April 21, 1992
Anyone old enough to remember the good old days may recall the prices we once paid at the grocery store. For instance, prime rib roast: 79 cents/lb., peanut butter: 99 cents/48-ounce jar, and coffee: 69 cents/lb.
Transportation and television was good in the good old days too. A 1967 Oldsmobile 88 hardtop sold for $3774 (the tag for one of that vintage and in good condition could be higher now), a front-end alignment was $7 and gasoline was 45 cents a gallon or 10 cents per liter. We watched Bonanza, Red Skeleton, Front Page Challenge, and the Lucy Show. “Good” takes on even more meaning when these oldies are compared to most of today’s programming.
Progress says we can’t go back. Maybe we don’t want to — wages have gone up a bunch since then too. In fact, the average salary has increased far more than grocery and automobile prices, enough to make one wonder why it is so difficult to make ends meet, much more difficult than the good old days.
Historically, the Hebrews had some good old days too. They came out of slavery in Egypt by means of the Exodus led by Moses, entered and possessed the promised land under the leadership of Joshua, and grew to a prosperous nation under King David and his son, Solomon. God had promised to bless them if they obeyed Him, and they did — so He did.
However, the good times came to an end. The generation after Solomon built idols and fought over the land. The nation divided and the blessings dwindled. God told them if they did not obey they would be cursed and cursed they were. Their prosperity changed to famine, disease, and invasion by enemies. Assyria invaded the northern kingdom and Babylon the south. The Hebrew people wound up exiled in a foreign land.
But God didn’t forget them. After many years they were allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild it. However, life was never the same. The people had not regained the prosperity promised them. The prophet Haggai described what was happening: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
He goes on to say their problem was that they had neglected their spiritual lives. The temple should have been rebuilt and they had not done that. Because of their neglect, God said to them, “I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands.”
We are not the nation Israel and our drought (so far) is mostly economic. But many work hard only to have their wages go into a bag of holes. Their money is gone before the month is over even though costs have not escalated nearly as much as the size of pay cheques. For those who do have enough money for basic needs, most are far from being content. Could it be that our problem in Canada is the same as it was in ancient Israel?
Instead of crying out for a return to the good old days, instead of pressuring our government to force economic progress, instead of vain hopes of ever making wants and wages match, maybe as a nation we need to give some attention to our spiritual condition.
God does say if we “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” He will take care of the necessities of life. If necessities are not satisfying, maybe we are seeking our satisfaction in that which can never satisfy.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Friday, August 14, 2015
Who is Jesus? ................ Parables 313
April 14, 1992
Graffiti, found on a university wall says:
Jesus really did ask this important question to His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” Today’s average man-in-the-street responds by saying He was only a man, maybe a great teacher or prophet, but still only a man. With that, they are forced to conclude that the Bible is not historically reliable (even though it is the most well-documented book in all history) because it says He is far more than a mere man.
Others say Jesus was a kook, some sort of religious nut. However, if that is true, we base our calendar, major holidays, and a large portion of our legal and ethical system on the life and sayings of a religious nut?
Others say Jesus was a liar, a grand fraud who claimed to be God in the flesh. According to them, He was simply not telling the truth. But if that is true, many of His followers have given their lives for a lie rather than admit they had been fooled.
I can’t buy that. Anyone who is convinced they saw a man alive after He had been crucified and put in a tomb has far more reason to die for their belief than a person clinging to some lies in a “hope-so” kind of way. After all, if Jesus offers eternal life to all those who trust Him, and if He rose from the dead Himself, why not die for that belief? Death merely ushers you into eternal life! Besides, the disciples lived with Him for over three years. Not one of them ever called Him a liar.
So who is Jesus? Only a man? Does a mere man walk on water, calm storms with a word, heal the sick, raise the dead, and start a movement that lasts 2000 plus years in spite of organized efforts to stop it? I cannot think of anyone else that has done what Jesus has done.
Was He a kook? A fool? Do fools live like He did? They may get themselves in trouble for their claims (Jesus did), but they do not gain the respect of anyone who honestly examines their life. Jesus lived to serve others, loved the unlovely, called hypocrites to account, and never broke one Old Testament law. Fools do not fit His description.
Liars don’t live like He lived either, even clever liars. Besides, there is no motive for falsehood. He gained absolutely nothing positive or personally beneficial by saying what He did about Himself. Instead, it made the religious leaders of His day so angry that they killed Him.
