God Makes a Difference in Grace Bible Church

Folks who have been part of a church for a while will understand the feeling relayed here.  Going to church business meetings can be about as much fun as hitting your thumb with a hammer.  And the advantage of hitting your thumb is that you don’t keep hitting and hitting.  It probably ought not be that way, but seems to be the nature of such meetings.  Many churches have shifted the focus to a celebration of what God has done over the year rather than just details of a financial kind.  I like that. 

Grace Bible Church in Pryor just held an Annual Celebration.  Since I am the Pastor and had the opportunity to put things together I went with the celebration idea.  I wanted to celebrate the gathering of people God has collected at Grace Bible Church.  I wanted to call all those in the church to celebrate our great God.  I wanted those in the church to celebrate what God has done.  I wanted all those in the church to celebrate one another and what God is doing with and through them.  And now with the event completed I celebrate mission accomplished. 

God is doing His work among people and churches around the world.  He works in a variety of ways and with many surprises.  I thank God for what He is doing.  It is His kingdom.  It is Jesus’ who is building His church.  It is by the work of the Holy Spirit.  And I am glad He included Grace Bible Church.  Evaluated by the world’s standards by the way GBC is nothing.  It is not in a major metropolitan area with large crowds at multiple services.  It hasn’t even caught the interest of locals.  It is a church people easily pass by on their way to Wal-Mart.  But God from on high doesn’t evaluate by the world’s standards.  His ways are not our ways.  Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.  And God has manifested Himself at Grace Bible Church. 

Jesus tells a story, "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found, and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has, and buys that field." Matthew 13:44

That is so true of the Kingdom, and it relates to God’s work at Grace Bible Church as well.  There is great treasure in God’s manifestation, His truth, His work in people’s lives.  Often the treasure isn’t seen.  It’s walked by.  It’s missed.  It’s assumed there is nothing of value there.  But the treasure is there.  Some find it and have great joy. 

I celebrate what God is doing.  I am thankful I get to see Him at work.  I appreciate the people He has chosen to bring together and work with. 

People say it isn’t good to boast (then they do it anyway).  God says there is something that should be boasted in.  Take a look:

This is what the LORD says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!   Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NLT)

I want to boast in the Lord and that He has allowed us to know Him.  Let the celebration continue!

The Value of Work and Money

There is great value in work.  I have had times of little or no work and times when I have been overwhelmed with lots of work.  I am here to tell you lots of work is better.  I have discovered something else about work.  It doesn’t have to be work I enjoy.  I realize that not promoting the idea of “work I enjoy” is almost anti-American these days.  I agree that doing work you enjoy is truly satisfying, but just working brings its own satisfaction.  

God gave Moses some very important tips for living well on planet earth.  One of the top ten was to work six days then take a day for non-work.  Here is motivation to do a job, any job, well: …Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men Colossians 3:22-23 (HCSB).   

People were created by God for relationship with Him and for being creative forces in their own right.  Work was never a curse from God nor was it a design flaw it is a blessing for us all.

 

Money has a value of its own.  I know it is helpful for purchasing food and keeping a roof over our heads, but it also provides a measure of one’s own heart health.  It is my focus on money that will tell me if my heart is seeking God, trusting Him, caring about His kingdom, concerned about others. The Apostle Paul provides thoughts concerning this in one of his letters to Timothy:

¹⁷ Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.  1 Timothy 6:17-18 (NLT)

Who are the rich in this world?  If you make $12,000.00 per year you are in the top 18% of the richest people in the world.  Paul says to Timothy to teach the rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, but to use their money to do good.  If my hand is curled around my cash and my drive is to achieve the accumulation of wealth I have a serious heart problem.  I need to be like Paul says, “rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.”  In this way I keep my hand open and uncurled allowing God to fill it and use whatever is there for His purposes.

 

The book of Proverbs offers wisdom on the pursuit of riches.  Check this out. 

⁴ Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. ⁵ In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle. Proverbs 23:4-5 (NLT)

Not long ago (pre-2008) people who had trusted in retirement accounts and investing in markets and even buying real estate were disappointed as the economic balloon burst.  In the blink of an eye wealth can disappear.  But there is a way to be more secure.  Let’s go back to Proverbs.

⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. ¹⁰ Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.   Proverbs 3:9-10 (NLT)

There is value in work and in money, but it comes from using them to honor the Lord.  He will reward our efforts not just in the short run, but forever.  And, for us, now we will find work and money wonderful extensions of God’s grace.  Provided to shape us into His incredible design.  Allowed to reveal how we are progressing along the way.

 

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments and untraceable His ways! Romans 11:33 (HCSB)

Peace

Peace is a concept of many colors.  It is sought by many.  Expected by some.  Practiced  at times.  Ignored or just trampled on.  Experienced?  Peace experienced?  Maybe.  Depends.  Could be.  Let’s see. 

There have been peace signs, peace pipes, peace movements, peace prizes.  I was curious about peace particularly as it applies to my relationship with God.  It seemed checking the Bible for ideas on this was a good place to start. 

I noticed that in Genesis 4 the sons of Adam lacked peace.  Cain killed Abel.  That is an ominous beginning for families and societies to follow.  Jumping through history a bit I find Abraham and Lot engaged in a dispute over lands for their flocks.  They go their separate ways and have peace. 

Are you familiar with the Mizpah?  It is often quoted on a medallion worn by two people which says: The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.  It appears to be a blessing between friends but was really a peace agreement between rivals.  Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, who had married Laban’s two daughters, Rachel and Leah, was leaving with the wives, kids and wealth he had.  Laban who had used Jacob pursued him.  They made an agreement to stay away from each other in order to have peace.  Here is another rendering of the Mizpah: “May the LORD keep watch between us to make sure that we keep this covenant when we are out of each other’s sight.” Genesis 31:49 (NLT)   It lacks the warm fuzzies the other idea of Mizpah enjoyed.  This has more to do with stopping the feud.  I just watched the series on the Hatfields and McCoys.  Their relationship was filled with intense and senseless bitterness and violence.  Stopping the feud is a good step in the right direction.  The families signed a peace agreement 138 years after it all began. 

The peace pictured is one of opposing forces agreeing to stop fighting and possibly separating from one another in order to just let the other be.  That may be what is needed at times.  But when I think of Romans 5:1 I imagine there is more.  It says this: Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5:1 (NLT)

If peace with God looks like the examples above then what I got because of Jesus is a God who isn’t fighting me and has separated from me for my own good.  Hmm.  Isaiah 59:2 says, “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God.” Iniquities make a separation between me and God not Jesus.  That can’t be the idea of peace Jesus has made possible.  There must be something else.

 

Peter greets the readers of his letter with these words: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2 (ESV)   This isn’t a “cessation to hostilities” or a “separation” kind of peace.  Peace appears to be a positive thing that is related to my relationship with God the Father and Jesus our Lord. 

I am thinking peace is a force.  It is a forged friendship with the Triune God with powerful results.  In John 14 Jesus says this: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 (ESV)  The peace Jesus is offering is a gift homemade and not available in any stores.  He said His peace is distinct from what is available in the world.  In the world peace is a cessation of hostilities or if personal stress causes a lack of peace, then peace is found in Prozac.   So Jesus’ peace is something else, something more.  Looking around in John 14 there are some clues to what Jesus’ peace might be. 

This is rather exciting. 

A deep loving relationship between Jesus and me gets things going.  As if that isn’t enough Jesus asks the Father for the Holy Spirit to come and never leave.  There is more relationship, a connection between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Connection rather than cessation and separation. 

¹⁵ “If you love me, obey my commandments. ¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. John 14:15-16 (NLT)

Jesus relates and there is closeness not abandonment.

¹⁸ No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.  John 14:18 (NLT)

The divine and human relationship is mystical and real not just mythical and theory. 

²⁰ When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.  John 14:20 (NLT)

God the Father and the Son joining in friendship with me is sufficient to crush the waves of uncertainty that come or the attacks of Satan that are certain and give me peace. 

²³ Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  John 14:23 (ESV)

Jesus’ peace comes in the relationship and in what He gives us.  The Holy Spirit comes in power to help, to comfort, to guide, to teach, to strengthen, to remind me of what Jesus has already said.  When I have all that I can certainly have peace. 

²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.  John 14:26-27 (ESV)

There is more in Romans 5 worth taking a look at regarding peace with God.

¹ Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Remembering what was in John 14 I see the outworking of those things in Romans 5. 

² Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

This new relationship, this dynamic connection with God because of Jesus opens up unparalleled possibilities for me.  The peace runs deep in me because of the relationship, the solid place to stand out of which comes confidence and joy and anticipation of sharing God’s glory.  That equips me for the ups and downs of life, the troubles around the next bend or on Thursday.  I see that in the following verses.

³ We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.

I see the positive aspects of peace.  It is more than calm, but a force for living.  It leads to more of what God intended in me. 

⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  Romans 5:1-5 (NLT)

Peace with God includes His love.  He demonstrates how much He loves me by giving me the Holy Spirit who fills my heart with His love.  Jesus talked about those things in John 14 where He gives His disciples His peace that is like no other. 

The words of Isaiah serve to remind me that peace is from God and comes only to those who trust Him. 

³ You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 

⁴ Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.  Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT)

It appears Jesus was right again.  There is a peace the world gives and one from above.  I appreciate the need for the one the world gives, but I prefer the greater one from Him.  Peace, what a colorful word.  

Who Are the Righteous Jesus Didn’t Come to Call to Repentance?

Remember Jesus’ words in Luke 5:32 (ESV): “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance”?  The righteous are not being called to repentance.  OK.  Then Jesus says in Luke 19:10 (ESV) “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” If there are “lost” then there must be “found,” right?  I thought an investigation into this mystery was needed. 

This is no big deal for those who already knew about the “righteous” and the “found,” but for me I was assuming it was like having a Fairy Godmother and didn’t really exist.  My take on Jesus saying He had not come to call the righteous but sinners was a jab at the self-righteous Pharisees.  Apparently, I am not alone in this because the NLT takes the verse in this direction:  “I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”  There is an assumption that no “righteous” existed, nor had ever, nor ever would, and only those who were somehow deceived would have considered themselves “righteous.”    That to me was acceptable except that Jesus seemed to be referring to the “righteous” without irony.  So, I wondered are there really “righteous” out there?  The investigation began. 

Abraham is a big name in the Bible.  He would be one to check out.  He lived some 1800 years before Jesus came, but according to the Scriptures how did God view him? 

In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” Galatians 3:6 (NLT)

Simeon is called righteous and devout which doesn’t seem to be a concept here plagued by self-deception or self-aggrandizement, but a statement of fact.  “Could it be?” I asked myself.  I was finding that there were real “righteous” ones on the earth.  “Could it be that Jesus did not, in fact, come for the righteous, but sinners?”  It seems so.

Abraham is considered righteous.  So there is the possibility of a person being righteous.  The Letter to the Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul following Jesus’ ministry, death and resurrection.  Paul was familiar with Jesus’ meaning of righteousness.  Paul was referencing the account of Abraham recorded in the book of Genesis which Jesus was fully versed on.  And, yet, knowing Jesus’ meaning and usage of the term “righteous” Paul was confident to say Abraham, a human being of the line of Adam, was “righteous.”  “Well,” I thought, “that is huge.” 

Another personage of the Old Testament who seems to be “righteous” is Job.  From the first lines of the first chapter of Job there is this:  There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

Job appears to be a man who has a right relationship with God and lives it.  He isn’t deceiving himself or pretending to be something he isn’t.  The text reveals this is God’s view of Job and even Satan recognizes it to be real.

 

I began to see that being “righteous” is possible, and was acknowledged by God, by heavenly beings and by others.  “But,” I considered, “that was a long time before Jesus’ time, and maybe the real “righteous” were gone by the time He shows up.”  The investigation continued because I needed to find out if there were “righteous” at the time of Jesus.

 

The opening paragraphs of Luke’s Gospel point to a righteous couple.  In fact, they were relatives of Jesus.  This is what I found:

 

In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.  Luke 1:5-6 (ESV)

“Whoa,” I thought, “what a couple they are both righteous before God.”  These are people who are “righteous” in Jesus’ time.  They are the parents of His cousin John.  John the Baptist is blessed and a blessing.  Jesus said John was the greatest of the prophets. Was John righteous?  Mary, Jesus’ mother, is called the favored one of God, and she visits Elizabeth who is moved that the mother of her Lord should visit.  Is Mary righteous?  Joseph is called a just man and wanted to do the right thing by Mary.  When he heard from the Lord about what God was doing he immediately joined in with God’s plan married Mary and became the earthly father of Jesus.  Is Joseph righteous?  I wondered what else I might find.

