By the Book

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 

-- John 17:17  

Can we really believe in the Bible? After all, some people say it's too old to be relevant in the 21st Century. Others doubt the possibility of all the miracles it reports. And still others believe that the Bible is no greater than the texts used by other religions.

So what makes the Bible stand out above every book ever written?

First, the Bible claims to be God's Word. And then it backs it up with dozens of prophesies (predictions) of events that eventually happened decades or centuries later. For instance, the Old Testament records in detail God's plan for saving mankind through a Messiah. And as we read in the New Testament, Jesus eventually fulfilled these prophesies in person through His birth, ministry, death and resurrection.

Historically and scientifically accurate, the Bible is also the most studied and critiqued book in history. Try as many have, no one has been able to disprove its claims.

What the Bible says about daily living is yet another reason to believe in the Scripture's validity. It advises us about friendship, marriage, money, health and much, much more. What was true 2,000 years ago remains so today.

And that's not surprising. After all, the Bible is God's owner's manual for our lives. It was written centuries ago to lead its first readers to abundant life. And in 2013, God's Word still does the same for you and me.

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart," Jesus invites us through Matthew's Gospel, "and you will find rest for your souls."

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 

-- Deuteronomy 15:10  

  

As Christ-followers, our faith grows as we continue to learn God's ways for living in the world and transforming it for His Kingdom. And it turns out that generosity is one of the character traits that He wants us to acquire and put into action along the journey. This is particularly relevant since we in 21st Century America are all so very rich...at least when compared to most of the world's population. 

It's unlikely that most of us feel like Donald Trump or Bill Gates when we look at our bank statements. But maybe we should. According to recent data from The Human Development Report, 3 billion people in the world live on less than $2.50 per day! Even more jaw-dropping is that 80 percent of the world's population lives on less than $10 each day.

These statistics should put our individual financial situations--bleak or otherwise--into perspective. Millions of Americans may be unemployed, on welfare or receiving food stamps. But even this reflects relative wealth against the backdrop of the crushing poverty found in sub-Saharan Africa, India or even Brazil. 

So how are we "millionaires" to respond with our excess of riches?

First, it's important to understand that being rich isn't a sin in itself. After all, Abraham--one of the heroes of the Old Testament--was quite wealthy. However, the way you get rich can be an issue. Do you gain by exploiting or cheating others? And are you being honest in your business affairs?

And there's also an even bigger question about wealth: What are you doing with your money?

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment," the Apostle Paul wrote to his protégé, Timothy. "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."

Whether it seems like it or not, most of us are millionaires when compared with the vast majority of the world. And with this wealth comes responsibility. Of course, we can never use our money to out-give God. But we can use it freely to positively impact our friends, neighbors and total strangers by being incredibly generous...and amazing examples of lives transformed by Jesus.

Giving From the Heart

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 

-- Deuteronomy 15:10  

  

The statistics are literally heart stopping. 

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for about 1 out of every 3 deaths in the United States. The respected health organization reports that in 2012, nearly 2,150 Americans died from CVD every day. That's an average of one death every 40 seconds!

It's obvious that our nation is dealing with a major health crisis. But there's another serious heart problem that doesn't involve cigarette smoke, cholesterol management or low-fat diets. Far too many Christ-followers lack a heart that's willing to give according to the resources God has richly given them. They might not be wealthy...but they do have some to offer. And when they do open their pocketbooks, it's often done grudgingly.

Of course, that's not the example God has given us through His Word, the Bible. If there's one thing we should learn from God's principles about money and possessions, it's to be generous.

We worship a God of generosity. And He wants us to follow His example and spread His Kingdom throughout our community and beyond. One way to do that is by following the Biblical principle of the tithe, which means giving the first 10 percent of our income back to Him through the Church. Of course, the God who created the universe with a Word hardly needs our money. But following this savvy practice accomplishes several purposes. In addition to enabling the church to better spread the good news about Jesus Christ, help Christ-followers grow spiritually and benefit our communities, generous, purposeful giving shows how much we differ from society. The world teaches that cash is king and that he (or she) who has the most toys wins. Money and possessions are its god. But Christ-followers are to exchange what will ultimately rust and fade away for something much more permanent and valuable. Our Lord also knows our inner nature; if we didn't give to others, our selfish natures would take over.

