A Cheerful Giver

On every piece of United States currency is written, "In God We Trust."  Jesus said no man can serve two masters:  we cannot serve God and wealth.  Until we recognise God and all that comes from His gracious hand as the true riches, then we will struggle to surrender the use of our finances to Him.  This is one reason why regular financial giving unto the LORD is a valuable spiritual discipline.  It affirms God's provision, prompts obedience to the LORD to give, and fills us with gratitude to be able to support His work in a practical way.

The use of our money is a touchy subject for many because it is ours.  We have worked to earn it, are careful to manage, save it and spend it according to our needs and desires.  A sense of entitlement often is connected with what is ours, and money is no exception.  Exchanging money for food, goods and services is common, and if there is not a set price our aim is usually to negotiate for the best deal--meaning we part with the least amount of money to obtain what we want!  We steer away from vendors that overcharge customers or utilise manipulative sales tactics.  Over the years preachers on television programs and churches have used emotional appeals to encourage giving.  People can be moved to give out of guilt or a feeling of obligation rather than joyously giving out of obedience to God.

Rather than telling New Testament believers a set percentage they must give, Paul laid down important principles we do well to keep in mind.   Under Law the Levites were supported by the tithes, sacrifices and free-will offerings to the LORD.  Because of their duties in the tabernacle or temple they were unable to herd cattle or plant crops, and God provided for their needs through the gifts of the congregation.  To a largely Gentile audience who had not been raised observing the Law of Moses, Paul used those scriptures to affirm it is right and legitimate for leaders in the church to be financially compensated for their labour in the word.  He wrote in 1 Timothy 5:17-18:  "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labour in the word and doctrine. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."  In 1 Corinthians 9:11 he also said, "If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?"  If we have freely received the word of God from a church or ministry, it is natural to direct our giving there.

Paul also talked about when to give, that it ought to be a regular practice.  As he went through Gentile churches they gathered a collection for the believers in Jerusalem.  He said in 1 Corinthians 16:1-3:  "Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: ² On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. ³ And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem."  The people were directed on a weekly basis to lay aside an amount proportional to their earnings.  The idea is those who made more could afford to give more than one who was barely scraping by.  A tithe was not demanded, nor should 10 percent be a limit.  They weren't to give with the aim to get, but it was in response to God's provision for them to set aside some to benefit others, giving unto the LORD.

The apostle also explained how they were to give in 2 Corinthians 9:7-8:  "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."  God does not love us more for giving, but He loves those who give gladly like He does.  Having received His grace, goodness and provision we give.  We join ourselves to a church not as consumers or customers, but family united in Christ.  Even as it was fitting to receive material things for sowing spiritual things, God is able to make all grace abound toward us that affects every aspect of life when we give.  It is amazing that we are richer for giving, for His grace grants all sufficiency in all things.  One way we show our gratitude for all we have received from God is by cheerful giving, at rest in His love.

The Sin of Cowardice

Numerous Western Movies include tense face-offs with cowboy hat wearing, cigar smoking men staring each other down, fingers tapping or hands hovering over a holstered revolver.  Sometimes the better gunman tries to goad the other into drawing his pistol by insulting him:  "You're a coward!"  Among these Hollywood depictions there seems a code of honour foreign to my experience, that even a cold blooded killer waits for his opponent to make the first move lest it not be a "fair fight."  To kill a man in cold blood before an audience that cowered behind curtains seemed more dishonourable than being "Wanted Dead or Alive" or hanged by a sheriff for murder.

In school I read about people in the U.S. Civil War era who were literally branded on their face for deserting or cowardice.  Whilst armies defined this as deserting in the face of an enemy, being called a coward today is more an insult than a dereliction of duty.  It may be surprising to know the Bible speaks of cowards objectively and condemns cowardice as a sin.  Cowardice is totally opposed to God's character as demonstrated by Jesus Who was courageous, compassionate and resolute in the face of adversity and torture.  The contrast between born again believers and those who die in their sins based on their relationship with God is seen in Revelation 21:7-8:  "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."  A person guilty of cowardice is one governed by fear for himself rather than the fear of God.  The cowardly is one who lacks courage, is timid and fearful.  In this motley assortment of sins common to all men, surprisingly cowardice is the first mention.

Cowardice and unbelief are sins in this grouping that always lead to additional sin.  I wonder how many times it was cowardice that prompted someone to lie in the hopes of avoiding trouble.  Now I have heard many sins warned against, but cowardice has never been one of them.  It is always good to put a face to our sin, to recognise its ugly mug and call it by name.  Rather than railing against sin as any hypocrite can do, we ought to repent of it.  A person who is born again by faith in Jesus continues to live in flesh that tends toward sin, and thus we must be sober and vigilant to not allow fear and timidity to rule our lives instead of obedience to Jesus.  Since my cowardliness once condemned me to the eternal flames of hell like unbelief, hatred (akin to murder), sexual immorality, idolatry and lies, I am to confess and repent of it.  True repentance compels me to walk by faith to serve Jesus and fear Him--rather than fear over what man thinks or can do to me.

