Text: Gen 6:11-14, 18-20; Exo 3:10-14; Matt 1:21-23; Luke 4:18-21
Summary
Throughout history, God has commissioned certain people with God-sized projects, projects that can only be accomplished with His help. Noah has been tasked to save all living creatures from the flood, Moses in emancipating God’s people from slavery in Egypt and Jesus from saving the spiritually and physically lost.
Introduction
About 20 years ago, I was a member of the Rotary Club of Johor Bahru. Every year, the club will organise an Installation night dinner. That is to for the outgoing office bearers to step down and to install the incoming board. In Rotary, the term of office is one year. The Sultan of Johor is the patron so he was invited and he always came for all the Installation dinners. I remember one dinner in particular. The Club was reporting on what they have done that year which is in building a bus shelter for Fong You (Two) school. Suddenly during the report, Tuanku indicated he wanted to stay something. This was unprecedented because he usually attends but do not make a speech. Tuanku said, “You are a Rotary Club. Do not be so proud that you have built a bus stop shelter. That’s ‘chicken feed’. Do some bigger projects. Don’t do anymore ‘chicken feed projects’.” I remembered it created a commotion among the members. After that, our projects were bigger and more ambitious- a dialysis centre, a hospice and medical projects overseas. We did not do any ‘chicken feed’ projects anymore.
In 2001, our church has spent many months studying Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry Blackaby and Claude King. It has been a powerful experience on our church. We learnt that there are 7 realities of experiencing God:
(1) God’s work
(2) Relationship
(3) Invitation
(4) God speaks
(5) Crisis of belief
(6) Adjust
(7) Obey and experience
Henry Blackaby wrote, “Some people say, “God will never ask me to do something I can’t do.” I have come to the place in my life that, if the assignment that I sense God is giving me is something I know I can handle, I know it is probably not from God. The kind of assignments God gives in the Bible is always God-sized. They are always beyond what people can do, because he wants to demonstrate His nature, His strength, His provision, and His kindness to His people and to a watching world. That is the only way the world will come to know Him.”(p.116)
Let we talk about three God-sized assignment or projects from the Bible and see what lessons we can learn from them.
1. Saving all living creatures (Noah)
Genesis 6:11-14, 18-20
GE 6:11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. 12 God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. 13 So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. 14 So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.
v.18-20
18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark--you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. 19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.
The people and the land was so corrupted that God has decided to destroy it and start again with Noah. In fact, if Noah was not around, God would have destroyed everything and restart again. Noah was around and the Bible said he was a righteous man (Gen 6:9). So God gave Noah a God sized project. Noah’s project was to save all living creatures! That was a massive project. God will destroy the world and its people by a Great Flood. Noah was to build an ark, a floating rescue ship. He was to put into the ark, a pair of all living creatures and keep them alive so that they can repopulate the earth after flood water receded. He was also to bring his own extended family on board and they will repopulate the human race.
God’s purpose: God’s judgment was to destroy all living creatures (including man) by a great flood.
Noah’s God-sized project: Save all living creatures.
Method: build an ark.
From Experiencing God we learn that:
1. God speaks when He is about to accomplish His purposes.
2. What God initiates, He completes. Isa 46:11
I did not know how Noah built the ark on dry land. The ark is a massive ship with three decks. It must have taken a long time and much effort. The narrative in Genesis did not give much detail of Noah’s ship building activities. It did record that he finished in time before the great flood came.
Noah was six hundred years old when the flood came. It rained for forty days and forty nights. The flood water rose and covered the mountain tops by more than twenty feet (Gen 7:20). The earth was flooded for 150 days. It took another 150 days for the water to recede. Then 70 days for the drying out of the earth. Here are some interesting statistics
One month equals 30 days.
Time lapsed in the ark = 1 year, 17 days = 360 + 17 = 377 days
Time waiting to go on land= 7 (days waiting) +150 (days of flood) +150 (days of water receding) + 70 days (earth drying) = 377 days
(Walton, John. Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament)
2. Saving God’s chosen people (Moses)
Exodus 3:10-14
10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
EX 3:11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"
EX 3:12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."
EX 3:13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, `What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"
EX 3:14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: `I AM has sent me to you.' "
The second God-sized project was Moses’. As you remember, Moses was a Hebrew child who was brought up and trained as a prince in Pharaoh’s court. The Hebrew people were enslaved by the Egyptian. One day, Moses tried to lead the Hebrew people in a rebellion by killing an Egyptian overseer/slave driver. The Hebrews refused to follow him so he was forced to flee into the Midian desert. There he became a shepherd for forty years. Read Exodus 2. After that you may want to watch the movie, The Ten Commandments starring Charlton Heston or you may read the comic.
God’s purpose: To save His chosen people from slavery in Egypt
Moses’ God-sized project: To get Pharaoh to free his people
Method: Power encounter
Moses was understandably reluctant to go against the world’s only superpower at that time. Not only the Pharaoh was a political ruler, he was also worshipped as a god! It is interesting to that God sent Moses to Pharaoh with only His name, “I AM WHO I AM”. Names are powerful in those days because names reveal who you are. That’s why powerful magicians and sorcerers do not reveal their names. In Chinese tradition, one will name their children after animals to avoid the attention of their gods. Notice the number of children named ‘Ah Kow’ (dog) or “Ah Ngaw” (cattle). When God said “I AM WHO I AM”, He is revealing his name. He is the almighty God.
Moses’ God-sized project was basically a power encounter between “I Am” and the gods of Egypt. The 10 plagues were spiritual warfare. Moses would never have been able to defeat them on his own. It was only with God’s help that he prevailed.
(1) Nile turned to blood (Exo 7:14-25) against Khnum (guardian of the Nile; Hapi (spirit of the Nile); Osiris (Nile was bloodstream)
(2) Plague of Frogs (Exo 8:1-15) against Heqt (god of restoration)
(3) Plague of Gnats (Exo 8:16-19)
(4) Plague of Flies (Exo 8:20-32)
(5) Plague on Cattle (Exo 9:1-7) against Hathor (mother-goddess); Apis (bull of god Ptah-symbol of fertility); Mnevis (sacred bull of Heliopolis)
(6) Plague of boils (Exo 9:8-12) against Imhotep (god of medicine)
(7) Hail (Exo 9:13-35) against Nut (sky goddess); Isis (goddess of life); Seth (protector of crops)
(8) Locusts (Exo 10:1-20) against Isis (goddess of life); Seth (protector of crops)
(9) Darkness (Exo 10:21-29) against Re, Aten, Atum, Horus (all sun gods)
(10) Death of Firstborn (Exo 11:1-12:36) against Pharaoh; Osiris (giver of life)
In each encounter, “I Am” won. That is why the Pharaoh let the Hebrew people leave. Moses has a God-sized project in saving God’s chosen people. However, he can only do it with God’s help.
3. Saving the lost (Jesus)
Matthews 1: 21-23; Luke 4:18-21
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
MT 1:22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us."
Luke 4:18-21
LK 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
LK 4:19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
LK 4:20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus came to earth with a God-sized project too. It is to save the lost, to bring salvation to all people, not only the Jews.
By quoting Isaiah, Jesus was very focused on what His God-sized project is:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me (empowerment)
because he has anointed me (action)
to preach good news to the poor.(poverty)
He has sent me to proclaim (action)
freedom for the prisoners (spiritual bondage)
and recovery of sight for the blind (spiritual blindness)
to release the oppressed, (political oppression)
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor (action)
Notice in these verses that Jesus’ project has a spiritual component and a physical component. Jesus is here to save the spiritual lost but also to help the poor and politically oppressed. In other words, spiritual ministry and community/compassion service.
God’s Purpose: To save those who are going to hell
Jesus’ God-sized project: To save the lost (spiritually and physically)
Method: Dying on the cross and obeying His Father.
Jesus has completed the first part of His project. He has died on the cross for our sins. Jesus is still continuing on the second part- freeing people from spiritual bondage and from poverty and oppression. You may argue that Jesus is not here, He is in heaven, beside God the Father. Jesus is still here. The Church is His body. The Church still carries on the work of freeing spiritual prisoners and community work. We are the church. That is also our project.
Lessons for us: our God-sized projects
God has been giving God-sized projects to His people- projects that are often so big that they can only do it with His help. Otherwise there is no way they can succeed. We have looked at the examples of Noah, Moses and Jesus. Now we shall look at some present day examples.
Rick Warren started Saddleback Valley Community Church also called Saddleback Church in Lake Forest in 1980. He has a God-sized project. He felt called to start a church for people who have never been to church and people who are not comfortable in traditional churches. He wanted to start a church for seekers- people who are searching for God. So without money, position or prospect but with faith in God, he drove with his wife to California in 1979. He settled in Lake Forest and started a seeker church.
In his first sermon on 30th March, 1980, Rick Warren shared his dreams for his church:
• It is the dream of a place where the hurting, the depressed, the frustrated, and the confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance, and encouragement.
• It is the dream of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with the hundreds of thousands of residents in south Orange County.
• It is the dream of welcoming 20,000 members into the fellowship of our church family --- loving, learning, laughing, and living in harmony together.
• It is the dream of developing people to spiritual maturity through Bible studies, small groups, seminars, retreats, and a Bible school for our members.
• It is the dream of equipping every believer for a significant ministry by helping them discover the gifts and talents God gave them.
• It is the dream of sending out hundreds of career missionaries and church workers all around the world, and empowering every member for a personal life mission in the world. It is the dream of sending our members by the thousands on short-term mission projects to every continent. It is the dream of starting at least one new daughter church every year.
• It is the dream of at least fifty acres of land, on which will be built a regional church for south Orange County --- with beautiful, yet simple, facilities including a worship center seating thousands, a counseling and prayer center, classrooms for Bible studies and training lay ministers, and a recreation area. All of this will be designed to minister to the total person --- spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially --- and set in a peaceful, inspiring garden landscape.
I stand before you today and state in confident assurance that these dreams will become reality. Why? Because they are inspired by God!
The church grew and grew and became a megachurch. It is a ‘purpose driven church’. They spent 15 years growing their church and another 10 years teaching other churches about being a ‘purpose driven church’. Thousands have come to know Jesus through their ministries. In their 25th anniversary Easter celebration, there were 45,000 people in attendance. Warren always felt that they were fulfilling only part of Jesus’ project, that of taking care of the breaking spiritual bondage of people. He felt they also need to meet their physical needs.
In 2004, Saddleback Church embark on a new phase of their ministry- to championing the eradication of AIDS, illiteracy and poverty with an ambitious project by defeating what Rick Warren calls the five “global giants”. These giants are spiritual emptiness, egocentric leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy.
The goal of his project is PEACE.
Plant (or partner with) churches
Equip leaders
Assist the poor
Care for the sick
Educate the next generation
Warren launched the project in Rwanda in 2004. The challenges are staggering. UN-AIDS.com reported there are more than 40.3 million Africans suffering from AIDS. 4.9 million new HIV cases were reported in 2005. Since 2003, 13 million children had lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS.
Bill Hybels and his Willow Creek Community Church (20,000 members) and more than 100 Willow Creek Association churches has embarked on a racial reconciliation project. Willow Creek Community Church is in a mainly all white suburbs. It has reached across to the south side of Chicago to partner with James Meek and Salem Baptist Church. Salem Baptist is a mainly an African-American congregation. This first project was to co-organise a pilgrimage. A bus tour of key leaders were organised to revisit all the famous sites of the civil rights movement. They called it the Justice Journey.
Eric Reed and Tim Morgan, writing in Leadership Journal, Summer 2006 notes that, “Perhaps most important, these efforts are evidence that megachurches, the driving force in redefining worship and evangelism in the late 20th century, are reaching beyond unchurched Harry and Mary to redefine missions, urging churches of all sizes to get involved in causes larger than themselves.”
How about us here in Holy Light? Has God given us a God-sized project? I believe that He has. The project is not Hisland. The project is what you do with Hisland. That’s our God-sized project. Our God-sized project is to discern what God wants us to do with Hisland. Do we follow Jesus as His body to deliver people from spiritual bondage and bring them to know Jesus and also to help the poor and oppressed through community outreach?
