Take Away - SOM Part 21

SOM Part 21 can be found here.

Two important thoughts. The first one, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." That is tough. I would rather do unto others as I perceive they have done to me, or as I have experienced what they have previously done to me. It is tough to treat them as I want to be treated. It requires a lot of honesty. I have to be honest about how I would want to be treated, and I have to be honest about how I am treating others

I want to be treated fairly. Okay, maybe not. I want fairness at a minimum. I prefer to be treated beyond fair. If I am owed $5, I prefer to get $10, or at least the 5 with interest. I want the benefit of the doubt. 

Why am I treating others in this manner? Why go the extra mile? Why give away my coat when they only asked for a hat or scarf? Is it because I want to be perceived as generous? Not likely, since good deed are to be done in secret. Is it to gain favor with God? I don't think so, since I owe Him so much more. Then why? I tend to believe that it is because I have a new life, a life where the possessions I have are viewed as being on loan from God, and are ultimately mine to glorify Him. I want others to know that I care about their needs, even those who I might at times view as adversaries. I want God to see me as faithful. 

Take Away: So where do I draw the line? I suppose if I wanted to, I could liquidate my possessions in a short matter of time. I am not sure that such behavior is what God wants. But I also need to be aware of justifying my behavior in keeping what I have as well. I suppose I just need to be honest. Honest with myself, and honest with God. I need to not let my selfishness control my actions. That's gonna take some work.

Take Away - SOM 13

I am still processing the Sermon on the Mount. I have gone through the 25 posts and edited them for clarity and to revisit them for myself. Now I want to look at the applications I should be making for myself.

SOM - Part 13

I believe this section reaffirms and continues what Jesus is trying to get across in the main idea of the Sermon on the Mount, that it is the internal heart that matters, and not the external action. In other words, you can be ding all the right things and yet not receive any "credit" for those actions. In fact, if you do the actions only to receive some kind of credit, you are going in the wrong direction to begin with.

Take Away: We all like to feel good. We all prefer praise over criticism. I do not believe that Jesus is condemning the idea that if we feel good after doing something, that that action then means nothing to God. In fact, I believe that when we do something to honor or please God, we should feel good, just as a child might feel good after doing something that makes their own parents pleased. It is those other motives that destroy our actions that deem them worthless. When I give, it should come from a joyful heart. (2 Corinthians 9:7) Not out of obligation, not out of a desire to earn favor either with God or with others. Not even because I can. I give because I want to honor the God who has given so much to me. Honor Him, not repay Him. 

Sermon on the Mount - Part 20

Today I want to look at verses 7-11 of chapter 7, once again focusing on who Jesus was speaking to, and on the context of the entire message.

Matthew 7:7-11

(7)“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  (8)For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  (9)Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? (10)Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  (11)If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

This is a tough one, as on the surface it sounds like if we ask, seek and knock, we will get what we want. Of course, that does not fly in the whole context of Scripture, but for some, that is not an issue. But what if we look at in context? If Jesus is trying to give us an understanding of how to restore a correct relationship with God, then how can this be understood?

One thought that comes to mind is His model prayer earlier. He prayed, "Give us this day our daily bread," and "forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matthew 6:12,13) Not, prayer for whatever you need. Hmmm. So maybe, when we are asking, seeking, knocking, it is with this type of mindset that we approach God. Look at the example that follows. No good father will give a son who is asking for bread a stone instead. It does not say anything about the son who requests a new car or gaming station. Hmmm. What kind of gifts does the father give? Good gift. Not any or every gift, but good ones. Maybe things like the necessities of life. Maybe even more that just necessities. Sometimes a good father knows when to say no.

A good father gives good gifts, but not every gift. A good son appreciates the good gifts that a good father gives. God is a good Father, are we good children?

Edited 2/12/2022

What Do I Lack? (Matthew 19:16-22)

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 19:16-22
And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

LANGUAGE

Vs 16  good deed - ἀγαθός agathos; a primary word; “good” (in any sense, often as noun): — benefit, good(-s, things), well. Good, good thing, that which is good, the thing which is good, well, benefit, of good constitution or nature; useful, salutary; good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy; excellent, distinguished; upright, honourable

COMMENT

First, a comment about something I read in a commentary once. What if this unidentified young man in the story was someday to become the apostle Paul?  It does make for an interesting thought while trying to understand this story.