Jesus Himself said that those who saw Him saw the Father. John wrote that He was the “Word who existed in the beginning with God” and in fact “was God” (John 1:1). The writer of Hebrews said, “He is ...the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being...” Paul said, “He was ...in very nature God, (yet) did not consider equality with God something to be grasped... (Philippians 2:6). Instead, He became one of us.
The Bible says Jesus was born as a baby, grew up in a home with human parents, learned how to obey them as His Heavenly Father commanded, and when the time was right, He died for us. In other words, God pulled on humanity so He might deliver us from our sins by paying the penalty for them Himself... something no mere man, no fool, no liar would or could ever do.
Only God could act as our substitute or proxy because only God had no payment of His own to make. Furthermore, only God could rise from the dead and offer us forgiveness and eternal life. He may have done these things inside the skin of a man, a very real and fully human man, yet He could be none other than who He claimed to be. All other possibilities are easily eliminated.
God, being God, is not limited to what we can understand. We may not be able to grasp the mechanics of how God could become a man, but understanding the incarnation is not our responsibility — believing it is.
Jesus still asks, “Who do YOU say that I am?”
Graffiti, found on a university wall says:
Jesus said unto them: “Who do you say that I am?”This bit of wit is not intended to imply Jesus is unable to understand verbal gobbledegook. The point is, many “educated” people in their efforts to be profound often miss the simplicity of who He is.
And they replied, “You are the eschatological manifestation of the ground of our being, the kerygma in which we find the ultimate meaning of our interpersonal relationships.”
And Jesus said: “What?”
Jesus really did ask this important question to His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” Today’s average man-in-the-street responds by saying He was only a man, maybe a great teacher or prophet, but still only a man. With that, they are forced to conclude that the Bible is not historically reliable (even though it is the most well-documented book in all history) because it says He is far more than a mere man.
Others say Jesus was a kook, some sort of religious nut. However, if that is true, we base our calendar, major holidays, and a large portion of our legal and ethical system on the life and sayings of a religious nut?
Others say Jesus was a liar, a grand fraud who claimed to be God in the flesh. According to them, He was simply not telling the truth. But if that is true, many of His followers have given their lives for a lie rather than admit they had been fooled.
I can’t buy that. Anyone who is convinced they saw a man alive after He had been crucified and put in a tomb has far more reason to die for their belief than a person clinging to some lies in a “hope-so” kind of way. After all, if Jesus offers eternal life to all those who trust Him, and if He rose from the dead Himself, why not die for that belief? Death merely ushers you into eternal life! Besides, the disciples lived with Him for over three years. Not one of them ever called Him a liar.
So who is Jesus? Only a man? Does a mere man walk on water, calm storms with a word, heal the sick, raise the dead, and start a movement that lasts 2000 plus years in spite of organized efforts to stop it? I cannot think of anyone else that has done what Jesus has done.
Was He a kook? A fool? Do fools live like He did? They may get themselves in trouble for their claims (Jesus did), but they do not gain the respect of anyone who honestly examines their life. Jesus lived to serve others, loved the unlovely, called hypocrites to account, and never broke one Old Testament law. Fools do not fit His description.
Liars don’t live like He lived either, even clever liars. Besides, there is no motive for falsehood. He gained absolutely nothing positive or personally beneficial by saying what He did about Himself. Instead, it made the religious leaders of His day so angry that they killed Him.
Jesus Himself said that those who saw Him saw the Father. John wrote that He was the “Word who existed in the beginning with God” and in fact “was God” (John 1:1). The writer of Hebrews said, “He is ...the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being...” Paul said, “He was ...in very nature God, (yet) did not consider equality with God something to be grasped... (Philippians 2:6). Instead, He became one of us.
The Bible says Jesus was born as a baby, grew up in a home with human parents, learned how to obey them as His Heavenly Father commanded, and when the time was right, He died for us. In other words, God pulled on humanity so He might deliver us from our sins by paying the penalty for them Himself... something no mere man, no fool, no liar would or could ever do.
Only God could act as our substitute or proxy because only God had no payment of His own to make. Furthermore, only God could rise from the dead and offer us forgiveness and eternal life. He may have done these things inside the skin of a man, a very real and fully human man, yet He could be none other than who He claimed to be. All other possibilities are easily eliminated.
