Updated 06/17/03
Honor Thy Mother and Father Come Boldly Three Little Pigs We Need Never Be Lonely Good, From Evil Just a "Chance" Being Content What is In Your Hand? Just One Thought Compliments In Whose Name? Is There Room In My Inn?
January
Have you called your mother lately? Have you thanked your dad for all those little things he taught you? Have you acknowledged to others the respect you should pay to your parents?
Have you been to the cemetery recently to visit the grave of your parents, grandparents, great grandparents: cleaned up the cemetery plot, or placed flowers on the headstone? What kind of tribute have you paid to your mom or dad; and do you do it regularly?
We have recently been publishing a series of articles by the late Elder H. J. Donohue on the Ten Commandments. In that series he covered the Fifth Commandment: honor thy mother and father. This has caused me to think about this particular commandment. Of course, all the commandments are vital and important in our study of the scriptures, but let's focus for one minute on the Fifth Commandment. It has some special significance attached to it a little different from the others.
"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12. Deuteronomy words it just a little differently: "Honor thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Deut. 5:16.
The special significance of the Fifth Commandment is evident from its reading, but is emphasized by the Apostle Paul in the first of the Sixth Chapter of Ephesians: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for it is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
The Fifth Commandment carries promise for the duty it imposes.
And it is a duty that is easy to follow . . . or is it? How easy has it been for you? Have we honored our father and mother in the form of duty that is commanded by God? Or, have we told ourselves that "sure, I love mom and dad and they know I love them," even though I really have not had the time to spend with them or do anything "special" with them or for them. So that makes it okay that I cannot touch base with them regularly, or go see them, or pay my respects? I have not found the "exception" to the Fifth Commandment that honors any of these excuses. Mom and Dad may forgive us for our transgressions of the Fifth Commandment, but does that take us off the hook of our duty, or provide us the "promise" of the commandment?
Ever say anything out of irritation about Mom or Dad? Not only are we commanded to "honor" our parents, but we are provided instructions when we "dishonor" them:
"And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. . . . And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death." Exodus 21:15, 17.
"Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness." Prov. 20:20.
"Harken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old." Prov. 23:22.
"The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it." Prov. 30:17. See also Matthew 15:4-6 wherein Jesus emphasized the commandment.
Have you noticed that mom or dad really cannot "pay you back" for the time and trouble you spend on them; or perhaps they do not appreciate the extra time and trouble it takes to "deal" with them. I wonder if I can "pay back", or if I "appreciate" the hours my mom spent caring and nurturing me from sickness to good health; or the late nights I kept her awake; or the numerous personal or financial jams my father quietly helped me through. Or the time and commitment it took to raise me, and the prayers that I now know went with me whenever I left home.
Have you kept the Fifth Commandment, or have you, like me, simply told yourself you have kept it? "Honor" means more than an occasional phone call or hug on the neck. How do you want your children to "honor" you: whatever standard you think of, that is at least what you owe your father and mother whether they are still relatively young and healthy, or elderly and senile beyond the point of recognition of you, or in the grave. The duty of the Fifth Commandment is not limited to the young, but applies equally to the old in honor of their parents.
"Honor thy father and mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord giveth thee."
February
How do you pray? What do you ask for when you pray?
Do you ask the Lord for help for your family? Do you ask for blessings for your particular church? Do you ask God to help a friend, or guide our leaders in leading our nation? Most people include these matters in the public prayers when I hear them wording an invocation or benediction.
How self focused should we be in our prayers? Should we ask for help for ourselves? Should we ask the Lord to "bless me" along with the other blessings of which we ask him? Are we being too greedy or egotistical in asking for blessings for ourselves.
Of course, maybe we do not have to ask anything for ourselves, because the Lord already knows what we need before we ask. See Matthew 6:8.
Throughout the Scriptures we are taught to pray. It is the one direct avenue each of us has directly to the throne of God. Whether we can publicly speak well, or speak at all, we can pray and should do so. Some of the most powerful prayers to God can be made by someone who cannot speak at all, or would be considered a "poor" public speaker. God can properly interpret our thoughts whether we can publicly word them at all.
You may think yourself a poor speaker. You may feel you have a poor singing or speaking voice, or a poor command of words. But that is no drawback to the ability to pray directly to our Lord or His ability to know and receive your prayers.
