James 4:4 reads: You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Tough words, tough times, tough world, because so many only focus on the here and now. Valuing the things the world esteems is hatred towards God. All the world has to offer adds up to nothing, it won't last. Those things will fade and rust away long before forever. The world's offerings and finest goods come with expiration dates, built in obsolescence. What can't last forever won't
Befriending the world, allying with the world is a declaration of war on God. We become his enemy. We go to war without ever sizing up the opposition.
While we were still sinners, that is to say enemies of God, Christ died for us. We fail to size up God because we cannot fathom the unfathomable. We cannot comprehend the mind of God. Us, enemies with him, at war with Him, and yet while we wage war, He died for us. The world will never offer that, yet God has.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Two Wisdoms
The world contains wisdom. The wisdom of the world clings to us like the strands of a spider web accidentally wandered into. It's like the odor of smoke, it permeates the fabric of our lives. We are surrounded and immersed in a wisdom that says, "Me first", "If it feels good it can't be that bad", "If it feels good do it."
The wisdom of the world can only carry us so far or so long. That wisdom last about 75 years. The same wisdom tells us the bible is a compilation of stories and essays that make a good read, and that's all.
Heaven's wisdom is far different. It is pure, just as God is pure. There is no stain or odor on the fabric of heaven's wisdom. Wisdom from heaven loves peace. It's not quarrelsome or argumentative, it doesn't have to have the last word. The wisdom from heaven is simply the word. Wisdom from heaven is considerate-it's not the hammer and we're the nail. It's considerate of all our short comings; it knows our desires. Heaven's wisdom is submissive to God's will, as we are when we submit to wisdom.
Heaven's wisdom is full of mercy. Overflowing mercy, saturating, permeating, mercy that penetrates the fabric of our lives. Heaven's wisdom produces good fruit. It promotes and encourages placing others first, wisdom from heaven eases suffering. Heaven's wisdom is impartial, no favorites or favoritism allowed. Heaven's wisdom is is sincere, it's from the heart, God's heart. This wisdom last without end. This wisdom is given in love and is love, God's love for all.
The wisdom of the world can only carry us so far or so long. That wisdom last about 75 years. The same wisdom tells us the bible is a compilation of stories and essays that make a good read, and that's all.
Heaven's wisdom is far different. It is pure, just as God is pure. There is no stain or odor on the fabric of heaven's wisdom. Wisdom from heaven loves peace. It's not quarrelsome or argumentative, it doesn't have to have the last word. The wisdom from heaven is simply the word. Wisdom from heaven is considerate-it's not the hammer and we're the nail. It's considerate of all our short comings; it knows our desires. Heaven's wisdom is submissive to God's will, as we are when we submit to wisdom.
Heaven's wisdom is full of mercy. Overflowing mercy, saturating, permeating, mercy that penetrates the fabric of our lives. Heaven's wisdom produces good fruit. It promotes and encourages placing others first, wisdom from heaven eases suffering. Heaven's wisdom is impartial, no favorites or favoritism allowed. Heaven's wisdom is is sincere, it's from the heart, God's heart. This wisdom last without end. This wisdom is given in love and is love, God's love for all.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Sliding
Psalm 73, 2-3
(2)But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. (3) For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
What happens when we take our eyes off the goal of eternity Christ? The psalmist says we loose our footing, we trip up, we slip, we loose our foothold. When our focus switches from God to the world, we envy. We envy the prosperity of the wicked. We become discontent with who we are, with where we are, with who we are with, with what we have. We give up God's standards for man's standards. We give up the eternal for the temporary.
Power, beauty, fame, and fortune, these are the things the world values. We stumble over the prosperity of the wicked. Power weakens, beauty fades, fame flees, fortunes dwindle. Distracted we become discontented, discontented we become self centered. Suffering follows.
Who will feed the hungry? Who comforts the uncomforted? Who will defend the defenseless? The one who has heard "love others as yourself." In disobedience we envy. In obedience, we give the things the world values a passing glance. In obedience alone, are grace and mercy found. When we find them, we can give them. When we give them, God's ways are our ways.
(2)But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. (3) For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
What happens when we take our eyes off the goal of eternity Christ? The psalmist says we loose our footing, we trip up, we slip, we loose our foothold. When our focus switches from God to the world, we envy. We envy the prosperity of the wicked. We become discontent with who we are, with where we are, with who we are with, with what we have. We give up God's standards for man's standards. We give up the eternal for the temporary.
Power, beauty, fame, and fortune, these are the things the world values. We stumble over the prosperity of the wicked. Power weakens, beauty fades, fame flees, fortunes dwindle. Distracted we become discontented, discontented we become self centered. Suffering follows.
Who will feed the hungry? Who comforts the uncomforted? Who will defend the defenseless? The one who has heard "love others as yourself." In disobedience we envy. In obedience, we give the things the world values a passing glance. In obedience alone, are grace and mercy found. When we find them, we can give them. When we give them, God's ways are our ways.
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