I came across the following ten years ago. It was hanging in the cube of a lady who was, to my surprise, agnostic. She wasn't even a Follower. I came across it again this past week, in the process of moving some boxes.
There's no impetus to discuss creation/evolution on this blog. The physical release from forgiveness, the freedom from various bondages, seeing a leg grow before my very eyes, seeing a hand burned black from a kitchen accident healed immediately. I have seen, witnessed and experienced the power of the Creator's Hand time and time and time again.
So, I'm posting this for someone else's use, who's never seen this. There is so much more to the Kingdom than this, but enjoy.
The Parable of the Twins
Once upon a time, twin boys were conceived in the same womb. Weeks passed and the twins developed. As their awareness grew, they laughed for joy: "Isn't it great that we were conceived? Isn't it great to be alive?"
Together, the twins explored their world. When they found their mother's cord that gave them life they sang for joy: "How great is this love, that she shares her own life with us!"
As weeks stretched into months, the twins noticed how much each was changing. "What does it mean?" asked the one. "It means that our stay in this world is drawing to an end," said the other. "But I don't want to go," said the other one. "I want to stay here always." "We have no choice," said the other. "But maybe there is life after birth!" "But how can there be?" responded the one. "We will shed our life cord, and how is life possible without it? Besides, we have seen evidence that others were here before us, and none of them have returned to tell us that there is a life after birth. No, this is the end."
And so the one fell into deep despair, saying: "If conception ends in birth, what is the purpose of life in the womb? It's meaningless! Maybe there is no mother after all?" "But there has to be," protested the other. "How else did we get here? How do we remain alive?"
"Have you ever seen our mother?" said the one. "Maybe she lives only in our minds. Maybe we made her up, because the idea made us feel good?"
And so the last days in the womb were filled with deep questioning and fear. Finally, the moment of birth arrived.
When the twins had passed from their world, they opened their eyes. They cried. For what they saw, exceeded their fondest dreams.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
aspirers to Phillippians 3:10-11 beware
"[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death" (Philippians 3:10-11, Amplified Bible)
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11, NIV)
It doesn't seem that this is the aspiration or prayer of many followers of Jesus these days. "I want to know...the fellowship in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death."
Hmmm.
Not too many of us in that boat. And even fewer actually seeking or desiring that boat, it seems in terms of American believers. So much seems to be about blessing, blessing, blessing in today's American Body.
As I've often said, I am not and do not take anything away from those whose lives are blessed of the Lord. It's just the common deceit that human blessing, worldly blessing, financial blessing is THE goal, or one of the preeminent goals, of the Christian faith.
Contrast the blessing approach with these verses from Philippians 3. I want to know Jesus, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming like Him in death.
For those who want to grow in their faith, those who want to grow beyond the "well, I'm blessed, and I'm saved, and so that's all I'm concerned about in my Christian walk", be aware.
If you seek to become like Jesus as in Philippians, get ready. Or, if the Lord chooses you and says "Okay, I know you are comfortable with where you are with Me, but I am choosing you to move on to new levels of faith and growth in Me", be aware.
Aware of what? Be aware that life as you know it on earth is going to get rocked. Shaken. Uprooted. And quite possibly turned upside down from an earthly, human perspective.
Just as when you decided to follow Jesus, truly follow Him, there were some things that changed in your life. Same thing happens here. When you choose, or He chooses, for you to move onward and stronger in your faith, there are going to be some new changes. These changes will NOT correspond to comfort and ease from an earthly perspective.
What are you talking about, you may ask.
Let's step back in time and look at something.
Let's take a look at what Jesus says:
"If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me." (Luke 9:23)
"For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]." (Matthew 16:25, Amplified)
Let's look at that a little more. In Jesus' day, death by crucifixion was the most painful death of that time. You suffocated to death. If you weren't dying fast enough they broke your legs, so that you wouldn't be able to push up off your feet to draw breaths easily. This quickened your death, and did so by suffocation.
Death by a cross was not a pretty thing. It was ugly. It was humiliating. It was painful. Very painful.
And yet Jesus said (paraphrased) 'if you want to follow Me, you must be willing to deny yourself, even be willing to die to your self. You must be willing to take up your cross. Yes, take up your cross. No, I didn't stutter. By taking up your cross daily you must be willing to die painfully in order to follow Me. And oh, by the way, if you are determined to save your earthly life, guess what? You're going to lose it. But if on the other hand you forsake (lose) your earthly life of comfort and security for My sake, you'll end up finding eternal life.'
This is the Gospel, folks. This is not teaching that tickles ears or gives warm fuzzies and human comfort. This is the foundation of choosing to follow Jesus.
Why is it difficult to digest this teaching today, in the 21st century? Because nowadays the cross is a beautiful piece of jewelry. The cross is something we sing a pretty little song about while thinking about how good that casserole is going to taste at the potluck lunch after the service is over.
In Jesus' day the cross meant death.
The meaning of the cross has been diluted by the world to where it no longer is seen for what it means: painful death.
To those who embrace the true meaning of the cross, that would be the equivalent today of wearing an electric chair around our necks. It's a symbol of death. "I have been crucified with Jesus, and I no longer live but rather Jesus lives in me" (Galatians 2:20)
Dying to self, dying to our flesh, dying to the comfort and attraction of a smooth and blessed life--ain't easy. It's not comfortable. It's not fun. It's not promised to be rosy life full of fluff. But it's what we're called to...if we wish to follow Jesus.
"but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Cor 1:23-24, NIV)
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24)
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
These verses are a clear, blunt statement that the life of following Jesus, striving to become more like Him, is not a life composed of earthly pleasures.
Jesus gave us a powerful, ultimate example of denying self.
He did not want to go to Calvary. He was willing to, and did, but He did not want to.
What did He tell God the Father? (paraphrased) "If there is any other way this can be done, ANY other way, then do it another way and let what's about to happen NOT be what must occur. Yet not my will, but Your will be done." (Matthew 26: 39-42)
How does this translate to our lives as followers of Jesus, and Philippians 3:10-11?
We're called to die to the flesh and simultaneously called to live according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our flesh wars against the Holy Spirit and the Spirit wars against the flesh.
And what's the reward for deciding to deny ourselves?
We'll be hated and despised. (Matthew 10:22, Luke 6:22) The passage in Luke goes on to say we will be excluded, insulted and rejected.
Have you been misunderstood? Welcome to being a follower of Jesus. Have your motives and actions been misinterpreted? Welcome to following Jesus. Have you been betrayed by someone close to you? Welcome to being a follower of Jesus. Have you been butchered by circumstances or people while standing for His Truth? Welcome to being a follower of Jesus.
Are you pouring out your life or heart and getting kicked in the teeth as a result? Welcome to what Jesus experienced when He walked the earth. He healed and performed jaw-dropping miracles for three plus years, and what thanks did He get? He was spat on, mocked, beaten beyond recognition (Isaiah 52:14) and killed.
If we hunger to become like Jesus (not for one or two hours on Sunday morning, but in our lives), we're going to be asked to die. Die to ourselves. Die to our flesh.
This taking place means pain. There is no comfortable, warm, blessed way to die to the flesh. The process of dying to self and becoming like Jesus separates us from our earthly flesh. This is the Gospel, and it is not a comfort-based process. Preaching or teaching otherwise is ear-tickling (2 Timothy 4:3).
This painful process can take place one of two ways. We can choose/seek/ask to become like Jesus, or we may be cruising along in our walk with Jesus and we get a wake-up call by Him, offering/asking us to become more like Him.
Jesus has considered you worthy to rise above the elementary salvation level of Christianity. Jesus thinks enough of you that He wants you to become a bigger man or woman of God than to just sit comfortably in an air conditioned, cushioned pew savoring your salvation.
