Proverbs 11:14a-15: "For lack of guidance a nation falls . . . . He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe."
Proverbs 13:11a: "Dishonest money dwindles away . . . "
Proverbs 20:23: "The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him."
Proverbs 11:28: "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf."
The last few weeks have been quite unsettling for most of us who have retirement accounts in investments tied to the declining stock market. For many of us who have been told by countless financial experts that we need to provide a hedge against inflation for our retirement income by investing in the market, we feel now as if we have been fed a great lie. We feel used to the point that many of us are considering pulling the money out of the market and putting it to good use as stuffing in our mattresses (pardon the hyperbolic sarcasm).
It is true that a man who "gathers money little by little makes it grow" (Proverbs 13:11); however, this Biblical truth is predicated upon stable, reliable return environments. Although the stock market has been propagated as a safe investment haven over an extended period of time, the recent mortgage debacle with the unethical practices by businesses and government officials alike have made Wall Street look more like a Vegas casino. Returns are quite unpredictable, and one now is quite unlikely to see positive returns . . . . even in the long run.
Concerning the bad credit practices, it seems as if the lending institutions were compelled by the federal government several decades earlier to provide mortgages to those who otherwise may not have the ability to repay their financial obligations. Whereas the government may have had a spirit of altruism in its legislation of that day to provide more people opportunity to obtain credit; in effect, this dictate was in clear violation to the truth found in Proverbs 11:15. Striking a pledge with one who is not able to repay his debts will lead to more financial burdens in the end. We are now reaping the consequences of such governmental mandates.
Of course, the banks are not immune from culpability in this situation either. Rather than expressing consternation at the political pressure from the government, lending institutions looked for ways to profit from such unwise business practices. More and more financial products were packaged for would be investors to gain from such transactions, and this behavior was coupled with the unethical accounting practices of businesses that fooled investors into believing everything was financially sound at their corporations when nothing could be further from the truth. Proverbs 13 & 20 mentioned above talk about the ephemeral nature of money gained dishonestly. Because the Lord hates those who "cook the books" for dishonest gain, in the end that profit is lost.
Of course, the unethical, deceptive practices of the government and Wall Street have bred within our nation a suspicion as to the integrity of these institutions. Many of us are uncertain if those who are handling our savings can now be trusted. Tragically, our hesitancy to trust the markets likely will have dire consequences for the economy for years to come.
If there is one thing that we need to remember through these dark financial days, it is not to put too much faith in economic prosperity. Proverbs 11:28 tells us that those who put their ultimate allegiance in material wealth will in the end fall. What we must remember is that those who put their trust in God and respond with surrender to Him as Lord will find that they are able to thrive . . . irrespective of the market conditions. Now, what I am not saying is that if you put your faith in the Lord then you will see positive returns in your retirement portfolio. Still, the one who puts his trust in the Lord will experience God's provision of peace and blessing, no matter what happens to the market.
Hopefully we as a nation will learn much from such despicable economic practices. My hope is that our nation will return to the Lord and see His Sovereign hand of blessing that we once enjoyed but have since lost.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Try Again
I Samuel 7:12-13: "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far has the LORD helped us.' So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again."
Seven months earlier, the Israelites under the leadership of Eli the Priest and his two sons (Hophni and Phinehas) were rebellious against the Lord. Although these people believed themselves privileged due to their ancestry, they "had no regard for the Lord" (I Sam. 2:12). Eli's sons were so wicked that they treated the sacrificial offerings to the Lord with contempt by taking the first portions for themselves, and they were known for sexual promiscuity with women who served at the tabernacle. Eli was aware of these detestable practices, but chose not to intervene and stop this sacrilege. As the Israelite people were known for a form of "spirituality," they in fact were worshipping pagan deities that gave them license to live immoral lives of self-indulgence.
In response to this gross evil by the Israelites, "the Word of the Lord was rare" (3:1). God chose not to reveal Himself to His people since they were not going to respect Him as the Sovereign Lord. Eventually, the Israelites would find themselves in battle with their western enemies, the Philistines, at a town called Ebenezer. The initial battle was a defeat, with the Israelites losing 4000 in the skirmish. Hophi and Phinehas, who were observing the demise of their brothers in battle, called for the Ark of the Covenant, thinking that having a religious relic with them would be the talisman that would bring victory. As the Ark was brought into the Israeli camp, the people shouted with confidence, so much so that the Philistines began to think that the Jewish God had entered their camp to bring them victory. Arrogantly, the Israelites returned to battle with the Philistines, but they would be utterly slaughtered by their enemies. Thirty thousand of their men would be killed, and Hophi with his brother Phinehas would be killed as well.
Seven months would pass before the people would fast and confess to the Lord that they had sinned against His Majesty (7:6). The prophet Samuel instructed the people that the key to God's favor was for the people to return to the Lord "with all of their hearts" (7:3). This of course meant that they had to rid themselves of the idols that they worshipped and the detestable acts that they practiced in utter defiance against the One True Lord. When the people responded accordingly, the Lord then brought His people victory over the Philistines in battle. It was God who threw these pagans into such chaos that they were "routed by the Israelites." No mere association with religion brought the Israelites success against their enemy; rather, it was power of God bringing victory once His people were willing to surrender themselves completely to His Lordship.
