Please take time to read 2 Corinthians chapter 9.
This chapter is the second in a row in which Paul addresses generosity and does it through a specific giving campaign to help out the struggling Christians in Jerusalem. I want to look at just a few principles of generosity that we can discover in this passage.
Generosity is about attitude and action. You cannot have one without the other and be considered a truly generous person.
Attitude
"Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given." 2 Corinthians 9:5
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7
Our attitude in giving is extremely important and is a by-product of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Cheerful giving is a clear sign of our changed heart, but cheerfulness in itself is not enough. If a person says they love to give but never actually gives are they generous? Absolutely not. Many times our hearts are stirred into a giving attitude when, for instance, a missionary's slide show inspires us to pledge to give. But being stirred to give is not giving.
Action
"For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we... not to say anything about you... would be ashamed of having been so confident." 2 Corinthians 9:2-4
Obviously an important part of being generous is actually giving. Our attitudes may give off a giving nature but a generous person is an actual giver. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth to make sure it wasn't just excitement that made them pledge to give; Paul wanted the Corinthians to follow through. It is an embarrassment to ourselves and others when we don't do what we say we will. That is one reason we need to count the cost before making a pledge of money or time.
But action alone does not make us generous. If a person gives but gives begrudgingly or out of compulsion would you call them a generous person? Probably not. Generous people give and enjoy giving. Generous people recognize that actually giving is an exercise in faith and a proven faith is hugely rewarding.
Generosity is important for the obvious reason that it helps meet the needs of others. But generosity is important for much more than that. Look at the verse below:
"Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel of Christ..." 2 Corinthians 9:13
Don't miss this, "for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel of Christ." See, generosity is a proof that the Gospel has taken root in our life. Generosity is an obedience that accompanies our acceptance of the Gospel!
Are you generous? Generosity, both monetarily and non-monetarily, is a sign of God's life changing work in our lives. The attitude of generosity implanted by the Holy Spirit is a proof of our salvation. The action of giving is a proof that we actually trust in the God in whom we say we trust. Yes, generosity is about helping others, but generosity is about so much more. God doesn't need us to give. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills; He created the universe and commands it today. God allows us to be generous for our sake. He allows us to be generous so that we can have the blessed assurance that we know and trust Him.
"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6
In attitude and in action sow generously today.
Monday, June 9, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
The Grace of Giving
Please take time to read 2 Corinthians chapter 8.
Many people are jaded by/against their church because they hate that their church talks too much about giving. Many people don't understand why giving is something that churches even talk about. Well, Paul wrote very directly about giving to the church at Corinth. Let's look at part of what he wrote.
"But just as you excel in everything... in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us... see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you though His poverty might become rich."
2 Corinthians 8:7-9
We, as maturing Christians, must grow in the grace of giving. We are to grow in all areas: faith, speech knowledge and in giving. We do not experience the fulness of what God has for us until we grow in the grace of giving. How many of you would argue that growing in faith is unimportant? None of you. Then why do we argue that growing in giving is not important?
Paul didn't command the Corinthians to give; rather he said he was testing the sincerity of their love. Give me your budget or spending records for this past year and I'll tell you what you love. How we spend our money is an excellent barometer of our love. So, we don't give money to our local church or foreign missionaries because God is incapable of accomplishing His will without our cash. We give because it shows what we love. Really it helps give us assurance that we love and trust God.
We also give because Christ gave first and gave more. Jesus was on His throne ruling and reigning in perfection before He came to earth as a helpless baby born to a poor carpenter and a young mother. Jesus gave up everything, including His life; this should inspire our giving.
Some of you give to your church and/or charities. That is awesome. Some of you don't and I invite you to experience the benefits of giving and growing into Christian maturity.
Here's some guidelines for giving that I'm borrowing from Weird by Craig Groeschel:
Groeschel says there are three types of givers.
1) Spontaneous Givers.
These people give when a cause inspires them to give. For instance, when a youth group needs money for a mission trip a spontaneous giver might write a check and help them out or let them borrow their vehicle. Spontaneous giving is good and it should be done by Christians, but it is just a small step into the grace of giving.
2) Strategic Givers.
These givers plan ahead so they can be generous. These folks are your tithers who faithfully give every paycheck whether 10%, 15%, 20%, etc. Strategic givers realize that "giving is not something we do; generous is who we are." Maturing Christians should move into this category of givers.
3) Sacrificial Givers.
