Salt & Light Blog

James 5:1-6 You Can Keep Your Eye on God or Your Wallet, Not Both

4/24/2016

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 1 Timothy 10

James 5:1-6
The worldview says it is important to have money. Certainly living in the world without money is almost impossible especially in countries like The US. Money is a “necessary evil.” But from the world’s standpoint money is a measure of success, if not the measure of success. The world gauges their peace by how much money is in the bank and the IRA. It is not so in God’s Kingdom. Money is not what determines success or peace. Storing up money is not godly and moving heaven and earth to make more is not right from God’s perspective. Being rich is not a sin. The sin lies in the place money has in one’s heart and endeavors. Verses 1-3 read,
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.

These are the rich who have put money first, who have done whatever they can to make themselves rich. They have laid up money and left God out of the equation. They will enjoy their time on earth, but our time doesn’t end when our hearts stop beating and our lungs stop breathing. We live eternally. After this life we will either enjoy that eternity with Jesus in New Jerusalem or we will suffer the torment of Hell. The person who has put money first cannot serve God. The person who serves God understands this world and present life are temporary and live it in preparation for the real thing, eternity. She wants God’s will on earth as it is in Heaven. She wants people to know Jesus. She doesn’t lay up treasures here, she lays them up in Heaven. In Matthew 6:19-24 Jesus said,

“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.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

If your eye, (your focus and perspective) is on money, earthly treasures and pleasures then it cannot be on God, His will and purpose. The wrong focus will blind you to the truth and you will not glorify God, it glorifies the self. Satan will be happy to make us richer and he will laugh as we walk blindly to Hell because our eye is on our bank account instead of The Lord. This life is temporary, it lasts 80 years. Do you imagine that 100 years from now or 100,000 years from now it will matter if you lived in a mansion and had servants? It won’t. It will matter how you treated the servants. It will matter how you loved or sinned against the people around you. It will matter how you lifted up or oppressed the people you came into contact with. It will matter if Jesus Christ is your Lord or money is your lord. Verses 4-6 read,
Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

The rich who got that way through sin and oppression, who put money and their own comfort above God and love, they are enjoying all the luxury and comfort they will ever enjoy unless they open their eyes and weep over their sin and repent. Proverbs 16:5-9 reads,
Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
    be assured, he will not go unpunished.
6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord,
    he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
9 The heart of man plans his way,
    but the Lord establishes his steps.

Many of the Proverbs were written by Solomon, one of the wealthiest men to have ever lived. People heard about his wealth and his wisdom and came from very far away to see it. Even the very wealthy Queen of Sheba was floored by his wisdom and prosperity (1 Kings 10:1-13). Being rich is not the sin; the sin is in what the money means to a person and how she obtained that wealth. True wealth is in the joy of a relationship with God. Real peace comes from righteousness. Proverbs 15:15-17 reads,
All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
Money cannot save us, regardless of how much we have. Are you living for The Day of The Lord or are you living for tomorrow? Proverbs 11:4 says,
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
The Proverbs have a great deal to say about money and how we should use it. Proverbs 3:9-10 tells us,
Honor the Lord with your wealth
    and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will be bursting with wine.
There is a great deal more to be gleaned about money from the Bible. And I know I need to learn how the Lord wants me to think about it and use. For now I want us to consider where money is in our hearts. Is money on the throne? Do you seek money or do you seek the Kingdom of God? Chasing wealth leads to sin. 1 Timothy 6:3-10 reads,
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Are you asking what you are supposed to do about feeding and clothing your family if you don’t focus on money? Are you saying, “Donna, this world is expensive and I’ve got to eat! How do you expect me live if I don’t save up as much money as possible? How will I live when I’m 75 and can’t work?” Well, I say “Pursue God, have faith that He is God and nothing is impossible for Him.” In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus answered those questions.
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
27-29 “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
30-33 “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (The Message).

Just keep your eyes on God and what He desires and He will take care of all the other stuff that could take your focus. When you do what is right with your money, when you are generous and lift up the poor instead of oppress them, God will ensure you have plenty of money to live on and to continue being generous. If you trust God enough to give generously, even more than you think you can afford, He will prove your faith and ensure you will always have enough to keep giving. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says it this way,
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
In fact your generosity spreads the Gospel because God’s love and your faith in Him are evident in the act of giving (2 Corinthians 9:10-15). Do you really trust God to be God or do you lean on your bank account in case He doesn’t come through? Stop trusting money and start trusting God. Stop serving your bank account, your earthly future, or your present comfort and be courageous enough to serve God.

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Proverbs 11 Pursuing Wealth or God, Which is the Wiser Choice?

1/11/2016

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Proverbs 11
Last night in church we heard a message based on the first three of the beatitudes of Matthew 5. I had recently gone through the beatitudes on two different occasions. One gave me a message very similar to the one I heard last night, the other was very different. The Holy Spirit enhances, speaks, and communicates different things to each of us when we read the word. He will even teach us different things when we read the same passages on different occasions.
That is the case especially with books like Proverbs. We must read it very personally, and ask God to reveal to us what He will. There are so many wonderful thing to teach us. Having just completed Revelation, I was unsure what book to begin today, but God told me to write today’s devotional on today’s chapter of Proverbs, so here it is, with what He highlighted for me.
Verses 1-7 read,
“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
    but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
    but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
    but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
7 When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,
    and the expectation of wealth perishes too.
A false balance is what the dishonest use to cheat people from their money. It says that what they are selling is worth more than what it is. It is a lie in pursuit of wealth. It can be very tempting to pursue money rather than God. It is tempting to seek our own provision rather than depending on God for His.
But seeking money over the Lord leads to destruction. If instead of letting God be God, asking for help and saying “I need you Lord,” we rely on ourselves we become proud, we give a false impression to the world that we do not need God and neither do they. Dependency on God will provide our every need for us. When he was talking about seeking our own provision and wealth, Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:31-34).
Money may help us here and now, but on The Day of the Lord, it will not save us. We can’t buy our way into the Lamb’s Book of Life. Only Jesus can write our name there and only His blood can be the payment to make us righteous. Pursuing money leads to pride, pride will make us one of the wicked. Pursuing God leads to humility and that brings righteousness.
Once we begin looking for the material things, we want more and more of them. My phone recently broke. I had an iPhone 4. I bought it used with a broken screen, little space, and some problems. Now that it is broken I need to replace it, I could replace it with a perfectly working iPhone 4 for very cheap. But what do I want? I want the new iPhone (or at least a newer one). I want the bells and whistles. I want it pretty. I do not need that, but I desire it. If I pursue that phone, I’ll probably get it and feel pretty good about myself. I might cheat someone to get it. But if I just continue diligently seeking God and seeking to be transformed, to work out my salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), then I can trust God knows what I need and He will provide it. I know from experience, my Father in Heaven enjoys showering me with blessings. He loves to give me good things. He knows I need a phone, He will provide one. He knows what you need. If you seek Him rather than your needs, He will provide your needs as a matter of course.
So what is seeking the Kingdom of God? It is striving for God, His character, His mind, and His will. That means I want to glorify Him by manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, wearing the armor of God, and seeking wisdom and discernment.
How important is money to you? I can tell you it is pretty important to me. I do not want it to be. It is a real effort to not seek money, to not want all the things money can buy, and not to go nuts thinking how I can get myself all the things I want. Right now the Powerball is 1.3 billion dollars. If it stayed there (but we know it will grow) a single winner could spend $71,2328.76 each day for 5 years before spending it all. The pursuit of that kind of money can make our heads spin. I was in the 7-11 Saturday night and the line of people there to buy their chance at the dream of that kind of money was long and chaotic. They were blinded by the dollar signs in their eyes. I can be blinded by that kind of lust too, if I do not keep my flesh in check and let God’s Spirit reign.
I have to make The Lord and His desires my priority. I have to want what He wants and remember that He wants good things for me, and that what He wants for me is ultimately better than what I want for me (Matthew 7:11, Psalm 40:5,). Psalm 84:11 says,
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.”
Proverbs 3:13-18 says it this way,
“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
    in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
    and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
    those who hold her fast are called blessed.”
Seeking God must include seeking wisdom. Pursuing Him is better than pursuing wealth and when we seek Him, we get wisdom, long life (health, healing, and abundant living) first and riches and honor! Seriously! Getting rich doesn’t guarantee health or honor. But God is our Healer, our Provider, and our All-Sufficient.
Seeking money just leads us further and further down the path of wickedness. First we are willing to charge a little more than we should for an item or withhold some the firstfruits from God. Next we withhold from the needy brother or the hungry widow. Then what are we willing to do, lie, steal, or hurt? Who are we willing to hurt to get what we want? Our testimony is destroyed by a life chasing money instead of God. Our destroyed testimony can send a person down the path to Hell.
Verses 8-9 read,
“The righteous is delivered from trouble,
    and the wicked walks into it instead.
9 With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.”
We know being Christ-like has eternal benefits but it also benefits us now. It benefits us and the many people watching how we live our lives. Verses 23-31 read,
“The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
    the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
    another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
25 Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
    and one who waters will himself be watered.
26 The people curse him who holds back grain,
    but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
    but evil comes to him who searches for it.
28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
    but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
29 Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
    and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and whoever captures souls is wise.
31 If the righteous is repaid on earth,
    how much more the wicked and the sinner!”
So go ahead, feel free to stop trying to get rich, meet all your own needs, or worry about money. Seek God and His kingdom. Be like Jesus and enjoy the benefits of a rich full life that leads to life for all those around you.

