Elections and Hope

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. (Proverbs 16:33 ESV)

Elections and Hope

Everyone seems to be forecasting doom. If one candidate wins, our American way of life will be changed dramatically. If the other candidate wins, our dreams of the American way of life will be moved out of reach. If either candidate wins, civil unrest will ensue. If either candidate wins, the actual result will be blocked in court for months. No matter how overwhelming a victory, or how sure a mandate seems to the victors… dark days are predicted.

Or not.

What if we remember, instead of all the reasons to fear, that the Lord is really determining the outcome of the election.

What if we remember, instead of all the scary predictions, that the Lord is really determining the outcome of the election.

What if we remember, instead of all the real hatred, that the Lord is really determining the outcome of the election.

Is not our voting a lot like rolling dice?

Every decision, every role of the die, every vote, every election is from the Lord.

If the election is in the hands of the power brokers, we would have many reasons to fear. If the election is in the hands of the electorate, we would have many reasons to fear. If the election is in the hands of chance or luck, we would have many reasons to fear.

But this all is in the Lord’s hands.

Have hope in HIS wisdom, HIS knowledge, HIS goodness, and HIS love.

Take the hope God grants us.

Elections and Faith

They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction. (Hosea 8:4 ESV)

Elections and Faith

Citizens of the United States of America take pride in our Republic. Our Constitution outlines a system of government that includes provision for the peaceful transfer of power every two to six years, depending on whether we are examining a Representative, a President, or a Senator. So every few years, we enter the polling place and vote for someone.

It is indisputable that our criteria of leadership no longer puts ‘loyalty to King Jesus’ as the primary job qualification. Perhaps because at first such a qualification was TOO obvious. Perhaps because more recently we have become cynics about such a qualification. Perhaps because such a qualification is easy to state, but more difficult to discern. Perhaps because the few who follow King Jesus do not seem viable as candidates.

Instead we look to such qualifications as loyalty to party, excessive governmental experience, profitable business acumen, electability, and the ability to get things done.

The Biblical exhortations to leaders are myriad. Here are some of them: Exodus 18:21, Matthew 20:26, Hebrews 13:17, Proverbs 11:14, I Peter 5:3, Proverbs 29:2, Deuteronomy 1:13, John 10:11, I Timothy 3:5, Proverbs 29:14, James 1:5-6, Proverbs 29:12, Isaiah 32:1-8, Proverbs 31:8-9, Proverbs 16;7, Proverbs 29:4, I Samuel 16:18. While some of these verses might not be directly aimed at political leaders, all teach guidelines and principles of Godly leadership. And the summary is… a leader puts God first, or that leader is no leader at all, in God’s eyes.

We find examples of what happens to leaders who do not choose to follow God. And it is not pretty. Hosea was a prophet during the disastrous reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel, the Northern Kingdom. Jeroboam II ruled when Israel was defeated in 721 B.C.. In his prophecies, Hosea describes what was behind Israel’s fall.

The nation of Israel had elevated and followed leaders who did not know God. And Israel was destroyed. It is that simple. They made Kings without following God. They chose princes without reference to the Lord. They were filled with political savvy, and earthly wisdom… but chose without focus on the One True God.

It is election time. Who will America choose?

What the past shows us is this: If we choose Godly leaders, our nation will be blessed. If we do not choose Godly leaders, our nation will not be blessed. I expect that many of us will read these words and be glad that OUR choice of leaders is in some way following God. Perhaps they issued a good statement. Perhaps they made a wise practical decision. Perhaps they endorse a good, loving, generous policy.

But Hosea tells us that is not enough.

I believe, and it terrifies me, that God will give us the leaders that we deserve. This is what He has tended to do in the past. We have one option to avoid tragedy for our nation, and the church. Choose leaders who adhere to Christ. Faith here, might just be faith that God is sincere in His warnings.

Take the Faith God grants us.

Accidents and Love

Then Job answered the Lordand said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:1,2 ESV)

Accidents and Love

I know someone who was told by his parents that he was accidentally born. These parents only meant the phrase as a light-hearted tease. But thinking of himself as an accident did not make him feel particularly loved.

We think of an accident as an unintended unpleasantness. When considering our plans and actions, this definition works just fine. Accidents, to us, are things undesired and problem-causing.

But in God’s plans and actions, accidents do not exist.

