1 Timothy 6:2b-21: Take Hold of the Eternal

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

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. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.

Grace be with you all. - 1 Timothy 6:2b-21

This passage is structured with an outward-in (chiastic) structure. Verses 2b-5 echoes verses 20-21. Verses 6-10 echo verses 17-19 and the central thought can be found in verses 13-16. Here we see Paul's challenge to Timothy: to "keep this command without spot or blame". What is this command? To "take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (vs. 12) Timothy could become distracted by the opportunities use conflict as a means of building up personal influence and status and gain--personal kingdom building. Many people have won arguments not because the thought it was right (or didn't care if it was right) but rather to gain power. The church is no different in this sense and the rhetoric can be so absolute ("God told me.")

But I see Paul calling Timothy back to their common experience together, when Timothy said seized on the eternal and chose God's rather difficult direction for life.  It must have been a continual temptation for Timothy, because Paul reminded him  in 2nd Timothy: No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer..(2 Timothy 2:4)

So I ask myself, what commissions have I accepted from the hand of God? What commitments have I made in the presence of many witnesses? Certainly, to my wife. Not just a passable effort, but a commitment that I fight for against the other opportunities, both subtle or not so subtle, to relegate her to a backup role in my life. To my kids, whom I dedicated to God in front of many witnesses. If my work is truly a vocation, then there is a challenge there. 

And to God, whom I confessed as a young boy in front of a church congregation. Relationships are eternal, stuff is stuff. So much is temporary. God has called me into these and I want to hold on to them without spot or blame before him. 

I pray that God will call these to my mind as I pray these days and not let them slip into the haze of the day to day.

There is a real sense that we

Luke 12:22-34: The Fear of Missed Opportunities

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Luke 12:22-34

 We have a saying around our house: "It is not a limited ______ universe." and fill in the blank. It is not a limited pancake universe. Many times we live as if the things we have and the money we have earned are the last we will ever see or earn. Even with experiences that we have, we are worried that we will never have another chance to do X. So we are discontented and stingy and grasping. I sit and monitor our bank account and credit card balances.

What I read here is: there is enough and there will be enough. We are not missing out. So much worry is spent on things that are out of our control and in God's control. As Jesus says, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." Even if everything else runs out, it is backed up by his promise that his kingdom of good things remains, It is not at risk. It is given to us and it is bountiful. We can be generous to others in need. because there is a resupply. Sounds a bit like pie in the sky, but I have found that being open handed with what I have toward what God wants is not lacking. 

I ask that my heart be in the right place, for my wife, for my family, for my job, for my friends, for the ones I will meet tomorrow expectedly or unexpectedly. Not worried that it will run out, but grateful that it doesn't.

Luke 12:1-12: The Secrets Belong To God

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” - Luke 12:1-12

When I read this, three things stick out to me:

1. Secrets are deadly. At its root, hypocrisy is all about the secrets: the difference between our inner life and our outer behavior. We pretend to have one motive, when we have a hidden motive. That type of life, one of pretending to be virtuous while being, at heart, selfish, is the yeast of the Pharisees.  But everything that is hidden is known to God and will eventually be known to all.
2. One of the reasons people resort to the deceit that is at the root of hypocrisy is because of fear of exposure-what other people will think. This is true both our lies and our truths. We hide the truth, even the godly truth, because of what others will think. But God knows it all and what God thinks is most important.
3. One of the truths with consequences is our loyalty to God. Ultimately, our actions and our words speak to our loyalty to God. Every word and every action is testimony about the reliability of God. So it is a serious thing to pretend loyalty and then when the pressure comes, give it up. This is the type of hypocrisy that Jesus says the Pharisees have, but it is what he doesn't want to see in his followers. Ultimately, it is God who is our defender and our advocate more than we ourselves.

Hypocrisy is easy on one level, because it allows us to say what is pleasing to the hearer in order to escape the consequences of our choices. But on another level, it is very difficult, because it shows that "I" am about me, a very difficult thing for any person with ideals to admit. I don't always stand up well under the harsh light of examination by others as to my motives and my stated ideals. That's why I'm so testy when someone accuses me of the inconsistency. Instead I    would like to answer from the truth and let the defense out of my hands. But I hold to it too tightly. So that's my prayer: to be honest because its the truth, not because it makes me look one way or another.

