By Love Serve One Another

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

                                                                                  (Gal 5:13-15 KJV)

If our sole purpose in this life is to gratify our own egotistic desires we will most probably find ourselves spiritually and emotionally empty and hungry. We will find ourselves with divisions between ourselves and others so numerous that we cannot count them.

On the other hand, if we would but love others as ourselves, we would be more able to live with the differences between us and them in peaceful reconciliation. As we go about our daily lives let us give consideration to how we would have others treat us and treat others in that way. Consider if when you are lonely or depressed would you want someone to be with you to comfort you. Then be there for those who are also alone and depressed. If you and your family were without food or shelter would you have someone assist you? Then, do likewise to those who are in need. If you would live in peace; then let others live in peace. Do not intentionally cause them anxiety or worries of any kind. And, when you help someone; when you are there for them, let it be done with a joyful heart. Do it in a manner that they know that they are loved and not merely a good work that you know that you should do.

Out of love, be there for the people around you. Our personal times and agendas are not more important than loving our neighbors right next door, in our own households, or on the other side of the world.

Loving and serving others will give us purpose that will bring about peace rather than divisions among us.

May God help us to always remember that Jesus so loved us, that he was willing to serve us by giving his life on the cross for us. Being generous and going a little out of our way for the sake of others can't even begin to compare to that!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Was It Fair?

“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last.'” (Matt 20:13-16 NIV)

In the parable of the workers of the vineyard, there were those who complain that some received better wages than others.  They complain that the wages are not given out fairly. Those who work for one hour receive the same payment as those who labor all day. In the end, Jesus' response is: “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (Matt 20:16)

The complaint of those who came first came; of those who thought they should get more of something than others should get, is not an unfamiliar story. We often hear and sometimes it is we who complain that we were there first. We did this. We did that. Why, oh, why is someone else getting the same pay as we are getting? We've been here working and serving much longer than others. Why, oh, why is he or she getting a promotion before me? I was here long ago. They were not? Why, is this or that person being put in a position of authority? Why are they being honored or awarded? I've earned it. They have not. 

We often complain that life is not fair. What we think we deserve, we do not always get. What we think should go to us sometimes goes to others. Throughout scripture we read of people receiving what they have not earned. God blesses whom He chooses to bless because He is God and usually the one He chooses is the one who would be considered less than. 

David was a mere shepherd boy. They youngest of many sons. Yet, God chose him to be king; to rule over His people. Did this shepherd boy deserve to be king? He was so young. What could he have possibly accomplished for God to be calling him? But, God knew what David would do way before David could even begin to fathom it.

Jesus was born in a barn to a very young woman. He was not born into wealth. His family was not of any upper echelons of authority or power. He came from a very average family. But, God chose that average family. That young woman was chosen to bear incarnate God. Joseph, although we hear very little about him, was chosen to be the earthly father of God's only begotten Son. They did nothing in particular to deserve these high honors. Yet, God chose them. For whatever reason, God decided to bless them with the privilege of raising Jesus. And, the Son... What about Jesus? Did he deserve what he got? Did he deserve; was it really fair that Jesus had to die for our sins? He did nothing wrong. He was without sin. Yet, he took our places and our punishment so that we might be reconciled to our Father in heaven. Was it fair for one man to receive the penalty for the sins of the whole world?  He put himself last, humbled himself for us, and now is first in the Kingdom of God. He reigns!

Life may not always seem like it's fair. God does not think or act like we do. Even His justice is not like our justice. That is a real good thing for us. He is much more merciful than we are. What seems right or just in our eyes, doesn't necessarily make it just in God's eyes. Jesus says the last shall be first and the first will be last. Something about that just doesn't seem right to us. But, it is God's word. It is his plan for the good of all who love Him.

Thanks be to God, it is He who is in charge and not we.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Lying To God

Lies invite darkness to descend upon the soul;
even upon the world.

 

  Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

  Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

  When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

  About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

  “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

  Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

  At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 

                                                                                                                              (Acts 5:1-10)

I have been lied to and about so many times that there is no way that I could even count the times. We all have. Frankly, it makes me a bit weary. Sometimes, the lies are used to make someone look like someone they are not; like they are in the right and are doing good for others; while they are in truth, not.

Ananias and his wife Sapphira attempted to make themselves look righteous. They wanted to look as generous as the others who had sold their property and gave the proceeds to the church for the good of all of the people. But, they withheld some. Their sin was not so much in keeping some for themselves. The sin was in attempting to lie to God the Holy Spirit. God knows everything we say and think and do. It is just a bad idea to try telling God lies. The humans that we might tell lies to; usually know that we are not telling the whole truth, as well. We may not be able to prove the lies; but, God knows the truth. Lying to God, to others, and to ourselves can be very detrimental to our lives, to our futures.

The rest of the story for Ananias and Sapphira was that when they lied to Peter and to God, they died. They died immediately. When we lie to protect ourselves and our own egos; a bit of us dies inside, as well. When we tell untruths we are not who we were or who we can be in Christ Jesus. Make every effort then to speak and live in the truth with integrity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Prosperity Gospel Full Of Greed

   Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
   “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone." 
                                                                                                         (Luke 11:39-42 NIV)

Having fallen asleep with the television on, I woke up this morning to hear one of those "prosperity gospel" preachers. He reminded me of many of our politicians; with no clue as to what poverty really means. They have no clue as to how many people in this country and around the world are living without the very basics needed to sustain healthy lives. This early morning preacher was encouraging people to "sow a seed" of $1000.00 and God would reward 1000 of those givers of $1000.00 seeds with 100 consecutive days of miracles to prosper them. God would bless these 1000 poor people. 

Now, a whole lot of you might think that someone who only has a thousand dollars to sow is poor. But, the reality is that if you have a thousand dollars to give away you are not the poorest of the lot in this country. If you can afford to give a thousand dollars away in the hopes for more money (i.e. gamble the money away) then you are far richer in this world than multitudes who live pay day to pay day and get further and further behind in providing even the bare necessities of life to their families. When Christians give we are not to be giving to gain anything; to help ourselves in this world or the next nor can we buy our salvation. We give because we want to help others to live. The kind of giving that this prosperity preacher is advocating is the greed and wickedness that we hear our Lord warn us about in the Gospel of Luke (11:39-42).

Giving is a good thing. It is even a necessary thing. But, we do not give to honor ourselves or to gain anything for ourselves. We give out of love for God and for others, even as Jesus was willing to give his whole life for us.

May God grant to us generous hearts as we give to the poor; doing justice; and, loving God.   

God's Peace - Pr. J