Samuel then took the people back to the place where they had lost the initial battles to the Philistines (Ebenezer) and set a memorial stone there. He called the rock the "Stone of Help," so that the Israelites would remember that it is only through the power of God that the people would be delivered from their adversaries. I believe that he took them back to Ebenezer to remind them that this was the place that represented the point in time where they departed from fellowship with the Lord, and this was the place that began their period of defeat at the hand of their foes. It's as if God wanted His people to go back to the place that represented their separation and recommit themselves to His Lordship so that they could try again and this time experience victory from following God obediently.
There is a good word for us in this passage. When we look within ourselves and find that we are suffering from the lack of God's blessing in our lives, and when we discern that our sin is the cause of such a dearth of God's presence, we may need to go back to the place where we got off track with our intimacy with the Lord and repent of our sins. Sometimes, this involves sitting down with pen and paper and assessing where we began our sinful pattern and why we chose to go in that direction away from the Lord. And as we offer prayers of contrition and surrender to the Lord, we can be assured that He is the Faithful and Just One who will forgive us of our sins (I John 1:9). We then can raise our symbolic "Stone of Help" in our hearts, knowing that the Lord will provide blessing and victory over our proverbial foes.
Seven months earlier, the Israelites under the leadership of Eli the Priest and his two sons (Hophni and Phinehas) were rebellious against the Lord. Although these people believed themselves privileged due to their ancestry, they "had no regard for the Lord" (I Sam. 2:12). Eli's sons were so wicked that they treated the sacrificial offerings to the Lord with contempt by taking the first portions for themselves, and they were known for sexual promiscuity with women who served at the tabernacle. Eli was aware of these detestable practices, but chose not to intervene and stop this sacrilege. As the Israelite people were known for a form of "spirituality," they in fact were worshipping pagan deities that gave them license to live immoral lives of self-indulgence.
In response to this gross evil by the Israelites, "the Word of the Lord was rare" (3:1). God chose not to reveal Himself to His people since they were not going to respect Him as the Sovereign Lord. Eventually, the Israelites would find themselves in battle with their western enemies, the Philistines, at a town called Ebenezer. The initial battle was a defeat, with the Israelites losing 4000 in the skirmish. Hophi and Phinehas, who were observing the demise of their brothers in battle, called for the Ark of the Covenant, thinking that having a religious relic with them would be the talisman that would bring victory. As the Ark was brought into the Israeli camp, the people shouted with confidence, so much so that the Philistines began to think that the Jewish God had entered their camp to bring them victory. Arrogantly, the Israelites returned to battle with the Philistines, but they would be utterly slaughtered by their enemies. Thirty thousand of their men would be killed, and Hophi with his brother Phinehas would be killed as well.
Seven months would pass before the people would fast and confess to the Lord that they had sinned against His Majesty (7:6). The prophet Samuel instructed the people that the key to God's favor was for the people to return to the Lord "with all of their hearts" (7:3). This of course meant that they had to rid themselves of the idols that they worshipped and the detestable acts that they practiced in utter defiance against the One True Lord. When the people responded accordingly, the Lord then brought His people victory over the Philistines in battle. It was God who threw these pagans into such chaos that they were "routed by the Israelites." No mere association with religion brought the Israelites success against their enemy; rather, it was power of God bringing victory once His people were willing to surrender themselves completely to His Lordship.
Samuel then took the people back to the place where they had lost the initial battles to the Philistines (Ebenezer) and set a memorial stone there. He called the rock the "Stone of Help," so that the Israelites would remember that it is only through the power of God that the people would be delivered from their adversaries. I believe that he took them back to Ebenezer to remind them that this was the place that represented the point in time where they departed from fellowship with the Lord, and this was the place that began their period of defeat at the hand of their foes. It's as if God wanted His people to go back to the place that represented their separation and recommit themselves to His Lordship so that they could try again and this time experience victory from following God obediently.
There is a good word for us in this passage. When we look within ourselves and find that we are suffering from the lack of God's blessing in our lives, and when we discern that our sin is the cause of such a dearth of God's presence, we may need to go back to the place where we got off track with our intimacy with the Lord and repent of our sins. Sometimes, this involves sitting down with pen and paper and assessing where we began our sinful pattern and why we chose to go in that direction away from the Lord. And as we offer prayers of contrition and surrender to the Lord, we can be assured that He is the Faithful and Just One who will forgive us of our sins (I John 1:9). We then can raise our symbolic "Stone of Help" in our hearts, knowing that the Lord will provide blessing and victory over our proverbial foes.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Unanswered Prayer
Job 35:12-13; 36:13: "He (God) does not answer when men cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked. Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it . . . . The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when He (God) fetters them, they do not cry for help."
When we are absorbed in sin against the Almighty God, even though we may be experiencing the calamity that comes with such rebellion, we should not think that our prayers for relief will be answered by the Lord. This is especially true if our prayers are designed merely to free us from the misery of our circumstances so that we might continue in our sin. God is omniscient (all-knowing), meaning that He knows the true heart of the one who petitions Him, and God will not be quick to grant one's request, if his prayer is designed to give opportunity to continue in his idolatrous ways. God will not perpetuate evil!
One tangible example of God's unanswered prayer can be in the area of dating relationships. As a single adult pastor, I have observed singles who have allowed their relational circumstances to saturate their every waking moment. The need for companionship becomes so consuming for them, that they in effect craft an idol out of their relational circumstances and begin to worship that need. Their insatiable desire for a mate takes priority above everything in their lives (even God Himself). Some will even resolve within themselves to settle for anyone who simply will offer them the affections that their hearts so desperately crave, and they will attempt to justify their decision as God's Will (even though nothing could be further from the truth). Others will call out to the Lord for Him to answer their requests for a mate, only to find that He does not answer their prayer. God's lack of response is not because He does not care; still, God knows that a person so consumed for the need for spousal companionship will begin to worship that very person once she comes into his life. God does not bless idolatry, and He will not answer the prayer for relational companionship if He thinks that such a gift would become the very thing worshipped.
Let me make a further disclaimer here. I am not saying that all single people who are without a relational partner are in some way being punished by God because they are too desirous for a mate. Many factors can play to a person's single status which can include personal calling/preference or even God's delayed response to perform a greater work in His kingdom through the single person (see I Corinthians 7:32-35). Therefore, we should not be quick to judge the single person as one who has an unresolved, coveteous spirit within him.
Still, we need to examine ourselves to see the disposition of our hearts. Are we asking the Lord for something that will only increase our consumption with the very thing requested? Are we apt to bow down to the need for relational companionship, and are we asking God to perpetuate that idolatry within us? God wants our unadulterated surrender; so if we think that we can expect His blessing when we are displaying our loyalty to another, we can know that our prayers will not be answered.
When we are absorbed in sin against the Almighty God, even though we may be experiencing the calamity that comes with such rebellion, we should not think that our prayers for relief will be answered by the Lord. This is especially true if our prayers are designed merely to free us from the misery of our circumstances so that we might continue in our sin. God is omniscient (all-knowing), meaning that He knows the true heart of the one who petitions Him, and God will not be quick to grant one's request, if his prayer is designed to give opportunity to continue in his idolatrous ways. God will not perpetuate evil!
One tangible example of God's unanswered prayer can be in the area of dating relationships. As a single adult pastor, I have observed singles who have allowed their relational circumstances to saturate their every waking moment. The need for companionship becomes so consuming for them, that they in effect craft an idol out of their relational circumstances and begin to worship that need. Their insatiable desire for a mate takes priority above everything in their lives (even God Himself). Some will even resolve within themselves to settle for anyone who simply will offer them the affections that their hearts so desperately crave, and they will attempt to justify their decision as God's Will (even though nothing could be further from the truth). Others will call out to the Lord for Him to answer their requests for a mate, only to find that He does not answer their prayer. God's lack of response is not because He does not care; still, God knows that a person so consumed for the need for spousal companionship will begin to worship that very person once she comes into his life. God does not bless idolatry, and He will not answer the prayer for relational companionship if He thinks that such a gift would become the very thing worshipped.
Let me make a further disclaimer here. I am not saying that all single people who are without a relational partner are in some way being punished by God because they are too desirous for a mate. Many factors can play to a person's single status which can include personal calling/preference or even God's delayed response to perform a greater work in His kingdom through the single person (see I Corinthians 7:32-35). Therefore, we should not be quick to judge the single person as one who has an unresolved, coveteous spirit within him.
Still, we need to examine ourselves to see the disposition of our hearts. Are we asking the Lord for something that will only increase our consumption with the very thing requested? Are we apt to bow down to the need for relational companionship, and are we asking God to perpetuate that idolatry within us? God wants our unadulterated surrender; so if we think that we can expect His blessing when we are displaying our loyalty to another, we can know that our prayers will not be answered.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Respect Everyone
Acts 9:43: "Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon."
Despite the persecution that Peter received from the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, Peter's ministry was a powerful display of God's glory working through him. The account of the healing of the crippled beggar in Acts 3 is tremendously impactful, for one sees Peter telling the beggar that he has nothing to give to him but the Name of Jesus Christ. As Peter reached out to grab the right hand of the handicapped man, he commanded that the man be healed through the power of the Name of Jesus; instantly, the man was healed and followed the apostle to the temple "walking, leaping, and praising God" (Acts 3:8). The people at the temple were amazed at such a miraculous healing of a man who had been crippled since his birth.
In Acts 9, we again find Peter engaged in ministry, now with the people in Lydda (a city about 30 miles north of Jerusalem). As Peter walked through the community, he encountered a man who was disabled and bedridden. Peter called out to the man, named Aeneas, and said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Instantly, the man arose, to the astonishment of the people there. The Scripture tells us that many in the towns of Lydda and Sharon saw the evidence of the healing and "turned to the Lord."
Peter then was summoned to Joppa, a seaport city about 11 miles northwest of Lydda, by two disciples concerned for the life of a dear disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas). After making the three hour journey to the city, Peter found that Dorcas had died, and her body had been prepared for burial. As the friends and family of Dorcas wept for the loss of Dorcas, Peter sent everyone out of the room and called out to the Lord for supernatural healing. Knowing in his spirit that it was God's will to raise Dorcas from the dead, Peter called out to the woman to rise from the dead. Immediately, she opened her eyes and sat up. Peter then called out to Dorcas' friends to come and see what God had done in raising their dear friend from the dead. In response, "many people believed in the Lord" (Acts 9:42).