1 Kings 17: The Last Full Measure

 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”

So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”

“Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, “Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”

The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”

Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.” - 1 Kings 17

The widow did not withhold from Elijah a portion of her food. The ravens did not withhold from Elijah a portion of their food.  The difference was that the widow had a choice.  The ravens didn't check out their granaries and calculate how much was left before they were generous to Elijah. The widow knew exactly how much was in her grain and oil jars, and still she chose generosity and hospitality. Jesus commented about the ravens, saying, "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!" I think that Jesus had this chapter in Elijah's story in mind, reading it as a story of God's continued generosity to us and, consequently, our ability to imitate God by being generous. 

In some ways, I have found it easier to be generous to other people but not always so generous to those who are close to me, including family. With outsiders, it is possible to be generous without regard for consequences. With family, there are always consequences. Wisdom knows how much to give will be helpful. In the widow's case, God's measured response was that there would be enough flour and enough oil to support her, her son and her guest. It wasn't a feast. But it was, literally, their daily bread: "Give us today our daily bread." I pray for contentment and measured generosity from the heart of God.

1 Corinthians 3:1-15:The Cult of Personality

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. - 1 Corinthians 3:1-15

There are people that I like to listen to. If they would just speak more words, I would attend every seminar. If they would just write more books, I would read them.  If they could write more songs I would listen to every album. There is something about how some people communicate that I am drawn to and I don't think I am the only one. 

This is the cult of personality-where the person becomes more interesting than the topic. In fact, they could be writing, speaking or singing about almost anything and I would probably listen. This is what Paul is talking about: we are so worried about the person and their style that we forget the content of their message. Worse, in the church, the content of our message-Jesus Christ-gets lost.

There is a discipline for this. It isn't as grand or prominent in the history of Christianity as Bible reading or prayer or meditation. It is the discipline of listening to the message of speakers, authors or singers that you don't like. Perhaps they have something to teach us, even humility. Perhaps we will find that they have found that "you are of Christ and Christ is of God." (vs. 23) 

James 3:13-18: Being Foolish and Bragging About It

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.- James 3:13-18 (NIV)

One of the things that struck me was what constituted the fake "wisdom" described by James. There is a type of wisdom-a way of  winning in this world-that is rooted in wanting what others have and wanting that they don't have it if we don't and the inner drive to move ahead of others. James says "do not boast about it or deny the truth."

Something I have learned: winning is a bitter victory. When  the desire to win is an extension of envy and the desire to be seen as first and "right" then the harvest is disorder. As Jon Guerra says in his song Citizens, "Power has several prizes. Handcuffs can come in all sizes. Love has a million disguises but winning is simply not one" 

Today, I pray for the wisdom that comes from heaven and its related consequences: peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and fruit, impartial and sincere. My actions may not always lead to everyone being happy, but the overall trend of my actions, if I were to graph them, should tend this way-toward the kingdom of God. 

Ephesians 3:1-21: The Power of Christ

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. - Ephesians 3:1-21

What I read here is that every person is not a  "them" but a possible future "us". If we are not able to imagine how that person could become a fruitful member of God's family, it shows how small our imagination is when it comes to God's grace. What is worse is when we feel the small thrill of self-righteousness when they do not change and fall back into a habit or sin that has haunted them. Paul marvels at God's grace, "Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people, this grace was given to me."

So I pray what Paul prayed for the Ephesians: that God grant strengthen me with power to take on a full measure of Christ in us and I pray that I could grasp how big that Christ's love is for me and all of God's holy people.

1 Kings 3:3-15: Wisdom and Justice and Discernment

Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 

Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 

“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 

The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 

Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. - 1 Kings 3:3-15

 While this passage usually is presented as Solomon choosing wisdom over wealth, peace or long-life, he actually asks for something more specific: the discerning heart to govern and to distinguish between right and wrong. When God responds, he further clarifies by saying "I will give you a wise and discerning heart."

Since we are not God, we don't get to look at people's internal motivations, so we often have to piece together their purposes with discernment. Since he was placed in a position where he was making decisions that would impact the lives of many people and some people were selfish and/or devious, he needed some help. I wish I could read people's motives and have a clear sense as to who is asking for the right thing and who is not. I wish I knew when my motives were right and when they were not. So that is what I am praying for today, not to rule a kingdom, but just to be a good steward of my life.

Ecclesiastes 9:14-18: Poor Wise Man

There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it. A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him. So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long. Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king. Better to have wisdom than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good. - Ecclesiastes 9:14-18

Questions that came from my morning reading today: 

1. Are there wise people whose wisdom I overlook because of their status? How can I see them more clearly?
2. Are there foolish people whose foolishness I pay attention to because of their status? How can I see them more clearly?

Since neither wealth nor poverty obscures the eyes of God, I pray for his preferences to be mine, in wisdom and foolishness, even if I cannot always the full reason for his choices.