God knows all things, is aware of all things, understands all things, moves all things, is sovereign over all things, and can do all things. Where would an accident fit into that picture?

The accidental young man would probably be glad to see that in God’s eyes, he was not an accident… he was loved. The accidental young man would probably be glad to hear that God does not say the young man was an accident… he was loved. The accidental young man would probably think it grand to come to the conclusion that God did not create the young man accidentally… He created the young man because He loved that baby. And still does.

Perhaps the opposite of those scary accidents is love.

Take the love God grants us

Accidents and Hope

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7,8 ESV)

Accidents and Hope

While competing in the Victorian Country Chess Championship in Australia, I was defeated by a clever young teenager. He set me up. He pretended to accidentally move a key piece on the board to an apparently very silly place.

“What a lucky accident!” I theologically mused…

And then he pounced. He won. And I learned, that when this young man played chess there would be no accidents.

God does not move the world accidentally, either. We can see His plans unfold when we examine the story of His people Biblically, historically, and personally. That can be a comforting realization.

But in this Psalm, we are encouraged to also find comfort in the hope that God will continue this way. He will keep acting in our lives in the future. Simply put, in the lives of God’s people there will never be an accident.

God’s people will experience no accidents tomorrow. The candidate He intends to win will win the election. The bank account will contain the amount He intends for us to steward. No illness, breakup, thunderstorm, or sin surprises Him.

We might not understand what is happening, but God is at work. We might not be able to grasp what lesson God is teaching, but He is the Ultimate Rabbi. We might not feel we can endure the confusion, but we can believe that He will also provide His order. We might be shocked and confused, but He is peace.

I am involved in a lot of accidents. But God never will be.

I cause a lot of accidents. But God never will.

I might fear accidents. But in God’s economy, accidents are not real, and never will be.

Take the hope God grants us.

Accidents and Faith

But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Genesis 50:19-20 ESV)

Accidents and Faith

Late last night, a car unexpectedly showed up in front of my moving vehicle. Chaos ensued. My car was totaled, I was not hurt, but it has been surprisingly unsettling. I do not like accidents.

But even though we believe in them, accidents do not exist.

God is sovereign.

In the midst of a crisis, whether automotive, financial, relational, or even weatherly, I seem to forget that even in a wild, chaotic, painful mess, God is lovingly in charge. He knows what He is doing. And He is doing something good. (Romans 8:28)

It helps to remember those accidents in which I have eventually understood God’s activity.

I have lost jobs, to have those jobs replaced by better jobs.

I have been in a car accident that has become a reminder, to me, of community and protection.

I have been broke, and broker, and brokest, and learned to value the physical blessings God showers on me.

I have endured the death of close friends, and learned to rejoice in the time I had with them, and the hope of heaven.

Joseph’s brothers were afraid because of the chaos and evil they had inflicted on Joseph. But Joseph had learned to not panic during crises. Joseph told his brothers that even in the worst of circumstances, God is doing something grand.

There are no accidents. Merely events we do not yet understand.

Take the Faith God grants us.

The Right Words and Love

For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;” (I Peter 3:10 ESV)

The Right Words and Love

The Right Words are not that difficult to find. The Right Words are not the words that will bring us the most success. The Right Words are not the words that will increase our influence. The Right Words are not the words that will bring us popularity. The Right Words are not the words that will change the world.

The Right Words are simply the truth.

We know when we lied. And we know when we want to lie. And we know when we are about to lie.

If we are being honestly introspective, we might see certain activities and attitudes as warning lights. Some things we do are indicators that we are liking our lies and want to keep them.

When we are defensive, it is usually because of we are defending untruth. When we make excuses, it is usually because we are covering up for deception. When we insult, it is usually because we are diverting attention from dishonesty.

Truth is always the Right Word. And Right Words are always connected to love.

Peter, in this verse, connects telling the truth with loving life. But he did not mean, “enjoying the pleasures of your life.” When he mentions seeing good days, he did not mean, “liking everything that happens to you.”

He means putting love in every aspect of your life. Filling life with love. Loving every person, situation, and context that we are in life with.

He means that when we love we get to see God’s goodness. Truth allows us to see what is good. Truth opens our eyes to God’s goodness in every person, situation, and context that we are in life with.

That looks a lot more complicated than it is. Peter is telling us that if we love the Right Words (the truth) we will have a wowza life! Because loving Truth means loving God. And vice versa.

Take the love God grants us.

The Right Words and Hope

Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 33:2,3 ESV)

The Right Words and Hope

I liked it when my grandfather wrote to me. He did not write often, but his letters were usually informative, encouraging, and helpful. When I knew a letter was coming, I checked the mailbox eagerly and early.

I sometimes look forward to God’s Letters in the same way. I should look forward to God’s Letters more often. He knew more than my grandfather knew. He loved me more than my grandfather loved me. He had more wisdom than my grandfather had. God’s Letters can be the highlight of every day!

The more troubles we encounter, the more hope we are offered by God’s right Words.

The more pain we are suffering, the more hope we are offered by God’s right Words.

The more lost we are, the more hope we are offered by God’s right Words.

As much as I value good feelings, God’s Words give me more. As much as I value God’s people, God’s Words give me more. As much as I value the life God has given me so far, God’s Words give me more.

Because His Words and not just words. They are the right Words that we need.

Take the hope God grants us.

The Right Words and Faith

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. (Proverbs 25:11 ESV)

The Right Words and Faith

Comforting words are great to hear, but hard to say. Even though seeing that someone is hurting, or lonely, or afraid is not that hard, we do not usually feel like we have the right words. Perhaps we are afraid of making things worse. Maybe we realize that we do not fully understand what is wrong. Often we just do not know what to say.

So instead of giving golden apples set in silver, we say nothing.

Maybe we need a little more faith.

Remembering how other’s words have helped us can give us a nudge. Remembering that joy is in the ears that hear, more than the mouths that speak can encourage our efforts. Remembering that our words themselves are not the elixir that fixes broken hearts, but rather the translations the Holy Spirit makes of our utterances that is the real help.

Of course, if we are only offering OUR words, ineffectiveness is not unexpected. Words that come merely from our experience, our knowledge, our understanding easily fall short. But God’s words, found in God’s Word, are a wonderful balm. (Psalm 107:20)

Do not be afraid to speak comforting words. Do not be afraid to offer Scriptural counsel. Do not be afraid to help, even if only with words.

Take the faith God grants us.

Grudges and Love

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18 ESV)

Grudges and Love

This verse hurts. Read it again.

When I am nurturing a grudge, a part of me KNOWS I am not loving. I am choosing to place myself above the grudgee, place my needs above the grudgee’s, place my position above the grudgee’s, place my hopes above the grudgee’s, place my understanding above the grudgee’s, place my everything above the grudgee’s.

I talk myself out of the guilt, unrighteousness, and sin of my grudge with elaborate constructions of mental and emotional gymnastics. I set up comparisons, so I do not look as bad as the grudgee. I rationalize, excuse, and minimalize my grudge. I bury my grudge deeply, only taking it out and nursing it occasionally.

I defend myself because I have never acted on my grudge. I defend myself because the grudgee also is usually grudging against me. I defend myself by noting that “thou shalt not grudge” is not one of the ten commandments.

But God’s Word does not cut me any slack here. He clearly says, ‘no’ to my grudge.

He delightfully gives me a contrasting choice, in fact. He says that the opposite of grudge is love.

Love is harder than grudging. But love is still better.

Love (putting the beloved first) does away with the need, cause, and poison of the grudge.

Love (changing the grudgee to a lovee) fixes broken relationships, replaces bad memories, and forms solid ground for the future.

Love (copying the Lord) brings me AND my grudgee closer to Jesus, makes us more like Jesus, and simply and obviously follows Jesus.

Grudge no more… choose love.

Take the love God grants us.

Grudges and Hope

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. (Proverbs 20:22 ESV)

Grudges and Hope

Bill Cosby had a stand-up routine in which he described a grudge he carried against Junior Barnes. One winter, Junior had hit Bill with a particularly nasty snowball. Bill did not have the opportunity to get even, so he squirrelled away an icy conglomeration of slush and ice in the back of his freezer. One summer day he surprised Junior by jumping out and hitting ole Junior with the ice-ball. Bill carried his grudge until that moment.

“Grudge” is another way of saying, “I want revenge.”