These people "don't just believe that things of this world don't matter; they completely live that way." These people aren't necessarily poor monks; in fact, many of them are rich, they have just reached an understanding that everything they have is God's and they use everything, including money, in light of that.
Grow in the grace of giving. I won't promise you that God will bless you with riches; some of the best givers are still poor. No, I can't promise you wealth (although God may choose to give you wealth so you can give more) what I will promise you is that as you grow in the grace of giving God will bless and sanctify you. If you are a spontaneous giver work to become a strategic giver. If you are a strategic giver become a more sacrificial giver. Grow in the grace of giving and God will grow you today.
Many people are jaded by/against their church because they hate that their church talks too much about giving. Many people don't understand why giving is something that churches even talk about. Well, Paul wrote very directly about giving to the church at Corinth. Let's look at part of what he wrote.
"But just as you excel in everything... in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us... see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you though His poverty might become rich."
2 Corinthians 8:7-9
We, as maturing Christians, must grow in the grace of giving. We are to grow in all areas: faith, speech knowledge and in giving. We do not experience the fulness of what God has for us until we grow in the grace of giving. How many of you would argue that growing in faith is unimportant? None of you. Then why do we argue that growing in giving is not important?
Paul didn't command the Corinthians to give; rather he said he was testing the sincerity of their love. Give me your budget or spending records for this past year and I'll tell you what you love. How we spend our money is an excellent barometer of our love. So, we don't give money to our local church or foreign missionaries because God is incapable of accomplishing His will without our cash. We give because it shows what we love. Really it helps give us assurance that we love and trust God.
We also give because Christ gave first and gave more. Jesus was on His throne ruling and reigning in perfection before He came to earth as a helpless baby born to a poor carpenter and a young mother. Jesus gave up everything, including His life; this should inspire our giving.
Some of you give to your church and/or charities. That is awesome. Some of you don't and I invite you to experience the benefits of giving and growing into Christian maturity.
Here's some guidelines for giving that I'm borrowing from Weird by Craig Groeschel:
Groeschel says there are three types of givers.
1) Spontaneous Givers.
These people give when a cause inspires them to give. For instance, when a youth group needs money for a mission trip a spontaneous giver might write a check and help them out or let them borrow their vehicle. Spontaneous giving is good and it should be done by Christians, but it is just a small step into the grace of giving.
2) Strategic Givers.
These givers plan ahead so they can be generous. These folks are your tithers who faithfully give every paycheck whether 10%, 15%, 20%, etc. Strategic givers realize that "giving is not something we do; generous is who we are." Maturing Christians should move into this category of givers.
3) Sacrificial Givers.
These people "don't just believe that things of this world don't matter; they completely live that way." These people aren't necessarily poor monks; in fact, many of them are rich, they have just reached an understanding that everything they have is God's and they use everything, including money, in light of that.
Grow in the grace of giving. I won't promise you that God will bless you with riches; some of the best givers are still poor. No, I can't promise you wealth (although God may choose to give you wealth so you can give more) what I will promise you is that as you grow in the grace of giving God will bless and sanctify you. If you are a spontaneous giver work to become a strategic giver. If you are a strategic giver become a more sacrificial giver. Grow in the grace of giving and God will grow you today.
Monday, May 26, 2014
A Big God's Big Love
Yesterday in church we sang, "How Great Thou Art." As I was singing I happened to look at two of my friends who had just gotten married. See, these newly weds had visited the Grand Canyon on their honeymoon and I thought "How Great Thou Art" would mean so much more to them now. Then I thought of my honeymoon. Christine and I went to the mountains of Colorado. I thought of the massive Rockies and the brook that ran through a beautiful meadow we hiked through. I remembered the waterfall we stood by and the number of times were were blown away by God's glorious creation.
The congregation continued to sing these words of "How Great Thou Art"
"And when I think that God His Son not sparing/ Sent Him to die I scarce can take it in/ That on the cross my burden gladly bearing/ He bled and died to take away my sin."
As those lines were sung my heart was filled with a joyous thankfulness. I imagined taking my family back to Rocky Mountain National Park and explaining to my child how the same God that made those mountains loves them. I was blown away in that moment of imagination and worship.
But later another more convicting thought entered my mind. See, there are some people I can't stand. Some people annoy me. Some people in my world and on the news seem like pure evil and I wish they would die.
Here's the convicting thought that I had:
The same God who made the mountains loves the people I don't love.