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1 Timothy 6 The Road to Hell is Paved with Discontentment

11/7/2015

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1 Timothy 6 [i]
Are you content? In today’s culture, contentment is sometimes looked down on and synonymous with laziness. The world tells us we shouldn’t be content. We should always want more and better. So what is contentment?
The words content and contentment come from the Greek words arkeo, which means “to be satisfied; to be strong,” and autarkeia, which means “to need no aid or support; sufficiency of the necessities of life.” This concept is a foreign one to Americans who are taught that success is in plenty, that more is better, and that if we sit back satisfied with what we have we are not living to our fullest potential. The American Dream is a dream of wealth and stuff to enjoy that wealth.
But 1 Timothy chapter 6 says if we have food and clothes, then should be content. It is discontent that often leads to numerous problems. People who are not satisfied with what they have are the people stirring up trouble in the church. Their haughtiness delights in dissension. Paul calls this kind of thinking and teaching depraved. Discord is not the teaching of Jesus Christ. His command is to love one another. We teach the gospel, our salvation through Jesus Christ. We teach the whole gospel, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection and nothing more than the whole gospel.
Verses 3-6 read,
“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain”
People who are not content see the faith as a road to prosperity. That is a road of grave danger. Verses 9-10 read,
“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
Paul warns Timothy not to give in to seeking wealth, worldly success and worldly treasures but instead to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. (Verse 11). He compares this pursuit of godliness instead of wealth to a fight. It is an active battle to remain in pursuit of God’s Kingdom rather than our own desires. What are we fighting for? We are fighting for the gospel to remain pure. We are fighting for the faith of Jesus Christ. Paul puts it this way, in verses 12-14,
“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Putting faith in money means your faith is not in God. God is able to be trusted. Can you really trust money and possessions? They are temporary. You may be wealthy today and bankrupt tomorrow. Like other idols, money can only do what we make it do, and we are flawed. Stock Markets crash, Businesses fail. Identities get stolen. Banks get robbed. But God is faithful. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus Christ our God is Sovereign, Eternal, and Good.
Paul says it beautifully in verses 17-19,
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

[i] This is an encore of a devotional I wrote and published in Salt & Light: Daily Bible Reading to Encourage Love in Action

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1 Kings 10 & 11 Solomon Thought He Could Serve God and Lust

9/26/2015

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My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12

