Month: July 2012

RE Verse reading–Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31, James 5:1-6 (day six)  “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. . . with people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God”  (Mark 10:25-27)  People are sometimes shocked by the attitude of Christ toward money.  He is cautious, at best.  No absolute bias in scripture.  Abraham was wealthhy–and this by the blessing of God.  Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea . . .there are some who manage wealth in a way that pleases God and benefits the soul.  It is not the norm, however. Reading Luke 12, 16 and James 5 should be a warning.  The temptation to live in excess, to use wealth for self rather than service is very real.  We are all wealthy by the standards of the world and history. To avoid the Jesus-predicted pitfalls requires the help of God.  It is a miracle we all need.

RE Verse reading–Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31, James 5:1-6  (day five)  “So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God”  (12:21)  Taken together, the parables of Luke 12 and 16 give a sobering list of mistakes possible for people as blessed as we are.  Remember that fool translates moros –“a person who reaches inacurrate conclusions re. spiritual or moral truth”.  Just a beginning. . .It is foolish to always want more (12:15)  It is foolish to miss the blessing of God and the obligation it brings (12:17)  It is foolish to think that peace comes from possessions (12:18)  It is foolish to be unprepared for eternity (16-whole story)  It is foolish to spend wealth for self and not service (16–whole story) Blindness to these issues is, for Christ,  a moral category.  He believed that we could all see these things clearly if we were willing and that we are, therefore, accountable to God if we fail to.  What a foolish move that is!

RE Verse reading–Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31, James 5:1-6 (day four)  “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed”  (12:15)  It is a path to avoid.  Greed.  Some temptations must be faced head on.  This one should be avoided at the start.  Without diligence we all fall victim.  The “desire for more” (pleonektes) creeps into our souls with it’s damning logic.  “If you had more_____ (fill in the blank ) you would be happier.” “You need more!”  It isn’t true.  The most successful man, and the happiest, who ever lived had few  things we usually covet.  Life for Christ  was not dependent on money, fame, or dependable friends.  His strength and peace came from a deeper place.  It allowed Him, and would allow us, to be content.  “Godliness with contentment is great gain”  (1 Timothy 6:6)  Amazing!  Even godliness fails unless conbined with contentment.  To do so, we will need to guard our hearts against greed–all forms. The true treasure is not something, it is Someone.

RE Verse reading–Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31, James 5:1-6 (day three) “I will pull down my barns and build larger. . .I will store all my grain. . .I will say to my soul. . .relax. . .be merry.  And God said. . .You fool!” (12:18-19)  Proverbs has much to say about fools and their folly.  “He who spreads slander is a fool.” (10:18)  “A fool is right in his own eyes.” (12:15)  The Scripture (all parts) strongly denies that all decisions are equal.  All roads DO NOT lead up the same mountain!  This is a foolish way to think re. medicine.  Got cancer?  Take Nyquil.  Nonsense!  Why do we believe it re. philosophy and ethics?  All choices are not equal.  Jesus said a person is a fool to ignore eternity.  A person is a fool who uses all of his resources for himself and remains unconcerned and uninvolved with the needs of others.  Like the old saying goes, “There is no fool like a gold fool”. . .or something like that.

RE Verse reading–Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31, James 5:1-6 (day two)  “And God said to him, ‘You fool!”  (12:20)  It is a strangely offensive word to us.  Fool.  Slightly less so in the scripture.  It translates the word moros (note our word moron) and refers to a person who is “dull or illogical” re. moral or spiritual truth– a person making serious and avoidable mistakes.  Proverbs 14:1 describes the kind of fool who says there is NO God.  Jesus in Luke 12 describes the kind who says that money IS a god.  The Lord often talked about the deceitfulness of riches.  (Read Mark 4:19)  He pictures money as whispering (shouting?) a promise that if we accumulate enough of it then we can rest.  The man is Jesus’ story seems to  have believed this lie. “And I will say to my soul. . .you have ample goods. . .relax. . .be merry!”  (12:19)  Most of us have known enough lotto winners to know better.  Only a fool believes that money buys contentment.

