Keep On Moving

I was part of a generation that embraced going to university at a level that seemed unprecedented.  Part of the drive was to "work smarter, not harder," to work with our brains rather than with our hands.  The chances of embarking on a more lucrative career seemed more certain by earning a bachelor's degree, and tertiary education in university seems more widespread, expected and even required than ever before.  While there are benefits to earning degrees that prepare people for vocations and industries, having a degree is no guarantee of being industrious or having a strong work ethic.  Character and integrity are not donned as easily as a cap and gown.

In the book of Ruth, the readers can observe a young widow of godly character with an inspirational drive to work.  From morning until evening, she gleaned barley in the field of Boaz to provide food for her mother-in-law Naomi and herself.  In the Law of Moses, God bestowed dignity on the stranger, poor, widow and fatherless by granting them freedom to work and obtain food for themselves.  In our day when "hard work" seems to be two four-letter words that are more offensive to modern sensibilities than vulgar expletives, it is good for Christians to gladly embrace this dignified effort in every honest form.

Believe it or not, the ability to do profitable labour is a gift of God as Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:18-19:  "Here is what I have seen: it is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage. ¹⁹ As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God."  Work is not a consequence of sin entering the world, for Adam was tasked by God to tend the Garden of Eden before the fall.  To refuse to work is a rejection of our God-given heritage and calling, and by His grace we can be personally enriched by our exertions.  Paul viewed work as a matter of the will, for anyone who would not work could also forgo eating (2 Thess. 3:10).  To view retirement from paid employment as justification to cease from labour is out of step with the heritage God has given us, for God is faithful to open new avenues of labour for His sake.

In addition to Paul's example of working with his hands to support his Gospel efforts, he provided exhortations in Ephesians 6:5-9 for God-fearing employees and business owners alike:  "Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ⁶ not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. ⁹ And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him."  Our work is to be done knowing Jesus Christ is our Master who causes us and others to profit by our faithful labour.  Should a day come we cannot do physical or menial work as we did before, let us continue to be active in loving and serving others however we can.  The most general definition of work is to move, and may we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as He does His work in and through us by His grace.

God in Your Theology

I remember an anecdote shared by pastor Steve Mays in a sermon.  He explained how he was driving with pastor Chuck Smith and a memorable discussion they had.  At one point he lamented, "It's lonely at the top."  Steve said he felt like an idiot when Chuck responded with a gentle rebuke:  "I don't understand your theology."  Chuck's response helped alert Steve to the fact his feelings had become an echo chamber that ignored much of what Steve believed was true:  the call of every Christian and pastor is to serve, to take the lowest place as we follow the example of Jesus; and God is with us and will never leave or forsake us.  If we are feeling lonely, like there is no one to talk to or can understand what we are going through, it very well may be we have forgotten about God who is with us!

The exchange between Steve and Chuck as they drove along illustrates how the theology of Christians can become theoretical.  We say the Bible is God's word and every word of God is pure, yet we can forget to apply what we know be true to our current situation.  Our feelings can impact us so profoundly we can be blind to our own folly, and our thoughts, attitudes and decisions can resemble those of a lost soul--not one who is born again, indwelt, empowered and led by the Holy Spirit.  Situations feel impossible for us to navigate, so we operate on the assumption it must be hard for God as well.  Should our struggles continue for a long time, we imagine they will continue forever.  Like king Saul who observed the Philistine camp growing and his own troops deserting, we panic and think the best course of action is to take matters into our own hands.

The Pharisees were experts at devising hoops for people to jump through be more assured of God's favour by their tradition, and would you believe we can do the same thing with God?  We imagine there is an involved process required for God to intervene and help us in the midst of a trial, a complicated series of conditions which we must meet or precise wording we must utilise for God to be God.  This is what the lame man by the pool of Bethesda did.  He was among a throng of people who were blind, maimed and lame who waited for the stirring of the water by an angel, for they believed the first one who entered the water would be healed of any affliction.  John 5:6-7 says, "When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" ⁷ The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me."  See how this man had arbitrarily and unnecessarily made hoops for God to heal him!  He could not even answer the direct question of Jesus due to his own inability, lack and previous failures.

See what happened next in John 5:8-9:  "Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." ⁹ And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath."  Jesus did not need to wait until the water was stirred, and He did not need to hurriedly place the man in the pool at all.  Jesus simply said the word, and the man was completely healed and enabled to walk.  It seems the man had no place for Jesus Christ in His theology:  though Jesus the Son of God came right up to Him, he could only think about his inability to navigate the complicated process he devised himself.  How about you, Christian?  What place does Jesus Christ have in your theology?  Have you come up with a complicated obstacle course that lies between you and deliverance or salvation?  Or do you keep Jesus in His rightful place as your Redeemer, Saviour and Good Shepherd who will never leave or forsake you, the almighty God who does everything?