What right do I have to hate them? What right do I have to be impatient with them? What right do I have to not even tolerate them? If I want to be like the God I claim to serve I need to love them, too.
I have a big God's love and I have no right to hoard my big God's big love. Join me in worship today of our unimaginably big God and join me in trying to love like our big God loves today.
Imagine the most beautiful part of creation you've seen as you listen to this song today.
The congregation continued to sing these words of "How Great Thou Art"
"And when I think that God His Son not sparing/ Sent Him to die I scarce can take it in/ That on the cross my burden gladly bearing/ He bled and died to take away my sin."
As those lines were sung my heart was filled with a joyous thankfulness. I imagined taking my family back to Rocky Mountain National Park and explaining to my child how the same God that made those mountains loves them. I was blown away in that moment of imagination and worship.
But later another more convicting thought entered my mind. See, there are some people I can't stand. Some people annoy me. Some people in my world and on the news seem like pure evil and I wish they would die.
Here's the convicting thought that I had:
The same God who made the mountains loves the people I don't love.
What right do I have to hate them? What right do I have to be impatient with them? What right do I have to not even tolerate them? If I want to be like the God I claim to serve I need to love them, too.
I have a big God's love and I have no right to hoard my big God's big love. Join me in worship today of our unimaginably big God and join me in trying to love like our big God loves today.
Imagine the most beautiful part of creation you've seen as you listen to this song today.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Practical Advice for College-Bound Graduates
Graduation is here for many high school and college students. Several students I've had to privilege to know and love are leaving for college in the Fall. So, here's some practical advice for high school graduates. This list isn't exhaustive, but in my experience it is very helpful.
1) Don't go home every weekend and especially not the first weekend.
Your parents might not like this advice, but it is good advice. So much of what you learn at college will not be learned in a classroom. You will learn from the experience of being around new people. Weekends are so important for meeting people, especially the first weekend. Some of those people you meet your first weekend will possibly be life-long friends.
2) Leave your door open.
When you're in your room just hanging out leave your door open. This will give you an opportunity to bond with those students living on your floor. Most, if not all, of those students are also scared freshmen and that common experience is a great catalyst for friendship. People who close their doors all the time often miss this companionship in a shared living space.
3) Don't overlook the weird kids, they're often the nicest.
High school may have been about cliques but college doesn't have to be like that. Those "weird kids" are often the most friendly people on campus. If you want college to be cliquey like high school it will be; but if you befriend people of all walks of life you'll learn so much more and have deeper friendships that aren't based solely on your social strata.
4) Don't believe everything your professors say, but think about everything they say.
Newsflash: many professors have an agenda. A great number of these men and women want to teach you the subject matter and share their opinions with you as if they were facts. These professors range from the atheist to the extreme liberal to the libertarian to the feminist that will make you sorry if you were born male. Not everything presented in your class will be strictly factual. However, don't use that as an excuse to stop thinking. Some of my best professors were the curmudgeon former Christians and passionate near communists because they forced me to think sharply enough to defend my own opinion.
5) Plug into a church.
This is my most useful and impactful piece of advice for a few reasons. In college you will be surrounded by 18-22 year-olds who think they know it all; your church will give you a chance to learn from your elders and give you an opportunity to mentor those younger than you. Your church will keep you rooted in your faith. For so long you've probably gone to church because your parents did, college will be a chance for you to go to church because you want to. Don't underestimate the power of this.
9 years ago I plugged myself into a church in my college town, Waverly. I was a nervous freshman at Wartburg College and I can't say enough how awesome the decision to go to Grace Baptist was for me. Grace gave me a chance to be my own adult in the congregation. No longer was I Jack and Kathie's son, I was just Matt. My faith became even more my own and being plugged into Grace helped that immensely. I'm still a member of Grace and I can only begin to say what a difference my church has made in my life.
Seniors, congratulations on your graduation. I'd advice you to consider all the advice I gave above but I implore you to plug into a local church above all the rest of the advice that was given. You'll be glad you did. Again, congratulations and consider this advice today.
1) Don't go home every weekend and especially not the first weekend.
Your parents might not like this advice, but it is good advice. So much of what you learn at college will not be learned in a classroom. You will learn from the experience of being around new people. Weekends are so important for meeting people, especially the first weekend. Some of those people you meet your first weekend will possibly be life-long friends.
2) Leave your door open.
