Wealth and riches are in his house; and his righteousness endures forever (Psalms 112:3).
As much negative as the Bible has to say about material wealth and riches, one would think that there is no virtue in accumulating it. First Timothy 6:9 has this to say, But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. So, it is true that the accumulation of material wealth cannot be the first priority of one who is committed to Christ, but the earning of material wealth is an absolute necessity. Consider these texts: If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (I Timothy 5:8); For even when we were with you we gave you this command: If anyone will not work, let him not eat (II Thessalonians 3:10). This was standard Hebrew teaching, every little Jewish boy was taught these work ethics as he grew up--generally, the gentiles were not so blessed.
When a person lives up to his responsibility to God, his family and his community, wealth almost always accumulates: A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich (Proverbs 10:4).*
When a person diligently works at honest labor, spending less that he or she makes, over the years a small fortune will accumulate (Some of the things we need to teach our children about money are: 1. Debt is expensive; 2. The power of compound interest.) Generally, those who try all the get-rich-quick schemes end up in their own personal poverty.
Because of the tendency for material wealth to accumulate when a person is living up to his responsibilities it is easy to make an erroneous assumption, that material wealth, in itself, is a sign of righteousness and salvation because material wealth is a sign of God's blessing. When Jesus said, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God," the disciples were exceedingly astonished and they asked, "Then who can be saved?" (Mark 10:25-26). To the disciples, material wealth was a sign of God's approval on a person's life. When the Lord asked the question, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?" he made it crystal clear that the accumulation of material wealth has little to do with salvation so one should not make accumulating wealth the purpose of his life!!!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*Where the government allows lawlessness to exist, or the government, itself, is corrupt then the opportunity to accumulate material wealth is severely reduced!
Friday, September 30, 2011
GIVING IS GOOD FOR YOU
And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath" (Mark 2:27).
But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God' " (Matthew 4:4).
Jesus countered the hyper legalistic critics of his time by telling them that the institution of the sabbath was to bless humanity, not to hinder it. While I am not "Lord of the sabbath" like Jesus was, I believe that this principle could be applied to other areas of faith as well, in this case, giving.
It is strange that those who emphasize grace and Holy Spirit the most are the ones who are some of the most legalistic about money--at a minimum one must give 10% of his gross income, not his net income. Often pastoral sermons on stewardship will speak of money as the Christian's treasure. The thinking is that if one gives his treasure to the Lord, his heart will follow it. Such theology is purely materialistic and thus undermines and distorts the message of Christ. Often such pastoral sermons will lament what the church isn't doing because the church does not have the funding. That is the problem with materialistic theology, it makes finances the determining factor on what can or cannot be done by the church. When materialism is emphasized, there is always a shortage of money, whether it be in the church or the state.
All this begs the question: Does God need our money to accomplish His purposes? If God does need our money, then He is not God. Just as God can 'raise up children of Abraham out of the stones,' so God can raise up givers of money to accomplish His purposes--if He wants to use financial means to accomplish them. I believe one of the reasons the Lord wants us to give is to increase our faith and trust in Him. If we give that which is necessary to physical life to Him, how will we be sustained but by Him? As we rely on Him more and more, we will find riches that money cannot buy--giving is good for us!
The truth is that man, or churches, or states, do not live by bread alone! Those who do believe in life by bread alone are always in poverty. If Jesus Christ is our treasure, if we are led by His Spirit, then the money will follow where He leads. If it seems that the lack of money is the biggest obstacle in your life, or church life, then a radical reassessment of one's relationship with Christ needs to be done.
Finally, if one is not giving his money, and his time and talents, to Jesus Christ, he needs to do a radical assessment of his relationship to Christ too! The truth is that all you have follows your heart--if Jesus has your heart, He has your money.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God' " (Matthew 4:4).
Jesus countered the hyper legalistic critics of his time by telling them that the institution of the sabbath was to bless humanity, not to hinder it. While I am not "Lord of the sabbath" like Jesus was, I believe that this principle could be applied to other areas of faith as well, in this case, giving.
It is strange that those who emphasize grace and Holy Spirit the most are the ones who are some of the most legalistic about money--at a minimum one must give 10% of his gross income, not his net income. Often pastoral sermons on stewardship will speak of money as the Christian's treasure. The thinking is that if one gives his treasure to the Lord, his heart will follow it. Such theology is purely materialistic and thus undermines and distorts the message of Christ. Often such pastoral sermons will lament what the church isn't doing because the church does not have the funding. That is the problem with materialistic theology, it makes finances the determining factor on what can or cannot be done by the church. When materialism is emphasized, there is always a shortage of money, whether it be in the church or the state.
All this begs the question: Does God need our money to accomplish His purposes? If God does need our money, then He is not God. Just as God can 'raise up children of Abraham out of the stones,' so God can raise up givers of money to accomplish His purposes--if He wants to use financial means to accomplish them. I believe one of the reasons the Lord wants us to give is to increase our faith and trust in Him. If we give that which is necessary to physical life to Him, how will we be sustained but by Him? As we rely on Him more and more, we will find riches that money cannot buy--giving is good for us!
The truth is that man, or churches, or states, do not live by bread alone! Those who do believe in life by bread alone are always in poverty. If Jesus Christ is our treasure, if we are led by His Spirit, then the money will follow where He leads. If it seems that the lack of money is the biggest obstacle in your life, or church life, then a radical reassessment of one's relationship with Christ needs to be done.
Finally, if one is not giving his money, and his time and talents, to Jesus Christ, he needs to do a radical assessment of his relationship to Christ too! The truth is that all you have follows your heart--if Jesus has your heart, He has your money.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Sunday, September 25, 2011
OUR RESPONSE TO GOD
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagles (Psalm 103:1-5).
When you think of all that God has done for you, do you not feel like you owe something to Him? Is there something you could give Him in return? Your heart? If God truly has our hearts, He has everything else!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
When you think of all that God has done for you, do you not feel like you owe something to Him? Is there something you could give Him in return? Your heart? If God truly has our hearts, He has everything else!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
KEEPING YOUR VISION
If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell (Matthew 5:29-30).
While my minister was preaching on this text, an old saying came to mind: "It is better to lose your sight than to lose your vision." Rather than being led by the flesh, which dulls the vision, the one who is led by the Spirit has a vision of doing what does not seem possible.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
While my minister was preaching on this text, an old saying came to mind: "It is better to lose your sight than to lose your vision." Rather than being led by the flesh, which dulls the vision, the one who is led by the Spirit has a vision of doing what does not seem possible.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Sunday, September 18, 2011
THOUGHTS ABOUT WEALTH
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 (I Timothy 6:17).
The term wealth comes to us from an old Anglo-Saxon word, weal. When one was in weal, he was in a state of well being resulting from being in a state of prosperity. Thinking about this definition, I thought, "Is it possible for a person to be rich and not be wealthy?" A rich person cannot buy his salvation with money; Jesus asked the question, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?" Even though a rich person might be able to extend his physical life many years because of his riches, the truth is one day death will come calling; human beings know that they will die. What then? Many times, in the homes of the rich, there is no love or peace.
We have a rich Father, trusting in Him we are provided with that feeling of well-being even though we might have little in terms of material abundance. During my growing-up years my family was poor. While we were living through those times of poverty, admittedly, there was pain. But, looking back, I treasure my growing up years. We had a good family and we have great memories. God did richly provide for us during those years. It was something that money alone cannot buy--we were wealthy even though we were poor.
Are you wealthy or are you just rich?
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The term wealth comes to us from an old Anglo-Saxon word, weal. When one was in weal, he was in a state of well being resulting from being in a state of prosperity. Thinking about this definition, I thought, "Is it possible for a person to be rich and not be wealthy?" A rich person cannot buy his salvation with money; Jesus asked the question, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?" Even though a rich person might be able to extend his physical life many years because of his riches, the truth is one day death will come calling; human beings know that they will die. What then? Many times, in the homes of the rich, there is no love or peace.
We have a rich Father, trusting in Him we are provided with that feeling of well-being even though we might have little in terms of material abundance. During my growing-up years my family was poor. While we were living through those times of poverty, admittedly, there was pain. But, looking back, I treasure my growing up years. We had a good family and we have great memories. God did richly provide for us during those years. It was something that money alone cannot buy--we were wealthy even though we were poor.
Are you wealthy or are you just rich?
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
WHY I AM A CHRISTIAN
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile . . . But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (I Corinthians 15:17&20).
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is a historical truth. Following the rules of evidence, the resurrection of Christ is established as a historical fact. That is why I am a Christian. I am not a Christian because it makes be feel better. I am not a Christian because of the social relationships in the church. I am not a Christian because of the do-gooding opportunities in the church. I am a Christian because Jesus Christ has risen!
Christ's resurrection means that the Bible is God's word and thus its words are true. Therefore, we ought to pay attention to the Bible. The resurrection of Christ means that we have not seen the last of our loved ones who are in Christ--we will see them again! The resurrection of Christ means that God has the last word! No matter how good of a lawyer you might have, God has the last word!
I enjoy church, but that is not why I am a Christian. I am a Christian because of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth--love, hope, joy and peace follow the resurrection.