God, being God, is not limited to what we can understand. We may not be able to grasp the mechanics of how God could become a man, but understanding the incarnation is not our responsibility — believing it is.
Jesus still asks, “Who do YOU say that I am?”
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Think or do? Or think and do? ................ Parables 112
April 7, 1992
Two women were discussing the textbooks for a particular college course. One said one of the books was “too philosophical.” The other woman agreed with her, then added the other book was “far more practical.”
As they talked, it was evident they did not like the first book as much as the second. It forced them to think about ideas and theories. The second book was about action to take in certain situations. It was easier to read and the answers to the problems discussed were in the back of the book.
These women were talking about a course in Counseling, but this same contrast between philosophical and practical frequently is used to describe other books, other courses, even those who teach the courses.
What bothers me is that the two approaches, no matter the topic to which they are applied, are usually kept separate — as if thinking and doing have no relationship to each other. In other words, the philosophical approach is not considered practical and even if the information is useful, no one bothers to make it so. Instead, students are given theories that sound like untested opinions and assumptions that may or may not work in the “real world.”
On the other hand, the practical approach involves a lot less thinking, at least for the students. The teacher (or author) has dissected the problems, struggled through the solutions, then presents just those, sometimes without revealing any of the theory behind his work. All that is left for the student to do is apply the same solutions to the same problems — very practical.
Of course the philosophical or thinking part is important in any field of endeavor. No matter the discipline: art, music, engineering, teaching, counseling, raising kids, or training dogs, there is some theory that must be worked out. No one can act in a correct manner without they themselves, or someone else, thoroughly considering the issues.
The difference between the two approaches is whether the student is going to learn how to think for themselves — and thus be able to identify and solve problems that are not in the textbook — or whether that student is equipped with some good answers just in case he or she happens to run into the exact same problems described by the instruction book.
I’m glad the Bible is a good balance between philosophical and practical. Even at that, some respond to it with, “Don’t give me all that theology — I just want to hear something practical.” They seem to want a quick-fix, no lectures, and certainly not any doctrinal arguments. On the other hand, others immerse themselves in theology and the theoretical without ever seeking God for specific solutions to take action regarding specific problems. The balance is knowing the philosophy in His Word — then being able to apply it to the unique situations of our lives. The process of thinking is not contrary to spirituality. In fact one author said that most of the problems in the world would never happen if the people involved gave 30 minutes of concentrated thought to the consequences of their actions — a statement both philosophical and highly practical. Taking action is not contrary to spirituality either. The life of Jesus Christ exemplifies both.
The Apostle Paul also put both together when he wrote Timothy telling him to stick to “sound doctrine” so he could live righteously. Then he added, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for doctrine, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Whoever picked those textbooks first mentioned knew some philosophical effort is necessary for practical action. Christian living involves both: thinking and doing.
Two women were discussing the textbooks for a particular college course. One said one of the books was “too philosophical.” The other woman agreed with her, then added the other book was “far more practical.”
As they talked, it was evident they did not like the first book as much as the second. It forced them to think about ideas and theories. The second book was about action to take in certain situations. It was easier to read and the answers to the problems discussed were in the back of the book.
These women were talking about a course in Counseling, but this same contrast between philosophical and practical frequently is used to describe other books, other courses, even those who teach the courses.
What bothers me is that the two approaches, no matter the topic to which they are applied, are usually kept separate — as if thinking and doing have no relationship to each other. In other words, the philosophical approach is not considered practical and even if the information is useful, no one bothers to make it so. Instead, students are given theories that sound like untested opinions and assumptions that may or may not work in the “real world.”
On the other hand, the practical approach involves a lot less thinking, at least for the students. The teacher (or author) has dissected the problems, struggled through the solutions, then presents just those, sometimes without revealing any of the theory behind his work. All that is left for the student to do is apply the same solutions to the same problems — very practical.
Of course the philosophical or thinking part is important in any field of endeavor. No matter the discipline: art, music, engineering, teaching, counseling, raising kids, or training dogs, there is some theory that must be worked out. No one can act in a correct manner without they themselves, or someone else, thoroughly considering the issues.
The difference between the two approaches is whether the student is going to learn how to think for themselves — and thus be able to identify and solve problems that are not in the textbook — or whether that student is equipped with some good answers just in case he or she happens to run into the exact same problems described by the instruction book.