Soli Deo Gloria
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
Let's Talk about Commitment to God
Text: Numbers 13:26-32; 14:5-9; 14:20-24; Joshua 14:6-13; 15:13-19
Summary
Commitment to God is commitment to a Person. A person who is totally committed to God have a perspective of events from God’s viewpoint, is secure in his/her confidence in God’s promise, has a different spirit in following God and God alone, has a grounded faith in God’s providence and is very generous with God’s gifts given to them.
Introduction
Dogs are known as man’s best friend. I assume they are also woman’s best friend too. I love dogs. My favourite breed is Alsatian or German Shepherd followed by Rottweiller. I had an Alsatian called Dickie. He was a big gentle dog. He used to look after my daughter’s smaller dogs. All my dogs have different personalities. My present Alsatian is named Schartzsky. He is intellectually challenged, that is, he is a stupid dog. One of the benefits of owning a dog is that they are totally devoted to you. To them, you are the centre of the universe. They love to be in your presence and are totally committed to you.
In Edinburgh, there is a famous story of Greyfriars Bobby. John Gray joined the Edinburgh Police Force. To keep him company John had a dog, a Skye Terrier, called Bobby. John died of tuberculosis in1858 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby soon touched the hearts of the local residents when he refused to leave his master's grave, even in the worst weather conditions. For fourteen years the dead man's faithful dog kept constant watch and guard over the grave until his own death in 1872. Bobby became Scotland's most famous and faithful dog. Bobby's headstone reads "Greyfriars Bobby - died 14th January 1872 - aged 16 years - Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all".
In the Old Testament, Caleb, son of Jephunneh was one of those whom Moses sent to search the land in the second year after the Exodus. He was one of the family chiefs of the tribe of Judah. He and Joshua the son of Nun were the only two of the whole number who encouraged the people to go up and possess the land, and they alone were spared when a plague broke out in which the other ten spies perished. All the people that had been numbered, from twenty years old and upward, perished in the wilderness except these two. Caleb means a dog.
Caleb is totally committed to God. We shall do a short character study of Caleb to discover what are some of the characteristics of a man who is totally committed to God. We shall see what lessons we can learn from him.
Characteristics #1: A Perspective from God’s viewpoint.
Numbers 13:26-33
NU 13:26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan."
NU 13:30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."
NU 13:31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."
Where others see obstacles, Caleb sees fulfillment of God’s promises
What the other 10 spies saw:
1.People are powerful
2.Cities are large and fortified
3.Giants
4.Amalekites, Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Canaanites
5.The land devours people
v. 33b We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."
This is the perspective of the other 10 spies, they saw the obstacles and they saw themselves as grasshoppers. What is more, they think the people living in the land saw them as grasshoppers. No only did they think themselves weak, they thought other people think them weak. They have already lost the war before it started. In their mind they have already lost. That is why they were so keen to convince their people that the land is not worth having. Losing a war in ancient times means being killed and their wives and children being sold into slavery.
What Caleb saw:
1.God’s promise of the land
2.Land flowing with milk and honey
3.Fruitful land
NU 13:30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."
Caleb must have been fully aware of the obstacles since he spent 40 days spying the land. He must have seen what the others seen. However he also saw how good a land it is and that it is possible to conquer the land. That is because he is not looking to themselves- a weak, untrained nation of former slaves. He is looking at someone else. Someone who is bigger that all these obstacles. Caleb’s perspective came from looking at God. God has promised them the land. So it is up to God to deliver the land. How he does it is none of Caleb’s concern. That’s a God given perspective on events.
Characteristics #2: Secure Confidence in God’s Promises
Numbers 14:5-9
NU 14:5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."
What Caleb believes:
1.God promises to give them a land that is exceedingly good
2.God will lead them into land
3.God is with them, the enemy’s protection is gone
4.God is with them, do not be afraid
Caleb commitment to God means that he believed God’s promises. God had promised them the land. God does not break his promises. So the land was already theirs, even thought at that moment it was occupied by the Anakites, the Hittites, the Jebusites, the Canaanites, the Amalekites and the Amorites. God is stronger than their gods. They are no longer protected by their gods. So why should they be afraid to go in?
Characteristics #3: A Different Spirit in following God alone and God alone
Numbers 14:20-24
NU 14:20 The LORD replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, 22 not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times-- 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it
Spirit in the Greek ruwach { roo’-akh} which means moral seat or seat of mental acts.
Basically it meant what Caleb has chosen for himself; which was to commit himself to God irrespective of what the other people were doing.
Caleb’s spirit:
1.Is committed to God and God alone
2.Not to the promised land
3.Not to the general consensus of the people
Caleb had chosen to commit to a person. Hence though he valued the Promised Land, he knew that it was not important. What was important is his relationship with his God. Have you even imagined how much courage it takes to stand against the general consensus of your community? Here you have three persons versus the rest of Israel. Everyone was saying, “It is too difficult”; “The land is not worth the sacrifice” and “I wish we never left Egypt”. Caleb must have his self doubts too. However, he was committed to God and he knew that what God have promised he will deliver. Nothing is impossible for God.
Characteristics #4: Grounded Faith in God’s Providence
Joshua 14:6-15
JOS 14:6 Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, `The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.'
JOS 14:10 "Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said."
JOS 14:13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war.
Caleb’s faith:
1.Strengthened by his lived experience
2.At 85 years old, believes he will receive the land God has promised him
3.Wants to be tested further by choosing the most difficult territory to conquer
Caleb’s faith was not in his own strength but in God’s strength. He knew that there is no way an 85 years old man can fight to claim what God had given him. And what is more interesting is that he did not choose the fertile valley near the Jordon. He chose the hill country which it is difficult to fight. He also chose a territory where the warriors were fierce and big. Caleb was not getting senile in his old age. I believe that his faith has been strengthened by his 40 years of wandering in the desert with his people. He knew the limitation of his own strength but he also knew the strength of his God.
Characteristics #5: Very Generous with God’s gifts
Joshua 15:13-19
JOS 15:13 In accordance with the LORD's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah--Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 14 From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites--Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai--descendants of Anak. 15 From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). 16 And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." 17 Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.
JOS 15:18 One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?"
JOS 15:19 She replied, "Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.
Caleb’s response to God’s gift
1.Did not hang on to it as his own
2.Willing to share God’s gift
3.Generous to give away water rights
One of the tests we can use to see if we are committed to God or his gift is to see whether we are generous with God has given us. If it is easy to give away what he has given us, then we are committed to the giver and not the gift. If we find it difficult to give up what we have, then we are committed to the gift, not the giver.
In the desert, one of the most precious possessions is water rights. Whatever controls the water is right. Without water, no one can survive in the desert. Hence it was wonderful to note that Caleb gave his daughter, Acsah the upper and lower springs. It was a very generous gift.
Lessons for us
The characteristics of a person committed to God are:
1. A Perspective from God’s viewpoint
2. Secure Confidence in God’s promise
3. Different Spirit in following God and God alone
4. Grounded Faith in God’s providence
5. Very Generous with God’s gifts
It is important to emphasis that we are committed to a Person, not
· God’s promises
· Promised land
· God’s gifts
· Our mission
· Our community consensus
Our commitment to God comes before our commitment to the other items listed above. Otherwise we will fail and fail badly. The Israelite was focused and committed to God’s promise; the Promised Land, rather than to God. That’s why, when obstacles occurs, they crumbles. When you are committed to a Person, then things are different. This is especially if you know who that Person is.
Parker Palmer, author of The Courage to Teach and A Hidden Wholeness, spoke at the Michael Keenan Memorial Lecture in Berea College in Kentucky in 1993. His topic was “The Violence of Our Knowledge: Towards a Spirituality of Higher Education”. In his lecture, Palmer said there are 4 features of truth in learning:
1. Truth is personal
“In contrast to modern objectivism, the wisdom traditions say truth is personal, not propositional. The modem academy is very hung up on the notion that truth is to be found in our propositions about things. But the spiritual traditions drive our understanding of knowing to a deeper level where it is said, "Truth is personal and, yes, we need propositions to share our person hood with each other, but unless it is incarnate, unless it is embodied, unless we are attempting to 'walk the talk' or 'talk the walk', it cannot be truth."”
2. Truth is communal
“It means that our movement toward truth is a corporate movement in which we must wrestle with each other, we must have conflict with each other, we must reach consensus with each other - and then we must break that consensus because some new observation has been made or some more powerful interpretation has been offered. Truth emerges between us and among us and through us as we wrestle together with the great and small questions of life.”
3. Truth is reciprocal
“There is something powerful about the spiritual understanding that we are not only seeking truth, but truth is seeking us…At the heart of all great knowing is a sense that the "object" of knowledge isn't an object at all. It has some kind of personal quality to it that speaks to the knower, that reaches for the knower; great knowing is always involved in that mutuality, that reciprocal dance between the knower and the knowing.”
4. Truth is transformational
“I will be changed by truth, and there is no way to evade that. It will be a daily struggle with what I know, to live my life more fully and more deeply. Knowing, teaching and learning will transform me if my knowing, teaching and learning are guided by the images and norms that I have just been trying to articulate.”
Again our commitment is to a Person who is truth. It is not to an object or a program.
Another person, I would like to introduce is John Piper, author of Desiring God and preaching pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. You can download his sermons or join his mailing list where the last Sunday’s sermon will be emailed to you on Wednesday. You can also download and listen to his sermon on mp3. His website is www.desiringgod.org. I have been learning from Piper for many years because his teaching is Biblical and insightful. I studied his sermons every week.
He has just returned to his church from an 8 months sabbatical in UK which he spent in Tyndale house studying the doctrine of the justification by faith. Last week, he preached on “This Man went down to His House Justified” Luke 18:9-14. Using the observation of the Pharisee and the sinner, he brought across an important point. We should focus on God as the sinner did rather than the Pharisee who focused on what God has given him: his righteousness which is moral, religious and a gift of God. The Pharisee knew that his righteousness is from God. We often think of the Pharisees as legalist. This Pharisee was not. He knew his righteousness was from God. Yet, he was not the one who went home justified. He failed because he focussed on God’s gift rather than God. The sinner focussed on God and went home justified. Similarly, we must commit ourselves to God and not to his gifts.
In summary, commitment to God is commitment to a Person. A person who is totally committed to God have a perspective of events from God’s viewpoint, is secure in his/her confidence in God’s promise, has a different spirit in following God and God alone, has a grounded faith in God’s providence and is very generous with God’s gifts given to them.
Soli Deo Gloria
Monday, July 31, 2006
Let's Talk about Discernment
Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-21
Summary
Discernment is listening with your heart to confirm God’s word to you
Text (1 Samuel 3:1-21 NIV)
1SA 3:1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
1SA 3:2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
1SA 3:6 Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."
1SA 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
1SA 3:8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
1SA 3:10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
1SA 3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family--from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, `The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.' "
1SA 3:15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son."
Samuel answered, "Here I am."
1SA 3:17 "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes."
1SA 3:19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
Introduction
In May 1212, a 12 years old shepherd boy named Stephen of Cloye turned up at the Palace of King Philip of France with a letter from Jesus Christ. This was the time after the 4th Crusade failed to retake Jerusalem and the Holy land from the Muslims. Stephen said that Jesus Christ has appointed him to lead a new crusade and King Philip is to supply him with an army. King Philip refused to see him. Stephen then went around preaching his message and by June 1212, he has an army of 30,000 consisting mainly of children from 6-15 years old. When questioned about the feasibility about a children’s army, Stephen said God will provide protection. Whey they reach the Mediterranean Sea, God will part the sea and the army will march all the way to Jerusalem. They moved south and many children died on the way either by diseases or starvation. When they reached Marseilles, the Mediterranean Sea did not part. Instead they have to set out to sea in 7 boats. The 7 boats were never heard from again. Legend had it that the children were captured by pirates and sold off into slavery. This became known as the Children’s Crusade. Now looking backing back in history, we wonder how could a 12 year old illiterate shepherd boy claimed to have the word of God. And how could so many people believed him?