God promises that He will deliver us. That means that He will provide the assistance we need. It means that our grudge-bearing is unnecessary. Further, He exclaims that vengeance is HIS, not ours. (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30) God’s vengeance is “better” than ours. He has power, knowledge, timelessness, and understanding on His side. Also, the vengeance He offers is usually powdered with grace and mercy, which in a strange way allows us to not only have vengeance, but to LOVE our enemies. (Matthew 5:44)

Grudge-bearing is only fun in the way that dental work is fun. Or in the way that finding cockroaches in your coffee cup is fun. Or in the way that driving without a spare tire is fun.

It is not fun.

But God promises that He will take care of whatever has caused our grudge. Let Him do it. He is better at it than we are.

Take the hope God grants us.

Grudges and Faith

…bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:13 ESV)

Grudges and Faith

My dad used to say, usually when the Detroit Tigers were being utterly defeated, and referring to their chances of still winning, “If it’s happened before, It can happen again.”

Upsets have happened before. That is enough of a reason, perhaps, to believe it can happen today.

It is hard to forgive. Particularly when the offender is not repentant. Particularly when the offender does not acknowledge the wrong, but actually justifies it. Particularly when the offender caused substantial harm, either emotionally or physically.

So often we choose to hold grudges.

We might be saying, in fact, that forgiveness in certain cases is impossible. The knife still cuts too deeply. The tears still flow in the middle of the night. We remember too much to forget or forgive.

But Paul reminds us that some AMAZING forgiveness has taken place in the past. While he might have reminded us of past forgivings like the forgiveness given to Adam, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Peter, and Paul himself, instead Paul writes of the forgiveness that WE have received.

God forgave us. Not lightly, but with cost. Not ignorantly, but with more knowledge than we would think possible. Not naively, but purposefully.

God forgave us with love.

And that is the background of how we can possibly step beyond the chasm of our grudges.

Forgiveness is hard. Forgiveness is unnatural. Forgiveness hurts, it seems, even more than the original offense.

But it has happened before. Believe it can happen again.

Take the faith God grants us.

Monsters and Love

…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Monsters and Love

We usually notice the monsterliness of other people. THAT person was cruel. THAT person was selfish. THAT person was dastardly.

But our monster-hunting does not need to look at THAT person to find a monster. We are monsters. If monsters are those who are such terrible sinners that we deserve eternal death, then such are we. If monsters are those whose hearts are cold, self-centered, and greedy, then such are we. If monsters are those that rebel against the good God of the universe, then such are we. If monsters are such that we place ourselves in the center of our worlds, attempting to dethrone God, then such are we.

Yes, we who are God’s people are monsters.

And yet, God loves His people.

He did not wait until we slough off our monster skin to love us. He loves us, and then shows us how to have new skins.

He did not wait for us to become lovely to love us. He loves us, and then teaches us to love.

He did not wait for us to reject our monsterlike attributes. He loves us, and then shows us how to be like Him.

While we were yet monsters, even today, He died for us.

Take the love God grants us.

Monsters and Hope

And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2 ESV)

Monsters and Hope

Even the scariest movies are not so bad the second time we watch them. Even though the suspenseful music is still spine-chilling, re-watching the movie is not as scary. Even though the anticipation of terror is still agonizing, re-watching the movie is not as scary. Even though the monsters are still monstrous, re-watching the movie is not as scary. Because when we know the end, hope is subtly in every scene.

God’s enemies, fierce and cruel, were defeated on the cross.

God’s enemies, and the enemies of His people, were defeated on the cross.

God’s enemies, though they squirm and fight, were defeated on the cross.

And that sure knowledge gives hope.

We know the end of the story. God wins. We know the end of the story. Jesus wins. We know the end of the story. We win.

Hope is not a vague unsure cheerfulness. Hope is knowing the end of the story.

No, we do not know all of the steps needed to get to the end. But no enemies will outsmart God. No circumstances will upset God’s plans. No monsters will roar in triumph.

God wins. Jesus wins. We win.

If your personal monster is financial ruin, have hope because Jesus wins. If your personal monster is guilt, have hope because Jesus wins. If your personal monster is illness, have hope because Jesus wins. If your personal monster is loneliness, have hope because Jesus wins.

Take the hope God grants us.

Monsters and Faith

And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (I Samuel 17:37 ESV)

Monsters and Faith

Lately no one cares about monsters. While maps used to warn, “here be dragons,” today we fool ourselves into thinking the monsters are all gone. We have learned, thanks to Shreck, to sympathize with monsters. We have learned, thanks to dinosaur toys, to play with monsters. We have learned, thanks to the concept of tolerance, to get along with most monsters.

