From Riches to Rags to Riches…

From Rags to Riches. The American Dream. Start with nothing and finish with everything. Isn’t this what we all want? Isn’t this the best of all possible worlds?

So many times in my life, I get so caught up in the “good” things that I think I do. I go to Seminary where I am learning more about being a minister of the gospel. I work at a church. I work with students on a weekly basis. These are all really good things, and few people would argue otherwise.

But the Christian life isn’t all about the tally sheet of good works that one can accomplish during their lifetime. Good works are important, don’t get me wrong. God thought so when he said, “you shall know them by their fruits.” But the significance of the good things we do doesn’t boil down to mere action, but the heart  and the attitude behind the action. Jesus pointed this out to the Pharisees on many occasions, telling them that their actions had already received due reward because they were doing it for personal gratification and recognition rather than to bring glory and honor to God. So many times the “riches” we think we are building up on Earth are really nothing more than acts done out of personal interest, advancement, and ambition. This is not the lifestyle God wants. He doesn’t need our actions whatsoever. In fact, He says that “all our works of righteousness are nothing more than filthy rags to God.” (Isaiah 64:6) God is infinitely holy and we are equally as fallen. The best we can do pales in comparison to God’s perfection. God knows this. It is no surprise to Him. Therefore, He only asks we strive to do our best and serve Him with a pure heart.

One day, the “riches” we have will be tested by fire by God to show whether they were done with genuine Christ love. Those done from other motivations will be burned like wood and hay. But those that are genuine and done with the mind and the heart of Christ will be refined like precious jewels. So the question to ask yourself today is, what are your actions going to be? One day, will you stand before God with ashes or with diamonds? Are you living your life to gain accolades or are you sincerely trying to truly further the kingdom of God?

Remember, keep your self and your actions in perspective! Even your riches are nothing more than rags in the eyes of the awesome God we serve! Riches to Rags might not be the Christian dream. But it’s the Christian reality on this Earth. Therefore, strive daily to produce rags! Because one day in heaven, we will truly have a rags to riches story of our own to share!

A Long Time Coming…

It has come to my attention from several people close to me who have said to me, “John, it’s a good thing you have that blog…that you never write in…” For the people that actually read this (few as they may be), I apologize for the lack of entries over the last few months. School and work have given me more than enough projects to keep my head spinning and my fingers typing away like crazy. But finally, with yet another semester of graduate level study behind me, I am going to try and make updating my blog more of a priority. Most of the entries will be about passages of Scriptures that I have read recently and the insights God has allowed me to glean from them. But from time to time I’ll probably write about some other things going on in my life as well as things that interest me!  So I look forward to being able to have to time to write down some of the things going on in my head and hope that you will enjoy it as well!!!

-john

Right to Choose? Or Choose THE Right?

It has been a little longer than I would have liked to getting around to writing this blog, but sadly, sometimes huge Hebrew tests require alot of time and studying. But thank goodness it is over now, so the rest of the week will be far better than it began.

Hands down my favorite class this semester has been my class called The Bible and Moral Issues. In it, we discover the history of philsophy and thought, and now have moved on to discovering what the Bible has to say about the numerous “controversial” moral issues throughout our society.

Perhaps the most important thing I have learned is surprisingly not what the Bible says about divorce, abortion, homosexuality, or other issues. I pretty much knew most of that going in. But what has struck me as being the most pivotal is that I, and we as Christians, are called to have an answer for “the issues.” It isn’t something that someone (whether it is a parent, spouse, teacher, or pastor) is supposed to decide for us. And it is defintely not something that we are just supposed to regard as up to each individual and that each person can believe what they want to and it doesn’t really matter. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” And that is what we as Christians are CALLED to do.

One of the most tossed about phrases in society today is “right to choose.” This is mostly used in terms of a woman’s right to have an abortion, but I think it can apply much more than in that one instance. People, including Christians, have gotten to the point where they feel like they and they alone are what will determine right and wrong, moral and immoral, important and unimportant in their lives. And if someone else doesn’t agree, it doesn’t matter, because it is all about what works for me. How prideful have we become? Since when do we as Christians think it is up to us and our finite ability to think to determine what is moral and ethical in life? When we start taking our opinions and emotions into account, we are bound to make the completely wrong decision. The fact is that God gave us the Bible for a reason, and that reason is to help us determine what is right and what is wrong in life. Not our life, but life in general. The Bible is not a source of relative truth, up for interpetation by each person who reads it. The Bible is absolute truth, speaking the same truth to every person who has read it over the past 2000 years and everyone who will read it for the next 2000 years. It is the Bible and the Bible alone that will give us the exact answers for every issue we face in life, whether it be abortion, divorce, racism, homosexuality, or anything else. We as Christians are called to have an answer for the hope that we have. So remember, as you think through the issues of life, it isn’t about your right to choose, it’s a question of whether you will choose THE right.

Are Your Words Worth Their Weight?

Well here goes nothing, my first actual post.

Something I have been noticing more and more in our society today, not just in the case of politicians and government officials, but the common person as well, is that a person’s word isn’t worth anything anymore. Just a generation or two ago, your entire character, reputation, and being was based solely upon a handshake and giving someone “your word.” How far are we removed from those days in our world today? Now, it is completely routine to see someone saying one thing one day and then no more than a few days later, acting in complete opposition to what they had said previously. What does God’s Word have to say about this kind of action?

The Book of James has alot to say regarding true Christian character, and how it can be acquired. James 5:12 speaks to the legitimacy of one’s speech and says, “Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.” Written to a group of Jews who had been spread throughout the land of Israel, James’ primary means of communicating truth to them was by somehow relating it to the law which they were familar with. Here he does this by appealing to the ancient practices of taking oaths. Oaths were nothing more than a means to an end for the people, a way to reach their ultimate goal of attaining something. But they were careful not to take oaths before God, hence why they swore by heaven and earth, but not God Himself. Here James is saying those are the absolute worst reasons for taking oaths, because by doing so, you are being dishonest. This is why when we as Christians speak, our speech should be of a single motivation: to remain pure in motive and pure in intent.

But this is a lesson that is lost on many within the Church today. While we may not always take advantage of people by lying to them blatantly, many times it is the simple “I changed my mind,” or “I had a change of heart” excuse. James is very blunt here. If you are going to say yes, you sure better mean it. And if you are going to say no, you better mean it too. End of story. No conditions, no exceptions, no excuses. Because if you don’t, you result in nothing more than a liar in the eyes of God and in the eyes of man.

What was told to people used to mean something. Now it means nothing. It is nothing more than a conditional statement to be altered, manipulated or forgotten at a later date to best fit our current situation at hand. But this isn’t the kind of life God has called us to have whatsoever. Before you speak, think. Take time and pray over the situation and see whether or not your actions are being guided by your emotions, external sources of pressure, or anything else other than the mind of God. Examine yourself, so that you may be pure in thought, pure in speech and pure before the throne of God Almighty. Make sure your words are worth their weight.

So much to do, so little time…

As if my life isn’t hectic enough already and my schedule basically packed out, I got the bright idea tonight that I should start this here blog. If for no other reason, then it will definitely be a good outlet of relaxtion from all the other schoolwork and church work I have going on all the time. And if you know me very well at all, then you know I have an opinion on just about everything, and don’t mind sharing it, so this should work well for that purpose as well. Hopefully I will be able to stay pretty dedicated to this thing, but I guess only time will tell. So here goes nothing I guess…