The question we need to ask ourselves is how do we know if God is speaking to us? This is known as discernment. Another boy in the Old Testament also faced the problem of discernment. As recorded in the part of 1 Samuel 3:1-21, the boy Samuel also face a problem to discover: “Who is calling him?” We shall learn from Samuel in three aspects:
1. Who is the caller?
2. Who is being called?
3. How do we listen?
1. Who is the Caller?
In the narrative, Samuel heard a voice calling, “Samuel! Samuel!” Initially he thought it was Eli calling him. Eli was the high priest of Shiloh where the Israelites came to worship and offer sacrifice every year. Samuel was given to the tabernacle to minister under Eli. Hannah, Samuel’s mother was barren. She prayed to the Lord so fervently that Eli thought that she was drunk! God answered her prayer and Samuel was her firstborn. In gratitude, Samuel was given by the family to work in the temple. Samuel was not a Levite so he will never be a priest. When Samuel hears a voice calling him, he quickly ran to Eli, thinking that Eli had called him. After the third time, Eli realized that the caller is God. Note his respond, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' (v.9) Without hearing the voice, Eli assumes that it was God who is calling Samuel. Now please note Samuel’s reply: "Speak, for your servant is listening." (v.10). Even as a young boy, Samuel was cautious. Unlike Eli, he did not assume that the Lord is calling him. Hence he dropped the word “Lord” from his reply. I find this remarkable in one so young. Even though he is in the house of the Lord he was cautious not to take God’s name in vain. There is no greater sin than to call someone else Lord which means God. Unfortunately, many of us are not so cautious. We often assume that the caller is God.
There are three sources of voices that call to us. They are either from God, from our own self or from Satan.
(1) Self
Our self or heart is “deceitful above all” We are all masters in self-justification. We can deceive ourselves from believing that what we want is actually what God wants. Then we go around telling people that God wants this when secretly it is what we want. Many years ago, in my varsity days, a brother in Christ came and shared with me. “The Lord wants me to marry this girl”. I know he like this girl who is also a member of our Christian fellowship very much. In fact everyone knew except him. “How so?” I asked him. “Well, I feel strongly that the Holy Spirit is telling me that she is the one for me. One night, when I was staring at the fridge door, I saw her face! And later that night, while I was reading the Bible about Jacob and Rachel, the Lord confirmed it. The name Rachel jumped up at me (the girl’s name is Rachel).” He was so convinced but I managed to convince him to be patient and give the relationship time. Now he is happily married with three children- to Rachel’s best friend! Looking back, he was so convinced that he was hearing the word of God when he was just hearing his own desire. That’s our deceitful self.
(2) Satan
Satan is the prince of lies. He will lie to convince us that God is speaking to us. And he can be very convincing because his other name is Lucifer which means angel of light. Look at the Children’s Crusade. That aim was good- free the Holy land. I cannot help but wonder where did this 12 years old illiterate shepherd boy got his power from? Raising an army of 30,000 children. Anyone who is in ministry can tell you, getting volunteers is not easy. To get one is tough, but 30,000 in one month! I believe that there are spiritual powers behind all these. We have to remember that there is a spiritual warfare still going on. Often it is easy to forget as we sit so comfortably in our pews.
(3) God
How do we know it is from God? God usually confirms what he says. Look at Samuel’s example. 1 Samuel 3:11-15.
1SA 3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family--from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, `The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.' "
God is essentially confirming what he said about the condemnation of Eli’s household because of Eli’s two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 2:12-36). When Samuel heard this, he was satisfied that it was God who is speaking. Samuel must be around when he man of God came to pronounce God’s curse on Eli’s household in 1 Samuel 2:27. That’s why Samuel went back to sleep in v.15. He was convinced that he has heard from God.
2. Who is being Called?
Who did God call to? Samuel and not Hophni and Phinehas. God calls to those who worship him and to those who have a servant heart. Samuel had a servant heart.
(1) He worked hard serving the Lord and his servant.
v.1 Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli
v.15 he open the doors of the house of the Lord in the morning
(2) He has a servant attitude
Whenever Eli called, Samuel was prompt in his response and said, “Here I am”. That reflects a servant heart. This means that whatever God said to Samuel, he will listen and obey.
Sometimes, we must have wondered why God do not speak to us. Could it be we are not serving with a servant heart?
4. How do we listen?
We do not hear God’s voice because we are not listening properly. There are a few ways in which we listen:
(1) listen but do not hear
we are listening but we do not hear. We are not receptive at all.
(2) listen for what we want to hear
we have selective hearing loss. We only hear what we want to hear. Some of us have already made up our mind on what he or she wants to do for the Lord. Then we will search through the Scripture to find verses that support what we want to do. If the whole verse does not fit, we cut off half and use the only one half. When the Lord speaks to us through the Bible we hear only what we want to hear.
One of the most frustrating thing about being a doctor is explaining to parents of a very sick child. I have often experienced spending hours explaining what is wrong with their child and the prognosis. At the end, they will ask, “Is everything okay?” They do not want to hear anything else. They just want to hear me say the word “Okay”.
(3) listen enough to do something
we listen and hear enough so we can do something. “Alex, I want you to build a house…” “Yes, Lord” “Right away, Lord” So I get a contractor straight away to proceed to build a house. After the house I completed, I came back to the Lord. “Here you are, Lord, nice house, all completed.” The Lord said, “ You did not listen to my whole sentence. I was saying, I want you to build a house for your dogs.” How many of us are so eager to do things for the Lord but we do not spend enough time listening to him. That’s why we need to set aside time for prayers and solitude. God speaks in silence.
(4) listen with our hearts
The Lord is more interested in our being rather in our doing. To listen to the Lord, we need to listen not only with our mind but also with our heart. Then only can we hear the voice of God properly.
1SA 3:19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
Samuel knew how to listen to the Lord with his heart. That’s why none of God’s words fall to the ground. Everything was taken in an assimilated. People begin to recognise him as a prophet. And because Samuel is a good listener, God continue to reveal himself to Samuel by speaking to him.
Lessons for us: Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening
How do we discern that God is speaking to us, not our self or Satan? How do we know who is calling? How do we know who is being called? And how do we listen to the words of God? John Wesley gave some guidelines in discerning God’s voice: Scripture, tradition, reason, experience.
(1) Scripture- God will not contradict himself. Whatever that contradict what is revealed in the Bible is not from God. If someone turns up saying God has revealed to him that Jesus Christ is married to Mary Magdalene and has a daughter named Sarah; that is not from God.
(2) Tradition- whatever contradicts 2,000 years of church experience. Sometimes we forget that the church has been around for 2000 years and does not start with Martin Luther. We can learn much from church history. There have been many mistakes but also great things the church has done. Tradition teaches us how to listen to God’s voice.
Tradition also includes the present church community. The Holy Spirit is common to all of us. If God speaks to one of us, he will also confirm with he says with others in the community. So if you feel God is speaking to you, ask others if they sense the same thing also. Community discernment is a powerful tool in confirming not only whether you are hearing God’s voice but also whether you are hearing him correctly.
(3) Reason- common sense. Often we do not use our common sense when we ask God to speak to us. Often we ask God whether we shall pray, read the Bible, evangelise, do mission or help another person. And then we complain that God does not reply. The reason why God does not reply is that he has already replied in the Bible. At other times, God may want us to think for ourselves.
(4) Experience- like Samuel, the more you listen to God, the more he will speak to you. After a while, you will have enough experience to recognize the Lord’s voice. You will also learn to know what pleases and displeases God.
These 4 aspects became known as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral in 1920. I would like to add prayer as the matrix that holds it all together.
(5) Prayer-Communion with God.
So in graphic form, we can discern God’s voice by
[Scripture]
[tradition] [reason] [experience]
[ prayer-communion with God ]
Conclusion
Our God is a God who wants to reveal himself. He is not playing hide-and-seek with us. If we seek him, he will speak plainly to us. He may speaks to us directly in an audible voice (as in Samuel’s case), through dreams, visions and his people. Unfortunately there are also false voices, voices that will seek to counterfeit God’s voice to mislead us. This is where spiritual discernment comes in. Discernment is listening with your heart to confirm God’s word. The more you listen to God, the more you recognize his voice and the easier it gets to hear him.
Soli Deo Gloria
Summary
Discernment is listening with your heart to confirm God’s word to you
Text (1 Samuel 3:1-21 NIV)
1SA 3:1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
1SA 3:2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
1SA 3:6 Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."
1SA 3:7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
1SA 3:8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
1SA 3:10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
1SA 3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family--from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, `The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.' "
1SA 3:15 Samuel lay down until morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. He was afraid to tell Eli the vision, 16 but Eli called him and said, "Samuel, my son."
Samuel answered, "Here I am."
1SA 3:17 "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." 18 So Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD; let him do what is good in his eyes."
1SA 3:19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
Introduction
In May 1212, a 12 years old shepherd boy named Stephen of Cloye turned up at the Palace of King Philip of France with a letter from Jesus Christ. This was the time after the 4th Crusade failed to retake Jerusalem and the Holy land from the Muslims. Stephen said that Jesus Christ has appointed him to lead a new crusade and King Philip is to supply him with an army. King Philip refused to see him. Stephen then went around preaching his message and by June 1212, he has an army of 30,000 consisting mainly of children from 6-15 years old. When questioned about the feasibility about a children’s army, Stephen said God will provide protection. Whey they reach the Mediterranean Sea, God will part the sea and the army will march all the way to Jerusalem. They moved south and many children died on the way either by diseases or starvation. When they reached Marseilles, the Mediterranean Sea did not part. Instead they have to set out to sea in 7 boats. The 7 boats were never heard from again. Legend had it that the children were captured by pirates and sold off into slavery. This became known as the Children’s Crusade. Now looking backing back in history, we wonder how could a 12 year old illiterate shepherd boy claimed to have the word of God. And how could so many people believed him?
The question we need to ask ourselves is how do we know if God is speaking to us? This is known as discernment. Another boy in the Old Testament also faced the problem of discernment. As recorded in the part of 1 Samuel 3:1-21, the boy Samuel also face a problem to discover: “Who is calling him?” We shall learn from Samuel in three aspects:
1. Who is the caller?
2. Who is being called?
3. How do we listen?
1. Who is the Caller?
In the narrative, Samuel heard a voice calling, “Samuel! Samuel!” Initially he thought it was Eli calling him. Eli was the high priest of Shiloh where the Israelites came to worship and offer sacrifice every year. Samuel was given to the tabernacle to minister under Eli. Hannah, Samuel’s mother was barren. She prayed to the Lord so fervently that Eli thought that she was drunk! God answered her prayer and Samuel was her firstborn. In gratitude, Samuel was given by the family to work in the temple. Samuel was not a Levite so he will never be a priest. When Samuel hears a voice calling him, he quickly ran to Eli, thinking that Eli had called him. After the third time, Eli realized that the caller is God. Note his respond, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' (v.9) Without hearing the voice, Eli assumes that it was God who is calling Samuel. Now please note Samuel’s reply: "Speak, for your servant is listening." (v.10). Even as a young boy, Samuel was cautious. Unlike Eli, he did not assume that the Lord is calling him. Hence he dropped the word “Lord” from his reply. I find this remarkable in one so young. Even though he is in the house of the Lord he was cautious not to take God’s name in vain. There is no greater sin than to call someone else Lord which means God. Unfortunately, many of us are not so cautious. We often assume that the caller is God.
There are three sources of voices that call to us. They are either from God, from our own self or from Satan.
(1) Self
Our self or heart is “deceitful above all” We are all masters in self-justification. We can deceive ourselves from believing that what we want is actually what God wants. Then we go around telling people that God wants this when secretly it is what we want. Many years ago, in my varsity days, a brother in Christ came and shared with me. “The Lord wants me to marry this girl”. I know he like this girl who is also a member of our Christian fellowship very much. In fact everyone knew except him. “How so?” I asked him. “Well, I feel strongly that the Holy Spirit is telling me that she is the one for me. One night, when I was staring at the fridge door, I saw her face! And later that night, while I was reading the Bible about Jacob and Rachel, the Lord confirmed it. The name Rachel jumped up at me (the girl’s name is Rachel).” He was so convinced but I managed to convince him to be patient and give the relationship time. Now he is happily married with three children- to Rachel’s best friend! Looking back, he was so convinced that he was hearing the word of God when he was just hearing his own desire. That’s our deceitful self.
