Consistent faith under constant distractions

Zechariah 1:1–2:13, Acts 21:1–26, Job 28:12–28

Times, culture, situations and circumstances change, but the message throughout the Bible is consistent: Turn from sin and trust the Lord in obedience — giving Him glory.

The prophets told it to the people, both in times of their obedience, but repeatedly during their backslidings and times of being chastened by God. They needed to hear it, but they also needed to hear that by turning to Him, He would welcome and bless them.

Zechariah said, “Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: ‘Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst,’ declares the Lord. And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.” (Zechariah 2:7–11)

God protects His people like we protect our eyes! He makes plunder out of our enemies, and dwells in our midst. With these and many other words, this prophet restored the Messianic hope of the people. The Lord would establish His rule over all the earth.

The book of Job reveals that God’s divine wisdom is superior to human wisdom, personified by Job’s friends who thought they knew the answers to why Job was suffering. They were wrong, as I so often am when I try to figure out what is going on in someone’s life. I am often in the dark about my own life so how can I be wise concerning other people, especially the reasons for their struggles?

Job’s ‘friends’ challenged him, but he challenged them too. They thought they were wise, but he said, “From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’ “God understands the way to it, and he knows its place. For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out. And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ ” (Job 28:20–28)

The story does not end with the good news that these ‘wise friends’ repented from their judgmental treatment of Job, yet God has used the words of Job in the lives of many people. I am deeply aware of the changes to my life that come from fearing God and turning from evil. When solidly standing on that foundation, my hope in the Living Christ is stronger and I am more confident that He will do what He has promised.

Paul was strong in Messianic hope, wise in the fear of God, and certain of Christ’s return. He knew that turning from evil was impossible unless one also turned to God . . . .

“While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, ‘Thus says the Holy Spirit, “This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”’ When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, ‘What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, ‘Let the will of the Lord be done.’” (Acts 21:10–14)

Paul’s faith remained entirely focused on the will of God. He didn’t concern himself with his own comfort or even his own life. His hope was in the Messiah, Jesus Christ and his wisdom was God’s wisdom, not his own. Threats of prison and death could not deter him from obeying the Lord.

As I write this and compare myself with what I’ve read, I’m ashamed at how easily I get distracted from doing the will of God. I lose hope. I rely on my own ‘wisdom’ instead of fearing God and departing from evil. When I compare what so easily turns me away to the strong resolute commitment of Paul, I feel ashamed. 

May Jesus forgive me and grant me greater courage, a stronger ability to stay on target, deeper reverence for Him, and an increasing hatred of evil. May I love Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Life’s greatest fulfilment

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:13–14)

Don, a brilliant young man with high IQ and love for Jesus Christ, read the book of Ecclesiastes and came to a conclusion that I’ve not heard from anyone else. He decided that it was written with joy! That is, Solomon had tried it all, found everything a vanity (like vapor), then joyfully understood that the meaning of life is only found in knowing and serving God.

Spurgeon might like that idea. He writes that nothing can satisfy the entire man but the Lord’s love and the Lord’s own self. The older I become, the more I see the same reality. God’s people try to find fulfilment in many things, but we tire of all else. Better to realize that Solomon, the wisest of men, was permitted to make experiments for us all and not do it ourselves. He had the resources for these things, some that we cannot or should not do in our own search for fulfilment.  Here is Solomon’s testimony:

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine — my heart still guiding me with wisdom — and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:1–11)

He tried everything and concluded that life’s baubles were just that — mere baubles. Nothing lasts, and nothing truly satisfies. His conclusion:

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

The New Testament completes this decision. Our satisfaction is in a person, not in popularity, achievement, status, or any other thing. As Spurgeon says, “To embrace our Lord Jesus, to dwell in his love, and be fully assured of union with him — this is all in all.”

Just as some children must touch the fire to believe it is hot, some people must try other ways to live, yet in all the beautiful places I’ve been and seen, there is nothing that can compare to my Savior’s face. I’ve had the comforts of life, but without Jesus and His presence, all is wretched and a burden. In contrast, I’ve been in pain and trials, but because the Christ was with me in those dark places, they were not only meaningful, but He gave me joy.

I understand what Don concluded. Life’s good things as well as its horrors can be laughed at, not because of madness or a detached insanity, but because the Lord Jesus Christ can make a dungeon a paradise. He can enter our trials, obscurities, famine, or persecutions and give us joy. In Him, there is peace.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

*********

Lord, You enter the battleground of my mind with such good thoughts. Yet even more, You are in my life — bringing me Your joy and peace. No matter what life splatters on me, or how I perceive the daily struggles, I can take heart and I can have great peace — because You have overcome all of those things — and because You live right here in my heart.

The Greater Gift

A wonderful Jewish prayer goes something like this, “Let me not have need of the gifts of men, whose gifts are few, but their upbraidings manifold; but give me out of Thy large and full hand.”