RE Verse reading–Luke 12:13-21, 16:19-31, James 5:1-6 (day one)  “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” (12:14)  Jesus had boundaries.  He was no push over.  He did not accept every request for help simply because it was requested.  Our RE Verse passage this week continues a summer series on the subject of generosity.  It tells of a day when the Lord’s teaching was interrupted by a younger brother (probably) who was frustrated (legitimately or not–the passage doesn’t say) with his older brother and the disposition of their father’s estate.  He wanted Jesus to get involved.  Jesus refused.  What He was willing to do was teach about greed and lead the young man (and all of us)  into a new heart and better approach.  Interesting! God by nature and promise is generous.  He is a God of grace.  This does not mean, however, that He always gives us what we want.  It is not His job to do so.

RE Verse reading–Acts 20:17-35 (day seven)  “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus. . .’it is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (vs 35)  Who are the weak?  When Paul gives this command  who did he have in mind?  The word is asthenos.  Literally “those who have no strength”.  So perhaps Paul meant the poor.  Those without financial strength.  “He must labor. . .so that he will have something to share with one who is in need”  (Ephesian 4:28)  Perhaps Paul meant the theologically challenged.  Those who lack strength to fight off the wolves mentioned in vs 29.  Maybe it is those who lack motivation or vision–who without example and encouragement will be selfishly satisfied in the shallow end of God’s promises.  Whoever.  While we were helpless Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6) Those who desire His blessing must actively and generously help those who are weak.

RE Verse reading–Acts 20:17-35 (day six)  “You yourselves know. . .how I was with you, the whole time”  (vs 18)  As we said earlier in the week, finishing was important to Paul.  It should be important to us.  A job partially done should be regarded as a broken promise.  A few years is not enough when we commit ourselves to forever.  Faithfulness at the end of a project is more valuable than enthusiasm at the beginning.  Do not be surprised that discouragement comes.  Work through it and stay on the job!  Is there work still to do in your marriage?  Your parenting?  Your commitment to Christ?  ” I have finished the race”, Paul will say in 2 Timothy.  Not safety, not success (in the eyes of the world), not fulfillment.  Finishing the assignment that God gave him was his priority.  It must be ours as well.  “I was not disobedient to this heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19)  May the same be said of us!

RE Verse reading–Acts 20:17-35 (day five)  “I know that after my departure savage wolves will arise. . .speaking perverse things, to draw the disciples away. . .and now I commend you to God and the word of His grace which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”  (vs 29-30, 32)  Strange comfort.  Paul’s attitude.  He sees hardship ahead, savage stuggle.  It isn’t pessimism.  Kingdom progress has always been opposed. “The days are evil”( Ephesians 5:16).  Problems should not surprise or discourage us.  They should motivate us to pray.   Hard times are NOT the full story.  Hope is.  To commend these elders and their young church to God and to the word of His grace was Paul’s expression of confidence.  No matter what they would face in the coming days, God had promised grace (help, power, courage, wisdom) that would be more than sufficient.  Now unto Him who is ABLE. . . even when hard times come.

RE Verse reading–Acts 20:17-35 (day four)  “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak”  (vs 35)  Many modern believers misunderstand the place of work in our gospel.  Starting as we should from Ephesians 2:9 (“Not by works (ergon) lest any man should boast”), we rightly claim salvation as a gift by grace through faith alone.  Many, however, never find an appropriate balance for Philippians 2:12 “work out (kata ergon) your salvation with fear and trembling”.  In Acts 20,  Paul’s word choice is picturesque.  It was the word used for harvest.  It pictured the hot, sweaty, urgent work of bringing in crops.  The first hearers all knew exactly what was being required.   May the Lord give us the same vision for our own lives.  Hard work is God’s will for us.  It is the only way  the weak can be helped.  As the old hymn says, “We’ll work till Jesus comes.”  Sing with me, will you?