(2) Satan
Satan is the prince of lies. He will lie to convince us that God is speaking to us. And he can be very convincing because his other name is Lucifer which means angel of light. Look at the Children’s Crusade. That aim was good- free the Holy land. I cannot help but wonder where did this 12 years old illiterate shepherd boy got his power from? Raising an army of 30,000 children. Anyone who is in ministry can tell you, getting volunteers is not easy. To get one is tough, but 30,000 in one month! I believe that there are spiritual powers behind all these. We have to remember that there is a spiritual warfare still going on. Often it is easy to forget as we sit so comfortably in our pews.
(3) God
How do we know it is from God? God usually confirms what he says. Look at Samuel’s example. 1 Samuel 3:11-15.
1SA 3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel: "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears of it tingle. 12 At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family--from beginning to end. 13 For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them. 14 Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli, `The guilt of Eli's house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.' "
God is essentially confirming what he said about the condemnation of Eli’s household because of Eli’s two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 2:12-36). When Samuel heard this, he was satisfied that it was God who is speaking. Samuel must be around when he man of God came to pronounce God’s curse on Eli’s household in 1 Samuel 2:27. That’s why Samuel went back to sleep in v.15. He was convinced that he has heard from God.
2. Who is being Called?
Who did God call to? Samuel and not Hophni and Phinehas. God calls to those who worship him and to those who have a servant heart. Samuel had a servant heart.
(1) He worked hard serving the Lord and his servant.
v.1 Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli
v.15 he open the doors of the house of the Lord in the morning
(2) He has a servant attitude
Whenever Eli called, Samuel was prompt in his response and said, “Here I am”. That reflects a servant heart. This means that whatever God said to Samuel, he will listen and obey.
Sometimes, we must have wondered why God do not speak to us. Could it be we are not serving with a servant heart?
4. How do we listen?
We do not hear God’s voice because we are not listening properly. There are a few ways in which we listen:
(1) listen but do not hear
we are listening but we do not hear. We are not receptive at all.
(2) listen for what we want to hear
we have selective hearing loss. We only hear what we want to hear. Some of us have already made up our mind on what he or she wants to do for the Lord. Then we will search through the Scripture to find verses that support what we want to do. If the whole verse does not fit, we cut off half and use the only one half. When the Lord speaks to us through the Bible we hear only what we want to hear.
One of the most frustrating thing about being a doctor is explaining to parents of a very sick child. I have often experienced spending hours explaining what is wrong with their child and the prognosis. At the end, they will ask, “Is everything okay?” They do not want to hear anything else. They just want to hear me say the word “Okay”.
(3) listen enough to do something
we listen and hear enough so we can do something. “Alex, I want you to build a house…” “Yes, Lord” “Right away, Lord” So I get a contractor straight away to proceed to build a house. After the house I completed, I came back to the Lord. “Here you are, Lord, nice house, all completed.” The Lord said, “ You did not listen to my whole sentence. I was saying, I want you to build a house for your dogs.” How many of us are so eager to do things for the Lord but we do not spend enough time listening to him. That’s why we need to set aside time for prayers and solitude. God speaks in silence.
(4) listen with our hearts
The Lord is more interested in our being rather in our doing. To listen to the Lord, we need to listen not only with our mind but also with our heart. Then only can we hear the voice of God properly.
1SA 3:19 The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the LORD. 21 The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.
Samuel knew how to listen to the Lord with his heart. That’s why none of God’s words fall to the ground. Everything was taken in an assimilated. People begin to recognise him as a prophet. And because Samuel is a good listener, God continue to reveal himself to Samuel by speaking to him.
Lessons for us: Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening
How do we discern that God is speaking to us, not our self or Satan? How do we know who is calling? How do we know who is being called? And how do we listen to the words of God? John Wesley gave some guidelines in discerning God’s voice: Scripture, tradition, reason, experience.
(1) Scripture- God will not contradict himself. Whatever that contradict what is revealed in the Bible is not from God. If someone turns up saying God has revealed to him that Jesus Christ is married to Mary Magdalene and has a daughter named Sarah; that is not from God.
(2) Tradition- whatever contradicts 2,000 years of church experience. Sometimes we forget that the church has been around for 2000 years and does not start with Martin Luther. We can learn much from church history. There have been many mistakes but also great things the church has done. Tradition teaches us how to listen to God’s voice.
Tradition also includes the present church community. The Holy Spirit is common to all of us. If God speaks to one of us, he will also confirm with he says with others in the community. So if you feel God is speaking to you, ask others if they sense the same thing also. Community discernment is a powerful tool in confirming not only whether you are hearing God’s voice but also whether you are hearing him correctly.
(3) Reason- common sense. Often we do not use our common sense when we ask God to speak to us. Often we ask God whether we shall pray, read the Bible, evangelise, do mission or help another person. And then we complain that God does not reply. The reason why God does not reply is that he has already replied in the Bible. At other times, God may want us to think for ourselves.
(4) Experience- like Samuel, the more you listen to God, the more he will speak to you. After a while, you will have enough experience to recognize the Lord’s voice. You will also learn to know what pleases and displeases God.
These 4 aspects became known as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral in 1920. I would like to add prayer as the matrix that holds it all together.
(5) Prayer-Communion with God.
So in graphic form, we can discern God’s voice by
[Scripture]
[tradition] [reason] [experience]
[ prayer-communion with God ]
Conclusion
Our God is a God who wants to reveal himself. He is not playing hide-and-seek with us. If we seek him, he will speak plainly to us. He may speaks to us directly in an audible voice (as in Samuel’s case), through dreams, visions and his people. Unfortunately there are also false voices, voices that will seek to counterfeit God’s voice to mislead us. This is where spiritual discernment comes in. Discernment is listening with your heart to confirm God’s word. The more you listen to God, the more you recognize his voice and the easier it gets to hear him.
Soli Deo Gloria
Monday, July 10, 2006
Let's Talk about Giving
Text: Mark 12:41–44
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
Introduction
This passage in the gospels commonly known as the “widow’s offering” illustrate the importance of giving. In the gospel of Mark, the account follows the account of Jesus teaching of the Great Commandment: love God and love your neighbours, answering the question about David’s son and the denouncing of the scribes. Jesus was using this incident to teach His disciples about true offering or giving to the Lord.
From the passage (v.41-44) we can derive 6 principles of giving.
1. Our giving matters to God.
It is interesting to note that Jesus actually sat Himself opposite the treasury so that He can observe what each person is putting into the treasury as offerings to the Lord. This is an unusual place to sit and obviously Jesus wanted to teach His disciples an object lesson about offering.
The act of our giving matters to God. It is not because God needs our giving. Everything in the universe belongs to Him. It is the fact that we make the effort to give pleases Him and gives Him pleasure. The fact that we are obeying Him and giving to Him means that we are not so self centered.
There was a story about Abba Isaac. He was one of the Desert fathers in the desert of Egypt in the 2nd Century. In the desert, the nights are very cold and because of his frail condition, his followers gave him a piece of old blanket. Abba Isaac was pleased but he felt that Abba John needed the blanket more than him. So he gave it to Abba John. Abba John in turn felt that Abba Abraham needed the blanket more than him. So he gave it to Abba Abraham who in turn gave it to someone else. One day, someone presented Abba Isaac with the same blanket! I am sure God is pleased that His people are so concerned about each other and less about themselves. This is the basis of true giving. A love for God and a love for our neighbours.
Our giving does matter to God. God is observing us and watching to see how we are handling all the great blessings he has given us. God has blessed us with financial wealth, talents and gifts, skills and health. He is good to us. And He watches to see how we respond to this. Our giving does matter to God.
Where Jesus was sitting, He can see exactly what has been placed in the treasury as offerings. He saw the rich who deposited large amount of money but He was not impressed because they gave out of their abundance. God has blessed them but the amount they gave, even though it was much did not affect them at all. There was no prick of uneasiness, no hesitancy or worry about security. They gave out of their abundance. They have much more in reserve. Jesus was not impressed. Then along came a poor widow. She deposited her only two copper coins and Jesus was impressed. The widow did not have much and she gave it all to the Lord. The amount of our giving matters to God.
One of the spiritual lessons we learn as we deepen our spiritual walk with the Lord is that our detachment to worldly things and the need for security lessens. God becomes our all in all. I have a very good friend who is a Christian and a successful businessman. He built a very large furniture business. One day he suffered a heart attack. After he has recovered from his bypass surgery, he changed his lifestyle. He told me that he realized that a lot of things are not essential. He sold off his big bungalow and moved into a smaller house. He sold off his BMW and Mercedes and bought a smaller car. He adopted a simpler lifestyle so that he has more to give away. He found that as he deepens his prayer life and his relationship with God, he found that he needed less and less the false security of things. He became less attached to them. He found it is easier to give things away including large amount of money. The amount of money we can give away is inversely proportional to the depth of our spiritual life.
3. The love for God makes giving a pleasure rather than a chore.
No one forced this widow to make this offering. It was completely voluntary. She wanted to give her everything. Even though it must have hurt, she must have felt joy. There was no compulsion.
Recently, the father of one of my friends passed away. He ran a mini market. With this business he has sent seven of his children for college education in the United States. They have all graduated and now hold responsible positions. To earn enough money, this man has literally worked himself to death. He refused to close the shop for holidays. His shop is open for business 24/7. When he was dying from cancer, his daughter asked him whether he regretted working hard. No, he said, He loved his children. He felt that his children are a great gift for him. Hence it was a joy to work for their future. What a powerful testimony of a father’s love.
God showed His love for us by giving us His Son. God has given us so much. Hence it should be a joy for us to give something back to Him. Giving should be joyful. Here is an opportunity to give something back to God who has given us so much. It should not be regarded as a duty. We should not be reluctant to give back to God.
If we are reluctant to give, then we should review our spiritual life. There must be some reason why we are unwilling to give.
4. Anyone can give much.
Jesus teaches that generous giving can be given by anyone. He is not impressed by the amount but by the sacrifice in the giving. In God's sight, the poorest person in the world can be the most generous giver in the world!
There is a story about a village in the mountain in France during the German occupation in the Second World War. A woman from a rich noble family brought a bowl of porridge for a poor family in the village. The poor family received the porridge gratefully. It was a large family and the porridge would not be enough for all. The rich lady noticed that the poor woman was pouring some of the porridge into another small bowl. When asked why she did this, she said it is for her neighbours and their children who are also starving. Even the poorest and starving can give.
I am active in an online discussion group. Someone posted that he is earning $1,300 a month. After debt repayment and money for his parents, he has only $300 to live on for the whole month. “Does God expect him to give 10% or $130?” My response post was that God does not expect him to do that. I reminded him that giving is not only about money. We can give of our time, our skills, our talents and our commitments.
5. The love for God will increase our desire to give more.
In the same post, I challenged his idea of tithing. Where do we get the idea that tithe is 10% of our earnings?
10% is a requirement under the Law. In fact, some people like the Pharisees do give more. But it does not apply to us because we are under the New Covenant- the Covenant of Grace. There is no requirement that we must give 10% of our income. This idea of 10% is a carry over from the Old Testament. In fact, I think this 10% level is bondage on our thinking. Most of us think that if we give 10%, we have done our duty and God is happy. I am not too sure of that. Instead of religiously checking our annual income and calculate 10%, why not give more? This year you give 10% of your income. Next year, maybe 15%, then 20% or more.
In the United States where 93 million people profess to be Christian, George Barna, A Christian pollster recorded that the average giving of a Christian is 3%! And I feel it is the same here. We are not even reaching the 10% mark.
6. The Love for God may cause us to occasionally make an offering that is risky or impractical.
This woman gave everything she had to live on. This was not practical. If God did not provide for her in a special way, she would go hungry for a period of time. Yet I think that the widow is not stupid. She knew the risk, but she also knew her God. In all relationships, love and trust are completely intertwined. Love is trust, and trust is love. She loves her God and she trust in her God. God may provide for her needs for the next few days or she may starve. Either way, she love and trusted her God. That is the lesson Jesus would have us learn.
Francis of Assisi comes to mind when we talk of sacrificial giving. Son of a prosperous cloth, he had everything. Yet he gave away everything so that he can be free. He trusted the Lord to take care of him as He has taken care of the birds in the field and lilies in the valley. Anytime, a well wisher gave him something, he would give it away to the next beggar or poor man or woman he met.
Please note that sacrificial giving isn't something you have to do to be a Christian or to prove you love God or to gain God's favor. In fact, you do not have to give at all and God still loves you the same.
Rather, sacrificial giving is something you want to do. You see it as an opportunity to express your feelings for God. The giver trusts God with whatever God allows to happen.
Conclusion
The widow's relationship with God was based on trust and dependence, not her offering.
So it is with any of us. Our relationship with God is based not on what we give to God but on what he gives to us. The 6 principles of giving are:
Let us rethink our giving to the Lord. It should be done with joy. It should also challenge us. Rethink the figure of 10%. Why not give more? Why not give until it hurts?
Soli Deo Gloria
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
Introduction
This passage in the gospels commonly known as the “widow’s offering” illustrate the importance of giving. In the gospel of Mark, the account follows the account of Jesus teaching of the Great Commandment: love God and love your neighbours, answering the question about David’s son and the denouncing of the scribes. Jesus was using this incident to teach His disciples about true offering or giving to the Lord.
From the passage (v.41-44) we can derive 6 principles of giving.
1. Our giving matters to God.
It is interesting to note that Jesus actually sat Himself opposite the treasury so that He can observe what each person is putting into the treasury as offerings to the Lord. This is an unusual place to sit and obviously Jesus wanted to teach His disciples an object lesson about offering.
The act of our giving matters to God. It is not because God needs our giving. Everything in the universe belongs to Him. It is the fact that we make the effort to give pleases Him and gives Him pleasure. The fact that we are obeying Him and giving to Him means that we are not so self centered.
There was a story about Abba Isaac. He was one of the Desert fathers in the desert of Egypt in the 2nd Century. In the desert, the nights are very cold and because of his frail condition, his followers gave him a piece of old blanket. Abba Isaac was pleased but he felt that Abba John needed the blanket more than him. So he gave it to Abba John. Abba John in turn felt that Abba Abraham needed the blanket more than him. So he gave it to Abba Abraham who in turn gave it to someone else. One day, someone presented Abba Isaac with the same blanket! I am sure God is pleased that His people are so concerned about each other and less about themselves. This is the basis of true giving. A love for God and a love for our neighbours.
Our giving does matter to God. God is observing us and watching to see how we are handling all the great blessings he has given us. God has blessed us with financial wealth, talents and gifts, skills and health. He is good to us. And He watches to see how we respond to this. Our giving does matter to God.
- The amount of our giving matters to God.
Where Jesus was sitting, He can see exactly what has been placed in the treasury as offerings. He saw the rich who deposited large amount of money but He was not impressed because they gave out of their abundance. God has blessed them but the amount they gave, even though it was much did not affect them at all. There was no prick of uneasiness, no hesitancy or worry about security. They gave out of their abundance. They have much more in reserve. Jesus was not impressed. Then along came a poor widow. She deposited her only two copper coins and Jesus was impressed. The widow did not have much and she gave it all to the Lord. The amount of our giving matters to God.
One of the spiritual lessons we learn as we deepen our spiritual walk with the Lord is that our detachment to worldly things and the need for security lessens. God becomes our all in all. I have a very good friend who is a Christian and a successful businessman. He built a very large furniture business. One day he suffered a heart attack. After he has recovered from his bypass surgery, he changed his lifestyle. He told me that he realized that a lot of things are not essential. He sold off his big bungalow and moved into a smaller house. He sold off his BMW and Mercedes and bought a smaller car. He adopted a simpler lifestyle so that he has more to give away. He found that as he deepens his prayer life and his relationship with God, he found that he needed less and less the false security of things. He became less attached to them. He found it is easier to give things away including large amount of money. The amount of money we can give away is inversely proportional to the depth of our spiritual life.
3. The love for God makes giving a pleasure rather than a chore.
No one forced this widow to make this offering. It was completely voluntary. She wanted to give her everything. Even though it must have hurt, she must have felt joy. There was no compulsion.
Recently, the father of one of my friends passed away. He ran a mini market. With this business he has sent seven of his children for college education in the United States. They have all graduated and now hold responsible positions. To earn enough money, this man has literally worked himself to death. He refused to close the shop for holidays. His shop is open for business 24/7. When he was dying from cancer, his daughter asked him whether he regretted working hard. No, he said, He loved his children. He felt that his children are a great gift for him. Hence it was a joy to work for their future. What a powerful testimony of a father’s love.
God showed His love for us by giving us His Son. God has given us so much. Hence it should be a joy for us to give something back to Him. Giving should be joyful. Here is an opportunity to give something back to God who has given us so much. It should not be regarded as a duty. We should not be reluctant to give back to God.
If we are reluctant to give, then we should review our spiritual life. There must be some reason why we are unwilling to give.
4. Anyone can give much.
Jesus teaches that generous giving can be given by anyone. He is not impressed by the amount but by the sacrifice in the giving. In God's sight, the poorest person in the world can be the most generous giver in the world!
There is a story about a village in the mountain in France during the German occupation in the Second World War. A woman from a rich noble family brought a bowl of porridge for a poor family in the village. The poor family received the porridge gratefully. It was a large family and the porridge would not be enough for all. The rich lady noticed that the poor woman was pouring some of the porridge into another small bowl. When asked why she did this, she said it is for her neighbours and their children who are also starving. Even the poorest and starving can give.
I am active in an online discussion group. Someone posted that he is earning $1,300 a month. After debt repayment and money for his parents, he has only $300 to live on for the whole month. “Does God expect him to give 10% or $130?” My response post was that God does not expect him to do that. I reminded him that giving is not only about money. We can give of our time, our skills, our talents and our commitments.
5. The love for God will increase our desire to give more.
In the same post, I challenged his idea of tithing. Where do we get the idea that tithe is 10% of our earnings?
- Gen.14:18-20 Abraham gave one tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem. The writer of Hebrews (Hebs.7:4, 9) implied that there is a priesthood greater than that of Aaron.
- Gen. 28:22 Jacob promised to bring a tenth of his earning to God if he returns safely home.
- Exodus require giving only first-fruits (23:16)
- Tithes were given to Levites for their priestly service and they in turn are required to give one-tenth.(Num. 18:19-21,26)
- If a person does not want to give a tenth of what he produced, he can give 120% of its value.
- Tithes were required to be brought to the temple. If it is too far, can be sold and money brought to the temple.
- Every third year, the tithe remains in the hometown and the tithe given to the Levite, widows, poor or aliens.
- Withholding tithes is likened to robbing God (Mal.3:8-12)
- How often do they pay their tithes? Once a year.
10% is a requirement under the Law. In fact, some people like the Pharisees do give more. But it does not apply to us because we are under the New Covenant- the Covenant of Grace. There is no requirement that we must give 10% of our income. This idea of 10% is a carry over from the Old Testament. In fact, I think this 10% level is bondage on our thinking. Most of us think that if we give 10%, we have done our duty and God is happy. I am not too sure of that. Instead of religiously checking our annual income and calculate 10%, why not give more? This year you give 10% of your income. Next year, maybe 15%, then 20% or more.
In the United States where 93 million people profess to be Christian, George Barna, A Christian pollster recorded that the average giving of a Christian is 3%! And I feel it is the same here. We are not even reaching the 10% mark.
6. The Love for God may cause us to occasionally make an offering that is risky or impractical.
This woman gave everything she had to live on. This was not practical. If God did not provide for her in a special way, she would go hungry for a period of time. Yet I think that the widow is not stupid. She knew the risk, but she also knew her God. In all relationships, love and trust are completely intertwined. Love is trust, and trust is love. She loves her God and she trust in her God. God may provide for her needs for the next few days or she may starve. Either way, she love and trusted her God. That is the lesson Jesus would have us learn.
Francis of Assisi comes to mind when we talk of sacrificial giving. Son of a prosperous cloth, he had everything. Yet he gave away everything so that he can be free. He trusted the Lord to take care of him as He has taken care of the birds in the field and lilies in the valley. Anytime, a well wisher gave him something, he would give it away to the next beggar or poor man or woman he met.
Please note that sacrificial giving isn't something you have to do to be a Christian or to prove you love God or to gain God's favor. In fact, you do not have to give at all and God still loves you the same.
Rather, sacrificial giving is something you want to do. You see it as an opportunity to express your feelings for God. The giver trusts God with whatever God allows to happen.
Conclusion
The widow's relationship with God was based on trust and dependence, not her offering.
So it is with any of us. Our relationship with God is based not on what we give to God but on what he gives to us. The 6 principles of giving are:
- Our giving matters to God.
- The amount of our giving matters to God.
- The love for God makes giving a pleasure rather than a chore.
- Anyone can give much.
- The love for God will increase our desire to give more.
- The Love for God may cause us to occasionally will make an offering that is risky or impractical.
Let us rethink our giving to the Lord. It should be done with joy. It should also challenge us. Rethink the figure of 10%. Why not give more? Why not give until it hurts?
Soli Deo Gloria
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Superman Returns
The big guy in bright blue and red tights has a fascination for me since I discovered him in the comics when I was a wee lad. Currently I am enjoying Superman-the animated series, volume two and three on DVD. Though, I have not been too impressed with the previous four Superman movies, I was looking forward to this movie when Supes returns to the big screen.
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Peter Singer directed this movie though I have hoped that he would take up the challenge to direct X-Men III before taking on Superman Returns. But that will be crying over spilled milk.
The opening credits were impressive and remind us of the old Superman movies. John Williams’ music did not fail to induce a sense of nostalgia. The crash landing of a spaceship in the Kent’s farm was impressive and it was a pleasant shock to discover that Singer was not rehashing the legend of Superman’s first coming to earth but of a second coming. Interesting overtones of a ‘messiah’ legend.
Some will regard this movie as a love movie- between Superman and Lois Lane. There were nice moments in the movie which brought us back to the relationship of the two in previous Superman movies. However, one would question a love in which Superman will disappear suddenly without saying goodbye when astronomers discovered the remnants oft the planet Krypton. Flying away suddenly and leaving behind earth which he was entrusted to protect by his father, Jor-El smacks of an adolescent identity crisis.
Lex Luthor, the arch-villain was an interesting contrast of brilliance and stupidity. In his quest for revenge on Superman and real estate, he was willing to doom billions of people and drown the United States. It is interesting that he sees himself as the modern Prometheus. Prometheus was punished by the Greek gods for giving mankind fire (technology). In the movie, Luthor did steal Kryptonian technology for mankind (though for his own gain). Like Prometheus, he was caught and punished.
Central is to the theme of the movie is Lois Lane’s article, “Why the world doesn’t need a Superman”. It was written after Superman left abruptly and had won her the coveted Pulitzer award. Rephrased, the question became, “Does the world need a Saviour?” There is a scene in the movie where Superman hovers in space, listening and then responding to cries of help. There is another scene when Superman and Lois were floating in space (Lois apparently do not need oxygen or feel cold) when Superman answered the question. “You wrote that the world doesn't need a saviour, but everyday I hear people crying out for one." This has much resonance about the question about the world needing a saviour. One can cast Superman as the “Christ” figure. There are enough pointers in the movie; Jor-El sent his “only son” to earth. The talk about the father being the son and the son being the father. There is a scene in which Superman hovers in space in a crucifix position: arms outstretched, legs together. The second coming as in the return. The sacrifice and death of Superman. His apparent resurrection. His felt “responsibility” to be a saviour to the people of earth. It is easy to find Superman as the “Christ” figure in this movie.
