own greed, and then we desperately search for wisdom to fill us up when money and sex do not.
Those who come forward as “the wise” very rarely are. They spout axioms and encourage more greed and selfishness. Concentrate on yourselves, they say. Somehow, a change in job or spouse will solve everything.
In religion, the great thinkers tell us everyone is okay, that surely we’re just fine in God’s eyes, which may be the silliest statement of them all. And yet when someone points out that we’re not okay, and that we probably should start looking to God and living for Him, he is mocked as intolerant and narrow-minded.
Scientists are absolutely sure there is no God. Which is quite a bold statement, considering that we’ve only experienced a short sliver of time compared to the history of time, and that we’ve only seen a tiny slice of earth, which is a tiny slice of the Solar System, which is a tiny slice of the galaxy. Quite a bold statement to say that we can know for a fact that there is no God when we are not omniscient to know that for sure. (And if we were, we would be God.)
Wisdom in God’s eyes is not like wisdom in the world’s eyes. They can sometimes be as different as night and day, which is why Paul wrote of others, “Claiming to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:22). Sometimes, the most amazing statements the world can offer (such as, “There is no God”) collapse under the weight of God’s understanding.
Is it wise to ignore the counsel of the truly wise? Obviously, it is not. So when the author of wisdom, God Himself, speaks to us, the wise will be silent and listen. That’s another part of wisdom the world does not understand – silence. The wise of the world tend to speak much more than listen.
The spiritually wise seek the ways of God, for those ways are unfailing, straight, and true. They lead to life.
It is Jesus who shows us this way. He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Who that is wise does not seek these things? Who does not want the way? Who that is wise does not seek truth? What about life?
The spiritually wise seek Christ. When I was lost, I thought myself wise. I thought so highly of myself. But it was when I submitted in humility to Him who is truth that I learned how foolish I had actually been.
When I follow Him, I am astounded at what I learned. When I repent when He tells me I should, I always find that He was right all along. When I obey, I find life in every step, and I will for eternity.
The wise will seek for themselves to see if these claims are true. Only the foolish will dismiss them. The fools may have the world, but that is all they will inherit. The wise will inherit life.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
I need to get through that door!
“Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.”
-Proverbs 3:34
It’s one of my pet peeves – those people who try to bully their way into everything. If there’s anything they want, anything they want to be a part of, they will shove and push and complain until they get it.
Half the time, they succeed, but everyone gets annoyed when they do. Everyone sees the injustice of it, and it just grates on you.
It’s so much different when someone comes in humility – those people who respectfully ask, who go through the right processes. In the long run, I think this tends to get better results. A kind word does wonders with people, while such pride turns people off. I have a tendency to resist people when they try to put me on the defensive. But if you come kindly and respectfully, that will go a long way with me. And when I go to others in that same way, I tend to fare a little better.
But that’s not our first instinct, is it? Our first instinct is to demand our rights. There is something about the human heart that just NEEDS to get through that closed door. It may be an exclusive club, a special deal, getting out of a speeding ticket, or a beautiful girlfriend that should be way out of your league. If there is a door that seems closed, it is out nature to try to bust it down.
So many of our arguments and feuds are based on pride alone. I am so convinced I am right that I am willing to destroy a relationship rather than accept otherwise. That is that closed door in that moment – being justified as right – and we will knock down anyone who stands in our way.
Meanwhile, you get someone humble enough to not care whether he is right or not, and you’ll have a hard time having an argument. You get someone who is trying to work out of love, and the relationship will probably remain strong.
We can’t stand those people who always act out of pride, and yet we are the exact same way. We’re that way with our friends, our family, our coworkers, the businesses we frequent, and our spouses. We’re like that with God.
We’re probably like that with God most of all. You ask people on the street if they are going to Heaven, they’ll tell you a resounding Yes, even if they can’t really explain why they are so sure of it. Keep talking to them: you’ll find out they want the Final Judgment to be on their terms, not God’s. They’ll say, “I’m a good person,” without a single mention of what God may consider to be good. “God will let me in,” they say in the same way they say, “That club will let me in.”
In truth, it is pride that got Satan kicked out of Heaven. Why do we think we will fare better with it? Why do we think God will let us into Heaven because WE say He will? We scoff at His expectations, at His Word, and His Son. We rely, instead, on ourselves.
In the New Testament, this passage is quoted as saying that “God opposes the proud.” That’s not so hard to understand. We all oppose the proud. We just don’t think of ourselves as “the proud.” But we are. We scoff at God and instead tell Him what He needs to do with us.
Jesus told of two men who went to the Temple to pray. The first thanked God that he wasn’t like all of these sinners around him. The second begged for mercy. Mercy was granted to the second, but not to the proud first man. Which one are you?
Jesus too came in humility, even to a death upon a Cross. In that humble death, He has provided us a way to forgiveness. In our pride God opposes us, but Jesus took our place in punishment, so now we can come in humility and be saved. Without Him there is no way. If we repent and believe, we will find His favor.
-Proverbs 3:34
It’s one of my pet peeves – those people who try to bully their way into everything. If there’s anything they want, anything they want to be a part of, they will shove and push and complain until they get it.
Half the time, they succeed, but everyone gets annoyed when they do. Everyone sees the injustice of it, and it just grates on you.
It’s so much different when someone comes in humility – those people who respectfully ask, who go through the right processes. In the long run, I think this tends to get better results. A kind word does wonders with people, while such pride turns people off. I have a tendency to resist people when they try to put me on the defensive. But if you come kindly and respectfully, that will go a long way with me. And when I go to others in that same way, I tend to fare a little better.
But that’s not our first instinct, is it? Our first instinct is to demand our rights. There is something about the human heart that just NEEDS to get through that closed door. It may be an exclusive club, a special deal, getting out of a speeding ticket, or a beautiful girlfriend that should be way out of your league. If there is a door that seems closed, it is out nature to try to bust it down.
So many of our arguments and feuds are based on pride alone. I am so convinced I am right that I am willing to destroy a relationship rather than accept otherwise. That is that closed door in that moment – being justified as right – and we will knock down anyone who stands in our way.
Meanwhile, you get someone humble enough to not care whether he is right or not, and you’ll have a hard time having an argument. You get someone who is trying to work out of love, and the relationship will probably remain strong.
We can’t stand those people who always act out of pride, and yet we are the exact same way. We’re that way with our friends, our family, our coworkers, the businesses we frequent, and our spouses. We’re like that with God.
We’re probably like that with God most of all. You ask people on the street if they are going to Heaven, they’ll tell you a resounding Yes, even if they can’t really explain why they are so sure of it. Keep talking to them: you’ll find out they want the Final Judgment to be on their terms, not God’s. They’ll say, “I’m a good person,” without a single mention of what God may consider to be good. “God will let me in,” they say in the same way they say, “That club will let me in.”
In truth, it is pride that got Satan kicked out of Heaven. Why do we think we will fare better with it? Why do we think God will let us into Heaven because WE say He will? We scoff at His expectations, at His Word, and His Son. We rely, instead, on ourselves.
In the New Testament, this passage is quoted as saying that “God opposes the proud.” That’s not so hard to understand. We all oppose the proud. We just don’t think of ourselves as “the proud.” But we are. We scoff at God and instead tell Him what He needs to do with us.
Jesus told of two men who went to the Temple to pray. The first thanked God that he wasn’t like all of these sinners around him. The second begged for mercy. Mercy was granted to the second, but not to the proud first man. Which one are you?
Jesus too came in humility, even to a death upon a Cross. In that humble death, He has provided us a way to forgiveness. In our pride God opposes us, but Jesus took our place in punishment, so now we can come in humility and be saved. Without Him there is no way. If we repent and believe, we will find His favor.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Who is cursed; who is blessed?
“The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.”
-Proverbs 3:33
I think we wish this were more true. Or let me put it this way – I think that we believe this is less true than we would like. We so often see evil people prosper and wish something would happen to make them suffer.
