Like Working For The Wind….

Here’s a question we all need to ask ourselves often: when I die will it even matter that I existed? If we don’t have the mentality to leave this earth a better place then we have some serious issues with our mother’s only child ;) If we focus solely on pleasing ourselves, then we will guarantee one thing, we will leave this world no better off than when we came. As Solomon says, it’s “like working for the wind”. It’s not until we get cured of our disease, “ingrownus eyeballus”, that we realize there’s more to this life beyond myself. I guess it won’t be until scientists finally pinpoint the center of the universe and discover that I don’t live there that I can move beyond myself. Life is all about relationships. They take selfless effort to make work. If you make a hard effort to build true, real, deep relationships with others, I can guarantee one thing: you will leave this earth better than when you came. It’s starts by accepting God as the center of existence, not me.

16 And this, too, is a very serious problem. People leave this world no better off than when they came. All their hard work is for nothing–like working for the wind. 17 Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud–frustrated, discouraged, and angry. Ecclesiastes 5:16-17

Just To Appease Another Person….

Do you ever say something just to appease another person? Some would see this as a sign of being respectful. It may look like we are being selfless and taking the other person into consideration. But in reality it’s the opposite, it’s being selfish. We are making promises that we have no intention on keeping. God takes this seriously. Read any OT book. You’ll find oaths are always, always, taken seriously. Jesus even tells us to simply say “yes or no”, not to make promises, especially ones we can’t keep. The next time you find yourself in a situation you’d rather not be in, instead of making a flippant promise, or saying something you don’t mean just to satisfy the recipient, say nothing. Or better yet, speak truth. You’ll find that when you don’t make promises to others that you have no intention of keeping, you’ll leave the situation in a better mind set, one that will allow you to sleep well at night. When you get away from the situation, pray and ask God to give you wisdom. So the next time the situation arises, you’ll be armed with the exact words you need to speak, knowing it’s from God Himself. We do have a choice in this life. And one of them is to live proactively, instead of reactively. Makes sense?

5 It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. 6 Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and He might wipe out everything you have achieved.7 Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead. Ecclesiastes 5:5-7

Do Whatever We Want…..

How often do we evaluate our own behavior? I mean how much do we take for granted our behavioral freedom in Christ? Have you ever offended someone by being nonchalant about your behavior even though it caused another to question their beliefs? I find myself doing it. The part that we usually don’t see is the even though we have freedom in Christ, under grace, that freedom was never meant to be used selfishly, to do whatever we want. If I cause another to stumble in their walk of faith, it’s most likely because I’m using my freedom selfishly; something that was never part of the design. Freedom comes along side responsibility. The two cannot exist by themselves. One can linger, but eventually left by itself long enough, it will self-implode. I believe this side of our freedom is abused more than it’s exercised in the right manner. Paul makes it crystal clear here that we are to use our freedom in Christ to help others. It definitely does not work when it’s focus is on self. Chew on this thought for a while, it will certainly make your life and walk of faith digest much easy when it’s time to swallow.

9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you–with your “superior knowledge”–eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. 12 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 13 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live–for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble. 1 Corinthians 8:9-13

If You Want To Define Integrity….

If you wanted to define integrity, something missing in modern society, I think this psalm of David gives a good synopsis. Integrity causes a man to fear God more than other men. Integrity motivates a man to be faithful to God (to his core beliefs). Integrity instructs a man to live above reproach. When you live a life full of integrity, you never have to lose a night’s sleep worrying about what you said or did. Integrity has no holidays. Your character shouldn’t either. God rewards those faithful to Him. A lifetime of consistent, integrity-filled behavior is a life God will honor. Never forget this.

5 I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors.I will not endure conceit and pride. 6 I will search for faithful people to be my companions.Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me.7 I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house,and liars will not stay in my presence.8 My daily task will be to ferret out the wicked and free the city of the Lord from their grip. Psalms 101:5-8

Why Human Beings Bargain With God….

Ever wonder why human beings bargain with God? I know it’s part of the “grieving process”, but can we really offer God something in order to make Him change His mind in an obligatory manner? The answer comes straight from His own mouth in Job chapter 41. It comes in the form of a rhetorical question. If everything belongs to God, including us, what can we offer? NOTHING. And yet so many religions teach you can do enough to earn God’s affection. Humans want to take credit for things. It gives us a sense of contribution, like we can earn or deserve it. Christianity is a response to what God has already done. Our obedience to His commands are out of gratitude not obligation or in order to gain. For anyone to think he can give God something He doesn’t already possess is ludicrous. Job had been suffering for some time now. His friends only made things worse. In his disillusionment of grief and loss, he began to question God’s sovereignty. He began to focus solely on himself. God never answered Job’s questions. And yet, Job repented of his actions of false perception brought on by his distress. All of this happened before God restored Job’s health, family, and possessions. What does that tell us? God is sovereign. He owns everything. Our only response is gratitude. It doesn’t earn us anything. It just gives God what He wants. And in return, we get faith that calms our innate sense that we can get our way by trying to bargain with God.

11 Who has given Me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is Mine. Job 41:11

Even Though “I’m Right”…

I’ve always believed in truth. I thought “if truth sets us free, it will always protect us as well.” I’ve had instances where that was true. But here’s a side to truth that I struggle with. Even though “I’m right”, there are times when I need to set that aside and take the blame, be cheated, accept the injustice. Why? To save the face of another believer. I guess it’s part of the dying to self that Jesus talked about. When I can do this, willingly or unwillingly, I know my walk with the Lord is truly sanctifying me. It’s not making a compromise, rather it’s not using the truth to justify myself at the expense of another’s faith. Truth matters. Living it out with humility, matters more. Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers. 1 Corinthians 6:7-8

When We Use The Right Criteria….

If more people actually read the Bible, “judgement” may not be so distorted and abused in our day. Christians are not to condemn unbelievers, but that doesn’t mean we cannot say a certain behavior is wrong, we certainly can and should. However, we are commanded to judge those who say they are followers of Christ Jesus, and yet choose to do ungodly things. It’s how the Church stays effective. As a little yeast infiltrates the entire dough, so does one unrepentant hypocrite infiltrate and ruin a group of believers. When we see governmental leaders, regardless of their party affiliation, claim to be “Christian” and yet stand on a platform that blatantly opposes God, we need to speak up. And certainly not vote for them. But we need to do it with gentleness and respect. If we don’t, we will reap the outcome of division. As Jesus said, “a kingdom divided will not stand”. There’s nothing wrong with judging, but only when we use the right criteria to judge. Read your Bible, it makes it clear.

It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12-13