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Guard Against Greed

7/28/2022

Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

You would think the Bible wouldn’t have to warn us about greed. But God’s Word leaves nothing to chance. God has given us Scripture to show us how to live (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). Instinctively, we know that greed, as in “gluttony,” is wrong. It can have a deleterious effect…we feel bloated, we get nauseous, we gain weight, we look bad in front of onlookers as we grab more than we can eat or jostle for more than our fair share. But do we recognize greed when we want more than enough, claw our way to wealth and excess, and label it “success”? Do we recognize greed when we use our possessions to make ourselves feel superior to others, or when we hoard our blessings and neglect to share them with others?

In Luke’s Gospel (12:13-21), Jesus gives a warning against greed by introducing a parable of a wealthy farmer whose grain had far exceeded his storage houses. The man’s solution to his dilemma was to build even larger storehouses so he could fit it all in and live comfortably for the rest of his life.

“Now I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I can store all my grain and other goods.  Then I'll say to myself, ‘You have stored up enough good things to last for years to come. Live it up! Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself’ ” (vv.18-19, CEV).

Do you hear a hollow echo? Listen closely…”I,” “my,” and “myself.” There are no prayers of thanksgiving. There is no asking God how he should handle this excess that he has been blessed with. There is no heart of generosity that would give him joy from sharing. Instead, there is only a plan for personal, private fulfillment and aggrandizement.

Selfishness is the progenitor of greed. There is no law against being rich and the Bible clearly says it’s not money that defiles us but the “love” of money (1 Timothy 6:10). So it should come as no surprise that the parable includes a rebuke.

But God said to him, “You fool! Tonight you will die. Then who will get what you have stored up?” (v.20)

Whoa! Greed can topple the mighty. In fact, it can kill. If not literally, greed can snuff out our spirit of love, compassion, and generosity to those around us who are less fortunate. It can make our hearts hard. It can dim our witness.

Jesus, then, tells us:
“This is what happens to people who store up everything for themselves, but are poor in the sight of God” (v. 21).
What do our barns look like? Are we sharing our blessings? Does our treasure lie in our earthly possessions? How can we be rich “in the sight of God”? Would the treasure we’re accumulating get God’s seal of approval? Or would God label us a fool?

As we guard against greed in whatever its form, let’s remember the proverb, “Everything in moderation.” Let’s also remember that if we have to manipulate someone or the system, then our gains are ill-gotten. And finally, let’s examine our motivation. How does what we have, and how we use it, honor God?

Our Heavenly Father has given us all things to enjoy. He wants us to be content, and he also wants us to be his hands and heart and reach out to those who are in need. We will discover the joy of being rich in God as we fill the baskets of those around us.

PRAYER: God, our Father, let us walk in your footsteps of generosity. Let us see the needs of others not as opportunities to give a hand-out, but to graciously lift them by the hand to the spaces and places you would have them occupy. Give us joy as we go about honoring you through our generosity. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
                                                  ©M©dytations 2022

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Creating a Culture of Kindness

7/19/2022

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WEDNESDAY'S WORD
by Dorette Saunders

Do you ever feel nostalgic over the loss of some of the staples we once enjoyed? Ah, not the mouth-watering, homemade foods, but rather the intangibles like civility and kindness?

Lately it seems as if so many people are on edge. And so, a statement issued with no malicious intent, or a disagreement with someone else’s point of view can easily become a springboard for the next vicious social media attack, or worst still, the next mass shooting.

The Bible clearly tells us we need to “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:10, NLT). This is not an easy task, especially with people we don’t particularly like. But, if we would follow Jesus’ example, we can start off by being kind.

Our Lord Jesus was loving and kind. Quite often Jesus’ “genuine affection” for others made him the target of the Pharisees’ hatred. Can you see them pondering Jesus’ motives? Why would a rabbi align himself with sinners and tax collectors? Why engage with them?

For one thing, it is the nature of Jesus’ character. He is love. And he’s a God who loves lavishly and is kind and faithful to those he created. It is also a model for who God expects us to be. If we intentionally sow seeds of kindness, they will blossom into beautiful flowers.

Kindness can be the small seed of a smile. I once had a button which read: “Smile! It makes people wonder what you’ve been up to.” Invariably one of my fellow commuters would read it, I would smile, and they’d return the smile. Sometimes the smile would erupt into laughter, or we’d strike up a conversation. It made for a pleasant start to the work day.

Creating a culture of kindness is biblical. We are reminded to “always be eager to practice hospitality” (v. 13) and we are told not to “… be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!” (v. 16). How our world would change if we would “take delight in honoring each other,” and if we would genuinely seek out the company of ‘ordinary people.’

How can each of us reflect an attitude of kindness? First, our motives must be pure. Therefore, when our act of kindness is met with hostility, as it sometimes may be, we should be willing to bless those who persecute us, “Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them” (v.14). This is a difficult, but necessary task. But surely God will help us to accomplish it.

As we reflect on ways in which we can be kind, pray and ask God to bless us as we seek to imitate Jesus in this world. Despite what goes on around us, we look most like Jesus when we walk in his footsteps—when we are kind.

PRAYER: Lord, help us to be kind, not just to those whom we love and respect, but to those who get on our last nerves, push our buttons, challenge our beliefs or whose mission it is to derail our walk with you. Help us to truly be kind. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
                                                                               ©M©dytations 2022

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What Does It Take to Be Obedient?

7/12/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

Each time I read how the children of Israel, God’s people, renege on their promise to serve him, I recall how some cultures refer to this lapse in obedience as having “hard ears.” This is, of course, not to be confused with “hard of hearing” which is a physical or medical condition.

