Well...
now that I have read enough to get my unread blog posts down to a more manageable 83 from the earlier "100+," it's time to write a post of my own. The thoughts may be a bit disorganized, for which I apologize in advance.
Two days ago, God arrested my attention with 1 Tim 6:17:
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
Coupled with Jesus's own teaching in Luke 14, which declares (my paraphrase), 'Do not invite your friends, brothers, relatives, rich neighbors over for dinner-- those who have the means to reciprocate your kindness; but invite the poor, crippled, lame, blind-- those who cannot repay you-- for your reward will be 'at the resurrection of the righteous'' (v. 14); the verse above from Timothy, coupled with one instance of Jesus's teaching, leaves me with many questions. While I haven't noticed any special worry in my mind recently about money, my sin may be that of omission. Though not actively worrying, am I actively giving, and generously at that? Have I put my hope in my wealth? Am I trusting God to provide? Am I characterized by generous giving, and love for the poor, the sick, the uncool of society? James says that true religion is looking after orphans and widows. Replete with teachings on the poor, I think it is safe to say the entire Bible really speaks of a type of ministry about which the average Christian knows nothing. When was the last time I even had any contact with a poor person, much less served someone who could give me nothing in return?
God orchestrated my reading of a friend's convicting post to continue to stir my thoughts.
The disciples of Jesus left their prior livelihoods. They didn't have nice cars, palatial dwellings, new computers, matching furniture. (Obviously, I take a little bit of historical/cultural license here with the cars and computers.) Not only were they willing to sacrifice it all, they did.
Which presents another point: being willing to do something in theory is not the same as actually doing it. Abraham discovered this on the mountain. He had to physically tie Isaac, place him on the altar, raise his knife in his hand to slay his son. God’s foreknowledge that Abraham would obey was not enough. John Piper aptly quotes C.S Lewis in explaining this: "To say that God “need not have tried the experiment” is to say that because God knows, the thing known by God need not exist.” (A Hunger for God, p. 18) The excerpt strikes me because we are fairly willing to say we’d give it all up for Jesus: go anywhere, do anything. We even sing the song—with fervor!—“I ’d Rather Have Jesus…” In the next breath we complain that we don’t have anything to wear, or lament our lack of money, wishing we had more, to spend it on ourselves. Am I truly willing to sacrifice, to be obedient to what I know to be the teaching of the Bible, which I claim to believe in? What would it look like, today, to live as a disciple of Christ, were He to come down to Earth now?
James compares the rich man to a fleeting flower, a blossom which falls in a day and is reduced to nothing. The rich man, James says, fades away even while he goes about his business! (James 1:10-11) Ought we not to take heed of this and put our hope in God? The NT repeats David’s ancient declaration: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God! (PS 20:7) This is yod-he-vav-he we are talking about here, all caps, Adonai, the I AM whose name Jews would not utter, out of complete fear. His Name has power, and is the only one to trust in.
A little after James’s rich man/flower comparison, he avers, yes, every good and perfect gift is from above, from the Father, who does not change. He gave us new life- ‘birth though the word of truth’ (vv 17-18). The Word of God is power, not just has power. The Word is God’s voice to us; through it He reveals His will. In relation to His will—ascertaining it, doing it—Mt. 6:33 helps me immeasurably (such a famous verse, so often plucked out of context…). I’ve read it many times before, but this last time it imbued me with such hope and strength that I marveled at it anew. ‘Seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you’ (my paraphrase).
Do we realize, speaking of context, that two negatives bracket this positive command? I am sure there is some fancy theological name for the “Do this” and “don’t do that” imperative type of commands. I never noticed this before, but the negatives are, first, ‘Do not be anxious about what you will eat, drink, or wear,’ and second, ‘Do not be anxious about tomorrow.’ Today’s business and tomorrow itself. In the middle of the two: seek God. Make that your primary aim, your over-ruling passion, your continual goal. Do not waver, just seek God. Do not allow yourself to become distracted with the cares of life, entangled by sin, or consumed with lesser things. Pursue God. Know God. Seek God! All these things—food, clothing, all the earthly concerns—will be added to you. Tying back in to Timothy: God ‘richly provides everything for our enjoyment,’ not unlike ‘all these things shall be added unto you.’
Paul continues in 1 Tim 6:18, “Be rich in good works, be generous and ready to share…” We are to be known for our riches in doing good, not our material riches. Bounce back to James with me: faith without deeds is dead; good works show our faith to be alive and well. “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do!” (James 2:18)
“You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." (Jas. 2:20-22)
I love how the Word of God is cohesive, through and through. Despite my jumping back and forth, its verses are not haphazard, disconnected bits of wisdom to be nibbled at or merely tucked away in a pocket for future reference. The words corroborate, support, reinforce each other. The message is consistent. God does not change, nor does His Word. The Name David trusted and exulted in is the same Name Jesus bore as His Father’s ambassador to a sin-saturated, Fallen world. Praise His Name. May we truly obey Him, revealing hearts genuinely devoted to Him through good works done as unto Him.
