Week Twenty-One - Increase

INCREASE

“The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.”  Psalm 115:14

When the time comes for children to leave the nest there is a raft of emotions and soul searching questions for parents to face.  “Have I prepared them adequately?  Will they succeed in life? Will they survive?”  Questions like these and many others haunt parents as they try to help their children make final preparations for living outside the home.

In my life this meant sending them overseas to college and having to trust that they could navigate a new culture and find their way through the maze of driving, taxes, jobs, and friends.  I shuttered at the thought.  I had spent much time trying to prepare them, but when the day came I realized there were things I had failed to address, but it was too late.  They were out there and I was no longer by their side.

That is when God gave me this verse…”The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.”  God assured me that He was the one who had taken care of me all through my life.  He would continue to take care of me, and more than that, He would take care of my children.  And not just “take care of them”, He would actually “increase” them.

This word means to add, increase or do again.  It has the idea of to join.  God was telling me that He would see to their success.  He would join Himself to them and cause them to increase. He would add to their lives all they needed and He would do it over and over again as required.  He would take over from me and be their Heavenly Father.  The best parent they could ever have – just as He had been to me.  When I left home, He took over in my life. He had increased me already and He would do the same for my children.  I had to agree.  He had blessed me abundantly and taken really good care of me.  How could I even doubt that He would not do the same for my children?
Through the years I have claimed the promise of this verse and over and over again the Lord has proved Himself faithful.  Truly He has increased me, but He has also increased my children.  They are living solid lives, faithful to the Lord and truly know the Hand of their Heavenly Father is involved-joined- in their lives.  We have much to celebrate.

What about you?  Do you see the hand of God in your life?  Do you trust Him to take over in the lives of your children?  There is no better place for them – turn them over to Him and watch what He can do.

INCREASE

“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”  Ephesians 4:16

I have always found this description of the joints working together interesting.  God designed the human body in such a fearful and wonderful way so that it all works together perfectly.  But this description in Ephesians is not about a human body, but a spiritual body – the church - a spiritual body that is fitted together and effectually works for the benefit of each member.

However, God opened my eyes to that last phrase, “maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”  Increase means literally, to increase or to grow, so, a mature church is self-propagating.  As you look back from verse eleven you see four distinct qualities of a mature church. 

Verse eleven – it has called and equipped leadership.
Verse fourteen – it has solid and accepted doctrine.
Verse fifteen and sixteen – it has a growing and united membership.
Verse sixteen – it is self-propagating – making increase.

It isn’t enough to have a good pastor, solid doctrine and a happy fellowship of members, a church must be increasing.  It is to be about growing.  This might be in numbers, but better in planting new churches.  Just as the human body self propagates, so should the church.  Making increase edifies – it builds up.  The more a church, then, is involved in increase, the stronger it will become.  To remain introverted is to decrease.  The church should be extroverted!  Exporters of the truth – carrying it on from generation to generation.  And that is to be done by church-planting.

Is your church extroverted?  Are they exporting the truth?  Are they involved in missions and church-planting?  That should be the goal.

INCREASE

 “When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?  Ecclesiastes 5:11

“…if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”  Psalm 62:10

Oh, the vanity of riches.  Haggai 1:6 tells us, Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.”  That is an apt description of our everlasting toil.  Though we strive to gain, it all is like putting our hard earned wages into a bag with holes.  Here today, gone tomorrow. 

God’s Word has much to say about riches.  These verses warn us about setting our hearts and hopes upon what we have gained.  Believing that a large saving account is a source of security is vain.  Going at life with the goal of “getting rich” causes us to miss the most valuable things in life – things that are eternal.

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warned about laying up treasures where moth and rust corrupt and where thieves break through and steal.  To live in this way is to be disappointed.  Genuine increase is not found here.  A healthier way to look at riches is to see them as a tool.  They provide the necessities of live, and sometimes, give us icing on the cake.  But they are only tools- a means to an end.  To see them as more than that is to be deceived.