Looking to Jesus provides an example of humility, boldness and courage that ought to continually inspire and guide us.  Rather than seeking to disgrace or condemn us for our cowardice, God would have us confess our idolatry of feelings that permits fear to rule us.  Cowardice is a sin Jesus has conquered, and thus there is hope for us in Him for all infected and afflicted by it.  We need not be ruled by it any more.  May God's words to Joshua echo in our hearts concerning our divine duties in Joshua 1:9:  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  By faith in God we can be courageous like Jesus who will never leave or forsake us.

Noise and God's Voice

Today I had a little project of re-routing air conditioning ducts at church.  Over the years rooms have shifted around and the hope is consolidating some branch lines will provide more even temperatures throughout the building.  As I worked, I was listening to a baseball game on my phone I carried around in my pocket.  I grew up using a trusty transistor radio to catch the games during baseball season so it feels quite natural.

After I was done moving ceiling tiles around, I vacuumed the carpets.  While it was very easy to hear the phone speaker in a quiet office building, the noise of the vacuum deafened the audio completely.  If you had told me, I wouldn't have believed the app on the phone was still working.  But the second the vacuum was switched off, the voices could be clearly heard again.  It struck me how this was a good illustration of how the world is full of noise--whether it be voices from a phone or the mechanical drone of a vacuum.  We can be so accustomed to needing some sort of visual or audio input we can neglect our need to seek the LORD in silence to hear His still, small voice.

When we are awake in this modern day our focus can be on beat of the pumping music, engaging with sermons and podcasts, listening to the news, scrolling socials or locked into a video game.  All this constant input reveals our need to intentionally set time aside to seek the LORD.  God's grace was ironically shown that despite the noise of the loud vacuum that drowned out the baseball commentators and advertisements, God was able to cut through it all like nothing and speak to me.  God is able to bypass the ears and go straight to the heart.  There are people who have become used to needing music to sleep or have a noise machine to help them drift off.  With all the noise in our lives, insomnia may be our needed break from the hubbub when God has us as a captive audience.

Today God reminded me of my need to seek and listen to Him intentionally throughout the day, even as we turn on an app to listen to a game or go to the maintenance closet for a vacuum.  The God who created the tongue and communication through language speaks to us.  If it has been a while since you have heard from the LORD it is not His lack of speaking but our hardness of hearing.  Make some of your time quiet time with the intention of drawing near to God, praying, reading His word and thinking about what He has said and is saying.  Jesus said in John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."  As we follow Christ, we ought to follow His example of praying, listening and obeying.

Healing for Bitterness

People of genuine faith in God are not immune from the blight of bitterness.  After Naomi returned to her inheritance in Bethlehem, she said to townsfolk who barely recognised her in Ruth 1:20-21:  "But she said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. ²¹ I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?"  Naomi returned from Moab embittered against God, and her demeanor was the opposite of her name which meant, "lovely, delightful, pleasant and friendly."  Blaming her afflictions for her bitterness, she spewed it on anyone near her.  She suggested a more suitable name be Mara, which means "bitter."

Naomi's name suggestion was a historical reference that went back to the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt.  While Mara seemed a fitting name for her bitter attitude, unwittingly this meant there was hope for her.  After God brought the children of Israel safely through the Red Sea, they looked for water and found none.  When they finally found water they were dismayed when it was found to be bitter and undrinkable.  That is how the waters of Marah were given their name.  But they did not remain that way, for God miraculously healed the waters so the people and their beasts could drink and their lives be sustained.  It took a miracle to heal the waters of Marah, and would take an act of God to change Naomi and us as well.

Exodus 15:23-26 says what happened:  "Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. ²⁴ And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" ²⁵ So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, ²⁶ and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you."  When Moses cried out to God in prayer, the LORD directed Moses to cast a tree into the water and they were made sweet.  God made them a promise He would heal those who trusted and obeyed Him even as the bitter water was made drinkable and delicious.

Trials, affliction, loss and sorrow can embitter us, but God is faithful to heal us.  When Jesus was crucified on Calvary, a way of salvation was provided by faith in Him that fills believers with the Holy Spirit, the Living Water Jesus promised to provide.  Having been born again, we are empowered to follow Jesus and walk in obedience to Him--our Good Shepherd Who leads us beside still waters.  No matter what happens to us, we ought not justify remaining bitter.  Naomi returned to Bethlehem empty, but we are filled with the presence of the Living God born in Bethlehem.  True to His word, the end of the book of Ruth does not end with Naomi bitter over her loss but celebrated a grandson Obed through whom king David and later the Messiah Jesus Christ would come.  How great is God's grace to heal us of our bitterness.