However, we need to look deeper into the character of this Superman. Is he saviour material? In Superman II, he took Lois to bed (and fathered a son) while leaving the world unprotected. In this movie, he returns from a 5 years absence again leaving the world unprotected. He expects things to be what it was when he left. He tried to rekindle his relationship with Lois who has a son and a lived-in boyfriend. He stalked her like a love-sick puppy. Lex Luthor got out of jail (a 2 lifetime sentence) because Superman was not around to testify at his trial. He may be Superman but he is not perfect man. Only a perfect man can be the true saviour of mankind.
Brandon Routh was too scrawny to be cast as Superman/Clark Kent though at certain angles he does look like a very young Christopher Reeves. Kevin Spacey had fun as Lex Luthor. Kate Bosworth look totally out of character and looks as a Lois Lane. She lacks the toughness of Margot Kidder. Marlon Brando was well, Marlon Brandon. All in all, it was an interesting 155 minutes of movie making of an imperfect man/alien who wants to be saviour of the world. And I received a free movie poster too.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Let's Talk about Money
Let’s Talk About Money
Text: Luke 12:13-34
Summary
Greed, hoarding and anxiety are all aspect of not enough faith in Jesus concerning our money. The best financial investment instrument is to invest in the kingdom of God. John Wesley taught us the kingdom investment portfolio: gain all you can, save all you can and give all you can.
LK 12:13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
LK 12:14 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
LK 12:16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, `What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
LK 12:18 "Then he said, `This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
LK 12:20 "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?'
LK 12:21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
LK 12:22 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. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 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! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
LK 12:27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 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, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
LK 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Recently I met up with a couple of old friends from my secondary school days. This is a sort of reunion dinner. One lesson I learnt form this experience is that never attend reunion dinners. One, your friends look so old. Second, they put on so much weight. All is very depressing. After the usual preliminary asking about each other and family, we get down to the serious matter of eating and making light conversation. With guys, I noticed there are very few topic of conversation: politics, jobs and money. You may add Da Vinci Code or football nowadays but the main conversation is about health, job and money especially money. It may be about ways of making more money, stories how much money they have lost and a curious dance of trying to find out how much money everyone has.
The maxim “No money no talk” is actually not true. Yes, when you have money, you have many friends. When you have no money, you have little friends. Even your relatives seem to disappear. But it seems true that “No money got talk” or even “No money more talk”. Money is a good topic of conversation. So let’s talk about money.
Key verse (v.15) Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Greed is a common failing of many of us. Sometimes we are not aware of being greedy at all. Others times we disguise it as being ‘kiasu’. “You know, we can’t help it because we are Malaysian/Singaporean. We are just naturally kiasu.” We talk about being kiasu as being natural. Jesus was walking along when someone wanted to enlist his help in an inheritance dispute. This person must have heard about Jesus’ wisdom. He must also be having trouble with his brother regarding the division of his inheritance. This is in spite of the clear guidelines given in Leviticus concerning inheritance. People always dispute their inheritance because they feel they did not receive enough or their just due. They think they are fighting for justice, for what is rightfully due. But the sad truth is that they may be just greedy.
Recently the patriarch of a very rich family passed away. He left behind a great fortune: ownership of a few public listed companies, properties and a huge amount of money in the bank. He left a will in which he divided his inheritance among his children. He was in ICU and was dying. Somehow his children knew about the contents of his will and employed lawyers to dispute his will even before he was dead. They want to change the will. Even when his brain died , they requested that the doctors continue to keep him on life support for 10 days while they disputed his will. It was so sad that this man is not allowed to die in peace. Finally, his heart just stopped. The children are still challenging the will and are not speaking to each other. What is even more distressing is that each of his children is well off. One is a doctor, another is a lawyer and the other three are prosperous businessmen. Greed is just not having enough. A reporter interviewed Rockefeller, one of the richest men in America at that time. “You are very rich. Do you have enough?” “No” he said, “Just a little more.” [check quote]
Jesus said, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." We need to be on our guard against greed. We want more money, always more money. There is never enough.
I find there is very few successful working partnerships among doctors. Usually they start off the partnership as good friends. Things usually go well until they start making money. Then trouble starts as each partner watch how much the other is taking home. Many doctors’ partnerships breakup because of money. Usually these partnerships last about 3 years.
Jesus said, “a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”. Greed is wanting more. When we stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment, God will not ask how much do you have in your bank account. Nor will He ask how many bungalows and shop lots do you have? “a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” It consists of how much love he has given. How much have you loved?
And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 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 all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things 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 anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Key verse (v.21) "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
The parable is not against working hard and saving your earnings. It is about what you do with your profits or earnings. This man is concerned about himself. “And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." It is the self-centeredness of the man that the parable is against. The man is not concerned about God and what God has done for Him and what he can do for God.
Jesus gave another parable to illustrate this point in Matthews 25: 15-30. This is what we commonly called the parable of the talents.
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 1To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
"His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
" `Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Jesus is emphasizing that what we do with what we are given is important. He praised the servants who worked hard to get good returns from their investment but condemned the one who hoarded what he was given. God has given us many things. To some of us, God has blessed us with good business acumen, good opportunities and trustworthy workers. He has enabled us to make money. There is nothing wrong with making money. There is nothing wrong with being rich. Abraham, Jacob, Job, Zachareus, Matthew and Solomon are very rich men of their times. They will be in the top Forbes 500 of their time. God does not condemn the rich but He is concerned about what they do with their wealth. Do they spend their wealth on themselves or for others?
Hoarding is another human characteristic. We always like to hang onto things. We will say, “Now I have some money. I shall put it in the bank. When I have enough, I shall give some away for the needy.” The problem is, we will never have enough.
(v.21) "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
"Consider how the lilies 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, O 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
Key verse (v.22a) 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. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Jesus said not to worry about money. Money to buy food, buy clothes and shelter. Life’s basic needs are for food and shelter. Jesus said not to worry. He will take care of it. Do you believe this? Do you believe Jesus can take care of all our needs? Do you have the faith to believe that Jesus can need all your material needs? If you do, then you do not need to worry.
But we worry. We worry about the spiraling inflation and the rising cost of living. Since the government allowed petrol prices and electricity bills to increase, everything else have increased. A bowl of wanton noodles cost RM5.00 now. Even my Indian barber haircut has increased. He used to charge me RM8.00. Now he charges me RM9.00, a 12.5% increase. I wondered how he linked the increase to the increase in petrol prices. I walked to his barbershop!
We worry about saving enough for our children’s education. We are saving for our children twinning program for their undergraduate studies. A basic degree may cost RM 125,000. Medicine will cost about RM 500,000.00. How do we save enough for them?
We worry that we outlive our savings. We planned for our retirement, hoping that we go before our money go. Unfortunately EPF is not giving us good returns for our money. Investments in the stock market is not profitable and risky. Healthcare costs are rising and just when we are old and in need of medical insurance coverage, the insurance companies refused to cover us.
Jesus said not to worry. I shall take care of you. Do not worry about having enough money, trust Him. Look at the birds, look at the flowers and look at the grass. The grass of the field. This is an interesting comment. The grass is considered useless. Maybe to feed the sheep. They will grow, be cut down and burnt. I used to have a lawn at the side of my house. I find it such a bother to cut the grass that I have the area tiled. God said He will take care of the grass of the field. If God is concerned about such a small thing about the grass growing in the field, would He be not concerned about us, who are infinitely more valuable?
The root of greed and hoarding is that we worry we do not have enough money for ourselves. Jesus said not to worry. (v.22a) 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. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
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 not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Key verse (v.31) But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Jesus said do not worry. You do not have to be greedy or to hoard your money. God have given you the best investment portfolio-membership in His Kingdom. You can sell all your possessions and give them to the poor because you have will have no worries about money in the kingdom. In the kingdom, you will need extra large and durable purses because there are so much trouble treasures there. Throw away your fifteen dollars imitation “Gucci” bags.
Jesus said to invest in the kingdom of God. That is the best investment of all. It gives good returns and absolute protection. No financial institution can give you absolute protection. Banks, finance companies, insurance companies, hedge funds and even government can be bankrupt.
No financial institution can give you a guarantee on returns on your investments. I meet a lot of people selling investment products. They think I am a doctor I have money. They will introduce financial products such as insurance linked capital preservation fund, mutual fund, properties linked funds, stocks and shares. They will show me calculation that proves that if I invest a certain amount, I will get so much more in five years. Usually they guarantee about 8% returns which they assure me is more than what EPF or bank deposit will give. How can they guarantee 8% return? Somewhere there is in small print that says investment returns is dependent on market performances. Somehow this was never emphasized. I am upset that sometimes, some gullible old lady will put their life sayings into such funds because of unscrupulous salesperson. I wish we could sue them for selling an obviously defective financial instrument by appealing to greed.
The best place to put your money is in the kingdom of God. This investment is a fool-proof, guaranteed great inexhaustible returns and absolute protection. God Himself is your guarantor. And there is no expiratory date. I know when you buy a property; your title deed may be freehold. But when God destroy this earth to create a new heaven and earth, it’s gone. This investment in God’s kingdom is forever-eternal. It will come to term in the new heaven and earth. That’s why Jesus said, “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well”.
How do we invest in God’s kingdom? John Wesley, the founder of Methodism gave us a very good way of doing so.
John Wesley’s Trilateral about Money
Wesley was one of the highest earning preachers of his time. He received his income from donations, preaching and his books. On his best year he made about the modern day equivalent of 1.4 million pounds per year. That’s a lot of money.
He taught us to make money. Making money is not wrong as long as you employ legal means. Work hard and work smart to make money.
By saving, Wesley does not mean putting it in a bank. What he meant is that we are to be careful in how we spend money. He advocated a simple and frugal lifestyle:
Why should Christians be thrifty? So that they can give away their money. That’s the whole idea of gaining and saving as much as you can.
Wesley identified 4 areas in which one should give
Wesley made 1.4 million pounds per year. He lived on 2% of his income and gave away 98%. That is far, far from our giving 10%. That is kingdom giving.
The kingdom way of investment is gain all you can, save all you can and give all you can. Notice that he did not suggest that you gave everything and beggar yourself. Then you become a burden to society. What he meant is to live a simple lifestyle that you are comfortable with, providing for your family and give the rest away. That is a radical investment of our money.
Concluding Summary
Greed, hoarding and anxiety are all aspect of not enough faith in Jesus concerning our money. The best financial investment instrument is to invest in the kingdom of God. John Wesley taught us the kingdom investment portfolio: gain all you can, save all you can and give all you can.
Soli Deo Gloria
Text: Luke 12:13-34
Summary
Greed, hoarding and anxiety are all aspect of not enough faith in Jesus concerning our money. The best financial investment instrument is to invest in the kingdom of God. John Wesley taught us the kingdom investment portfolio: gain all you can, save all you can and give all you can.
LK 12:13 Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
LK 12:14 Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
LK 12:16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, `What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
LK 12:18 "Then he said, `This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
LK 12:20 "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?'
LK 12:21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
LK 12:22 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. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 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! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
LK 12:27 "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 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, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
LK 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
- Introduction
Recently I met up with a couple of old friends from my secondary school days. This is a sort of reunion dinner. One lesson I learnt form this experience is that never attend reunion dinners. One, your friends look so old. Second, they put on so much weight. All is very depressing. After the usual preliminary asking about each other and family, we get down to the serious matter of eating and making light conversation. With guys, I noticed there are very few topic of conversation: politics, jobs and money. You may add Da Vinci Code or football nowadays but the main conversation is about health, job and money especially money. It may be about ways of making more money, stories how much money they have lost and a curious dance of trying to find out how much money everyone has.
The maxim “No money no talk” is actually not true. Yes, when you have money, you have many friends. When you have no money, you have little friends. Even your relatives seem to disappear. But it seems true that “No money got talk” or even “No money more talk”. Money is a good topic of conversation. So let’s talk about money.