 

After Jesus was born he was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem.  While Mary and Joseph took their baby through the crowd they are approached by a man.  It is said of him in Luke 2:25: Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

 

Going on, I had more questions.  About the “found” who were not the “lost.” “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”   To find the “found” I thought I would start with the “lost.” What about the “lost?”  Not the convoluted Lost TV show, but the “lost” Jesus came to find.  Jesus gave three snapshots of the lost in Luke 15.  One is a sheep, one is a coin and one is a son.  With the sheep and the coin a great search goes on and then great rejoicing upon having found the sheep and the coin.  The son is different.  He is allowed to wander far and through self-discovery come to his senses and return, but, as in the other snapshots, there is great rejoicing.

 

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?” Luke 15:4 (NLT)

The context given is that Jesus is spending time with sinners and the Pharisees don’t like it.  So Jesus tells these stories.  And He sums them up similarly.  Here is His statement on the finding of the sheep. “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”  Luke 15:7 (NLT)

I had to think about my take on that.  In my mind the lost sinner was glorious and the righteous who hadn’t strayed were somehow disgusting.  Weird, I know.  That isn’t what Jesus is saying, but I had determined the “righteous” were the evil-hypocritical-self-deceived-holier-than-thou-Pharisees.  So in my thinking a broken sewer line smelled better than the “righteous.”  Wrong.  I was wrong.  And I hate when that happens.  Jesus is saying something different than what I had thought.  Here are some of my observations.

 

There are more righteous than those lost.  99 and 1. 9 and 1.  Family and 1.  I had in my mind the issue was all were lost and Jesus had come to fix that.  But that isn’t what He says.

 

There is joy over the righteous and a party (more joy) for the returning one. I pictured joy for the returned one and disgust for the righteous-never-strayed bunch, but that isn’t what Jesus said at all.

 

The “found” ones are the “righteous” ones, and my investigation comes together.  They exist.  God acknowledges them.  Jesus has come for the ones who strayed away not because He thinks less of the righteous, but because they are already His.

 

The investigation has led me on a path that uncovered some beautiful new areas of who God is and what Jesus did.  The puzzling pieces of Scripture fit together better.  And, even so, I have to wrestle with thoughts of other views that come up inside.  It is agonizing letting go of long held opinions even when Scripture leads another direction.  The investigation is worth it.  There is more to investigate on the theme of the “righteous,” but this is enough for now. 

Getting More Out of The Bible

The Bible is filled with treasures.  Often quoted and given a positive place of respect.   Plaques are made of verses.  A single verse of Scripture may become the foundation of a mission or movement.  Enlightening and transforming truths are found in the Bible.  But we all run into a bump when it comes to the Bible.  It is what the Apostle Peter said about Paul’s writings like other Scripture there are some things “hard to understand.” Indeed.  So, how do we handle understanding the Bible?  A variety of approaches have been offered through the ages and among various groups.  I would like to offer something as well:  A key to Biblical interpretation.  I appreciate the design and discipline of Bible study methods.  But this key is vital to getting more out of the Bible. 

My daughter recently went shopping with my wife.  (Months before Christmas) They were discussing Christmas and gifts and an item caught my daughter’s eye.  My wife thought that would be a good Christmas gift and purchased it.  My daughter then asked to have it as an early Christmas present.  My wife gave in.  So, in much the same way, instead of holding out to the end to reveal the key I am going to provide it as an early present.   Ready?  Here it is: Divine Permission.  Let’s see if we can make some sense of that by looking at what we have to work with in Bible study. 

Each book of the Bible has a story.  It was written by someone far removed in time and history from today.  If you read something like “David’s triumph was heard throughout the land” it isn’t referring to a motorcycle.  Getting the setting is of immense help in grasping what is being said in the book. 

The Bible is a collection of 66 books.  The relationship of one book with the others forges wonderful truths, principles, and doctrines.  Getting the connections enhances the understanding of both the details and the whole of the Bible. 

As the writers wrote in the language of their day we are in need of language study as well.  From Hebrew and Aramaic of the Old Testament to the Greek of the New Testament there are few who can call those their native language.  We are fortunate today to have in almost all the languages of the world a copy of the Scriptures.  Even without knowing the original languages we have assistance from translators putting the words of the Bible in a language we can understand.  We can also study and learn those languages.  We can turn to reference books to aid in understanding the languages of the Bible. 

