Giving Versus Taking

Heart of the Matter: Giving Versus Taking

Having looked into the tearful eyes of parents whose children have abandoned the Faith, I have learned there are a million miles between our children “going through the motions” in reference to their spiritual lives versus our children possessing hearts that dictate their actions. In this column, I plan to share with you what I hope to instill in the hearts of my own children and those whom I love.

It’s no secret that we live in a materialistic society. The mainstream media constantly bombards us with advertisements of products that we “need.” My generation has perfected the art of “keeping up with the Jones.” In fact, most individuals my age wanted to start their marriages with the same material possessions that it took our parents thirty years to amass. And so we purchased it all—on credit. We are a generation of consumers and takers. Sadly, this selfishness is now being passed on to future generations, as children want more and more. Holidays such as Christmas are no longer about family and memories, but rather they revolve around commercialism and “things.”

Here’s what I intend on teaching my children about giving versus taking.

Every Christmas morning since you were born your mother and I have set up a video camera to record the events of the morning. It’s one of the ways we have recorded you growing up through the years, as you went from crawling over presents and playing with empty boxes, to running into the room trying to guess exactly what was in each box. One of our joys as parents has been watching you tear open the wrapping paper and seeing your eyes light up as you see what was contained in the package.

Having been reared in the United States, you are extremely blessed. You have never experienced poverty or not had something you need. In fact, most of the time you get things you want. But your mother and I worry about what we are teaching you regarding giving versus taking. One of my greatest hopes is that during your lifetime you will learn the joy of giving. Undoubtedly, you will grow up around individuals who surround themselves with “things.” But remember things won’t buy happiness. Remember that those “things” can never fill the void in your life as He can. And never forget ultimately Who owns everything.

There are literally thousands of individuals who have abandoned the Faith in favor of material possessions. These people are selfish takers. They never learned the art of giving. In the book of Acts, Paul reminded the people the words Jesus Christ had shared, saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Never forget this admonition from the Son of God. I pray that as you grow older you will constantly be on the lookout for ways to give to others. The feeling you get inside is like none other. Practice random acts of kindness. Never forget– people are much more valuable than things.

When your mom and I were in Russia, we had the opportunity to visit the “flat” (apartment) of one of the local Christians. They lived a beautiful life, but it was obvious they did not own near the material possessions we did. They worked hard just to get by. During our visit, we complimented a picture she had hanging on the wall, and she literally went over and took it off the wall and gave it to us. We tried desperately to tell her no, but she insisted. In the years since, I have forgotten her name but we still have the picture. Her act of kindness has remained in my memory for years. She truly was a giver.

As you mature, you will meet people who place an inordinate amount of attention on material possessions. Their identity is shaped not by who they really are, but rather by what they own. Many people spend years climbing the corporate ladder so that they can buy more “things.” These individuals remind us of the Rich Young Ruler who asked Jesus what he needed to do to have eternal life. “Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me’” (Matthew 19:21). Rather than him ruling his possessions, his possessions ruled him. The Bible tells us he went away sorrowful because he had many possessions. Be thankful for what God has blessed you with, but never let your material possessions separate you from Jehovah God. Look for ways to share your possessions. Be a giver, not a taker!

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The Centrality of the Resurrection

Among all of the events recorded in the Bible, the miracles of the Bible stand out conspicuously; among all of the miracles of the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus is the most conspicuous.  There are other resurrections in the Bible, but none recorded with as much detail and precision as the resurrection of Jesus.  It is an event alluded to in the prophets (Psalm 16:10).  Jesus predicted it specifically (Matthew 12:40, 17:23, Luke 24:7).  The New Testament writers recorded its facts in their accounts of the gospel, and the apostles made it their central theme in their preaching and teaching.  The resurrection of Jesus stands as the single most documented event in ancient history, more so than Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon, Alexander’s conquering of Persia, or Homer’s account of the Trojan War.  It is the central event of history.  Even the atheist and skeptic feel compelled to weigh in by challenging its historicity.

That the resurrection of Jesus is a significant event historically is one matter, but it is also an event that holds central significance for the human race.  God took human form, lived a mortal existence in poverty, and was crucified and died as a criminal; only as magnificent a work as the resurrection could prove such an outlandish story.  So unparalleled in human history is the notion that one could raise himself from the dead, that Isaiah may have had veiled reference to the resurrection when he calls it the Lord’s “strange act” (Isaiah 28:21).  Only such a resurrection could prove such a seemingly preposterous claim; only an event of such magnitude would be worthy of pointing humanity to their true God.

The apostles made preaching the resurrection their central message.  Peter’s first recorded sermon in Acts 2 highlights the testimony of the Old Testament prophets and juxtaposes it with the eye witness testimony of the apostles themselves, because Peter, as well as the other eleven, saw Jesus with their own eyes after He had been raised from the dead (Acts 2:32).  Acts 4:2 says that the apostles “proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”  Acts 4:33 states, “And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”  Acts 5:30, 10:40, 13:30-37, also speak to the apostles’ ubiquity in mentioning the subject.  Perhaps the most notable passage of all is found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 where the apostle Paul says:

For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures;  and that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve;  then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep; then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also.

