Am I doing enough good in my life? This was a question I pondered deeply last night in the midst of another sleepless night. As God likes to do, He made sure it came up in my study of Scripture this morning. The first part of Luke 19 deals both with Zacchaeus the tax collector and the parable of the ten minas. In both, it is a case of having people to whom much was given, so much was expected of them in return.
I envy Zacchaeus. He knew instantly that he needed to see Jesus. Jesus then clearly delineated what He wanted of him. Unfortunately, while there are plenty of Sycamore trees to climb where I am, I lack having Jesus come by to talk directly to me. What stands out though is Zacchaeus’ willingness to serve immediately. He not only wanted to serve, but he was willing to give up all he had in order to serve. Do I have that kind of faith anymore?
That brings us to the parable of the ten minas. The central lesson in this parable is that not only are we responsible for what we do wrong, but we are responsible for what we fail to do right. Last night I was starring at the ceiling near 1am thinking of just this thing before I even read this passage this morning. In my current jobless state I feel like I am in a unique position. God is providing in ways other than traditional work. I may not go to some office in the morning, but He has found a way through massive amounts of coupons, the selling of ads on my other blog, and through my writing job that all my needs are cared for. That gives me the luxury of time each day.
I was questioning last night whether I can make better use of that time. I have been so focused on myself and what I can get out of everything that lately I have neglected my responsibility to other people. In that, I feel I have missed an opportunity to do good like the servant who was given just one mina. What is wrong with me volunteering my time for some place, maybe a day each week, even if I am not getting paid. Just down the street from us there is a women’s shelter that my wife and I both strongly believe in. We have donated items and money to them in the past. What is stopping me from giving them one day a week as a volunteer to help out around their office? Is there another place where I can do such a thing?
As I was struggling to sleep last night I was seriously considering how I could serve in this capacity of God can continue to provide without me having a traditional job. I have seen in recent days that it is possible for me to do work from home on various freelance projects and achieve the freedom that eludes me when I do have your traditional job. I can even make as much money if not more. My wife reminded me, however, that I would be missing the social interaction with other people. At first I didn’t think this was such a bad thing since I tend to be rather reclusive. Last night I was reminded, however, that social interaction isn’t a bad thing. I now know that if my professional life continues along this path of having me work from home that I probably should investigate giving my time as a volunteer. If not, I fear I will be missing a chance to do good, which as it says in James 4:17 is the same as sinning.
17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. - James 4:17
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Luke, Chapter 18 part 2
It is fitting that I am ending this week with this section of Luke 18. I have felt like something has been missing in my spiritual walk. I feel like there is something I am holding back that is preventing me from totally experiencing God's blessing. I cannot place my finger on it, either. That makes it doubly frustrating. Let's look at the primary message of this chapter as Jesus talks about meeting the Rich Ruler.
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, 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." – Luke 18:22-25
I don't know if I would consider myself rich. I manage my finances well and get by for what little I am able to bring in, but it isn't much. Compared to the way most of the world lives though, I am exceedingly wealthy. This makes me wonder if I call into this category. Is this what I am holding back? I know I try to begin each day by giving myself to God. I am praying that I do just that right now. I pray that He will use me today as he sees fit. Even in doing so, however, I feel like I am going unused. That leads me to feel like something is missing in my life.
I think it goes back to Wednesday's lesson on how God uses what little faith we have to do great things. That has been stuck in my head for most of this week. It has been a bad week as far as my mood goes. Still, I can see where God can simply use what faith I have instead of increasing it to make me better. The mere fact I have faith, no matter how little it feels at the moment, is enough for God. He only asks that we believe. Right now this feels very disjointed, but I pray that what small faith I have will be enough.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Luke, chapter 18 part 1
This morning is another rough morning. It is a morning where my stomach is in knots because something just does not feel right. I cannot place my finger on it, but today feels like it is the head of my feeling of not really belonging anywhere. Maybe it is my fear that everything I have been trying to do lately won’t be enough, even though I know it is not the case. It is my hope that today’s lesson in chapter 18 of Luke and some intense prayer will help the matter. I am praying that God will use my little bit of faith, as mentioned yesterday, to accomplish something wonderful.
And there is hope in the parable of the persistent widow. This is a woman that never gave up in the face of even more daunting circumstances. She fought alone as I do. She sought an answer that looked like it would never come just as I do. In this, Jesus wants us to remain strong in faith regardless of if the answer is yes or no to what we ask. As Jimmy V. says, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" – Luke 18:6-8
If an unjust and uncaring judge can come around, won’t the God of the universe? It doesn’t feel like it today, but I know that God is out there and He cares about me. He has provided before, so He will again. Right now my own faith is lacking in this area, but I pray that I have the strength today to look beyond myself and see something greater in what God is doing right now. After all, I have all the time I need today.
In that, the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector makes even more sense. I feel like lately I have been the Pharisee, focused only on myself when I pray. I have tried to branch out, but I keep coming back to what I need. Jesus has spoken of tax collectors before. They were the most despised members of society, yet we consistently see them making better decision than the supposed religious elite. It is this attitude of supplication and humility that we must take before God. Right now, I feel like I am nothing. It is God’s choice what he does next with me.