So often we have heard God’s justice questioned – “What kind of God would allow this to happen?” some will ask. “Why would God allow me to suffer?” Indeed, for a time at least, it does seem that “his sun rise[s] on the evil and on the good, and [he] sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
I wonder what we would say if we saw as God sees. I wonder if we would make the same claims if we understood as He does. We howl at the pain in our lives, little thinking of the greater vision of what is happening. A dog who is undergoing surgery does not realize the surgery will save his life; he only knows the pain of the moment. Are we like that? Without the fullness of time to show us the meaning of it all, do we wonder about justice for the moment?
In this moment, I may compare myself to someone I saw on television, and I will think, “I am a good person.” God sees my life as a whole and holds it against His perfect standard. He sees my pride, lust, arrogance, hatred, anger, and greed. He sees all of that. If it were laid before on a table, surely I would cry out like Isaiah did when he saw Jesus, realizing immediately that I deserve death.
He can see the dark currents that my sin has set off in my life. He can see the sadness and regret that has clouded my heart. He can see the loneliness caused when my sin drove others away. You may only see the car I drive, the home I have, my job, and my wife, but He sees more.
He can see how these sins have tainted everything.
And He can see the end, when all will be judged for their own actions and motives. If a murderer is arrested, do we complain that he has not received his punishment before the trial even starts? No, of course not. We wait until the trial is done, and then judge the justice of the sentence and how it is carried out. In the same way, our trial has not yet been, and justice is coming swiftly. It may not be here yet, but the wicked will find their just end.
God sees that too, and so He sees the justice that will come. It is a justice that I may fear, for I know my own heart, except for Jesus.
It is true – we all deserve death, but it is the righteousness of Christ that brings the ultimately blessing. For those who repent and believe in Him, we will find the blessing that comes with His righteousness, not our own. We will find life. In love He gave us the gift of His Blood, and that Blood can pay for our sins.
The blessings I gain all come from Him. In the best ways my wife and I are one are because we are one around Him. We have been blessed already by His forgiveness, and we will find blessings still to come.
-Proverbs 3:33
I think we wish this were more true. Or let me put it this way – I think that we believe this is less true than we would like. We so often see evil people prosper and wish something would happen to make them suffer.
So often we have heard God’s justice questioned – “What kind of God would allow this to happen?” some will ask. “Why would God allow me to suffer?” Indeed, for a time at least, it does seem that “his sun rise[s] on the evil and on the good, and [he] sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
I wonder what we would say if we saw as God sees. I wonder if we would make the same claims if we understood as He does. We howl at the pain in our lives, little thinking of the greater vision of what is happening. A dog who is undergoing surgery does not realize the surgery will save his life; he only knows the pain of the moment. Are we like that? Without the fullness of time to show us the meaning of it all, do we wonder about justice for the moment?
In this moment, I may compare myself to someone I saw on television, and I will think, “I am a good person.” God sees my life as a whole and holds it against His perfect standard. He sees my pride, lust, arrogance, hatred, anger, and greed. He sees all of that. If it were laid before on a table, surely I would cry out like Isaiah did when he saw Jesus, realizing immediately that I deserve death.
He can see the dark currents that my sin has set off in my life. He can see the sadness and regret that has clouded my heart. He can see the loneliness caused when my sin drove others away. You may only see the car I drive, the home I have, my job, and my wife, but He sees more.
He can see how these sins have tainted everything.
And He can see the end, when all will be judged for their own actions and motives. If a murderer is arrested, do we complain that he has not received his punishment before the trial even starts? No, of course not. We wait until the trial is done, and then judge the justice of the sentence and how it is carried out. In the same way, our trial has not yet been, and justice is coming swiftly. It may not be here yet, but the wicked will find their just end.
God sees that too, and so He sees the justice that will come. It is a justice that I may fear, for I know my own heart, except for Jesus.
It is true – we all deserve death, but it is the righteousness of Christ that brings the ultimately blessing. For those who repent and believe in Him, we will find the blessing that comes with His righteousness, not our own. We will find life. In love He gave us the gift of His Blood, and that Blood can pay for our sins.
The blessings I gain all come from Him. In the best ways my wife and I are one are because we are one around Him. We have been blessed already by His forgiveness, and we will find blessings still to come.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Podcast: The Trouble with Making Stuff Up
This is a transcript of our current podcast. To subscribe to the podcast using iTunes, please click here. To listen to the podcast without iTunes, please follow this link.“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
-Exodus 20:16
I cannot tell you how many lies I have heard in my career. No matter where I have worked, people are so willing to throw someone else under the bus when it can get them something. And it’s not something they resort to have hours of negotiations. No, it’s the first thing they jump to. If they don’t get what they want, they’ll say, “Well, that other person who works here told me it would be done.” “She told me it would be here by now!” “That person never returns my calls!”
Of course, all of these can be legitimate statements, but so often they are things we say in order to try to tilt the situation in our favor.
Sometimes we do it for sympathy, or even to be funny. While working on this podcast, I became painfully aware of how often I get into conversations about people who aren’t there to defend themselves. This person did this, or that other one said that. Maybe it’s completely true, but without the full story. Someone can do a hundred things perfectly in a day, but the one thing he messes up will be discussed around the office. Sometimes, even by me.
This commandment speaks about being truthful about others in court, certainly. It also speaks about being truthful about others in every day life. It means not lying about the previous customer service rep when on the phone. It means not starting (or spreading) rumors about someone you don’t like that much, just because you don’t like him. It means not repeating that embarrassing moment for a laugh. It means not complaining to your friends because a coworker messed something up. It means not doing harm with your tongue.
Which is hard to do, because it is so easy to talk bad about someone who made you angry. It’s so easy to tilt the story a little in your direction and against your coworker when the boss wants answers. It’s so easy to call someone a name when you are angry and want to hurt that person. It’s so easy to not be loving in every thing we say.
When Jesus was tried, those against Him brought false witnesses so they could have the result they wanted. But no less harsh were the words of Peter, when he denied being a follower of Christ. Or those of the thief who mocked Him, speaking falsely of who He really is.
And that may be the worst way we break this commandment – when we speak poorly of our Lord in order to fit in, or when we do not defend Him out of fear.
Jesus’ words were never false. He never gave a half truth about someone. Sometimes He was harsh, and sometimes cutting, but never false. And so when He calls us to repentance and promises us eternal life when we follow Him, we can trust those words. We can believe every statement, for He would not bear false witness.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Don’t be devious
“for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.”
-Proverbs 3:32
I really don’t like the modern theory of customer service, which is really only this: The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The concept is this – those who complain loudly enough will get their way. If you don’t like what the person in front of you is saying, ask for a manager. Work your way up. Most of the time, you’ll get what you want.
Ironically, the best customers will almost never ask for a deal. They’ll come quietly and respectfully and take what is given. Those are the customers who really deserve the lower prices or special deals. Some businesses still operate this way, but too few of them.
I worked in a bookstore once, and one lady complained that a book was scratched up and she deserved a discount. Honestly, I don’t recall there being a mark on that book at all, but she insisted that we call a manager. The line behind her was growing as she argued with the manager. Later, when I spoke with her again, she told me that she would make such complaints regularly. She would find something wrong everywhere she went and would demand a discount no matter where she was.
It worked for her, but while the manager was arguing with her, I was looking at the people who were waiting in line, wondering if any of them would get such deals. I had a few customers I thought deserved them, since they were so loyal and kind, but we never made those offers.
Sadly, in this world, it is often the devious who win. It is often those who will make demands over everything, as though they deserved one bit of it.
There are so many who are willing to step on anyone to get a dollar (and sometimes only that!). And I wonder how many I’ve willingly stepped on in my own life. I can think of a few.
The momentary reward will fad. That dollar will be gone eventually, probably very quickly. Even if you keep doing it, keep taking, taking, taking, it will not last beyond the grave. But you will. I don’t care about your portfolio – how do YOU look?
All our tricks and betrayals over money may just work in this life, but they do not work with God. He sees through every motive, every word. It is our heart He judges, and no amount of complaining or threatening to call His manager is going to help you.