My apologies, as I could not format the text as I normally do. I have done my best to go back and put in hyperlinks and format, but it is not formatting properly.
1 Kings 10 & 11
Solomon had it really good. He was a king, wiser than any one before or after him. He was so rich and had made Jerusalem so rich that the city considered silver as worthless as rocks. (10:22 & 27). His wisdom and prosperity had made him famous. So famous that the queen of Sheba made a 6 month 1400 mile journey with her entourage so that she could see for herself what she had heard about Solomon’s wealth, wisdom, and houses. And this wealthy queen was impressed. Verse 5 describes her has “having no breath in her” when she saw everything. Chapter 10 verses 6-10 read,
“And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, 7 but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. 8 Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.” 10 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, and a very great quantity of spices and precious stones. Never again came such an abundance of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.”
Most of chapter 10 is devoted to describing how rich Solomon was. God had been very good to him. He was so rich that every cup, plate and utensil in his kitchen was pure gold. Verses 18-20 describe his throne.
“The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with the finest gold. 19 The throne had six steps, and the throne had a round top, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, 20 while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom”
Verses 23-25 describe his wealth and wisdom.
“Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. 24 And the whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind. 25 Every one of them brought his present, articles of silver and gold, garments, myrrh, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.”
But as Jesus said in Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money”
Solomon had been a servant of God, but he came to love some things more than he loved The Lord. He enjoyed his wealth and he enjoyed the women that his fame brought him. Chapter 11 verses 1-3 read,
“Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.”
Solomon had been a good servant to The Lord, but he started with one little compromise, he married an Egyptian, the Pharaoh’s daughter. He assumed he was strong enough to keep following the Lord. But Solomon didn’t love the Lord with all his heart, soul, and strength. He enjoyed his opulent lifestyle and he loved women. He couldn’t possibly do more than have occasional sex with each of the 1,000 women, 300 who didn’t have the title do make them wives and had to live as sex slaves to the licentious king. The women turned his heart from the Lord to various gods of their countries. Solomon was wise, but not wise enough to overcome his lust and obey the commandment not to intermarry with worshippers of false gods. Even today we have that commandment to keep us seeking God first. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 reads,
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,
“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.”
Verses 4-8 describe what Solomon did for his wives.
“For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. 8 And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.”
But the Lord was not going to let Solomon get away with such evil. He had been extraordinarily good to Solomon and even all his amazing experiences knowing God were not enough to keep him from pleasing his wives and chasing idols.
Do you imagine your past closeness to the Lord, your great deeds, or the good things He has given you are good enough to keep you when you take your eyes off Jesus and put them on money, stature, romance, or fleshly desires? Do you tell yourself the lie that you are a strong enough Christian that you can handle the sinful lifestyle being dangled in front of you and still love the Lord with all your heart, strength, soul, and mind? If you do that, remember that God will do something about it, because He disciplines those He loves. (Proverbs 3:11-12). Perhaps Solomon should have reread some of his writings. Verses 9-13 read,
“And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. 11 Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. 12 Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.”
So the Lord raised up some adversaries for Solomon. Hadad the one Edomite male that had escaped being killed when David had conquered Edom had grown up and decided that now that David was dead it was the perfect time to get revenge. Rezon, an escaped servant of Hadadezer king of Zobah who was once the leader of a group of bandits and then became king of Syria hated Israel. The final person on this list of rivals was Jeroboam, who was actually a trusted person in Solomon’s administration in charge of the workforce from the tribe of Joseph until one day he ran into Ahijah a prophet, who had a message from the Lord for him. Verses 31-33 in The Message read,
“Then he said to Jeroboam, “Take ten of these pieces for yourself; this is by order of the God of Israel: See what I’m doing—I’m ripping the kingdom out of Solomon’s hands and giving you ten of the tribes. In honor of my servant David and out of respect for Jerusalem, the city I especially chose, he will get one tribe. And here’s the reason: He faithlessly abandoned me and went off worshiping Ashtoreth goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh god of the Moabites, and Molech god of the Ammonites. He hasn’t lived the way I have shown him, hasn’t done what I have wanted, and hasn’t followed directions or obeyed orders as his father David did.”
The Lord said He wouldn’t do it while Solomon lived but when he died and his son Rehoboam ruled then God would take it away from him leaving him only with the tribe of Judah. Solomon heard about Jeroboam’s plan to take the kingdom and tried to have him killed, but Jeroboam escaped to Egypt until Solomon died. When Solomon died Rehoboam ruled.
This is where the narrative pauses for a “to be continued.” But we know of course that the kingdom split into the Northern and Southern kingdoms, and that David’s descendants ruled Judah.
Sometimes we can have it too good. Sometimes we can let God’s blessings become more important to us than God. Or we can be so confident in our “goodness” or position with God that we let the little sins come in and before we know it we’re serving money or sex or fame or power.

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James 5:1-6 Weep Now,Rich Man Before you Gnash Your Teeth Forever.

8/24/2015

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James 5:1-6

In whom do you trust? Where is your paradise? What gives you joy? Some people, many put their trust in money, and create paradise on earth where they can have as much joy as they can possibly into life. I’d say the majority of people want a “happy life” And as we grow in this world what to do we discover? That things make us happy, that getting something we want or need makes us happy, and that the people who give us those things make us happy. Sure maybe that happiness only lasts until the ice cream is melted, or maybe until the friend who shared it with you leaves, but for many the way we are raised teaches us that money will give us what we want and having what we want makes us happy.

But James had a warning for wealthy people. Verses 1-6 read,

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”

Not every rich person got rich oppressing someone else, but look at the history of how that money was gained and chances are someone’s grandfather had his foot on the back of someone else’s grandfather. How important is it for you, whether you consider yourself financially well off or not to hold on to your money? Did you work hard to earn it? Do you deserve it? I’m sure you feel your money, be it sufficient small, or abundant was earned through hard work, sweat, and tears. You have amassed that money and it is yours.

When you put that money in a savings account for your retirement, when you put that money in a savings account for the Aruba vacation, who were you taking it away from? Was there a hungry family that could have used a Publix gift card but the money went toward your happiness? Was there more money for you because you pay your gardener a dollar over minimum wage? Was there more for you because you skimped on your employees’ health insurance? It is your money do, what you want with it.

But consider if your faith is in your money or The One True Living God Jesus Christ. Even if you’re poor your faith can be in money. It’s just easier to allow God to meet your needs when you don’t know how to make $20 buy a week’s worth of food. But it’s also easier for a poor person to assume that happiness is found in money. We say if I had a boat like that, a house like that, a theme park pass like a –insert desire here—like that, I’d be happy.

Happiness is not based on things. But ask someone with lots of things to give them up and chances are they won’t be able to give it all up. They’ll say they need a few things. It isn’t that a rich person can’t be saved, it is that most rich people and the majority of the poor and mid-incomers have put their faith in money and let their happiness be dictated by the stuff money can buy. If Jesus told you to your face, that you would be saved if you gave your brand new expensive smartphone to the homeless man on the corner, ask yourself if you really could and would do it. Jesus had a conversation with a wealthy young and important man in Matthew 19:16-22.

“And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

When the man left despondent Jesus turned to the disciples and continued the conversation with them in verses 23-30.

“And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

The rich young ruler was despondent because he only understood present life. He was too afraid to trust that eternal life is real and matters much more than this temporary life we life. He liked his money, who wouldn’t? But he didn’t understand that when he died, his robes would rot along with his body. His treasures would rust, most would dissolve to dust along with his bones. But his soul is eternal and the results of following Jesus never die, rust, or turn to dust.

Even those of us who proclaim Christ, forget sometimes we are living eternal life and that the joys and possessions we have on this earth will mean nothing in eternity. I wonder how long we’ll even remember our present lives in the face of eternity. Do you think in a million years, we’ll be hanging out saying “Hey, remember how much fun we had playing Candy Crush Saga?” or “The i phone 8 sure was the best thing that ever happened to me!” or “I’m so glad I invested in the Blu-ray collections of all my favorite films.”

There is nothing wrong with money, possessions or happiness. But if they are such a priority to us that they keep us from loving the Lord with all our heart, strength, soul, and mind then we are not following Jesus, but following our flesh. Money makes us want more, it makes us want to hold onto it for security. We think it is money providing the fridge full of groceries, and the constant flow of power to the A/C, TV, and Computer, but it is Jesus providing the job the money and the charity. And it all belongs to Him in the first place. (Psalm 24:1).

Just as the Lord used Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy follower to be generous when he gave Jesus his tomb. He also uses other wealthy Christian and some not so wealthy to love people through their generosity. It is not impossible for a rich man to be saved, it is just difficult because it is hard not to dend on money instead of God. I know a man and his family who never blink twice when God says, “give.” I’ve seen them give someone who asked for one thing from the grocery store and entire grocery cart full of food. I’ve seen them tell the apartment management company to tell the tenant the rent is $200 less per month than it is, and then secretly pay the difference themselves. I’ve seen them time and again give and give. I know if Jesus said to them right now, sell your house and give all the proceeds to that church in Ecuador, they would do it. Because they have faith, not in money, but in God. They have put their trust and happiness in Jesus, not their big screen TV. They have put their hope in the Holy Spirit, not their smartphones. They have stored their treasures in Heaven, because eternity is the reality, this present life is a moment, a shadow teaching us, and an opportunity to teach others. After Jesus encourages us to give to the needy and pray well in Matthew chapter 6 and before He tells us not to worry about bills, clothes, and life’s concerns, He tells us to store our treasures in Heaven. Matthew 6:19-24 says,

“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.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

What are those treasure we store in Heaven? They are the fruit of our walk with Jesus, the testimony of our lives, the way we used our gifts, and the people who were won over to Christ. We can either focus on and pursue the Kingdom of Heaven and see the world from the healthy perspective of faith in Jesus or we can pursue happiness on earth and put our faith in money and our own power and not have Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life indwell us. We can die eternally rather than live eternally.

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Philippians 4:10-23 Grace is Demonstrated in the Acts of Giving and Receiving.

4/17/2015

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Philippians Chapter 4 Verses 10-23

Giving gifts, money, and aid to people is a wonderful blessing. We exercise generosity, kindness, and faith when we give to others. The ability to receive those gifts is not so easy for some. But accepting charity from others is also an exercise of God’s Spirit in us. Applied gratitude, faith, humility, and grace bless others too. It is more difficult to accept gifts, even kindness from others. We are a people who have difficulty with the concept of getting without having to give in return. Grace is so simple and yet it is a concept so hard to grasp. The ability to both give and receive in grace is a mark of maturity and a manifestation of God within us. Does that mean we should go around bemoaning our neediness in order to get people to offer us gifts? Absolutely not! Where is our faith in God when we run around manipulating others into giving?

Paul was in prison, completely dependent on God for his needs. And God most often meets the needs of His children through His children. We, as a church love one another, edify one another, pray for one another and provide for one another. The church at Philippi had been faithful in sending him gifts throughout his missionary journeys, and now that he was in prison they remembered him again. Verses 10-13 read,

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Paul trusted the Lord to move the hearts of people to supply his needs. He didn’t send out letters to everyone and guilt them into giving to him. He did exhort them to give to others though and encouraged generosity. In his letters to the Corinthians and the Thessalonians Paul spoke about giving. He knew he had a right to ask for support for himself, but he chose to trust God, to let God be God and meet all his needs. And he had learned to be content regardless of his situation. When he had more than enough, he was content. He didn’t seek more. When he had nothing and had no idea how he would even find food he was content, he didn’t lament his conditions and seek more. Content means very simply pleased and satisfied. It is not only not needing more, but being happy and grateful.

Are we happy and grateful when the only meal we can afford is ramen? Are we happy and grateful when we can choose between the lobster and the T-bone? God provided both those meals. It isn’t easy to be content in either situation but with Jesus it is possible. As we learn to trust Him and be satisfied whatever our lot, He strengthens us, His Spirit makes us more like Him.

Verses 17-20 read,

“Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul wasn’t asking for money, but he did want the church to grow in Christ. Giving to others, especially when we must sacrifice to do so increases the Spirit in us. And that increases our treasure in Heaven. God doesn’t keep a record of our wrongs, but He does reward our good work. Our charity on earth builds our treasure in Heaven. Our good works can’t save us, there is no amount of goodness that can pay our debt to God. Jesus paid the price for us with His blood. But giving and receiving gracefully are acts that demonstrate the Gospel to the world. In Acts 20:32-35 Paul said a tearful farewell to the church in Ephesus.

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

We should look for ways to help the poor and the weak. We should seek out opportunities to give. But when the time comes, we have to let others be blessed by giving to us as well. Paul ends his letter to the Philippians with verse 23.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

Consider grace. Exercise grace in every facet of your interactions with people. Be graceful as Jesus is graceful. We benefited from His grace and so should all the people we come into contact with. Forgive, give, accept, and live with grace. Expect nothing in return and trust that God is God and He will meet our every need.

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Ezekiel 10 The LORD May Withdraw His Presence but He Will Always Be With You

2/17/2015

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Ezekiel Chapter 10

This chapter continues Ezekiel’s vision of Jerusalem’s destruction. Verses 1-2 read,

“Then I looked, and behold, on the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire, in appearance like a throne. 2 And he said to the man clothed in linen, “Go in among the whirling wheels underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.”

And he went in before my eyes.”

The Glory of God, His presence rose up out of the threshold of the temple and appeared above the cherubim in preparation to leave the temple. But before He went, He ordered that coals be taken from the between the cherubim and scattered over the city. Immediately I thought of Isaiah Chapter 6 when the burning coal is touched to Isaiah’s lips to atone his sins. The coals would burn the city, yes but they would also cleanse the idolatry, the dross, and the other impurities out of the city.

The chapter also describes the worst possible judgment for Jerusalem. Verses 18-19 read,

“Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.”

The Lord left the temple, His presence had resided there since it was dedicated but He left. Because of the abomination of the idolatry, the temple was no longer sanctified, no longer holy, and the Lord would not let His glory be among anything unholy.

Would the priests notice? Had they noticed when they themselves defiled the temple? Would the people notice?

The Lord promises us He will never leave us nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5-6 says,

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;
    I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”

But He does withdraw at times. He doesn’t leave, He just hides Himself, His will and His manifestation from us. He doesn’t pull away to be cruel. He is God. He is never cruel. He is Love. He is perfect love. He does what He does for us with purpose for our own good to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. The Lord knows there are times when He must hide His face from us. Isaiah 646-7 reads,

“We have all become like one who is unclean,
    and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
    and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
7 There is no one who calls upon your name,
    who rouses himself to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
    and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.”

It is not that He is not with us, it is that He doesn’t make His presence clearly known to us. He is always with us, always. Why? Why would the Lord do that?

Perhaps because we have been looking elsewhere for our answers. Maybe we have been meditating on something other than the Word of God to find peace. Or maybe we have been seeking provision from the 24 hour cash loan place instead of the Lord God Almighty. Maybe we’ve been looking for love through astrology instead of the King of kings. Whatever it is, we didn’t call on the Lord. So He in His infinite wisdom and unwavering persistent love hid Himself from us and let us see how idolatry would work out for us. Don’t think that anything done can be kept secret from God. We can’t put our hope in money and think that our prayers for help fool the Lord. He is not only there when we pray but always. In Jeremiah 23:23-24 the LORD says,

“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? 24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.”

