(Pro 25:4 KJV) Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
I hesitate on how to interpret this verse for today. I see the need to “take away” (1898) the “dross” (5509) of our lives, both spiritual and temporal. There are many applications to that. We sometimes focus only on the spiritual life and the sin in our hearts. Without taking away from that, I think it may also be a reminder to remove the activities that keep us from being pure. Those activities may be a natural part of our life, just as silver has natural impurities. They may be artificial. They must be removed.There is a quote that was attributed to John Wesley but I have not been able to verify. At this point I can only paraphrase it anyway. It went something like this: Whatever takes away from your ability to live right, whatever dulls your sense of spiritual awareness, whatever makes it hard for you to act in liberty, etc.; for you, that is a sin.
How many TV shows or movies fit into those categories? What books, magazines and even cartoons bring this result? What leisure activities contribute to these failures? By themselves they may be harmless, but if they keep us from being what God wants us to be, they are sins.
Silver was one of the first metals to be used by man because it was found in a relatively pure state and could be beaten into shapes. Silver can be found to make into jewelry and such but it is not pure silver, thus it has different characteristics and less value than smelted silver.
This type of silver does not have the “dross” (5509) removed. To be useful to God we must be cleansed of the sin and habits that impregnate our personalities and nature. The root word has the idea of backsliding. Fight it.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Envy of Evil
(Pro 24:1 KJV) Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
When we see a command in the Bible, it is in response to an existing condition of need. We would not have any of the letters of Paul if he were not responding to specific issues in the early church. In the same way, commands like this are not hypothetical shots in the dark. They are not God guessing at what might be helpful in some situations. They are universal principles that reflect on the human condition and our need for knowledge of the truth.
We don’t like to admit it, but we are “envious” (7065) of people around us. It doesn’t always run away and control us. It doesn’t drive us to robbing banks and stealing from the poor. Yet there is something in our heart when we are in a house that has central air when we have window air conditioners. There is something about getting a ride in someone’s new car when ours has broken down again. There is something about watching people give orders and seeing them obeyed. If these people are not serving Jesus, then they are serving the enemy. We fall into the trap of envy or covetousness.
“Evil” (7463a) exists. It is brought up frequently in Proverbs. We don’t like to admit it. Too often we are consumed with the lives and activities of the evil of the world. I read a blog recently that stated that a major world event received 20 seconds of mention on only one network and the arrest of a teen age celebrity was covered widely and by over 20 minutes on that same network. Why? Because people like us watch it. We are attracted to it. We become consumers of evil. What would happen if Christians would totally stop watching some of these programs? What would happen if all Christians would cancel their subscriptions to magazines and cable that were offensive? One thing is sure: We would have a lot of Christians who might get bored enough to actually start reading their Bibles again.
Update: I made a typo change in the last paragraph.
When we see a command in the Bible, it is in response to an existing condition of need. We would not have any of the letters of Paul if he were not responding to specific issues in the early church. In the same way, commands like this are not hypothetical shots in the dark. They are not God guessing at what might be helpful in some situations. They are universal principles that reflect on the human condition and our need for knowledge of the truth.
We don’t like to admit it, but we are “envious” (7065) of people around us. It doesn’t always run away and control us. It doesn’t drive us to robbing banks and stealing from the poor. Yet there is something in our heart when we are in a house that has central air when we have window air conditioners. There is something about getting a ride in someone’s new car when ours has broken down again. There is something about watching people give orders and seeing them obeyed. If these people are not serving Jesus, then they are serving the enemy. We fall into the trap of envy or covetousness.
“Evil” (7463a) exists. It is brought up frequently in Proverbs. We don’t like to admit it. Too often we are consumed with the lives and activities of the evil of the world. I read a blog recently that stated that a major world event received 20 seconds of mention on only one network and the arrest of a teen age celebrity was covered widely and by over 20 minutes on that same network. Why? Because people like us watch it. We are attracted to it. We become consumers of evil. What would happen if Christians would totally stop watching some of these programs? What would happen if all Christians would cancel their subscriptions to magazines and cable that were offensive? One thing is sure: We would have a lot of Christians who might get bored enough to actually start reading their Bibles again.
