“Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”
The author of this strong prayer is Agur. Nothing is truly known about him, but it is assumed that he was one of Solomon’s sages. Though this is not my reason for choosing these verses, I would like to point out that God uses little people. How many Christians have found treasures in this great Proverb? And it was written by someone who would be considered a nobody in the eyes of the world today. Agur? Who is Agur? God knows who Agur is. God knows who you are. You may be small, but He can still use you!
What a wise man Agur must have been! Perhaps it came from watching the wisest man who ever lived. Here was King Solomon. He had riches, honor, glory… everything one could ask for from life, and yet he was not satisfied, and he turned from God. I picture Agur as a man who saw both the richest and the poorest on a daily basis. There was joy and fulfillment in neither one. The man who had great riches was inclined to rely on his riches and deny God. His appetite was so satisfied and his glory so great that it affected his heart, and he forgot to turn to the giver of gifts. However, the poor man had nothing and was forced to steal simply for survivals sake. (Gotta love those S’s) In doing so, he was saying that god was not strong enough to provide for his needs, and his belief in God was vanity. It lasted only as long as he knew where his next meal was coming from.
Agur glanced from one side to the other, and then turned his eyes toward heaven. His prayer was, “Give me neither riches neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me.” Agur prayed a prayer for provision and contentment. It was the apostle Paul who said, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content.” The happiest people are not those who have the most. They get to stay up all night and worry about those possessions. They get to guard their early bubbles, lest they wake up in the morning and find that they’ve all been blown away. The happiest people are not those who have the least, but it is the man who has only what he needs who is the happiest. Does not God promise to provide our every need? It’s time to look at ourselves and see where we stand. Are we standing with the rich man, who has turned his eyes off God to watch his possessions? Are we standing with the poor man, who has turned his eyes off God to see how he can provide for himself? Or are we standing with Agur, saying, “God, feed me with food convenient for me.” The last part of Psalm 2:12 tells us, “Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Do you want the blessings of God? Then take your trust off of the supplies and put it on the supplier.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Proverbs 29:25: Free from the Snare of Fear
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.”
When I was very young my family lived in a duplex in Washington State. There were 9 of us at that time, so we actually lived in both sides. A door was put in between the two houses, but you had to walk through two long hallways that opened to the outside and to the garages. I had so many nightmares about people trying to break into this house and having to run around and lock all the doors and windows. My parents and the boys stayed on one side of the house, and the girls on the other. There were only two rooms on both sides of the house, so my little sister and I slept in the living room. Eventually I grew tired of being afraid. One who lets his fear take over him becomes a coward and is useless in dangerous or even uneasy situations. I decided to give my fear to God. Whenever I was alone in a dark room, I would laugh at my fear and begin praying or singing. Yes, I was still afraid, but my fear was under control. I was telling God that if something happened to me than I knew it was part of His plan. He was in control, not my fear.
Fear is a snare. It grabs on to the person it controls and won’t let go, unless something greater can take hold of that person. In 1st John 4:18 the Bible says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” God is love. If we let our fear control us, we are telling God that He is not enough.
“Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” As Christians God has promised that no man can pluck us out of His hand. We are safe. Right now I am in Africa, but I know for a fact that I am just as safe here as I was in Washington! The God who protected me from harm in America is the same God who holds me safely in His arms in Africa!
Put your fear behind you. Give to God your sorrow and your trouble, and lean on His everlasting arms. He does promise that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Trust Him, and let Him keep you safe.
When I was very young my family lived in a duplex in Washington State. There were 9 of us at that time, so we actually lived in both sides. A door was put in between the two houses, but you had to walk through two long hallways that opened to the outside and to the garages. I had so many nightmares about people trying to break into this house and having to run around and lock all the doors and windows. My parents and the boys stayed on one side of the house, and the girls on the other. There were only two rooms on both sides of the house, so my little sister and I slept in the living room. Eventually I grew tired of being afraid. One who lets his fear take over him becomes a coward and is useless in dangerous or even uneasy situations. I decided to give my fear to God. Whenever I was alone in a dark room, I would laugh at my fear and begin praying or singing. Yes, I was still afraid, but my fear was under control. I was telling God that if something happened to me than I knew it was part of His plan. He was in control, not my fear.
Fear is a snare. It grabs on to the person it controls and won’t let go, unless something greater can take hold of that person. In 1st John 4:18 the Bible says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” God is love. If we let our fear control us, we are telling God that He is not enough.
“Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” As Christians God has promised that no man can pluck us out of His hand. We are safe. Right now I am in Africa, but I know for a fact that I am just as safe here as I was in Washington! The God who protected me from harm in America is the same God who holds me safely in His arms in Africa!