Asking for the Lord's help, both for others and ourselves, is an important facet in our spiritual lives. While we have the duty to pray for others, including our enemies (Matt. 5:44) we also should seek the Lord's help for ourselves. In fact, we are told to be bold about it.
The 4th Chapter of Hebrews focuses on the "rest" we receive when we believe and profit from belief in the Gospel. The last verse of the 4th Chapter then tells us:
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16.
It is important that we understand our need to "come boldly unto the throne of grace" to seek mercy and find grace in our times of need. First, we need the grace and mercy that is there. However, at least more importantly to me, is the understanding that we do, in fact, need to ask for the Lord's grace. An important facet of the doctrine of grace, is to understand our absolute need of the Lord's grace. It is important that we understand and acknowledge our total dependency on the Lord for every part of our lives, both physical and spiritual as well as eternal.
When we approach the "throne of grace" seeking our own individual needs we thus admit we relinquish control of our lives to God. We are thus declaring our total dependency upon God.
We should be most thankful that we have been given a throne of "grace" to approach. The Lord could have set up an authoritative throne of justice, dispensing judgment for our works and death as the wages of our sins. Instead, he has given a throne of power, bounty and freedom; and we are told to "come boldly" unto it and obtain mercy and find grace for our times of need.
It is good that we are to place ourselves before that throne and submit ourselves to it. For in doing so, we are admitting our unconditional dependency upon it. That is what produces the "freedom" within each of us that we cannot find elsewhere.
We should approach the throne, through prayer, with reverence, respect and godly fear, but we should do so boldly, in liberty of spirit and speech. We should ask blessings for ourselves, doing so boldly knowing that we are entirely dependent upon the grace and mercy to be found there.
March
The story of the Three Little Pigs has always been a favorite of mine. Almost everyone has heard it, especially during their younger years; and almost every adult can tell the story from memory, even though it may have been years since they have been reminded of it.
The Three Lithe Pigs story has also become a favorite of mine in telling and reading to my two children. Melba has been excellent (much better than I) in reading and encouraging a variety of educational books to our children, and their appreciation for reading is due to her efforts. I fall back on the Three Little Pigs because of what it means to me.
As we recall, the story is about three pigs who leave home to start out in life for themselves. The first pig obtains a supply of straw, out of which he builds his home. The second pig obtains a supply of sticks, out of which he builds his home. The third pig, instead of straw or stick, builds his home on solid foundation out of stone.
After each has completed his home, along comes the Wolf. The Wolf at first appears as a “nice guy”, knocking on the first pig’s straw home and politely asking if he can come inside.
The first pig is strong enough and smart enough to say “no, no, no”; but the Wolf does not give up and leave. Instead the Wolf “huffs and puffs” and blows mightily to destroy the straw house. The same thing happens with the pig in the stick house. The Wolf politely asks to come inside, refuses to go away when the second pig declines, and then, in a tremendous blow, destroys the stick house.
It is a different story when the Wolf approaches the “rock” house built on strong foundation by the third pig. When the Wolf is refused entrance, his mighty wind is powerless against the rock home built on solid foundation.
It is a good story. I never thought about how good it was until I was going through it one night with my children and thought about the story’s analogy with Jesus’ ending of the Sermon on the Mount in the 7th Chapter of Matthew.
The Sermon on the Mount was the greatest sermon ever delivered. It deserves full reading and I encourage you to quickly review its teachings. It is easy reading, it is good reading, and each of us should go through it regularly to remind ourselves of its instructions. Beginning with the 5th chapter of Matthew and continuing through three chapters, it provides to us the very “basics” of how we should plan and conduct our lives.
Toward the end of the Sermon, at Matt. 7:15, Jesus tells us to “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are raving wolves.”
This sounds a lot like the Wolf who comes, at first, friendly to the pigs, but turns mean in a hurry. We may each be strong enough or smart enough to at first refuse the advances of these “false prophets” or appearingly friendly wolves, but the wolves rarely go away when first told no. They come back huffing and puffing. It is then that we need to be strong enough to withstand the wolves’ attacks. Jesus tells us how in the last part of the 7th chapter of Matthew.
After finishing with His various instructions of conducting our lives, Jesus then tells us the difference between the “wise man” (the third pig) and the “foolish man” (the first and second pig).
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it tell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Malt. 7:24-27. See also Luke 6:47-49.
