Proverbs 22:7
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
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How do you stop a charging elephant? You take away his credit card.
Someone was commenting on the deal they got on a new car because of “good financing”. Instead of minding my own business I let them know I think we should view the term “good financing” as an oxymoron. How can anything that makes us a slave to another be “good”?
At this time of year when it is so easy to go into debt to demonstrate our love, or more likely, just to fulfill what we feel are our obligations to give a gift, it is a good time to meditate on the warning of Proverbs 22:7. Continue reading →
1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
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Men, when Paul speaks of a wife being “weaker” he is not referring to the fact that you can (probably) beat her at arm wrestling nor saying that she is somehow flawed. “Weaker” speaks of more finely tuned, more intricate in her workings and, therefore, in need of extra attention.
When finished using your hammer you can toss it in the tool box but you wouldn’t do that with a guitar. It gets carefully placed into a padded case. The guitar is not faulty or second rate but it gets treated with “respect as the weaker” item. The hammer is built to take the abuse but your wife, like a finely tuned instrument, is not. She is easily “knocked out of tune” and, therefore, needs extra care. Continue reading →
John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
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Apart from Jesus I can do nothing? I’m not sure I believe this verse. At least I often don’t act like I do. I act more like I believe “I can do this but if God blesses it it will be so much better.” So I ask for His help.
When I “help” someone they do most of the work and I just provide the little extra to put them over the top. When I ask God to help me or bless what I am doing, at least in my mind, there is an implied “I can and am going to do this but, God, it will be wonderful if You give it that little extra to put it over the top and make it great.” God becomes the icing on the cake rather than the essential vine. Continue reading →
2 Samuel 15:21 “As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be.”
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I have a new hero – Ittai. I am not even 100% sure how to pronounce his name but I certainly want to imitate his character. When David was fleeing Jerusalem and his rebellious son, Absalom, Ittai and his 600 men accompanied him. But Ittai was a foreigner from Gath. He had no reason to be loyal to David.
When I lived in Guatemala there was a coup. The deposed president, who was a committed Christian and actually attended our church, had to flee the country (Yes, the US was involved and its actions were disappointing when viewed from a Guatemalan perspective.) Continue reading →
We are in a war where radical Muslims claim God is on their side. In America we pray for God to bless our troops and believe God is on our side. Does God choose sides and if so, whose side is He on?
We gain insight into the answer in Joshua 5:13-14. Joshua is preparing to lead Israel in battle against Jericho. Joshua sees “a man” standing with sword drawn and he asks him, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” This “man” turns out to be an angel, or most probably, a pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
God had commanded the Israelites to go in and conquer the land to punish the inhabitants of it for their continued wicked ways. He had promised the Israelites that He would give them victory. If anybody could ever say, “God is on our side”, these would be the people who could make that claim. Yet, the “man” gives a very curious answer, “Neither”.
Neither? He wasn’t for them or for their enemies? He goes on to explain, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” In other words, He was saying, “I am on God’s side. The real question is, ‘Are you on God’s side or on the side of His enemies?’” God is always on His own side, accomplishing His purposes. It is man who must choose which side He will be on, the side of right or the side of wrong?
Is there a “right” side in war? Certainly there is, God’s side. It is God who established what is right and what is wrong. God is always on the side of good. That means He is opposed to those who are proud, perpetrate injustice or do not show mercy (Micah 6:8). He is opposed to those who shed innocent blood and devise wicked plans (Proverbs 6:17). He supports liberty for mankind (Isaiah 61:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Leviticus 25:10). The Bible lists many things He is opposed to and many things He is in favor of. The nation that goes to war to accomplish a godly purpose has chosen to be on God’s side.
We need to recognize too that God has often provoked nations to go to war to accomplish His purpose. Israel invaded the Promised Land to accomplish God’s punishment upon those nations that had repeatedly rejected Him. (They had heard the message. Melchizedek is an example of one prophet God had sent among the gentile nations in that area.) Throughout the book of Judges, and elsewhere, God provoked the nations surrounding Israel to attack them to chastise them for their rebellion. Ultimately Israel and Judah were conquered by the Assyrians and the Babylonians as part of God’s plan to purge Israel of her idolatry. We have solid Biblical reasons to believe God still provokes nations to go to war to accomplish His will.
Is God on the side of the Muslims? Is God on the side of the Jews? Is God on America’s side? God is on His side and actively accomplishing His purpose here on earth. Therefore, it is up to man to choose which side he will fight on. Will we side with God in bringing about the good He plans for mankind or will we fight against God for our own selfish ends?
____________________ Proverbs 21:30-31 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.
Someone asked me what I thought about the Machine Gun Preacher, Sam Childers, the former motorcycle gang member, now a Christian, who leads armed attacks to rescue children in Sudan. Is it right to kill people to rescue others? Is he doing a good thing or just using the methods of the world to try to accomplish God’s goals? He has even come under fire from people in the area where he is trying to help children.
So is Sam a hero or a villain? Saint or another misguided follower of the Prince of Peace?
My opinion is ….. drum roll, please … I am glad I do not have to have an opinion. Sam is not working for me. He is not my servant, he is the Lord’s.
Romans 14:4
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Why is it we think we have to have an opinion on everything no matter how ignorant we are of the topic? Worse yet, why is it our opinion is always right? There is not a single opinion I hold or you hold that is not the correct one. (Because if we thought our opinion was wrong we would change it.)