What is fascinating is the brief account that follows in verse 42, for we find that the apostle Peter stayed "for some time with a tanner named Simon." Joachim Jeremias in his book, Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus, states that a tanner was one of the most despised trades at that time. The reason for its disrepute was the involvement of animal waste used in the tanning process. So repugnant was the profession, that a wife of a tanner had the right to divorce her husband due to the intolerable environment in which the tanner worked. In fact, the oral tradition permitted the wife to divorce her husband even if she went into the marriage knowing that her husband was a tanner. This "exception" was rather profound given that women had little right to divorce their husbands; it was the husbands who were given that "right" by the oral law of that time.
We can assume that Peter had become a highly respected person in the community, due to the miraculous healings that had occurred in the area. And Joppa was a fairly prosperous area, due to its port trading. Thus, Peter likely would have had a number of offerings to stay in the more prominent homes of the region. He could have had the choicest lodging and food while he ministered in the region; however, he instead chose to reside with one of the most despised people in the area. This says a lot about how Peter had matured in His relations with the Lord. Peter was not in need of the perks that went along with ministry; rather, he saw the opportunity to minister to one who would have been shunned by many in the community. And the fact that he stayed with Simon the Tanner for "some time" leads us to believe that this was not just an overnight publicity stunt. Peter genuinely desired to fellowship with this outcast, and he wanted the people in the community to know that the power of Christ working through him was not for his own glory but ultimately for the glory of the One True God. He also wanted the people to understand that everyone has intrinsic value and is important in the kingdom of God.
There is a good word for us here. As we are ministering to others, we need to be mindful of everyone within the kingdom, and not play favorites based upon their prominence in culture. We are called to love everyone and not necessarily gravitate to those who might have more to offer us personally. As God does not show favoritism, so too we are called to treat everyone with respect and value all irrespective of the circumstances in which we find them. In the next chapter of Acts (10), Peter would leave Joppa for Caesarea and would encounter a Roman centurion named Cornelius; rather than separating himself from the gentile (a common practice in Judaism), Peter would share the gospel with this Roman soldier, leading to his salvation. Peter again interjected the truth that God desires all men to come to a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right" (10:34-35). May we remember that all men are loved by God, and may we be ever determined to be an agent of blessing to all by respecting everyone with whom we come in contact.
Despite the persecution that Peter received from the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, Peter's ministry was a powerful display of God's glory working through him. The account of the healing of the crippled beggar in Acts 3 is tremendously impactful, for one sees Peter telling the beggar that he has nothing to give to him but the Name of Jesus Christ. As Peter reached out to grab the right hand of the handicapped man, he commanded that the man be healed through the power of the Name of Jesus; instantly, the man was healed and followed the apostle to the temple "walking, leaping, and praising God" (Acts 3:8). The people at the temple were amazed at such a miraculous healing of a man who had been crippled since his birth.
In Acts 9, we again find Peter engaged in ministry, now with the people in Lydda (a city about 30 miles north of Jerusalem). As Peter walked through the community, he encountered a man who was disabled and bedridden. Peter called out to the man, named Aeneas, and said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat." Instantly, the man arose, to the astonishment of the people there. The Scripture tells us that many in the towns of Lydda and Sharon saw the evidence of the healing and "turned to the Lord."
Peter then was summoned to Joppa, a seaport city about 11 miles northwest of Lydda, by two disciples concerned for the life of a dear disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas). After making the three hour journey to the city, Peter found that Dorcas had died, and her body had been prepared for burial. As the friends and family of Dorcas wept for the loss of Dorcas, Peter sent everyone out of the room and called out to the Lord for supernatural healing. Knowing in his spirit that it was God's will to raise Dorcas from the dead, Peter called out to the woman to rise from the dead. Immediately, she opened her eyes and sat up. Peter then called out to Dorcas' friends to come and see what God had done in raising their dear friend from the dead. In response, "many people believed in the Lord" (Acts 9:42).
What is fascinating is the brief account that follows in verse 42, for we find that the apostle Peter stayed "for some time with a tanner named Simon." Joachim Jeremias in his book, Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus, states that a tanner was one of the most despised trades at that time. The reason for its disrepute was the involvement of animal waste used in the tanning process. So repugnant was the profession, that a wife of a tanner had the right to divorce her husband due to the intolerable environment in which the tanner worked. In fact, the oral tradition permitted the wife to divorce her husband even if she went into the marriage knowing that her husband was a tanner. This "exception" was rather profound given that women had little right to divorce their husbands; it was the husbands who were given that "right" by the oral law of that time.
We can assume that Peter had become a highly respected person in the community, due to the miraculous healings that had occurred in the area. And Joppa was a fairly prosperous area, due to its port trading. Thus, Peter likely would have had a number of offerings to stay in the more prominent homes of the region. He could have had the choicest lodging and food while he ministered in the region; however, he instead chose to reside with one of the most despised people in the area. This says a lot about how Peter had matured in His relations with the Lord. Peter was not in need of the perks that went along with ministry; rather, he saw the opportunity to minister to one who would have been shunned by many in the community. And the fact that he stayed with Simon the Tanner for "some time" leads us to believe that this was not just an overnight publicity stunt. Peter genuinely desired to fellowship with this outcast, and he wanted the people in the community to know that the power of Christ working through him was not for his own glory but ultimately for the glory of the One True God. He also wanted the people to understand that everyone has intrinsic value and is important in the kingdom of God.