Our Father's Blessings
Tom
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is a historical truth. Following the rules of evidence, the resurrection of Christ is established as a historical fact. That is why I am a Christian. I am not a Christian because it makes be feel better. I am not a Christian because of the social relationships in the church. I am not a Christian because of the do-gooding opportunities in the church. I am a Christian because Jesus Christ has risen!
Christ's resurrection means that the Bible is God's word and thus its words are true. Therefore, we ought to pay attention to the Bible. The resurrection of Christ means that we have not seen the last of our loved ones who are in Christ--we will see them again! The resurrection of Christ means that God has the last word! No matter how good of a lawyer you might have, God has the last word!
I enjoy church, but that is not why I am a Christian. I am a Christian because of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth--love, hope, joy and peace follow the resurrection.
Our Father's Blessings
Tom
Saturday, September 10, 2011
A PASTORAL PRAYER
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks , the door will be opened (Matthew 7:8).
Father in Heaven, may we keep your name holy always.
Father, we ask you for faith; we believe, but in difficult times our faith wavers, help our unbelief. We know that without faith it is impossible to please you.
Father, we ask you for love so that we can recognize the needs of those around us and be truly compassionate towards those in need.
Father, we ask you for wisdom so that we might deal with difficult problems in a way that pleases you; so that we can know when show tough love rather than being enablers.
Father, we ask you for courage so that we will take a stand and live for your truth. We are often tempted to take the easy way out rather than stand for what is right.
Father, we ask for strength so that we might persevere and not faint as we face the continual onslaught of the evil one.
Father, we ask for pardon and forgiveness because of Jesus' sacrifice for us. We have sinned and we cling to Jesus as our only hope for eternity. In His name we pray, Amen.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Father in Heaven, may we keep your name holy always.
Father, we ask you for faith; we believe, but in difficult times our faith wavers, help our unbelief. We know that without faith it is impossible to please you.
Father, we ask you for love so that we can recognize the needs of those around us and be truly compassionate towards those in need.
Father, we ask you for wisdom so that we might deal with difficult problems in a way that pleases you; so that we can know when show tough love rather than being enablers.
Father, we ask you for courage so that we will take a stand and live for your truth. We are often tempted to take the easy way out rather than stand for what is right.
Father, we ask for strength so that we might persevere and not faint as we face the continual onslaught of the evil one.
Father, we ask for pardon and forgiveness because of Jesus' sacrifice for us. We have sinned and we cling to Jesus as our only hope for eternity. In His name we pray, Amen.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Monday, September 05, 2011
CONCESSION TO HARD HEARTS: POLYGAMY
If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights (Exodus 21:10).
Over the course of my ministry I have been asked several times about the men of God in the Old Testament who had more than one wife. There are some, who believe that these men were living in adultery because they had more than one wife. However, no where in the Bible does it say that having more than one wife is sinful. Rather, like divorce, the Scripture actually gives one the idea that polygamy is remedial, levirate marriage being one example. Levirate marriage is spoken of in Deuteronomy 25: 5-10 when a man is to marry his deceased brother's wife, regardless of his marital status, so that there can be children to carry on the brother's name. Jesus recognizes the truth of this law in Matthew 22: 23-32.
It appears that polygamy was a better remedy for marital strife than divorce because when a man divorces his wife to marry another he commits adultery. When a man marries another, according to Old Testament law, he is not released from his responsibility to his first wife. Real men stand up and take responsibility for their relationships.
In the New Testament, it is never said that polygamy is a sin either, but it does say that church leaders are to be the husband of one wife and they are to parent their households well. I believe the reason for this is that the ideal marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church, and church leaders are to live that picture out in their lives (Ephesians 5: 25-29).
Is polygamy sinful today? Well, it is against the civil law of the United States. Modern marriage ceremonies have the couple vow that they will forsake all others, so to have another wife is to forsake the vow, which is adultery. Depending on the situation, when a man has an affair and his wife has come to me for counseling I ask her, "Do you want to be one of his harem? That wasn't part of your marriage covenant." Some will go along with being one of the harem.
I believe that God's plan is one man married to one woman for a life time. There is nothing more romantic than a man and a woman working together, supporting each other to achieve their goals, dreams and purpose. Because of hard and sinful hearts and difficult circumstances there were remedies for the civil governance of society, polygamy being one of them. The best remedy is the changing of hearts, but if there can be no change of heart then law has to bring some kind of order out of disorder.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Over the course of my ministry I have been asked several times about the men of God in the Old Testament who had more than one wife. There are some, who believe that these men were living in adultery because they had more than one wife. However, no where in the Bible does it say that having more than one wife is sinful. Rather, like divorce, the Scripture actually gives one the idea that polygamy is remedial, levirate marriage being one example. Levirate marriage is spoken of in Deuteronomy 25: 5-10 when a man is to marry his deceased brother's wife, regardless of his marital status, so that there can be children to carry on the brother's name. Jesus recognizes the truth of this law in Matthew 22: 23-32.