Update: I made a typo change in the last paragraph.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Do justice
(Pro 21:3 KJV) To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
This is another theme that is often repeated in the Word. It is summarized well in Micah 6:6-8. If you don’t know that passage, it might be a good one to memorize at least verse 8.
I find it interesting that we are to “do” (6213a) “justice" (righteousness NASB) (6666) and “judgment" (justice NASB) (4941). The KJV word "justice" is the Hebrew word for righteousness. I have just been listening to a sermon by a Calvinist brother who claimed that we cannot do righteousness. There seems to be a misunderstanding somewhere. Might I suggest a reading of Proverbs instead of the Institutes?
We have elevated “sacrifice” (2077) to the level of idol. We do not sacrifice animals any more but we do other things that make us feel like we are giving to God. The problem is that we begin to substitute rituals for obedience. One reason God is telling them sacrifice is not the end of all ends is because the Perfect Lamb of God is going to take care of the need for altar sacrifice. He will do it on the cross. It is like trying to mow the lawn with a pair of scissors, one blade at a time, just before the professional gardener arrives with his power mower.
God is still expecting more that reading the Four Spiritual Laws or praying a prayer. He wants us to live in righteousness and justice. That is hard because it demands a full time commitment to following Jesus. We hide behind ritual, tithes, witnessing and other activities that release us from the demands of godliness. It is much easier to meet the demands of legalism and ritualistic religion than walking the Highway of Holiness.
This is another theme that is often repeated in the Word. It is summarized well in Micah 6:6-8. If you don’t know that passage, it might be a good one to memorize at least verse 8.
I find it interesting that we are to “do” (6213a) “justice" (righteousness NASB) (6666) and “judgment" (justice NASB) (4941). The KJV word "justice" is the Hebrew word for righteousness. I have just been listening to a sermon by a Calvinist brother who claimed that we cannot do righteousness. There seems to be a misunderstanding somewhere. Might I suggest a reading of Proverbs instead of the Institutes?
We have elevated “sacrifice” (2077) to the level of idol. We do not sacrifice animals any more but we do other things that make us feel like we are giving to God. The problem is that we begin to substitute rituals for obedience. One reason God is telling them sacrifice is not the end of all ends is because the Perfect Lamb of God is going to take care of the need for altar sacrifice. He will do it on the cross. It is like trying to mow the lawn with a pair of scissors, one blade at a time, just before the professional gardener arrives with his power mower.
God is still expecting more that reading the Four Spiritual Laws or praying a prayer. He wants us to live in righteousness and justice. That is hard because it demands a full time commitment to following Jesus. We hide behind ritual, tithes, witnessing and other activities that release us from the demands of godliness. It is much easier to meet the demands of legalism and ritualistic religion than walking the Highway of Holiness.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Being a Loner
(Pro 18:1 KJV) Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
This is a place where I think the NASB is much more clear. Let me include that translation here:
PRO 18:1 He who separates himself seeks {his own} desire, #He quarrels against all sound wisdom. (NASB)
Are you a joiner or a loner? Some people seek to be part of a group. Some seek to have time alone. A pastor once shared an idea which I am sure was not original: Extroverts get energy from being with people, introverts are drained by it. I am more of an introvert, a loner. I can enjoy people but I have no problem being by myself. This verse and the next have some wisdom I need to be reminded of. They speak against being an isolated guru. I am one who “separates” (6504) myself. I don’t think of it as setting myself above others as much as just preferring peace and quiet.
On the positive side, I spend much of the time for worship and prayer. Part of this experience is listening and it is hard to listen when others keep distracting you. At least I find that true.
On the negative side I face the danger of thinking I have all the answers.
The world “seeks” (1245) its own “desire” (8378). We have the free will to decide what we will seek. Jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of God. Jesus said seek and you will find. There is a lot of leeway to determine the direction of our energy. It is used fairly frequently in Proverbs.
What is your “desire” (8378)? We need to think seriously about the things Jesus said and Paul wrote. As saints, we are to have died to our own personal desires. We are supposed to be living for Jesus. How often we rationalize our way into calling our will God’s will. John Wesley made an interesting observation in his journals:
“...doubtless a pious man, but a thorough enthusiast; guided, in all his steps, not by the written word, but by his own imagination; which he calls the Spirit.”1
Too often in our Christian walk we confuse the Spirit with our desires.
1 Wesley, John. The Works of John Wesley, Volume IV, Third Edition.
Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1979, p. 50.
This is a place where I think the NASB is much more clear. Let me include that translation here:
PRO 18:1 He who separates himself seeks {his own} desire, #He quarrels against all sound wisdom. (NASB)
Are you a joiner or a loner? Some people seek to be part of a group. Some seek to have time alone. A pastor once shared an idea which I am sure was not original: Extroverts get energy from being with people, introverts are drained by it. I am more of an introvert, a loner. I can enjoy people but I have no problem being by myself. This verse and the next have some wisdom I need to be reminded of. They speak against being an isolated guru. I am one who “separates” (6504) myself. I don’t think of it as setting myself above others as much as just preferring peace and quiet.
On the positive side, I spend much of the time for worship and prayer. Part of this experience is listening and it is hard to listen when others keep distracting you. At least I find that true.
On the negative side I face the danger of thinking I have all the answers.
The world “seeks” (1245) its own “desire” (8378). We have the free will to decide what we will seek. Jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of God. Jesus said seek and you will find. There is a lot of leeway to determine the direction of our energy. It is used fairly frequently in Proverbs.
What is your “desire” (8378)? We need to think seriously about the things Jesus said and Paul wrote. As saints, we are to have died to our own personal desires. We are supposed to be living for Jesus. How often we rationalize our way into calling our will God’s will. John Wesley made an interesting observation in his journals:
“...doubtless a pious man, but a thorough enthusiast; guided, in all his steps, not by the written word, but by his own imagination; which he calls the Spirit.”1
Too often in our Christian walk we confuse the Spirit with our desires.
1 Wesley, John. The Works of John Wesley, Volume IV, Third Edition.
Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1979, p. 50.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Fair Taxes
(Pro 17:26 KJV) Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
Let’s risk getting a little political. If Jesus is a part of everything in our life that includes our political opinions and actions. They say that the only things that are certain are death and taxes. So we work ourselves to death to pay our taxes. Here the Bible says we should not be punished for being successful in our hard work. Often our tax policies and redistribution of wealth go against this. When we have been good stewards and made the sacrifices needed for success some people want to “punish" (fine NASB) (6064) us for being “just" (righteous NASB) (6662).
Why do people cheat on their taxes and try to find ways around their “fair share?” Why do people deal in cash and try not to leave a paper trail? Why do people buy on the internet instead of from a local retailer? Because they feel like they have worked hard for what they have and resent the government trying to take a larger chunk away from them they do things that they will admit are not quite kosher.
Think about it next time you ask yourself, “How would Jesus want me to vote?”
Let’s risk getting a little political. If Jesus is a part of everything in our life that includes our political opinions and actions. They say that the only things that are certain are death and taxes. So we work ourselves to death to pay our taxes. Here the Bible says we should not be punished for being successful in our hard work. Often our tax policies and redistribution of wealth go against this. When we have been good stewards and made the sacrifices needed for success some people want to “punish" (fine NASB) (6064) us for being “just" (righteous NASB) (6662).
Why do people cheat on their taxes and try to find ways around their “fair share?” Why do people deal in cash and try not to leave a paper trail? Why do people buy on the internet instead of from a local retailer? Because they feel like they have worked hard for what they have and resent the government trying to take a larger chunk away from them they do things that they will admit are not quite kosher.
Think about it next time you ask yourself, “How would Jesus want me to vote?”
Friday, July 16, 2010
Divine Right of Kings
(Pro 16:12 KJV) It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
I teach world history. One of the themes I keep coming back to is the struggle between the crown and the plow. There have always been strong men who took power. There have always been working people who wanted to be left alone to raise their families. The elites have always tried to control the multitudes. At one point you had the idea called the Divine Right of Kings. This said that the king was appointed by God and so everyone else had to listen to him. This is a verse that the kings who believed in the Divine Right of Kings did not read or consider. This says that even kings are capable of being wrong. Abuse of power for personal pleasure is an “abomination” (8441), even when a king does it. This would be one of the verses that finally began to limit the power of kings. Even the head of state is to be under the law.
Political leaders have a responsibility before God. Here it talks about kings, but this would also apply to prime ministers and presidents. I might even apply to CEOs and police chiefs. We seem to divorce God’s values from our own. To many people define actions by leaders as “wickedness” (7562) when they are of the opposite political party instead of by the truth.
For those in positions of authority and power, heed this warning. The rest of us need to remember that our allegiance is to God and His Word.
I teach world history. One of the themes I keep coming back to is the struggle between the crown and the plow. There have always been strong men who took power. There have always been working people who wanted to be left alone to raise their families. The elites have always tried to control the multitudes. At one point you had the idea called the Divine Right of Kings. This said that the king was appointed by God and so everyone else had to listen to him. This is a verse that the kings who believed in the Divine Right of Kings did not read or consider. This says that even kings are capable of being wrong. Abuse of power for personal pleasure is an “abomination” (8441), even when a king does it. This would be one of the verses that finally began to limit the power of kings. Even the head of state is to be under the law.
Political leaders have a responsibility before God. Here it talks about kings, but this would also apply to prime ministers and presidents. I might even apply to CEOs and police chiefs. We seem to divorce God’s values from our own. To many people define actions by leaders as “wickedness” (7562) when they are of the opposite political party instead of by the truth.
For those in positions of authority and power, heed this warning. The rest of us need to remember that our allegiance is to God and His Word.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Keep Your Money
(Pro 15:8 KJV) The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Something I hear as I visit churches is a release from contributing to the offering that is given toward visitors. I have always thought this was a legitimate part of being “seeker friendly.” This verse gives the real reason why such a release is important. This verse puts it in OT language.
The most important reason to visit the temple was to offer a “sacrifice” (2077). This was a ritual that was intended to serve several purposes. It spoke of admitting to being a sinner and needing forgiveness. It was public. It cost money. Although it was an action, it was based on faith. Some people deny that this animal sacrifice had any real value but the OT repeatedly says that it brought atonement. Here is one example:
(Lev 5:10 KJV) And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.
Notice that it clearly states that his sin will be forgiven. I would still say that this is ultimately because of the blood of Christ.
Sacrifice is not only worthless if you are a non-believer, but it is an “abomination” (8441). For the “so-called brother” who attends and gives but does not really believe I would say this is also a warning. Giving becomes a form of mocking God. I don’t know if you saw the movie “Lilies of the Field.” One scene stands out in my mind. The man who has been conned into rebuilding the chapel is talking to the owner of the bar who has said he does not believe in God. He has just made a large contribution to the rebuilding. He is asked why he donated if he did not believe. He shrugged and said, “Insurance.” God does not honor insurance from another company. There seem to be many places where the Bible points out that the goal of God is not sacrifices. Recent reading of Micah 6 leading up to verse 8 is one example.
Something I hear as I visit churches is a release from contributing to the offering that is given toward visitors. I have always thought this was a legitimate part of being “seeker friendly.” This verse gives the real reason why such a release is important. This verse puts it in OT language.
The most important reason to visit the temple was to offer a “sacrifice” (2077). This was a ritual that was intended to serve several purposes. It spoke of admitting to being a sinner and needing forgiveness. It was public. It cost money. Although it was an action, it was based on faith. Some people deny that this animal sacrifice had any real value but the OT repeatedly says that it brought atonement. Here is one example:
(Lev 5:10 KJV) And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.
Notice that it clearly states that his sin will be forgiven. I would still say that this is ultimately because of the blood of Christ.
Sacrifice is not only worthless if you are a non-believer, but it is an “abomination” (8441). For the “so-called brother” who attends and gives but does not really believe I would say this is also a warning. Giving becomes a form of mocking God. I don’t know if you saw the movie “Lilies of the Field.” One scene stands out in my mind. The man who has been conned into rebuilding the chapel is talking to the owner of the bar who has said he does not believe in God. He has just made a large contribution to the rebuilding. He is asked why he donated if he did not believe. He shrugged and said, “Insurance.” God does not honor insurance from another company. There seem to be many places where the Bible points out that the goal of God is not sacrifices. Recent reading of Micah 6 leading up to verse 8 is one example.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)