There is a good word for us here. As we are ministering to others, we need to be mindful of everyone within the kingdom, and not play favorites based upon their prominence in culture. We are called to love everyone and not necessarily gravitate to those who might have more to offer us personally. As God does not show favoritism, so too we are called to treat everyone with respect and value all irrespective of the circumstances in which we find them. In the next chapter of Acts (10), Peter would leave Joppa for Caesarea and would encounter a Roman centurion named Cornelius; rather than separating himself from the gentile (a common practice in Judaism), Peter would share the gospel with this Roman soldier, leading to his salvation. Peter again interjected the truth that God desires all men to come to a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right" (10:34-35). May we remember that all men are loved by God, and may we be ever determined to be an agent of blessing to all by respecting everyone with whom we come in contact.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Godly Fathers, Where Are You?
Proverbs 20:7: "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him."
Having been in pastoral ministry for 10 years now, I sadly have observed the relational fallout that has occurred in the lives of individuals who have been neglected and abused by their ungodly fathers. It seems that the lives of these adults, who as children were disillusioned by the lack of Godly character in their fathers and the resultant dysfunction of the home, are spiraling out of control into the abyss of spiritual and emotional despondency. The lack of familial consistency, stability, and honor in the home has bred within these individuals innumerable insecurities that were birthed in the upheaval of the impressionable years of these once-children-now-adults' lives; and now, many of these adults struggle with depression and the need for affirmation, affection, and hope for the future. There is a sense of alienation and undesirableness in their spirits, and these feelings of unworthiness seem to manifest themselves in psychosocial abnormalities. Many of these folks bear the curse of their detached, ungodly fathers in the following ways:
-Lack of motivation: believing that their efforts will not be affirmed and are hence inconsequential.
-Poor spousal selections: concluding that they must settle relationally for anyone who will display affection since they are unworthy to receive love from most people with whom they come in contact.
-Underachievement: failing to take achievement risks for fear of failure, as these failures may reaffirm their unworthiness.
-Dysfunctional behavior and poor relational skills: seeing the ungodliness of their fathers as normative and thus repeating the inappropriate behavior in their own lives. This may be manifest in their own neglect of their own children, coupled with their quest for self-adulation to the detriment of everyone else.
-Substance abuse: attempting to detach from the pain that has come from years of parental neglect.
-Anxiety disorders: believing that the world is not a safe place and therefore struggling with being able to trust that they can be protected in their environment.
-Lack of intimacy: an unwillingness to get close with others, believing that others will disappoint them just like their fathers.
-Controlling behavior: feeling so out of control that they develop an overbearing, controlling disposition towards others (children of alcoholic fathers are notorious for this).
Tragically, the list could continue indefinitely. The hope is that the scripture cited above will be a good word of direction for fathers. If dads would lead a righteous life of obedience and submission to the Lord . . . if they would live lives completely committed to God . . . if their actions would be consistent with a life pledged to the Lord and His commands . . . if they would minister to their children by spending time with them and loving them . . . . if they would commit to love and affirm their wives . . . . and if they would demonstrate Godly integrity and consistency with everyone in whom they have contact, then their children will be blessed, not only in their early years of development, but in their adult years as well.
James Dobson has said, "there is one person-one man that every child longs to look up to, to emulate, to know that he or she can count on when the chips are down. He is the one that all children, in the deep reaches of their hearts, want most as a hero. Dad." (See A Father, A Hero, pg 9). This principle is reaffirmed in Proverbs 17:6: "Parents are the pride of their children." Fathers are to bless their children by providing unconditional love, unconditional affirmation, stability, integrity, and security in the home. To fail to do this will rot the spirits of their children, and few will recover from such neglect.
As fathers, let's be men who are passionate for the Lord and decidedly committed to our families. When we live righteous lives, our Lord will be honored, and we will provide the greatest gifts that we could ever give to our children . . . the gifts of love, honor, and security.
Having been in pastoral ministry for 10 years now, I sadly have observed the relational fallout that has occurred in the lives of individuals who have been neglected and abused by their ungodly fathers. It seems that the lives of these adults, who as children were disillusioned by the lack of Godly character in their fathers and the resultant dysfunction of the home, are spiraling out of control into the abyss of spiritual and emotional despondency. The lack of familial consistency, stability, and honor in the home has bred within these individuals innumerable insecurities that were birthed in the upheaval of the impressionable years of these once-children-now-adults' lives; and now, many of these adults struggle with depression and the need for affirmation, affection, and hope for the future. There is a sense of alienation and undesirableness in their spirits, and these feelings of unworthiness seem to manifest themselves in psychosocial abnormalities. Many of these folks bear the curse of their detached, ungodly fathers in the following ways:
-Lack of motivation: believing that their efforts will not be affirmed and are hence inconsequential.
-Poor spousal selections: concluding that they must settle relationally for anyone who will display affection since they are unworthy to receive love from most people with whom they come in contact.
-Underachievement: failing to take achievement risks for fear of failure, as these failures may reaffirm their unworthiness.
-Dysfunctional behavior and poor relational skills: seeing the ungodliness of their fathers as normative and thus repeating the inappropriate behavior in their own lives. This may be manifest in their own neglect of their own children, coupled with their quest for self-adulation to the detriment of everyone else.
-Substance abuse: attempting to detach from the pain that has come from years of parental neglect.
-Anxiety disorders: believing that the world is not a safe place and therefore struggling with being able to trust that they can be protected in their environment.