Our heart and hopes should be based in the God of all provision.  Riches come from Him.  I like the way Solomon puts it in Eccelstiastes 2:24 “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.”

So, when riches increase – enjoy them, but do not set your heart upon them.  They are a gift from God and a tool, but nothing more.

INCREASE

A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.  Proverbs 18:20

“We ought to take as great care about the words we speak as we do about the fruit of our trees or the increase of the earth, which we are to eat; for, according as they are wholesome or unwholesome, so will the pleasure or the pain be wherewith we shall be filled.”  Matthew Henry

We will be increased by the words we have sown.  If we want to find fulfillment and peace in life, we need to learn to talk better.  Improved speaking will be blessed in many ways by God, by others, and will even benefit our own soul.

Taking time to consider our words will save us from uttering foolish or hurtful words which bring us pain in life and conviction in our conscience.  Solomon knew that the more words spoken, the greater the chance of sin. “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”  Proverbs 10:19

Uttering every thought that comes through your mind without filtering is unwise.  Dominating conversation in order to hear yourself speak is foolish.  Using words to manipulate or deceive is truly unkind and evil. 

How many times have you been guilty of leaving others bleeding from wounds inflicted by your tongue?  Your tongue should be used for the health and wealth of others, but many times others are left feeling angered, grieved or confused by our words.  Most people suffer in silence, but the guilt is still real and when you are told of the pain and damage you have caused, it is an embarrassment and a burden on your soul.

The law of sowing and reaping means that we will receive back in life what we give out.  I don’t know about you, but I want to receive kind and encouraging words from those around me on this path of life.  So, I am best to make sure that is what others hear from my voice.

The increase of your lips can be directly related to the improvement you can make to your speech by learning the rules of wisdom for the tongue and lips.  The Book of Proverbs is full of instruction on the tongue.  Consider these: 

Proverbs 15:28 “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.” 

Proverbs 16:23 “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.”

So, learn to guard your speech, limit your words and think before you speak. Rule your spirit and be gracious making every word helpful and kind. Reject harshness and talebearing. Purify your thoughts. Work harder at learning to listen. Seek always to build others up.

Consider how will you feel in the Day of Judgment, when you must give an account for every idle word to the Lord of glory? (Matt 12:34-37)

Let me leave you with this - Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  Proverbs 9:9

INCREASE

“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”  II Timothy 2:16

I just could not leave this thought without sharing a further definition of “increase”.  Here the literal meaning is to beat forward, to lengthen out by hammering as a smith on a forge. Metaphorically it means to advance, go forward or promote.  Let’s take this verse apart a bit and then we will draw some conclusions for our own application. 

The admonition to “shun” means to stand above or separate from.  “Babblings are intemperate words delivered with a loud voice. In the context of the verse this is referring to false doctrine and those that promote it.  They are exemplified as ones who use forceful rhetoric to put forward their agenda.  We are told to stand apart from them, to separate ourselves and look to see what will be their end.

They will increase unto more ungodliness.  Their path will literally be stretched out or beaten forward to make way for more ungodliness.  One commentator put it this way:  the image is as, “They pretend progress; the only kind of progress they make is to a greater pitch of impiety.” (lack of religious respect: a lack of due reverence for God)

Matthew Henry simply put it this way:  “The way of error is downhill.”

And is that not what we see today?  As man tries to promote his humanistic and secular agenda upon the things of God we see an increased lack of respect for God, His Word and true holiness. Man’s path literally is increasing into more ungodliness. It is going downhill.

So what should be our response and application of this verse?  First, I think we need to not be so simple as to listen to the loud voices.  God’s voice comes quietly and reverently.  The loud voices, those that are accepted by the world and that try to weaken or alter doctrine, should not be the voices we are following.  We need to stay true to God’s Word and step back from those who are not.