Opinions are like navels. Everyone has one. They aren’t of much value and it is usually wise to not go around showing it to everyone.
I look at it like this. I will not have to give account to God for anything Sam is doing unless … unless I choose to judge him. Then I will give account to God for my judgment of him. The list of things I have already got to give account for is long enough. Why add Sam to my list?
I have discovered I have never had anything I did not say come back to haunt me. How much trouble could we avoid if we simply kept silent more? Could your life be happier and smoother, and less to talk to God about later, if you followed the advice of Will Rogers who said, “Never miss a good chance to shut up.”
Let’s hear it for … silence.
___________________ 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
James 3:2
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
Proverbs 19:11
A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
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Overlook an offense? That can be hard to do – especially if you have a strong sense of justice, of right and wrong, of fairness and equity. When we overlook an offense the offender gets off easy, they don’t have to “pay” for their offense, rather the offended one takes the brunt, absorbs the loss, pain or hurt.
But Scripture makes it clear that believers are to be people of forgiveness. “Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (James 2:13)
A little girl was being berated unjustly by an adult. He was wagging his big finger in her face, falsely accusing her and telling her what a bad child she was. After his tirade, she looked at him and gently said, “You must be having a bad day.”
Wow! When I heard that story, I thought, “I hope someday I can be as mature as that little girl.” She didn’t let the injustice infect her. Rather than turning inward or becoming defensive or going on the attack, this young lady saw the need of the other person. Even while being abused she could consider others, their needs, their hurts, their pain. How so perfectly like Jesus. “Father forgive them” – not because they have asked for it or earned it or even deserve it. In the midst of His pain He reached out to others.
It is to our glory to overlook an offense because it makes us look so much like our Heavenly Father. Some day I want to be like that little girl, like my Lord. Today is the day I can start.
___________________________ Psalm 119:165-166
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Psalms 1:1-3
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
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This chapter makes an amazing claim. It promises a secret to success in every area of life – career, finances, marriage, parenting, every relationship, every venture. Whatever he does prospers (verse 3). Pretty big promise! All that if we will simply not do three things (verse 1) but instead do two things (verse 2).
It is not that delighting or meditating on God’s Word is some magical formula or charm that produces these blessings, rather the blessing comes because we are:
1. not taking our counsel from the ungodly.
2. not taking the same stand (approach to life) that sinners take. We do not follow their patterns or path toward success.
3. not finding our rest or peace (sitting) in the same diversions and amusements where the world goes to seek contentment.
Rather, as we immerse ourselves (delight in and meditate day and night) in that Word we begin to see the world – opportunities that come our way, decisions we must make, relationships, etc – from God’s perspective-walking in His counsel, taking the same stands (for and against) that He takes and finding our rest and peace in Him and His plan. Saturating our mind with God’s thoughts causes us to begin to think and consequently act more like Him That then leads to success in every area, flourishing while those around us are floundering, rest amidst strife.
………………….. Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with the wise (metaphorically what we do as we “walk” with God in His Word) grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Luke 7:31-34 – “What can I say about such men?” Jesus asked. “With what shall I compare them? 32 They are like a group of children who complain to their friends, ‘You don’t like it if we play “wedding” and you don’t like it if we play “funeral'”! 33 For John the Baptist used to go without food and never took a drop of liquor all his life, and you said, ‘He must be crazy!’ 34 But I eat my food and drink my wine, and you say, ‘What a glutton Jesus is! And he drinks! And has the lowest sort of friends!’
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Though it was not His main message this reminds us of the futility of trying to please people. No matter what you do some will complain you did too much and some will criticize you for doing too little. “You should have danced when you were mourning” or “You were mourning when you should have been dancing.” You can’t please all the people all the time.
“What will people think?” You can’t control that. “What will people say?” You can’t control that either. Even if you always do the right thing people can still think and say you are a scoundrel. So should we just live for ourselves and not be concerned with others or what they think? No, that is the most self-centered choice of all.
Instead, live to please the Lord. Live your life for an audience of One. Constantly trying to please man, the fear of man, is a snare (Proverbs 29:25) but “the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death”. (Proverbs 14:27). Ultimately, when we stand before Him, it is only His opinion that will matter for all eternity. So live for that day.
Live to bring a smile to His face and let the chips fall where they may.
_________________________ Psalm 147:11
The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Proverbs 14:26-27
He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
Hebrews 12:1 …”run with perseverance the race marked out for us”
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The Lord has marked out a course for each of us. This passage speaks of the need for “perseverance” indicating that sometimes the course may be grueling. It will not always be an easy road but I can be sure that it is far better to stay on God’s path, no matter how difficult, than to leave His path and begin to blaze my own trail through the briers and brambles.
Proverbs 13:15
The way of the transgressor (the one who veers off the course and begins to blaze his own trail and create his own path) is hard.”
As tough as my course may get, I can be assured that it is still a more joy filled path than any of my own making.
During the grueling times of the race I must do what Jesus did when faced with a torturous part of His race. He did not focus on the pain (the cross) but looked beyond it to the joy on the other side.
Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
By keeping my eyes fixed on eternity – the joy and reward awaiting me for a race well run – I can find the hope, strength, courage and endurance to continue running.
The road may get rough but stay on the path, stay the course and look beyond “the wall” to the joy awaiting you at the finish line.
______________________ 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
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