Jesus acted rightly in every circumstance. In every way He was upright. He never manipulated others for His own gain. He never manipulated the system to achieve His desires. He walked in honesty and integrity, and it so offended those around Him that they killed Him. He did not yell and curse for His way. Instead, He came in love. For us.
And now, Jesus sits at the right hand of God. He will return in glory, and every knee will bow before Him. It was not His bank account that brought Him this far, and our own bank accounts will not ingratiate us with Him. It will be our hearts.
-Proverbs 3:32
I really don’t like the modern theory of customer service, which is really only this: The squeaky wheel gets the grease. The concept is this – those who complain loudly enough will get their way. If you don’t like what the person in front of you is saying, ask for a manager. Work your way up. Most of the time, you’ll get what you want.
Ironically, the best customers will almost never ask for a deal. They’ll come quietly and respectfully and take what is given. Those are the customers who really deserve the lower prices or special deals. Some businesses still operate this way, but too few of them.
I worked in a bookstore once, and one lady complained that a book was scratched up and she deserved a discount. Honestly, I don’t recall there being a mark on that book at all, but she insisted that we call a manager. The line behind her was growing as she argued with the manager. Later, when I spoke with her again, she told me that she would make such complaints regularly. She would find something wrong everywhere she went and would demand a discount no matter where she was.
It worked for her, but while the manager was arguing with her, I was looking at the people who were waiting in line, wondering if any of them would get such deals. I had a few customers I thought deserved them, since they were so loyal and kind, but we never made those offers.
Sadly, in this world, it is often the devious who win. It is often those who will make demands over everything, as though they deserved one bit of it.
There are so many who are willing to step on anyone to get a dollar (and sometimes only that!). And I wonder how many I’ve willingly stepped on in my own life. I can think of a few.
The momentary reward will fad. That dollar will be gone eventually, probably very quickly. Even if you keep doing it, keep taking, taking, taking, it will not last beyond the grave. But you will. I don’t care about your portfolio – how do YOU look?
All our tricks and betrayals over money may just work in this life, but they do not work with God. He sees through every motive, every word. It is our heart He judges, and no amount of complaining or threatening to call His manager is going to help you.
Jesus acted rightly in every circumstance. In every way He was upright. He never manipulated others for His own gain. He never manipulated the system to achieve His desires. He walked in honesty and integrity, and it so offended those around Him that they killed Him. He did not yell and curse for His way. Instead, He came in love. For us.
And now, Jesus sits at the right hand of God. He will return in glory, and every knee will bow before Him. It was not His bank account that brought Him this far, and our own bank accounts will not ingratiate us with Him. It will be our hearts.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Don’t envy evil
“Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,”
-Proverbs 3:31
I was getting my lunch together today to eat and then write this very entry when I happened upon some celebrity gossip magazines. There are plenty of them in grocery stores and the like, surely. The covers promised juicy gossip about the most faddish stars. What draws us to these magazines? Gossip? Of course. Envy? Yes. Godliness? Obviously not. We want to be like these people, always on TV and living in enormous homes.
It’s not just Hollywood. We regard almost anyone wealthy in this way. We either want to know how they did it (so we can do it too) or tear them down out of jealousy. My home state, as do many, has a lottery, where the state makes tons of money every year off people who are trying to get it all without working for it. We want to be rich. We want to be successful.
This is not a verse against success. The Bible is not opposed to success or being wealthy. It’s about what we’re willing to do to get there.
This verse tells us not to envy violent men. “Violent men” is the literal translation, but the connotation gives us something a little more board. It’s talking about those who murder and hurt to get their way, those who cheat and steal. Those who are successful by pulling others down.
We know about people like this, right? We hear about the CEOs who get rich off the backs of their employees. We hear about those who take lavish vacations while at the same time firing people “to save money.” We hear about those who stab others in the back just to get ahead. We hear of those who manipulate others just to make a buck.
Do we envy them? How far would you go to be like one of those celebrities? Who would you step on to get there? Who would you hurt? What price would you pay?
