Content or contempt?

1 Timothy 6

"But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." (v8)

It was tempting to write only about verse 9 and the dangers of riches, but that would have been to skip the dangers of want. Notice shelter is not in the list. I'm not saying we should all be homeless, but even things we consider absolute necessities really aren't (something about foxes and holes comes to mind here). Could I see God's provision in only food and clothing? Can I see God in Kenya or the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala or the coast of the Dominican Republic? I'm stung particularly because some of the most seemingly contented people I have ever met live in one of those three places. I say seemingly contented because I only experienced brief flashes of time with them. This past week in conversation, I said to someone that there appears to be an inverse relationship between what we have and gratitude. It's odd. If someone with nearly nothing is grateful for food and clothing, why can't I be? Rather, why won't I be?

Better late than never

Psalm 110

"The LORD says to my Lord" v1

It would be very wrong to skip Psalm 110 without any reflection. David witnesses a conversation between two members of the Trinity. David sees the declaration of the coming priest-king (v4). Priesthood and kingship did not mix, but there was one coming who would unite the two. Luther called this psalm the main one relating to Jesus.

Syrup on that waffle?

1 Kings 18

"How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." v21

See, sometimes God is God, but a lot of the time I am. Do I want a God who offers transactions or do I want to take the risk with a God who cannot be made a debtor? Baal is so much more appealing when I want to think I have control or make myself the center of the universe. God is too intent on showing me reality. Ignorance is bliss for sure.

Continuing Ed, anyone?

Psalm 86

"Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name." (v11)

This stood out to me today. Here, God's greatness and mercy is being extolled. He does great and wondrous things (v10). What, then, does the psalmist ask for from this wonderful Fount of Every Blessing? In the first verses, an answer, life, grace, joy (gladden the soul), listening. In the last verses, grace and a sign. In the middle, though, are are six verses of praise and one request: teach me obedience.

Now, I'm ok with asking for life and grace and joy, but who would actually ask to obey? Only the person who is convinced that obedience is best for his own soul. If we believe God is arbitrary or cruel or aloof, we would never ask and seek obedience. If we, on the other hand, believe God is just and merciful and loving, we're fools to do anything else. Obedience is not about pleasing God (something accomplished solely on the Cross), it's acknowledging that his pleasure is our pleasure; that love overflows in love.

So, am I ready to set aside my own pursuit of death and decay and latch onto the only real hope for lasting peace? Help me in my unbelief.

Wow...has it really been that long?

I may be the only person to continue reading this, but writing these posts actually helps me stay up on the reading...so, paint this a selfish exercise.

Galatians 5

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Galatians 5:13-14

Here we have one of many declarations of true freedom. True freedom is not the ability to gratify ourselves. When Jesus flips our economics upside down, we find freedom in service. What? I had to read that again...use your freedom - serve one another. We are no longer desperate people trying to draw life from the dying world...we are able to draw life from eternal things so that we are a source of light to the world.

It made good sense at the time.

Numbers 14

But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the Lord, when that will not succeed? (v41)

This chapter is not a proud moment for Israel. Their complaining against God presumes a higher wisdom and a better purpose. Then, Moses asks the question that absolutely has to be asked (and asked of us). This is not about some quest for self-righteousness in order to make God unnecessary. This is not about a set of rules laid out as some sort of twisted test...like God is playing MouseTrap and we're trying not to get caught.

Why are you sinning when it doesn't work?

It doesn't make God unnecessary - it makes him, if anything, more necessary. It doesn't display higher wisdom or better purpose. It is folly. You don't have to be on a quest for your own righteousness to work for obedience. Those quests end poorly. At some point, you look up and realize that obedience is the only thing that makes sense.

Two ears, one mouth. Do the math.

Ecclesiastes 5

"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words." v(1-3)

God is in heaven, and you are on earth. How often do we pray as people who believe we know what God should do in our lives?

Rougly paraphrasing Tim Keller:
Prayer is not about changing God - it is about being changed by God. It is not about getting God to do what we want - it is about letting him have access to our hearts so that we do what He wants.

What if we approached our petitions and requests in that attitude. "God, you are in heaven and I am on earth. There are circumstances in life I do not understand. Please enlarge my faith so that my trust and obedience increase. You told us there would be suffering and pain in this life, and you promised us your sufficiency in them. Thank you that I am not alone. Thank you that circumstances are not outside your sovereignty - you are never surprised."

Closing story:
A journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Wailing Wall to pray, twice a day, every day, for sixty years. The journalist went to the Wailing Wall and there observed the old Jew.
The journalist enquired, “What do you pray for?”
The man replied, “I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims. I pray for all the wars and hatred to stop, I pray for all our children to grow up safely as responsible adults, and to love their fellow man.”
“How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?” asked the journalist.
“Like I’m talking to a brick wall”, he replied

(closing story pulled from this timely blog entry.)