Further, we need to be examining our own lives to see where error may have crept in.  We will find it in places where we have accommodated lower standards, slacked off in practice of spiritual disciplines, or lessened our devotion to God.  The loud voices will tell us that we are being too narrow or too strict.  They will seek to comfort us by assuring us that we need to be relevant or more modern.  They will lure us with the promise of a happier Christian life if we will just give a bit in a few places.  Don’t be fooled.  There is no such thing as a “happy Christian life”.  There is, however, the truth of a blessed Christian life.  That comes from honouring and reverencing God and His Word.  It is sourced in obedience and respect.  Only there will you be truly “happy.”

What voices are you listening to?  Where have you let up in your doctrine or standards?  Is your path increasing in godliness, or is it declining?

Week Twenty - Impossible

IMPOSSIBLE

 “…With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:26

A few years back we went through a full year of God proving what was truly possible with Him.  A part of our ministry had faced some truly serious challenges and there was no way humanly possible to sort things out, put things right, and come out with a good ending.  We had done all we could, but found ourselves facing a truly impossible situation.  Then, God stepped in.

He didn’t take the problem away, he just began solving things.  He moved us aside and showed that He was fully able to take care of His ministry.  It was then that I began to realize how much I was trying in my own strength to serve.  I had put my whole life into God’s service, but failed to see my true position.  I was simply a tool in His hands.  When I changed my stance from Christian leader to God’s tool, other things began to happen.

I found more joy.  I experienced more of God’s miraculous working.  I felt less stress and irrational responsibility.  I knew and felt a closer relationship of care and concern coming toward me from the Lord.  I also found myself pointing others to God’s ability instead of giving them my advice.

Impossible situations are just that – impossible.  And for me, that’s fine.  Because, God loves to work in impossible situations, for there He can truly show His greatness.  That year was amazing, but you know what?  God hasn’t stopped showing me His ability to bless above and beyond what I can comprehend.  And, he hasn’t stopped bringing impossible situations before me.  Only now, I just step back and let God work it out.

Are you facing an impossible situation?  Have you exhausted all of your resources trying to fix it?  Why not just surrender it over to the God of the Universe?  You can be sure He knows how to get it sorted, for with Him “all things are possible.”

 

IMPOSSIBLE

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”  Luke 1:37

The Christmas story is full of impossible things – a virgin conceives, a barren woman is with child, angels speak directly to men, and the birth of God in human form.  All through the story we see God moving every event to bring His Son into this world, to protect him while an infant and to provide for these young parents.

We love this story and are not surprised by the involvement of the Almighty or the presence of angels.  Yet, we leave it there as a nice story for the holidays and fail to recognize that, just as all Scripture, it is there for our admonition and learning.

The truth is that God is just as involved in our lives today as he was with Mary and Joseph at the nativity.  He is moving and directing every event in our lives.  He is just as concerned about our protection and provision.  He is just as able to overcome insurmountable circumstances.  With God NOTHING shall be impossible.

If you take time to meditation on that simple statement, you will no doubt starting coming up with scenarios where you think God must not be able because things haven’t turned out the way you thought.  Well, those in the Christmas story might have occasion to feel the same way.  Mary never intended to be an unwed mother,  Zacharias never intended to go dumb, Joseph probably had no plan about moving to Egypt and both he and Mary would not have chosen to travel to Bethlehem so close to delivery nor have chosen to give birth to their first child in a stable.

Odd circumstances are not a sign that God is not working.  Rather, odd circumstances are the opportunity for us to see God at work.  I think the part we love about the Christmas story is the oddness of the situations and weaving them together to see the beauty of the Nativity.

We need to see our life as the same.  It is a weaving of odd situations and perplexing circumstances where all the while God is working to make what we see as impossible possible.

Are you facing odd circumstances?  Are you looking for the hand of God or throwing up your hands?  With God nothing is impossible….think about it!