But ignoring, redefining, or understanding monsters does not make them go away. It just makes them more dangerous. This is why we worry about wolves in sheep’s clothing. This is why we are scared of the dark. This is why we laugh at ostriches burying their heads.

But God gives us a powerful weapon when we choose to face monsters. He gives us faith. Faith is the weapon, even more than a sling and stones, that David wielded when confronting Israel’s monster, Goliath. David found faith remembering God’s practical, powerful, protective help in his past. Those lions and bears were monsters. But the Lord had delivered David.

And the Lord would deliver David this time, too!

We probably are not fighting dragons, giants, or vampires this week. But we are fighting monsters. Faith is the best weapon.

Our monsters might be our own sinful habits. Our monsters might be the effects of our past and present sin. Our monsters might be our opposition to God’s Word. Fight those monsters with faith, faith in our Lord Christ who defeated every sin while dying on the cross and exiting the tomb.

Our monsters might be the world outside the Kingdom of God. Our monsters might be a government beginning to obsess with restraining the church. Our monsters might be a court system interpreting laws in a hostile way against Christians. Our monsters might be an election. Not only fearing the potential results, but maybe too much focus on what in God’s economy is a very small thing. Fight those monsters with faith, faith in our King, Jesus, who is the true ruler, even when monsters appear to be winning.

Our monsters might be spiritual. While Satan’s forces are limited by time, space, and power, he does oppose strategically the work of the church. We know little about this type of monster, so we might tend to fear them the most. But faith is an effective weapon. Faith might be the only effective weapon, faith in the creator, protector, and victor, Jesus Christ.

Here be monsters.

Take the faith God grants us.

Travel and Love

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV)

Travel and Love

Explorer James Cook never traveled alone. He claimed that the value of a companion beside him outweighed the complex difficulties that other humans bring in their luggage. He believed that travel-mates bring perspective, protection, and pleasure.

Other explorers preferred to be alone. Daniel Boone, for example, seemed to explore because he preferred to be on his own. But even Boone, in a sense, was exploring looking for the ideal community.

Whether we are considering a travel-companion for a vacation to Iceland, a trip to the grocery store, or on life’s journey, it is worth contemplating what sort of companion is best.

The ideal companion is someone that you love.

Not necessarily romantically, or platonically, or familial-ly, but rather in the sense that you are willing and able to be unselfish with them. Traveling improves when you are aiming your thoughts, words, and deeds towards the good of someone else. Life, in fact, improves when you are aiming your thoughts, words, and deeds towards the good of someone else.

Cook would probably agree. A companion only concerned with their own safety, is not able to protect. A companion only concerned with their own point of view does not add perspective. A companion only concerned with their own selves does not bring pleasure.

The best travel companions are those able to love, and to be loved.

And therefore, the best travel companion of all is Christ Jesus.

He is always with us… but sometimes it is easy to forget about Him when we travel. We might skip church while traveling because we are on vacation. But He does not take a vacation from us, and loving Him through worship even when vacationing makes a cord not easily broken.

We might diminish our devotional habits while traveling because we are on vacation. Usually we are so very busy, and SOMETHING has to give way. But the increased activity while we travel is exactly the reason that we need that conversation with Christ Jesus… reading His Word and praying. And this provides perspective, protection, and pleasure.

But our traveling is not merely vacationing. We travel through our entire lives… on our way back home. And Christ Jesus provides the love that makes traveling grand. (John 10:10)

Love is a necessary part of our travels.

Take the love God grants us.

Travel and Hope

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. (Hebrews 13:14 ESV)

Travel and Hope

We used to spend many, many, many, many, many, many hours on the road in the summer. And roads are not my favorite place. It seems our air conditioning was never strong enough, my sunglasses were never reflective enough, our snack food was never tasty enough, and my conversation-skills never riveting enough.

But the destinations made the miserable roads bearable.

Anticipated panoramic ocean views, lazy time with family or friends, heart-stopping (and re-starting) amusement parks, locations of profound historical significance, and occasional extravagant cabins all are waiting at the end of unpleasant pathways.

And the best destination is usually home.

When I am away, I am eager to get back home.