Put your fear behind you. Give to God your sorrow and your trouble, and lean on His everlasting arms. He does promise that He will never leave you nor forsake you. Trust Him, and let Him keep you safe.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Mission: Incomplete
Africa! The Dark Continent, the land of jungles and savannahs. Christian! Do you hear God calling?
Some believe that the African’s were cursed to live in servitude to the descendants of Shem and Japheth, however, it was only Ham’s son Canaan who was cursed, and Canaan’s descendants inhabited the country of Palestine. They were partially destroyed by the Israelites and later entirely decimated by the Romans.
Before coming to Africa I had thought that perhaps this continent was cursed by God. However, having spent time here, I can tell you that the land of Africa is not cursed. What a beautiful land God has created. It is so full of His awesome creation and majestic handiwork! No other continent can boast of the flora and fauna of which Africa can. Her soil is rich and her people are skilled and driven.
Who are we to say that a country is cursed because she does not have the technological capabilities of other countries? God did not tell Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and see how quickly you can send man to the moon” or “Be fruitful and see how much you can build.” He said to be fruitful and multiply. The African people are multiplying rapidly, but they are also dying rapidly.
Jesus did not tell His disciples, “Go ye into all the world and make sure they all have computers” or “Go ye into all the world and give everybody mosquito nets.” Neither of these things are bad, but they should not be our primary goal. Jesus told His disciples, “God ye into all world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Africa is hungry for the gospel.
Why is Africa the Dark Continent? Is it a curse or a blessing? Not many months ago I would have told you that it was a curse, but is it? Is it such a bad thing to live a simple life and focus on feeding ones family and raising ones children? Is it such a bad thing to learn to work skillfully with ones hands? Simplicity is not a curse. The curse of Africa is not her poverty; the curse of Africa is her superstitions and lack of knowledge of what a loving God has done for them. But will Africa be the only continent affected by this curse? Or will we Christians be punished because we have failed to hear and obey God’s call. “Go ye into all the world.” I don’t believe it will take much convincing to get you to see that Africa is part of this commandment. Two thousand years ago we were given a call. For too many years we have ignored that call. Africa is now being reached. The Pentecostals have reached Africa. The Catholics have reached Africa. The Mormons are reaching out to Africa. The Muslims have a strong grasp on Africa. The world is certainly reaching out to Africa. It seems that daily I see more effects of the Western worlds hand on Africa. The women have begun to adopt the dress of the Western world. The people are becoming unsatisfied with who and what they are. And instead of being pointed to the Savior, they are pointed to all that the Western world can offer them. They begin to grope for the things of this world. After all, isn’t that how one determines success? How many vanity bubbles do you own? What they don’t realize is that these bubbles will not last. Christianity has seemed to forget that possessions and status are nothing in the scheme of eternity. Like bubbles are worldly possessions will disappear from our grasp. What will you be left holding?
Africa is a blessed continent. It is rich is resource and has not yet been entirely saturated with the wickedness of this world. Africa still has hope! Africa’s hope lies in the hands of God’s people! You hold the hope of Africa in your hands today. Whether it be money to send men or a Bible to bring, you hold her hope… but not for long. The African’s will be reached. The question is not “Will they be reached?” but “Who will reach them?”
Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
You have been called.
Some believe that the African’s were cursed to live in servitude to the descendants of Shem and Japheth, however, it was only Ham’s son Canaan who was cursed, and Canaan’s descendants inhabited the country of Palestine. They were partially destroyed by the Israelites and later entirely decimated by the Romans.
Before coming to Africa I had thought that perhaps this continent was cursed by God. However, having spent time here, I can tell you that the land of Africa is not cursed. What a beautiful land God has created. It is so full of His awesome creation and majestic handiwork! No other continent can boast of the flora and fauna of which Africa can. Her soil is rich and her people are skilled and driven.
Who are we to say that a country is cursed because she does not have the technological capabilities of other countries? God did not tell Adam and Eve, “Be fruitful and see how quickly you can send man to the moon” or “Be fruitful and see how much you can build.” He said to be fruitful and multiply. The African people are multiplying rapidly, but they are also dying rapidly.
Jesus did not tell His disciples, “Go ye into all the world and make sure they all have computers” or “Go ye into all the world and give everybody mosquito nets.” Neither of these things are bad, but they should not be our primary goal. Jesus told His disciples, “God ye into all world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Africa is hungry for the gospel.