 

IMPOSSIBLE

“…it was impossible for God to lie…”  Hebrews 6:18

From the promise of a redeemer in Genesis to the promise of the restoration in Revelation we can know and believe that God is true and His Word will be fulfilled.  It is literally impossible for God to lie.  So when we read things in His Word that seem outrageous or extreme, we need only fall back on this foundational truth and rest in God’s ability to accomplish the impossible and to make all things work according to His plan.

He said he would love me…and he does.  He said he will provide for me…and he does.  He said he understands me…and he does.  I think we fail to believe that God is Truth.  Instead, we get so hung up in our problems that we begin to see them as truth.  Our eyes are on our situations instead of on our God.  We might know that God cannot lie, but we fail to see how that makes any real difference to our lives or to whatever we are facing.

The fact of the matter is that there is nothing we can face that is not based upon this truth.  God is TRUTH.  If we can get hold of this basic and foundational absolute, we will be able to look at life in a totally different way.

God will never lead us astray.  He will never fail to keep his promises.  He is totally and completely able to understand everything we are facing and he isn’t afraid.  He is honest in his actions toward us and will not withhold purpose and meaning if we will but ask.  He has no ulterior motive or hidden agenda.  He is upfront and clear about His intentions.  We struggle because we do not believe that God is good, he is love and He is truth.

Do you doubt God’s intentions toward you?  Do you think He cannot be trusted to understand or handle your situation?  Do you think that He is a trickster?  Better be adjusting your thoughts and submitting your heart and life to this truth.  It is impossible that he be any other way.

”…let God be true, but every man a liar…”  Romans 3:4 
“He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.”  John 3:33 

 

IMPOSSIBLE

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Think of all the things we do to try to please God.  We read our Bible, pray, attend church, deny ourselves various entertainments, subject ourselves to codes and practices, all in an attempt to prove to ourselves and others that we are good Christian, that we are pleasing to God.  Sadly, we are slow to learn that just as we came to God by faith alone, he expects no less and nothing more than faith as our daily walk and example of our relationship with him.  “…having begun in the Spirit are you now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)

I’m not soliciting that we cast aside all Christian principles and practices, but rather, that we examine the motives behind our Christianity.  Without faith, we cannot please God.  Yea – it is impossible to please him in any other mode.

So, where does that leave us?  I have found that God is little impressed with what I do for him.  Rather, his fondest embrace is reserved for those times when I am simply alone with Him; times when my heart is childlike and fully trusting.  Times when I become aware that He is real enough to almost touch; when His goodness, holiness and beauty overtake my soul.  Only when my service is based in this deep love and submission is anything of real value accomplished or found pleasing to Him. 

Here is Hebrews 11 we read the works of men and women of faith.  If you take time to read the chapter you will see that though God lists their works, he impresses upon us the fact that they all believed God to be real and fully able to work in their lives.  This trust, this faith, was the basis of their lives and was exhibited in the outflow.

What is exhibited in your life?  Are you going through the motions, but have no real sense of the Master?  Do you understand that faith and works go together, but that faith is the underpinning truth and motivation?  Is God real enough that you could almost touch him?  It is impossible to please him any other way.

 

IMPOSSIBLE

“And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”  Luke 18:27

Throughout my life I have been told that the things I desired to do were not possible.  I wanted to be an architect.  My Dad said, “Girls can’t be architects.”  I wanted to join the army.  My Dad said, “Girls don’t do things like that.”  So, I got married and was told, “Your marriage won’t last more than 18 months.” 

Then, I started Bible College and was told, “You can’t do that, you have three small children.”  And, as we went on to the mission field, some said, “They will never last.”

I’m so glad I didn’t listen to all the negative voices in my life.  They each thought the choices I was making were impossible.  I didn’t become an architect, though I know now that it would not have been impossible.  And, I didn’t join the Army – Praise God.  But I did join the Lord’s Army!  My marriage has passed the 40 year mark, I completed Bible College and later went on to get a Masters and the mission field is still my home.