No matter how many road construction bumps and delays inhabit the highways, it is always worst just before getting home. No matter how fatiguing the caffeine-free hours, it is always worst just before getting home. No matter how repetitive the music, road signs, and scenery appear, It is always worst just before getting home.

So I look ahead, hoping for home.

True for vacation, work trips, and long distance visitings… but more-so for Christians.

Our entire life is traveling. We are on our way home. A few hymns speak of where our home is, and going home, and crossing the river on the way home… but those hymns get the idea from Scripture.

The most important adjective that attaches to ‘home’ is ‘heavenly.’

We are on our way home. The road is rough. But we know where we are going. And that can give birth to hope.

Take the hope God grants us.

Travel and Faith

Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? (Jeremiah 23:23 ESV)

Travel and Faith

No, cell phone coverage is not everywhere. I have lived in places where there is no GPS, cell service, or wi-fi. Often when I am on the road, I find extensive regions where my phone displays no bars. The cell phone companies say they are everywhere… but everywhere does not always mean everywhere.

Because, really, rural South Dakota does not matter financially. Really, western Kansas apparently does not need phone coverage. Half of Oklahoma is off the cell phone grid. Most of Nevada does not have a cell phone presence. And even nearby Whitewater, Kansas, only has one cell phone company that is workable.

When we travel, we often find places where the phone companies are not.

Which reminds me that God is better than 5G. He really is everywhere.

He is near at hand, He tells Jeremiah, but also far away.

And that helps make travel a comfortable thing.

If we find ourselves worrying about our own travel, or the travel of a loved one, remember that God has actively helped travelers in precisely the same ways he helps His people at home.

Remember Noah, on the first cruise ship. Remember Abraham, the first immigrant. Remember Jacob, fearfully unrooting to Egypt and finding a NEW home where God also was present. Remember young David, journeying to the Valley of Elah to see a scary fight, but finding God with David in the same way God was with him when fighting bears at home. Remember the exiled Judeans weeping in Babylon but finding that God had not left them nor forsaken them. Remember Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem Ephrathah, to Egypt, to Nazareth, to Jerusalem… all over the place! But never alone.

When travel seems frightening… remember the examples scattered throughout God’s Word. God is near… and God is far.

Take the faith God grants us.

Money and Love

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity. (Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV)

Money and Love

Brian, a friend in elementary school, loved Chocolite Bars. One year he demanded that his parents give him nothing but Chocolite Bars for his birthday. Until you have seen an actual case of candy bars, it might not sound like a lot. But it is.

You would think that such a gift would satisfy Brian’s desires. And in a way, it did. His taste for Chocolite Bars was sort of satisfied. He ate them, and he ate them, and he ate them. He ate so many Chocolite Bars that he never wanted one again. He even gave away the remainder of his Chocolite Bars.

When we strongly desire something to the point that we call that desire love, we will never be satisfied with those things. We may have, ‘enough.’ But our desire becomes disgust. Our love of that thing, whether it is Chocolite Bars, bacon, or money, will become hate.

When The Preacher in Ecclesiastes writes that money never satisfies, he means that money does not provide what we need, really. We might think that it does satisfy. We might expect it to satisfy. We might intend it to satisfy. But such satisfaction is shallow and will turn to sorrow.

Love and money simply do not mix.

In Jesus’ most famous sermon, He describes a better satisfaction. And while He does not use the word, “love,” perhaps He has that in mind. He is saying that money will not provide satisfaction, but a relationship with the One true living God, does. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, in other words, those who love God, will find satisfaction. He says it this way: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6 ESV)

Maybe love and money are opposites because usually our society uses money to evaluate ourselves, but love is aimed at others. Maybe love and money are opposites because our money usually nurtures greed, but love nurtures selflessness. Maybe love and money are opposites because money measures self-worth, but love is measureless. Maybe love and money are opposites because in Tolkien’s terms, money breeds Dragon-sickness, but love makes Thorin a King.

We have a daily choice. We are surrounded by money’s tide… but God offers of love.

Take the love God grants us.

Money and Hope

The Lord will command the blessingon you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 28:8 ESV)

Money and Hope

We want to trust promises. So we listen to election promises and we hope. We listen to parental promises and we hope. We listen to employee promises and we hope. We listen to ‘product guarantee’ promises and we hope.

But we do not seem to trust God’s promises.