I’m glad the Bible is a good balance between philosophical and practical. Even at that, some respond to it with, “Don’t give me all that theology — I just want to hear something practical.” They seem to want a quick-fix, no lectures, and certainly not any doctrinal arguments. On the other hand, others immerse themselves in theology and the theoretical without ever seeking God for specific solutions to take action regarding specific problems. The balance is knowing the philosophy in His Word — then being able to apply it to the unique situations of our lives. The process of thinking is not contrary to spirituality. In fact one author said that most of the problems in the world would never happen if the people involved gave 30 minutes of concentrated thought to the consequences of their actions — a statement both philosophical and highly practical. Taking action is not contrary to spirituality either. The life of Jesus Christ exemplifies both.
The Apostle Paul also put both together when he wrote Timothy telling him to stick to “sound doctrine” so he could live righteously. Then he added, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for doctrine, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Whoever picked those textbooks first mentioned knew some philosophical effort is necessary for practical action. Christian living involves both: thinking and doing.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Creating Unity ................ Parables 311
March 31, 1992
A Moose Jaw journalist recently noted that two-dollar wheat prices have bridged the generation gap between old and young farmers. Now they are all in the same boat and have something to talk about.
There are certain situations in life that tend to do just that — bring people together. One of them is a mutual problem, in this case the struggle to survive in a profession threatened by European grain subsidies, something neither young or old can do anything about.
Other situations that brings people together are happy events and sad events: weddings, births, graduations and funerals, recovery and illness, sunshine and tornadoes. National celebrations can do it too: Christmas, Easter, even Canada Day.
As humans, we tend to need something to push us into harmony. Fighting is easier, especially if the other person is different in some way than we are, a threat to us. Older people get pushed out by up-and-coming youth; young people feel intimidated by the confidence of the experienced. Men feel put-down by women; women feel put-down by men. Children are ostracized by each other on the playgrounds and in the classroom. Conflict is so common. Unity does not happen as easily.
In spite of how we can argue and drive wedges through the heart of our relationships, God intended people relate to one another harmoniously. He desires unity, a we are in this together attitude that shows itself in the way we treat one another.
However, while outside events can serve as a catalyst, the unity God has in mind is not one forced by externals. Rather, because we are made in His image, He wants us to reflect the unity He Himself experiences in His own nature. He is a God of various attributes and distinctive qualities (just as we are a variety of people) yet He is in complete harmony with Himself, all the time, no matter what is happening in His world. Furthermore, His unity is as much a part of His nature as our propensity to fight and disagree is a part of ours.
The Bible has a lot to say about that kind of unity: it is commanded; Jesus prayed that we would have it and He even provided it — but it certainly does not happen without our resistance. Doesn’t resistance seem strange, given the pleasure and security we enjoy when we have peace with other people?
Perhaps we do not fight unity directly but indirectly. Remember, it is a unity that does not depend on externals. Instead, it depends on the internal reality of His Spirit in control of our lives. It is that control that we fight, just as we resist attempts by anyone or anything else to control us.
The possibility of this unity is not the only appeal for non-resistance to God but it is a valid appeal. Without His unity, Paul says, “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?”
If Christians depend on externals for agreement, then we are acting like everyone else and simply denying the power of God to bring unity. When that happens, then calamities like $2 wheat prices are the only forces that can bring us together.
A Moose Jaw journalist recently noted that two-dollar wheat prices have bridged the generation gap between old and young farmers. Now they are all in the same boat and have something to talk about.
There are certain situations in life that tend to do just that — bring people together. One of them is a mutual problem, in this case the struggle to survive in a profession threatened by European grain subsidies, something neither young or old can do anything about.
Other situations that brings people together are happy events and sad events: weddings, births, graduations and funerals, recovery and illness, sunshine and tornadoes. National celebrations can do it too: Christmas, Easter, even Canada Day.
As humans, we tend to need something to push us into harmony. Fighting is easier, especially if the other person is different in some way than we are, a threat to us. Older people get pushed out by up-and-coming youth; young people feel intimidated by the confidence of the experienced. Men feel put-down by women; women feel put-down by men. Children are ostracized by each other on the playgrounds and in the classroom. Conflict is so common. Unity does not happen as easily.
In spite of how we can argue and drive wedges through the heart of our relationships, God intended people relate to one another harmoniously. He desires unity, a we are in this together attitude that shows itself in the way we treat one another.