When you're in your room just hanging out leave your door open. This will give you an opportunity to bond with those students living on your floor. Most, if not all, of those students are also scared freshmen and that common experience is a great catalyst for friendship. People who close their doors all the time often miss this companionship in a shared living space.
3) Don't overlook the weird kids, they're often the nicest.
High school may have been about cliques but college doesn't have to be like that. Those "weird kids" are often the most friendly people on campus. If you want college to be cliquey like high school it will be; but if you befriend people of all walks of life you'll learn so much more and have deeper friendships that aren't based solely on your social strata.
4) Don't believe everything your professors say, but think about everything they say.
Newsflash: many professors have an agenda. A great number of these men and women want to teach you the subject matter and share their opinions with you as if they were facts. These professors range from the atheist to the extreme liberal to the libertarian to the feminist that will make you sorry if you were born male. Not everything presented in your class will be strictly factual. However, don't use that as an excuse to stop thinking. Some of my best professors were the curmudgeon former Christians and passionate near communists because they forced me to think sharply enough to defend my own opinion.
5) Plug into a church.
This is my most useful and impactful piece of advice for a few reasons. In college you will be surrounded by 18-22 year-olds who think they know it all; your church will give you a chance to learn from your elders and give you an opportunity to mentor those younger than you. Your church will keep you rooted in your faith. For so long you've probably gone to church because your parents did, college will be a chance for you to go to church because you want to. Don't underestimate the power of this.
9 years ago I plugged myself into a church in my college town, Waverly. I was a nervous freshman at Wartburg College and I can't say enough how awesome the decision to go to Grace Baptist was for me. Grace gave me a chance to be my own adult in the congregation. No longer was I Jack and Kathie's son, I was just Matt. My faith became even more my own and being plugged into Grace helped that immensely. I'm still a member of Grace and I can only begin to say what a difference my church has made in my life.
Seniors, congratulations on your graduation. I'd advice you to consider all the advice I gave above but I implore you to plug into a local church above all the rest of the advice that was given. You'll be glad you did. Again, congratulations and consider this advice today.
Friday, May 9, 2014
A Mother's Prayer
I don't know if anyone in my life has prayed for me more than my mother. I'm guessing those of you from a Christian family can say the same thing.
Mothers pray with an intensity and persistence that likely can't be matched by the most devoted monks. Remember the mother of Samuel the prophet? His mother prayed so intensely that Eli thought she was drunk. Mothers pray for children when their children are nothing more than a dream and they continue to pray until, well, they actually ever stop.
There are times when my mother annoys me. At times it feels that she nags me to do things, "Did you call about that?" "Did you get that turned in?" "You'll be sorry if you don't do that."
Moms can ride a subject longer than the world's best rodeo cowboy could stay on a paralyzed horse. And yes, sometimes I get sick of that, but then I get to thinking...
I get to thinking about how persistent my mom can be and remember how good that is. Not that I want more reminders from her, but her persistence is a good thing. Moms are persistent in prayer for their children and unlike me, God can't get away from her.
"Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said, 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'
And the Lord said, 'Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly."
Luke 18-1-8a
My mom has been persistent in prayer for me in many things and I thank her for that. My siblings and I have been blessed in so many ways and I'm sure the prayers of my mom have made a difference.
The first prayer I can remember with my mom was when we pulled over on the side of the road as the sun rose and she prayed with me as I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. If my mom only had one prayer with me she would have changed my life for eternity, but she didn't stop praying that morning.
Thank you Mom for your prayers though the years. I love you.
Thank your mother for her many, persistent prayers today.
Mothers pray with an intensity and persistence that likely can't be matched by the most devoted monks. Remember the mother of Samuel the prophet? His mother prayed so intensely that Eli thought she was drunk. Mothers pray for children when their children are nothing more than a dream and they continue to pray until, well, they actually ever stop.
There are times when my mother annoys me. At times it feels that she nags me to do things, "Did you call about that?" "Did you get that turned in?" "You'll be sorry if you don't do that."
Moms can ride a subject longer than the world's best rodeo cowboy could stay on a paralyzed horse. And yes, sometimes I get sick of that, but then I get to thinking...
I get to thinking about how persistent my mom can be and remember how good that is. Not that I want more reminders from her, but her persistence is a good thing. Moms are persistent in prayer for their children and unlike me, God can't get away from her.
"Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said, 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'
And the Lord said, 'Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly."
Luke 18-1-8a
My mom has been persistent in prayer for me in many things and I thank her for that. My siblings and I have been blessed in so many ways and I'm sure the prayers of my mom have made a difference.