In our daily lives, we may be able to resist, at first, the friendly wolf’s (false prophet) advances, but the wolf will not go away. We need to be strong enough to keep the wolf out of our lives when the Wolf turns the heat up against us and our families. We do that by building our spiritual houses out of rock by following Jesus’ instructions in the Sermon on the Mount. Then, when the wolf comes back “huffing and puffing” we have that solid foundation to withstand the wiles of the Wolf and the Devil.
There is a lot to learn from the story of the Three Pigs, but it is a lesson Jesus gave us much earlier in the Sermon on the Mount.
April
It is not hard to be lonely. At least in the worldly sense that we think of it.
We all get lonely.
We may actually be alone. Or, we may be in a stadium somewhere in the midst of a crowd of thousands when we feel most lonely.
There are a lot of people in the world today who feel alone. There are a number of reasons for loneliness. Someone may have come to the conclusion that nobody really cares or even has reason to care for them. You may feel abandoned by family and friends. Or you may feel misunderstood by those closest to you.
Sometimes we recognize lonely people. It seems they can be easy to spot. And then sometimes the most lonely people are those whom we would least expect.
We all go through various phases of being lonely; of feeling we are facing tough situations by ourselves; or of shouldering a problem no one else seems interested in assisting.
We know our family and friends' attention to us may wander. It may be that everyone gets so wrapped up in their personal matters that there is a failure to help or communicate to those in need.
Jesus has told us what kind of attention is being paid to us; if not by our family and friends, by our Lord. If we realize this, we realize we are not alone. Ever.
God's attention never wanders. He never fails to see us in our times of trouble, never fails to understand us, never misunderstands our inner most thoughts, and never leaves us alone.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." Matt. 10:29-31.
Jesus uses a simple example here as to how well the Lord knows each of us -- He knows and has numbered the hairs of our head; he knows every sparrow which falls to the ground. We cannot escape His constant attention.
We may be simply a face in the crowd of thousands shouting at a sports stadium, but the Lord can zero in on us, and know our deepest thoughts. He knows each of us, our doubts, our fears and our anxieties.
Our Father knows exactly what we need, even before we ask Him for it (Matt. 6:8). And that is assuming we know ourselves well enough to know what we need, not what we want.
One of the most comforting writings in the Bible for realizing the total presence and power of God in our individual lives is the 139th Psalm of David. David covers the ground pretty well in describing what the Lord knows about each of us -- whether we are happy, sad, lonely, or stranded away from home.
"O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou ... are acquainted with all my ways.
"For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether." Psalm 139:1-5.
Can we get away from the spirit of the Lord? Can we escape His knowledge of us? Can we flee to parts unknown, or place ourselves in company with the devil in such a particularly manner that we appear to blaspheme the Lord in order to escape His presence? David does not seem to think so.
"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, there art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea: Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." Psalm 139:7-10.
We may think we are alone sometimes. But we never are. We need to remember that.
The Lord is easy to talk to. He understands when others do not. He is our ever companion.
If you feel you are lonely. Talk to the Lord. He is always there, and He is a good listener.
May
I recently heard a man speaking about his experiences of being a prisoner of war in Vietnam. It was a very inspirational speech about how his faith kept him going during several years of being tortured. He gave a tremendous amount of credit to a much younger, lower-ranked soldier who encouraged all the older, higher-ranked prisoners.
He was humorous throughout his talk, commenting that he at first had difficulty thinking beyond the day-to-day, minute-to-minute harassment he underwent. He had been a pilot and his plane was shot down. He parachuted down to earth still under attack from the enemy.
As he noted: "It is a little difficult to make long-range plans or concentrate on you faith while you are dodging bullets." Yet he clearly established that it was his faith, and help from his companions that got him through.
Many people find themselves in the same situation whenever they are subjected to ill treatment by others. When times are rough, you are stressed out, and you are under personal attack, it gets a little difficult to think that any good can come out of the situation, especially for yourself.
A good example in the Old Testament of one man who faced constant trouble was Joseph. We are told in the 37th Chapter of Genesis, that Joseph was the favored son of his father, Jacob. In fact, Jacob presented Joseph with a beautiful "coat of many colors" and it became clear that Joseph was truly a blessed man.
Yet his brothers became jealous. They abducted him on a trip away from home, took his coat, threw him into a pit, then sold him to the Ishmaelites who later sold him again to the captain of the guard in far-away Egypt. Joseph's brothers stained the coat with goat blood and convinced Jacob that he was dead (Gen. 37:20-36).