Practicing a systematic approach to the study is important.  Observing what is there in a passage.  Interpreting the words, phrases, sentences and paragraphs within the book and with a look at the original meanings of the words and the intent of the author is of great help to understanding. 

After all that there is still the need for the key.  Divine Permission.  After all, when Jesus spoke to the people of His day they knew the culture, historical setting, the language, the author and they still often didn’t get it.  Who did get it?  Those given Divine Permission.  Here, take a look at what Jesus said to the disciples:

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.  Matthew 13:11 (NLT)

There is a Divine Permission given by the Triune God to those He chooses to reveal His truth.  It is not accessible to everyone or just anyone. 

Jesus asked who people said He was and Peter told Him he thought He was the Messiah.  Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.  Matthew 16:17 (NLT)

At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.  Luke 10:21 (NLT)

Jesus let the disciples know there was more to teach them and that He would send the Holy Spirit to teach them further.  “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 

¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.  John 16:12-13 (NLT)

The Apostle Paul instead of relying on great preaching skills leans on the power of God to communicate.   And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (NLT)

He emphasizes the Divine Permission needed for understanding.  But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT)

Many read, study, and explain the Scriptures, but without Divine Permission they may be missing what God is communicating.  Great scholars with impressive intelligence will not be able to grasp the simplest truths without Divine Permission.  The Bible is God’s book.  He watches over it.  He reveals its wonders to those who are humble and contrite of heart and tremble at His Word. 

Getting more out of the Bible requires getting closer to God.  May you receive Divine Permission to understand great and wondrous things from God’s mighty Word. 

Money: A God-given Opportunity

God has good in mind for His people.  Money is part of God’s plan.  And, strangely enough, it doesn’t matter if it is a lot or a little.  God is looking for what we do with money from our hearts and what money does to our hearts. 

I have attended motivational and money seminars where the idea of money is addressed.  Maybe you have too.  Denigrated by the tone the speaker points out what many call money.  It is called, “Cold, hard cash.”  But the speaker points out that money is soft and warm.  Sharing the idea that life is tough which the audience readily accepts.  But then with great exuberance says, “It sure is easier with money.”  The crowd applauds.  So, I learned at seminars and motivational talks, Christian books on finance and dealing with Christians that God agrees with them and money is to be sought, cuddled, and collected.  What is a person seeking God and wanting to look at things His way to do with money?

Money is a God-given opportunity.  He allows the system of money to exist in our world to teach us values, to help us prioritize, to develop in us character, to show us people and to reveal His glory.  I am sure those are not things covered in Economics 101.  They rarely show up in church.  But I find them to be fascinating and wonderful. 

Here are some lines from Abba’s song Money, Money, Money:

I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay
Ain't it sad
And still there never seems to be a single penny left for me
That's too bad
In my dreams I have a plan
If I got me a wealthy man
I wouldn't have to work at all, I'd fool around and have a ball...

Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money
Always sunny
In the rich man's world
Aha-ahaaa
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It's a rich man's world

Just being rich is the answer.  Many including followers of Christ agree.  Getting more money and putting more in investments is the answer.  But there are those who have gone another way.  For example, Christian businessman, R.G. LeTourneau, known throughout the construction world as, "The Dean of Earthmoving,” LeTourneau is considered to this day to have been the world’s greatest inventor of earthmoving and materials handling equipment.  Did this rich man handle his finances by seeking, cuddling, and collecting it?  No.  In fact, Mr. LeTourneau realized something very important: “God owns it all - He is the true owner of everything! All that we have, everything that we claim to "own," is in fact a blessing from God. Having this knowledge and believing it fully, he opened his company treasury to God. Cheerfully and bountifully, Mr. LeTourneau gave not 10 percent, but 90 percent! He practiced a "reverse tithe" - instead of giving God 10 percent and keeping 90 for himself; he kept only 10 percent and gave God the rest. After Mr. LeTourneau learned the valuable lesson that you cannot out-give God, he was privileged to watch millions of dollars flow through his business and into the funding of extensive worldwide ministry, helping to meet the needs of countless people physically and spiritually.

A man who faced hard financial times is Randy Alcorn.  In 1990, he was one of the pastors of a large church. He was also on the board of a Crisis Pregnancy Center and had even opened his family’s home to an unwed teen. Eventually Randy felt prompted by God to participate in peaceful, non-violent rescues outside an abortion clinic. Randy and others were arrested and jailed. The abortion clinic was awarded a settlement of lost income as a result of the protests. Randy told the judge that he would gladly repay money owed, but he could not just hand the money to an abortion clinic when the clinic would only use it to kill more babies. Then Randy learned that the funds would be garnished from his church salary. The church would either have to give over the funds or defy a court order. The only way to keep this from happening was for him to resign from his job. So he did. This bold step left Randy without an income. Then another abortion clinic brought suit against Randy’s group and won one of the largest settlements ever against a protest group – 8.4 million dollars. Suddenly it looked like Randy and his family could lose their house. The only way Randy could avoid garnishment and loss was to earn only minimum wage.

Randy learned very quickly what God meant when he said, “Everything belongs to Me.” (Job 41:10) Through these very events God helped Randy and his wife see a new vision for their life. You can find out more of what they discovered from his book The Treasure Principles.   Here is a principle:

“Money leads; hearts follow.  My heart always goes where I put God’s money. Watch what happens when you reallocate your money from temporal things to eternal things.”

Consider this “reallocation” from Jesus’ perspective.  He was at the Temple in Jerusalem watching people as they put money into the treasury.  The idea was that they were giving to God who had given them everything.  Imagine those coming by to participate in making an offering; those who were workers in the fields and others who built things along with the government workers and supervisors and business owners of all kinds.  Then this widow came by and gives what she had.  It wasn’t a large amount, but it was all she had.  Jesus noted that she had given more than all the rest. 

What about the man referred to as the rich young ruler?  Fairly descriptive title.  He asks about eternal life.  The man is told to sell all he has and give it to the poor, and then come follow Jesus.  The man left.  The money and all that it meant to him had a hold on him.  He was in bondage. 

Jesus presented a non-401k option for an abundant life.  The widow had nothing.  Consider the taxes from Rome and the Temple alone would stretch her if she had money.  But she risked it by putting all she had in God’s treasury.  Really?  What would she do for food, housing, or any other essentials?  She may have debts and owe money.  Why didn’t Jesus deal with her irrational approach to money?  She needed a seminar.  But, Jesus, the Son of the Living God, the Mediator between God and men, the Savior, affirmed her heart. 

Eternal life, abundant life is waiting.  It is not just out there somewhere in eternity, but available now to those who follow Jesus.  Money is a God-given opportunity to follow Him fully.  It is a test of our hearts.  It exams what or who we truly trust.  We can’t serve two masters.  It is either money or the God of heaven.  And with all my limitations and messed up finances and economic blessings and disasters I choose to go with God.  Pursuing wealth according to Proverbs is a waste it just takes wings and flies away.  Money has its place, but it is not the ultimate goal.  The Lord said don’t worry about all the things all the rest of the folks worry about…money and such.  Instead, seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness and He would take care of the rest.  Hmm.  George Mueller in 1800s England took care of thousands of orphans by asking God to send what they needed.  God did.  On top of that Mueller asked God for additional so he could support the mission work in China of Hudson Taylor and God provided millions more for that.  “Seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness and He will supply.”

As you take out your wallet or write a check or pay with a credit card whatever it is that is before you…you have a God-given opportunity.  May you approach every penny with humility and an open hand allowing God to guide and bless you. 

What Is God Doing Taking Away My Excuses?

Discovering my imperfections is upsetting enough, but God even eliminates my excuses.  I have found that when everything else has fallen apart I can rely on my excuses.  They are comforting.  They are cuddly.  They are the delusions I can rest upon.  So, what is God doing taking away my excuses? 

God desires that people live in the truth and live truly free.  The truth will set you free, you know.  Excuses tend to fog the truth and freedom is lost.  God has a better idea.  I came across this in Romans 1:20 about excuses. 

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.  Romans 1:20 (NLT)

There it is no excuse.  People who are committed to a view that there is no God have no excuse.  People who claim God hasn’t been clear enough for them to really know have no excuse.  People who have made up their own idea of God have no excuse.  People who have been mistreated by others and deny God have no excuse.  “They have no excuse for not knowing God.” 