You may scoff at the question. I wonder if you tried to make a coworker look bad last year so you would get the promotion instead. I wonder if you cheated on your taxes, making another pay your share, to save a little. Did you try to squeeze every penny out of a business deal? How much do you neglect your family in order to stay late at work?
When Jesus was tempted in the desert, he was offered the world if He would just bow a knee to Satan. Just like that, He could have had it all. Instead, He chose homelessness, ridicule, and finally death. He did it because there are things that are more important than fame and money. There is love. And that’s why He died – for love.
We have all fallen into those moments of greed and envy, but on the Cross Jesus paid the price for the sins we have committed. Instead of taking all He the wealth He could from this world, He instead asked for the sin and death we should have paid. In repentance and faith in Him, we can be free from our envy and greed. Instead of seeking after those things, we can find life.
-Proverbs 3:31
I was getting my lunch together today to eat and then write this very entry when I happened upon some celebrity gossip magazines. There are plenty of them in grocery stores and the like, surely. The covers promised juicy gossip about the most faddish stars. What draws us to these magazines? Gossip? Of course. Envy? Yes. Godliness? Obviously not. We want to be like these people, always on TV and living in enormous homes.
It’s not just Hollywood. We regard almost anyone wealthy in this way. We either want to know how they did it (so we can do it too) or tear them down out of jealousy. My home state, as do many, has a lottery, where the state makes tons of money every year off people who are trying to get it all without working for it. We want to be rich. We want to be successful.
This is not a verse against success. The Bible is not opposed to success or being wealthy. It’s about what we’re willing to do to get there.
This verse tells us not to envy violent men. “Violent men” is the literal translation, but the connotation gives us something a little more board. It’s talking about those who murder and hurt to get their way, those who cheat and steal. Those who are successful by pulling others down.
We know about people like this, right? We hear about the CEOs who get rich off the backs of their employees. We hear about those who take lavish vacations while at the same time firing people “to save money.” We hear about those who stab others in the back just to get ahead. We hear of those who manipulate others just to make a buck.
Do we envy them? How far would you go to be like one of those celebrities? Who would you step on to get there? Who would you hurt? What price would you pay?
You may scoff at the question. I wonder if you tried to make a coworker look bad last year so you would get the promotion instead. I wonder if you cheated on your taxes, making another pay your share, to save a little. Did you try to squeeze every penny out of a business deal? How much do you neglect your family in order to stay late at work?
When Jesus was tempted in the desert, he was offered the world if He would just bow a knee to Satan. Just like that, He could have had it all. Instead, He chose homelessness, ridicule, and finally death. He did it because there are things that are more important than fame and money. There is love. And that’s why He died – for love.
We have all fallen into those moments of greed and envy, but on the Cross Jesus paid the price for the sins we have committed. Instead of taking all He the wealth He could from this world, He instead asked for the sin and death we should have paid. In repentance and faith in Him, we can be free from our envy and greed. Instead of seeking after those things, we can find life.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Don’t do evil over nothing
“Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.”
-Proverbs 3:30
First reaction when reading this verse was this – what in the world am I going to talk about here? Am I going to try to encourage people to not get into battles when there is nothing to fight over? Do we really do that? Surely we don’t really wage wars over nothing, do we?
Then I thought about it, and my second reaction was this – how in the world am I going to write about all the wars we wage over nothing?
I know we always THINK we have a good reason to get angry at one another, to really go at it, to argue and battle. At the time, these reasons seem really, really important.
But what are we standing out ground over? In politics we start massive arguments and debates over two people who usually agree on almost every issue. At work we instantly dislike those who may get in the way of a promotion, even though we are working at the same place for the same goal. At home you get angry at the kids for leaving a toy out on the floor.
In the Church, we seem constantly angry at other Christians over something. We will mock those who would agree with us on every single point except maybe baptism or the rapture (it amazes me how dogmatic people are on the rapture, by the way). Some churches will not allow those who have a slightly different view of communion from partaking of the table, even if that person agrees with every single critical point of the Christian faith. And then some whole churches will focus their wrath against sinners of some sort, either homosexuals, drunks, or fornicators.