Negative voices are scattered throughout our lives.  We make the choice as to how much weight they hold in our lives.  We make the choice to say we will trust and believe God, or halt and yield.  It isn’t a matter of rebellion or ignoring good advice, it is a matter of keeping your eyes on the Lord and believing that your dreams are possible inside the will of God.  I believe God plants the image of what He desires for our lives into our hearts.  We might not be able to fully verbalize them, but they give us aspiration to move forward with the Lord.  Following them is what some people refer to as following your heart.  I prefer to call it following the Lord.

Do you have aspirations?  Is there a path you believe God has for you?  Negative voices will try to hinder you by telling you it is impossible.  Get with The Voice and let Him show you the next possible step.

 

 

Week Nineteen - Honour

HONOUR

“O Lord my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me: (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:) Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.”  Psalm 7:3-5

The Psalmist is serious about accountability in regards to the treatment of others.  He is very aware that his actions will be judged.  He is concerned that his treatment, even of his enemy, needs to be weighed by eternal standards.  He knows that the principle of cause and effect is one to which he is also accountable. It makes me wonder - how serious are we today about our treatment of others? 

When phrases like, “It’s your life, do what you want.” or, “No one has the right to judge you.” are the standard by which we estimate our actions and make decisions, then I doubt that we are holding ourselves to a Biblical standard.  Seems most people want the “honour”, but not the accountability or standard by which honour is earned.

The Biblical definition of honour is reputation, dignity and glory.  The Psalmist recognizes that his reputation is built upon how he treats others.  The dignity, to which he lives, is the same dignity that he must afford others.  And, any glory that would come from his life is limited to his awareness of the value of others.  To lay his honour in the dust is to lose his honour, reputation, and dignity because of failure in his treatment of others.

We are all affected by how others treat us.  No one is exempt from being influenced or swayed by the actions and opinions of others to some degree.  And, we are all accountable for how we treat others.  We can never expect to get far in life or have a good reputation if we are unkind, selfish or cruel.

What about you?  Do you see the accountability before you?  Or, do you think that no one matters but yourself?  Do you feel justified in returning evil for evil, or do you see that a higher standard is required?

 

HONOUR

“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” 
Romans 13:7

The definition of the word, honour, in this verse is different than reputation or dignity.  It has to do with value and reverence.  Value based on a price or rank is the idea.  For example, we would value a Ferrari over a Renault based on price and on rank.  Or, we would value a granite counter top over a wooden chopping board.  Not only would we see that one was more valuable than the other, we would also treat one with greater care than the other because it’s value deserves and demands greater. 

Another side of this is the deference we would show to the more valuable thing or person, for that matter.  If we were in the presence of the manager of a company we would potentially show more etiquette than if we were in the presence of his basic employee.  We would also be more ready to hear his ideas and instruction than to hear the same from the employee. 

We are instructed here in Romans to show such consideration to those to whom it is due.  So, we are to defer to those in authority, those who have positions of respect and leadership.  But also, it goes further.  Showing honour is a choice.  We can choose to show honour to the basic employee or the wooden chopping board as well.  Our attitude toward others and toward things is never dependent solely upon their perceived value, but upon our personal choice and estimation of their value.

In James we are warned about showing preference to the rich man and humiliating the poor.  Since God is no respecter of persons, we, too, are to value each person.  This is not a contradiction, but rather, an opportunity to shed light on both sides of how we honour and respect the dignity and value of others.  Humility is the key.  Pride is the inhibiter.

What about you?  Are you humble enough to show value to those above you and below you?  Or, does your pride go about looking to see who is praising you and your ideas?  Do you show preference to those above you and disdain for those beneath?  Are you respectful and honouring of authority?  Or, are you seeking to tear them down on your way up the proverbial ladder?