I would be more than a little depressed if that had happened to me. I am afraid my first thought would be that the Lord must have abandoned me. Yet the Lord had not abandoned Joseph, but instead prospered him (Gen. 39:2).
Joseph's problems at the hand of man were not over. The wife of the man who purchased him "set him up" by falsely testifying against him after he spurned her advances and he was cast into prison. "But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison (39:21). "...the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper." (39:23).
Joseph went on to become the ruler over all the land of Egypt because of the Lord's oversight, and Joseph developed the plan to survive the seven-year famine (41st chapter). Joseph's interpretation of the Pharoah's dream and plan to store crops for the famine years apparently saved thousands of lives. In fact, it was Joseph's work that led to the assistance of his family back in Canaan when his father, Jacob, sent his brothers to Egypt for food. Joseph was later reunited with his father and family for a number of years before his father's death. After that, Joseph's brothers were afraid Joseph might seek revenge on them for causing his original problems. But what was Joseph's answer to them:
"Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." (50:19-20).
As Joseph correctly recognized, the Lord had taken the evil work of man and turned in into good.
It is difficult for us to recognize this many times; at least it is for me. I know I fall short too many times in failing to realize how any good could come out of a bad situation. When I think this, it means I am forgetting the lesson taught in Joseph's experiences, and forgetting the Apostle Paul's teaching in the 8th chapter of Romans.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Rom. 8:28-32).
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" 8:35.
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, not things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (8"37-39).
When we see evil being done by man, remember how easily God turns it into good for his people.
June
One of the basic doctrines of most religions in the world revolves around the concept that each person has, or should have, the "chance" to have eternal salvation. That is, each person should have the "chance" to save himself eternally.
I do not like that doctrine, and I do not believe it is supported by Scripture.
First, the wide use of the word "chance" is inappropriate, and poor grammar (and let me be the first to confess to not always being grammatically correct, as most readers of this publication are aware). We assume people who believe such doctrines actually intend to use the word "opportunity" instead of chance.
However, even the use of the grammatically correct "everyone should have the opportunity for eternal salvation" does not improve this doctrine for me. A "chance" for eternal salvation is too poor of odds for me -- and I would probably "mess up" my "opportunity" for eternal salvation based on my( and mankind's) basic, inherited, flawed nature.
I like, and I need, a doctrine of eternal salvation based on certainty. I am not the Judge, but I strongly believe the Scriptures teach us that any doctrine less than certainty would result in the large majority of us not achieving eternal salvation.
Let us first look at "chance".
What is our "chance" of winning the state lottery? What is our "chance" of a winning poker hand, or roll of the dice on the gambling tables? Chance has not paid off well for me. If eternal salvation is based on some "chance" of mine then I am in a lot of trouble and I am deeply discouraged.
The man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho (Luke 10:30-37) who was attacked by thieves had two "chances" to be physically saved: "And by chance" a priest happened along; "And likewise a Levite". Both passed him by. "But a certain Samaritan" had compassion on the man, tended the wounds, carried him to an inn and paid his medical and boarding bills.
My "chance" would not be any better.
How about an "opportunity" for eternal salvation? My track record with day-to-day opportunities is not so good that I would like to have my eternal salvation based on it. We are all humans. We have inherited the nature of sin that befell Adam and Eve. None of us deserve eternal salvation based on our works.
If my opportunity for eternal salvation is based on my good works, then such a goal for me is unachievable. The Apostle Paul points this out to us numerous times, but especially in his letter to the Romans. Paul teaches us that none of us is righteous, based on the law of works (Rom. 3:10). "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God ..." (Rom 3:23). Throughout the book of Romans, Paul discusses the law of works (i.e. opportunities) and how we cannot achieve eternal life based on our works, but solely on the works of God through Christ.
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Rom 8:2.
It is the doctrine of "certainty" that I like, and that I find supported by the Scriptures.
We know God sent Christ into the world that we would be saved. As Christ prayed in the 17th Chapter of John that the Lord had given him "power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Jesus goes on to pray that he had finished the work in the world that God gave him to do, indicating he had held on to those the Lord had given him: "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." John 17:12.
There are those who would tell us that we control, through our own actions and decisions, our eternal fate. If this is so, a lot of us are in trouble. I like the fact that the Lord controls regardless of my own actions and inactions.
