Month: November 2009

In reading 1 Corinthians 10 (heads up quizzers), we see Paul warning the church in Corinth not to fall back into patterns the people of God have already gone through. Ironically, we find ourselves in many of the same patterns today. Paul’s words send us a similar message, and unfortunately, could send the same message a thousand years from now possibly. (even though I hope with the Church that Christ comes in the next instant to complete what has begun)

Idolatry – The Israelites found themselves desiring pagan gods who might rescue them from “wandering” on their journey out of Egypt to the promised land. The church in Corinth may have similarly found it easier to allow vague pagan influences to become a part of their response to God, as Christianity was figuring out a new way of being God’s people. Today, we have many things that compete for our time/resources/being. We may not bow down or pray to these things, but they can definitely become things we ascribe too much worth to (worship).

Sexual Immorality (a sub-category of Idolatry) – An obvious one here, in all three communities. But at least in the first two, such things were talked about, and in seeking purity/holiness the people of God would correct each other. Today, such topics are either considered “taboo” or “conservative“. But we recognize the seriousness of sexual immorality. Sexual experiences outside the context of marriage are something warned about severely.

Putting Christ/God to the Test – Paul was most likely speaking of Numbers 21 where the people of Israel did not believe God would provide for them. As if God would have accomplished everything so far, simply to let them die in the wilderness, alone and forgotten. Corinth was a popular city to pass through, and full of other cultures/gods. The temptation would be to somehow “prove” that Christ’s followers were “in the know”. We have the same temptation today, plenty of Christians who promise us God wants us to be successful/powerful/rich, and sell their books to reveal such things to us.

Complaining (murmuring) – Not simply complaining, but blaming God and “grass is greener without God” complex. The people of Israel actually had thoughts of things being better back in Egypt. I’m sure the people of early Christianity often were tempted to complain for the various ways following Christ impacted their life in a new way. We too, are sometimes tempted to focus on how much easier the road would be if we simply followed our emotions or the world’s “logic”. But God calls us to be citizen’s of His Kingdom, transformed/different by new life in Christ.

Thankfully, if we find we’ve been involved in ANY of these lately, or even currently…we have a God who offers to make things NEW daily. 🙂

In high school, the only yearbook that mattered to me was senior year. I have no idea what happened to my senior year yearbook….if my mom reads this and knows where it is…I’d hug her if she found it. My guess is it was lost or gone in some random abyss of our home or someone else’s. But it mattered because it was the “final” of many years of moving towards that year.

There was a section in the yearbook where each of the seniors were pictured. Somehow, we’d each gotten titles that had been “voted on” by the general student body. I didn’t attend a large high school, Eaton Rapids is not exactly a metropolis. But somehow, creative democracy still occurred.

I remember the moment I first scanned through the yearbook to find out what title I’d earned myself. What has all of my social, educational, and artistic effort accomplished me? Sure not “best dressed”. Definitely not “most likely to get great grades in college”. Probably not “likely to play a professional sport”. My mind imagined what sort of non-title I might have gotten.

Finally, I saw it. My picture..and underneath were the words:

This past Sunday, we were reminded that the story of the widow giving her two copper coins (Mark 12), was not simply a message on giving. It wasn’t simply an illustration on the fact that “little can be much”, and every amount we give is important, etc.

It offers a much more life-transforming message to us today, in our time and culture.

The widow, because she didn’t have much to give, was able to give her ALL. “All that she had to live on.” How much more difficult is it, for someone with much, to give their “ALL”. Sure, we who have a lot may give what we believe we can financially afford. What we can sacrifice and still get by on. But our “all”??

And not just finances. Socially. Relationally. How much mercy/Forgiveness/Love we live out. Our time. Other resources. Are we truly offering our “all” to God?

Generally it isn’t until Christmas is near that we begin to hear about donating to good charities, etc. About purposefully choosing to live and give simply, so that more resources can be given to places of staggering need. I know it’s hard, and learn more about how hard it is….as with 3 daughters….we and all of our family/friends LOVE to give our daughters gifts/toys/etc. Their smile is worth any price…or so it would seem.

Take a moment to watch this video. Seriously…before Black Friday, before the lists have been submitted to Santa, before the race begins. Take 4.5 minutes, and watch this video.

$8 hot dogs aren’t evil. Enjoying the chocolates of life can be a very God-filled thing. But may we be more conscious and aware of purposefully living more simply…..because Jesus taught us that will make it easier for us to “give our all”….and what better time of the year to model that to the children watching all of us…than Christmas? 🙂