There is more.  In Romans 3:19 I found this it's a troublesome idea about excuses not being acceptable. 

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.     Romans 3:19 (NLT)

Apparently, God provided a standard by which to evaluate attitudes and behaviors.  God’s standard shows how crooked and out of alignment people are by comparison to His standard so that there is no excuse. 

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.   1 John 1:8 (NLT)

Oh, no, my claims to have no sin haven’t fooled anyone?  My excuses for why I said that or why I have such anger or why I lash out or why I don’t really trust God or why I have to be in control or why I struggle with the flesh are no good.  It is true I am not living in the truth, but I convinced myself that other people at least thought I was living in the truth.  But it seems I was only fooling myself.  Bummer.  My excuse ridden existence is crumbling.  But isn’t that good?

Excuses are like excrement which needs to be removed.  The marble the artist chisels is only shapely and beautiful once the unnecessary fragments are removed.  God is in the business of bringing out the beauty by revealing the truth. 

As I think about it I find that I am blessed by God to have the excuses exposed and to discover the freedom the truth brings.  God help me to remain true and to not be as the pig returning to the mud or the dog returning to his vomit, but one who stays faithful to You.  No excuses.  

The Incredible Value of Not Pursuing Your Dreams

Dreams are powerful.  They inspire and energize us.  Writers often remind us of such. 

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. -Henry David Thoreau

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. -Harriet Tubman

Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal. -Pamela Vaull Starr

As helpful as our dreams are in getting us off the couch and on the path to accomplishment there is something more.  There is incredible value in not pursuing your dreams. 

Our dreams come from within the boundaries of knowledge and experience sprinkled with ample amounts of imagination.   For example at five in Kindergarten my dream for my life was based on the knowledge and experience of an American 5 year old.  I dreamed of being big enough to not have to take naps anymore.  Hmmm…  You get it.  I dreamed within the parameters of the widest expanse of my world at the time. 

So with all the accumulated knowledge, experience, and added imagination that I can muster at 25 years of age I still dream within the parameters of the widest expanse of my world.  At 30 or 40 or 50 I keep dreaming within those parameters. What if I dream for example of being an Olympic athlete?  Then one day with dedication and hard work I arrive and win gold.  I achieved my dream.  But what if something more amazing, more satisfying, more lasting was out there, but I let my dream get in the way of the life I could have lived? 

Crazy?  Maybe.  For those who know the Living and True God there is more in life than the accomplishment of my dreams.  Let’s take a look. 

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV)

Beyond the boundaries of my dreams are God’s dreams for me.  Things no one knows…He knows.  Things no one has imagined for me…He has imagined.  He has prepared things for now and things for later that exceed all my expectations, imaginings and dreaming.  But I am in danger of going my own way of going after what seems right to me and ending up losing out on what is really life. 

  There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
Proverbs 16:25 (NLT)

The Apostle Paul was a pursuer of dreams.  His success was significant in his day.  A Hebrew of Hebrews.  The ultimate scholar.  A religious zealot.  A Pharisee.  He was well positioned and probably well respected by those around him in Judaism.  His family would have been proud.  But then Paul got it right with God.  He met Jesus and things changed.  He looked back at the dreams, the successes, and the accomplishments and said:

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ  Philippians 3:8 (NLT)

Paul found the infinite value of knowing Jesus.  A life beyond his dreams was of more value.  But for many a Christian there is a double-mindedness.  Thoreau’s encouragement misses the depth of Paul’s example. 

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. -Henry David Thoreau

God has so much more for those who love Him.  Dreaming His dreams is a better way to go. 

In the days of the Prophet Jeremiah there were those who claimed their dreams were from God.  They wanted to live the life they had imagined.  But God spoke against them and the false dreams. 

 “Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between straw and grain!  Jeremiah 23:28 (NLT)

What God has for us we may not be able to picture today, but we can trust Him.  He will create in our hearts a dream of a better place and a higher life and an abundance of life we could discover nowhere else and He will bring it about for our good and His glory.   

Taking a Holiday with God

I really enjoy having God around.  I enjoy the conversations.  The dimension of His perspective on things shocks me at times and opens my eyes in ways I hadn’t expected.  As He reveals Himself I find myself without the strength to stand at times and strengthened to reach high at others.  He is delightful, and I enjoy having God around.  I imagine this could be true for others too. 