When God steps back it is in order for us to learn and call on Him again. He is always with us. He always sees us. He always knows our needs. But we do not always know our needs. He loves us enough to teach us those things. The Lord is waiting for us to rouse ourselves to take hold of Him, to call on His name. When we do that we know He is there. James 4:8-10 reads,

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

Do you feel as if God is far away from you? He is not. Maybe it is you who is far from God. Perhaps you’ve sought your sanctuary, your provision, your peace, and your joy elsewhere and so the Lord is allowing you to do that. The good people find outside of the Lord may look wonderful but it is temporary. Psalm 73-23-28 reads,

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
    you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord God my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works.

I encourage you today to stop finding answers outside of God. Stop seeking the comfort of the world and call on Him. He is with you, waiting for you to call on Him. Let Him be your Almighty God.

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James 5:1-12 Money Might Buy You Happiness, but it Can Also Buy You Hell.

2/3/2015

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James Chapter 5 Verses 1-12

Is money important to you? Chances are it is. One can’t survive in mainstream society without it. Do you think about it, make plans for it, and find ways to make more? If your pursuit of money is ahead of your pursuit of the Kingdom of God, you have a problem. If anything is in your heart and head before God, then you have a problem. It doesn’t have to be money, it could be lack of money, a career, a family, a lifestyle, music, a ministry, or any number of things. If you place them in front of God, they are your idol. Idolatry will send you and the people watching you down the path of destruction, toward hell.

Verses 1-3 read,

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.”

Our earthly pursuits are temporary. They will corrode and one day be gone. Worse yet they can corrode our hearts. They make us forget the love of the Father, the truth of Christ, and the awesomeness of the Spirit. If we seek earthly glory, how can we also seek Christ’s glory? In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus taught people not to seek their own recognition by bringing attention to the charity and good works they did, by praying dramatically, or fasting ostensibly. In verses 19-21 of that chapter He said,

“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.”

Where is your heart? Is it in God’s glory or yours? Is it in a comfortable happy life or in loving others with the love of Jesus? Do you think whatever it is that is taking God’s place isn’t hurting anyone else? Are you sure? What did you do to gain and keep your money, your reputation, or your career? Did you lie? Did you steal? Did you slander someone else? Verses 4-5 describe some of those sins.

“Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.”

Believer, has someone done those things to you? What was your reaction? Did you trust the Lord enough to let Him handle it? Did you turn the other cheek because you know you cannot be separated from the love of God? Verse 6 illustrates the reaction we should have.

“You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”

The righteous person, even wrongly persecuted, condemned and murdered, doesn’t resist the evil person. We aren’t here to fight the lost person. We are commanded to resist the devil and to draw near to God. We do not have to prove we are right. We do not have to hit back. We do not have to inflict pain. We can be humble, we can continue loving because we know who God is. We trust God. We have eternal life. Earlier in James letter, chapter 4 verses 6-8 he said,

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Does that mean we’ll suffer here? Yes. We will suffer for Christ’s sake. We will hurt or even agonize because rather than resist those who persecute us, we love them, pray for them, and bless them. But we aren’t alone. We have the Lord God Almighty. We have Jesus our Savior. We have the Spirit of the Living God. He has given us eternal life. We have the hope and promise of the Kingdom of God now and forever. That hope gives us patience, and steadfastness. Verses 7-11 read,

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”

Our commitment, patience, and enduring are examples to others. The way we live is a witness to the power of God. Patience isn’t easy. If it were, it wouldn’t be a virtue. Grumbling and complaining against each other is not being patient or loving. It is trying to call attention to our own goodness rather than God’s. We don’t have to seek our own good reputation. We do not have to seek glory for ourselves. When we bear our suffering God gives us His reputation and we will be remembered for our faith and our steadfastness. But if we grumble and whine we will be remembered as being faithless.

We don’t have to be ostentatious about our persecution and suffering. There is no need for histrionics. At the end of the film Gone with the Wind when Scarlett says, “As God is my witness, as God is my witness they’re not going to lick me. I’m going to live through this and when it’s all over, I’ll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again.” Her melodrama removed any sympathy for her. When we speak and act with hyperbole and theatrics in ruins our witness. It brings attention from our awesome God back to us. Verse 12 says it like this,

“But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.”

