The Mistaken Notions of the Rich

Ps 49:6-17 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches...

1. Riches separate some people from their humility. vs 6. Money has a way of insulating people from common sense. People have to have something to trust in, unfortunately, some of the rich put their faith in fleeting finances.
2. Their are those wealthy people who think they can buy salvation, as if silver and gold trump the blood of Christ. 7-9. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. All the money in the world could not buy one sliver of salvation. What a foolish notion!
3. Those of high society die just as a lowlife would. vs 10 When the blood stops circulating, the air stops flowing and the brain ceases activity, it's over, whether rich or poor. Life eventually gives way to death. Money can only put off the inevitable for so long.
4. Some of the rich secretly think that if they can leave enough to their posterity, establish charitable foundations in their name, have their name enshrined on a hospital wing or a street named after them, somehow they can live on in that manner. vs 11
5. Perhaps if their kids and grandkids quote their worldly wisdom enough, that can buy them immortality. 13

But in the end, as the childhood poem says, they all fall down.

Verses 12 and 14 show that, when it comes to physical death, man and beast are no different, money and power not withstanding.

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem provides an interesting illustration. Divided into two chapels and the Nativity Grotto, the church is possessed by the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and the Armenian Churches. But there is still only one entrance. That door is called the Door of Humility. It stands only about 4 feet high. It was built so that invading horsemen could not enter. But more importantly, anyone who enters must bow. Whether pope or potentate, rich or poor, all must lowly bow in the same fashion to see the place where it is said Jesus was born.

Never think that money or position or good deeds could ever bring a person to righteousness. It is only by grace through faith in Jesus that we can stand before a holy God.

The Twilight Zone

Ps 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

To Whom do we run when there's nowhere else to run to?

One of the classic Twilight Zones of all time tells the story of ultimate disappointment. The episode features a young Burgess Meredith as an ultra meek, henpecked bookworm, bank-teller Henry Bemis, who survives a nuclear blast while reading in the bank vault while on lunch break. He emerges to find himself all alone in the world, which seems to be not such a bad fate for a willing loner like Henry. He has, at his disposal, an abundance of all the food and creature comforts. Finally, he stumbles onto the steps of the municipal library where he gleefully piles up hundreds of volumes of the classics for future reading. He has them laid out for week by week, month by month and year by year reading. He has finally found his refuge, with nothing but time for his favorite and only passion, reading. Above all, there is no one to hinder him, no boss to forbid his passion, no wife to nag him about his habit, just Henry and his books. Then, the unthinkable occurs. His thick glasses fall from his face and break on the pavement. Mr. Bemis had all the time in the world to read, but no glasses to see. This ultimate disappoint lands him in…the Twilight Zone.

God is our unfailing refuge. His well is never empty for the thirsty soul. His door is always unlocked for the one needing admission. When we have found Him as our refuge and strength, there is no disappointment.

Because God is a very present help in time of trouble, the believer will never find himself adrift in... the Twilight Zone.

Felicidades Y Prospero Nuevo Ano!

Happiness and a Prosperous New Year!

Ride Prosperously in '09

In thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness. Ps 45:4

Here is a wonderful wish for those in authority whom we love and respect; parents, teachers, supervisors, foremen, pastors, etc. That they may prosper in their work of leadership, not because of position, but because they employ the time-honored traits of truth, meekness and righteousness.

Here are three virtues that leaders in the world often fail to exhibit, yet in Christendom, leadership devoid of these distinctives is sub-standard.

The world has come to expect a certain amount of arrogance, deceit and even debauchery from its leadership, but Christianity can abide none of that. Only when the righteous rule can the people rejoice.

Christianity employs the paradoxical. Jesus taught that those who demote themselves will find a promotion. Service equals greatness, finding a place in the end of the line may result in a promotion to the front. (Do you remember "Chinese cuts"?). Starting out in coach just might land you in first class.

This is the example that Jesus, the King of Kings, set for those who would be in leadership. ...who being in the form of God, He thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but took upon Him the form of a servant and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Truly, One day we shall behold the spectacle of our King riding prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness.

May God allow you to ride prosperously in 2009 because, like Him, you employ truth and meekness and righteousness as markers of your leadership.

Grace Lips or Potty Mouth?

Ps 45:2 ...Grace is poured into thy lips.

This reminds me of Col 4:6 which says, Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Are you like me in that it is my mouth that gets, and keeps, me in trouble? We know that it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks, but we really ought to put a bridle on our tongues and only speak that which is edifying to others.

If we could provide more props and less barbs, more building up and less tearing down, more blessing and less dissing, we would live more easily with ourselves and for sure, others would like us a lot more.

Today, swallow the venom and spew out the honey and see if it doesn't make your life a whole lot sweeter all the way around.

May grace be poured into your lips!

A Gushing Heart and A Proseful Tongue

My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Psalm 45:1

The 45th Psalm is a love song written for the trumpet.

Imagine Kenny G.

How poetic is the first verse! "My heart is indicting a good matter..." literally, my heart is gushing! And then, "my tongue is the pen of a ready writer."

Man, those are words that will melt your loved one's heart!

May our hearts gush today about the goodness of our great God. The more we think of all He does for us and all He is to us, the more we realize we can't even begin to know how vast is His love and watchcare to us.

Our tongues need to be the pen of a ready writer. May we be like a typewriter ready for Heaven to stroke our keys. What God wants us to say, that's what we should desire to say. May His wish be our command.

The Health of my Countenance - A Spiritual Facial

Ps 42:11b …hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

There is nothing like meeting a positive person who shines with joy, confidence and hope. You know the kind of person, the moment you meet them you know that they run on a different power source. We call them the “beautiful people,” not because of their position, power of money, not even their physical attractiveness, but because their soul radiates God.

I have knocked on the door of a total stranger and before the first words were exchanged, I knew that God was in their life in a powerful way. “You are a Christian?” I would ask them, and they always shined a little brighter and answered in the affirmative.

Talk about a facial that not even Mary Kay could match! If you want a good look, a shining countenance - do like Moses, spend some face time with God.

The one who has been with God in private will radiate Him in public.

We are to be lesser lights. He is the light of the world, and we reflect His light. When people come in contact with us, they should sense, just by our countenance, that we have been with God.

Spend some time with God today so you can radiate Him to others.