July 14, 2023

 

Wealth is Uncertain

 

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. – 1 Timothy 6:17

 

We live in a country where financial abundance is the norm. We don’t always feel that way, especially in these days of rising prices. But it’s true. The United States is a wealthy country filled with financial blessings that many in the world don’t enjoy.

 

In our own world, there’s a hierarchy that believes those with more wealth are “better” than those who have less. It’s a class system that has long existed and likely isn’t going away. The wealthy believe they have the right to run things. The middle class want part of that power. And the poor long to be middle class or wealthy.

 

James warns us not to treat people differently if they are affluent. (James 2:2-4) Yet we do it anyway. It’s expected. Certainly, the wealthy expect it.

 

The wealthy count on their money to always take care of them – except when it can’t. This is Paul’s warning as he writes to Timothy. Tell the wealthy not to be arrogant. Money can’t be counted on to save them. Did I hear a few of you scoff at that?

 

It all sounds good until bad investments or a downturn in the economy, wipes everything out. It is a wonderful concept until a family squabble liquidates an inheritance. And it seems like the best thing until money can’t buy a medical treatment that will cure cancer or other medical issues. Then all the money in the world won’t help.

 

Solomon had wealth and wisdom but he still sinned greatly. Why? He let others – mainly his many wives – lure him away from following God. Anything that entices us away from God is wrong and will only lead to disaster.

 

Money is not wrong. It’s not evil. But loving and trusting money more than God will lead to ruin. It leads to arrogance and self-serving desires. Use the gifts God has given you to do good. Know that God alone is responsible for your blessings. Trust God because only He can save you.

July 13, 2023

Trust God More Than Money

 

For the love of money is a root of evil of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. – 1 Timothy 6:10

 

As I write this, the Powerball jackpot has gone to $875 million dollars. How many of you have purchased or plan to purchase a ticket? How many of you dream about all you could do with money like that?

 

Most of us, if we’re honest, answered yes to both questions. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s when winning, when achieving financial success, becomes our obsession that our lives get out of whack. We’re so focused on the wrong things that we miss the right things.

 

Many people misread and misquote the Scripture above. Money is not evil. Having an abundance of money is not evil. It’s the love of money that’s evil. It’s a lure that draws us away from God and away from doing the right things.

 

We have a tendancy to depend on money, rather than God, to get us through. Certainly, we need money to survive. Money buys food, shelter, gas to drive to work, clothes to wear, school supplies for our children. The list goes on and on. I am not criticizing the desire to be able to provide for ourselves and our families.

 

It’s when we put money on a pedestal and count on it rather than God that our lives turn away from God and toward evil. We trust money more than God and nothing should usurp God.

 

We tend to “trust” God when all of our other options have gone away. We turn to God when we have no other choice, when we have used up all of our resources. What would happen if we turned to God first? Perhaps we would relinquish the sin of worry and be filled with the peace God gives us when we trust Him.

 

It’s okay to want financial security but learn to trust that God will provide all we truly need.

 

 

July 11,2023

 

Offer Sincere Prayer

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. – 1 Timothy 2:1-2

 

Notice anything special about Paul’s instructions to Timothy? He didn’t mention a political party. He didn’t say anything about only praying for those you agree with. He didn’t even write about using prayer to try and influence political leaders to share your point of view.

 

Wow! Can you imagine a world where Christians actually prayed for God’s will rather than their own? Can you imagine a political climate where respect for those in authority actually showed in our words and actions?

 

I live in a hotbed of conservatism where Christians talk out of both sides of their mouths. Have you heard that cliché before? It fits so perfectly. We condemn the poor and exalt the rich. We judge based on status and bank account rather than the heart. What must God think of us all?

 

The derogatory way some people talk about President Biden is awful. It’s not about agreeing with him or not. It’s about respect for the office that he holds and it’s about genuinely doing what the Bible tells us to do. Pray for him! Really. Pray for God to lead him and that he would have wisdom to follow God’s calling.