-Lack of intimacy: an unwillingness to get close with others, believing that others will disappoint them just like their fathers.
-Controlling behavior: feeling so out of control that they develop an overbearing, controlling disposition towards others (children of alcoholic fathers are notorious for this).
Tragically, the list could continue indefinitely. The hope is that the scripture cited above will be a good word of direction for fathers. If dads would lead a righteous life of obedience and submission to the Lord . . . if they would live lives completely committed to God . . . if their actions would be consistent with a life pledged to the Lord and His commands . . . if they would minister to their children by spending time with them and loving them . . . . if they would commit to love and affirm their wives . . . . and if they would demonstrate Godly integrity and consistency with everyone in whom they have contact, then their children will be blessed, not only in their early years of development, but in their adult years as well.
James Dobson has said, "there is one person-one man that every child longs to look up to, to emulate, to know that he or she can count on when the chips are down. He is the one that all children, in the deep reaches of their hearts, want most as a hero. Dad." (See A Father, A Hero, pg 9). This principle is reaffirmed in Proverbs 17:6: "Parents are the pride of their children." Fathers are to bless their children by providing unconditional love, unconditional affirmation, stability, integrity, and security in the home. To fail to do this will rot the spirits of their children, and few will recover from such neglect.
As fathers, let's be men who are passionate for the Lord and decidedly committed to our families. When we live righteous lives, our Lord will be honored, and we will provide the greatest gifts that we could ever give to our children . . . the gifts of love, honor, and security.
Monday, September 15, 2008
The Earth is Trembling
Proverbs 30:21: "Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food, an unloved woman who is married, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress."
To use the imagery of "trembling" for the earth in response to these egregious examples, reveals the level of utter disdain that each of these areas brings.
A servant who becomes a king, presumably lacks the experience and the maturity to handle the overwhelming position of leadership. Without the benefit of acute leadership abilities, this ruler will be taken advantage of by other national leaders or even his own subjects to the detriment of his kingdom. He also in time may allow his esteemed position to become an enticement for a power-hungry, tyrannical, and self-absorbed disposition to the detriment of his followers. This inept leader may celebrate his new found affluence and esteem unaware that his kingdom is in danger; and frankly he does not care, for he enjoys the ceremonial pomp and adulation that is given to him. Thus, his lack of giftedness in leadership may sink his nation politically and economically, causing widespread skepticism and hostility among his subjects. Eventually, the animosity towards the unqualified ruler may lead to insurrection and overthrow. It is an equation for national disaster, and for this the earth trembles.
A fool who is full of food is a painful presence to others, for he is likely to think himself worthy of his plenty. He is self-absorbed in his affluence, and he prides himself in his prosperity, even if that prosperity was acquired through the manipulation of others. This fool will become so overbearing in his conceit, that he will think himself to be worthy of exaltation. He also will be less inclined to motivate himself to continual self-improvement (after all, his belly is full of food); instead, in his lethargy, he will become slack and in the end will lose the very prosperity that he once enjoyed. Eventually, this "self-made" man will become a liability upon his community, for he foolishly will lose all that he had acquired and will become destitute. Tragically, this fool will not take ownership for his misfortune, but he will look to others as the culprits for his demise. The fool's ever-increasing bitterness at his circumstances will be most difficult to those around him, and for this the earth trembles.
A married woman is designed by the Sovereign Lord to be loved and cherished by her husband. God so wired women this way in order that He might teach humanity on a spiritual level that His bride, the Church, needs unconditional love from her Husband, the Lord Almighty. As the Church craves the love and affection of her Husband, so too the wife needs the focused love and adoration of her beloved. When a wife is deprived of these blessings over a long period of time, she likely will become bitter and depressed; and it is with great sorrow that others observe the neglect that she receives from her husband. When the one relationship that should be the bastion of intimacy and love becomes instead the forum for spousal shunning and deprivation, the earth trembles in disgust.
Finally, when a maidservant displaces her mistress, there is upheaval in the household. Possibly, the maidservant had become so envious of her mistress' position in the home, that she plotted the demise of her mistress so that she could assume such an esteemed position. Maybe the maidservant wanted the husband of the home, or the material wealth, or the position of authority in the home; nevertheless, the maidservant secretly schemed her way into the position of her superior. This maidservant destroys the home in which she serves because she is not content in her position as servant; instead, she covets what her mistress has and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Such betrayal in the home is utterly destructive, and for this the earth trembles.
As we look to the commonality in each of these examples, we can find that the global trembling is the result of people who displace loving others for their own insatiable desire for self-exaltation. Whether it is a servant who permits his elevated position of king to lead to his arrogance, or a fool who prides in his material accomplishments, or a husband who is too absorbed in himself that he neglects his wife, or a maidservant who is willing to destroy her mistress to get her position, all situations are motivated by the idolization of "self."
God desires that all men would demonstrate selfless love towards each other, being an agent of blessing to others even before oneself. Tragically, the world is filled with personalities that crave personal desires above their fellow man (even God himself). This egocentricity has led to the accumulation of the global problems that we see today, and these problems will continue as long as mankind is absorbed in his own appetites to the detriment of others.
So, we should not be surprised that the earth "trembles." It will continue to do so until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To use the imagery of "trembling" for the earth in response to these egregious examples, reveals the level of utter disdain that each of these areas brings.
