James 5: Warning to the Rich

Warning to the Rich

One verse that jumps out to me in this chapter was James 5:5 which serves as a calling out of the rich who were focused more on their wealth than anything else. This warning is a prophecy of what will happen to their wealth and also them oppressing the poor. The oppression of the poor is not a 2016 problem but one that existed during/after/before the times of Jesus. The rich are in a powerful position to even the playing fields, but they do not. God will have the final say.

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Wednesday Wake Up #19

'Tis the Season

'Tis the season to be jolly. It's a nice lyric. I don't know anyone who wants to be around a Scrooge type of person during what many call the "most wonderful time of the year" where we are "walkin' in a winter wonderland." But there has to be more about this season than just being jolly. This is the season (in conjunction with Thanksgiving) where many people want to donate their time to the homeless and the less fortunate. Now is a great time to start. I am 100% in favor of that. My hope and aim is that we can do more than just be jolly and joyful and loving during this season. I mean think about it, what if God only answered our prayers during holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas? He loves us all the time (1 John 4:19). We need to be loving all the time to Him and then to others as well because that is how people know we are disciples (followers) of Christ (John 13:34-35).

Psalm 41:1 teaches us that we are blessed for being considerate to the poor. This does not just mean the poor in finances. But, it can also mean the poor in spirit, the poor in health, in relationships. Another word used to replace poor was weak. That does not only cover finances. It covers those who need a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear and a loving heart. It covers those who are sick in hospitals. It covers those going through a rough relationship time as well. It covers the emotionally and spiritually weak. The following verses tell us that there are promises of being sustained by the Lord in our sickbed (we get weak too). The Lord keeps us alive and restores us to full health. We don't do these loving acts because of what we get out of it from God, but we do loving things because we love.

And we can't forget about being joyous during these times. But what are we joyful about? Is it because we love the season and the cold and the fireplace being lit with hot cocoa in our hands? Those are nice things and are very comforting, but are we forgetting to give thanks to God for those nice times that we can have that are very relaxing? We can take for granted the lifestyles we have grown accustomed to, while completely overlooking the provider for us. It's like we only want to thank God when things are going well, but we are to thank God in all circumstances and always be joyous and pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We can't focus on the season without looking at the creator of the season. Can we?

Overall, God wants us to do these wonderful things at all times not just during certain days or months or holidays. He wants us to see Him first (Matthew 6:33). Let us remember to give to others and love others as God loved us first.

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Friday Focus #15

Today or Tomorrow?

Hopefully we all had a good time with friends/family yesterday for Thanksgiving. But, what do we do the day after? I know there are stores with Black Friday sales (and chaos...and fights too). I know there is Cyber Monday that serves as the online version with no lines but still getting the best deals for stuff. I am not saying shopping is wrong, but I am once again going to bring up this question, what about service? When will we start serving? Today? Tomorrow? When??

I know we do many things as a family like meeting together and eating together and just spending time with one another. Those are all great and wonderful things. Continue to do them with love and unity for the family. But, I think about those that do not have any food. I think about those that do not have any friends. What about those that do not have any family?

As Christ followers we tend to forget to give to the needy. Where I live, I see plenty of homeless and downtrodden people. I can't feed every single one, but I can make an effort to feed the ones I encounter. You know when you go out to eat and you take food home, couldn't that food be given to someone who is homeless that struggles to eat daily? In Matthew 6:1-4 we see that we are to give to the poor (food or money or sit down and have lunch WITH them). We are not bringing attention to ourselves but seeking to show love to God by loving others as He loved us. I know we cannot serve every moment of every day, but can today be the first day where you just make an effort to look past your wants and start serving people in need; dire need? It actually pains me to write this knowing that there are so many of us who can make a difference, but chose not to. It doesn't have to be big, just let it be from the heart. Parents lead your children in this. Kids, get your teams and friends together in this. Adults, get your friends and small groups involved in this. It's about time...isn't it?

Please read more on giving alms on http://www.gotquestions.org/alms-almsgiving.html
 
This is not the way to talk about serving.

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Act 10: Cornelius, Peter and Partiality

Cornelius, Peter and Partiality

In Acts 10:1-8 we meet Cornelius who was a devout man who was a soldier in the Italian Army who gave alms to the poor, prayed to God continually and had a God fearing household. An angel of God appeared in a vision and told him that his prayers and alms have ascended and were seen as a memorial before God. The angel then instructed Cornelius to send men to Joppa and bring Simon Peter. After the angel departed, Cornelius followed through and sent three men to Joppa and even told them all what he had just encountered.

Cornelius was finally able to meet Peter,  who had a vision as well, but his vision was related to snakes, birds and reptiles and God saying "What God has made clean, do not call common" which was in relation to how Peter (a Jew) was interacting with Cornelius (a man from another nation) which was unlawful at the time. Cornelius knelt to worship Peter when he met him but Peter's humility reminded Cornelius that he too was a human and not God. Peter and
Cornelius being together was a part of God's plan and it tore down a human law that was not in God's will. It did not matter what their nationality was, it was only about God's will (Acts 10:34-35).

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Matthew 19:16- The Rich and the Kingdom of God

Matthew 19:16 "Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, 'Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?'” commentary- This man wants to know what to do to get into Heaven. He recognizes Jesus as the authority which is why he calls him teacher. Jesus replies and tells him only "One who is good." The "o" in one was capitalized to show that only God was good (God is the One Jesus referred to). Jesus told the man if he wanted to enter life then he should keep the commandments. The man wanted to know how to enter Heaven but Jesus gave him the examples of how to enter life to show the difference between earthly existence and the kingdom of Heaven. The man asked which of the commandments to keep and Jesus points out six of the commandments that have nothing to do with relation to God being number one. The man says he has kept all these commandments and Jesus then tells him to sell his belongings and follow him. The man went away sad because since he had great wealth, he did not want to sell his "things." His things were far too important to remove in order to follow Christ.

Jesus goes on to explain that a rich man entering the kingdom of God is harder than getting a camel through the eye of a needle. But with God all things are possible. So Jesus is not saying that you have to be broke in order to get into the kingdom of Heaven, but if you are rich and are afraid to or refuse to give up what prevents you from following Christ, then the kingdom of Heaven is not attainable for you. He wants our obedience whether we are poor or rich.