It appears that polygamy was a better remedy for marital strife than divorce because when a man divorces his wife to marry another he commits adultery. When a man marries another, according to Old Testament law, he is not released from his responsibility to his first wife. Real men stand up and take responsibility for their relationships.
In the New Testament, it is never said that polygamy is a sin either, but it does say that church leaders are to be the husband of one wife and they are to parent their households well. I believe the reason for this is that the ideal marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church, and church leaders are to live that picture out in their lives (Ephesians 5: 25-29).
Is polygamy sinful today? Well, it is against the civil law of the United States. Modern marriage ceremonies have the couple vow that they will forsake all others, so to have another wife is to forsake the vow, which is adultery. Depending on the situation, when a man has an affair and his wife has come to me for counseling I ask her, "Do you want to be one of his harem? That wasn't part of your marriage covenant." Some will go along with being one of the harem.
I believe that God's plan is one man married to one woman for a life time. There is nothing more romantic than a man and a woman working together, supporting each other to achieve their goals, dreams and purpose. Because of hard and sinful hearts and difficult circumstances there were remedies for the civil governance of society, polygamy being one of them. The best remedy is the changing of hearts, but if there can be no change of heart then law has to bring some kind of order out of disorder.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, September 02, 2011
CONCESSION TO HARD HEARTS: DIVORCE
"It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate . . . Any one who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery." (Mark 10: 5-12 NIV)
While doing my daily Bible reading, I was reading from Mark 10 about Jesus' teaching on divorce and it struck me that Mark's gospel account is the most concise and readily understood, certainly being consistent, however, with the other teachings of Scripture about divorce. It is in the divorcing to marry another that adultery is committed. (Adultery is forsaking, disregarding, the vow. Because we have sex on the brain, we think adultery only has to do with sex.)
The Mosaic law on divorce was intended to be remedial. The options for any woman in ancient times were extremely limited. Certainly, there were beautiful and talented women who were leaders and business women, but they were an extreme minority. The options for a discarded woman was even more limited; cast out of her household, what was she to do? She couldn't even marry because, technically, she was still married. It was understood that the Mosaic law on divorce made it possible for the marriage to be ended so that the wife could legally marry again (Deuteronomy 24:2), having the option of marriage rather than resorting to immorality to sustain herself. The option for divorce was not part of God's plan for marriage, but it was intended to be a practical remedy for those with sinful hearts. One of the interesting facets of the Biblical teaching on divorce is that God views remarriage to the first partner to be an abomination if there has been a subsequent marriage (Deuteronomy 24:3-4).
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than Seventy percent of divorces are initiated by women. These days women have a lot more options so they are much less dependent, plus the fact that the hearts of women are fully as hard as men's. Another statistic indicative of that fact according to DHHS is that fully two thirds of child abuse is initiated by the biological mother. Given the Casey Anthony case, I'm not surprised.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
While doing my daily Bible reading, I was reading from Mark 10 about Jesus' teaching on divorce and it struck me that Mark's gospel account is the most concise and readily understood, certainly being consistent, however, with the other teachings of Scripture about divorce. It is in the divorcing to marry another that adultery is committed. (Adultery is forsaking, disregarding, the vow. Because we have sex on the brain, we think adultery only has to do with sex.)
The Mosaic law on divorce was intended to be remedial. The options for any woman in ancient times were extremely limited. Certainly, there were beautiful and talented women who were leaders and business women, but they were an extreme minority. The options for a discarded woman was even more limited; cast out of her household, what was she to do? She couldn't even marry because, technically, she was still married. It was understood that the Mosaic law on divorce made it possible for the marriage to be ended so that the wife could legally marry again (Deuteronomy 24:2), having the option of marriage rather than resorting to immorality to sustain herself. The option for divorce was not part of God's plan for marriage, but it was intended to be a practical remedy for those with sinful hearts. One of the interesting facets of the Biblical teaching on divorce is that God views remarriage to the first partner to be an abomination if there has been a subsequent marriage (Deuteronomy 24:3-4).
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, more than Seventy percent of divorces are initiated by women. These days women have a lot more options so they are much less dependent, plus the fact that the hearts of women are fully as hard as men's. Another statistic indicative of that fact according to DHHS is that fully two thirds of child abuse is initiated by the biological mother. Given the Casey Anthony case, I'm not surprised.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
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