Swearing and fussing gives people more ammunition to persecute us. God doesn’t want us giving people reasons to harass us. They don’t need more. They will regardless. Don’t give them reason. God doesn’t need us to swear an oath. The fact is we can’t know we will keep the vow. We are not God.

Consider today where your treasure is? What is most important to you? Is anyone or anything is in God’s throne but God? How do you handle the persecution of the world? How do you handle it when you need money, feel alone, are sick, or are being lied about? I encourage you to give it the Lord. Be humble. Be patient. Trust the King of kings.

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John 2:13-22 Jesus is the Authority Over the Temple

11/13/2014

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John Chapter 2 Verses 13-22

Jesus and his disciples went to Jerusalem for the Passover and when they went to the temple it was filled with people selling animals for sacrifice and money changers to help the pilgrims with money issues. There wasn’t anything wrong with what they were doing. The Jews that flooded Jerusalem during the Passover needed sacrifices and money. Some likely brought their own but many probably saved up each year to afford to buy something when they arrived in the city.

It wasn’t what they were doing that was wrong it was where they were doing it and the motivation behind their actions that had a problem. They were at the temple, a place that was supposed to be holy, and kept holy. This was supposed to be where people came to worship The LORD, this was where His presence came. These people were not here to do a service for the visiting Jews. They could have done that in the market or by the side of the road. They were here to ilk the worshippers, sojourners, and citizens. They were defiling the temple by making the temple a market place instead of a house of prayer. Money was their god rather than the LORD being their God.

It hurt Jesus to see it. It hurt Him to see blatant idolatry where there should have been unabashed joy, prayer, and adoration for His Father. So Jesus did something shocking. Verses 15-17 read,

“And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

He drove them all out and then He overturned there tables and emptied out their money. He didn’t whip people, He didn’t hurt anyone. He forced them and their animals out of the temple. He took ownership of the temple, responsibility for keeping it as it should be. He didn’t assume someone else would do the job. He didn’t report it to the High Priest and hope that he would take care of. He did something about it. He reminded those people this was the temple, a holy place set aside for God.

He did something else far more shocking than drive them out of the temple. He referred to the temple as His Father’s house. He told everyone who He was. He spoke His authority as the Son of God. Perhaps because people were surprised at His actions they missed the significance of what He said. Three years later at Passover, He would be crucified for calling Himself the Son of God. But on this day, the reaction He got was different.

The Jews wanted to know what right Jesus had to force them to take their businesses elsewhere. They obviously acknowledge He had some clout, but they wanted more. Perhaps they were feeling a bit indignant that their sin had been exposed. It wasn’t a hostile question that they asked. It was more like, a ‘whooooa Duuuuude, who are you’ kind of thing. Verses 18-19 read,

“So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

They heard the words and were incredulous, that temple had been built over many years by the blood and sweat of many people. There was no way any one person could rebuild in just three days. There was no way even a thousand men could do that. But Jesus wasn’t referring to the temple building, but the temple of His Body.

Like the temple, He had been set aside for a special purpose. His purpose was our salvation. And when they destroyed His body, He would restore it in three days. Jesus had revealed the profound truth to those people and most of them completely missed it. Some, like His disciples didn’t fully understand it, but they kept it in their hearts and would be reminded of it when The Holy Spirit revealed everything to them.

Jesus did everything with purpose. Nothing He did just happened. When Jesus drove the sellers and money changers out of the temple, He wasn’t merely cleansing a building. He was showing us that it is not money, not law, nor anything else that should be seated in the Holy of holies of our heart. It is God who belongs there. We are the temple of God. We belong to Him and Jesus has the authority to rid us of all the crap we have put where He should be.

Is your temple kept Holy? Are you serving God or money? Are you worshipping the LORD with unabashed joy and prayer or are you serving the law and doing what looks right? Does Jesus need to drive the sellers and money changers, the schedules, the programs, the to do lists, or any other idols out of your temple?

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James 5:1-6 You Can Keep Your Eye on God or Your Wallet, Not Both

Proverbs 11 Pursuing Wealth or God, Which is the Wiser Choice?

1 Timothy 6 The Road to Hell is Paved with Discontentment

1 Kings 10 & 11 Solomon Thought He Could Serve God and Lust

James 5:1-6 Weep Now,Rich Man Before you Gnash Your Teeth Forever.

Philippians 4:10-23 Grace is Demonstrated in the Acts of Giving and Receiving.

Ezekiel 10 The LORD May Withdraw His Presence but He Will Always Be With You

James 5:1-12 Money Might Buy You Happiness, but it Can Also Buy You Hell.

John 2:13-22 Jesus is the Authority Over the Temple

Donna Campbell

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