 

Someone just muttered something about “earning respect.” That’s not what the Bible says. It doesn’t say only pray for those we respect. It says to pray for our leaders. Period.

 

There’s something that happens when we are truly praying for someone. It’s something that happens in our own hearts. It changes us to not only see the good in others but to actually want good things to happen to them and through them. It might not be politically correct but it is biblically correct.

 

The next time you want to criticize and condemn President Biden or any other elected official, pause and offer a sincere prayer. God will hear and bless them and you.

February 7, 2023

 

Financial Gain

 

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

– 1 Timothy 6:3-5

 

Paul didn’t use soft words. He’d just written about slaves having respect for their owners and then he went right on to false teachers, unrest and money. God surely shows us exactly what we need and when.

 

I’ve written about our divided local church and the path toward a vote on disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. There are those who insist it’s over “traditional values” but the hard truth is that it’s all about money. And power. Oh, and control. It’s coming from people who think it’s okay to write a check, tell everyone else how to run the church, and then most of the time don’t bother to even show up. And it’s about judgmental people who point fingers without bothering to exam themselves.

 

At times I beat myself up for my own judgmental attitude. I struggle with anger at the pointlessness of it all. Where is Jesus in all this? Why do people think it’s okay to blame others for all the church’s flaws when they don’t bother to show up?

 

Money. Money. Money. There unfortunately are people who truly believe that money should give them the right to “own” church property. There are those who truly believe that money should give them the right to control all the decisions in the church, whether it’s hiring, Bible studies or various ministries.

 

I am a thorn that keeps drawing blood. Jesus’ blood. Because I believe that the church and all its properties belong to God. I believe that Jesus Himself should dictate hiring and Bible studies and all ministries.

 

I could provide my “credentials” if you will. I could talk about family history and ministry activities and volunteer hours. But why? I do what God calls me to do. I have nothing to brag about other than what Jesus has done for me.

 

We are stewards of what God has placed in our care, whether people or things. There are those who would destroy what is His because of their own greed and lust for power. It’s nothing more than a business deal to them.

 

I have no idea how it will all turn out. Satan seems determined to destroy what God has built. His minions are hard at work, spreading lies and constantly causing unrest. Deep inside, a peace fills me. This battle belongs to God.

October 30, 2018

Step Up

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

– 1 Timothy 5:4

I’m probably not the person you want to ask when you want advice about taking care of elderly relatives. That’s especially true if you’re looking for excuses or justification for not doing what you know you should do.

I don’t care about your job. I don’t care that you’ve got children. I don’t care that you’ve got a vacation planned or whatever else you’ve decided is your excuse. And I surely don’t want to hear you say that it’s someone else’s responsibility.

I’m pretty vocal about it yet, it seems, I am the one others seek when it comes to advice. Why? Probably because I’ve been there and I tell them the hard truth, whether it’s what they want to hear or not.

Don’t leave someone really sick alone in a hospital room, especially at night. That’s especially true when the person is elderly. This seems so basic to me. Yet, obviously, it’s not something that occurs to many people. If you can’t stay, then have someone else do it. Hire a sitter if you must. But don’t leave them alone.

I once shared an ICU waiting room with an elderly woman and a revolving door of children and grandchildren. The woman’s youngest daughter was in the unit and not doing well. She refused to leave the hospital for fear her daughter would die without her being there. Her children and grandchildren refused to leave the elderly woman there alone. It was such a beautiful site to watch their devotion to their mother and grandmother. It’s rare.

Most people view taking care of someone as an obligation or a duty. They resent it. They resent the intrusion into their lives. They don’t want to rearrange their time to accommodate hospital stays and doctor visits and such. So they make excuses. Again and again they make excuses.

We are responsible for those who once cared for us. It’s never convenient. It requires sacrifice. Don’t miss that word. Sacrifice. We are a selfish people who really only want to do what’s convenient. That’s not reality.

Don’t be meek when it comes to being an advocate for your loved one. It is your responsibility to demand that his or her needs be met at all times. That means paying attention, talking to the doctors and nurses, and being involved. I once walked into an ICU room to find my mother’s blood pressure over 200. Excuse me?! That isn’t acceptable. Ever.

This is just one more reason why you need to be there. It does make a difference. You are talking to doctors and nurses face to face. You are watching the care your loved one receives. You see how much or how little they eat. And on and on.

Most medical professionals are dedicated and will go above and beyond the requirements of their jobs for their patients. But they also need you. No one knows your loved one like you do. Talk to them. Ask questions. Write it down if you must.

Nothing can prepare you for the hard road of caregiving. Nothing. And no one can understand your journey if they have not walked it. Don’t make excuses. Step up. You’ll never regret the sacrifices that come with loving someone through your words and actions.

October 2, 2018

Make A Different Choice

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. – Proverbs 22:6

The party was loud and wild. Drunk teens stumbling to their cars. Disrobed teens scattered around the front yard. Young men using a decorative fountain as a urinal. And the police not responding because, well, no one wants to take on one of the town’s “elite” families.

Where were the parents? It’s an obvious question. No one seems to know. It wasn’t the first time such a party occurred. In fact, the party were back the next night.

Sadly, many of these kids are “Christians.” They were raised in church. They attend church. They have all the right clothes, gadgets and cars. They have every advantage but one: They apparently don’t have parents who supervise and hold them accountable for bad behavior.

Why? Another obvious question. It’s difficult to condemn what you do on a regular basis. Oh, they might not do it in public but the teens see the drunken revelry in their own homes. They hear the sexual comments. They know about the affairs, the parties, the driving when drunk.

I wish I didn’t know all these things. I wish it were something in another town, another neighborhood, another family. But it happened right here. It still happens. When will it end? How many lives must be destroyed before someone says enough?

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

– Ephesians 6:4

Some of the parents are quick to point the finger at others. They demand that God be placed back in the schools. I can only shake my head. They need, first, to put God back in their homes. They need, first, to clean themselves up and be an example to their kids of how people of faith should live. They should be the example of upright living and not of debauchery.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12

But whether parents do their job or not, teens can and must rise above bad examples and live upright lives that are dedicated to God. Parents can learn from their children. They can see good and change. Kids shouldn’t have to lead the way but, make no mistake, they can.

This is a sad situation that plays out far too often in way too many towns. Teens, refuse to be sucked in by peer pressure. And parents, step up and set a better example. Stop blaming others when your kids get in trouble because they’re following in your footsteps.

Every day begins anew with a chance to take a different path. Take it.

May 25, 2018

Show Me Your Values

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

– 1 Timothy 4:1-2

It’s election time in my conservative state. Let’s get out the vote! And let’s be sure to vote for a Christian with conservative values who will defend our rights. That’s what they all say.

I know little about any of the candidates besides what appears publicly through their advertisements and the media. I guess I’ve become a bit of a cynic. Don’t tell me how deep your faith is. Show me. In this season of my life, I’ve learned that those who preach the loudest usually are the ones most apt to take advantage of someone. I know it’s a generalization but it’s just something I’ve witnessed again and again.

When a candidate tells me he’s qualified for office because he’s a conservative Christian, I don’t shout “hallelujah!” and race to the polls. I don’t believe Jesus was a conservative or a liberal. I doubt He would side with the Republicans or the Democrats. I think Jesus would tell us that sometimes both sides get it right and sometimes both sides get it wrong.

What I see are a bunch of power-hungry individuals who are out for their own good and the good of their bank accounts. Some may actually believe they can be the change. But backroom deals are truth. To get anything done, you’ve got to work together. You can’t do that when you think you’re always right.

One conservative Christian loudly proclaims his faith and his Republican status. He also believes – truly – that blacks won’t be in heaven. He wears his racism as proudly as he does his “faith.”

Another Christian conservative demands that everyone get a job, keep their word, and do for others. I want to say, “You first,” but I don’t. I tell myself not to judge but it’s difficult to hold my tongue in the face of such blatant hypocrisy.