All followers should aspire to become more like Jesus, as in the Philippians 3:10-11 verses. When earthly trials and rejection arise as as result of the growth necessary to become more like Him, don't be surprised.
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11, NIV)
It doesn't seem that this is the aspiration or prayer of many followers of Jesus these days. "I want to know...the fellowship in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death."
Hmmm.
Not too many of us in that boat. And even fewer actually seeking or desiring that boat, it seems in terms of American believers. So much seems to be about blessing, blessing, blessing in today's American Body.
As I've often said, I am not and do not take anything away from those whose lives are blessed of the Lord. It's just the common deceit that human blessing, worldly blessing, financial blessing is THE goal, or one of the preeminent goals, of the Christian faith.
Contrast the blessing approach with these verses from Philippians 3. I want to know Jesus, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, becoming like Him in death.
For those who want to grow in their faith, those who want to grow beyond the "well, I'm blessed, and I'm saved, and so that's all I'm concerned about in my Christian walk", be aware.
If you seek to become like Jesus as in Philippians, get ready. Or, if the Lord chooses you and says "Okay, I know you are comfortable with where you are with Me, but I am choosing you to move on to new levels of faith and growth in Me", be aware.
Aware of what? Be aware that life as you know it on earth is going to get rocked. Shaken. Uprooted. And quite possibly turned upside down from an earthly, human perspective.
Just as when you decided to follow Jesus, truly follow Him, there were some things that changed in your life. Same thing happens here. When you choose, or He chooses, for you to move onward and stronger in your faith, there are going to be some new changes. These changes will NOT correspond to comfort and ease from an earthly perspective.
What are you talking about, you may ask.
Let's step back in time and look at something.
Let's take a look at what Jesus says:
"If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me." (Luke 9:23)
"For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting]." (Matthew 16:25, Amplified)
Let's look at that a little more. In Jesus' day, death by crucifixion was the most painful death of that time. You suffocated to death. If you weren't dying fast enough they broke your legs, so that you wouldn't be able to push up off your feet to draw breaths easily. This quickened your death, and did so by suffocation.
Death by a cross was not a pretty thing. It was ugly. It was humiliating. It was painful. Very painful.
And yet Jesus said (paraphrased) 'if you want to follow Me, you must be willing to deny yourself, even be willing to die to your self. You must be willing to take up your cross. Yes, take up your cross. No, I didn't stutter. By taking up your cross daily you must be willing to die painfully in order to follow Me. And oh, by the way, if you are determined to save your earthly life, guess what? You're going to lose it. But if on the other hand you forsake (lose) your earthly life of comfort and security for My sake, you'll end up finding eternal life.'
This is the Gospel, folks. This is not teaching that tickles ears or gives warm fuzzies and human comfort. This is the foundation of choosing to follow Jesus.
Why is it difficult to digest this teaching today, in the 21st century? Because nowadays the cross is a beautiful piece of jewelry. The cross is something we sing a pretty little song about while thinking about how good that casserole is going to taste at the potluck lunch after the service is over.
In Jesus' day the cross meant death.
The meaning of the cross has been diluted by the world to where it no longer is seen for what it means: painful death.
To those who embrace the true meaning of the cross, that would be the equivalent today of wearing an electric chair around our necks. It's a symbol of death. "I have been crucified with Jesus, and I no longer live but rather Jesus lives in me" (Galatians 2:20)
Dying to self, dying to our flesh, dying to the comfort and attraction of a smooth and blessed life--ain't easy. It's not comfortable. It's not fun. It's not promised to be rosy life full of fluff. But it's what we're called to...if we wish to follow Jesus.
"but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Cor 1:23-24, NIV)
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24)
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
These verses are a clear, blunt statement that the life of following Jesus, striving to become more like Him, is not a life composed of earthly pleasures.
Jesus gave us a powerful, ultimate example of denying self.
He did not want to go to Calvary. He was willing to, and did, but He did not want to.
What did He tell God the Father? (paraphrased) "If there is any other way this can be done, ANY other way, then do it another way and let what's about to happen NOT be what must occur. Yet not my will, but Your will be done." (Matthew 26: 39-42)
How does this translate to our lives as followers of Jesus, and Philippians 3:10-11?
We're called to die to the flesh and simultaneously called to live according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our flesh wars against the Holy Spirit and the Spirit wars against the flesh.
And what's the reward for deciding to deny ourselves?
We'll be hated and despised. (Matthew 10:22, Luke 6:22) The passage in Luke goes on to say we will be excluded, insulted and rejected.
Have you been misunderstood? Welcome to being a follower of Jesus. Have your motives and actions been misinterpreted? Welcome to following Jesus. Have you been betrayed by someone close to you? Welcome to being a follower of Jesus. Have you been butchered by circumstances or people while standing for His Truth? Welcome to being a follower of Jesus.
Are you pouring out your life or heart and getting kicked in the teeth as a result? Welcome to what Jesus experienced when He walked the earth. He healed and performed jaw-dropping miracles for three plus years, and what thanks did He get? He was spat on, mocked, beaten beyond recognition (Isaiah 52:14) and killed.
If we hunger to become like Jesus (not for one or two hours on Sunday morning, but in our lives), we're going to be asked to die. Die to ourselves. Die to our flesh.
This taking place means pain. There is no comfortable, warm, blessed way to die to the flesh. The process of dying to self and becoming like Jesus separates us from our earthly flesh. This is the Gospel, and it is not a comfort-based process. Preaching or teaching otherwise is ear-tickling (2 Timothy 4:3).
This painful process can take place one of two ways. We can choose/seek/ask to become like Jesus, or we may be cruising along in our walk with Jesus and we get a wake-up call by Him, offering/asking us to become more like Him.
Jesus has considered you worthy to rise above the elementary salvation level of Christianity. Jesus thinks enough of you that He wants you to become a bigger man or woman of God than to just sit comfortably in an air conditioned, cushioned pew savoring your salvation.
All followers should aspire to become more like Jesus, as in the Philippians 3:10-11 verses. When earthly trials and rejection arise as as result of the growth necessary to become more like Him, don't be surprised.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
one of my favorite poems
taking a break from the regular blog to recite one of my favorite all-time poems. We got several inches of powder snow overnight here in the Nashville area. It is absolutely gorgeous on the mountains, hills and woods in the area. Both last weekend and today it made me think of my favorite poem by Robert Frost:
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farm house near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
-- Robert Frost
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farm house near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
-- Robert Frost
Friday, February 03, 2006
giving is giving, not getting
I have not watched Christian television in years, and I found out this week why.
I was channel surfing, and just for giggles decided to stop by for a second. What did I see?
A guy reading a laundry list of people who had sent in money. The attitude in reading the list was a "these people are awesome. These people have done the right thing. These people have heard God."
This train of thought carried over after the names were read off. The train of thought was: "those whose names are read off are the ones who can expect blessing from God" (for having contributed).
My first thought upon seeing this was thinking about the charge to Followers in the New Testament, and thinking about the nature and spirit of giving.
In the first chapter of James, we're told to look after orphans and widows. Period. There is no "and if you do you'll be recompensed by God for having done so" attached to it.
In Luke 17, Jesus presents a scenario to His disciples about a servant and a master. Jesus said the attitude of a servant should be: do what you're told to do and expect nothing. Again, do what you're told and expect nothing. Wow.
In Mark 6, Jesus said if you do your acts of righteousness before men there will be no reward from the Father.
He expounded on this, saying to give in secret and "when you give (to the needy), don't announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do in church and on the street to be honored by men."
And further, "When you give, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
The emphasis here was on giving, and the way/manner/approach in which to give.
The Prosperity Gospel puts the emphasis backwards: "Do you want to be blessed? In order to do so, you'll need to give/sacrifice. Do you want to be in a better financial position? You can, but it requires you to contribute." The emphasis is on gain. The focus is on being or becoming blessed, and the manner by which to get to this goal of gain? Give.
