It’s hard to separate the idea of success from wealth and material possession – and it isn’t just a Western thing. For the world, success is an accumulation of things. But Yeshua tells His Disciples something quite different – He tells them not to not worry about building wealth on earth – but to focus on the things above – spiritual wealth.
The rich young ruler was an example for us. When Yeshua asked the ruler to sell what he had and give to the poor and follow him, the ruler couldn’t do it. He couldn’t do it because he was rich. If he were poor and had nothing – the decision would have been much easier for him. But when the stakes are high…
Thankfully, there is hope for even those who would rather keep their money than follow Yeshua. When the rich, young ruler walked away from Yeshua, Yeshua turned to His disciples and stated that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. His disciples wondered if anyone would be saved at all. But then Yeshua offered a glimpse of hope.
Yeshua said that what seemed impossible for man was possible for God – because anything is possible with God.
God is not just a God of love, but also a God of justice. I understand how this is connected to the idea of warfare, and I’ve read the book of Joshua with trepidation as I studied the Biblical account of nations being completely wiped off the face of the earth.
When you have ideas of what you think God should do (which is often wrong) you can’t help but suffer from cognitive dissonance when you encounter what you think is a disconnect between what is happening in the Bible and what seems to be ‘just’ or ‘loving’.
With that said, Ezekiel 18:23 says something so beautiful and profound. It says;
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
God is not pleased by war, and He is not pleased when people die. As Christians, we are not to take pleasure in the death of the wicked. We should feel sorrow and mourning for souls headed to destruction.
I’ve seen some Christian blogs that are quite controversial because of their stance that we should be praying for ISIS. They are full of love for their enemies. It reminds me of Pastor Saeed and how he is praying for the salvation of those holding him in prison.
But, isn’t this how you bring people to Yeshua? By allowing your love to overcome their evil?
Everything that has breath praise the Lord! – Psalm 150:6
The sun, stars, and heavenly host all praise God. Even the ants on the ground and the fish in the ocean praise God. How do they praise God?
By being.
They are simply doing what God has called them to do – whether it’s providing light to the earth, digging tunnels in the ground, or swimming in the depths. The sun rises and sets, yet it’s praising God because the sun is fulfilling God’s purpose for it.
Whenever we are fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives we are praising Him.
Living in one city nine months and then a year in the next kept my family in limbo. I wanted to produce an income that could follow us around the world – no matter where we were…
So I started writing.
At first, I took projects from people and companies, yet found it easier and more pleasurable to produce work for myself – no revisions, no sardonic editors, and no tight deadlines.
But it’s been difficult. Just when I was on the cusp of giving up and going back to taking other projects that’s when the royalty checks started to flow – it was my confirmation that the journey is not in vain.
Since working for ‘myself’ I’ve tried to strengthen my work ethic in numerous ways. Recently, I decided to start tracking my time. I thought that I was working 25 or 30 hours a week (including weekends) but was shocked to find that I was only working about 10 hours a week.
I have plenty of excuses. I have a young child who I’m homeschooling which takes up a significant amount of time, and between caring for my child, husband and home, time easily slips away. I’ve always admired people who could juggle. I’m a little envious of the type-A who only needs five hours of sleep and is free of a Candy Crush addiction.
People with a strong work ethic who aren’t easily distracted go very, very far.
I recently read Michelle Obama’s biography and one of the things that struck me was her work ethic. She is one of many, many women who rose above the surface quickly and effortlessly because she wasn’t in love with sleep. When you couple a disdain for sleep with ambition, the result is a strong work ethic.
But there is a Biblical alternative that produces even better results. The secret to a great work ethic is in Colossians 3:23 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
It’s so simple and straightforward – work as if you are working for God – not for your boss or yourself. Because when you focus on Him, it strengthens your resolve and fills you with purpose. And people with purpose go even further than those who are ambitious and sleep-deprived.
Acquiring knowledge and wisdom is what makes life so deeply fascinating and meaningful. However, all of the books and lectures in the world cannot replace the profound insight and revelation that occurs when you simply sit in a room, alone with Him.
Perhaps this is my problem – and the problem of many – it’s so easy to get caught up in books, lectures and theological discussions that we forget to drink from the well of truth Himself. When Pilate asked Yeshua “What is truth?” He was unaware that he was in the room with Truth Himself.
And that’s the point in our journey towards knowledge and wisdom – to find truth. Like Pilate, we often overlook what is right in front of our faces – the obvious answer – that Yeshua IS truth.
The journey to knowledge and wisdom begins and ends with Yeshua. If you want to know something – ask Him.
The key to the blessed life is to trust in God. Don’t trust in man, in money, in things, or in a career.
Just trust in God.
