“Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.” (Proverbs 8: 18, 19).
Everything we need can be found in our relationship with Jesus. He alone has the ability to meet our heart’s desires. He is the Bread of Life that nourishes our soul, and He is the Living Water that quenches our deepest longings. In Him is all wisdom, knowledge and truth. He owns all of creation: “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.” (Proverbs 50: 10-12). Valuable riches, honor and righteousness are His to bestow as He pleases. If we are without financially, He is able to meet our need. If we lack spiritually, He can open up His storehouses and bless us beyond measure. When we eat from His tree of holiness and purity, His fruit will fill the hunger of our hearts. Paul tells us to be “filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:11). The fruit that He gives us to eat is reproducible. What he sows in our hearts will begin to produce fruit of similar kind. Nevertheless, we must continue to go to Him to have the storehouse of our soul filled. If we do not use the fruit He gives or if we horde what He offers us instead of sharing it with others, the fruit will spoil and rot. May we never reach the point where we stop allowing Jesus to fulfill our needs.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Fear of the Lord and Long Life
“The fear of the Lord prolongeth days.” (Proverbs 10:27a).
King Hezekiah is one of the best examples in the Bible of how the fear of the Lord prolongeth days. (Isaiah 38; II Kings 20). After King Hezekiah was told by the prophet Isaiah that he would soon die, he “turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus sayeth the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years…And this shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he hath spoken; Behold, I will bring again the shadow of degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.” (Isaiah 38: 2-5, 7, 8). Hezekiah’s fear of the Lord caused him to walk before God with a perfect heart and to humbly petition God to remember his faithfulness. God sent word through Isaiah and also confirmed that He had heard Hezekiah’s prayer and seen his tears by a supernatural miracle. “For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.” (Proverbs 9:11). Fear of the Lord will constrain us so that we can live to the fullest the number of days the Lord has allotted us. (Psalms 39:4).
King Hezekiah is one of the best examples in the Bible of how the fear of the Lord prolongeth days. (Isaiah 38; II Kings 20). After King Hezekiah was told by the prophet Isaiah that he would soon die, he “turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, And said, Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus sayeth the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years…And this shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he hath spoken; Behold, I will bring again the shadow of degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.” (Isaiah 38: 2-5, 7, 8). Hezekiah’s fear of the Lord caused him to walk before God with a perfect heart and to humbly petition God to remember his faithfulness. God sent word through Isaiah and also confirmed that He had heard Hezekiah’s prayer and seen his tears by a supernatural miracle. “For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.” (Proverbs 9:11). Fear of the Lord will constrain us so that we can live to the fullest the number of days the Lord has allotted us. (Psalms 39:4).
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Godly Business Principles
“A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.” (Proverbs 11:1).
Worldly men will do anything to get ahead. They will cheat, steal, lie and step on anyone who gets in their way. Deception, misrepresentation and misallocation of funds have seemingly become a part of the corporate culture. Ungodly men have sold their character and integrity to the highest bidder: all in pursuit of the “almighty dollar.” The name itself is blasphemous, but it appropriately describes the idolatry that the pursuit of money has become in our society. Godly men, especially godly businessmen, seem to be in extremely short supply these days. God has called His sons to holiness in the midst of a corrupt culture. We are to deal with people honestly and respectfully. Our business practices should be fair and above reproach. We should have a reputation of integrity in the community and also with competing businesses. Stealing sales, padding business accounts, overcharging customers and similar practices should have no place in the Christian businessman’s repertoire. Salesmen must ethically represent their company and its products. Misleading customers, false claims and hyperboles are tools of ungodly companies. God will not prosper a Christian business that employs these tactics. Men of God, we are commanded to live holy in every aspect of our lives. There is no division between the secular and the sacred in the life of a godly man. We are to close every deal, sell every product and treat every customer exactly as Jesus would.
Worldly men will do anything to get ahead. They will cheat, steal, lie and step on anyone who gets in their way. Deception, misrepresentation and misallocation of funds have seemingly become a part of the corporate culture. Ungodly men have sold their character and integrity to the highest bidder: all in pursuit of the “almighty dollar.” The name itself is blasphemous, but it appropriately describes the idolatry that the pursuit of money has become in our society. Godly men, especially godly businessmen, seem to be in extremely short supply these days. God has called His sons to holiness in the midst of a corrupt culture. We are to deal with people honestly and respectfully. Our business practices should be fair and above reproach. We should have a reputation of integrity in the community and also with competing businesses. Stealing sales, padding business accounts, overcharging customers and similar practices should have no place in the Christian businessman’s repertoire. Salesmen must ethically represent their company and its products. Misleading customers, false claims and hyperboles are tools of ungodly companies. God will not prosper a Christian business that employs these tactics. Men of God, we are commanded to live holy in every aspect of our lives. There is no division between the secular and the sacred in the life of a godly man. We are to close every deal, sell every product and treat every customer exactly as Jesus would.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Whose Blood Is on Your Hands?
