Immune to Cynicism

All people have experiences which tempt us to be cynical towards others.  This word has been described as, "believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity."  People poisoned with cynicism are often jaded and bitter due to painful experiences associated with people they once trusted.  They have been hurt by people in the past, and therefore all people are under suspicion.  If we believe people are naturally good, their inability to achieve this standard will lead to disillusionment and the distrust of all.  Those who hold a biblical worldview, however, understand men are naturally self-serving and self-focused.  Even with this fundamental belief in place, the temptation to be cynical will arise.

Because church ministry involves people, this temptation is very real for all who serve in ministry.  It hurts when people are not entirely honest with you.  It hurts when you have been sincere in your concern and care for someone yet time reveals they had a self-serving interest.  It stings when fellowship is cut off because you have not met unrealistic expectations of others:  I have been too young, not enough like a famous and revered preacher, and didn't put enough emphasis on particular teachings.  After investing in the lives of others at great personal expense only to be trampled or cast aside, people can refuse to make provision for genuine friendship due to cynicism.  Psalm 116:10-11 records the words of the Psalmist, "I believed, therefore I spoke, "I am greatly afflicted." ¹¹ I said in my haste, "All men are liars."  In his affliction and pain the Psalmist was hasty in his negative view of others.  We have all been lied to, but that doesn't mean there isn't a man who speaks the truth.

For young pastors out there, I have a few words of advice:  instead of committing your heart to men, ensure your heart remains fully committed to God.  Our lives are steeped with discipling and training up people to follow Jesus Christ.  We see people through the limitless potential provided through transformation through faith in Jesus.  We start fantasising how God might use this person to do great works for the kingdom of God - and how they might slot into ministry.  As Paul advised, resist the urge to lay hands upon a man too quickly, without a clear assessment of character over time.  Though workers may be few, we are best served seeking the LORD in prayer, interceding on their behalf.  I have come to the conclusion my vision is poor and my dreams are pathetic in comparison to what God is able to accomplish.  Immigrating to Australia and being a pastor never entered into my mind, but God has been amazing and faithful continually.

Here is another thing I have learned:  a healthy church is more than just teaching.  Leaders are called to lead, and unless we have personal contact with people we are just talking.  God brings all sorts of people together with different backgrounds, beliefs, and doctrinal emphasis.  We must be willing to humbly work together united by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His love.  Instead of feeling threatened by differences, we can rejoice in our God who has sovereignly brought us together.  We all have areas in our lives of strengths and weaknesses, our passions and blind spots, with gifts and talents given by the Holy Spirit for us to edify each other in the Church.  As we submit to Christ and one another in love, we can be effective in following Jesus and encouraging others to do likewise.  Iron sharpening iron cannot occur without a degree of friction.  Whether we walk in love or the flesh dictates if we are either being sharpened or blunted.

It's always exciting when visitors come to a small church.  It helps us to be loving and hospitable (not cynical!) when we realise people come to our church for a reason, even as people usually leave a church for a reason.  It may be tempting to try to accommodate requests or demands of new people so they might stay, but you will never be able to sustain this effort.  People have left our church because there weren't enough children the same age as theirs.  Guess what?  They went to another church where there were more children the same age.  I am glad God has placed diverse groups of people who gather in Christ's names so needs can be met.  In a church there may be a million and one reasons people choose to go there, but the more people who are primarily in fellowship because of unity through the Gospel, the better we will minister to the LORD and one another.  So if more people start coming to your church, pastor, don't imagine it has anything to do with you.  Praise the LORD it isn't about me or anyone else other than Jesus Christ.