Why do many Christ-followers fail to give to their potential? For some, it's a lack of sound Biblical teaching on the matter. For others, it might be a lack of financial planning or even debt issues. And unfortunately, basic selfishness often figures into the equation.

Whether you're rich or poor--or somewhere in the middle--generosity with your possessions is the cure for discontentment... as well as the antidote to materialism. Because when we give Jesus some, He can do a lot.

Just a Little to Give

He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.
"Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the Lord.

-- Jeremiah 22:16  

For centuries, Christ-followers have given a portion of their resources to the church to help achieve God's will on Earth. And if you're a committed giver, you've probably discovered that you can't out-give God. We might one day feel led to help a neighbor pay his electric bill or buy a bag of groceries. And then a few days later, we might ourselves be blessed through an unexpected promotion at work or a surprise check in the mail. God's example is a powerful incentive for Believers of all economic levels. After all, He wants us to trust in Him--not money--as our Provider.

But when it comes to our money, it really does boil down to trust. We trust God with our eternal salvation. However, do we trust this same God to provide for our daily needs? Christ-followers are called to serve as His hands and feet to feed the hungry, heal the sick and house the homeless. So by making generous giving a spiritual habit, we become more like Him...and all while helping to change the world for the better.

This looks good on paper--particularly when our bank accounts are full and there's plenty more on the way. But how does it apply to Christ-followers with only modest financial resources?

In Luke's Gospel account of The Widow's Mite, Jesus describes a poor woman who literally gave her last penny as her offering. His point is that since she gave out of her poverty, her small gift was actually much greater in God's eyes than the vast amounts offered by rich worshippers. We can see that this widow--although poor--took the initiative and made the most of her gift. Likewise for today's Christ-followers of modest means, giving takes humility. (Who wants to feel compared to others?) What's more, giving out of limited resources takes discipline and trust. Just because we have less than others is no reason to turn our back on God. After all, when we're wise with the gifts He gives us, there's more to give back to Him and His Kingdom.

Whether our bank accounts are big or small, our generosity brings joy to others. It moves our focus from ourselves and onto the recipient. Moreover, a life of generosity brings joy to God because it shows we're becoming more like Him. And why not? After all, ours is a God who is the ultimate giver.

 

Sound Barrier

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

-- Psalm 46:10  

Houston... We have a problem.

Those words became famous in April 1970 after an oxygen tank exploded aboard the Apollo 13 spacecraft...and nearly ended the lunar mission in disaster. The astronauts were forced to return to earth without ever landing on the moon, and they had to improvise a way to conserve onboard electricity while reducing the buildup of deadly carbon dioxide inside their cabin. More troubling still was that no one could determine if the damaged capsule would withstand the intense heat generated during the re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.

Earth-based radar stations tracked Apollo 13's progress while NASA stayed in radio contact with the crew. But as expected, communications were lost when super-heated plasma built up around the spacecraft. It wasn't until minutes later that Mission Control heard the astronauts' voices break through the static. Millions of prayers around the world were answered that day as Apollo 13 and its heroic crew splashed down safely to earth.

This story is a realistic word-picture of our relationship with God. That's because even for the most experienced Christ-follower, there are times when prayers to God are met by static. Did He hear us or not? And if He did, why didn't He respond?

What we really want to know is how can we break through this frustrating spiritual barrier. First, it's important to examine ourselves for sin...and then admit it to God if and when we find it. The reason is that the noise of unconfessed sin can drown out what God is trying to tell us. Next, we need to clear the airways by forgiving others for anything we might be holding against them. After all, how can we expect God to forgive us for how we've failed Him if we hold grudges against others for relatively minor issues? 

Next, how are we treating our spouse and children? And are we helping to care for the needy through the riches God has entrusted us to manage? As Christ-followers, we're expected to help those in need with food, shelter and clothing.

Finally...there's the BIG question: Are you a Christ-follower? If not, understand that prayer and communication with God are based on your relationship with Jesus:

"You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it," Jesus assures us in the Gospel of John.

Are your prayers these days met with static...or is communication with God coming in loud and clear? When you're having trouble breaking through, locating the barrier is sometimes as easy as finding the closest mirror.

Priceless

Have you forgotten the Lord who made you, who stretched out the skies and made the earth?
Why are you always afraid of those angry people who trouble you and who want to destroy?
But where are those angry people now?

-- Isaiah 51:13

What was your first paying job?

Maybe you delivered newspapers every day at 5:00 AM, flipped hamburgers at McDonald's or stocked shelves at Ukrop's. Odds are that it wasn't a position with a corner office, company car or stock options. Instead, the hours were probably long, you worked nights and weekends, and the pay was meager at best.

And if you were like millions of other teenagers, you stayed on the job--whether you liked it or not--because you had your eye on the proverbial prize. Maybe that prize was your first car.

It was nice enough if your parents let you drive their 10-year-old Ford or Chevy around town or to the mall. But buying your own car with your own money was a very different matter. You were working to earn enough to drive the vehicle off the lot, make the monthly payments, pay the insurance premiums and fill up the tank. And your bank account was almost always empty by month's end. But you didn't care; your first automobile was worth every penny because you found it. And you paid the price.

Maybe God never drove a '65 Mustang convertible or a late '80s Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z. But He certainly knows about giving up everything to buy that one-of-a-kind treasure. And in His case, that priceless treasure is YOU!   

God--the most powerful and loving Presence in the universe--bought you at an incredibly expensive price: the life of His Son, Jesus. Since we could never pay the price that we rightfully owe for all the bad decisions, broken relationships and damage we've wrought throughout our lives, Jesus paid it Himself by dying in our place on a cross between two common criminals. Jesus didn't deserve to be there. But God loved us so much that He was willing to pay everything for us to be with Him forever.

That news is amazing enough. But God wants you to be more than some sort of honored house guest (although that would still be nice). Instead, He's literally chosen you as His heir. That means that once you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you become an adopted son or daughter of God. And as God's children and heirs, we'll all have quite an inheritance to enjoy for eternity.

Such generosity is hard to comprehend. So here's how Jesus explained God's perspective to the common people of 1st Century Israel...and to suburbanites in 21st Century America like you and me:

"If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it," Jesus asks. "And when you find it, you will be so glad that you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.'"

God is willing to do whatever it takes to bring you and me home. In fact, He already paid that hefty price nearly 2,000 years ago through the death of His Son, Jesus. There's no way we can ever pay Him back. But we can accept His priceless gift.  

Mixed Messages

The good news tells how God accepts everyone who has faith, but only those who have faith. It is just as the Scriptures say, "The people God accepts because of their faith will live."

-- Romans 1:17

It's been a controversy among Christ-followers for nearly 2,000 years. In fact, some might argue that it's been a factor over the centuries in dividing Christianity into multiple denominations. So what is this thing that's caused so much conflict among a people called to love one another?

It's the roles of faith and works in the life of Believers. On one hand, the Apostle Paul makes it clear that salvation is a free gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ. Let's consider one of Paul's most famous passages from the Book of Romans:

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved."

That's simple enough. But what should we do with this Scripture from James, the brother of Jesus:

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

James' point seems to be that without doing good works, our faith is worthless. But is it our faith that brings us into God's Kingdom--or do we need to work for it...and for how long?

Maybe these messages from Paul and James aren't so mixed after all. On multiple occasions, Jesus' miracles revealed the incredible power of faith in those who sought Him. For example, we read in Luke 7 that a Roman soldier's faith actually "amazed" the Son of God.

"I tell you," Jesus explained to the crowd of followers, "I have not found such great faith even in Israel."

So it really is through our faith in Jesus and His work on the cross that we're saved from the punishment we all deserve. Otherwise--if it were all about works--it might be possible to somehow earn our way to God's acceptance. That's unrealistic...but it's not to say that works don't play a crucial role in the lives of Christ-followers. In fact, the tangible ways that we live our new lives help to prove that we're a changed people through our faith in Jesus.

What we have isn't really a contest of faith versus works. Instead, both must be evident in the life of every Christ-follower. Rather than being saved BY our own good works, our faith in Jesus leads us to being saved FOR doing good works. The author of the Old Testament book Micah puts it this way:

"And what does the LORD require of you? "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

It takes faith to believe God's promises and obey His commands. After all, demonstrating a life of justice, mercy and humility is a tall order that we can never accomplish on our own--particularly when we face the struggles and circumstances of everyday life. And it's the tough times that cause the so-called "fans" of Jesus to fall away to leave only His true followers--the ones with real living faith. And how can we live faith-filled lives that bear fruit for our Father's kingdom?

"With man this is impossible," explains Jesus. "But with God all things are possible."