A servant who becomes a king, presumably lacks the experience and the maturity to handle the overwhelming position of leadership. Without the benefit of acute leadership abilities, this ruler will be taken advantage of by other national leaders or even his own subjects to the detriment of his kingdom. He also in time may allow his esteemed position to become an enticement for a power-hungry, tyrannical, and self-absorbed disposition to the detriment of his followers. This inept leader may celebrate his new found affluence and esteem unaware that his kingdom is in danger; and frankly he does not care, for he enjoys the ceremonial pomp and adulation that is given to him. Thus, his lack of giftedness in leadership may sink his nation politically and economically, causing widespread skepticism and hostility among his subjects. Eventually, the animosity towards the unqualified ruler may lead to insurrection and overthrow. It is an equation for national disaster, and for this the earth trembles.
A fool who is full of food is a painful presence to others, for he is likely to think himself worthy of his plenty. He is self-absorbed in his affluence, and he prides himself in his prosperity, even if that prosperity was acquired through the manipulation of others. This fool will become so overbearing in his conceit, that he will think himself to be worthy of exaltation. He also will be less inclined to motivate himself to continual self-improvement (after all, his belly is full of food); instead, in his lethargy, he will become slack and in the end will lose the very prosperity that he once enjoyed. Eventually, this "self-made" man will become a liability upon his community, for he foolishly will lose all that he had acquired and will become destitute. Tragically, this fool will not take ownership for his misfortune, but he will look to others as the culprits for his demise. The fool's ever-increasing bitterness at his circumstances will be most difficult to those around him, and for this the earth trembles.
A married woman is designed by the Sovereign Lord to be loved and cherished by her husband. God so wired women this way in order that He might teach humanity on a spiritual level that His bride, the Church, needs unconditional love from her Husband, the Lord Almighty. As the Church craves the love and affection of her Husband, so too the wife needs the focused love and adoration of her beloved. When a wife is deprived of these blessings over a long period of time, she likely will become bitter and depressed; and it is with great sorrow that others observe the neglect that she receives from her husband. When the one relationship that should be the bastion of intimacy and love becomes instead the forum for spousal shunning and deprivation, the earth trembles in disgust.
Finally, when a maidservant displaces her mistress, there is upheaval in the household. Possibly, the maidservant had become so envious of her mistress' position in the home, that she plotted the demise of her mistress so that she could assume such an esteemed position. Maybe the maidservant wanted the husband of the home, or the material wealth, or the position of authority in the home; nevertheless, the maidservant secretly schemed her way into the position of her superior. This maidservant destroys the home in which she serves because she is not content in her position as servant; instead, she covets what her mistress has and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Such betrayal in the home is utterly destructive, and for this the earth trembles.
As we look to the commonality in each of these examples, we can find that the global trembling is the result of people who displace loving others for their own insatiable desire for self-exaltation. Whether it is a servant who permits his elevated position of king to lead to his arrogance, or a fool who prides in his material accomplishments, or a husband who is too absorbed in himself that he neglects his wife, or a maidservant who is willing to destroy her mistress to get her position, all situations are motivated by the idolization of "self."
God desires that all men would demonstrate selfless love towards each other, being an agent of blessing to others even before oneself. Tragically, the world is filled with personalities that crave personal desires above their fellow man (even God himself). This egocentricity has led to the accumulation of the global problems that we see today, and these problems will continue as long as mankind is absorbed in his own appetites to the detriment of others.
So, we should not be surprised that the earth "trembles." It will continue to do so until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Lip Service Is No Service To God
Luke 6:46-49: "So why do you call me 'Lord' when you don't obey me? I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then obeys me. It is like a person who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."
One of the groups with whom Jesus had continual conflict were the Pharisees. These were religious zealots that were great at ceremonial show in Jewish culture, but their hearts were consumed with the exaltation that came with such pomp, rather than true praise for the Almighty God. The members of the Pharisaic group were great at praising the Lord in public (see Matthew 23), but their hearts were full of idolatry (the worship of themselves).
In the first verses of Luke 6, the Pharisees were angry with Jesus because He had healed a person with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath. Jesus was not playing by the rigid rules that the Pharisees had put into place to exalt their control and privilege over the people. After Jesus shared the Beatitudes with His disciples, He began to teach them the difference between those who were the true followers of God and those who were not. Jesus told His hearers that the truest evidence of a genuine follower was the spiritual fruit produced by the person; namely, a person who had the blessing of Christ within his heart would produce goodness for the Lord's kingdom. Those who did not have Christ might possibly put on a good show of spirituality, but the goodness of the Lord would be noticeably absent.
Jesus then shared that the litmus test for the true believer would be demonstrated in the trials and tribulations of life. The one who truly had come to a relationship with Christ and was obedient to Him as Lord would demonstrate spiritual fruit irrespective of the difficulties of life. He would be able to remain committed to the Lord, because He had set His hope (His foundation) upon the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ. No painful experience would be able to thwart His focused allegiance to the One True God; rather, that believer would be strengthened in his resolve, for his faith was anchored in the Lord.