Jesus never was cynical because He did not commit His heart to men.  I believe Jesus was a great friend, and there was nothing standoffish about Him.  He loved completely without being dependant on others for approval or to feel better about Himself.  He didn't commit to men, for He was already committed to doing the will of the Father.  He lived to please God; He did not seek to please or impress men, for He knew what was in men (John 2:24-25).  He knew many people really only cared to be healed, fed, and be amazed by miracles.  They were into following Jesus around for themselves - not for Jesus.  Nothing about men has changed.  We become cynical when we are looking for reciprocation from men and our expectations are unmet.  Jesus was the servant of all and immune to cynicism because His eyes were fixed on the Father, and He truly loved people without demanding for Himself.  We can only be "taken advantage of" when we feel were are not receiving our just due.  May the LORD purge all His followers of cynicism which easily weighs us down and keeps us from fostering relationships He has graciously provided.

Trials are No Accident

This morning I read an article written in 1868 which holds forth a simple truth:  all who labour for the cause of Christ will have hard times.  We will experience opposition and setbacks while we are doing God's will.  It is a commonly held misconception among Christians that when we do something for God, He should make it easier.  Yet God does not remove from us the very trials which perseverance proves our faith to be genuine to us and a lost world.  Trials are opportunities for our growth and for deeper trust and reliance upon God moving forward.

C.H. Spurgeon had no shortage of difficulties in his ministry which was greatly blessed by God.  When there is opportunity we can certainly expect adversity.  Spurgeon was deeply troubled by an incident at the Surrey Music Hall where he was slated to speak and many people died in a panic.  Nature itself may seem to labour to hinder us by inclement weather.  He experienced loss when a strong wind knocked down a building being constructed at Stockwell Orphanage.  From the scripture Spurgeon cited the incident where a young man had a borrowed iron axe head fly off the handle and into the water as a case where a man can do a good thing with a right motive and suffer loss (2 Kings 6:1-7).  The prophet Elisha miraculously recovered the iron by making it float, and we can be encouraged by this illustration of divine aid in times of loss.  Here is an excerpt from the article titled, "Accidents In the Lord's Work:"

"God would have us serve him under trials and difficulties; to screen us from them would be to make babies of us, and not to develop the manly qualities of patience, courage, and perseverance.  In this world and under its ordinary laws the Great Master would have us labour, not under a glass case of miracles and wonders, but under the cloudy skies which look down upon a fallen world:  he trains us to work not as a race of amateurs protected from all the dust and sweat of ordinary life, and laid up in lavender by supernatural exemptions from hardships, but as real workmen, to whom things are as they are, who find trees hard to fell, and the heads of whose axes fly off unless they are well fastened on to their handles.  Of course, if trust in providence be a guarantee against flood, wind, fire, and hail, it is clear that all who meet with such calamities are great sinners, and their works obnoxious to the Ruler of all things, but this can hardly be true, when we frequently see those called to suffer who are the very cream of the church of Christ.  Paul was engaged upon no ill errand when he suffered shipwreck; his soul was fired with the noblest ambition of which sanctified humanity is capable, and yet the vessel was dashed to pieces.  The fact is, that the same events may be curses to some and blessing to others, and thus a judgment which overwhelms the ungodly may be a gracious visitation to the saint.  Our business is to learn the lessons which adversities are meant to teach us, and they are not difficult to discover." (Spurgeon, C.H. (1975). C.H. Spurgeon's works as published in his monthly magazine The Sword and the Trowel, Volume 2. 1st ed. Pasadena, Tex.: Pilgrim Publications, pp.30-31.)

Rich with Nothing or Poor with Everything

"There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches."

Proverbs 13:7

Social media is strewn with people displaying luxurious cars, watches, and jewellery.  There is enviable status attached to celebrity, money, and branding.  People seem to love showing off their homes, bodies, collections, and exotic holiday locations as they "live the good life."  The old adage goes, "Money can't buy happiness," yet the pictures and captions labour to paint a different picture.  It's a fair question:  if we are not happy with what we have now, what's to say we will be happy with more? We can only eat so much at once, but our appetites for more are insatiable.  Isn't the good life more than the pursuit of happiness?