- Let’s Talk about Greed (v.13-15)
Key verse (v.15) Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Greed is a common failing of many of us. Sometimes we are not aware of being greedy at all. Others times we disguise it as being ‘kiasu’. “You know, we can’t help it because we are Malaysian/Singaporean. We are just naturally kiasu.” We talk about being kiasu as being natural. Jesus was walking along when someone wanted to enlist his help in an inheritance dispute. This person must have heard about Jesus’ wisdom. He must also be having trouble with his brother regarding the division of his inheritance. This is in spite of the clear guidelines given in Leviticus concerning inheritance. People always dispute their inheritance because they feel they did not receive enough or their just due. They think they are fighting for justice, for what is rightfully due. But the sad truth is that they may be just greedy.
Recently the patriarch of a very rich family passed away. He left behind a great fortune: ownership of a few public listed companies, properties and a huge amount of money in the bank. He left a will in which he divided his inheritance among his children. He was in ICU and was dying. Somehow his children knew about the contents of his will and employed lawyers to dispute his will even before he was dead. They want to change the will. Even when his brain died , they requested that the doctors continue to keep him on life support for 10 days while they disputed his will. It was so sad that this man is not allowed to die in peace. Finally, his heart just stopped. The children are still challenging the will and are not speaking to each other. What is even more distressing is that each of his children is well off. One is a doctor, another is a lawyer and the other three are prosperous businessmen. Greed is just not having enough. A reporter interviewed Rockefeller, one of the richest men in America at that time. “You are very rich. Do you have enough?” “No” he said, “Just a little more.” [check quote]
Jesus said, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." We need to be on our guard against greed. We want more money, always more money. There is never enough.
I find there is very few successful working partnerships among doctors. Usually they start off the partnership as good friends. Things usually go well until they start making money. Then trouble starts as each partner watch how much the other is taking home. Many doctors’ partnerships breakup because of money. Usually these partnerships last about 3 years.
Jesus said, “a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”. Greed is wanting more. When we stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment, God will not ask how much do you have in your bank account. Nor will He ask how many bungalows and shop lots do you have? “a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” It consists of how much love he has given. How much have you loved?
- Let’s Talk about Hoarding (v.16-21)
And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 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 all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things 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 anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Key verse (v.21) "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
The parable is not against working hard and saving your earnings. It is about what you do with your profits or earnings. This man is concerned about himself. “And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." It is the self-centeredness of the man that the parable is against. The man is not concerned about God and what God has done for Him and what he can do for God.
Jesus gave another parable to illustrate this point in Matthews 25: 15-30. This is what we commonly called the parable of the talents.
"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 1To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"The man with the two talents also came. `Master,' he said, `you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
"His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
"Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
"His master replied, `You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
" `Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Jesus is emphasizing that what we do with what we are given is important. He praised the servants who worked hard to get good returns from their investment but condemned the one who hoarded what he was given. God has given us many things. To some of us, God has blessed us with good business acumen, good opportunities and trustworthy workers. He has enabled us to make money. There is nothing wrong with making money. There is nothing wrong with being rich. Abraham, Jacob, Job, Zachareus, Matthew and Solomon are very rich men of their times. They will be in the top Forbes 500 of their time. God does not condemn the rich but He is concerned about what they do with their wealth. Do they spend their wealth on themselves or for others?
Hoarding is another human characteristic. We always like to hang onto things. We will say, “Now I have some money. I shall put it in the bank. When I have enough, I shall give some away for the needy.” The problem is, we will never have enough.
(v.21) "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
- Let’s Talk about Anxiety (v.22-30)
"Consider how the lilies 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, O 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
Key verse (v.22a) 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. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Jesus said not to worry about money. Money to buy food, buy clothes and shelter. Life’s basic needs are for food and shelter. Jesus said not to worry. He will take care of it. Do you believe this? Do you believe Jesus can take care of all our needs? Do you have the faith to believe that Jesus can need all your material needs? If you do, then you do not need to worry.
But we worry. We worry about the spiraling inflation and the rising cost of living. Since the government allowed petrol prices and electricity bills to increase, everything else have increased. A bowl of wanton noodles cost RM5.00 now. Even my Indian barber haircut has increased. He used to charge me RM8.00. Now he charges me RM9.00, a 12.5% increase. I wondered how he linked the increase to the increase in petrol prices. I walked to his barbershop!
We worry about saving enough for our children’s education. We are saving for our children twinning program for their undergraduate studies. A basic degree may cost RM 125,000. Medicine will cost about RM 500,000.00. How do we save enough for them?
We worry that we outlive our savings. We planned for our retirement, hoping that we go before our money go. Unfortunately EPF is not giving us good returns for our money. Investments in the stock market is not profitable and risky. Healthcare costs are rising and just when we are old and in need of medical insurance coverage, the insurance companies refused to cover us.
Jesus said not to worry. I shall take care of you. Do not worry about having enough money, trust Him. Look at the birds, look at the flowers and look at the grass. The grass of the field. This is an interesting comment. The grass is considered useless. Maybe to feed the sheep. They will grow, be cut down and burnt. I used to have a lawn at the side of my house. I find it such a bother to cut the grass that I have the area tiled. God said He will take care of the grass of the field. If God is concerned about such a small thing about the grass growing in the field, would He be not concerned about us, who are infinitely more valuable?
The root of greed and hoarding is that we worry we do not have enough money for ourselves. Jesus said not to worry. (v.22a) 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. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
- Let’s Talk about Investment (v.31-34)
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 not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Key verse (v.31) But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Jesus said do not worry. You do not have to be greedy or to hoard your money. God have given you the best investment portfolio-membership in His Kingdom. You can sell all your possessions and give them to the poor because you have will have no worries about money in the kingdom. In the kingdom, you will need extra large and durable purses because there are so much trouble treasures there. Throw away your fifteen dollars imitation “Gucci” bags.
Jesus said to invest in the kingdom of God. That is the best investment of all. It gives good returns and absolute protection. No financial institution can give you absolute protection. Banks, finance companies, insurance companies, hedge funds and even government can be bankrupt.
No financial institution can give you a guarantee on returns on your investments. I meet a lot of people selling investment products. They think I am a doctor I have money. They will introduce financial products such as insurance linked capital preservation fund, mutual fund, properties linked funds, stocks and shares. They will show me calculation that proves that if I invest a certain amount, I will get so much more in five years. Usually they guarantee about 8% returns which they assure me is more than what EPF or bank deposit will give. How can they guarantee 8% return? Somewhere there is in small print that says investment returns is dependent on market performances. Somehow this was never emphasized. I am upset that sometimes, some gullible old lady will put their life sayings into such funds because of unscrupulous salesperson. I wish we could sue them for selling an obviously defective financial instrument by appealing to greed.
The best place to put your money is in the kingdom of God. This investment is a fool-proof, guaranteed great inexhaustible returns and absolute protection. God Himself is your guarantor. And there is no expiratory date. I know when you buy a property; your title deed may be freehold. But when God destroy this earth to create a new heaven and earth, it’s gone. This investment in God’s kingdom is forever-eternal. It will come to term in the new heaven and earth. That’s why Jesus said, “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well”.
- Lesson for Us
How do we invest in God’s kingdom? John Wesley, the founder of Methodism gave us a very good way of doing so.
John Wesley’s Trilateral about Money
- GAIN all you can
Wesley was one of the highest earning preachers of his time. He received his income from donations, preaching and his books. On his best year he made about the modern day equivalent of 1.4 million pounds per year. That’s a lot of money.
He taught us to make money. Making money is not wrong as long as you employ legal means. Work hard and work smart to make money.
- SAVE all you can
By saving, Wesley does not mean putting it in a bank. What he meant is that we are to be careful in how we spend money. He advocated a simple and frugal lifestyle:
- Simple food
- No expensive clothes
- No elaborate houses
- No fancy gardens
Why should Christians be thrifty? So that they can give away their money. That’s the whole idea of gaining and saving as much as you can.
- GIVE all you can
Wesley identified 4 areas in which one should give
- Give to yourself all you need for the basics
- Give to your family and employees their fair share
- Give to the ‘household of faith’
- Give to all men in need
Wesley made 1.4 million pounds per year. He lived on 2% of his income and gave away 98%. That is far, far from our giving 10%. That is kingdom giving.
The kingdom way of investment is gain all you can, save all you can and give all you can. Notice that he did not suggest that you gave everything and beggar yourself. Then you become a burden to society. What he meant is to live a simple lifestyle that you are comfortable with, providing for your family and give the rest away. That is a radical investment of our money.
Concluding Summary
Greed, hoarding and anxiety are all aspect of not enough faith in Jesus concerning our money. The best financial investment instrument is to invest in the kingdom of God. John Wesley taught us the kingdom investment portfolio: gain all you can, save all you can and give all you can.
Soli Deo Gloria
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Left Behind
Text: 2 Kings 2:7-15; Acts1: 8-11
Summary
When Elijah left Elisha and when Jesus left us, they leave behind the continuation of their mission and the means of empowerment to fulfil that mission.
I. Introduction
Conn Iggulden’s Emperor series consists of four historical novel about Julius Caesar (The Gates of Rome; The Death of Kings; The Field of Swords; and The Gods of Wars). To complement this, I read Adrian Goldsworthy’s In The Name of Rome, a non fiction book about the various Roman generals who built the Roman Empire. Men like Caius Marius, Julius Caesar, Pompey and Titus (who besieged Jerusalem in 70 AD). I find the Roman strategy of building the Roman Empire fascinating. First they conquer an area either by besieging a city or defeating a local enemy ruler or chieftain. Next, they leave behind a garrison to occupy the conquered city as the army marches on. This garrison of well trained Roman soldiers was not only to keep the local population in check but also to offer them protection. The Romans were great engineers. They would improve the conquered city by building infrastructures like aqueducts to bring water from the mountains, sewers and roads. Better roads will bring commerce, trade and Roman culture. Gradually the conquered cities will be assimilated into the Roman Empire. Many of the great cities of Europe were Roman cities, built upon existing cities: London, Paris, Plague and Istanbul. This is due to the work of those who were purposely left behind by the Roman armies and their generals.
II. Biblical Texts
This evening, we shall look at two passages concerning ascension to heaven and those who were left behind. One is from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. We shall see who ascended and what happens to those who were left behind.
2 Kings 2:7-15
2KI 2:7 Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours--otherwise not."
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.
13 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. 15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, "The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha." And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
Thursday 25 May was Ascension Day. Some churches celebrate Ascension Day. Ascension Day is 40 days after Easter when the disciples say Jesus ascended to heaven.
Acts 1:6-11
AC 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Comparison of the relationship of the two passages
Elijah & Elisha
Jesus & Disciples
1
Mission
Elijah’s mission: Preaching Repentance
Jesus’ mission: preaching salvation
2
Request
Elisha’s request: for double portion of blessing
Disciples’ request: restoring the kingdom to Israel.
3
Condition imposed
If you see the me being taken up
If you wait in Jerusalem
4
Means given
Elisha received spiritual gift and Elijah’s cloak
Disciples receive the Holy Spirit
5
Mission given
Continue preaching repentance
Be His witness; Kingdom of God
6
Succession confirmed
Elisha confirmed as successor of Elijah
Disciples confirmed as Jesus’ successor on earth
Here we can appreciate the close relationship Elijah has with Elisha and Jesus with His disciples. In modern terms we would say that there is a mentoring process and there is a succession plan. In each of the narratives given in the Old Testament and New Testament, we see the completion of one’s given part of the mission and the passing on of the torch to someone else to carry on the mission.
III. The Missions of those Who Left
a. Elijah
We are introduced to Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1 when he confronted King Ahab and forecast numbers of years of drought on the land. The drought will end when he said the word. This is what the Lord commanded him. Ahab was considered the most evil king of Israel, the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 16:30). Then Elijah has to hide because King Ahab sent his men to look for him. Elijah was a prophet. His mission was to preach repentance. His mission was to call people to repent and turn back to God. That is also the overall theme of the Old Testament.
b. Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God incarnate. God incarnate means God became man. Jesus’ mission is to be the sacrificial lamb for all the sins of mankind. He did it by taking on our sins and dying on the cross for us. Follow onto to this is that Jesus is to bring the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom is already here and yet to come. The Kingdom of God basically means the rule of God in our hearts. Put God first or give God top priority in our lives.
IV. The Missions of those Who are Left Behind
a. Elisha
The mission of the prophets were to preach repentance and call the people of Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Judah (Southern Kingdom) back to the worship of one true God. The people are easily swayed or attracted to the other gods of their neighbours such as Baal and Ashtoreth. These are fertility gods of the Canaanites.
b. The Disciples
The disciples make up the Church. When Jesus ascended to heaven, His physical presence on earth is the Church. That’s why the Church is also called the Body of Christ. Jesus’ mission to the church is to be His witnesses. Starting in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the rest of the world. Being His witnesses and making disciples of Jesus Christ is closely related.
V. The Empowerment of Those Left Behind
a. The Cloak of Elijah
Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted. Elisha asked for a double portion of his (Elijah’s) spirit. Scholars generally agreed here that Elisha did not really ask for Elijah’s spirit but for his gift of prophecy. First born usually receive a double portion. What Elisha was actually asking is that Elijah confirms him as his successor and passes onto to him Elijah’s spiritual gifts. Elijah answer is revealing. It is not up to him to confirm Elisha’s confirmation as his successor or to give spiritual gifts. It is God’s prerogative. Hence he gave a condition. If you see taken from you, then you shall have what you asked. So when Elisha saw the flaming horses and chariot, he knew that God has given him what he asked for. It is also interesting that Elijah left his cloak behind. Elijah knew that the other prophets may not accept Elisha’s words so easily that he is to be their leader. Hence he left his cloak to Elisha. Elisha used his cloak to divide the Jordan River just as Elijah did and walked across the dry river bed. Even then, as the later part of the chapter shows, the other prophets still want to search the surrounding area for Elijah. God has equipped Elisha to carry on Elijah’s mission. The spiritual gift of prophecy.
b. The Holy Spirit
In Acts, Jesus told His disciples to stay in Jerusalem. When he leaves, He will send the Holy Spirit who will give them the power to be His witnesses. Thus Jesus did not leave behind his disciples powerless. He knew that there are forces that will attack his disciples. But He knew He had to leave. He left so that he can take His place at the right hand of God and to continue to intercede for us as our High Priest in heaven while here on earth; the Holy Spirit empowers us to continue His mission of bringing redemption to the rest of the world.
VI. Lessons for Us
Steven Spielberg’s movie, “E.T” wonderfully illustrate our point about left behind. E.T. stands for extraterrestrial or aliens. The story is about an alien exploration team while on earth was surprised while in their attempts to collect plant samples and accidentally left one of them behind. Fortunately, the extra-terrestrial soon finds a friend and emotional companion in fatherless 10-year-old Elliot, who discovered him looking for food in his family's garden shed. E.T. slowly gets acquainted with Elliot's brother Michael, his sister Gertie (a very young Drew Barrymore) as well as with Earth customs. The rest of the movie is about how these children and the alien outwit attempts by the US government and the local sheriff department to capture the alien. But before long, E.T. gets seriously sick, and because of his special connection to Elliot, the young boy suffers, too. The mothership finally came back for the E.T. after the alien made the first galactic phone call, “E.T. call home”. This movie illustrates what it’s like to be left behind, what is “being in the world but not of the world” and how by his/her presence impacted the lives of the children.
We have all been left behind. It is not a mistake. It is part of God’s plan. Jesus had to leave us when He has completed His part of the mission. But He did not leave us powerless. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us fulfil His mission.
a. Our Mission
Be His witnesses in the world. What is more important is not to lose the focus of Jesus Christ as the centre of our lives and ministries. Until and less we are focused on Christ, we will not be effective witnesses of Him but instead poor imitations of our Saviour.
b. Our Mean
Allowing the Holy Spirit to empower us. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Truth and Freedom. The Holy Spirit does not compel us to allow Him to work. We have to allow Him to work. So if we are to receive power and become Christ’s witnesses, we have to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Recently I was on a 10 days silent retreat. Being on a silent retreat is challenging as those of you who have been on such a retreat will tell you. Being on such a retreat will force you to separate from the world and to focus on God. Unfortunately you will also have to face yourself. During this retreat, I came to the realization that we cannot be holy by our own effort. All our efforts will always be tainted by our natural self. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we make any progress.
Conclusion Summary
When Elijah left Elisha and when Jesus left us, they leave behind the continuation of their mission and the means of empowerment to fulfil that mission.
Soli Deo Gloria
Summary
When Elijah left Elisha and when Jesus left us, they leave behind the continuation of their mission and the means of empowerment to fulfil that mission.
I. Introduction
Conn Iggulden’s Emperor series consists of four historical novel about Julius Caesar (The Gates of Rome; The Death of Kings; The Field of Swords; and The Gods of Wars). To complement this, I read Adrian Goldsworthy’s In The Name of Rome, a non fiction book about the various Roman generals who built the Roman Empire. Men like Caius Marius, Julius Caesar, Pompey and Titus (who besieged Jerusalem in 70 AD). I find the Roman strategy of building the Roman Empire fascinating. First they conquer an area either by besieging a city or defeating a local enemy ruler or chieftain. Next, they leave behind a garrison to occupy the conquered city as the army marches on. This garrison of well trained Roman soldiers was not only to keep the local population in check but also to offer them protection. The Romans were great engineers. They would improve the conquered city by building infrastructures like aqueducts to bring water from the mountains, sewers and roads. Better roads will bring commerce, trade and Roman culture. Gradually the conquered cities will be assimilated into the Roman Empire. Many of the great cities of Europe were Roman cities, built upon existing cities: London, Paris, Plague and Istanbul. This is due to the work of those who were purposely left behind by the Roman armies and their generals.
II. Biblical Texts
This evening, we shall look at two passages concerning ascension to heaven and those who were left behind. One is from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. We shall see who ascended and what happens to those who were left behind.
2 Kings 2:7-15
2KI 2:7 Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours--otherwise not."
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.
13 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. 15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, "The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha." And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
Thursday 25 May was Ascension Day. Some churches celebrate Ascension Day. Ascension Day is 40 days after Easter when the disciples say Jesus ascended to heaven.
Acts 1:6-11
AC 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Comparison of the relationship of the two passages
Elijah & Elisha
Jesus & Disciples
1
Mission
Elijah’s mission: Preaching Repentance
Jesus’ mission: preaching salvation
2
Request
Elisha’s request: for double portion of blessing
Disciples’ request: restoring the kingdom to Israel.
3
Condition imposed
If you see the me being taken up
If you wait in Jerusalem
4
Means given
Elisha received spiritual gift and Elijah’s cloak
Disciples receive the Holy Spirit
5
Mission given
Continue preaching repentance
Be His witness; Kingdom of God
6
Succession confirmed
Elisha confirmed as successor of Elijah
Disciples confirmed as Jesus’ successor on earth
Here we can appreciate the close relationship Elijah has with Elisha and Jesus with His disciples. In modern terms we would say that there is a mentoring process and there is a succession plan. In each of the narratives given in the Old Testament and New Testament, we see the completion of one’s given part of the mission and the passing on of the torch to someone else to carry on the mission.
III. The Missions of those Who Left
a. Elijah
We are introduced to Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1 when he confronted King Ahab and forecast numbers of years of drought on the land. The drought will end when he said the word. This is what the Lord commanded him. Ahab was considered the most evil king of Israel, the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 16:30). Then Elijah has to hide because King Ahab sent his men to look for him. Elijah was a prophet. His mission was to preach repentance. His mission was to call people to repent and turn back to God. That is also the overall theme of the Old Testament.
b. Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is God incarnate. God incarnate means God became man. Jesus’ mission is to be the sacrificial lamb for all the sins of mankind. He did it by taking on our sins and dying on the cross for us. Follow onto to this is that Jesus is to bring the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom is already here and yet to come. The Kingdom of God basically means the rule of God in our hearts. Put God first or give God top priority in our lives.
IV. The Missions of those Who are Left Behind
a. Elisha
The mission of the prophets were to preach repentance and call the people of Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Judah (Southern Kingdom) back to the worship of one true God. The people are easily swayed or attracted to the other gods of their neighbours such as Baal and Ashtoreth. These are fertility gods of the Canaanites.
b. The Disciples
The disciples make up the Church. When Jesus ascended to heaven, His physical presence on earth is the Church. That’s why the Church is also called the Body of Christ. Jesus’ mission to the church is to be His witnesses. Starting in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the rest of the world. Being His witnesses and making disciples of Jesus Christ is closely related.
V. The Empowerment of Those Left Behind
a. The Cloak of Elijah
Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted. Elisha asked for a double portion of his (Elijah’s) spirit. Scholars generally agreed here that Elisha did not really ask for Elijah’s spirit but for his gift of prophecy. First born usually receive a double portion. What Elisha was actually asking is that Elijah confirms him as his successor and passes onto to him Elijah’s spiritual gifts. Elijah answer is revealing. It is not up to him to confirm Elisha’s confirmation as his successor or to give spiritual gifts. It is God’s prerogative. Hence he gave a condition. If you see taken from you, then you shall have what you asked. So when Elisha saw the flaming horses and chariot, he knew that God has given him what he asked for. It is also interesting that Elijah left his cloak behind. Elijah knew that the other prophets may not accept Elisha’s words so easily that he is to be their leader. Hence he left his cloak to Elisha. Elisha used his cloak to divide the Jordan River just as Elijah did and walked across the dry river bed. Even then, as the later part of the chapter shows, the other prophets still want to search the surrounding area for Elijah. God has equipped Elisha to carry on Elijah’s mission. The spiritual gift of prophecy.
b. The Holy Spirit
In Acts, Jesus told His disciples to stay in Jerusalem. When he leaves, He will send the Holy Spirit who will give them the power to be His witnesses. Thus Jesus did not leave behind his disciples powerless. He knew that there are forces that will attack his disciples. But He knew He had to leave. He left so that he can take His place at the right hand of God and to continue to intercede for us as our High Priest in heaven while here on earth; the Holy Spirit empowers us to continue His mission of bringing redemption to the rest of the world.
VI. Lessons for Us
Steven Spielberg’s movie, “E.T” wonderfully illustrate our point about left behind. E.T. stands for extraterrestrial or aliens. The story is about an alien exploration team while on earth was surprised while in their attempts to collect plant samples and accidentally left one of them behind. Fortunately, the extra-terrestrial soon finds a friend and emotional companion in fatherless 10-year-old Elliot, who discovered him looking for food in his family's garden shed. E.T. slowly gets acquainted with Elliot's brother Michael, his sister Gertie (a very young Drew Barrymore) as well as with Earth customs. The rest of the movie is about how these children and the alien outwit attempts by the US government and the local sheriff department to capture the alien. But before long, E.T. gets seriously sick, and because of his special connection to Elliot, the young boy suffers, too. The mothership finally came back for the E.T. after the alien made the first galactic phone call, “E.T. call home”. This movie illustrates what it’s like to be left behind, what is “being in the world but not of the world” and how by his/her presence impacted the lives of the children.
We have all been left behind. It is not a mistake. It is part of God’s plan. Jesus had to leave us when He has completed His part of the mission. But He did not leave us powerless. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us fulfil His mission.
a. Our Mission
Be His witnesses in the world. What is more important is not to lose the focus of Jesus Christ as the centre of our lives and ministries. Until and less we are focused on Christ, we will not be effective witnesses of Him but instead poor imitations of our Saviour.
b. Our Mean
Allowing the Holy Spirit to empower us. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Truth and Freedom. The Holy Spirit does not compel us to allow Him to work. We have to allow Him to work. So if we are to receive power and become Christ’s witnesses, we have to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Recently I was on a 10 days silent retreat. Being on a silent retreat is challenging as those of you who have been on such a retreat will tell you. Being on such a retreat will force you to separate from the world and to focus on God. Unfortunately you will also have to face yourself. During this retreat, I came to the realization that we cannot be holy by our own effort. All our efforts will always be tainted by our natural self. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we make any progress.
Conclusion Summary
When Elijah left Elisha and when Jesus left us, they leave behind the continuation of their mission and the means of empowerment to fulfil that mission.
Soli Deo Gloria
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