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination to him… hands that shed innocent blood.” (Proverbs 6: 16,17c).
We are all familiar with the commandment “Thou shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13) and would readily agree that it is wrong to shed innocent blood. Why is it then that no one gives a second thought to slandering an innocent man’s reputation or assassinating his character? Isn’t the principle the same? Murder kills the man’s body but slander slays his spirit. How much blood do we have on our hands, brothers? “And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:15). I recently heard a pastor friend tell about a Christian radio program in which a listener called in to ask the host his opinion of a certain Christian author. The host said that he didn’t know the writer that well, but from what he knew, the man was a liar. The host stated that the author had claimed in his book that he once worked with the Associated Press; however, the host had done his own research on the author, and he had never worked for the A. P. The author, who had not heard the program, was given a tape by a friend and contacted the host to set the record straight. (Indeed, he had worked for the A.P.). The host would not return his phone calls. Next, the author wrote to the host and included check stubs from the A.P. with no response. The book publisher and a prominent pastor contacted the host, but no retraction was ever made. The host refused to offer an apology or correct his mistake, and his listeners were left to believe that the author was a liar. The host shed innocent blood by making a judgment that he should not have made. Whose blood do we have on our hands?
We are all familiar with the commandment “Thou shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13) and would readily agree that it is wrong to shed innocent blood. Why is it then that no one gives a second thought to slandering an innocent man’s reputation or assassinating his character? Isn’t the principle the same? Murder kills the man’s body but slander slays his spirit. How much blood do we have on our hands, brothers? “And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood” (Isaiah 1:15). I recently heard a pastor friend tell about a Christian radio program in which a listener called in to ask the host his opinion of a certain Christian author. The host said that he didn’t know the writer that well, but from what he knew, the man was a liar. The host stated that the author had claimed in his book that he once worked with the Associated Press; however, the host had done his own research on the author, and he had never worked for the A. P. The author, who had not heard the program, was given a tape by a friend and contacted the host to set the record straight. (Indeed, he had worked for the A.P.). The host would not return his phone calls. Next, the author wrote to the host and included check stubs from the A.P. with no response. The book publisher and a prominent pastor contacted the host, but no retraction was ever made. The host refused to offer an apology or correct his mistake, and his listeners were left to believe that the author was a liar. The host shed innocent blood by making a judgment that he should not have made. Whose blood do we have on our hands?
Monday, May 24, 2010
A Loving Friendship With God
“I love them that love me.” (Proverbs 8:17a).
How do we show our love to the people that are important to us? By spending time with them. The activities that we spend our time on are the things in life to which we are devoted. If I asked each man reading this blog if he loved God, every single one would say yes. My question then, is how do you express your love? Do you spend time with Him? Is your relationship with Him alive or stagnant? Building relationships takes time- with people and with God. Adam walked with God in the garden. (Genesis 3:8). Enoch walked so closely with God that he was taken from the earth without ever seeing death. (Genesis 5:24). Noah was a just man and walked with God. (Genesis 6:9). Moses talked with God face to face as a man speaketh to his friend. (Exodus 33:11). David was a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22). Abraham was called the friend of God. (James 2:23). These men loved God. Are you aware that God will meet you where you are? In John 21:15-19, Jesus discusses with Simon Peter his love for Him. Jesus’ first question to Simon Peter was: Simon, do you love [agape-unconditional love] me? Peter replied: yes, Lord, you know that I love [phileo-friendship love] you. Jesus asked Peter again: Do you agape me? Peter said: yes Lord, I phileo you. Finally, Jesus asked: Simon, do you phileo me? To which Peter replied: yes, Lord, you know I phileo you. The Hebrew word for love in today’s proverb is ahab, which means to have affection as with a friend. (Strong’s). Isn’t it great to know that God is confident in His goodness? He knows that once we taste and see that He is good, we will desire to know Him intimately. We can progress from being a friend of God to His loving son.
How do we show our love to the people that are important to us? By spending time with them. The activities that we spend our time on are the things in life to which we are devoted. If I asked each man reading this blog if he loved God, every single one would say yes. My question then, is how do you express your love? Do you spend time with Him? Is your relationship with Him alive or stagnant? Building relationships takes time- with people and with God. Adam walked with God in the garden. (Genesis 3:8). Enoch walked so closely with God that he was taken from the earth without ever seeing death. (Genesis 5:24). Noah was a just man and walked with God. (Genesis 6:9). Moses talked with God face to face as a man speaketh to his friend. (Exodus 33:11). David was a man after God’s own heart. (Acts 13:22). Abraham was called the friend of God. (James 2:23). These men loved God. Are you aware that God will meet you where you are? In John 21:15-19, Jesus discusses with Simon Peter his love for Him. Jesus’ first question to Simon Peter was: Simon, do you love [agape-unconditional love] me? Peter replied: yes, Lord, you know that I love [phileo-friendship love] you. Jesus asked Peter again: Do you agape me? Peter said: yes Lord, I phileo you. Finally, Jesus asked: Simon, do you phileo me? To which Peter replied: yes, Lord, you know I phileo you. The Hebrew word for love in today’s proverb is ahab, which means to have affection as with a friend. (Strong’s). Isn’t it great to know that God is confident in His goodness? He knows that once we taste and see that He is good, we will desire to know Him intimately. We can progress from being a friend of God to His loving son.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Having an Understanding Heart
“O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.” (Proverbs 8:5).