However, while outside events can serve as a catalyst, the unity God has in mind is not one forced by externals. Rather, because we are made in His image, He wants us to reflect the unity He Himself experiences in His own nature. He is a God of various attributes and distinctive qualities (just as we are a variety of people) yet He is in complete harmony with Himself, all the time, no matter what is happening in His world. Furthermore, His unity is as much a part of His nature as our propensity to fight and disagree is a part of ours.
The Bible has a lot to say about that kind of unity: it is commanded; Jesus prayed that we would have it and He even provided it — but it certainly does not happen without our resistance. Doesn’t resistance seem strange, given the pleasure and security we enjoy when we have peace with other people?
Perhaps we do not fight unity directly but indirectly. Remember, it is a unity that does not depend on externals. Instead, it depends on the internal reality of His Spirit in control of our lives. It is that control that we fight, just as we resist attempts by anyone or anything else to control us.
The possibility of this unity is not the only appeal for non-resistance to God but it is a valid appeal. Without His unity, Paul says, “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?”
If Christians depend on externals for agreement, then we are acting like everyone else and simply denying the power of God to bring unity. When that happens, then calamities like $2 wheat prices are the only forces that can bring us together.
Friday, August 7, 2015
Good news for those willing to take the blame ................ Parables 310
March 24, 1992
Months ago a humorous article from the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel caught my eye. In it, Ray Recchi makes long comments about the state of the nation and the main reason for it. He concludes that “a lot of Americans are just plain stupid . . . .”
Recchi supports his charge with statistics and offers pertinent questions about the foolish things that people do and say — but the label “stupid” makes me mad. If most people who read the article are like me, they immediately assumed it was about a whole lot of other people, not them.
Counselors call this transference or some other long word that simply mean blame-shifting. We all do it. It is a defense mechanism. I use it too. Whenever someone’s accusations are hitting too close to home, if I can find someone else it fits better, then the pressure is off me. Unfortunately, the Bible doesn’t let me get away with it.
God’s Word certainly doesn’t gloss over our humanness. People shifted the blame and pointed fingers just as much then as we do now. Jesus had to command us not to judge others. It is so easy to accuse someone else of having a “splinter in their eye” when we have a log in our own (Matthew 7). However, Recchi’s article has another Scriptural parallel. When God told Israel the reason for the mess they were in, He basically said, “a lot of my people are just plain sinful.” Of course, true to human nature, they basically said, “Who? Me?” They were not prepared to accept the label either.
Again, we haven’t changed much. We resent being called sinners and will adamantly deny sin is present in our lives. We will rationalize and even re-define it so we can escape the label. Unfortunately, both Recchi and God can back up their label with statistical proof.
From one end of the Bible to the other, there is record of the sinful deeds that all people commit. Adam and Eve disobeyed the only command God gave them. Cain murdered his brother out of jealousy. Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him into slavery. David committed adultery and murdered the woman’s husband. Solomon, wise as he was, multiplied for himself gold, horses, and wives and fell to idol worship at the end of his life. The kings of Israel built shrines for pagan deities. The people of God killed the prophets He sent and crucified His Son. The early church also struggled with sin in its midst. The apostle Paul wrote that everyone can see the glory of God in creation and are aware there is a God that deserves our worship — yet many are not thankful and turn from Him to make and worship idols.
Jesus jumped with both feet on the hypocritical religious leaders of His day. He called them “whitewashed tombs which appear beautiful outwardly but inside are full of dead bones and all uncleanness.”
Certainly, from pagan to priest, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” The sin might be overt things like murder, adultery, stealing and lying or more hidden things like cursing God in our heart and doing our own thing, independent of His will. Refusing to thank God for His abundant care is just as much as sin as lust, hate and jealousy.
Our problem is admitting it. We hate the label, pin it on someone else who seems worse, rather than accept what the evidence suggests. We don’t want to consider the consequences: “the wages of sin is death . . . .”
Ricchi’s article failed to offer a solution for stupidity, however the Bible does offer a remedy for sin. When we are willing to admit our need, we can understand, want, and accept the solution, “. . . the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Months ago a humorous article from the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel caught my eye. In it, Ray Recchi makes long comments about the state of the nation and the main reason for it. He concludes that “a lot of Americans are just plain stupid . . . .”