At the end of the worship services of the Hebrews, the priests would pronounce God’s blessing on the congregation. Many of our churches continue to end our worship services in that same way.

The Aaronic Blessing is God’s promise. The Lord bless you and keep you; (Numbers 6:24 ESV)

What does God’s blessing look like? Of course, God alone defines how He blesses us. He blesses us with relationship with Him, He blesses us with forgiveness, He blesses us with Sanctification. And wowza THOSE are great blessings!

But God’s promises of blessing are not referring only spiritual blessings. God’s promises of blessing are whole, complete, and thorough. He will bless us spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and yes… physically.

We often shy away from thinking in those terms, lest we appear greedy, materialistic, or shallow. But fear not. God blesses us physically, too.

Not by giving us whatever we want. Not by giving us what we decide we need. Not by examining our wish-list and providing our top five items.

God blesses us by blessing us on HIS terms. Spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and physically. The olde songe that tells us to count our blessings gives good advice. Boldly submit to Him and count His gifts as blessings. Humbly submit to Him and count His gifts as blessings. Enthusiastically submit to Him and count His gifts as blessings.

And because God is so very good, and loves us so very much, and is so very powerful, we can anticipate more blessings tomorrow. Aaron’s promise starts now. God will bless us. We can count on it.

Take the hope God grants us

Money and Faith

For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. (Psalm 50:10 ESV)

Money and Faith

Money is an important part of our modern society. We use it to compare our status to other people, and other times. We use it to measure our success, whether personally, corporately, ecclesiastically, or nationally. We use it to transform our work into necessary provision, possessions, and property.

Historians write of a stone age, a bronze age, an iron age, an atomic age, and an information age. But these days, perhaps the best description of our mindset, framework, and worldview would be to label our times the money age.

Unlike pecan pie, sleep, and socks, all of which we enjoy but usually acknowledge that there is certain point of sufficiency, there is never enough money.

Economists tell us it takes money to make money. Taxation officials tell us that it takes money to protect our money. And even philosophers and artists admit that money makes their world go around.

Older folk dream of leaving money as an inheritance. Younger folk dream of having enough money to accomplish their vision. In between, folk scheme to find money, skimp to save money, plan to find money, and dream of no longer having to dream about money.

In Psalm 50, God surprisingly declares that He does not really care about the offerings that the Israelites were presenting to Him. God’s point is not to discourage the tithe. Rather, God is making two astounding claims.

First, God knows the hearts and minds of those giving offerings. And He has found that the Israelites were giving physical offerings instead of giving their lives, their devotion, their submission, and their love to God. Which is what God deserves, relishes, and asks. If the Israelites had been giving their love first, and following up with physical gifts, they would have shown they understood relationship with God. But instead they faked it. Being showy. Being obvious instead of real.

Second, God does not need their offerings, because everything in every field is already God’s. Our fields are His. Our counties are His. Our States are His. Our nations are His. This planet is His. The solar system is His. The Milky Way is His. The universe is His. When we read the number 1000 in the Bible it is usually symbolic of a vast, uncountable, gigantic amount of something. In Psalm 50, the Psalmist is telling us that God… owns… everything.

Unlike many of us, God is not a hoarder. He owns everything, and He lets us have it. Not like Ebenezer Scrooge, giving grudgingly. Not like the First Mercantile Bank and Loan, requiring repayment and interest. Not like a selfish little brother, giving only to ensure a return gift at the reciprocal birthday.

But He loves us. And so He has given us to from His vast storehouses what He knows we need.

Sometimes it does not seem like enough. Sometimes it does not seem like the right stuff. Sometimes we do not see in our coffers what our understanding indicates we should have. But HE is God. His ways are not our ways. (Isaiah 55:9)His ways are better.

From Eden given to Adam, the less beautiful land given to Abraham, the sheep given to David to tend, the kingdom of Israel given to Josiah, a carpenter’s shop given to Joseph, a tentmaker’s shears given to Paul, a home on an island given to John… God has always given His people exactly what they needed.

Not the things that make them immediately happy, but the things HE knows they need to bring them necessarily and joyfully to Jesus.

When we do not have enough… rejoice in what He has given us and find the path in those things that drives us to Jesus. Believe that just as He has always distributed His stuff in the best ways, He continues to do just that.

Take the faith God grants us.