Success and Humility, Humility and Success

I've always found this parable interesting.  Not so much for what it says but what is hidden.

Luke 14:7-11(NKJV)
So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 
“When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 
and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 
But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

It sometimes seems to me that a lot of Christians think that everybody should be treated and viewed equally no matter what they may have or have not accomplished in life.  After all, we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord I have heard more than once.  But then I read the passage above and can't help but wonder if there is some sort of contradiction here.

I don't believe there is.  Here is my take on it.  In the case of "we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord", I think that is true in the context of salvation.  Salvation is freely available to anyone who wants to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  (Have you done that yet?  No time like the present!)

However as I have written elsewhere, Scripture clearly tells us that we won't all get equal rewards in Heaven.  If that is the case in Heaven then why would we expect it to be any different here?  In the context of the parable above, how does society determine if someone is honorable or not?  Isn't it to a large extent based on how much that person has been successful and contributed to society?   

I think that we in the Christian community should do more to celebrate success.  Success isn't a sin!  How we handle it however can be.  What is the best way to handle success?  I can't think of a better way then the example above. 

Is It Ever Too Late To Come To Jesus?

Here's an interesting question.  Is it ever too late to come to Jesus?  Is there a point where Jesus says "Sorry but you had your chance.  No Soup For You!"  (Please excuse the Seinfeld reference.  I couldn't help it.  :)

I once saw a preacher share his testimony on the 700 Club.  This guy had been an atheist college professor who's goal was to talk as many kids out of their belief in Christ as possible.  One day this guy died, don't remember how.  He said that instead of going up towards a warm bright light with a feeling of overwhelming comfort like so many have described in their near death experiences, he was being dragged down into the earth and he was terrified.

He said he cried out to Jesus and was instantly transported to the bright light.  Jesus sent him back to earth and he became a preacher.  After hearing that I thought maybe it never is too late.  Then I ran across this verse.

Luke 13:23-27(NKJV)

23Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 

24“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 

25When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 

26then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 

27But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 

This verse is Jesus speaking and I believe He makes it very clear.  There is a point where it will be too late.  There will be a point where time has run out. 

I think many people understand the concept that if you outright reject Jesus then you have become an enemy of God.  They don't want to be an enemy of God so they don't reject Jesus, but at the same time they don't want to commit so they don't embrace Jesus either. 

I believe these verses are Jesus' way of telling those people they are playing with fire.  If time runs out on you then not making a decision gets you the same results as rejecting Jesus. 

So how about it?  Have you accepted Jesus yet?  Have you asked Jesus to step in, take over your life, and guide you?  If not then why not do it right now.  Have a conversation with Jesus and ask Him to come into your life.  "Dear Jesus…."

I Came To Bring Division!

One of the things I have written about often is what I perceive of as the belief in Kumbaya Jesus.  That Jesus came to earth to bring everyone together and that if you believe in Jesus, cool, and if you don't that is OK too because Jesus just really wants us all to just get along.

I believe that view is totally wrong and here is another Scripture to back up my belief.

Luke 12:49-53(NKJV)

49“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 

50But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 

51Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 

52For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 

53Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Now lest you think this is an aberration check out Matthew 10:34 which says pretty much the same thing.

Matthew 10:34-36(NKJV)

34“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 

35For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 

36and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ £ 

Jesus' purpose isn't to bring the whole world together, it is to force the world to chose sides.  He didn't come to bring everyone together and let bygones be bygones.  He came to make us all chose to be on the side of God, or not. 

So what is your choice?  I chose to be on the side of God.  How about you?  Not sure how to do it.  The first step is accepting Jesus.  Have you done that yet?  Just have a conversation with Jesus and share with Him what is on your heart.  "Dear Jesus…"

God Made Him Prosper. Does That Mean God Didn't Make Me Prosper?

Prosperity and success are interesting things.  The Bible has a lot to say about both.  As I have written many times, the Bible is a book of balance.  Too many people take one verse and try to build a complete idea or belief on that one verse. 

One of the reasons I try to read an Old Testament verse and a New Testament verse each day is to try and get some of that balance.  One of the coolest things about being in the word daily is that I believe it gives God a great way to directly influence our daily lives, thoughts, and beliefs. 

Today  is a good example.  As I read the Old Testament I came across this verse.

2 Chronicles 26:3-5(NKJV)

3Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 

4And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 

5He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the £visions of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper.

OK, cool enough.  Uzziah became King when he was pretty young.  He reigned a long time.  He followed God, and God made him prosper. 

Well what if I'm not prospering right now.  Does that mean God is making me not prosper because he is unhappy with me or something?  Maybe but in my opinion probably not.  What I mean is that if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, doing your very best to know God and follow His will in your life then He probably isn't punishing you by withholding prosperity.  At least that is my belief. 

But just because we are following God and doing our very best doesn't mean that Whiz Bang Boom, we get everything we want, when we want it.  There is more to it than that. 

My second reading today was from Luke 11.  What a coincidence that it tied right in with my OT verse don't you think? 

Luke 11:9-10(NKJV)

9“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

10For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 

There's that Whiz Bang Boom again.  This is another verse that just seems to give that impression doesn't it?  Well here is what I discovered today.  Let's look at the previous 4 verses.

