Sorting Out Priorities: First Things First

Now being launched into retirement, somewhat, and finding income at a fixed level, and not enough (is it ever?), began to think about the basic, very basic, things of life.

I turned to Matthew 6:24-34. That first verse there nails most of us. You cannot serve two masters, for one will win your heart and the other will become an unwanted burden. The first of the Ten Commandments is laid out there, clearly.
However, notice that the end of the verse says, “you cannot serve God and mammon! So, mammon can be a master of our lives? Yes, that’s what it says. Wait up, there! What is this “mammon”? Read the rest of the passage.

Mammon is all those things that are basic necessities of life—food, clothing, shelter. (Those who study habits of man would show a rising scale of needs that call for satisfaction, as the lower ones are met, such as security, sexual, social relationships, purpose, power, etc.) We see this in that many times a person of wealth, earned or inherited, desire to enter politics, drawn by the desire for power, for all other needs have been met, or confronted with a seemingly desireable result.

So mammon can displace God in my life? Yet, when one is putting God in first place, and trusting Him for the basic needs for survival, his spiritual life is richer than ever before.Unless, of course, he manages to keep the priority in the right order—all through the rising levels of human need. Recall that Jesus said it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than a camel going through the eye of a needle? You see the relationship here.

Perhaps that is what is back of the saying, “Don’t ever forget where you came from—you just might return to it.”

One who learns to trust God for the basic needs of live and see Him provide those things regularly is much more able to believe Him for the bigger things ahead.
At the end of the passage, He says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Things are mammon, and things can root God out of first place in our lives—sometimes, even, because they are so desperately needed.

Gene Lawley
fiddlefax@yahoo.com

Can You Rightly Divide the Word When US Law Says You Can't?

Today I heard news that says the US House has passed a bill under the "hate crime" banner that forbids any--ANY--negative comment, or that which is construed to be negative by the "targeted one", even if it is read from the Bible, having to do with any form of alternate sexual proference lifestyle.

It will set up a special group of people who are elevated above the rest of society in a protected arena, making them and others unequal under the law. I thought the Constitution provided EQUAL protection under the law.

If God has labeled some activity as sinful, or an abomination in His eyes, having recorded that position many centuries ago, how is it that this body of lawmakers can refute that reality? Of course, I just read that Mr. Obama's appointment to head up the government's faith-based commission agency has singularly declared that the Bible's stated position on the so-called alternate lifestyles is not true. That is the affirmed mindset of this administration, it is clear.

What does God have to say about that position? Well, who is the ultimate judge of all mankind? Go figure.
Abraham tried hard to get God to change His mind about Sodom (Genesis 18), but it did not work. Declaring something untrue does not make it so, if in fact it is true. Jesus said this: "Wisdom will be justified by her children." Also stated from another angle: "You shall know them by their fruit."

Truly there is not very much time left. Jesus said, "When you see these things begin to happen, look up, for your redemption draws near."

Gene Lawley
fiddlefax@yahoo.com

Tiny Tips on End Time Prophecy

Tucked away in scripture are unannounced descriptions and alerts about end-time events. Look at jesus' answer to Mary when He came to raise Lazarus from the grave: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live; and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do yiou believe this?'" (John 11:25-26)

Now, compare this with Paul's description of the taking away of the saints from the grave and the earth to meet Christ in the air, in I Thessalonians 4:16-17: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

The verses in John are identical with the verses in red, above, from I Thessalonians. So, Jesus was announcing the event known among believers as the "rapture", the taking out of His own to Himself,...forever.

We cannot leave this without looking at the next verse in Thessalonians 4, Verse 18: "Therefore comfort one another with these words."

And thus, I so do.

Gene Lawley
fiddlefax@yahoo.com

Guideline for True Worship

Through christ a believer has access to the throne room of God, as I understand it to be. John 4:24 tells us how worship is to be.

"God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

How is that? God is a spirit, so physical things, items, etc., will not be a part of it. He does not recognize those things physical. So, how is it? That which is of our spirit must enter into the worship. Genesis 2:7 says, "God ....breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being." The original King James text says, "a living soul". Then, I Corintinans 6:17 says, "but he who is jointed to the Lord is one spirit with Him."

Somewhere there, deep within our inner being, is where worship is accomplished, I think.

Okay, then, what about this "in truth" part? Think on it. The worship is directed to God, therefore, anything that is part of it must be in that direction. That is, it must be true to that motive and purpose; it cannot be self-serving. It must be free of all self-centeredness, or it is not with singleness of heart and mind toward God, the object of worship.

Worship is somewhat a loose term in our culture, that is, superficial and without depth. I think John 4:24 gives us something to ponder that can make a difference in our lives.

Gene Lawley

Entering the New Year

New year's resolutions are the thing at this time of the season. But, my prayer is that I might be submissive and pleasing to the Lord, day by day.

A couple of verses have surfaced in my mind the last few days that seem to underline my thoughts into the new year: Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

I interpret "ways" there as not just paths, as such, but attitudes and motives, too, for those are the beginnings of our directions. It is a lot like Psalm 37:4--"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

What a marvelous thoght for anyone who desires to be pleasing to the Lord and submissive in all his ways.

Looking forward with great expectations,

Gene Lawley