 

HONOUR

“Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me…”  John 8:54

Jesus is characterized by humility.  One good definition of humility is – knowing your place.  As we think about this verse we can see that Jesus knew his place.  Though thoroughly God and endowed with all power in heaven and on earth, he keeps himself in the right place – under submission to the Father.

We never see Jesus walking around telling the disciples or the followers to bow to him or telling them how great He was.  He knew that such boasting and pride were a direct opposite of his character.  There was no place for pride or self promotion in the life of Jesus.  His Father was in control and he was doing the will of the Father.  Any honour that would come his way would come through the Father and because of Jesus’ obedience.

We can know this is the opinion of Jesus not only because we can see the works he did and read the words he said, but also because of the choice of word used in this verse.  The word honour means to think, suppose or be of an opinion.  It has to do with praise and magnification, and to adorn with lustre or clothe in splendour, to make renowned.

Jesus knew that heaping praise and adoration upon himself was not the way to honour the Father.  This was the way of the shallow and self-centred. He also knew that all praise and adoration that would be bestowed upon him came through the Father.  He was content with that.

Do you go about pointing out your strengths and accomplishments to others in order to gain praise?  Do you “blow your own horn”.  Or, can you understand that obedience done in secret and without fanfare will be rewarded openly by God?

 

HONOUR

“A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.”  Proverbs 11:16

This proverb is so very instructive.  The word honour in this instance means glory and abundance.  It also has to do with dignity, reverence and reputation.  But before we take off on what this woman has, maybe we need to take time to see how she obtained it?

Just like respect is earned and not demanded, honour also comes to those who know it’s value and have taken the time to develop the character qualities to which honor is deserved. 

First, she is called a “gracious woman”.  A gracious woman is one characterized by kindness, grace, charm, and elegance.  She is not a brawler or a gossiper.  She is never ill-mannered or inconsiderate.  Her manner and carriage are those of class and refinement.  She has taken time to consider her attitudes and actions and knows the value of presenting herself well.

The honour that comes her way is important to her.  I doubt that it is because she is seeking the praise, but rather, that she is seeking to please her Lord and to keep a good testimony.  So, it is said that she “retaineth honour”.  This means that she maintains her manner so as to grasp, hold, or keep her honour.  She places great value on her reputation and guards it.

Since the idea of honour has also to do with abundance, and the remainder of the verse has a reference to riches, we can also assume that the gracious woman has benefited greatly from her choices.  She is, by her own actions and choices, able to retain not only her reputation, but also the abundance or blessings that have come her way.  She is a woman of prudence; a woman attentive to her business and demeanor. Truly, she is rare and immensely attractive.

Have you ever met such a woman?  How did she impress you?  What benefits do you see related to the choice to be gracious?  What honours to you think she would have received?  Would you be a candidate for the same?

 

HONOUR

“Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”  Proverbs 3:9

The basis of the definition of honour in this verse is another totally different one than we would ever imagine.  It has the idea of weight, or to make heavy by placing honour upon.  It is also related to abundance and glory.

Sometimes we see our giving as just another box to tick.  If we have tithed and given to missions or another special cause, then we have done our bit.  But this verse is teaching more than the simple performance of a spiritual discipline.  It is about seeing the value behind the action and rendering our gifts as ways to actually honour the Lord – to place the weight of glory upon Him.

Someone once said, “We can never out give God.”  And truly, we cannot.  But if we want the rest of the verse to be real and tangible, then we cannot be flippant about our giving.  We need to see it as a real act of worship and recognition of God’s supremacy and honour.  As we submit to his directives in giving, we can then claim the rest of the promise.  He will abundantly bless.

There is an odd little proverb in Proverbs 24:27 that teaches to make things right in the field before you build your house.  I knew a man that took this to heart.  He bought a large plot of land and built a barn.  When people questioned him about it, he quoted this verse.  A few years later he built an amazingly beautiful house on the same property.  Because he had honoured the Lord in his giving, and followed the directives of that simple proverb, God had abundantly blessed.