Jesus has based eternal life on "certainty" that he has assured. I have not had the "opportunity" to "mess it up" for me or any other person because Jesus has lost "none of them". At Rev. 1:18 Jesus tells us that he holds the keys of "hell and death". At Rom. 8:28 the Apostle Paul tells us we are "called according to his purpose".
In John 10:28-29 Jesus has told us that unto his sheep he gives "eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:8-9.
Have you ever heard someone boast that they saved themselves by some action they took. How many times have we heard the phrase that a certain minister or missionary "saved" souls by his works. Have you heard the pitch that "Jesus really wants to help save you, but he is powerless until you act." The Scriptures tell us it does not work that way.
God, through Jesus has established certainty in eternal life. I do not have to depend on a long-shot "chance" and do not worry that I might mess up the "opportunity", either for myself or my attempts to "help" someone else "find" salvation.
The doctrine of certainty, salvation by grace, gives me hope, not discouragement; it relieves my fears of death and what "chance" might otherwise bring me.
July
Some things just do not work out like we would choose for them.
We have a number of little, and big, problems with our jobs, our families, or our lives in general that we would like to have differently. It would be nice if some times we simply could "start over" and avoid some of the uneasy situations we find ourselves in.
We can easily let ourselves get "stressed out" over problems in today's world -- problems that we let "get to us" even though we may have little actual control over the situation. We may have a personality conflict with a co-worker, a "feud" with a family member, or a long-term disappointment over the way our lives or the life of our parent, our child or family has turned out.
We all have witnessed the stress we can find ourselves and close ones in over tense or sensitive situations which develop when there is a divorce in the family; or prolonged grieving over death of a close relative; or maybe it is a concern over drug or alcohol abuse; or it might be a "fight" among brothers or sisters, or between a parent and a grown child.
Or perhaps you dread going to work each day because of a problem you have at the office, or with a co-worker.
We may not have as good a job as we thought we would have at this stage in our lives. We may not have provided for our spouses or our children as we had originally planned. We may not have the "standing" at our jobs or among our friends and community that we desired.
How many times has each of us heard the phrase that "we never thought it would end up like this." Or "if I could just wave a magic wand I would put it back like it used to be before all the problems."
Numerous times we tend to blame ourselves for bad situations, many of which we have no control over. We all have seen the tremendous stress which can develop when families attempt to force relationships past major problems as if there were no problems and "hopefully everyone will get along for just one day."
God has not promised us that "skies will always be blue" or that every day we will walk down "flower-strewn pathways". But he has given us guidance how to live through such situations.
We always "want" things to be different. We should learn how to live when there are those differences, especially we have no real control over them.
The Apostle Paul provides us thought as to how we address our every day standing. He notes throughout his writings that we are to "pray without ceasing". At the 4th chapter of Philippians Paul notes that each of us should "by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Phil. 4:6.
Then the apostle follows with some key instruction for whatever situation we find ourself in life: "for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." verse 11.
Contentness is a great virtue. Those who are able to be content with their standing in life will enjoy the benefits of the kingdom of God.
We are told to find contentness within our lives, for whatever state we find ourselves. "...godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." I Tim. 6:6-8.
We should not address our problems, many of which are only perceived by ourselves, by "entering into the fray." We address our problems through "prayer and supplication" with the faith that the Lord will take care of His people.
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, L will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Heb. 13:5-6.
We should find contentness with ourselves and our lives, whatever state we find ourselves in; for therein we will find the kingdom of God.
August
Many times I feel like the Lord has not really equipped me well to handle the things that I face daily. Just like me, I have seen others worry on the job, in their families, and at their churches, that the Lord instructs us to do good works, but we feel he has not really properly equipped us to do it.
Maybe we feel a burden to become involved in church, to join in singing, offer prayer or to help resolve a certain situation, but do not feel we have the talent or ability to carry it off. The Lord has given us the duty and the burden, but not the tools.
Maybe we feel we have gotten too old, or we do not speak well enough to convey our message. Maybe we just have ordinary skills, but not enough talent to accomplish much.
One of the main points emphasized numerous times in the Scriptures is that God never asks us to do something without also equipping us with the tools to do it.
My problem is one of simply recognizing the tools. Usually our equipment is already with us, and its overlooked because it is so simple. Most times the Lord intends us to use what he has already given to us.
A man named Moses once had this same problem. He was given a job by the Lord, but felt the Lord had not properly equipped him to do the job. Moses was chosen to lead the Lord's children out of Egypt, but he felt he did not have the talent to accomplish his task.