Then we’ve got the other side. We’ve always got the other side. The liberal Democrats who think everyone should be guaranteed a wage and who don’t fully comprehend that every good thing requires a payment.

We’ve got Democrats who blame everyone but the perpetrator and demand change before we actually enforce the laws already on the books. Where is accountability?

The truth is our country is in crisis because two different sides can’t come together and work toward a reasonable solution to the problems we face. We’re too busy being “right” to actually understand that sometimes we’re wrong.

Some of the strongest people of faith I know, people who actually live as Jesus would to the best of their ability, are liberal Democrats. And some of the biggest hypocrites I know, self-serving people who say one thing publicly while living something else privately, are conservative Republicans. The opposite is true as well.

We’re all just people when it comes down to it. We all need a large dose of Jesus and a whole lot less of ourselves. Don’t tell me who you are, show me. I don’t need a lecture on values. I need to see what your values really are by how you live your life.

May 23, 2018

Let Thanksgiving Fill You Up

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. – 1 Timothy 4:4-5

The Facebook post was almost comical. Rain was ruining her family vacation and she wanted everyone to pray that it would stop. Yes, indeed, I thought. Let our parched land refrain from receiving rain so that she won’t have to deal with rain on her parade. (cliché intended)

I get it. I do. We welcome necessary rain until it interferes with our plans. Then we just want it to go away. Our plans are more important than the needs of anyone else. No. We don’t see it that way as we gaze out from our self-centered view but it’s what our hearts are crying out.

I’ll also admit my own selfishness in this. The pastures were dying because of the heat and lack of rain. The cows need grass. I am grateful for the rain because it makes the grass grow.

I also look around at the fields. Rain is necessary to make the crops grow. We live in a farming region. People depend on the right amount of rain to earn their living. It’s not about fun. It’s about income.

How we view situations has so much to do with attitude. The first winter I put out hay I kept telling myself I would be so glad when spring came. No more large hay rings to move. No more 50-pound grain sacks to unload.

Then came spring. I can now joke that I won’t get caught up on the bush hogging until winter comes. There’s always something to do on a farm. The work never ends. And that’s okay. Because I am blessed to be able to work, to tend cows, to drive a tractor.

It’s all about perspective. We spend so much of our lives complaining about today that we often miss the blessings God has given to us. We sound like the Israelites in the desert, don’t we? No matter how much God does for us, we complain about what God hasn’t done. I can’t even imagine how exasperated He gets.

Gratitude changes your attitude. Thankfulness focuses on blessings. Have you ever made a gratitude list? You really should. It clears everything up rather quickly. It focuses our minds back to the blessings and away from a tomorrow we can neither predict nor control.

My sweet friend, who truly is a Godly woman, soon changed her complaint to thanksgiving. The rain remained but she decided to adjust her attitude and have fun anyway. What a blessing! She is surrounded by family in a wonderful place. That’s what is important.

Yesterday a large limb came down, blocking the driveway. I am thankful for saws, and the ability to use those saws, so that I could handle the situation on my own. And I thankful that had I needed help, I could have placed a phone call and gotten help right away. Friendships abound and I am so very grateful for the people God has placed in my life.

I am grateful for the nosy cows who came to check out the hysterical dogs and the racoon that was having a really bad day. I love watching the geese and wild ducks and all the birds that come our way. They remind me of my parents, and that brings both a smile and a tear.

Life goes on until, one day, it doesn’t. How are you going to live it? Are you going to fill your days with thanksgiving, welcoming the challenges and blessings as equal gifts from God? Or are you going to grumble all the way home? The choice belongs to you.

March 4, 2018

Advocate For Those In Need

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus. – 1 Timothy 2:5

A sweet friend turned to Facebook with her rant. Her mother had fallen and broken her arm. After much pain and surgery, this dear woman was on the mend. Unfortunately, Medicare denied the claim. Her mother faced a huge medical bill because of this injustice.