I think sometimes we get things the wrong way around, we think that if we are not provided for first, then we cannot give to God or follow His methods.  The truth is that if we would first give and obey as a priority, we would be better positioned for God to bless us in the abundant fashion for which He is known.

How about you?  Do you just throw money in the plate with no thought about honouring God?  Do you just go through the motions in your Christian life?  Or, do you see that God wants to be honoured and obeyed in order to bless you abundantly?  It is a weighty matter!

 

Week Eighteen - Heap

HEAP      

“I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.  But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.”  Job 16:4                                 

The story of Job’s friends, their offers of advice and subsequent conclusions makes for some intense reading, but ultimately, not one of them looked for the good in Job, they all were busy pointing fingers and heaping blame.  Meanwhile, their friend, Job, has lost his children, employees, income, health, and even the support of his spouse.

Job’s response to his companions is never one of pointing the finger back to them.  He has made the decision not to heap up words against them. He will not repay their condemnation in the same manner. If the shoe were on the other foot, he says he would use words to strengthen them and to bring comfort.

How many times have you been in Job’s shoes?  You may have not experienced his extent of loss, but you may have experienced friends who are so busy looking to find your faults that they only add to your sense of despair.  Or, have you been guilty of being like Job’s companions; too busy trying to discover where your friend is wrong, that you have heartlessly overlooked the depth of their grief?

It makes for some serious thought and some souls-stirring questions. Take time to honestly confront yourself with these questions:

Do my friends know that I would be supportive and comforting if they came to me in the midst of a trial?  Am I condemning in my thoughts and words toward my friends?  Do I think the best of my friends, or am I out to see them fail?  Do I use my words to strengthen my friends or exalt my own sense of self-righteousness?  In trials, do I point my friends to hope in Christ or try to think of something impressive I could say?  Do I treat my friends as I would want to be treated if I were in their position?

 

HEAP                                                   

“But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.”  Job 36:13

To heap up wrath means to place wrath upon, or to appoint wrath for.  So, the hypocrite is just giving God ammunition by open rebellion and a heart full of sin.  Even when God tries to “bind” him, or to point out the error of his ways, the hypocrite refuses to bow, thus adding more punishment and more eternal accountability for his choice.

Another way to look at it this “heaping” is to say that the hypocrite heaps up, or holds wrath in his heart.  His motivations are based on his anger.  He wants things to be his way, not God’s way.  He refuses to yield to God’s punishment or correction.

By the way, the King James version defines this person as a hypocrite, but other versions use the terms “godless” or “profane”.  Either way it points to a person outside of Christ.

Proverbs 11:21 reads, “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished…” God is very serious about sin and rebellion.  “No matter how tight the cooperation may be, no matter how smart they are, no matter how cleverly they are concealed, no matter the walls they have built, no matter their technique of hiding, no matter the kind of meeting they have held, no matter the agreement between them, the wicked shall not go unpunished.” (Daniel Olukoya)

Anger is a deadly poison.  To have it as the mainstay of life is unwise and unhealthy.  To stubbornly hold onto your own agenda is only to heap up anger in your heart as you fight against God’s moving and to place yourself ultimately before the hands of an Almighty God for eternal judgment.

What is the cure?  Lay down your weapon of anger.  Confess your sin of stubbornness and rebellion and throw yourself upon the mercy of God. You will never win the battle.  It will always cost you more than you want to pay.  You will not go unpunished.

 

HEAP                                                   

“For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee”  Proverbs 25:22

“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”  Romans 12:20

 

God’s Word paints some very unusual pictures.  Heaping coals of fire on someone’s head?  Literally, it means piling up hot, glowing briquettes of coal upon the head of your enemy.  Doesn’t sound very nice to me.  Yet, as we choose to follow the Lord’s command in the treatment of our enemies, that is what is taking place.