And there is hope in the parable of the persistent widow. This is a woman that never gave up in the face of even more daunting circumstances. She fought alone as I do. She sought an answer that looked like it would never come just as I do. In this, Jesus wants us to remain strong in faith regardless of if the answer is yes or no to what we ask. As Jimmy V. says, “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up.”
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" – Luke 18:6-8
If an unjust and uncaring judge can come around, won’t the God of the universe? It doesn’t feel like it today, but I know that God is out there and He cares about me. He has provided before, so He will again. Right now my own faith is lacking in this area, but I pray that I have the strength today to look beyond myself and see something greater in what God is doing right now. After all, I have all the time I need today.
In that, the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector makes even more sense. I feel like lately I have been the Pharisee, focused only on myself when I pray. I have tried to branch out, but I keep coming back to what I need. Jesus has spoken of tax collectors before. They were the most despised members of society, yet we consistently see them making better decision than the supposed religious elite. It is this attitude of supplication and humility that we must take before God. Right now, I feel like I am nothing. It is God’s choice what he does next with me.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Luke, chapter 17
Chapter 17 of Luke offers us a picture of forgiveness. The main point of this chapter relates to sin, faith and our duty to God through each. There are days where it feels like our Christian walk needs a lot of faith, but in reality only a small amount is needed. Jesus asks us in this passage to view our faith as a seed. When you plant a seed it grows into something larger. Instead of asking for more faith it may be better for us to ask God to work with the little faith we are given.
Forgiveness is another aspect of Jesus’ message here. Much tot eh dismay of the Pharisees, Jesus taught that there was nothing beyond His ability to forgive. He leaves us with this message in verses three and four.
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." – Luke 17:3-4
These standards are not overly high because they are the same standards Jesus Himself has for us. He merely asks us to follow these same standards. The disciples here did not believe they could live up to those standards, thus the lesson on growing what little faith we have.
This chapter ends with a message about the coming kingdom of God. I admit there are days that I long for this kingdom because I cannot tolerate the ways of this world. Lately I have been thinking about how I just don’t seem to fit in anywhere. In that case, I certainly don’t long for this place. The primary message here is that we must always be ready for the coming of the kingdom. As children of this kingdom, naturally we are not going to fit in or be comfortable in this place of loss and sin. It is through God’s grace and mercy that we are freed.
Forgiveness is another aspect of Jesus’ message here. Much tot eh dismay of the Pharisees, Jesus taught that there was nothing beyond His ability to forgive. He leaves us with this message in verses three and four.
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." – Luke 17:3-4
These standards are not overly high because they are the same standards Jesus Himself has for us. He merely asks us to follow these same standards. The disciples here did not believe they could live up to those standards, thus the lesson on growing what little faith we have.
This chapter ends with a message about the coming kingdom of God. I admit there are days that I long for this kingdom because I cannot tolerate the ways of this world. Lately I have been thinking about how I just don’t seem to fit in anywhere. In that case, I certainly don’t long for this place. The primary message here is that we must always be ready for the coming of the kingdom. As children of this kingdom, naturally we are not going to fit in or be comfortable in this place of loss and sin. It is through God’s grace and mercy that we are freed.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Luke, chapter 16
I wanted tot hank Micah for last week’s impromptu discussion. It really made me look at the question of mercy and worthiness at a different angle. I thought about it quite a bit the past few days while I was out of town. In his final comment, Micah had a good point in that all things are created for the Son rather than for us. We are still loved by God, but that love is clarified through the works of the Son.
We see an example of that as we continue with Luke 16. In it, we are reminded of our spiritual responsibility with what God gives us. In the parable of the shrewd manager Jesus reminds us that even when we are given a small amount we must still be responsible and manage it will. If we cannot manage even these small responsibilities we will never be trusted with larger ones.
10"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? – Luke 16:10-12
This is important because we each have our own responsibilities in God’s kingdom. Some are given to teach. Others are given to serve. Still others are given to evangelize. It doesn’t what our responsibilities are, however. It is more important that we strive to discover what they are and fulfill those responsibilities. If we don’t we are not serving our sacred duty.
We see an example of that as we continue with Luke 16. In it, we are reminded of our spiritual responsibility with what God gives us. In the parable of the shrewd manager Jesus reminds us that even when we are given a small amount we must still be responsible and manage it will. If we cannot manage even these small responsibilities we will never be trusted with larger ones.
10"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? – Luke 16:10-12
This is important because we each have our own responsibilities in God’s kingdom. Some are given to teach. Others are given to serve. Still others are given to evangelize. It doesn’t what our responsibilities are, however. It is more important that we strive to discover what they are and fulfill those responsibilities. If we don’t we are not serving our sacred duty.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Micah's response
Sorry for not posting yesterday. I had a death in the family so I had to scramble and make travel arrangements all morning to South Carolina for us. I wanted to step away from the book of Luke briefly today in order to respond to Micah’s comment on the last entry. Micah commented that part of the beauty in God’s plan is that we aren’t deserving of God’s mercy, yet it is still freely offered. I think that’s a bit of a catch-22 and along the lines of the question, “Can Jesus microwave Himself a burrito so hot he Himself cannot eat it?”