My friend did what all caregivers and advocates do: She fought the bureaucrats and resolved the matter. It took numerous phone calls and most of a day to get it done. She was furious and rightly so. She also wondered what would have happened had her mother not had an advocate. She likely would have struggled to pay a bill she didn’t owe.

It happens every day. Caregivers generally spend hour upon hour monitoring bills, medical care and other such things. The loved one rarely has the ability – either physically or mentally – to monitor those things. Yet it must be done or someone will take advantage of them.

Those who don’t have someone looking out for them face an uphill struggle. They are at the mercy of what they do or don’t know and whoever happens to notice their vulnerability. It is a sad plight.

We aren’t much different. We are at the mercy of this fallen world. We stumble daily as we try to do “good” amidst all the temptations that surround us. We fail. There is no way we could ever get it all right.

But Jesus sits at the right hand of God. He advocates for us. He places His righteousness on us and declares that His blood covers our sins. We are saved by His sacrifice and His grace.

Can you imagine doing life alone? Can you even contemplate trying to get into heaven without Jesus’ help? It would be a failed mission. None of us would stand a chance. I am so thankful for what Jesus did!

And because of that I seek to help others who need assistance. I share Jesus with the lost and hurting. I reach out to those who are grieving, those who are sick, those who are alone. I want to do more. I need to do more. We are Jesus’ hands and feet in this dark world. How can we ever repay Him for what He did for us? We can’t – but we can try by loving those He loves.

Look around your world. Is there someone who is alone, someone who needs a friend, someone who is vulnerable? Pay attention. Reach out. Make the time to help. It might be something as simple as making sure that person has enough food to eat. Don’t assume that they do. The elderly frequently struggle to buy medicine, pay utilities and purchase food. Guess which one comes last? They are usually the last to say anything, the ones most likely to not know about resources available to them, the people who don’t want to bother anyone with their struggle.

It is our job as Christians to advocate for those God places before us. Don’t sit back and let someone else do what you’ve been called to do.      

May 9, 2016

Pray For Politicians

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. -- 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Maybe you’ve noticed that we’re in the middle of a rather contentious presidential race. There’s plenty of finger pointing to go around.

It simply highlights what has been going on in our country for the last few years. We have a Congress that seems so intent on arguing that they can’t get much done. Except hold hearings. They hold lots and lots of hearings.

Honestly, sometimes they all seem inept. Whatever happened to common sense? Whatever happened to them being our representatives not political powerbrokers?

And whatever happened to praying for those who in authority?

This was part of our discussion yesterday and everyone agreed that praying for our politicians seems like a wasted effort. This mess -- and how can we call it anything else -- seems too far gone to fix. How can we turn these professional politicians into respected statesmen (or women) who know how to reach across the aisle and form a compromise that benefits everyone?

Maybe we are selling God short. Huh? Yeah. You read that right. We don’t pray because we don’t see a possibility of fixing it. We can’t. You and I. But God can. God can do anything. So if we truly believe that why aren’t we praying for Him to intervene?

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. -- 2 Chronicles 7:14

There it is. If we call on His name, if we repent and seek God, then He will heal our land. We want that. We’re quick to say that we want God to heal our land. But do we really?

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Pray For God’s Will In Election

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, …”

-- 1 Timothy 2:1-3

This election season just seems to drag on. I will be so glad when it is done, though I do wonder if it will be done quickly and finally. It all just seems so bitter.

Some of the comments from my Christian friends seem so hateful. They are praying for a specific candidate, certain that he is the one. Yet I’ve not heard them asking God for His opinion. I don’t hear them asking that God’s will be done and not their own.

We are to pray for all of our leaders, whether we agree with them or not. The Bible doesn’t tell us to only pray for the leaders we agree with or voted for. If anything, sometimes I feel we should pray even more diligently for those leaders with whom we disagree.

We also must remember that it is impossible to know the heart and soul of someone we’ve never met. Some have determined that one candidate is more “Christian” than the other. Others believe that one candidate belongs to a cult. Still others say one candidate professes one faith but hold another one in his heart.

The only one who knows is God. He alone knows all of our hearts. We can debate it to death -- and many have -- but we still won’t know. These men are people we likely will never even meet. How could we possibly know their hearts? And why do we claim that we somehow do?

We want to believe that we know best but we don’t. We have no way of knowing what the future holds. We can only turn it over to the One who does know what is best, who is best, for this job that is so difficult and fraught with political landmines.

The job of President of the United States carries a great deal of power and prestige. It also comes with a burden that ages the men who wear that mantle. Look at their graying hair. Every one. Look at the wrinkles. Every one. The burdens are great.

The political drama that is Washington really drags the purpose and practical achievements of anyone down. It is an elite club focused more on self that the average person. Truth that hurts. Truth we’d prefer to deny.

I don’t know who the American people will elect as president. But I know that I’ll be praying for them both in the weeks to come. I’ll be asking God to choose the best person. And I’ll be committed to praying and supporting whomever gets the nod because it’s what God has called us

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Love Travels From Heart to Heart

Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. -- 1 Timothy 5:3-5

Yesterday I attended the funeral of a dear lady. She was two months shy of 89 years old. Her family gathered round. Her friends remembered. There was music and a sermon as the skies poured water on the earth.

She was a widow twice over. She never had children. She could have lived a life of sorrow. Instead, she lived a life of love. She drew people to her with her laughter and good nature. She “adopted” many children over the years, loving her nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends.

The preacher remembered that she was always particular about her appearance. Her hair, makeup, and clothing was stylish and just right all the time. Yet she was just the sort who would be out picking up pecans or canning vegetables. She grew up working and really never stopped until her health sent her to the nursing home.

As she aged, as her health began to fail, those she had loved rallied to care for her. We picked up her pecans. We gathered vegetables for her. We visited. We picked her up when she fell. We loved her like she had loved us.

A wonderful friend rode with us. She’s almost blind now and she needed a ride. A friend reaching out to a friend. A community -- God’s people -- taking care of its own. Seeing a need. Reaching out. And being glad to do it.

I have to believe that’s what Paul was talking about. Helping people. Yes, we’re to take care of our own families and do for them. But we’re also supposed to take care of those who really don’t have anybody else or who aren’t cared for as they should be. It’s not somebody else’s “problem.” It’s our responsibility as Christians. We forget that sometimes.

We forget to be kind. And compassionate. We forget to make time. We forget to include people in our lives. Where do people who are alone go on holidays? Who remembers their birthdays? Who takes them out to eat, or to the grocery store, or calls to check on their day? No one -- unless we do.

This dear woman fed her neighbors every night while their kitchen was being remodeled. She cared for her older brother while his wife was hospitalized. She kept great-grandchildren that were not hers. She cared with her actions and with her life. How could we do any less for her?

God puts people in our lives for a reason. Look around. Is there someone you need to notice? Someone you should visit? Someone who would love to be a part of your life?

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Your Wealth Comes From God

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. -- 1 Timothy 6:17

How much are you worth? How much value do you have? All those who immediately started calculating their financial assets, please raise your hand. Yeah. That’s pretty much what I expected. Most of you raised your hand -- and you’re all wrong.

Your true wealth isn’t calculated by how much money you have in the bank, how much your house is worth or even your income. True wealth comes from Jesus. It is your salvation.

Your Father is the God of all creation. He is the King of kings. You are royalty. You are a prince or princess. You are an heir to eternal life with your Father. That is your worth. That is your value.

How often we lose sight of that. We get so caught up in the roller coaster that is our life that we neglect things that have eternal ramifications. We choose to spend time and effort on things that won’t matter and neglect things that have such great value.

Don’t get me wrong. We need to work and earn a living. We need to support ourselves and our families. We need to eat and sleep. But we also need to spend time each day with our Father. He so wants us to know Him. He wants us to desire time with Him -- not because we need something but because we love Him.