Recchi supports his charge with statistics and offers pertinent questions about the foolish things that people do and say — but the label “stupid” makes me mad. If most people who read the article are like me, they immediately assumed it was about a whole lot of other people, not them.
Counselors call this transference or some other long word that simply mean blame-shifting. We all do it. It is a defense mechanism. I use it too. Whenever someone’s accusations are hitting too close to home, if I can find someone else it fits better, then the pressure is off me. Unfortunately, the Bible doesn’t let me get away with it.
God’s Word certainly doesn’t gloss over our humanness. People shifted the blame and pointed fingers just as much then as we do now. Jesus had to command us not to judge others. It is so easy to accuse someone else of having a “splinter in their eye” when we have a log in our own (Matthew 7). However, Recchi’s article has another Scriptural parallel. When God told Israel the reason for the mess they were in, He basically said, “a lot of my people are just plain sinful.” Of course, true to human nature, they basically said, “Who? Me?” They were not prepared to accept the label either.
Again, we haven’t changed much. We resent being called sinners and will adamantly deny sin is present in our lives. We will rationalize and even re-define it so we can escape the label. Unfortunately, both Recchi and God can back up their label with statistical proof.
From one end of the Bible to the other, there is record of the sinful deeds that all people commit. Adam and Eve disobeyed the only command God gave them. Cain murdered his brother out of jealousy. Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him into slavery. David committed adultery and murdered the woman’s husband. Solomon, wise as he was, multiplied for himself gold, horses, and wives and fell to idol worship at the end of his life. The kings of Israel built shrines for pagan deities. The people of God killed the prophets He sent and crucified His Son. The early church also struggled with sin in its midst. The apostle Paul wrote that everyone can see the glory of God in creation and are aware there is a God that deserves our worship — yet many are not thankful and turn from Him to make and worship idols.
Jesus jumped with both feet on the hypocritical religious leaders of His day. He called them “whitewashed tombs which appear beautiful outwardly but inside are full of dead bones and all uncleanness.”
Certainly, from pagan to priest, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” The sin might be overt things like murder, adultery, stealing and lying or more hidden things like cursing God in our heart and doing our own thing, independent of His will. Refusing to thank God for His abundant care is just as much as sin as lust, hate and jealousy.
Our problem is admitting it. We hate the label, pin it on someone else who seems worse, rather than accept what the evidence suggests. We don’t want to consider the consequences: “the wages of sin is death . . . .”
Ricchi’s article failed to offer a solution for stupidity, however the Bible does offer a remedy for sin. When we are willing to admit our need, we can understand, want, and accept the solution, “. . . the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Eternal value is what counts ................ Parables 309
March 17, 1992
SHOE is not my all-time favorite cartoon but I did like the one where he says, “That’s the thing about working for a newspaper, everything you write is garbage a day later . . . ” Then, as his editor tosses his latest copy over his shoulder, Shoe remarks, “. . . and sometimes earlier than that.”
It reminded me of a man whose big ambition in life was to do the artwork for a cover of Fortune magazine. He worked hard and finally achieved his goal but not too long afterward — while still high-headed with the glory — he was walking down a busy street and a garbage truck passed. It was piled with, you guessed it, copies of Fortune — with his illustration on the cover.
The rather short life of most of our accomplishments is not fate’s idea of a cruel joke. Rather, the Bible suggests it’s God’s reminder that what we do for our own glory has no eternal value. The limelight may feel good and so does the achievement of goals, but the glory is short-lived.
Two Scripture passages brought this home to my heart. One is in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seem by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” He adds that we are not to be like the religious hypocrites who do that because “. . . they have received their reward in full.”
Jesus is teaching that human praise and glory here and now is fine, but that is all it is — the praise of people, here and now. If I do what I do for an earthly reward, that’s all I get. There is no reward from God.
1 Corinthians 3 broadens the concept. It talks about building our work on a foundation of faith in Christ. It says, “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day (of judgment) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire; and the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved . . . .”
We illustrated this a few years ago with a class of teens. I had them write in pencil on a small piece of paper some area of their life (either an outright sin or something else) that they knew was worthless to God. Next, on pieces of metal using permanent markers, they wrote some quality they could see in the person sitting on their right that was definitely from God. When they were finished, we put both paper and metal into a large aluminum pan, read these verses and tossed in a burning match and tested both with fire.