The focus is not, however, on seeing our poor enemy melting underneath the heat of the coals of our vengeance, but rather, to see him melt into repentance and friendship by our kindness toward him.  Or, on the other hand, our goodness toward him, may make his evil toward us more inexcusable, and thereby bring the heat of conviction upon him.

It makes me think of a cartoon picture of an enemy with steam coming out of his head when he cannot break down his victim.  The victim continues to repay every assault with kindness.  It just creates more anger and frustration in the enemy.

Our Lord’s actions had a similar affect on the people around him.  He was kind to the unthankful and to the evil.  When he was reviled he reviled not again.  His truthful responses simply blew the minds of his enemies.  The conviction of his words and acts heated them up and left them without excuse, yet they chose vengeance instead of repentance.

It isn’t always easy to be the “victim”.  Making that choice to repay ill with kindness takes spiritual fortitude and much prayer.  Yet, the love of God commands us to be forgiving, forbearing and patient.  Trying to get our “pound of flesh” out of a situation will never lead us to the end we desire.  Peace, joy and happiness cannot come out of a heart of vengeance.  They are the fruits of endurance and forgiveness.

Are you the victim or the enemy?  Have you felt the heat of conviction in your actions toward others?  Are you making choices that lead for peace?

HEAP

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”  II Timothy 4:3,4

During my counseling studies I was presented with a rundown on how relationships break down.  It starts off with a hurt or offense, then a communication breakdown, feelings of rejection and unreceived offers of appeasement.  Then, once the conflict has broken out, the offended one seeks friends that agree with their position.  This is what has happened here. 

Sound doctrine has offended them.  They have either refused to communicate this offense, or not taken time to fully understand the position and begun to allow feelings to rule.  Every offer of appeasement or reconciliation has been rejected and they are in open conflict with God’s Word.  So, they look around and accumulate others who have found themselves opposing truth and go about to make their own truth.

The truth hurts, but that does not change the fact that it is truth.  Sound doctrine is vital, but that does not always make it easy to swallow.  In our day of secularism, humanism, relativism and all the other ism’s, we see man trying to make his own truth.  He is turned to fables, myths, legends, and false beliefs.  These teachers abound, and people are thronging to them.  Such is the manner of the broad way.

The narrow way, however, has but one Teacher, one Truth, and one Way.  He alone has made the way for broken relationship to be restored and sets the parameters for sound doctrine. 

To what are your ears attuned?

 HEAP                                                   

“For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God….”  Ecclesiastes 2:26

 

Ever notice that the bad guy is usually the rich guy?  In the old Westerns, the richer cattleman was troubled, power hungry and corrupt.  The poor farmer boy had only his horse and his good moral qualities.  But, in the end of the story, the poor boy got the girl and was rewarded, many times by gaining what the bad guy lost.

God has shown this same pattern through his Word.  The enslaved Israelites left their captors (Egypt) with wealth untold.  They then entered the Canaan land, “I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.”  (Joshua 24:13)  God took from the evil and gave to the good.  Then again, in the book of Esther, we see all of the wealth of Haman given to Mordecai.  (Esther 8:2)

The effort of gathering and heaping up is never related to the “good Christian” except in the idea of laying up treasures in Heaven.  All of our heaping up of the temporary causes us to lose focus on God as the provider and rewarder.  We are called to live life without the attachment to the things of this world, without the driving desire to accumulate wealth and stuffs.  If we use the gifts of wisdom and knowledge, we will be wealthy.  The tangibility of our wealth will be determined by our use of these gifts and by the hand of God, but tangible wealth should not be our main goal.

There is no reason, then, for us to covet the things of sinners, or to be envious of their gain.  Over and over we are taught that they will be cut down and wither, they will not prosper, they are full of trouble and they will be consumed.  Our focus should be on our own accountability and contentment before God.  “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.”  (Proverbs 15:16)  We need to leave the disbursement of wealth to God.  Remembering that - The good guy will win!