We expend so much time and energy trying to get things. More and more things. We can never seem to have enough things. And just when we get that thing we thought we had to have, we want another thing that’s a little more advanced. Something just released or something that a friend or co-worker just got.

None of it matters. Oh, we might smile about it for a little while. But that fades away and we’re unsatisfied again. We keep trying to fill that empty spot inside of us with things. We want to value ourselves, and those around us, based on their things. Things that really don’t matter. When will we ever learn that the only thing that will fill that emptiness inside is Jesus.

How valuable are you? Look in the mirror. Consider who you are. Think of your family lineage. Remember Jesus. He claimed you as His own. Do you claim Him? Do you value Him as much as He values you?

Your worth comes from who you are in Christ. Your value comes from living your life to bring Him honor and glory. Everything else is just a mirage.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Give Generously

Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always ready to share with others whatever God has given them. -- 1 Timothy 6:18

Today churches everywhere will be passing the offering plate. They’ll be collecting a tithe, or 10 percent of the income of each person there. Theoretically at least. The truth is that many people don’t tithe. Some never even place anything in the offering plate.

Tithing is straight from the Bible. God says to give 10 percent of whatever you have back to Him. Remember, it all belongs to Him anyway. God gives you everything you have. He simply expects you to give a portion back.

Some folks have trouble letting go. It could simply be a matter of trust. They don’t trust God to take care of them. They don’t believe they’ll have enough for themselves and their families if they give part of it back. They don’t trust God’s promises that He’ll take care of them and provide all their needs.

Other people go overboard with the tithe rule. They give 10 percent and not a penny more. Several years ago the Sunday School class I attended decided to provide Christmas gifts for three children. Some people gave money and others shopped. A wonderful woman announced she was deducting the amount of the donation from her tithe to the church. Apparently, giving to a needy child was part of her 10 percent.

I was shocked and amazed. She is a fairly wealthy woman. Twenty dollars here or there wouldn’t even be lunch money for her. Yet she was stingy -- with God. Because when we do something for others, it’s like we’re doing them for God.

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything -- all she had to live on.” -- Mark 12:41-44

Let us all give according to our hearts. Yes, give 10 percent back to God. Then give more to help those in need. Don’t worry about having enough. You can never, ever out give God.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Everyone Makes Mistakes

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners -- of whom I am the worst."

-- 1 Timothy 1:15

Everyone knows someone who thinks he's better than anyone else. You may even see that person at church every Sunday. He (or she) is the one who looks down on all the rest of us, believing that his sins aren't nearly as bad as ours. It would be pointless to argue that sin is sin. He would be too busy being right to hear you anyway.

The Apostle Paul was an honest man. He didn't attempt to hide his past. It wouldn't have worked anyway. And he didn't make excuses for what he'd done. He simply accepted Jesus' sacrifice and His call on Paul's life. It's easy to believe Paul when he tells us that Jesus came to save all sinners because Paul was a sinner like you and me. He wanted to destroy all Christians. Oh, but look what Jesus can do when He transforms a sinner's life.

"But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." -- 1 Timothy 1:16

Jesus never gives up on us, no matter where we've been or what we've done. He uses our mistakes for His Glory. He lifts us up and rebuilds us in a way that honors Him. Don't let someone else look down on you for any mistakes you have made. And don't keep apologizing for a past you can't change. Follow Paul's example. Move on and praise Jesus all the way Home.

Friday, January 28, 2011

God Fills Us Up Inside

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." -- 1 Timothy 6:6

Do you live an "if only" kind of life? Do you fail to cherrish life today because you are always looking toward tomorrow to be a better day? Do you think you'd be happy and content "if only" something specific would happen? Join the crowd. Lots of people live life just as you do.

We are forever trying to fill that hole inside of us with things. "If only" I had a job with fewer hours and less stress. "If only" I earned more money. "If only" I had a larger house in a better neighborhood. "If only I had a new car. "If only" I could take a real vacation to somewhere fabulous. Yeah, we are filled with "if onlys."