At the beginning of the 4th Chapter of Exodus, Moses confronts the Lord about the Lord's instruction to lead the people answering: "But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee."
We get a very important lesson in the Lord's response: "What is that in thine hand?"
The message here is a very good one: "What do you have in your hand?" And it is a message we should ask ourselves every day as we feel impressed to do the things the Lord would have us do: What do we already have?
Moses answered that he had only a rod in his hand. It was apparently a simple, basic wooden rod used by many people of the time. It was probably very similar to what I would call a "walking stick".
The Lord told Moses to cast down his plain wooden rod. When Moses threw the rod down it turned into a snake. When he picked it up again it turned back into a rod.
The first part of the 4th Chapter of Exodus gives us other lessons where Moses' hand turned leprous, then back normal. Moses poured water from the river and it turned to blood.
Moses additionally told the Lord that he was not an eloquent speaker: "but I am slow of speech, and of slow tongue." Ex. 4:10. To which the Lord responded: Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." Ex. 4:11-12. The Lord told Moses not to worry about his apparent lack of speaking ability.
Numerous times the Lord vests powerful works, in simple uncomplex form, in the hands of the meek and humble.
Do you study the Scriptures, and feel impressed to share your thoughts, but are afraid of speaking to a crowd. Remember that Moses had the same speaker's problem. But the book of Acts tells us history records that Moses was "learned in all wisdom ... and was mighty in words and in deeds." Acts 7:22.
What is already in your hand that you could use? Maybe we are looking for some magic talent we do not really need. If we are truly doing the Lord's work, His hand will guide us, no matter how simple our tools or simple our talents that we already have.
Noah was a simple carpenter, yet he used the carpenter's tools he already had to build a massive ark to save his family and the kingdom of animals from which the earth was replenished.
David was a simple young man, who had in his hand only a crude sling shot.
What do you have in your hand. Is it a dust cloth to clean the church pews? Is it a lawn mower to mow the grass of the elderly? Is is a baking pan to feed the hungry? Is it a ball point pen with which to write a note of thanks or encouragement to your pastor or a friend?
What "tool" has the Lord already given you to do His work?
What is in your hand?
September
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts." --Proverbs 21:2.
What is the meaning of the thought expressed in Proverbs? Can we learn anything from it in the manner in which we approach our daily activities and thoughts?
Can we learn to look at issues from the viewpoint of others; and can we learn to look into others hearts to learn of their real intent regardless of how we perceive their actions?
Finally, is there a lesson here that, regardless of man's actions and words, the Lord is the final and true judge of his people.
I find it interesting to observe the groups which are predicting the end of the world.
History repeats itself with spokesmen for certain groups which store up food, usually weapons, and hide in some central location to await the end of the world. We have seen several of these in recent years where the exact time of the world's end is predicted.
We occasionally drive by a large building which was specifically erected for a group to wait out the end of the world and the second coming of Christ. The end of the world did not come as predicted, and the building is now used as a farm house.
A number of people have built themselves reputations, and large followings, whereby the followers sell their personal property to fund the end of the world ventures. The leaders of these false doomsdays preach of wars and devastation and that the only way to save yourself is to follow their instructions and guidance.
I have real difficulty in identifying with such groups. It disappoints me that people follow such false prophets, only to be greatly disappointed when the world does not end as predicted.
But we should not be surprised at such events, because we have been instructed that such events will occur.
In the 13th chapter of Mark, Jesus tells us to beware of such deception: "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Mark 13:6.
And how do we know that these false prophets are wrong as to their predictions of the exact time for the end of the world, and as to how long their predicted doomsday will last when it finally does arrive.
The Apostle Paul tells us that it will come "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." I Cor. 15:52-53.
And do we know the date and hour of the end of the world? Jesus answers that question: "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
"Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." Mark 13:32-33. Jesus then lays it out in parable form by describing a Master that leaves his servants working in order to take a long journey. "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning." Mark 13:35.
That seems pretty clear. But I continue to be amazed at the repeating lessons of history of doomsday prognosticators and their "faithful" followers. But we should not be surprised: Jesus warned us that such deceivers would come our way.
In fact, when we actually read the Bible it is interesting how accurate it is with regard to so many predictions and warnings and forecasts it makes for us. That is a lesson in itself.
October
We learn from the experts in personnel management that one of the most difficult traits for people is expressing compliments for jobs that are well done, or for good work ethnics. That not only pertains to personnel who work for us, but to everyone with whom we have relations.