Do you ever feel like that-simple and foolish? I do. I have heard it said: “Christianity is a journey, not a destination.” This is a true statement not only for our Christian walk but also in our quest to become godly men. The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. This is why it is so important for us to trust God and not lean upon our own understanding. He sees the big picture, and He possesses all knowledge. He isn’t talking about our physical heart (The organ the pumps blood throughout our body and gives us life). He is referring to our spiritual heart, the seat of our soul (the mind, will and emotions). Our heart is the center of our being- the Holy of Holies, so to speak. To have an understanding heart means that we are to have a discerning and prudent heart. Just as we maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to protect our natural heart, we must also guard what enters our spiritual heart. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23). A discerning heart judges what is best for us and decides what to let into our spiritual man. It acts as a filter to remove the impurities that life sends our way. Some men believe they are strong enough Christians to handle anything, and they allow all manner of perversion and filth to permeate their hearts. These men are truly foolish and possess no wisdom or understanding. A godly man has an understanding heart and is careful of all he allows to enter it.
Do you ever feel like that-simple and foolish? I do. I have heard it said: “Christianity is a journey, not a destination.” This is a true statement not only for our Christian walk but also in our quest to become godly men. The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. This is why it is so important for us to trust God and not lean upon our own understanding. He sees the big picture, and He possesses all knowledge. He isn’t talking about our physical heart (The organ the pumps blood throughout our body and gives us life). He is referring to our spiritual heart, the seat of our soul (the mind, will and emotions). Our heart is the center of our being- the Holy of Holies, so to speak. To have an understanding heart means that we are to have a discerning and prudent heart. Just as we maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to protect our natural heart, we must also guard what enters our spiritual heart. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23). A discerning heart judges what is best for us and decides what to let into our spiritual man. It acts as a filter to remove the impurities that life sends our way. Some men believe they are strong enough Christians to handle anything, and they allow all manner of perversion and filth to permeate their hearts. These men are truly foolish and possess no wisdom or understanding. A godly man has an understanding heart and is careful of all he allows to enter it.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Who is Guiding You?
“Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” (Proverbs 4:26).
If we trust in our own understanding, we will fall into sin. Why is it so easy to do? Because “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits” (Proverbs 16:2). The devil is a master of compromise and can get us to justify almost any sin. We must take our plans and dreams to the Lord and make sure that they line up with His. At times, it is necessary to toss our plans out the window and start drafting a new plan on a clean slate- only this time we need to step back and let God be the architect. Like David, we should ask God to: “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (Psalms 25:5). “Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.” (Psalms 27:11). The path that is set before us is often treacherous. We cannot see around the bend, and we have no idea what awaits us. Jeremiah recognized that he was not able to direct his own paths. “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). While it is important to watch out for danger in the path ahead, I am thankful that we have a Savior who is the best wilderness guide in the universe. He delights in ordering our steps (Psalms 119:133), and He knows all of the danger of the trail ahead. “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” (Psalms 48:14). Isn’t that comforting? Thank God that He establishes our goings and comings. Are we trusting our Guide or are we putting our faith in our own maps, compasses and abilities? The godly man will trust the Lord our God.
If we trust in our own understanding, we will fall into sin. Why is it so easy to do? Because “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits” (Proverbs 16:2). The devil is a master of compromise and can get us to justify almost any sin. We must take our plans and dreams to the Lord and make sure that they line up with His. At times, it is necessary to toss our plans out the window and start drafting a new plan on a clean slate- only this time we need to step back and let God be the architect. Like David, we should ask God to: “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day” (Psalms 25:5). “Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.” (Psalms 27:11). The path that is set before us is often treacherous. We cannot see around the bend, and we have no idea what awaits us. Jeremiah recognized that he was not able to direct his own paths. “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). While it is important to watch out for danger in the path ahead, I am thankful that we have a Savior who is the best wilderness guide in the universe. He delights in ordering our steps (Psalms 119:133), and He knows all of the danger of the trail ahead. “For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” (Psalms 48:14). Isn’t that comforting? Thank God that He establishes our goings and comings. Are we trusting our Guide or are we putting our faith in our own maps, compasses and abilities? The godly man will trust the Lord our God.
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