They carried this teaching everywhere they went.  It was the central evidence to the truthfulness of their message, that Jesus was the Son of God, Immanuel, God with us.

The message of the resurrection is also central to Christian conversion.  Both Romans 6:1-11 and Colossians 2:11-13 show that Christian baptism is a portrayal of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  The old man of sin dies and is buried in that watery grave; from that same grave rises a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17).  The imitation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is so central to conversion that Peter pronounces remission of sins upon those who submit to it (Acts 2:38), and Ananias tells Paul to do it to “wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16).  Indeed, one cannot be truly converted to Christ without being baptized in the likeness of his death, burial, and resurrection.

Finally, the message of the resurrection is central to Christian living.  Colossians 3:1-17 makes this abundantly clear.  Because the Christian has been raised with Christ, he is to seek spiritual things and put to death carnal things.  He is to be concerned about developing: love, mercy, humility, meekness, forgiveness, and longsuffering.  He must put away the lusts of the flesh: fornication, covetousness, anger, malice, blasphemy, and filthy speech.  By being baptized, he has committed to a fundamental transformation of life, just as Jesus’ dead body was transformed after His resurrection.  The doctrines of Christian living are part and parcel to the New Testament’s teaching on the resurrection.

The resurrection is a subject on which we must teach often, long, and without apology.  It is central to the truths contained in the New Testament.  One simply cannot be a New Testament Christian and deny the resurrection of Christ.  May we ever live to proclaim His resurrection both from the pulpit, and in our public and personal lives, as we daily live for Him.

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Personal Discipline

Personal Discipline of Life

In view of the corruption that was in the city of  Corinth, Paul instructs Christians to discipline their  lives (1 Cor. 9:24-27). Personal discipline is one of  life’s most difficult problems—it is one of my difficult  problems, and it is one that also belongs to you. Yet, it  is essential if we are to please the Lord and save our  souls. To do so, Paul selects the metaphor of running a  race, similar to our Olympic races. According to history,  several things were involved in such races that were  familiar to Paul and the Corinthians.

First, one had to train for at least ten months in  order to enter the race. Consider the discipline necessary  to train for ten months just to be able to enter the race!  After the ten months of training to enter, there would be  another month in which the athletes were continually  judged about what they ate and did before they entered  the race, again emphasizing discipline so that they would  be qualified to enter and win the race. Considering  another sports analogy, consider the training necessary  for football players—they do not simply go out on their  first game and play for the first time, but they train long  and hard before they ever play their first game. This  underscores the value of discipline. Many people engage  in any number of things and discipline themselves at  almost any price in order to be successful.

Second, in the race to which Paul refers, only “ one  receiveth the prize ” (9:24), but in the Christian race, this  is not true. All of us may win, provided that we recognize  the importance of disciplining our lives. “ So run, that ye  may obtain ” (9:24).

Third, they must follow the rules and regulations of  the race. If not, they would become disqualified. Do we  remember the Canadian athlete who won first place, but  whom officials later detected that he had taken steroids?  Thus, in spite of the fact that he finished in first, he still  lost, potentially becoming disqualified forever as penalty  for not abiding by the rules. Therefore, in the Christian  life, we have to run according to the rules, else we  become disqualified.

Fourth, “ every man that striveth for the mastery  is temperate in all things ” (9:25). The Greek word for  “ striveth for the mastery ” is the word from which we  literally obtain our word “agonize.” How many of us  really put forth that type of effort—agonize—in order  to be pleasing to the Lord? Does that type of effort enter  our lives, or are we rather sort of easy-come, easy-go?  In areas where it is not as easy to be acceptable to the  Lord, do we really agonize? For instance, take the matter  of the tongue. James points out that this is not an easy  thing to control (James 3:1-12). Do we really agonize  over the fact when we do not control our tongue? How  much effort do we really put forth? Therefore, it is not  merely a matter of running, but doing so with discipline,  often in agony.

Fifth, while they ran to win “ a corruptible crown ”  [laurel wreath, along with whatever national honor that  accompanied such] (9:25), we are not running for such  a prize, because we are not running that type of race. We  are in a race looking for “ an incorruptible ” crown—an  eternal, everlasting “ crown of righteousness ” (cf. 2 Tim.  4:8). How much more motivation should there be for  discipline in our lives to see that our lives harmonize with  the rules so that we may obtain such a prize? “ I therefore  so run, not as uncertainly ” (9:26). In other words, I  understand the rules and regulations; I understand the  discipline necessary to win such a prize. I seek to know  the will of God. In addition, Paul shifts from running a  race to shadow boxing: “ so fight I, not as one that beateth  the air ” (9:26). Shadow boxing is important in training,  but if one actually boxes in a match and never strikes  the opponent, it is futile. Thus, we recognize what we  are trying to do and exercise discipline wherever we  need such.