The first prayer I can remember with my mom was when we pulled over on the side of the road as the sun rose and she prayed with me as I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. If my mom only had one prayer with me she would have changed my life for eternity, but she didn't stop praying that morning.
Thank you Mom for your prayers though the years. I love you.
Thank your mother for her many, persistent prayers today.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Tough Love
Please take time to read 1 Corinthians chapter 7.
The Apostle Paul wrote four letters to the church at Corinth. Two of those letters were lost and the second and fourth are in our Bibles as 1st and 2nd Corinthians. In Paul's third letter (which was lost to us) he apparently said some hard things to the church at Corinth, but those hard things led to positive change.
"Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it... I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while... yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." 2 Corinthians 7:8-10
Have you ever had a situation where you felt called to have a tough conversation with someone? Maybe it was a friend that was making a poor life choice, or a person in a toxic relationship or a brother in an unrepentant sin. In these situations we know what we should do. We think, "Someone should talk to him." Maybe that someone is you.
If you are in a real, deep, loving relationship with someone you will have a time when you need to exercise tough love with them. So, how do we do it? I don't have all the answers but here is how the Apostle Paul did it.
Paul exercised tough love rooted in real love. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church and was tough with them because he deeply loved them. It hurt him to see them going on the way they were. Paul wasn't trying to feel superior to them, he was trying to love them. As you can see in the passage above Paul didn't regret giving them tough love but he did kind of regret it because it hurt them. It seems the last thing Paul wanted to do was exercise tough love, but he loved them too much not to.
Paul gave a Godly rebuke that dealt with the root of the problem. Paul was after Godly sorrow in the Corinthians. He said "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow leads to death." Paul realized that Godly sorrow is being sorry for one's sin; worldly sorrow is being sorrow you got caught or hurt. Paul wrote to the Corinthians to bring about Godly sorrow that leads to true repentance.
Paul's tough love led to life change and encouragement. Paul loved the church at Corinth enough to rebuke them, but then he also loved them enough to encourage them when they receive his criticism well. Paul understood that receiving criticism is hard to do. When Titus told Paul all the good things the Corinthians were doing Paul was encouraged and wrote to the Corinthians to encourage them, too. Paul didn't leave them hanging in the sorrow he helped produce.
We see how Paul exercised tough love. Now, are you being called to do this, too? Is there someone you love too much to watch them hurt themselves or run from God? If so, love them enough to try to set them back on the narrow path of salvation.
"Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses."
Proverbs 27:6
Real friendship, real church requires tough love. Do you love enough to help bring your brothers and sisters to repentance? Are you mature enough to receive constructive criticism?
Love courageously and don't fear to exercise tough love that is true love today.
The Apostle Paul wrote four letters to the church at Corinth. Two of those letters were lost and the second and fourth are in our Bibles as 1st and 2nd Corinthians. In Paul's third letter (which was lost to us) he apparently said some hard things to the church at Corinth, but those hard things led to positive change.
"Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it... I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while... yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." 2 Corinthians 7:8-10
Have you ever had a situation where you felt called to have a tough conversation with someone? Maybe it was a friend that was making a poor life choice, or a person in a toxic relationship or a brother in an unrepentant sin. In these situations we know what we should do. We think, "Someone should talk to him." Maybe that someone is you.
If you are in a real, deep, loving relationship with someone you will have a time when you need to exercise tough love with them. So, how do we do it? I don't have all the answers but here is how the Apostle Paul did it.
Paul exercised tough love rooted in real love. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church and was tough with them because he deeply loved them. It hurt him to see them going on the way they were. Paul wasn't trying to feel superior to them, he was trying to love them. As you can see in the passage above Paul didn't regret giving them tough love but he did kind of regret it because it hurt them. It seems the last thing Paul wanted to do was exercise tough love, but he loved them too much not to.
Paul gave a Godly rebuke that dealt with the root of the problem. Paul was after Godly sorrow in the Corinthians. He said "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow leads to death." Paul realized that Godly sorrow is being sorry for one's sin; worldly sorrow is being sorrow you got caught or hurt. Paul wrote to the Corinthians to bring about Godly sorrow that leads to true repentance.
Paul's tough love led to life change and encouragement. Paul loved the church at Corinth enough to rebuke them, but then he also loved them enough to encourage them when they receive his criticism well. Paul understood that receiving criticism is hard to do. When Titus told Paul all the good things the Corinthians were doing Paul was encouraged and wrote to the Corinthians to encourage them, too. Paul didn't leave them hanging in the sorrow he helped produce.