On the one hand, we must be worthy on some level if it is offered. There was something that God saw in humanity eons ago that said we were at least worthy of the chance at being saved. Yes, we inherently screw things up and fall short of the grace of God just because we are human, yet we still have that chance. It is a choice we make of our own free will to see our fallen we are and search for that forgiveness.
That gets to the other side of the coin. We aren’t worthy, but God still makes His mercy available to us. Here is the dictionary definition of mercy:
Mercy - compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.
We are people in God’s power. There is absolutely nothing we can do to escape it. Despite this, he does show us mercy. My view of God is not Jonathan Edwards’ Puritan view of Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God where we are merely toys that God plays with. We have a choice through our own free will to accept this mercy God gives us despite what we have done. We don’t deserve it, but we are worthy simply because the gift is offered.
And it is offered freely. Mother Theresa was one of the most gentile people that ever lived. She was still a sinner and needed to accept God’s forgiveness. On the other side. Jeffrey Dahmer brutally murdered at least 17 people, yet before he was killed in a prison fight he had reportedly become a born again Christian. If that is proof that there is nothing beyond God to forgive I don’t know what is. That is one of the biggest examples of mercy in the case that it wasn’t deserved, but it was still offered. On some level God still found that man worthy and gave him the choice of His mercy.
On the one hand, we must be worthy on some level if it is offered. There was something that God saw in humanity eons ago that said we were at least worthy of the chance at being saved. Yes, we inherently screw things up and fall short of the grace of God just because we are human, yet we still have that chance. It is a choice we make of our own free will to see our fallen we are and search for that forgiveness.
That gets to the other side of the coin. We aren’t worthy, but God still makes His mercy available to us. Here is the dictionary definition of mercy:
Mercy - compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence: Have mercy on the poor sinner.
We are people in God’s power. There is absolutely nothing we can do to escape it. Despite this, he does show us mercy. My view of God is not Jonathan Edwards’ Puritan view of Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God where we are merely toys that God plays with. We have a choice through our own free will to accept this mercy God gives us despite what we have done. We don’t deserve it, but we are worthy simply because the gift is offered.
And it is offered freely. Mother Theresa was one of the most gentile people that ever lived. She was still a sinner and needed to accept God’s forgiveness. On the other side. Jeffrey Dahmer brutally murdered at least 17 people, yet before he was killed in a prison fight he had reportedly become a born again Christian. If that is proof that there is nothing beyond God to forgive I don’t know what is. That is one of the biggest examples of mercy in the case that it wasn’t deserved, but it was still offered. On some level God still found that man worthy and gave him the choice of His mercy.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Luke, Chapter 15
What does it mean to be lost? We were all lost at some time. That is why I like Luke 15. This chapter perfectly illustrates God’s love for us through a series of three parables taught by Jesus. This is not even lost in the sense that I have felt for some time. I know I am lost and directionless at the moment, but ultimately I have already been found. I have sought to have Jesus in control in my life, so I can never be truly lost again.
Luke 15 has the parable of the lost coin, the parable of the lost sheep, and the parable of the lost son. In the first two we see how zealously God seeks us when we are lost. Those are items that cannot find their way back on their own. Like God does with us, however, there is rejoicing when those items are found.
7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. – Luke 15:7
When I started this blog I didn’t have delusions that it would change the world. I have long said that my main prayer for this is that just one person reads it and is influenced to give their lives to God. That would give my life purpose if that were to happen. In my personal Bible that verse is underlined simply for its beauty. God certainly has trillions of other things to do in running the universe, yet He cares about each one of us individually to rejoice when we find him.
Ultimately, finding him is the focus of the third parable in this chapter. As humans, we have the choice in whether we will return to the Father or not. In this parable, the actions of the older son represent those who do not see God’s plan. They are the ones that think they deserve something because of their own perceived righteousness. They think others don’t deserve God’s divine mercy. We are worthy though. I cannot stress that enough.
Luke 15 has the parable of the lost coin, the parable of the lost sheep, and the parable of the lost son. In the first two we see how zealously God seeks us when we are lost. Those are items that cannot find their way back on their own. Like God does with us, however, there is rejoicing when those items are found.
7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. – Luke 15:7
When I started this blog I didn’t have delusions that it would change the world. I have long said that my main prayer for this is that just one person reads it and is influenced to give their lives to God. That would give my life purpose if that were to happen. In my personal Bible that verse is underlined simply for its beauty. God certainly has trillions of other things to do in running the universe, yet He cares about each one of us individually to rejoice when we find him.
Ultimately, finding him is the focus of the third parable in this chapter. As humans, we have the choice in whether we will return to the Father or not. In this parable, the actions of the older son represent those who do not see God’s plan. They are the ones that think they deserve something because of their own perceived righteousness. They think others don’t deserve God’s divine mercy. We are worthy though. I cannot stress that enough.
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