When in trouble, most people ask help or advice from other people. While God can use others to counsel me, He is teaching me to go to Him first. He is the only one who can guarantee perfect counsel. He is wise and the source of true wisdom. The Bible rightly says,

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)

Today’s devotional reading reminds me that biblical wisdom is not philosophical speculation. It is knowing and putting into practice the absolutes of God’s will. This wisdom  has particular characteristics. Later in his epistle, James describes what wisdom is and what it is not.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13-18)

If I seek counsel and the advice I am given promotes selfishness in me, it is not wise advice. If I ask God for wisdom and remain selfish, filled with envy, am boastful or resist the truth, or am creating a ruckus, then I’ve not received the wisdom that I asked for.

God’s wisdom is not mixed with human greed or selfishness. It never comes up with schemes to put me above others, nor does it encourage any kind of sin in any way. It isn’t agitated or harsh, nor is true wisdom stubborn. In fact, divine wisdom results in right conduct in all of life’s matters.

Asking for wisdom is a command to pray. In its context, asking for wisdom is related to the trials of life. I’ve learned that all uncomfortable and unasked for events and situations are intended to drive me to greater dependency on God. They make me realize that I have no sufficient resources of my own. God is my source and resource. Wisdom comes from Him.

Choosing to be foolish

In my self-focus, I’ve sometimes concluded a passage from the Bible was all about me because I didn’t pay attention to the context. One such passage is 1 Corinthians 3 where Paul warns his readers to be careful how we build on the foundation God has given us. In thinking that meant me, I assumed that my works could be precious or useless and I needed to be careful that I didn’t deceive myself. As some sermons, these are “good thoughts, but from the wrong text.”

1 Corinthians 3 is about building the church, not my Christian life. In Warren Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament, his explanation sums up those conclusions:

This section is one of the most misunderstood passages in all the Bible. The Roman Catholics use it to “prove” their doctrine of purgatory, that fire will purify people in the next life and make them fit for heaven; the modernists use it to “prove” salvation by good works; and many evangelical Christians interpret this section as applying to the judgment of individual Christians rather than the building of the local church. While this passage teaches that there will be a judgment of believers’ works at the judgment seat of Christ, the basic application is to workers and pastors of the local churches. The local church is compared to a building, or a temple, and the pastor is a builder whose responsibility is to keep the materials in the temple at their very best. Paul was the builder God used to lay the foundation at Corinth, and that foundation was Christ as preached in the Gospel. Along came Apollos, who built upon that foundation, and other pastors followed him. “Each one should be careful how he builds” is Paul’s warning. He then describes three kinds of Christian workers. . . .

When Wiersbe says that the local church is compared to a building, he means that the church is not a building but the people of God. Each one of us is a brick, as it were, in God’s temple, even though each one is also an individual dwelling place of God.

In the building of the local church, some leaders will use good materials and some will attempt the work with useless methods. Others may even try to destroy the church and its work of making it grow, reproduce and become that which glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 18 warns about the danger of using worldly methods for church development. “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.”

One church-building methodology is rooted in the bigger-better-more idea. This supposition assumes that a well-built local church is large to the point of monstrous. While a large church could fit into the plan of God, size isn’t a major focus.

Other methodologies include adopting modern business procedures, sticking to only one version of the Bible, focusing on a particular doctrine to single out themselves, making their pastor a media star, using goodies as bribes to encourage attendance, and a whole host of other ideas that are not based on anything in the Bible, but are contrary to biblical principles.

This is where verse 18 comes in. One commentary says that some church members have no idea that a local church cannot be managed the same way as a business. While we need to follow good business principles, the operation is not the same. The world depends on promotion, prestige, and the influence of money and important people. These things may seem to succeed, but will eventually turn to ashes under the judgment of Christ.

In contrast, the church depends on prayer, the power of the Spirit, humility, sacrifice, and service. The early church owned no property, had no influence in government and had no treasury. Their leaders were ordinary men without special education in the accepted schools. They held no attendance contests, did not bring in celebrities, and yet they turned the world upside down. All this might seem foolish in the eyes of the world, but this is the plan of God and because it works, Christians need to be willing to carry the label of fools.

Deception can be quite basic, as in me thinking these verses were only about me. However, deception can also be gross and destructive and take entire congregations off on a fruitless tangent. Those who pick up on what only seems to be wise may flourish for a little while, but as the Bible says, worldly wisdom is futile because it never accomplishes the purposes of God.

As I think about this, these verses do say something to me personally. I have a responsibility in ministry in my local church to do the very best I can, and to uphold and encourage a high standard in my pastor and in those of my congregation. When any of us seem to be lured by the wisdom of the world, all of us need to heed the words of 2 Corinthians 3:18 and become fools that we might be wise.