In other words, if you want to gain you must give. The goal of giving is to get. The focus of the Prosperity Gospel, and what I saw on TV, was to gain, not to give.
Brothers and sisters, this is a stench. We may end up blessing the poor in the process, sure, but it is our hearts which will be judged and weighed, not our actions (Prov 21:2). If the purpose of our heart is GAIN even when our actions are giving...the Lord is not fooled, nor amused.
Jesus says giving is the goal. Giving is the end, not the means.
The Prosperity Gospel says giving is the means by which you reach the true goal: blessing and rewards in your earthly life, from God.
Jesus says (paraphrased) "Give, and do it unobtrusively. And oh, by the way, if you do then you'll be rewarded."
In Jesus' teaching the emphasis is giving, and the humility and secrecy in doing so. The fact we'll be rewarded by the Father for having given is a sidebar consequence, not the goal.
Along that same vein, of being rewarded by God for giving, Jesus didn't specify it would be a financial reward. There is heavy emphasis in the Prosperity movement that earthly financial reward is inexorably tied to the blessing to be expected from having given. You may be/become blessed otherwise too, but you can go ahead and salivate over what you can expect God to do financially for you...
I read recently that the Gospel is about divesting, not investing.
Jesus said to give. We are not to horde what we have, but give it away so that it multiplies. Not for our personal purposes or for our gain, but for the advancement of the Kingdom.
Read the parable about the person who was given one talent of money, went and buried it, then later returned to their master (Matthew 25, Luke 19). They were so proud of themself. Had a big smile on their face, saying "Look, Master! I didn't want to lose this, so I went and buried it. Here it is! I still have it, see?" What was the master's response? "You wicked, lazy servant. I desire a return with interest."
We are to take care of the poor, the orphans, the widows (James 1). In Acts we read of the early Followers selling their possessions and their things so that the poor could be sustained and helped. We are to abandon ourselves so that God's Kingdom will multiply.
There was no semblance of this Truth on TV. If there was any abandonment, the thought is "you'll only be abandoning your money temporarily, cause God will soon be blessing your socks off above what you gave."
This thought does follow the biblical truth of tithing and receiving back. But the gutcheck is on the motivation for giving. And let's be DEAD honest here. Have there not been times where we gave and there was a pondering/thought in our mind of 'wonder what God is going to do in return for me doing this". I used to give gladly, helping others, yet had that thought (curiously pondering the impending reward) quietly hovering in the background.
We need to examine ourselves, our hearts and our motivations very, very soberly.
Do we give publicly? Do we blow trumpets or make our giving known to man? Do we give for the purpose of man's recognition? Do we give with "oh boy, I'm going to get something in return for this" running through our mind? Are we motivated in our giving by what we hope or expect to get back? What do we secretly expect back? Money? A relationship?
Recognition?
A good barometer of this is based on what happens after giving. What if we give and there is no thanks in return? What if there is no reciprocation at all by who we give to?
There is no "me" in give, but a Prosperity enthusiast might say "there is an 'I' in give!"
All I'd say to that is, enjoy saying the cute quips now, cause down the road mouths and hearts like that will be too busy gnashing teeth to say anything else.
I was channel surfing, and just for giggles decided to stop by for a second. What did I see?
A guy reading a laundry list of people who had sent in money. The attitude in reading the list was a "these people are awesome. These people have done the right thing. These people have heard God."
This train of thought carried over after the names were read off. The train of thought was: "those whose names are read off are the ones who can expect blessing from God" (for having contributed).
My first thought upon seeing this was thinking about the charge to Followers in the New Testament, and thinking about the nature and spirit of giving.
In the first chapter of James, we're told to look after orphans and widows. Period. There is no "and if you do you'll be recompensed by God for having done so" attached to it.