Danger of Abiding Anger

"Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools."

 Ecclesiastes 7:9

How grateful I am the almighty God is slow to anger!  His anger is not easily inflamed, nor does His rage burn continually.  Psalm 103:8-12 speaks of the character of God:  "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. ⁹ He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; ¹² As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."  God's righteous anger for sin is always justified, and His wrath and vengeance will be ultimately satisfied.

It is ironic the God who lives forever will not always be angry, yet anger is given residence in the hearts of fools for the duration of their lives which are soon over.  The Bible describes fools as those who do not believe God exists, that there is no Creator or Judge of the earth before whom they will appear on the day of judgment, the almighty who has the power and authority to cast souls into hell or save them for eternity.  Even God's people can be angry and vengeful, and thus many Bible passages warn of the dangers of remaining angry and being filled with wrath--regardless of the reason.  We observe the folly of Cain who was angry because Abel's offering was accepted and he was rejected by God, and he lashed out and killed his brother.

Anger rested in Cain's heart, and it did not remain hidden or contained there.  Pride and envy urged anger to violent action, and Cain felt justified to murder his brother.  Cain's sin had a devastating effect upon his family, brother and his own life--and it started with feelings of anger we have all experienced.  Ephesians 4:26-27 tells us Christians can be angry without sin, but remaining filled with wrath gives opportunity for Satan's wicked, lying influence:  "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil."  Paul concluded the chapter with a good exhortation for all followers of Jesus in Ephesians 4:31-32:  "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."

Since we Christians have the Holy Spirit indwelling them, we are divinely enabled to do as Paul has said.  Rather than justifying anger that fuels us to say evil and seek vengeance, the life of Jesus can be lived through us by being longsuffering, slow to anger and forgiving.  A desire to see justice done is from God, but when anger resides in our hearts we are no longer being led by the Holy Spirit.  Rather than justify harbouring anger in our hearts, we ought to enter the rest God provides all who are weary, hurting and needy by active reliance upon Jesus.  He is the Judge of all the earth, and as Abraham said, He will always do right.  Knowing vengeance is the LORD's, we need not allow anger, hatred or wrath to dwell in our hearts any longer.

A Timely Rebirth

It is normal to read a passage of scripture and have no idea what it means because it is God's word and is foreign to us.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, however, reading the Bible with understanding is far easier than sifting through tax forms, legal documents or medical publications.  The LORD is able to make His word go straight to our hearts and sheds light on life in ways we never previously considered.  I love and appreciate God's word is true, trustworthy and relevant.  Often God's word is a personal call to action, and He supplies instruction and correction that is always wise and practical.

Ecclesiastes 6:3-4 was part of my Bible reading this morning God shed light on for me:  "If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.  ⁴ For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness."  The contrast between the man with 100 children who lived a long life and a stillborn child was unexpected and shocking.  It is remarkable a child who never lived a day outside the womb could be better thought of and remembered than a father of many children, and it is indeed possible.  Man can achieve and acquire many possessions; he can sire children and build an empire.  But if his soul is not filled with good--if he is ungodly and no one cares to remember him--an unborn child has more going for him.  From Solomon's temporal, worldly perspective, what advantage did the man who lived a long life have over the unborn child when they both go to the grave?

This comparison provoked much thought for me.  To live and develop the reputation of being greedy, wicked, surly and selfish, what a waste it would be of the opportunity God gives us to honour Him and reflect well upon the grace and blessings God has provided us.  It is incredible the one who lived long and accomplished much can be less thought of than the stillborn child who never said a word or lived a day.  We do not know how long we will live, but our choices make a difference how we will be remembered by God and other people.  Those who are born again by faith in Christ and live life in light of God's goodness to them will be well-remembered on earth and have an eternal legacy in the presence of God.  Right when we needed God, Jesus came to us in His time and way to be with us forever.

God gives us one lifetime, and the only day we can do anything is today:  we have this one day to be generous, loving and kind.  Today we can be a caring listener, helper and godly leader.  Today is our one chance to love our spouse, children and friends, and in His strength we can make the most of this present moment to serve and do good.  In looking to God we see what is truly good, and He guides us to live in the way that pleases Him.  People do not need children or a long life to be satisfied in the life God graciously gives us, for to be His children forever is our greatest privilege.  Without Christ our lives spiritually resemble a stillborn child, great potential for life ultimately unrealised.  Paul considered himself "born out of due time" (1 Cor. 15:7) and when it comes to being born again by faith in Jesus:  "Better late than never!"