January 18, 2022

 

Love

 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

– Romans 12:18

 

To get a vaccine or not? To accept the presidential election results or not? To welcome illegal immigrants or not? The list never ends. We are a country at odds within itself.

 

God’s people have been ugly and vocal. They have reigned down criticism and aligned themselves with one side or another. Everyone knows what is best. Just ask them. Except they are all so focused on themselves that it is impossible to truly see God in them.

 

Ah, there is the true problem. Seeing God. It’s impossible to truly see Him when you are hurling angry insults at people who disagree with you. It’s impossible to truly hear God when your ugly words are aimed to tear apart anyone who dares disagree with you. It’s impossible to love like Jesus when your eyes are filled with hatred toward anyone who disagrees with you.

 

We have become a nation filled with arrogant people who have lost sight of God. Oh, we shout His name. We quote scripture and serve diligently. But our hearts? Well, our hearts don’t even know His name.

 

The saddest thing for me in the last couple of years hasn’t been Covid. It hasn’t been election results or isolation or illegal immigrants. The saddest thing has been listening to people I truly believed were God’s people ranting at those who don’t share their viewpoints. The ugliness is appalling. And for what end?

 

It’s possible to share different views without turning hateful and mean. It’s possible to live under the banner of love and service and still disagree. If you’ve got ugliness in your heart, I wonder if you truly know Him. It becomes less about your opinion and more about your arrogant belief that you are like God.

 

Hatred and God cannot exist in the same heart. Why? Because God is love. (1 John 4)

August 10, 2018

Who Do You Serve?

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

– Mark 9:35

James and John wanted to be next to Jesus in places of honor and glory. They wanted to be held in high esteem by others.  They wanted to be above the pack.

They didn’t understand what was to come, of course. Do we ever? We’re so focused on ourselves that we can’t see the bigger picture. We can’t see Jesus. The only image before us is the image of ourselves.

A dear man heads up a committee. He’s proud of it. He’s been the chairman for several years. He’s even in charge of the same committee on a multi-church level.

This man loves to serve. He cooks food for an outreach ministry. He shares Jesus at other venues. He’s such a good, giving man – so long as you do everything exactly to his specifications and his timetable. He’s so controlling that he has almost single-handedly destroyed the very ministry he leads.

Two women devote hours to their church committee. Please note the use of the word “their” committee. They have worked hard to make sure the committee only includes people who agree with everything they “suggest.” They aren’t looking for other ideas. They simply want people who will step up and do their bidding however they choose things be done. I’m sure you can imagine the grumbling from others. They don’t care. They’re so busy being in charge that they don’t realize they’re on the cusp of standing alone.

Welcome to church politics. I have watched two or three people generate enough divisiveness to “run” off a good preacher. I have witnessed churches split apart over how to spend money. I have seen churches die because they refused to welcome any new members into their midst.

There’s something about power and prestige that makes us forget that we don’t always have the answers. There’s something about being in charge that makes us forget that other people sometimes have more wisdom than we do. And there’s something about control that makes us forget that God reigns, not us.

Satan knows just what buttons to push to turn otherwise good Christians against each other. He knows exactly who to target to create chaos rather than growth and renewal. We’re engaged in spiritual warfare, whether we acknowledge it or not.

The only way to battle Satan is through the armor of God. Jesus won the war but Satan is after anyone who desires to serve Christ. He knows that the very best way to accomplish his goals is to turn God’s people against one another. Don’t let him.

It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about bringing God glory and honoring Him in all we say and do. Check your egos at the door. Leave pride outside in the trash. Be the least so you can bring honor to God our Father and Creator.

Do you want to be first? Then live your life being last.

February 16, 2016

Arrogant Pride Wrongly Judges

16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.

-- Proverbs 6:16-19

In the aftermath of trouble, there are always going to be people who criticize what was or wasn’t done. Surely her sons could have done something sooner? Why in the world won’t one of her five children take her into their home? How can that mother not manage her own children? Why won’t she lose weight or get a better job?

It’s always somebody else’s fault and the person complaining could surely have figured out a better way.

Our pastor began a sermon serious today on this passage of Scripture. He focused on “haughty eyes,” that arrogant pride that makes us believe we know better than anyone else.

It is ever so easy to judge from the outside, without knowing the facts. And, honestly, if you weren’t there, if you weren’t privy to the inside conversations and the heart wrenching decisions, then you don’t get to judge. But we do. Again and again we do.

Pastor Danny noted that folks can always find a better way to run the service, whether it’s music, sound or lighting. We have that critical spirit inside of us that lets us think it’s okay to comment (even to ourselves) about someone’s weight, dress, or hair style. It isn’t okay. It isn’t funny. And it certainly doesn’t make us into better people. Just the opposite, in fact.

Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall. -- Proverbs 16:18

When we are haughty, we are filled with pride and arrogance. We think we know best and really we don’t have a clue. Sooner or later the truth always wins out and we are headed for a fall.

When we are willing to walk in someone else’s shoes, then we have a voice. But until we put those shoes on, we need to keep our opinions to ourselves and support those who are in the trenches doing what needs to be done.

　

Sunday, August 19, 2012

No One Is Ever Good Enough

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

-- Matthew 9:10-13

“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” -- Hosea 6:6

A woman I’ve known for more than 30 years grew up attending a neighborhood church. She has all the answers. Just ask her. She doesn’t need to talk about the Bible or religion of faith. And she doesn’t. Why waste time on what she already knows when she could be gathering gossip on something she doesn’t know?

Yeah. That’s right. She’s also the neighborhood gossip. And judge.

It’s not that she’s a bad person. She isn’t. She’s done many wonderful things for others over the years. She also did an admirable job of caring for her husband as he lay dying. She’s in church most Sundays and even on Wednesday nights as well. She does everything right on the outside. But what about the inside?

I always wonder when folks know too much to keep learning about Jesus. I realize that group Bible study isn’t for everyone but I can’t imagine not wanting to read and study the Bible for as long as I can. I want to grow closer to God, not assume I’m close enough already.

It always comes back to relationship. I want to have a relationship with God. I am His child and I want to know Him in all things. I can’t understand why anyone would want to keep Him at a distance. In His place, so to speak. Because His place is everywhere in my life.

She knows all the right answers. She grew up memorizing the little songs and books of the Bible. But sometimes I wonder about her heart. Because faith is a heart thing or it isn’t faith at all.

She’s so quick to look down at others who don’t have all the answers. She doesn’t bother looking in the mirror because she assumes she’s already good enough. I don’t want to ever be like that. I don’t want to ever think I’m better than others and I don’t want to ever assume I’m good enough.

I want to always remember what Jesus did for me. I want to forever understand God’s mercy and kindness that I could never deserve. But He loves me anyway. He loved me enough to send His Son to die for me. My God. My Father. My Creator.

Friday, July 2, 2010

All Good Things Come From God

"For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty." -- Esther 1:4

King Xerxes was a very arrogant man. He was proud of all his possessions and his wealth. He wanted to show it off and he did. I mean, he was the king. When you got invited to his party, you went. It was probably quite an honor.

Not that he was a bad host. You might have to suffer through all his bragging, but he did open up the wine cellar so that each man got to drink what he wanted. We learn later that he and his guests drank wine for seven days. You can imagine that they were feeling kind of happy and sure of themselves. There's just nothing quite like a room filled with male ego and alcohol. Oh, and did I mention, no women.

Well, King Xerxes decided to change that. See there was one thing he hadn't yet shown his guests. That was his beautiful wife, Queen Vashti. He sent the eunuchs to fetch her. Except she wouldn't come. Xerxes might have been king but he wasn't real smart. He didn't send for his wife because he loved her and missed her. He didn't want to introduce her because she was his helpmate. Nope. He wanted to hold her up as another object he owned. He wanted all the other men to lust after his wife and envy Xerxes.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? Ever known someone who wants to brag all the time? Got somebody in your life who has to compete over everything, whether it's a new handbag or a prime parking spot Yeah. We all do. Some days it's rather sad. Other days it's just irritating.

King Xerxes needed to prove he was wealthy enough and powerful enough to invade Greece -- and gain more wealth and power. Isn't that what bragging is all about? The person bragging just wants to build himself up, either because he has low self-esteem or because he thinks he's better than the rest of us.

Either way, the bragger is taking credit for everything in his possession. Bad mistake. Because it's when we start taking credit -- instead of giving credit to God -- that we are headed for a fall. Everything we have comes from God. Those folks bragging can't seem to see past themselves to understand that.

King Xerxes had no idea what his conflict with Queen Vashti would bring about. But God, is His wisdom, used it to save the Jewish people. It's tempting to resent people who brag all the time. We may want what they have. We certainly don't want to hear about their possessions or successes or their brilliance. We really just want to put them in their place. Don't.

God uses all things for His Glory. Just like He used Xerxes' ego to bring good to the Jewish people, He will use the arrogance of other's to bring good. Just because we don't see it, doesn't mean He doesn't have a plan. God always has a plan. Instead, pray and wait patiently for Him. And the next time you want to brag about something, remember where your possessions and your success comes from. Give credit and praise to God. All good things come from Him.