People could take a holiday with God.  Even the term fits.  A holiday is what was once called a holy-day, a unique day set aside for God.     

What could this look like?  It would be focused on Him.  A real-honest-determined focus.   For example, a married couple celebrating their anniversary take a trip together.  The focus can be on the trip or on each other.  It can be a trip where their relationship is deepened and sweetened if they focus on the other.  So, focusing on God would mean the heart is directed, the mind is centered, time is irrelevant and the door to one’s soul is open to Him.  Being with God is satisfying.  Not because I get something, but because He and the relationship are worth it whether I get anything special out of it or not.  The Scripture says it well, “Be still and know that I am God.”  And again, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”  It is about God.  If I lose focus I can make time with God about me and what I feel and what I experience and what I get.  Then if God doesn’t part the Red Sea for me I am disappointed and wonder if He loves me and why others get special things and I don’t and why God likes others better than me and on and on it goes.  “Be still,” we are reminded, “and know that I am God.”  There is no other.  There is no one like Him.  Being with Him and focusing on Him is enough.  It is about Him.  Staying focused on Him allows me to recognize when He draws near.  He is incredibly creative and will show up as He chooses, but I can miss Him.  If I focus on myself and my expectations and my demands God may leave me to enjoy my holiday alone.  I really don’t want that. 

Motivation, “want to,” is huge isn’t it?  It gets us going.  Have you ever had a bad habit?  A dark area of life that motivates you?  I was thinking about this side of things as a comparison and contrast to the positive motivation that takes us closer to God.  It can be anything from extra carbs to cocaine, gossip to gambling, pride to prejudice.  Follow me on this.  I will with ease begin thinking about my thing.  I will find a way to get to it.  I can hear the words of Sméagol from The Lord of the Rings movies say, “My preciousss.”  Yikes!  How easy it is to go to the dark side.  But then the desire for God and time with Him should be the real draw.  It takes some effort to turn from the motivation for other things to God.  It ought to be that I am trying to find a way to get close to God every day.  I want my “want to” to want more of Him. 

A great way I have found to redirect my “want to” is taking a holiday with God.  I learned about times of extended prayer from others and tried it myself.  I set aside time to get alone with God.  I read Scripture and prayed.  Reflected.  Considered.  I did it by faith.  Believing God would draw near.  I think sometimes I did it hoping for spiritual points.  Sometimes because of big pressures or decisions.  Sometimes because it seemed to be the right thing to do.  I would talk and walk at times.  I would write in a journal and pour out my heart.  I would look at nature.  I would read a book that pointed me to God.  I would cry out in confession.  I found myself attacked by doubts and infested with regrets.  If my depression wasn’t dark enough then the Enemy seemed to have a way of awakening the horrors of my sin.  I found the freeing of my spirit remarkable as I laid out my heaviness before the Lord.   My times with the Lord are similar in some ways years into the process, but have an element of heaven’s air that wasn’t always there in the beginning.  I have found that I am motivated to be with the Lord.  It is the greatest of joys. 

I am so privileged to be a pastor at a church where I am free to have time with the Lord, to encourage others in getting to know God better, and to see the work of God all around.  It is wonderful.  

I do think, however, that the encouragement to spend time with God is mistakenly viewed as a condemnation for not rather than what it is an invitation to more.  When I first came to recognize that a person can really know God, that Jesus really made a way to deliver people, that there is so much more to life I was excited.  I thought other people ought to know about this.  I ticked people off telling them about this deal.  I was shocked by that.  I ran into some people who were growing in the Lord by way of discipleship.  I got involved and found it helpful.  I thought anyone who heard about this was surely going to jump on it.  Not so much.  I was shocked.  I am also, apparently, a slow learner.  The reality check had a souring affect on me for a while.  I have a new reality.  I realize there are people who don’t want what God has to offer.  That is sad.  But He is offering an invitation to more with Him, and I am excited.  I am excited that He even bothers with us.  I am excited that His promises are true.  I am excited that He is limitless and He has invited us to explore. 

So, there is before you this day an invitation of a holiday with God.  This is an invitation by the Supreme Being of the universe to come be with Him.  Take Him up on it, and see what He does. If you have already taken Him up on His offer you know what I mean and for those who have yet to begin the process may you have your heart enflamed with desire for Him. 

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen. -Jude 24, 25