Paul concludes, “ But I discipline my body and bring  it unto subjection, lest, when I have preached to others,  I myself should become disqualified ” (9:27 NKJV).  Therefore, we see the discipline of life necessary to keep  one from being disqualified. The word “ castaway ” (KJV)  literally means “reprobate, unapproved and rejected”  (incidentally, this shows the possibility of apostasy). For  instance, items that are subject to quality control must  meet regulations and abide by a certain standard or else  they are rejected or “cast away.” Therefore, it is important  that we realize, even though we are Christians, that there  must be personal discipline in our lives to do what the  Lord wants us to do, else He will reject us!

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Attitude Strange? Then Change!

The attitude of the psalmist toward worshiping God stands in stark contrast to the attitude of many Christians. There is no scripture which better reflects the kind of heart we must have in worship than Psalm 84. If the words of this psalm seem foreign to your attitude toward worship, it is imperative that you work on your attitude and change it.

The psalmist said, “My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God” (Psa. 84:2). When he was away from the courts of the Lord, his soul longed to be there. The present tense of the word “longs” indicates not an occasional passing desire to be in His court, but an ongoing desire to be at the Lord’s house. The depths of his desire to be there is seen in the word “faints.” He longed for his body (his flesh) and his soul (his heart) to be where he could sing to the living God.

He saw the courts of the Lord to be such a blessing that even the lowly bird would be blessed by having her nests near the altars there. “Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altar.” If a sparrow is blessed by being in His courts, how much more are we! If that which is least among His creation  is blessed by being in His court, how much more are we!

Then the psalmist looked for some way that he might never have to leave His court. He speaks of those who dwell there and can always be singing praises to God. The psalmist said, “Blessed are those who dwell in Your house, ever singing Your praise.” Some would look as such opportunity as almost being like a curse, a thing to never be desired, but the psalmist calls it a blessing. Does this sound strange to you?

The final expression of his desire to be able to worship God in His courts is the most remarkable. “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness” (Psa. 84:10).  A thousand days is nearly three years. Yet think of how easy it is for us the trade one day in His courts for just one day elsewhere.

The psalmist would not trade one day in His court for a thousand days any other place doing any other thing. Some trade a day in the courts of the Lord for a day simply to sleep in and get rest. Some trade a day in His courts for a day at a recreational park. Some trade a day in His courts for fishing, shopping, golfing or traveling. Think about the last time you chose to miss meeting the Lord at His table in His temple. What did you get when you traded that day with Him for secular matters? He would not trade one day for 1,000 of yours!

If this seems strange to you, perhaps it is time to meditate and reset priorities. Think about this. Pray about it!

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Demas and Self-Gratification

Demas was a good worker and Paul seemed to appreciate his work. In fact, Paul put him right up there with John Mark and Luke when he wrote, “Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow labourers.” (Phm. 1:24). So, Demas accompanied Paul and others on missionary trips, such as the one into Asia and went with him in his voyage to Rome and seems to have also been a fellow prisoner with Paul (Acts 19:29). And, while Paul sent an epistle to the Christians in Colossae, Paul again named Demas right besides doctor Luke. “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.” (Col. 4:14).

But, Demas had a problem. A memory problem. He kept forgetting about the world to come. Of course Demas wanted heaven and was a diligent worker for the Lord. He knew that he would have heaven later. But, he also just wanted what this world had to offer, too and Demas wanted this now. So, as Paul wrote, “Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica . . .” (2 Tim. 4:10). Paul stated that Demas loved the Now Age.

What is the obsession for the Now Age? One seems to see it written all across our society in bright colors to easily be noticed. People no longer want to wait. They want things at once, immediately and instantly. Now, certainly there is nothing wrong with having a soda with a now taste. But, we have raised and are still raising a “Now Generation” of adults who promises far more than it threatens. The problem is much like that of Demas and many of God’s people are swapping heaven later for the Now Age, Now.

Christ’s people have given up their citizenship rights in this world in order to claim it in the world to come. Paul said, “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;” (Phil. 3:18-20). Christians are far too easily choosing to be residents of the Now Age. Many have neglected that God’s grace has appeared and brought salvation (Jn. 1:29). They have forgotten that the Lord teaches how to live responsibly, righteous and godly lives…now. Giving in to this world, many have forgotten the instructions to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and have forgotten that Jesus redeemed us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds (Tit. 2:11-15).

Thus, the child of God should not expect a reward on earth for faithfulness. We can however have a blessed hope of happiness forever when this world is gone. So, don’t sacrifice eternity for the “Now Age.” You will always regret that. Demas did. And that is why the story of Demas is one of the saddest stories of the New Testament. How does your life read?

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