Except none of those "if onlys" would ever make us happy. If we had a larger house, we'd still want something else. If we had a great job, something would still be wrong with it. And on and on. Because we're trying to get happiness and contentment from the outside rather than from the inside and that never works.

Money doesn't buy happiness. Neither does an awesome job, a new car or a great address. God and our relationship with Him are the only things that will ever truly satisfy us. Contentment comes when He fills us with His Holy Spirit. We learn to refocus our lives on God and away from ourselves. We learn what's important and it isn't the stuff that surrounds us.

Do you want to be happy? Do you want to feel peace no matter what happens in your life? Spend time with God. Read His Word daily. Pray without ceasing. And listen for His voice. Let His Spirit fill you with His Presence. You will know true joy when you seek contentment from your Creator and Savior.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Our Worth Comes From God

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."

-- 1 Timothy 6:17

We wrap our identities and self-worth around our possessions. It's like we value ourselves more when we have a nice house at a prestigious address with a new car parked in the driveway. Of course, we need a good job, a fabulous spouse and some great kids to go with the package. It makes us feel satisfied somehow.

Then it all falls apart. A divorce, an illness, a job loss. Maybe it's a house fire, a car wreck or a child in trouble. Our foundation starts to shake. Our self-worth takes a tumble. We try to right ourselves, to get back on the path, except that we can't quite make the pieces fit the way they were.

Who are we if we aren't our possessions? Where do we belong if the family we cherished is no longer the way we imagined? Everything is in shambles. The foundation we believed was secure is gone. It was never secure after all. We are lost and alone, nobody in a world where everybody needs to be somebody.

Our knees hit the ground. There He is waiting, beckoning us forward. He doesn't care about our possessions. He isn't concerned with our jobs or our image of a perfect family. He loves us where we are and for who we are inside. He created us. He is our secure rock on which to build our foundation.

Stuff is great until we place too much importance on things. Possessions will never be and can never be something we can depend on. Same goes for other people. No matter how much we love them and they love us, they will let us down and we will let them down. That's just how it is. God is the only One who will never, ever let us down.

Our self-worth comes only from belonging to God. He's all we will ever need. It's fun to enjoy all the blessings He grants us -- so long as we never let possessions or the people in our lives dictate our worth.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Use Your Spiritual Gifts

"Do not neglect your gift..."
-- 1 Timothy 4:14a

What are your spiritual gifts? Don't know? Don't care? Maybe you don't even know what a spiritual gift is? The Bible talks about them. We know they are gifts from God. But how do we know what is and what isn't a spiritual gift?

1 Corinthians 12:4 tells us that there are different kinds of spiritual gifts but they all come from the same Holy Spirit. The Bible, in different passages, tells us that wisdom, knowledge and faith are spiritual gifts. So are healing, miraculous powers, prophecy and speaking in tongues. We don't talk about some of those things in most churches these days.

Romans also gives us a few more. They include teaching, serving, encouraging, contributing to the needs of others, leadership and mercy. Did you know that mercy is a spiritual gift? Or that encouraging others is a gift as well? We get so caught up in the "big" gifts, the gifts that put the person in the limelight, that we forget that the "smaller" gifts are just as important. And, sometimes, they are more important. That pat on the back might just be what one person needs to do great things for God.

We are all given different gifts for a reason. God wants us to work together to do His will. Just as our bodies require different parts -- like eyes to see or legs to walk -- so does God's kingdom require different people with different gifts to further His plan.

It's so easy to just let someone else do it. It's easy to say no when you're called out of your comfort area. I still remember that deer-in-the-headlights panic I felt when this childless woman was called to be the Children's Church coordinator. But God knew what He was doing. I didn't but it's amazing what trusting Him can accomplish.

"Do not put out the Spirit's fire," Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. Use your gift. Watch it grow. See it spread. But don't ever ignore it. And don't ever tell yourself that God didn't give you any spiritual gifts because He did. If they aren't apparent to you, ask Him to show you. Then listen to what He says. God has great plans for you. He really, truly does.