We see how Paul exercised tough love. Now, are you being called to do this, too? Is there someone you love too much to watch them hurt themselves or run from God? If so, love them enough to try to set them back on the narrow path of salvation.
"Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses."
Proverbs 27:6
Real friendship, real church requires tough love. Do you love enough to help bring your brothers and sisters to repentance? Are you mature enough to receive constructive criticism?
Love courageously and don't fear to exercise tough love that is true love today.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Playing with Toys
I believe the year was 1994. It was Christmas Eve and the family was opening gifts and I had a massive box in front of me.
I was center stage because my family always opens up gifts one at a time. I tore into the wrapping and opened the plain cardboard box. The box was nearly empty, save for a small bag. The bag was full of BBs! I grabbed the bag and was confused until I noticed a note in the box. The note said, "Look under our bed."
I dashed into my parents' room, plunged my head under their bed and discover a long, skinny, rectangular box. My parents had gotten me a Red Rider BB Gun! I was pumped to say the least. The gift was awesome, but I couldn't shoot it yet because it was the middle of the night and there were more gifts to open.
Later I got a chance to shoot the gun and I loved it. I shot that BB gun a lot. I put tin cans on the burn barrel and picked them off with my 2nd grade level marksmanship. The entire time I lived in Missouri I played with that Red Rider BB Gun.
What did my parents get out of this story? My parents, I'm sure, got joy out of seeing me enjoy the gift they spent their hard earned money to buy me. I'm sure there were times when they looked out the window and smiled as I continued to play with the gift they gave me. I'm sure they smiled when they saw that I enjoyed their gift for more than a moment.
How do kids honor their parents who give them gifts? With a hug? Yes. But mostly by enjoying the gifts.
"For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:16-17
Jesus is the source of all things in the universe. Everything is from Him and for Him. This includes all that we have from the tangible to the intangible. We aren't the origin of a single thing; everything we have is a gift from God.
How then do we honor God as good stewards of what He's given us? There are many ways, but I believe the best way is to play with our toys. The greatest way to glorify God with the gifts He's given to us is to remember that He is the source of the gifts and to enjoy them to the max. Don't wish for a different gift. Enjoy the one you have.
John Piper says it this way, "God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him."
The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, "What is the chief end of man?" and answers "Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."
Everything is from God and for God. Live like that is true, because it is. Play with your toys. Let your Heavenly Father smile at you while you enjoy His gifts to you today.
I was center stage because my family always opens up gifts one at a time. I tore into the wrapping and opened the plain cardboard box. The box was nearly empty, save for a small bag. The bag was full of BBs! I grabbed the bag and was confused until I noticed a note in the box. The note said, "Look under our bed."
I dashed into my parents' room, plunged my head under their bed and discover a long, skinny, rectangular box. My parents had gotten me a Red Rider BB Gun! I was pumped to say the least. The gift was awesome, but I couldn't shoot it yet because it was the middle of the night and there were more gifts to open.
Later I got a chance to shoot the gun and I loved it. I shot that BB gun a lot. I put tin cans on the burn barrel and picked them off with my 2nd grade level marksmanship. The entire time I lived in Missouri I played with that Red Rider BB Gun.
What did my parents get out of this story? My parents, I'm sure, got joy out of seeing me enjoy the gift they spent their hard earned money to buy me. I'm sure there were times when they looked out the window and smiled as I continued to play with the gift they gave me. I'm sure they smiled when they saw that I enjoyed their gift for more than a moment.
How do kids honor their parents who give them gifts? With a hug? Yes. But mostly by enjoying the gifts.
"For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:16-17
Jesus is the source of all things in the universe. Everything is from Him and for Him. This includes all that we have from the tangible to the intangible. We aren't the origin of a single thing; everything we have is a gift from God.
How then do we honor God as good stewards of what He's given us? There are many ways, but I believe the best way is to play with our toys. The greatest way to glorify God with the gifts He's given to us is to remember that He is the source of the gifts and to enjoy them to the max. Don't wish for a different gift. Enjoy the one you have.
John Piper says it this way, "God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him."
The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks, "What is the chief end of man?" and answers "Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."
Everything is from God and for God. Live like that is true, because it is. Play with your toys. Let your Heavenly Father smile at you while you enjoy His gifts to you today.
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