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Thursday, May 31, 2012

On Growing Old and Dying

(Ecclesiastes 11:7 -12:14)

There is an appointment that every person will keep. It doesn't matter who you are or what you have or how young or old you are.... you will keep this appointment. Everyone has up to this point and everyone will from here forward. Death is sure. Hebrews 9:27 puts it this way..."And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment". The wisest of the wise, Solomon wasn't able to avoid death or aging and his writings as he grew old reflect the wisdom of his years and gives us sound advice as we face the same future.

His words are very meaningful to me as I am now a little past mid-life and am facing the pains of age. Getting up in the mornings is a little more difficult and doing the things that I once laughed at, is  becoming more challenging. Solomon advises us to enjoy all the days of our lives, but he also advises the young to take full advantage of their youth. He warns them that whatever things they do, they will have to answer for, he says "God will bring you to judgement". So if you are young, have fun, enjoy your lives, but know that if you abuse the time, you will face your Creator in judgment. He calls on the young to "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth".

Solomon uses many symbols to represent the effects of aging. Read his words and let them wash over you as you consider the changes that come as we grow older. He talks about our sight, our posture, our level of energy, our fears, our physical limitations and the lose of desire. He closes this encouraging section with these words... "Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets." He says that our "dust returns to the ground it came from and our spirit returns to God who gave it". That is the future for some. It is the present for others and the past for billions of others. It is sure, you and I will share the exact same future. If we live, we will age, if we age, we will suffer the effects and death is an appointment that we all will keep.

He concludes this section with a few verses that he tells us are the conclusion of the matter. He doesn't leave us depressed with little to look forward to. Rather, he sums it all up and sends us on our way to live out the lives we have left.... with purpose!

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.  
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.(Ecclesiastes 12: 13,14)


He tells us that when everything has been heard, all has been said, that our entire duty, our purpose in this life is to "fear God and keep his commandments". When we understand that our lives are short and that we will give an answer for what we have done in the flesh, we will fear the one who will judge us. I know that is not popular Theology these days, but the Bible is clear on this matter... God is to be feared and He is to be obeyed. Solomon warns the young and old alike, you will die and you will face your Creator and answer for everything in your life. Everything hidden, everything known.... everything. That is a scary proposition for us.

Growing old, facing death, going to the judgment.... sounds pretty bad. If that were the end of the story, we would live lives of regret and depression. We would carry around guilt and live every day knowing that we have no hope. Sad. But, thankfully that isn't the end of the story!

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

Without Jesus, death reigns eternal; with Jesus, death is swallowed up in victory. What fool goes to court to face the judge without his attorney, his advocate? Even more important, who wants to face aging, death and the judgment without Jesus? As Christians, we should understand the fear of the Lord and because of that our hearts should be set on persuading others to come to Him.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. (2 Corinthians 5:10-11)

Tell it!






 

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

An Equal Opportunity

Much is said these days by politicians about our nation and it's ability to provide an equal opportunity for success to all. Not much is said about effort. Not much is said about hard work. Not much is said about taking risks and the possibility of failure. Is the Bible silent on this issue? Does God speak to the idea of hard work and success?

Our Daily Bible reading today includes some interesting teachings that deal with work and success. The sections that I am going to be focusing on are Proverbs 6:6-11; 10:4-5; 12:11; 24:30-34. They all convey a consistent message.... let's study them together and see if we can gain some wisdom.

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:6-11)

The Proverb writer uses an illustration that people anywhere, any time can relate to. Who has not watched ants as they labor and admired their work ethic. I have never seen an ant take a break. I have never seen an ant carry a protest sign or stand on a picket line. I have never seen an ant union. Maybe there are lazy ants... but I have never seen one. The writer tells us that the ant works when it is time to work without being told to work. The ant doesn't need a boss or a job description. The ant just works hard every day to prepare for the times of need.

God tells us that we need to be like the ant. He calls us from laziness and calls us to hard work. He warns us that sitting around will end in poverty. Success is not guaranteed. Sometimes the ant works hard, stores up for the winter and a storm washes it all away. Sometimes it's nature, other times it's a predator and sometimes it is poor planning. Success is not guaranteed for the ant, but what is guaranteed for the ant is failure if it doesn't work hard and so the ant works.

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. (Proverbs 10:4-5)

The writer gives us a contrast between those that are "slack" and those that work diligently. Slackness.... Poverty. Diligence.... Riches. He tells us that if we work when we are supposed to, we are "prudent" and if we lay in the bed, we suffer shame. Hard work, diligent work is held up as something to take pride in, while laziness is something that we should feel ashamed of.

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. (Proverbs 12:11)

The Proverb writer is giving us advice on what we go after, what we pursue. You need food, work your garden and you will be fed. He tells us that "our dreams" can lead to worthless ends. He is encouraging us to to not only work hard, but also work smart. Some pursuits are worthless! We might even work hard in a pursuit; but if that pursuit is selling ice to Eskimos... don't expect success. We are to spend our time and effort on things that have proven to give a harvest or he says that we "lack sense". Success is not guaranteed, but it will surely be more likely when we work the land that we know.

