“ruthless men attain riches… the generous man will be prosperous…” (Proverbs 11:16,25)

In the same chapter of Proverbs, two paths to wealth are described.  It is possible to gain riches through ruthlessness.  The world is full of wealthy people who have gained their wealth by defrauding, abusing, and being cutthroat.

However, that is not the only path.  Not all wealth is gained that way.  The other path is the path of service and generosity.  When we seek to help others, serve them, and be useful – God provides a path to prosper while keeping your character intact.

Unsurprisingly, when you serve well and help others in the business world, you tend to end up with many customers.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 11; Proverbs 11

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“In the LORD, I take refuge.  How can you say to my soul, ‘Flee as a bird to your mountain’… ” (Psalm 11:1)

         There is not enough time or space here for me to properly convey to you how much I love Psalm 11.  Though short, this psalm of David is a prayerful reminder that we all have two choices in life – flee for the mountains of our own wisdom or stand firm and take refuge in the LORD.

         Your life will be defined by one of those two convictions.  Either you live a life like a bird, constantly flitting along trying to solve things your way, anxious, distressed, and entirely self-reliant, OR you live a life built upon a foundation of trust in God.

         You must choose.  Will you take your refuge in Him, or will you run for the hills every time adversity and persecution arrive?

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 11; Proverbs 11 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“His own hands are to bring offerings by fire to the LORD.” (Leviticus 7:30)

         When an offering was to be made, the one who sinned was to make it.  The wealthy man could not send his servant to make the offering, nor could a powerful king command his generals to offer peace offerings on his behalf.

         Worship, in the Old Testament and the New, cannot be done by proxy.  It must be your voice, your hands, your life which are offered to God.  There is no good worship that another can offer to replace your own.  We must bring our offerings to Him with our own hands.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 11; Proverbs 11 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD and deceives his companion…” (Leviticus 6:2f)

         An interesting detail given in the Levitical accounts of guilt offerings is that when someone steals from his neighbor or swears falsely or deceives his companion, God required the guilty person to make it right with both God and man.

         A guilt offering was to be made to Jehovah, and restitution was to be made to the person they defrauded.  In short, God wanted Israel to understand that they had a responsibility to be right with Him and right with one another.

         When we sin, we often hurt others by our sins.  Make it right with God, and then, as much as you are able, make it right with them, too.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 11; Proverbs 11 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Now if a person sins… though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment.” (Leviticus 5:17)

         The beginning chapters of Leviticus are tedious for me to read.  They are full of specifics about butchering of animals, how to remove the fat from the entrails, and where to pour the blood.  I will admit, at times, finding my eyes glaze over while reading the specifics of how to make burnt offerings, guilt offerings, wave offerings, etc.

         However, one detail clearly stands out in these early lessons regarding sin offerings.  Sin offerings weren’t just made for willful sins; they were made for sins that sincere people committed ignorantly.  God made it clear – unintentional sin is still sin, and the punishment must still be born.

         Let us not make the mistake of assuming that good intentions somehow clear our record.  A wrong is still objectively wrong no matter how innocently I committed it or where my heart was.  Sin does not care what your motivation was – sin just is.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 11; Proverbs 11

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.” (Proverbs 10:7)

All legacies fade as time and distance wipe us from this world’s records.  As the years cause the memories to blur, we are left with only the general outline of someone’s life.  The details disappear, but the overall impression remains.

The righteous man’s memory becomes only sweet thoughts and warm feelings in the hearts of those whose lives they have touched, and the remembrance of a wicked man distills down to tinges of pain and scars left on the lives of the living.

Which will be?  What will be the highlight reel you leave behind?

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 33-40; Psalm 10; Proverbs 10

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1)

         Psalm 10 begins with an accusation and question for God – a frustration that in the psalmist’s times of need, it seemed like God wasn’t there.  Of course, that wasn’t true – God is always there, but I must admit, sometimes I have felt just like that writer.

         Maybe I should have told God how I felt like the psalmist did.  The words of the psalms are often full of powerful questions for God – questions I think I would feel irreverent asking – but questions God didn’t feel were irreverent at all.  Maybe, just maybe, the reason God feels far away is because we pray to Him with ritual instead of honesty, formality instead of intimacy.  It shouldn’t surprise us that when we treat God like He is far off that He doesn’t draw near.

Psalm 10 reminds me that if I start my prayers with honesty, God will hear, and then I can end my prayers the way Psalm 10 ends – with reassured conviction.

“O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline Your ear.” (Psalm 10:17)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 33-40; Psalm 10; Proverbs 10 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him.  All his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’ His ways prosper at all times; Your judgments are on high, out of his sight…” (Psalm 10:4-5)

There are two types of atheists.  The first is the vocal atheist who tells everyone there is no God. The second is the silent atheist who may say he believes in God but lives like he will never meet Him.

Prosperity creates silent atheists.  When our lives are easy here, judgment seems far enough away to be inconsequential.  Out of sight, out of mind.

But just because we can’t see things doesn’t mean they don’t exist.  We wash our hands to protect from invisible bacteria.  We buy carbon dioxide monitors to protect us from unseen poisons, and we enjoy the warmth of an unseen summer breeze.

Just because you can’t see Him doesn’t mean He isn’t there.

“To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Tim 1:17)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 33-40; Psalm 10; Proverbs 10 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“…no man shall covet your land when you go up three times a year to appear before the LORD your God.” (Exodus 34:24)

         Walking by faith requires risk.  It was risky for the Israelites to travel to the tabernacle three times a year and leave their homes unattended, but it was a risk God required of them.  It is a risk to put your job, your friendships, your safety, or your finances on the line to live as God intends, but it is a risk we are expected to take.

         There is no safe option.  If we are not living boldly for the Lord, then we aren’t living for the Lord at all.  There will always be unanswered questions when we seek to help the poor, open our homes to the widow and the orphan, preach the news in foreign lands, stand by our faith in the workplace, and choose to forgive and love our enemies.  All of these things come with risks, but they are risks God tells us to trust Him boldly in.  He is the safe option, not our own wisdom.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 33-40; Psalm 10; Proverbs 10

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:16)

         Moses knew that what made Israel distinct amongst the nations was Jehovah.  Without God, they were just a bunch of people wandering in the wilderness.  The most distinguished thing about them was their God, not their achievements, their wealth, or their size.

         Ask yourself: what makes you stand out?  What defines you?  It does not matter where you go or what you do if God is not with you; you are just like everyone else.  It does not matter what your status or rank is; it matters Who you walk with.  What spiritual company do you keep?  Who is your god?

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Exodus 33-40; Psalm 10; Proverbs 10 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision