1 Peter 3:8-12: The Echo Chamber of Recrimination

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."  - 1 Peter 3:8-12

Sometimes we think that we learn the proper response by watching what is done to us. For example, when I want to know what my wife considers loving in conversation, I watch what she says to me and then try to echo that tone back to her, both for encouragement and censure. Except that this doesn't work. I'm not sure exactly why, but I think it may be that if we try this approach with each other we end up with the amplification of an echo chamber and both our ears hurt.

Peter says the same here: don't repay evil with evil and insult with insult. That is: the way we learn to respond should not be learned from the way that we are spoken or or acted toward? Why? Because it an echo chamber which rapidly spirals down into the anti-fruit of the spirit: hate, anger, malice, rage and slander. The way that you cancel out a certain sound is by introducing another sound the is exactly out of phase with it. I think that the same is true of response to the bad: a response of blessing is 180 degrees out of phase from the original evil and cancels out and leaves peace. If we repay good for evil, it changes the conversation from one that escalates to one that de-escalates. When Jesus said "Blessed are the peacemakers..." (Matt. 5:9) I think this is what he had in mind and why Peter says that we "may inherit a blessing." What is the blessing that Jesus mentions? That we might be called children of God. That's a blessing I want.

Isaiah 57:14-21: Greed For The Wrong Things

And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”

For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me—the very people I have created. I was enraged by their sinful greed; I punished them, and hid my face in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways. I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. "And I will heal them.” 

But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” - Isaiah 57:14-21

Greed is never satisfied-always wanting more-but it is a destructive habit. The idea that the one thing-the one goal, the one win, the one relationship-will bring me what I want and ease the sense of lack that I feel is a lie. But because it stops the clamor for a short while, I seek to perpetually stockpile a supply of that one thing and rest secure that my happiness is assured. That is greed. 

God knows that this false longing does to our soul, how destructive it is. It casts "up mire and mud" and leaves "no peace" It is toxic because we were never meant to fill that longing with a "what" but with a "who". When he sees those things pretending to be the answer to that which we most desire, he is angry. 

What is the best course for someone hooked on the drug of the insubstantial and momentary? I don't know. God himself tried many remedies for the people of Israel, but few seem to have worked, at least not for any amount of time. The punishment could not be such that it destroyed the very ones whom he loved.

I'm not sure what the solution is, because my own greed-for significance, for being right, for being secure-is a recurring theme. I think sometimes I can only pray the same prayer I prayed as a college student, "Lord, change me gently. I am weak and I am not sure I can take the breaking, so I will suffer with the slow, unsatisfying progress of someone who grows slowly." As the psalm says, "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." (Ps. 103:13-14)

1 Timothy 6:1-19: Content to Descend into Godliness?

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.

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. - 1 Timothy 6:1-19 

 I think that one of the most difficult transitions in life is for someone who has stuff to live with less stuff. There is a myth of progress in the Christian world that says that each stage in life should lead to both greater godliness and greater comfort. If there is a step backward in the comfort department then it leads to a crisis of confidence because we lose all sense of what it means to be godly if the other areas are falling apart. We don't say it. We don't admit it, because to do so would be to look crass and materialistic. I like to use the thought experiment: what if I had to give up my car and buy and old beater to drive around and give up my house and live in a small rented place-what would I say to my friends? Could I face them? And how would I feel about myself? Could I feel confident? Could I say, as Paul did, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." and "If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." Could I be content to descend into godliness? I don't know. I haven't been asked that question by God and I'm afraid how I would truly answer that question.

Guided Prayer from the Beatitudes

(first used at Oak Hills Church on 9 September 2022)

Introduction

Jesus taught us to pray "your kingdom come, your will be done" because, although it was all around us, we aren't prepared for the ramifications of the upside-down ethic of God's kingdom. 