There are a few places in Scripture where God teaches His people how to be firmly grounded and prosperous. Jeremiah 17:7-8 is one of those places.
Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Most people find themselves inadvertently putting their trust in something or someone other than God. People trust their spouse, their children, their bank card, their boss, their friends, and their pet. And struggle when it comes to trusting in God.
Why is it difficult to trust in God?
The simple answer is faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In essence, trust in God requires faith… and having faith means that you are trusting in what you CANNOT see.
You see your spouse, so you trust him or her. You see your bank statement, so you trust it. You see your boss, so you trust them.
We need to see God… and the way to see the Father is through the son. John Piper speaks of our advantage over the Old Testament prophets who longed to see the Divine life and glory of God incarnate, but did not. We have the vision of Yeshua through the New Testament – we can clearly see His Divine Glory, Life, and Redemptive Work.
Focusing our eyes on Yeshua is how to produce faith – and it’s through that faith that we begin to trust God. If you are finding it difficult to trust God, then it’s time to look at Yeshua – look at His life, His ministry, His work, His death and resurrection, for faiths’ sake.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17
My son is obsessed with a show called Transformers. For those of you unfamiliar with the show, the concept is simple – robots transform into cars, dinosaurs and other things to solve a problem that they are incapable of solving in their former state.
What does this have to do with Christianity?
Everything.
Christians are supposed to transform. Romans 12:2 commands us to do so.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2 isn’t a recommendation to those who’ve decided to follow Yeshua; it’s a command. When Paul wrote to the Romans telling them to transform – he was adhering to the technical definition – to make a thorough or dramatic change in form, appearance, and character. The assumption is that the person you were in your pre-Christian life is old news – yesterday’s history. You are a new creation.
While the world focuses on other types of transformations – Christians should be focused on transforming to look more like Christ.
And many Christians do transform, at least they appear to do so, but like the robots, they often go back to their previous state. The transformation isn’t permanent. The transformation is superficial – it’s shallow – it’s for the purposes of appearances – it hasn’t taken place in the mind.
The scripture is clear. You cannot transform unless your mind is renewed. How do you renew your mind?
1. Pray often. Pray for help. Pray for strength. Pray to be like Yeshua.
2. Read the word – often – and aloud if possible. Scripture is cleansing – it’s renewing. It’s powerful.
3. Sit and wait on God… literally. As you wait, the transformative work is taking place. Maybe you’ll feel something, maybe not. Wait anyway.
Change your spiritual and emotional diet, and change your mind. I love the quote Let thy food be thy medicine. Yeshua called himself the great physician. Don’t allow anything into your ears and eyes that Yeshua wouldn’t recommend. Ask yourself the next time you listen to a song or watch a movie… Is this doctor recommended?
Once you’ve transformed, don’t change back. Purposely choose to remain a new creation – dramatically different – the former you a mere shadow eclipsed by light.
And once you are new, direction comes. You’ll come to understand God’s will. Once you transform, you’ll not only have a real purpose, but you’ll know your purpose too.
When reading the Bible several weeks ago I happened upon Genesis 10:25, which states:
And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
When I first read Genesis 10, I immediately thought of Pangea.
Scholars believe that this verse could indicate the division of the world physically. However, most theologians believe that it’s a social division.
There are three names mentioned in Genesis 10:25. Eber and his sons Peleg, and Joktan. Peleg means division which the verse clearly states. And Joktan means smallness. But what’s interesting is that Eber means the region beyond or it can mean ‘the region beyond the sea’.
The verse in and of itself tells a story of what’s happening during that time.
Maybe the verse isn’t just about social division, but also a physical division of the earth. What could have compelled Eber’s parents to give him such a name other than some earthly physical division that had already taken place? In congruence, Eber names his son Peleg, which further means division and what precedes division is Joktan – which makes perfect sense because division often creates smallness.
When people are united with one mind and heart, they grow larger, and they can do great things. However, division brings pettiness, strife, anger, frustration and all the things that make a person small.
Reading what the Bible says about unity provides a better understanding of the consequences and effects of division. The Bible says a lot about unity, but when it speaks about unity it’s usually in the New Testament in the context of the Church.
We are told in Philippians 2; Be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. And the apostle Peter tells the church to have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, tender heart and a humble mind. But before he tells the followers of The Way to have sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart and humble mind, he tells them to have unity.
Peter understands that unity of mind will make the church great.
Unity is what we need in the body of Christ, and it’s something that I pray for all the time. I didn’t understand the importance of such a prayer until I put it in the context of Genesis 10:25.
Live in unity with one another, love each other deeply from the heart. Pursue peace, and when you find it impossible to live in peace with someone, pray for them. Love them and pray that there would be reconciliation and unity.
BOHO + THEO 