2008-03-21
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Because of our society's fixation on material things [mammon], it's quite important that we are taking the time to hover over MT 6: 24-34 the way we are. Applying the teaching of Christ's Sermon on the Mount to material things must be seen in all the Lord meant to say to us. As I mentioned last week, a number of questions have arisen that the Holy Spirit is directing me to take up. We dealt with the first one last week: Does the Lord ever lie? The second one is: Are we poor? With regard to our spirits, we are poor indeed! That's why Christ, in MT 5: 3, tells us, "Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them." The underlying meaning here is that people who recognize their need for the Lord's presence and intervention in their lives and who seek Him are the ones who will enjoy eternal life in God's Kingdom. Matters seem as simple as that, until we get to the issue of money and other material wealth. Their misuse and some people's attitudes toward them are where serious problems in their relationships with God and with others happen.
Let's begin by looking at what God does give us. He begins with His word. 2 TIM 3: 16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and useful in for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed." Scripture along with the interaction of the Holy Spirit [which is intermittent until one acquires true faith] together have the supernatural power to bring a person to life-giving faith in Jesus Christ. The waters of baptism slake the person dying of spiritual dehydration. The new believer is literally "coming alive in the Spirit" [RO 6: 11] and is being made a friend of the Lord [RO 5: 9-11]. All of this is done without any merit on the new believer's part; it is through the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Who paid the price to ransom us out of slavery to sin. We must remember from EPH 2: 8-10 that we can't take any credit for what was done for us, because it is all from God's grace that we were given faith in union with Christ Jesus. And, it is only because of this grace, faith, and union with the Lord Jesus that we can now carry out the good deeds which God has already prepared for us to do. Moreover, we must understand that God's second gift was that of the Holy Spirit to indwell in us [His presence no longer intermittent]. He help us to understand God's teaching and encourages us in carrying it out with faithful obedience [JN 14: 16-18]. It is through the Holy Spirit that we have discernment, including discernment about mammon.
Even amidst adversity, we are given a way to have contentment. Paul, in PHIL 4: 11-13, "And I am not saying this [that God didn't have a chance to show that He cares] because I feel neglected for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have. I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." Feeling God's constant presence and having the discipline to be able to watch what He is doing in our lives and those around us takes some degree of spiritual maturity. In fact, these abilities are gifts given to those spiritually mature. And as for our basic material needs, just look at PHIL 4: 19, to know God's approach. "And with all His abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs." Nowhere here does it say that we mustn't do our part, which as I see it, is the wise use of the gifts God has given us and not to be lazy. PR 10: 4, "Being lazy will make you poor, but hard work will make you rich." We must be careful not to interpret this to mean that we can work our way into heaven in the worldly sense. That would be works and not grace, something wholly opposite to God's Scriptural teaching.
When we need help, God's throne of grace is always available to believers. HE 4: 16, "Let us be brave, then, and approach God's throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it." We never have to face our problems alone. After all, we must remember that He has never held anything back from us, not even His only begotten Son! [RO 8: 31-32]. We must never forget that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross opened the way for salvation and all these gifts which have come from God, in the first place [JN 3: 16; RO 3: 24-25]. Are we poor? Consider, 1 TIM 6: 6-8 in answer to that question. "Well, religion does make a person very rich, if he is satisfied with what he has. What did we bring into the world? Nothing! What can we take out of the world? Nothing! So then, if we have food and clothes, that should be enough for us. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the snare of many foolish and harmful desires, which pull them down to ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the source of all kinds of evil. Some have been so eager to have it that they have wandered away from the faith and have broken their hearts with many sorrows." How can I refrain from thinking about the leaders of the Nazi regime? They burglarized precious art and took money from their Jewish victims-even the gold from their teeth- stashing it away in hidden vaults and Swiss bank accounts. Only recently have these valuables been returned to the heirs of Holocaust victims. This doesn't even consider the 6,000,000 lives gruesomely taken, including a part of my own family- all with the money and power for the Third Reich as their quarry. We mustn't forget the lesson in all of this and the dishonorable deaths and spiritual decimation of these Nazi leaders that were the net result.
PRAYER: O Lord, through Your compassion, wisdom, and grace, we are not poor! It is only through You that we can learn, as Paul did, to be content in the face of adversity. You have allowed such horrific things to happen as a result of evil, so that their lessons should never be forgotten. Every Jew Who comes to know You as Lord and Savior is privileged. Every Gentile who is brought to faith through Your grace and the Holy Spirit is blessed. Are we poor? Surely not! In Christ's words in MT 6: 33, You tell us that our basic needs will be supplied and to keep our eyes on the Kingdom of God above all else. You have made it possible for us to live eternally in the Spirit and to be blessed with the hope of the resurrection through the death and resurrection of Your Son as the "first among many brothers" [RO 8: 29]. What more can you be to us? You are with Him and Your holy presence hovers over our lives, so that You are always available to us. All we must do is to seek You out. JER 29: 11-13 tells us plainly. "I alone know all the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you not to bring disaster, plans to give you the future for which you hope. Than you will call to Me. You will come and pray to Me, and I will answer you. You will seek Me and you will find Me because you will seek Me with all your heart." We have entered into a Covenant of Grace with You, in which You always fulfill the promises You have made. Our challenge now, our rightful response, is to be obediently faithful to You and to uphold our portion of this great two-way agreement. We rely on You, and pledge our willingness for you to be able to count on us. To You belongs all the glory [PS 115: 1], Dearest Father, along with thanks and praise. We pray all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Next week, I am led to write about God's further instructions regarding mammon. When we keep the matters of His Kingdom on our minds at all times, God can really help us to sort out what is a temptation and what is a wise expenditure of our material wealth. In the meanwhile, we can gain wonderful examples of godly lives from placing ourselves in Christ-led congregations and watching what goes on around us. I can say this from first-hand experience, because the Lord led me to a place where the others around me are teaching me to be a more obediently faithful believer. I see them in the teaching of His word, in being sent out to missions to serve Him here and in other places, in a myriad of worship and educational opportunities, and in the Via de Cristo community-a program which arises from 4-day spiritual retreats that can be life-changing. They are all around me caring for those in crisis through Stephen ministry, in raising young children to learn to love the Lord, and in reaching out to the lost that surround us. Those who are endowed with much material wealth within this congregation are using it for the good of others, not selfishly hoarding it only for their own use. And where is the Lord in all of this? He is near and bringing His goodness to the earth, right from where I get to see. PS 9: 1-2, 9-10, "I will praise You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the wonderful things you have done. I will sing with joy because of You. I will sing praise to You, Almighty God…The Lord is a Refuge for the oppressed, a Place of Safety in times of trouble. Those who know You, Lord, will trust You; You do not abandon anyone who comes to You." Hallelujah! Praise be to His name!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn