Love Without Strings

One thing I find remarkable about God is the freedom of choice He grants to all people He has created.  Some wonder if God is loving because of what He allows, but it is precisely by allowing He shows His love and grace.  In this world overwhelmed with sin, hypocrisy, and hopelessness, it is the stark contrast of God's goodness which leads us to Him.

Remember the parable of the prodigal son?  The son demanded his inheritance of his father, and his father complied without complaint.  His father could have decided to "do what is best" for his son by denying his request, but in his generosity - knowing beforehand the poor decisions he would make with "his" money - the father gave the money and all rights to it to the son he loved.  That is a picture of what God has done in giving us life.  He gives life to people who will wrongly use it to hurt others and ruin themselves, but He freely gives life anyway.  It might be, like the prodigal son, when we are at our lowest point we will come to our senses and seek Him out.

God does not force those He loves to do His will, though they be His own children.  After the prophet Samuel's sons demonstrated they were not leadership material, the children of Israel demanded Samuel give them a king to rule over them.  Samuel was rightly upset by this request, for they were glad to substitute to have a man to rule them instead of God.  They wanted to be like all the other nations when God had made a covenant with them, delivered, provided, established, and fought for them.  After Samuel prayed to God, 1 Samuel 8:7 says, "And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them."  This is said by a God who has all power in heaven and in earth, who can annihilate His enemies in a moment, the One who discerns the hearts of men and could strike dead all who oppose Him.

People are chronically insecure.  We can feel uneasy because someone does not share our opinion or does something we do not condone.  God did not condone the request of His people, but He told Samuel to listen to everything they said - the same way God listened to everything His people had said.  He told Samuel to first warn the people of the consequences of this foolish decision, but if they did not heed He would grant them their request.  Do you have such confidence in God to refuse to force or manipulate others to do what you want?  God's love does not force others to do anything in return, and keeps loving when others pay it no mind.  How secure is God in His love and grace towards others!  As a husband, parent and friend it is a massive challenge to trust God and love as He does no matter what, to listen to others even when God's Word is not heeded.

After Samuel warned the people of the negative consequences of their choice to have a king 1 Samuel 8:19-22 says, "Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us, ²⁰ that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles." ²¹ And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. ²² So the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed their voice, and make them a king." And Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Every man go to his city."  I am in awe that the God who has all power would submit to the poor choice of His people.  Couldn't God cite His love for His people to refuse such a request?  Men would, but not God.  I praise God for such love, for who can know it?  Our responsibility before God is to love others as He loves us, and let us not use love as an excuse to control. 

Labour Day Every Day

"My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."

- Jesus Christ, quoted from John 5:17

It is Labour Day in New South Wales, a welcome day of respite from labours.  That is not to say it isn't a good day for working - like washing the cars and vacuuming them.  Labour is work, and would you agree "work" has largely a negative connotation?  We say things like, "I had to work on the weekend" or say a decision created "extra work."  If we can manage with less work, most people are happy with the concept.

God has been working until now, Jesus was working, and it is fair to say a follower of Jesus should work too - and be happy and grateful for it.  After God created Adam, He put him to work keeping and tending the Garden of Eden.  It wasn't because God chose to delegate work He couldn't handle, but because work is something God does and loves to do.  No one made God work, but God has been working until now.  Kings can do as much or as little "work" as they want, and God had no problem creating work for Himself because it isn't hard for Him.  The work He starts He finishes.

Even at a young age, Jesus realised He had been given tasks by His heavenly Father.  After Jesus was found by Joseph and Mary in the Temple, Luke 2:49 records the works of Christ:  "And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"  These are the words of a young teenager who knew something many people never learn:  God is working until now, and we ought to joyfully work too.  There's nothing wrong with having a rest or a holiday, but work shouldn't be a four-letter word.  If "work" isn't something which pleases you, remember how God is working all the time.  As He works in us, when we cooperate He can also work through us.

Jesus, Our Cornerstone

C.H. Spurgeon wisely said concerning sceptics who prefer to remain sceptical, "Our business is not to supply men with arguments by informing them of difficulties...Unbelievers only 'glean their blunted shafts, and shoot them at the shield of truth again.' Our object is not to conquer them in logical encounters, but to save their souls." (Spurgeon, C. H. Lectures to my Students. Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan Publishing House, 1989. pg. 270)  Today I read a passage in 1 Samuel which illustrates this tendency to hold onto faulty ideas and idols well.

The Philistines had captured the ark of God in battle and placed it in the temple of their god, Dagon.  1 Samuel 5:3 says, "And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again."  During the night, the idol Dagon fell before the ark of God.  Instead of ditching their god which had eyes but could not see, they propped up the image again.  It was a strange thing Dagon had fallen, but the image would surely be secure due to their efforts.

The story then gets better.  1 Samuel 5:4 reads, "And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it."  I wonder if the Philistines were surprised when they found Dagon smashed to bits when they entered the temple in the morning!  The KJV says only the stump of Dagon remained intact.  What a strange thing, that Dagon would again fall prostrate before the ark of the God of Israel!

1 Samuel 5:5 shows the sad folly of unbelief in God and His mighty power:  "Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day."  Instead of reverencing the God of Israel before whom their idol fell, they chose to honour the place where their idol fell and rid themselves of the ark of God.  Why didn't they reject their idol instead of God?  Our natural tendency is to be loyal to a fault, even to faulty ideas not supported in scripture.  Our faith in Christ and His Word is a most reasonable one, and though we do not know all things in knowing God we have His great wisdom at our disposal.

Instead of trusting in ideas or things of this world which ultimately will fall and fail, let us choose to place our faith on Jesus Christ, the Chief Cornerstone.  Jesus has proved His power over sin and death.  Not one who builds on this foundation will not be put to shame!  Jesus affirms in Luke 20:18, "Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Pierced With Sorrows

In the book Where the Red Fern Grows, Billy caught his first raccoon by using a method his grandpa taught him.  He drilled holes in logs, drove nails pointing inward, and placed shiny objects in the holes.  A curious raccoon would be able to slide his paw in and grab the objects, but the shape of his fist prevented him from removing it.  I have read monkeys can be caught in a similar way.  Once the raccoon grabs on to the object he wants, he won't let go - even if it kills him.  If animals could think things through like a person, maybe they would let go.  But taking into considering the decisions people make, however, maybe they wouldn't.

We fancy ourselves intelligent, but we can be foolish as senseless beasts.  We bring all sorts of mischief upon ourselves because we forget to heed God's wisdom.  We can resemble the pitiful raccoon whose greed is the source of those sharp nails digging into his paw.  After informing Timothy godliness with contentment is great gain, Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:8-10:  "And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."  The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and greed for gain pierces men through with many sorrows.  The moment we stray from faith in God and His Word we are in serious trouble, ensnared by our own lusts.

I wonder:  how many of our sorrows are self-inflicted? How many of our wounds we blame on others or circumstances we are solely responsible for?  If the raccoon did not desire the food or shiny bits in the trap, he would remain free.  It is his lust which wounds him; it is his stubborn desire which slays him.  When we refuse to let go of sins and lusts which wound the soul we deliberately head towards ruin.  We must completely release the object of our desire before we can be freed.  God desires that we willingly and obediently surrender the desire to be rich, trusting in His provision for our lives.  Having great wealth is no sin, but coveting riches is a snare which has destroyed many.  May our hearts be purified before God and our hands open and clean, praising God for His goodness and abundant provision.