From our first breath, we learn to start building up our own kingdom of self - protecting it, reinforcing it, gaining allies for it - all for ourselves. But the kingdom of God, which overlays this world, takes ordinary people, ordinary places and ordinary circumstances and gives them eternal significance. Do we have the eyes to see? Or is our vision clouded by self, measuring every photograph, every memory, every relationship, every task by how it makes us look? [Are we content to sit around and pick blackberries from a bush that is actually aflame with the holy presence of God?]

This evening, we will take some time to pray through the Beatitudes (from the book of Matthew, chapter 5), which are all about Jesus' summary of the kingdom life-savor it and how contrary it is to our normal way of thinking

For each of the beatitudes, we will read the first half together and I will ask you to think of someone in your life who is described by the verse-some you know or someone you know of--and pray this blessing over them--agreeing with Jesus that they are indeed blessed. 

Then we will read each beatitude again, together, and conclude each with "Amen"-the word that in the Bible signals our agreement with God.

Readings

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the poor in spirit.  

LEADER: Think of someone who seems beaten up and pushed down by their situation in this world. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are those who mourn.

LEADER: Think of someone is living with the loss of someone who walked with them in life. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the meek, 

LEADER: Think of someone is often easily intimidated and pushed around by the forces around them in this world. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

LEADER: Think of someone who is frustrated with the way things are and longs for the way things ought to be. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the merciful.

LEADER: Think of someone who seems able to extend grace, even when undeserved. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the pure in heart. 

LEADER: Think of someone who seems genuine and innocent of deception, even in the face of manipulation and trickery. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the peacemakers.

LEADER: Think of someone who always tries to bring people together instead of splitting them apart. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Amen

LEADER: Read with me.

ALL:  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.

LEADER: Think of someone living with the consequences of doing the right thing. Pray for them silently. (wait) Now read this blessing with me.

ALL:          Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Let us all ask God to re-orient our hearts toward the life that Jesus called blessed by praying the Lord's prayer together. 

ALL:  

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 

your kingdom come, your will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread 

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen

Luke 12:1-21: Is My Motive Just Or Just Greedy?

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.”

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” - Luke 12:1-21

Jesus was a traffic hazard. Walking through the crowds for him was like those scenes in movies where some important person tries to get from a door to the car, with microphones attentive, cameras peering and flashes highlighting his entire path. And always voices calling out and asking his opinion, but often just to satisfy themselves that he would reinforce opinions that they themselves were previously convinced of. 

Such was the case when someone in the crowd asked Jesus to "tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." Why did ask Jesus when you already know the answer? Because they wanted to be publicly validated in the rightness of their claim. So Jesus doesn't give a direct answer, because a direct answer would be a wrong one. Instead he speaks to the crowd and warns them about not the correctness of the claim, but of the motive for seeking the claim. It wasn't related to justice--the right thing--, it was related to the unquenchable to have more than his brother.

Under the guise of justice, this person was greedy.

What will I do when God says something to me? Will I seek for an interpretation which allows me to convince myself that Jesus shares the opinion I have already formed? Or will I allow him to challenge even the most brilliant of conclusions? And will I let him challenge my motives in concluding as I did?

That is the question I should ask.

 

1 Kings 17: When You Think You Have Arrived

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

I guess the moral of this chapter is 'don't limit the ways God will provide.' Nothing in Elijah's plan for the future included "get feed by carrion birds" or "ask for handouts from a single mother with a kid in a foreign country" Nothing in the widow's life plan said, your husband will die, you will be desperate but daily food will come by miraculous handouts from a foreigner's God, your son will become deathly ill but life will come by miraculous healing from God.

I think this tells me not put conditions on where my life is going, because God will test that plan, to see if I am relying on it or on God. Elijah may have been thinking: 'this is my test' and I will prove my dependence on God and everything from now on will be smooth. He had a plan about how his future career would look. He thought he had it figured out. But God had more: Mt. Carmel and fire from heaven, living on the run from Jezebel in desperation and meeting Elisha. 

I'm 54. I think I've got life mapped out from now on. But this chapter says: don't be presumptous, God has more.