“Hard ears” implies that the person has heard the warning, rule, or instruction, but has intentionally chosen to ignore it. While the phrase is used mostly with children, it is equally applicable to adults.

Time and again when the prophet Moses was leading God’s people, he reminded them of God’s laws, and encouraged them to obey, in order to honor God, and thus avoid punishment. Further, he told them, “You know God’s laws, and it isn’t impossible to obey them. His commands aren’t in heaven…you know them by heart. All you have to do is obey!” (Deuteronomy 30:11-12, 14, CEV).

You would think that Moses’ words would spur the people to more consistent obedience. Instead, they would honor God for a little while, but promptly fall back into idolatry. Later, they would forget their response when Joshua asked them to choose which God they would worship.

The people answered: “We could never worship other gods or stop worshiping the LORD” (Joshua 24:16, CEV).

Really?
Why, then, did they turn their backs on God?
And still later, they would turn aside from the words of the prophet Micah:
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.
                                                   (Micah 6:8, NIV)

Before we think of recurring disobedience as an Old Testament problem, let’s look at our own country. Our community. Our family. Ourselves. Have we always hit the mark on justice, mercy, humility or obedience?

Quite honestly, the answer is “No.” In fact, Moses’ words “all you have to do is obey” is not so easy for many of us. We struggle with thinking the right thing, let alone doing the right thing.

What started off as “hard ears,” evolved into hard hearts, and it went downhill from there. We have heard the apostle Paul bemoan his lack of adherence to doing right.
“… I don't understand why I act the way I do. I don't do what I know is right. I do the things I hate” (Romans 7:15, CEV).

So what does it take for us to be obedient? Frankly, our love for God must override our earthly desires. We need to be transformed by renewing our minds. Only God’s Spirit working in us produces change. But we need to cooperate, too. For transformation to occur, we must watch what we feed our spirit.

Watch what we watch (Are you sure those movies are wholesome?); look where we walk (would you have trouble explaining why you are visiting a venue that others shun?); and guard our thoughts and our lips before we speak.

We need the light of the Savior in our lives and we need to shine that light so others may be led to him. The apostle John says: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out” (John 1:5, GNT). Pray that we will never allow our disobedience to dull our witness. Pray that our ears will always be receptive to God’s voice, and our hearts open to his Word.

PRAYER: Lord God, I desperately want to be who you have called me to be. Help me to be humble and obedient. Let me be one who practices mercy and compassion in all its many forms. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

                                                                           ©M©dytations 2022
J

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It's Not What I Expected!

7/5/2022

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Wednesday’s Word

Like the plot to a good script, we often map out our lives. Graduation. Career. Marriage. House. Family. Add to that—living happily ever after, with a couple of violins playing in the wings and some heart emojis for good measure!
We forget, however, that life happens. In between the pages of a perfect script, one unfortunate circumstance can beckon another to come, and pretty soon our perfectly planned life becomes a disheveled mess.
No doubt Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, had his life mapped out (2 Kings 5:1-14). Successful in his conquests, he was moving up the military ladder, then one day leprosy struck…
Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, and their two sons moved from Bethlehem of Judah to Moab to escape a famine in their homeland (Ruth 1:1-22). The boys find good wives in this new land. Then, within a few years, Elimelech dies, and so does the two sons. This unexpected widowhood and loss of both her sons was challenging, and now poverty was staring Naomi in the face...
Saul, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, and a student of an esteemed teacher of the Law, Gamaliel, was proud of his lineage and his accomplishments (Philippians 3:4-6). He was thoroughly enjoying the notoriety of persecuting or viciously killing or Christians. Then one day on his way to Damascus, he suddenly fell to the ground, and was blinded by a great light… (Acts 9:1-9)
We can add our own stories of how our world was going just fine before the script flipped. And no doubt we’ll say out loud or quietly, “It’s certainly not what I expected!”
What’s amazing in each of these scenarios is how God worked through them to accomplish more than each individual involved could ever have imagined. And, so it is, if we give God the opportunity to work in our lives, all those unexpected occurrences will work out for our good.
…it is just as the Scriptures say,
“What God has planned
    for people who love him
is more than eyes have seen
    or ears have heard.
It has never even
    entered our minds!”
             (1 Corinthians 2:9, CEV)
Whatever it takes, God will be glorified, and his purposes will be fulfilled. God will work in our lives whether or not we believe in him, or think his timing is perfect. And, more often than not, it will not be what we expect!
In Namaan’s case, perhaps he expected a ritualistic healing followed by a ceremonial dip in a pure-flowing, sparkling river. It didn’t happen that way. Nevertheless, once Namaan humbles himself, he receives his healing through God’s prophet Elisha.
Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Ruth, eventually gleans more than barley as she tries to support herself and her aged relative. Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of King David, and an ancestor of Jesus, the Messiah!
Saul converts to Christianity, and is given a new name, Paul. He becomes an apostle of Christ, preaching the gospel and writing the majority of the books of the New Testament.
God is bigger than our expectations. When storm clouds roll in, perhaps it is God flipping the script for a brand new production. While we entertain many ideas on how our lives will progress, our expectations are often upended by the plans God has for us.
Knowing this, we can trust God when events occur that we deem unwanted. You and I can “Offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ! Only God can keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence. … God is worthy of glory, honor, power, and authority. Amen” (Jude 1:24-25, CEV).

PRAYER: Every good and perfect gift comes from you, O God. Often, it is not packaged in the way we expect it to be. Help us to focus more on you, the Giver, and pay close attention as the gift unfolds. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Guard Against Greed

Creating a Culture of Kindness

What Does It Take to Be Obedient?

It's Not What I Expected!

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