I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Proverbs 24: 30-34)

Next the Proverb writer gives us insight from his stroll down the street by a neighbor's house. This is the house of a lazy person that doesn't use good judgement. He owns a vineyard and a field. He owns a home and it has a stone wall around it. By most standards, this is a wealthy person, a successful person. Maybe he was a hard worker at one time or maybe he inherited the farm.... I don't know, but this we know for sure, he will not own it long. He is lazy and doesn't look after what was placed in his care. The writer tells us that as he looked at his neighbors "mess", he received instruction and that instruction is this....A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

He tells us that the outcome of our laziness is surely poverty and want. He tells us that laying down on the job will end in failure. What was once a beautiful vineyard with at lovely stone wall around it has become weeds and rubble. He hasn't cared for the vines, he hasn't maintained the stone wall, so what once provided food and security now produces nothing and allows predators to come in and destroy. We are told that our hard work pays off and that laziness will surely end in poverty. Over and over, the message is the same. God expects His people, His followers to work and work smart. He expects us to care for what we are blessed with and use it for His glory.

We live in a nation that provides opportunity for all. I know of many examples of people coming to this country with nothing and through hard work and determination, they achieve great success. I know of many that were born here and grew up with a sense of entitlement that led them to sit down and expect success to come to them. When it didn't, they demanded a different result. You see, they didn't want and equal opportunity, they wanted an equal result. It doesn't work that way, God says... get up, get a job, go to work and work hard. He will honor your efforts. Success is not guaranteed through hard work, but my witness is that it comes to those that work hard. This I am sure of, the other side of the coin is certain... sit around, do nothing, wait for success to find you and you will find failure in this life.

The next pretty day that comes along, go outside, find an ant hill and sit down and get some instruction. Watch the ants working, looking after their home; carrying food for the family. Learn from the ant! Next, walk by your lazy neighbors house and see the paint peeling, look at the yard and check out his garden and get some instruction. Then go to the home of the neighbor that works hard. I don't care if it is a big house or a little one, the hard workers house will bring him or her honor. It will be cared for, the yard will be mowed, the paint will be fresh and the garden will be green. In this nation, success is not guaranteed, but the opportunity is there and God expects us to work in such a way that brings Him honor and us dignity. Now get off your computer and go get to work. :-)

Monday, May 7, 2012

The Solution for Depression

(Psalm 42)

Man is always looking for solutions to his problems. A quick fix is always preferable; one that costs little and at least puts a band-aid over the issue. Depression is a problem that everyone deals with during their lifetime. Everyone! None go through this life without trouble and trouble brings about depression. Be it financial, relational, physical, emotional or whatever brings you down, trouble is the cause of our depression.
Man's solution... counseling, medication, self-help books, a new job, a new wife.... whatever it takes to remove the "problem" and fix the trouble. Never considering that the next job, the next boyfriend, the next situation will bring with it... trouble. My friends, that is life. It is filled with trouble. Job put it this way... “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble." (Job 14:1) Sounds good doesn't it. His point and my point is the same; if you live life, you will experience trouble, sorrow, pain and problems. Guaranteed!
So what does God have to say about this. I mean, He made us, so He must offer the true solution to our depression. Psalm 42 gives His prescription for life's downs. Let's pull over and park and take a few minutes to read the 42nd Psalm.
As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.  
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
God's solution for depression... get the focus off of me. When I dwell on my situation; my focus is on me, then the problem is mine and I am responsible for the solution. Be careful to understand what I am saying... of course I will suffer the negative results of a bad decision, but when my attention is on me, life seems miserable. I don't have as nice a car as my neighbor. I don't have as handsome a husband as the lady in the next cube. I don't make as much money as I deserve. I, I, I... you get the idea.
David tells us to place our focus on God, rather than on ourselves, remembering that He is the source of hope and the giver of every blessing. Having a deep desire to be in His presence, in His house with His people, that is what will bring true joy and defeat depression. Depression is defined as "Severe despondency and dejection, accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy." The focus is on me when I am depressed. I am not good enough. I have no hope. As long as I am relying on me, I will be disappointed. But when I depend on God, my focus turns towards Him. As David said, "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?" He lived to be near God, to offer praise and song and prayer. His hope was in the LORD. When others would taunt him, he remembered what God had done for him. When he was distressed, he turned towards God and longed to be with Him. When he was "cast down", when his soul was in "turmoil", he found hope in God and looked forward to praising him, his salvation and his God.
I understand that this is not the popular fix being marketed on television or prescribed by the doctor, but God offers the true solution to every problem, if we will just take the time to seek Him and His wisdom.
Money issues....Philippians 4:10-12; Marriage issues.... Ephesians 5:24-26; Parenting issues.... Proverbs 22:6; Relationship issues.... 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
You see the solutions to our problems and overcoming depression is there for the taking. The problem for most people isn't that it isn't available, it's that they don't want it. God offers the blueprint for a life filled with joy; not a life without pain or trouble, but a life that deals with those things properly. I wish you well, seek the LORD, read His word, abide by His laws and this life and the life hereafter will be wonderful.