King Solomon penned the Proverbs, and this powerful, wise, and famous man knew what he was talking about.  1 Kings 10:14 tells us how much gold Solomon received annually:  "The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold..."  A talent is about 34 kilograms, so that adds to 799,200 ounces which (at $1600 per ounce) is worth about 1.28 billion dollars today!  During the reign of Solomon, silver in Jerusalem was as common as stones (1 Kings 10:27).  Solomon bought imported wood, peacocks, apes, horses, and led expansive building projects.  His throne was made of ivory - covered in gold.  Let's just say there weren't enough Rolex watches or Ferraris for this guy.  He had his pick of women from all over the world and partied hard.  In the end Solomon came to the conclusion money, fame, sex, wine, and stuff leaves us empty.  A rich person ends up having the same as the poorest servant in the end:  nothing.  Naked we are born, and naked we die.  Someday that cold, dead person on the gurney is going to be you, and it will be me.  On that day none of us can hide our nakedness behind designer clothes, cars, makeup, or jewelry.

The Bible teaches there are riches which transcend retail value.  Jesus urged His disciples in Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  If our treasures are on earth, we will end up losing them.  Yet if we labour to lay up treasures in heaven by investing our time, resources, and money for the advancement of God's kingdom, we will enjoy these rewards forever.  I know people who could be much more wealthy monetarily than they are because they choose to work for free.  They have rejected roles which pay more so they can volunteer more to serve God and others.  They have quietly given to people in need without fanfare.  These people are not flaunting their wealth or bodies on Instagram, but are quietly storing up treasures in heaven God is reserving for His glory no one can steal.  People pay thousands to go to a concert with backstage access:  can you put a price on being in the presence of God?

Those who have a heavenly legacy with God are the ones who live the "good life" on earth and in heaven for eternity, for Jesus Christ is the source of life.  If we seek security and status in this world, we will find it hopelessly lacking.  It can never deliver what we hoped it would.  A rich man on earth can have great riches in heaven, and the poorest of men can invest his life for eternal good.  Jesus is a prime example of one of wealth and privilege (being the Creator of all things!) and made Himself poor for our sakes, so by His sacrifice we could be redeemed by Him for eternity.  Born-again followers of Jesus are His inheritance, and God is ours.  Thanks be to God for His gracious gift of life.  Isn't He amazing?

The Pierced God

"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."

Zechariah 12:10

When Jesus preached and performed miracles, people wondered in amazement:  "Is this the Son of David?"  He was of David's line and was born in Bethlehem, but this question is concerning His identity as the Messiah, the Anointed One sent by God to be a Saviour and Deliverer.  After Jesus claimed to be sent by the Father John 7:31 reads, "And many of the people believed in Him, and said, "When the Christ comes, will He do more signs than these which this Man has done?"  It would be the death and resurrection of Christ which was the ultimate sign He is indeed the Christ, the Son of God.

Last night I read through Zechariah 12, and God spoke through the prophet of what He would accomplish.  Over and over in the passage God says, "I will."  He said, "I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication."  Then there is a shocking shift through a pronoun change:  God goes from saying "I will" to "they will look on Me whom they pierced."  And then again:  "Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."  God identifies the pierced Messiah as "Me," but also referred to this Saviour as "Him."  In this passage we see strong evidence of the Triune God:  one God revealed in three Persons:  the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Another great passage to illustrate this truth is seen in Paul's exhortation to church leaders in Acts 20:28:  "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."  Jesus affirmed in John 4:24 that God the Father is a Spirit, yet the Acts passage states God purchased the church with His own blood.  The only way God could have blood to shed is if He became flesh and dwelt among us, and Jesus Christ shed His blood on Calvary for the sins of the world.  Isn't God amazing, whose ways are past finding out?

Let us look again upon the One who was pierced, whose blood has atoned and purchased us to be children of God.  He exchanges ashes for beauty, sorrow for gladness, and grief for unspeakable joy.  With transformed hearts and renewed minds, give God the glory for His goodness towards us as it is written in Romans 5:8:  "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."