It seems we many times are negligent in expressing gratitude for our neighbor when a job has been well done. I know I too many times take for granted the good and conscientious job that is done by those around me, including my neighbors and my family.
How many of us fail to acknowledge the good jobs our co-workers do that take burdens off our jobs? Do we express to our friends what it has meant to us for them to be good friends. Or do we tell the janitor how important it is to our business that he/she does a good job. Have you told your neighbor how important it is to you that you have a good relationship, and that you appreciate the importance of good neighbors.
We have a duty, as taught by Scripture, to our neighbor to compliment them when they deserve it, assist them when they need it and avoid causing them undue trouble.
In the 3rd Chapter of Proverbs we are given a three-prong lesson in the treatment of our neighbors, friends and co-workers.
1. It is first our duty to assist our neighbor, to provide and nourish them when they need it and we can help them:
"Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee." Prov. 3:27-28.
When should help our neighbors all we can, when we can and not hold back in our assistance. We must discharge our duty towards fellow man. We should compliment them when they deserve it (and not let our negligence or envy restrict us), and we should provide them assistance when they need it (and not let our love of our own money hold us back).
We are taught to not hold back our charity when it is needed by others, and not make excuses to neglect our alms-giving or delight in keeping our neighbor in suspense. It is easy sometimes for us to attempt to exercise the power of the "giver" over the "beggar" -- something we are to avoid.
We should readily give the wages to those over whom we have supervision, and compliment them for giving us of their labor. We should express our appreciation to those with whom we have good relations.
2. We are to respect our friends and neighbors and not cause them undue harm.
"Devise not evil against thy neighbor, see he dwelleth securely by thee. Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm." Prov. 3:29-30.
We should not devise plans which will cause our neighbor harm to our benefit. Sometimes we find ourselves in a position of envying the prosperity and blessings of our neighbors. We should praise corral our jealousy and instead praise our friends for their good works and returned blessings. We should speak well of our friends in their prosperity.
Likewise, we should never quarrel with our friends and coworkers over frivolous matters. This is especially true when there is no real harm done to us, or any matter can be corrected in a friendly manner first. Invocation of the law ought to be the last resort. We have the duty to "as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men." There really is little to be gained from fighting -- especially over little matters or as the result of poor communications.
3. We have a duty not to envy our wicked neighbors and acquaintances.
"Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous." Prov. 3:31-32.
This is a hard one. It is difficult not to look at those who seem to profit from evil ways without some degree of envy. Just look at the "fun" they are having or the "money" they are making at the expense of what is right. "Choose none of his ways," is an important duty on us. It is sometimes easy for me to look upon such a person's apparent richness and greatness, their life of ease and pleasure and the manner in which he holds people in awe at his achievements. We should not wish we could change places, should not imitate him, or follow his actions to achieve his richness or power.
In verses 33 through 35 we are told that men are to be judged as they stand in the sight of God, not other men, and will be justly rewarded. The righteous have no reason to envy anyone, for they have the secrets of the kingdom of God. The righteous have that communion with the Lord which is a secret to the oppressor.
November
I find myself in a struggle from time to time as I examine my priorities. For what reason am I doing the habits, rituals and traditions I find myself following?
Am I doing something because of the original reason for it; or am I doing it because it conforms to a habit or because it is a man-made tradition?
Do we go to church on Sunday simply because tradition dictates everyone is supposed to go to church on Sunday? Are we there simply for an empty ritual?
Do we lead singing or prayer in church a certain way because old habits in a particular church have always been that way?
Do you recite the Lord's Prayer out of memory (but not out of heart)?
Has the Lord provided a call and a burden to preach, and we do it now primarily because we are expected to by the congregation?
Do our habits, our traditions, our rituals have meaning, or are they merely man-made performances? The gospel and the gospel church were given to us for very specific purposes. Are we honoring that original purpose, or are we honoring ourselves?
Many times the Lord will provide to us a blessing of talent or ability. Are we using that talent for the benefit for which it was given, or are we using it for our own benefit?
Do we need occasionally (or perhaps regularly) to examine our priorities (and our pride and egos) to insure the reasons why we do the habits we do?
This is not a new subject. I did not think of it first in this article. It already has been the subject of examination, and in much better context than I could examine it.
In the book of Zechariah, this lesson is provided to us. The ritual of fasting for the past 70 years is examined with some interesting questions asked which we should apply to ourselves today.