Why is Africa the Dark Continent? Is it a curse or a blessing? Not many months ago I would have told you that it was a curse, but is it? Is it such a bad thing to live a simple life and focus on feeding ones family and raising ones children? Is it such a bad thing to learn to work skillfully with ones hands? Simplicity is not a curse. The curse of Africa is not her poverty; the curse of Africa is her superstitions and lack of knowledge of what a loving God has done for them. But will Africa be the only continent affected by this curse? Or will we Christians be punished because we have failed to hear and obey God’s call. “Go ye into all the world.” I don’t believe it will take much convincing to get you to see that Africa is part of this commandment. Two thousand years ago we were given a call. For too many years we have ignored that call. Africa is now being reached. The Pentecostals have reached Africa. The Catholics have reached Africa. The Mormons are reaching out to Africa. The Muslims have a strong grasp on Africa. The world is certainly reaching out to Africa. It seems that daily I see more effects of the Western worlds hand on Africa. The women have begun to adopt the dress of the Western world. The people are becoming unsatisfied with who and what they are. And instead of being pointed to the Savior, they are pointed to all that the Western world can offer them. They begin to grope for the things of this world. After all, isn’t that how one determines success? How many vanity bubbles do you own? What they don’t realize is that these bubbles will not last. Christianity has seemed to forget that possessions and status are nothing in the scheme of eternity. Like bubbles are worldly possessions will disappear from our grasp. What will you be left holding?
Africa is a blessed continent. It is rich is resource and has not yet been entirely saturated with the wickedness of this world. Africa still has hope! Africa’s hope lies in the hands of God’s people! You hold the hope of Africa in your hands today. Whether it be money to send men or a Bible to bring, you hold her hope… but not for long. The African’s will be reached. The question is not “Will they be reached?” but “Who will reach them?”
Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
You have been called.
Monday, April 20, 2009
An Easter Story
Mary turned away from the two men who sat inside the tomb, her heart so hurt and her head so confused that it didn’t seem strange to her that they were there at all. What did it matter who these men were? The body of the Lord was gone. Not only had her hope been crucified and killed, but now His body had been stolen. They could not even mourn his death properly.
Her back now turned to the tomb, Mary saw a man standing not far away. Her heart leaped. He looked so familiar! He looked so very much like her Lord had before He had been brutalized and beaten. They had shredded His skin and pierced Him until He no longer looked human. Upon seeing this man, who so resembled her Savior, Mary’s heart cried out. Her breath caught in her throat and came out in a deep sob. In anguish, Mary fell to her knees and wept into her hands.
“Woman why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”
Mary looked up at the man and tried to speak through her sobs. This must be the gardener. Perhaps he had taken the Master’s body or seen who had taken it.
“Sir, if thou hast borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him and I will take Him away.”
The man’s face shown with compassion, but he did not speak or give her any information. Mary was again hit by the hopelessness and cruelty of the situation and wept. But then a voice said, “Mary.” Mary quit weeping. She quit breathing. Her mind screamed, “I know that voice!” Slowly she raised her head.
There was no one there but the gardener. The gardener… whose eyes shown with the love and wisdom of all the ages. The gardener… whose feet and hands bore deep red scars where nails had held Him to a tree. The gardener… whose voice, so familiar, rang with such authority and yet such compassion. The gardener… who had ripped up the roots of sin and death, and had, in their place, planted a seed of hope for all mankind. The gardener… the Master… was alive!
Her back now turned to the tomb, Mary saw a man standing not far away. Her heart leaped. He looked so familiar! He looked so very much like her Lord had before He had been brutalized and beaten. They had shredded His skin and pierced Him until He no longer looked human. Upon seeing this man, who so resembled her Savior, Mary’s heart cried out. Her breath caught in her throat and came out in a deep sob. In anguish, Mary fell to her knees and wept into her hands.
“Woman why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”
Mary looked up at the man and tried to speak through her sobs. This must be the gardener. Perhaps he had taken the Master’s body or seen who had taken it.
“Sir, if thou hast borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him and I will take Him away.”
The man’s face shown with compassion, but he did not speak or give her any information. Mary was again hit by the hopelessness and cruelty of the situation and wept. But then a voice said, “Mary.” Mary quit weeping. She quit breathing. Her mind screamed, “I know that voice!” Slowly she raised her head.
There was no one there but the gardener. The gardener… whose eyes shown with the love and wisdom of all the ages. The gardener… whose feet and hands bore deep red scars where nails had held Him to a tree. The gardener… whose voice, so familiar, rang with such authority and yet such compassion. The gardener… who had ripped up the roots of sin and death, and had, in their place, planted a seed of hope for all mankind. The gardener… the Master… was alive!
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