So many interesting details are embedded in this story, but I want to focus on what I see as the main idea. I see the main idea as Jesus teaching true repentance. I see that idea in a lot of what Jesus teaches, starting with the Sermon on the Mount. What we seem to have here is a young man who is "perfect" in his observance of the law, and yet perhaps sees that that still might not be enough to secure his place in heaven for eternity. He is correct, but Jesus, knowing his understanding of religion, needs to guide him to a different way of thinking. The question the man asks is, "What good thing must I do to have eternal life?" I presume his thinking is that their is some tangible act that he can perform that will tip the scales of balance assuredly in his favor. Wouldn't we all want that? But rather than give him a direct answer, Jesus focuses on the phrase, "good deed." Another way to think about this, and perhaps with better understanding of what the man was truly asking is, "What distinguished act can I perform that will set me apart in the eyes of God (and therefore others as well) that will assure my salvation?" Jesus needs to address this idea of "good." Since even our righteous acts are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), Jesus makes it clear that only God is good in this sense. Then He goes on to say, "If you would enter life, keep the commandments."

What? Jesus advice here is to follow the law, to do the very thing this young man already believes? Understand, that Jesus is still trying to convince this man that this path is still a vain one. The man responds, asking Jesus, "Which ones?" Seems as though the young man understands the difficulty, if not the impossibility of keeping them all, so in effect he seems to be saying, "Which ones do I really have to keep, because no one could keep them all." So Jesus plays along, and gives him so to follow. Great, the man must be thinking, I am good here and have kept all these. But surely there is still something missing, so he asks his final question, "What do I still lack?" The answer Jesus gives is mind-blowing, not just for this man, but for about everyone who has heard it since. "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." What? Everything? That's too much, I can't... and he walks away in sorrow, because he had a lot of possessions.

Where was Jesus leading this man? I believe that He was leading him to an understanding that the law was not enough. That no matter what this man did, he would not appear perfect before God. But since this is also recorded in Scripture, what is He saying to us? Must I sell the house and car, take out the retirement plans and distribute them to the poor? I have heard some say, "Well, you just have to be willing to do that." Really? And I suppose I just have to be willing to pick up my cross and carry it? I think that line of reasoning just seeks to do the very thing the young man in the story is trying to do, justify our behavior, justify a lack of true perfection and obedience.

The truth of the matter is that no one can meet this level of perfection. I believe this is the truth that Jesus is trying to convey here. Notice Jesus does not just say give it all away, He also says "come, follow me." That is where the needs get met. That is where perfection is given. That is what I believe is the true main idea of this story, repentance. Not just the turning away from sin, but the turning to Jesus. You can't give away everything and live. For is you follow that logic to the extreme, you could not ever eat or even drink again. For if someone gave you some food or drink, you would be obligated to give that to someone else before meeting your own needs. But in repentance, we turn from what we have and depend on Jesus to provide. Maybe then we sell that house, or at least downsize so that others may be taken care of too. Or we trade for a cheaper car, or eat Ramen noodles instead of caviar and lobster. We take on a mind that is transformed, and it is no longer about us, it is about Jesus. In other words, we repent.

Giving - Matthew 6:1-3

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 6:1-3

LANGUAGE

Vs 1 practicing - among other thoughts, lay in wait, do.
Vs 1 righteousness - equity of character
Vs 1 reward - pay for services, wages
Vs 2 give - same word as practicing (Vs 1)
Vs 2 hypocrites - actor under an assumed character

COMMENT

It is not the action, but the intent that drives the reward. When we see someone as being generous, we tend to think of them as a good person. However, that may be their intent, and if so, are they really good? Or are they using someone's unfortunate circumstance and their own fortunate circumstance to elevate people's opinions of them? Marching down the street, throwing money to the crowd. Everyone applauds and praises the individual. But that is where the reward ends. A blind man sits on the street. A man conspicuously pulls out his wallet and drops in several bills of various denominations. The crowd smiles and nods to the man. But that is where the reward ends.

Christians are to give with a cheerful heart. If your giving is not recognized and applauded, and you are disappointed, my guess is your reward ends there.

I find the phrase in verse 1 interesting, "practicing you righteousness." If your righteousness has to be practiced, perhaps it is not righteousness at all. If you see someone in need, and your response is to think of how your reaction will reflect on you rather than on how it will help the one in need, perhaps it is too late. I again turn to the idea of living a repentant life rather than seeing repentance as a action we do at a point in time to achieve salvation. When we see a need, do we feel compassion? Do we feel the compassion that Jesus had for us when He gave us salvation? If that is not what drives our response, then I question the motive.

Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) tells us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices in view of God's mercy. In other words, seeing how merciful God is in what He has done through Christ, our only acceptable reaction would be to serve and worship Him.

I find it interesting that the word practicing and the word give are the same words. I like the idea of laying in wait. One lays in wait to glorify self, while the other lays in wait, or looks for opportunities to glorify God. The one who glories self is the actor, playing the part of the righteous or religious person. The other is the real deal.

Other related stories: Pharisee and Publican, Good Samaritan