When God does the evaluation however, there will be a difference between His assessment of good or worthless, and ours. He sees us not according to human evaluation, but through the foundation of Christ. Without Jesus, and faith in Jesus, all is worthless before God, no matter how good it seems to us. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said, “All our righteousness is like filthy rags . . . .”
But notice those verses from Corinthians again — it is not the quality of what we do that saves us because that only determines our heavenly rewards. What really counts is that foundation of faith in Christ. Should we foolishly build on it with worthless activity (wood, hay, and stubble) we will lose our rewards and suffer loss . . . but the rest of the verse says after the worthless is gone, we “will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
This concept radically changes the value of praise, getting awards, and even the goals of life. By God’s grace, even SHOE’s humor could line a bird cage next week but still have eternal significance for its author.
SHOE is not my all-time favorite cartoon but I did like the one where he says, “That’s the thing about working for a newspaper, everything you write is garbage a day later . . . ” Then, as his editor tosses his latest copy over his shoulder, Shoe remarks, “. . . and sometimes earlier than that.”
It reminded me of a man whose big ambition in life was to do the artwork for a cover of Fortune magazine. He worked hard and finally achieved his goal but not too long afterward — while still high-headed with the glory — he was walking down a busy street and a garbage truck passed. It was piled with, you guessed it, copies of Fortune — with his illustration on the cover.
The rather short life of most of our accomplishments is not fate’s idea of a cruel joke. Rather, the Bible suggests it’s God’s reminder that what we do for our own glory has no eternal value. The limelight may feel good and so does the achievement of goals, but the glory is short-lived.
Two Scripture passages brought this home to my heart. One is in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus says, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seem by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” He adds that we are not to be like the religious hypocrites who do that because “. . . they have received their reward in full.”
Jesus is teaching that human praise and glory here and now is fine, but that is all it is — the praise of people, here and now. If I do what I do for an earthly reward, that’s all I get. There is no reward from God.
1 Corinthians 3 broadens the concept. It talks about building our work on a foundation of faith in Christ. It says, “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day (of judgment) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire; and the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved . . . .”
We illustrated this a few years ago with a class of teens. I had them write in pencil on a small piece of paper some area of their life (either an outright sin or something else) that they knew was worthless to God. Next, on pieces of metal using permanent markers, they wrote some quality they could see in the person sitting on their right that was definitely from God. When they were finished, we put both paper and metal into a large aluminum pan, read these verses and tossed in a burning match and tested both with fire.
When God does the evaluation however, there will be a difference between His assessment of good or worthless, and ours. He sees us not according to human evaluation, but through the foundation of Christ. Without Jesus, and faith in Jesus, all is worthless before God, no matter how good it seems to us. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said, “All our righteousness is like filthy rags . . . .”
But notice those verses from Corinthians again — it is not the quality of what we do that saves us because that only determines our heavenly rewards. What really counts is that foundation of faith in Christ. Should we foolishly build on it with worthless activity (wood, hay, and stubble) we will lose our rewards and suffer loss . . . but the rest of the verse says after the worthless is gone, we “will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”
This concept radically changes the value of praise, getting awards, and even the goals of life. By God’s grace, even SHOE’s humor could line a bird cage next week but still have eternal significance for its author.
Monday, August 3, 2015
Putting a good name before wealth ................ Parables 308
March 10, 1992
A certain Irishman, whose name I could not find, came up with a get-rich-quick scheme back in the depression days. A man with vision, he predicted that large corporations would soon be expanding from North America to Europe, companies that sold everything from automobiles to soda pop. Motivated by that inner conviction, he quietly traveled to every country and registered all the well-known trademarks in his own name.
His investment paid off. When incoming companies tried to register their famous trademarks, they discovered the names already owned by this man. Of course he was quite happy to sell his rights to them. In the course of a few short years, this Irishman made seven million dollars — all perfectly legal.
Before you rush off to the third world to try the same trick, it won’t work now. The International Trademark Convention has been established to protect major companies from losing rights to their famous names. However, for one time, one man used trade names to gain great personal wealth.
The Irishman wasn’t the first person to realize names have value. Solomon, who wrote the book of Proverbs, said, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches . . . ”
Of course he was not talking about commercial trademarks. Solomon meant the reputation that comes to a person with sound character. It is recognized by the response people make when they hear that person’s name. There are no disparaging remarks, no expressions of distrust, no abusive or slanderous comments. When a person (or even an organization) has a good name, people respect it because they respect the person (or people) behind it.
