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“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish
and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.”
—1 Timothy 6.9 (NIV)
Michael Leven writes, “There are two American dreams, and both involve getting very rich. One way is the old-fashioned, dreary, Old-Economy way of actually working hard and earning it. The other, more satisfying method means that a large bolt of lightning suddenly strikes you wealthy beyond measure, and you didn’t have to do much more than be yourself. This is commonly referred to as the New Economy.” He continues, “The beautiful thing about the crop of game and reality shows that began with ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ and proceeded with ‘Twenty-One,’ ‘Survivor,’ ‘Big Brother,’ and ‘Greed,’ is their ethos that hard work is for fuds” (Amherst magazine Winter 2001).
I confess that I like matching wits against contestants and dreaming about what I’d do with the “inevitable” million. In the past I’ve even considered what I’d do with the $6 million that Readers Digest keeps telling me I’m eligible to win.
The Bible does not oppose money, but it does oppose greed and grubbing after every penny. In college our track team captain took the money we had raised for a spring training trip to Florida and bet it—the night before we set out, on horses. Coach nearly went ballistic except Dave won. He said it wasn’t just luck.
It’s the possibility of making the fast buck, getting something for nothing, the thrill of success that drives us. It’s what makes us do risky, dumb stuff, like bet the team’s travel money! It’s what keeps the lotteries in business, pays for the upkeep at casinos around the country, keeps the day trader’s eyes glued to his computer screen. It’s what ruins far too many lives and homes.
That’s what Paul warns against. That’s what the Bible condemns.
“So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.”
—Ezra 8.23 (NIV)
Ezra had persuaded a number of his countrymen, women and children to accompany him from Babylon to Jerusalem. They were going to make the journey on foot but without armed guards. “I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, ‘The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him’” (NIV).
They had no contingency plan. But they had God.
Somewhere William MacDonald wrote, “Put yourself in a position that you have to trust God. That will revolutionize your prayer life.” That’s what Ezra had done. They had no way effectively to defend themselves against the robbers and bandits that lurked in the hills and towns they must past en route. They would be easy pickings—except God was for them.
This is not to advocate for foolhardy lack of preparation. But it is to advocate for turning to the real source of protection. On the one hand, not even armor deflects the arrow he guides to its mark (1 Ki 22.28,34). On the other hand, he knows the number of hairs on one’s head and no sparrow falls apart from God’s will (Mt 10.29, 30). It is proper to plan, but these plans must find their origin and expression in concert with God.
So Ezra fasted, prayed and marched.
God brought them safely to Jerusalem, uncontested.
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted...”
—2 Timothy 3.12 (NIV)
Astonishingly, Paul, admits of no exceptions here. It is everyone—young, old, male, female, Jew, Gentile. Everyone who makes it her or his priority to cultivate a relationship with God through Christ Jesus will eventually suffer persecution.
I don’t doubt that getting derogatory remarks at the office about being a “goody-goody” or laughter in the restaurant in response to a bowed head to say a table grace or having a kid at school who knows you attend Youth Group deliberately take the name of the Lord in vain against you might fit in this category. But in the first century persecution was simpler—arrests, beatings, confiscated property, disownments. It’s the sort of pressure to recant that those considering conversion face in Muslim countries today.
In America we don’t have much of this, but it’s not far away. My brother is a missionary. He has friends who were beaten with rods from the bottom of their feet to the top of their heads and thrown into a room to fend for themselves simply because they were friends of the missionary. These men were taunted: “Where’s your God now?” They were hurt but did not break.
C.S. Lewis borrowed from George MacDonald, writing, “The Son of Man suffered unto death, not so that we might not suffer. But that our suffering might be like his.” Jesus suffered unjustly, according to the will of God, not returning curse for curse, but blessing. He committed himself and the need for justice to God.
I have so much to learn here.
“Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from
the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest.”
—Nehemiah 3.20 (NIV)
In context, this verse gives the name of one of the Jerusalem refugees engaged with Nehemiah in about 435 B.C. in the rebuilding of the city walls. Apart from his hardwork and efforts we know nothing more of this man (except perhaps another mention in 10.6). Often I’ve pondered why the Bible does this, why the Bible gives us simply a name and the briefest of descriptions. What are we to make of this?
Probably the point is to recognize that no effort done in Jehovah’s name, in obedience to his commands and priorities will be passed over without God’s notice. By contrast, how many of the names of the builders of the walls of Babylon are known? How many of those who labored on the pyramids of Egypt? Or the great sky scrapers of New York City? But Baruch son of Zabbai is known from the Bible as a zealous builder!
Jesus promised that a simple cup of water given in his name will receive a reward (Mk 9.41). Not so much the degree of effort or generosity, but the fact of it is what God notices.
How often have I wondered if the efforts to organize Bible studies, preach, witness, teach Sunday School, run youth activities end with the conclusion of the event? When the game’s over all the pieces get put back in the box and are forgotten. Nehemiah reminds us that when the work done is in service to God, he remembers, he rewards.
History may take no account of Baruch, but God did!
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,...”
—Titus 2.11-14 (NIV)
Because our kids’ grandparents live at a distance and can visit infrequently when the dates of their arrival draw near, our household kicks into higher gear. Each room gets a careful going over—if there’s time the walls may even get wiped down! Plans are arranged for what we’re going to do when Grandma’s here. Homework and school projects are caught up so that they won’t interfere. Mom and Dad make arrangements for time away from work. In our house, the day before they come is often the busiest as the pace of picking up, picks up.
Paul suggests to Titus in the verses cited above that the motivation for living the kind of life he describes is the soon appearing of Jesus. In view of his coming we ought to be ready, living lives that are upright and godly, without worry of shame when he appears. The expectation is that his arrival should find our personal lives clean, tidy, prepared.
Perhaps the timing of Jesus’ coming is not so obvious. The giveaway is St. Paul’s use of the pronoun “we.” Paul included himself in the company of believers living in anticipation of Jesus’ soon return. He understood that the “glorious hope” could give way to reality within his own lifetime. So he, too, wanted to be ready.
Jesus has not yet returned in glory. But there’s no question we’re closer than was Paul. Could it be today?
Is your house ready? Mine?
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me.
Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do.
When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
—Esther 4.16 (NIV)
This is a justifiably famous verse. It is the reply of Esther to her uncle, Mordecai, in the face of Haman’s threat to extirminate the Jews. She had naturally been reluctant to breach the state protocol, risking her life on the mere hope that her intervention might win a stay of action from the king. But Mordecai’s rejoinder had galvanized her to action. Her mettle merits praise.
Equally striking is this young woman’s (possibly a teen?) plan of action. She would not go into the king without first fasting, and, we can fairly safely assume, praying for 3 days. Further, she requested that Mordecai do the same with all the Jews in the capital city. Only then would she dare to enter the king’s presence. Only when the King of kings had been supplicated for his favor, for her people and for her safety would she venture uninvited into Xerxes’ antechamber.
The book of Esther is unusual in that the name of the LORD is not mentioned. But his sovereignty is assumed and his presence redolent in the background. Esther counted on the knowledge that “the king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases” (Pr 21.1 NIV). Having sought out the LORD’s provision in this she could accept the king’s decision come what may.
It crashes like a ton of bricks to recognize that an edict has been written to condemn my neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers—my people, under the penalty of sin. What am I going to do about it? How about 3 days of fasting and prayer? What might God do then?
“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear
about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.”
—Philemon 4 (NIV)
One of my colleagues was preparing his house for sale. Before closing it was recommended that he have his septic system pumped. This recalled a previous bad experience. Apparently a prior contractor had come to his house to do this and had given him a hard time. He had not honored my colleague’s request and when payment details were not agreed upon had cursed at him in person.
I have never met this contractor, never seen the quality of work he does but I won’t forget his name. His reputation preceded him—it stinks. He won’t get my business.
By contrast look again at Philemon’s. Here was a man known for his trust in Christ and his love for other believers. This is a winning combination! Nor can this sort of reputation be established instantly. Trust in Christ, faith that others can vouch for as genuine has to be demonstrated in the crucible of daily life over a period of time and trial. Similarly, sincere love for other Christians is not simply gushy hugginess and emotional displays of warmth. This is the day in, day out commitment to seeking the good of others for Christ’s sake. It, too, requires time to verify the authenticity.
What a testimony! The gossip about Philemon was that his faith was genuine, his love authentic. It had leaked all the way round to Paul in prison at Rome and supplied the basis for his intervention with Philemon in behalf of Onesimus.
Ever wonder what folks say about you around the water cooler at work or fire hydrant down the block? The challenge is to fuel the gossip with multiple examples of trust in Christ and love for other Christians as Philemon did.
So what are we waiting for?