Luke 11:5-8(NKJV)

5And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 

6for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 

7and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 

8I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

I think this is the key that many miss.  I call it the Persistence and Patience Factor.  Notice in verse 10 above it says everyone who asks receives.  Well a lot of people may be saying "Hey I've asked but I haven't received yet.  What's the deal?"

The deal is that you haven't asked for it enough yet.  I believe that verse 8 is an indication that God really admires persistence.  He wants you to keep asking because it helps demonstrate your true desire. 

"So I keep asking but still nothing.  What's the deal??"  Be patient.  If through prayer you are convinced that what you are asking for is within God's will for your life than give God time to do His thing.  Because His thing is making sure you are prepared to receive the prosperity and success that you are asking for. 

Prosperity and success are not as easy to handle as some people think.  We've all seen examples in the news of people who have achieved meteoric success only to crash and burn because they didn't handle it well.

This is my belief and what I have experienced in my own life.  Ask for those things that you believe are part of God's will in your life.  Be persistent in your asking but patient in your attitude and timing.  God will get you there and if you trust His timing more than yours it will be so much better than you expected!

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff, Even When It Doesn't Seem So Small!

A lesson I was fortunate to learn long ago was don't sweat the small stuff and most stuff is small, even if you didn't realize it at the time.  I think this passage of Scripture illustrates that.

2 Chronicles 25:5-10(NKJV)

5Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, according to their fathers’ houses, throughout all Judah and Benjamin; and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them to be three hundred thousand choice men, able to go to war, who could handle spear and shield. 

6He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for one hundred talents of silver. 

7But a man of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel—not with any of the children of Ephraim. 

8But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has power to help and to overthrow.”

9Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.” 

10So Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, to go back home. Therefore their anger was greatly aroused against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.

Before I get to my point I have a question.  David got into big trouble for counting his men.  Why didn't King Amaziah?  I haven't figured out the difference yet.  Oh well, on to my point.

OK so the King hires some mercenaries to be part of his military and pays them 100 talents.  Man of God tells the King not to take the mercenaries with him.  King says OK but what about the money I already paid????

Seemed like a pretty big deal at the time.  What was the answer from the man of God? 

"The Lord is able to give you much more that this."

Do you believe that?  I certainly do!  Why?  Because I have seen it happen over and over and over again in my own life.   No mater what the situation is, if you are working on behalf of God with His direction, even when things go wrong or don't really seem to be working out, just trust Him.  That is where faith comes in.  Just trust Him.  God will work it out in due time and it will be so much better than what you gave up or thought you had lost.

Faith is an amazing journey.  Give it a try!

You've Got To Own Your Faith

What do I mean by that?  Let me try and explain it with an illustration from my own life. 

I was raised in a luke warm Christian home.  What I mean by that is that while my Mom had accepted Christ I never saw her actually read the Bible on her own and we hardly ever went to church.  So in the early years my faith was really whatever my parents led me to or didn't lead me to.

However I really liked church and so I remember back as young as 4th or 5th grade having my Mom take me and drop me off at church each week even though none of the rest of the family went.  That is an example of taking ownership of my faith.

Then a few years later I really started to take my Bible out and read it for myself.  I started asking questions.  I started letting the Holy Spirit guide me in my studies.  I think I personally accepted Christ in the 7th or 8th grade.  These again are examples of taking ownership of my faith.  It wasn't just something my parents made me do, it was something that I actually took an interest in and pursued.      

That pursuit is a very important element of our relationship with God.  We are told in the Bible that the more we seek God, the more He will reveal to us.  Pursuit is just another way of saying seeking God.

Why is this so important?  Take a look.

2 Chronicles 24:1-2(NKJV)

1Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 

2Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 

I've highlighted what I think is the important phrase.  Joash did the right things as long as Jehoiada was there to guide him.  Now look what happened as soon as Jehoiada died. 

2 Chronicles 24:15-19(NKJV)

15But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. 

16And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.

17Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. 

18Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. 

19Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.

Joash the King failed to provide the leadership that he was supposed to supply to his people.  He let the people go astray.  The King didn't truly own his faith.  And because he didn't truly own his faith, when push came to shove, the King had no real conviction.

So how do you own your faith?  First and foremost by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Have you don’t that yet?  If not, why not do that right now?  Just have a little conversation with Jesus and let Him know how He can help you in your life.  "Dear Jesus….".

The next thing is to actively seek God through prayer  and the reading and studying of God's Word.  How often?  Daily or as often as possible short of that. 

Are you a bad person if you miss a day or two?  No not at all!   God seems to understands that life gets busy and things come up.  I think what is important to God is to see us putting in an effort to make Him a priority in our lives.  That is taking ownership of your faith!

Rest And Relaxation

Hi Folks, I apologize for my absence but I am on vacation celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary.  I've got to admit that I've gotten a bit lazy the last few days. 

Isn't it a wonderful thing though, how God made our bodies with the ability to recharge by simply taking a few days off? 

Well as I got back into the Bible today it seemed like every other passage was speaking to me.  Lot's of stuff I will be writing about in the future.  However today let's look at something simple.

Luke 8:39(NKJV)

39“Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

Can you think of a better, simpler way to witness than that?  What a great God we serve!

Well back to vacation with my Sweetie of 30 years.  I'll be back on Monday September  9th!