In Luke 17, Jesus presents a scenario to His disciples about a servant and a master. Jesus said the attitude of a servant should be: do what you're told to do and expect nothing. Again, do what you're told and expect nothing. Wow.
In Mark 6, Jesus said if you do your acts of righteousness before men there will be no reward from the Father.
He expounded on this, saying to give in secret and "when you give (to the needy), don't announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do in church and on the street to be honored by men."
And further, "When you give, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
The emphasis here was on giving, and the way/manner/approach in which to give.
The Prosperity Gospel puts the emphasis backwards: "Do you want to be blessed? In order to do so, you'll need to give/sacrifice. Do you want to be in a better financial position? You can, but it requires you to contribute." The emphasis is on gain. The focus is on being or becoming blessed, and the manner by which to get to this goal of gain? Give.
In other words, if you want to gain you must give. The goal of giving is to get. The focus of the Prosperity Gospel, and what I saw on TV, was to gain, not to give.
Brothers and sisters, this is a stench. We may end up blessing the poor in the process, sure, but it is our hearts which will be judged and weighed, not our actions (Prov 21:2). If the purpose of our heart is GAIN even when our actions are giving...the Lord is not fooled, nor amused.
Jesus says giving is the goal. Giving is the end, not the means.
The Prosperity Gospel says giving is the means by which you reach the true goal: blessing and rewards in your earthly life, from God.
Jesus says (paraphrased) "Give, and do it unobtrusively. And oh, by the way, if you do then you'll be rewarded."
In Jesus' teaching the emphasis is giving, and the humility and secrecy in doing so. The fact we'll be rewarded by the Father for having given is a sidebar consequence, not the goal.
Along that same vein, of being rewarded by God for giving, Jesus didn't specify it would be a financial reward. There is heavy emphasis in the Prosperity movement that earthly financial reward is inexorably tied to the blessing to be expected from having given. You may be/become blessed otherwise too, but you can go ahead and salivate over what you can expect God to do financially for you...
I read recently that the Gospel is about divesting, not investing.
Jesus said to give. We are not to horde what we have, but give it away so that it multiplies. Not for our personal purposes or for our gain, but for the advancement of the Kingdom.
Read the parable about the person who was given one talent of money, went and buried it, then later returned to their master (Matthew 25, Luke 19). They were so proud of themself. Had a big smile on their face, saying "Look, Master! I didn't want to lose this, so I went and buried it. Here it is! I still have it, see?" What was the master's response? "You wicked, lazy servant. I desire a return with interest."
We are to take care of the poor, the orphans, the widows (James 1). In Acts we read of the early Followers selling their possessions and their things so that the poor could be sustained and helped. We are to abandon ourselves so that God's Kingdom will multiply.
There was no semblance of this Truth on TV. If there was any abandonment, the thought is "you'll only be abandoning your money temporarily, cause God will soon be blessing your socks off above what you gave."
This thought does follow the biblical truth of tithing and receiving back. But the gutcheck is on the motivation for giving. And let's be DEAD honest here. Have there not been times where we gave and there was a pondering/thought in our mind of 'wonder what God is going to do in return for me doing this". I used to give gladly, helping others, yet had that thought (curiously pondering the impending reward) quietly hovering in the background.
We need to examine ourselves, our hearts and our motivations very, very soberly.
Do we give publicly? Do we blow trumpets or make our giving known to man? Do we give for the purpose of man's recognition? Do we give with "oh boy, I'm going to get something in return for this" running through our mind? Are we motivated in our giving by what we hope or expect to get back? What do we secretly expect back? Money? A relationship?
Recognition?
A good barometer of this is based on what happens after giving. What if we give and there is no thanks in return? What if there is no reciprocation at all by who we give to?
There is no "me" in give, but a Prosperity enthusiast might say "there is an 'I' in give!"
All I'd say to that is, enjoy saying the cute quips now, cause down the road mouths and hearts like that will be too busy gnashing teeth to say anything else.
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