What is telling from the cited passage is that the true believer will dig deep below the superficial layers of his life to set the foundation. Digging deep suggests that the person has received the offering of Christ's grace by earnestly seeking Him above all other persons and things. This process is no mere cordiality, but a passionate pursuit of the Lord. Like a person who takes on the painstaking task of digging deep to find the truest bedrock for his foundation, so too the true believer faithfully seeks the Lord and submits to Him as Master. The Word tells us that a person who seeks God with His whole heart will in fact find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
When the painful trials of life come his way, the true believer knows that God is the Sovereign Lord who reigns supreme and uses all circumstances for His ultimate glory. Thus, as that person has surrendered himself to the Lordship of Christ, he will follow Him with absolute loyalty irrespective of the circumstances that befall him.
Conversely, the one who speaks his allegiance to the Lord, but has not been transformed by the awesome grace of Christ, is one who has built his life upon the shallow, shaky sand of himself. Although he has great lip service for the Lord, his truest disposition is revealed when tribulation comes his way. That is, when the trials of life are introduced, this person shows through his behavior that Christ is not his anchor. Many times, we will see that presumed believers will disavow their allegiance to the Lord or they will begin to live lifes of chronic rebellion against the Lord in response to the calamites of life. What is telling is that this person may have had a superficial "religiosity" but no intimacy with the Lord. Whereas he may have attended church each Sunday, noticeably absent is the evidential fruit of a truly transformed life.
We would do well to hear these words of the Savior, and examine ourselves to see to which foundation we have fixed ourselves. Have we dug deeply into the soil of life and placed our faith in Christ as our Sure Foundation, or have we placed our faith in ourselves? Do we merely have a form of spirituality through spoken word and yet lack the substantive fruit that reveals that we have been truly transformed by the grace of Christ? We will know our answer when the difficulties of life come our way (and they're coming!). I have always believed that the truest test of our relationship with Christ is revealed in times of temptation and tribulation. When you enter these valleys, examine your foundation. You may find that you need to surrender your life to God as your personal Lord. We can learn much from the hymn, The Solid Rock, for it tells us a most important truth: "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand."
One of the groups with whom Jesus had continual conflict were the Pharisees. These were religious zealots that were great at ceremonial show in Jewish culture, but their hearts were consumed with the exaltation that came with such pomp, rather than true praise for the Almighty God. The members of the Pharisaic group were great at praising the Lord in public (see Matthew 23), but their hearts were full of idolatry (the worship of themselves).
In the first verses of Luke 6, the Pharisees were angry with Jesus because He had healed a person with a shriveled hand on the Sabbath. Jesus was not playing by the rigid rules that the Pharisees had put into place to exalt their control and privilege over the people. After Jesus shared the Beatitudes with His disciples, He began to teach them the difference between those who were the true followers of God and those who were not. Jesus told His hearers that the truest evidence of a genuine follower was the spiritual fruit produced by the person; namely, a person who had the blessing of Christ within his heart would produce goodness for the Lord's kingdom. Those who did not have Christ might possibly put on a good show of spirituality, but the goodness of the Lord would be noticeably absent.
Jesus then shared that the litmus test for the true believer would be demonstrated in the trials and tribulations of life. The one who truly had come to a relationship with Christ and was obedient to Him as Lord would demonstrate spiritual fruit irrespective of the difficulties of life. He would be able to remain committed to the Lord, because He had set His hope (His foundation) upon the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ. No painful experience would be able to thwart His focused allegiance to the One True God; rather, that believer would be strengthened in his resolve, for his faith was anchored in the Lord.
What is telling from the cited passage is that the true believer will dig deep below the superficial layers of his life to set the foundation. Digging deep suggests that the person has received the offering of Christ's grace by earnestly seeking Him above all other persons and things. This process is no mere cordiality, but a passionate pursuit of the Lord. Like a person who takes on the painstaking task of digging deep to find the truest bedrock for his foundation, so too the true believer faithfully seeks the Lord and submits to Him as Master. The Word tells us that a person who seeks God with His whole heart will in fact find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
When the painful trials of life come his way, the true believer knows that God is the Sovereign Lord who reigns supreme and uses all circumstances for His ultimate glory. Thus, as that person has surrendered himself to the Lordship of Christ, he will follow Him with absolute loyalty irrespective of the circumstances that befall him.
Conversely, the one who speaks his allegiance to the Lord, but has not been transformed by the awesome grace of Christ, is one who has built his life upon the shallow, shaky sand of himself. Although he has great lip service for the Lord, his truest disposition is revealed when tribulation comes his way. That is, when the trials of life are introduced, this person shows through his behavior that Christ is not his anchor. Many times, we will see that presumed believers will disavow their allegiance to the Lord or they will begin to live lifes of chronic rebellion against the Lord in response to the calamites of life. What is telling is that this person may have had a superficial "religiosity" but no intimacy with the Lord. Whereas he may have attended church each Sunday, noticeably absent is the evidential fruit of a truly transformed life.
We would do well to hear these words of the Savior, and examine ourselves to see to which foundation we have fixed ourselves. Have we dug deeply into the soil of life and placed our faith in Christ as our Sure Foundation, or have we placed our faith in ourselves? Do we merely have a form of spirituality through spoken word and yet lack the substantive fruit that reveals that we have been truly transformed by the grace of Christ? We will know our answer when the difficulties of life come our way (and they're coming!). I have always believed that the truest test of our relationship with Christ is revealed in times of temptation and tribulation. When you enter these valleys, examine your foundation. You may find that you need to surrender your life to God as your personal Lord. We can learn much from the hymn, The Solid Rock, for it tells us a most important truth: "On Christ the Solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand."
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