"Then came the word of the Lord of hosts unto me saying, Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
"And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?" Zech. 7:4-6.
I am afraid I many times find myself just like the people in the lesson in the 7th chapter of Zechariah. In whose name am I doing the ritual. Am I doing it for its original purpose, or because it is the thing to do, because everyone is doing it or because it is expected of me. Is there no meaning behind by actions.
The Lord asked the same questions of those who were fasting: "Are you doing this for me?, or are you doing this for yourselves?" Did the people have an eye to God with their fasting; were they doing it for God, or had the ritual itself become an end in itself?
This is an appeal to our conscience. Are we performing an empty habit, or are we putting our heart, our soul and power into the ceremonies of the Lord? Are we practicing our religion to the honor and glory of God, or are we performing to relieve our guilty conscience or to meet the worldly expectations we feel of others?
Jesus provides to us a similar lesson in the Sermon on the Mount. He teaches us in several contexts, but we look first to the same one of fasting.
"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." Matt. 6:16-18.
The same lesson is provided us earlier in Matthew in the teachings regarding charitable contributions to the poor and praying to the Lord:
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them . . . when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." Matt 6:1-2. We are told to provide for the poor secretly "and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
And with prayer, Jesus tells us at Matt. 6:5-7 to avoid the examples of the hypocrites who love to pray standing on street corners or use vain repetitions. He instructs us instead to enter into our privacy and "pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
There are many good works and ceremonies we have the duty to perform, and must perform openly. But what should our frame of mind and our priorities be when we perform these?
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matt. 5:16.
The reason we go to church is to honor and thank the Lord. The reason we are to perform any duty instructed to us in the gospel is for the honor and glorification of God.
Our first priority in all our actions should be for the praise and glory of the Lord, not ourselves. If we properly set our eyes and priorities in honoring the Lord first, the Lord will take care of any honor and glory to us.
In whose name are we acting?
December
It is not hard these days to lead a busy life. We find ourselves so involved in our work and our chores that it becomes hard to take on additional matters.
Many times we find ourselves letting our schedules or our habits dictate our priorities. I know I have said on occasions that "my boat is loaded". There may be other matters that, if I had the chance to review them, I would prefer to be doing, but I simply do not have the time for new items on my agenda regardless of what they are.
Of course, it is amazing what extra time we all can usually find for a new matter if the person making the request indicates they will repay us more than we are presently receiving for the things we presently are doing.
It is the Christmas season. It is the time of year our society generally associates with the birth of Jesus, and we are reminded of Scripture in Luke regarding the facts of His birth.
Joseph and Mary had traveled to Judea to be counted in the census. During the trip it came time for the birth of Mary's child:
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7
It made me wonder: is there room in my "inn" for Jesus? Have I turned Him away because I had all my rooms filled, or because He did not produce a worldly reward great enough to get my attention?
Generally an inn, like Christ, receives all comers. Whoever comes to him will in no wise be cast out. Unlike an inn, those that come to Jesus do not pay the price: room and board is free.
Had Jesus' parents been rich, room would have been made in the inn for them. If Joseph could have produced his credit card, warm space would have been made for him and his family.
Do we many times make the same error that the innkeeper made? Do we turn away Jesus?
I tell myself I would not turn Jesus away. Who would?
The problem is that I may do it quite often. Do you also?
How busy are we? How full is our inn? If someone is hungry, do we give them meat? If they are thirsty, do we give them drink? If they are a stranger, do we take them in? If they are naked, do we clothe them? If they are sick, do we visit them? If they are in jail, do we visit them?
Of course, if it is Christ in any of those instances, our answer is clearly "yes". But we know it is not Jesus in those day-to-day instances; or do we?
"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt. 25:40.
"Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." Matt. 25:45.
Would we make room in our "inn" for Jesus? Or, perhaps a better question is: do we daily make room in our "inn" for Jesus, or is our "inn" full? Do we arrange our lives, our schedules, our agendas in such a manner that we always make room for Christ in our lives. Or do we set our priorities such that we expect a premium price to be paid before we make room in our inn?
I know I too many times get more caught up with my worldly concerns and my personal conveniences: I put my priorities too many times on other matters. I feel the need to work and make money and set my priorities as such.
"For all these things the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matt. 6:32-33.
When Christ (or one of the least of his brethren) is at the door, do we make room in our inn?