Some denominations have even been birthed out of frustration because of this struggle. They falsely believe that it is the doctrine that is the problem, since we always fight over doctrine, so they toss doctrine out the window. And then what do they do? They mock churches that hold onto the Word, proving that it wasn’t the doctrine that was the problem at all, but us.
Every day, we hold our own private grudge matches against people who don’t use their blinkers, who live in sin, who didn’t agree with us at the last meeting, who sings too loudly at church (and off key at that!), or who talks in the theater.
And most of the time, these people have done very little, if any, harm. And even if they had, love would have solved the problem when hatred only makes things worse.
We fall so naturally and easily into cliques, into factions. Even with Christians, our default mode seems to be to run to the like-minded and shut out the rest of the world. But that is not what we have been called to do. We have been called to love.
If Jesus judged us with half the ferocity that we judge each other, we would all end up in damnation. Thankfully, He does not. If we repent and believe in Him, then we are not judged by our many, many sins, but by Grace.
Consider that next time you judge another for some small issue. How would you fare under the same degree of judgment. Let us treat each other with mercy, as He has treated us.
-Proverbs 3:30
First reaction when reading this verse was this – what in the world am I going to talk about here? Am I going to try to encourage people to not get into battles when there is nothing to fight over? Do we really do that? Surely we don’t really wage wars over nothing, do we?
Then I thought about it, and my second reaction was this – how in the world am I going to write about all the wars we wage over nothing?
I know we always THINK we have a good reason to get angry at one another, to really go at it, to argue and battle. At the time, these reasons seem really, really important.
But what are we standing out ground over? In politics we start massive arguments and debates over two people who usually agree on almost every issue. At work we instantly dislike those who may get in the way of a promotion, even though we are working at the same place for the same goal. At home you get angry at the kids for leaving a toy out on the floor.
In the Church, we seem constantly angry at other Christians over something. We will mock those who would agree with us on every single point except maybe baptism or the rapture (it amazes me how dogmatic people are on the rapture, by the way). Some churches will not allow those who have a slightly different view of communion from partaking of the table, even if that person agrees with every single critical point of the Christian faith. And then some whole churches will focus their wrath against sinners of some sort, either homosexuals, drunks, or fornicators.
Some denominations have even been birthed out of frustration because of this struggle. They falsely believe that it is the doctrine that is the problem, since we always fight over doctrine, so they toss doctrine out the window. And then what do they do? They mock churches that hold onto the Word, proving that it wasn’t the doctrine that was the problem at all, but us.
Every day, we hold our own private grudge matches against people who don’t use their blinkers, who live in sin, who didn’t agree with us at the last meeting, who sings too loudly at church (and off key at that!), or who talks in the theater.
And most of the time, these people have done very little, if any, harm. And even if they had, love would have solved the problem when hatred only makes things worse.
We fall so naturally and easily into cliques, into factions. Even with Christians, our default mode seems to be to run to the like-minded and shut out the rest of the world. But that is not what we have been called to do. We have been called to love.
If Jesus judged us with half the ferocity that we judge each other, we would all end up in damnation. Thankfully, He does not. If we repent and believe in Him, then we are not judged by our many, many sins, but by Grace.
Consider that next time you judge another for some small issue. How would you fare under the same degree of judgment. Let us treat each other with mercy, as He has treated us.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Don’t do evil
“Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.”
-Proverbs 3:29
For a few months while in college, I had a neighbor right above me. Every Saturday and Sunday mornings, starting at about 7:00 or 8:00, he would start playing country music really loud. I doubt that would be a problem for me today, since I am an early riser, but at the time, I was working on Friday and Saturday nights until after midnight. In addition, I absolutely loath modern country music, so this was sort of adding insult to injury.
As annoying as that was, it’s not really what this verse is talking about. Perhaps, when I was wakened so early by the noise, I would have considered this a grievous evil. And indeed, we should be considerate of our neighbors, but Solomon is thinking a little bigger here.