Obviously a good name is earned. Being born to an upstanding family might help for a while but eventually a person is known for what they themselves are, not for what their father or mother did. So it is not like the inheritance a person receives when someone dies nor is it like a treasure someone can stumble across. Rather a good name is more like wages — it has to be earned by effort. An exemplary life is not automatic and should any stain ever mar a person’s good name, a double-effort is required to restore it.
Solomon also adds that a good name is a matter of choice. While the story about the Irishman did not include information about his reputation, according to Solomon, if he had a choice between his good name and the $7 million — and he picked the money, he made a foolish choice.
Two other proverbs explain Solomon’s reasoning. One says “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot . . . ” In other words, those with a good name are remembered with blessing, just as already mentioned. I think I would rather have people think of me and raise a toast, than remember me with disgust and distaste.
Solomon also says, “He who walks with integrity walks securely but he who perverts his ways will be found out.” Choosing perverted behavior will, of course, earn a bad reputation. But more than that, the person who chooses that route will not be able to hide his deeds. He will also will feel insecure because eventually the wrong done will be known and he will have to bear the humiliation of detection. Again, living with a clear conscience and no fear of being “found out” is far better than looking over one’s shoulder in fear.
Sometimes it seems few people care about having pride in their name. They may want the blessing of others, popularity, and a sense of security but somehow fail to connect the fact that these things are a product of personal choice and like anything else of great value, must be earned.
We may not be able to buy trade names to make millions, but when money competes with a good name, an honorable reputation is the wiser choice.
A certain Irishman, whose name I could not find, came up with a get-rich-quick scheme back in the depression days. A man with vision, he predicted that large corporations would soon be expanding from North America to Europe, companies that sold everything from automobiles to soda pop. Motivated by that inner conviction, he quietly traveled to every country and registered all the well-known trademarks in his own name.
His investment paid off. When incoming companies tried to register their famous trademarks, they discovered the names already owned by this man. Of course he was quite happy to sell his rights to them. In the course of a few short years, this Irishman made seven million dollars — all perfectly legal.
Before you rush off to the third world to try the same trick, it won’t work now. The International Trademark Convention has been established to protect major companies from losing rights to their famous names. However, for one time, one man used trade names to gain great personal wealth.
The Irishman wasn’t the first person to realize names have value. Solomon, who wrote the book of Proverbs, said, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches . . . ”
Of course he was not talking about commercial trademarks. Solomon meant the reputation that comes to a person with sound character. It is recognized by the response people make when they hear that person’s name. There are no disparaging remarks, no expressions of distrust, no abusive or slanderous comments. When a person (or even an organization) has a good name, people respect it because they respect the person (or people) behind it.
Obviously a good name is earned. Being born to an upstanding family might help for a while but eventually a person is known for what they themselves are, not for what their father or mother did. So it is not like the inheritance a person receives when someone dies nor is it like a treasure someone can stumble across. Rather a good name is more like wages — it has to be earned by effort. An exemplary life is not automatic and should any stain ever mar a person’s good name, a double-effort is required to restore it.
Solomon also adds that a good name is a matter of choice. While the story about the Irishman did not include information about his reputation, according to Solomon, if he had a choice between his good name and the $7 million — and he picked the money, he made a foolish choice.
Two other proverbs explain Solomon’s reasoning. One says “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot . . . ” In other words, those with a good name are remembered with blessing, just as already mentioned. I think I would rather have people think of me and raise a toast, than remember me with disgust and distaste.
Solomon also says, “He who walks with integrity walks securely but he who perverts his ways will be found out.” Choosing perverted behavior will, of course, earn a bad reputation. But more than that, the person who chooses that route will not be able to hide his deeds. He will also will feel insecure because eventually the wrong done will be known and he will have to bear the humiliation of detection. Again, living with a clear conscience and no fear of being “found out” is far better than looking over one’s shoulder in fear.
Sometimes it seems few people care about having pride in their name. They may want the blessing of others, popularity, and a sense of security but somehow fail to connect the fact that these things are a product of personal choice and like anything else of great value, must be earned.
We may not be able to buy trade names to make millions, but when money competes with a good name, an honorable reputation is the wiser choice.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)