The Pharisees in Jesus’ day made the mistake of interpreting the word “neighbor” here to only mean those who live next to you or those whom you like. That’s not what it means. Your neighbor is, yes, those who live next to you and your friends, but it is also the people in your town, your countrymen, and even those in neighboring countries. They are the people you encounter online, those you see on the television, and those on the other side of the world who need your help. In short, everyone you encounter is your neighbor.
We don’t often plan evil for our friends, but what about our customers? Do we intentionally misrepresent ourselves to people for money? In politics, do we vote for those people who promise to shift problems to another county or state? For example, do we vote to have power plants built anywhere but where we live? Do we vote to increase the taxes on people of another tax bracket than we are in, like when we of the middle class vote to increase taxes on the wealthy? How quick are we to sue someone if there is a chance to get a little money? What about suing a company? That is easier still, since we sort of view companies as inhuman entities, not realizing that court judgments against them will result in stockholders losing sometimes much needed money and employees losing jobs. There are so many situations where we will use what power we have to take advantage of another person.
This becomes a lot easier as our cities grow bigger. I live in a city where I can pass someone on the street and never see that person again, simply because this city is so large. It’s so easy to take advantage of someone you will never see again.
This is one of the most wonderful things about Jesus – that He did not plan evil against us. He was mocked, challenged, beaten, betrayed, and crucified, and yet He still prayed for us to be forgiven. Surely we deserve evil against us; our lives are filled with selfishness, pride, hatred, lust, greed, and irreverence toward God, but still Jesus died to provide for us a way to return to the Father. If we repent and believe in Him, we will be saved.
We may not take that way. We may reject Him and go our own way. But if we do that, it is on us, not Him. He has given us chance after chance to come to life. He does not plan evil against us, but instead provides the way to good.
-Proverbs 3:29
For a few months while in college, I had a neighbor right above me. Every Saturday and Sunday mornings, starting at about 7:00 or 8:00, he would start playing country music really loud. I doubt that would be a problem for me today, since I am an early riser, but at the time, I was working on Friday and Saturday nights until after midnight. In addition, I absolutely loath modern country music, so this was sort of adding insult to injury.
As annoying as that was, it’s not really what this verse is talking about. Perhaps, when I was wakened so early by the noise, I would have considered this a grievous evil. And indeed, we should be considerate of our neighbors, but Solomon is thinking a little bigger here.
The Pharisees in Jesus’ day made the mistake of interpreting the word “neighbor” here to only mean those who live next to you or those whom you like. That’s not what it means. Your neighbor is, yes, those who live next to you and your friends, but it is also the people in your town, your countrymen, and even those in neighboring countries. They are the people you encounter online, those you see on the television, and those on the other side of the world who need your help. In short, everyone you encounter is your neighbor.
We don’t often plan evil for our friends, but what about our customers? Do we intentionally misrepresent ourselves to people for money? In politics, do we vote for those people who promise to shift problems to another county or state? For example, do we vote to have power plants built anywhere but where we live? Do we vote to increase the taxes on people of another tax bracket than we are in, like when we of the middle class vote to increase taxes on the wealthy? How quick are we to sue someone if there is a chance to get a little money? What about suing a company? That is easier still, since we sort of view companies as inhuman entities, not realizing that court judgments against them will result in stockholders losing sometimes much needed money and employees losing jobs. There are so many situations where we will use what power we have to take advantage of another person.
This becomes a lot easier as our cities grow bigger. I live in a city where I can pass someone on the street and never see that person again, simply because this city is so large. It’s so easy to take advantage of someone you will never see again.
This is one of the most wonderful things about Jesus – that He did not plan evil against us. He was mocked, challenged, beaten, betrayed, and crucified, and yet He still prayed for us to be forgiven. Surely we deserve evil against us; our lives are filled with selfishness, pride, hatred, lust, greed, and irreverence toward God, but still Jesus died to provide for us a way to return to the Father. If we repent and believe in Him, we will be saved.
We may not take that way. We may reject Him and go our own way. But if we do that, it is on us, not Him. He has given us chance after chance to come to life. He does not plan evil against us, but instead provides the way to good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)