Category Archives: Money / Finances / Wealth

Humility, Money / Finances / Wealth, Prophecy, Repenting from Sin, Submitted / Servant, Through Prophets, Wise

Be Wise, Humble, and Discreet with Your Finances

For context, we must remember that Hezekiah was a righteous king, who walked in the ways of Yahweh (2 Kings 18). Hezekiah had many successes and relied on the LORD consistently. He was bold. He had already once faced siege on his land. He should not be a novice when it comes to the threat of foreign powers.

That said, he makes a fairly significant mistake in 2 Kings 20 and it will impact his people in a negative way.

2 Kings 20:12-21

Hezekiah Shows Babylon His Treasures

      12At that time Berodach-baladan a son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all his treasure house, the silver and the gold and the spices and the precious oil and the house of his armor and all that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them. 14Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where have they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.” 15He said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasuries that I have not shown them.”

      16Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD. 17‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the LORD. 18‘Some of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you will beget, will be taken away; and they will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” 19Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Is it not so, if there will be peace and truth in my days?”

      20Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and all his might, and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 21So Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son became king in his place.

I am not sure what the reasons were that Hezekiah thought it was a good idea to show a foreign emissary all his treasures and wealth. Such an act is not typically productive. What good could have come of it? I am not sure if he was prideful or if he was just joyful in celebrating his recovery and all that God blessed Him with, but it was a mistake regardless of intent. Because of his lack of indiscretion, Babylon would take interest in Judah and one day come to cart off its treasures and even its people.

God seems to spare Hezekiah because of his righteousness in living God’s ways and having a good relationship with God, but the impact will be felt by those who come after Hezekiah. Hezekiah seemed to accept the word of the LORD without apparent regret, because he would still have peace. He was grateful the LORD would protect him. However, would it not have been good to repent and ask forgiveness and ask help from God to spare his people from this in the future? Hezekiah appears at this time to be focused on himself.

I think there are lessons we can learn from this as well and apply in our lives today.  Let us be humble and discreet when discussing our personal finances with others, in particular others who do not have a “need to know”. We do not need to show off everything we have or put it on display. It can create an atmosphere of greed or coveting. What good can come from it? I do not mean that we can not enjoy what the LORD has provided, but let’s not be prideful or boastful about it. What Hezekiah did was not like showing someone around the public areas of his house, but also showing him where he stored money under the mattress and then sharing the balances in his bank and investment accounts. It was an unintentional invitation for someone to consider robbing him.

Secondly, when we do make a mistake, admit it before the LORD and ask forgiveness and mercy. Ask for help to make it right. There are no guarantees that the LORD will shelter us from every consequence of our mistakes, but it makes sense to throw yourself on His mercy and repent.  Try to think of the impact your mistakes have on others as well. Do not simply think that it will not impact you and be content that it may impact your children.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for providing for me and my family. Help us to be humble and discreet with our finances. Let us not be boastful or prideful. Help me to be wise and have discernment in regards to managing my finances and in regards to whom I trust with important details or information. Help me focus not only on the impacts for me, but also those around me. Please show me my mistakes and help me repent and seek forgiveness. Amen. 

Shalom.

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Money / Finances / Wealth, Traditions / Holidays, Wise, Worldliness

Spending and Debt – The Christmas Hangover

Sharing this message originally written by our partnership website, GrowGodsMoney.org.

Christmas is over and many of us are back at work. This is a good time to reflect on how we celebrate Christmas and brace for the credit card bills that are coming our way in January.  A good time to reflect on the last few weeks and look ahead with a plan for next Christmas.

Most people in our culture get drawn into the heavy marketing and traditions of the season which tell us that we should buy many things for everyone we know in order to show them that we love them or even care about them. As a result, they are facing heavy credit card debt from well-intended spending. For those who put it on a credit card and can not pay it off right away they will now also pay high interest until it is paid off, increasing the bill for the season.

It goes well beyond the money alone. Gift exchanging actually becomes a stressful distraction from those attempting to celebrate Christ at Christmas. It can consume even those with the best intent for one whole month out of every year. It centers gift giving and getting as the important part of celebrating instead of Jesus Christ.

While you are experiencing your Christmas financial hangover, please consider a few alternatives or suggestions for next year.

1- Reduce the number of people for whom you buy gifts.

Buying gifts for everyone you know is not necessary. Instead of buying gifts out of obligation for many with whom you are not close, just make a point to be nice to them all year round. Treat them with kindness and sensitivity and they will know you care for them even if you do not give them a gift. If they only like you when they receive a gift, then they are not really your friend anyway. If you are concerned they will buy for you and you will not have something for them, just have a real conversation with them about managing your expenses and budget responsibly and encourage them not to give something to you. If they are not close enough to you to have this conversation, then why are you even exchanging gifts with them? In some cases, it may be very important to someone close to you to exchange gifts… go ahead if you want to.

2- Reduce how much you spend on each person

Contrary to advertising… you do not need to buy a car, a diamond, gold jewelry, expensive electronics, etc. for people just because it is Christmas. If you don’t show them you love them throughout the year, you will not fool them with an expensive gift in December. For those with whom you want to give or exchange presents, you can set a reasonable budget for each person and then stick to it. This helps you set your overall Christmas budget in a predictable instead of impulsive way.

3- Save up your Christmas budget in advance and avoid credit cards you can not pay back before you have to pay interest.

Once you decide who you will get gifts for and how much to spend, you have a good estimate for your budget planning. Now divide by 11 and start saving it each month starting in January and continuing through November. Inevitably you will still have surprise expenses in December from the season’s activities, so you don’t plan on taking money for gifts from that months budget.

4- You can even consider replacing your current gift exchange traditions with a donation to a charity or family in need… someone you can give to in God’s name with no hope of receiving a gift in return. You will spend less money and honor God more.

5- Simply agree not to exchange presents. Enjoy spending time together without the high expense and extra distraction.

If you find yourself condemning me as “Grinch”… I do not mind. You are not alone, but you are in fact also not correct. If Christmas is all about giving and getting gifts as the centerpiece and focus, then it has nothing to do with Jesus Christ and is simply a pagan festival (e.g. Winter Solstice) where people want to get a lot of expensive stuff from each other. I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically reject giving (and receiving) gifts on the basis of obligation.

The alternative is to recognize that gifts are intended not as the focus, but as a means of showing those closest to us that we were thinking of them. That does not require spending lots of money, despite what our culture would have us believe. Besides, you can  give gifts to those you love any time during the year… it does not all have to be at Christmas.

Many tell us that giving gifts is a tradition originated to honor God’s gift to us in the birth of Jesus Christ or because of the acts of the real man who came to be known as Saint Nicholas. Though many give with this in mind, the fact is that this is not the accurate origin of gift exchange. In fact gift giving to children in late December did not start with Christian origins, but rather as part of a pagan celebration of the sun god, Saturnalia, in ancient Rome. It is easy to research for yourself… even in Christian history encyclopedias such as by Zondervan.

Let’s explore the gift giving tradition further and test if it is even consistent with celebrating Jesus’ birth according to the principles of the Biblical record of that glorious event. Does this tradition point to or honor God, or is it just a tradition of men and a potential distraction from God?

Mary and Joseph did not get gifts for one another or even for Jesus and they knew who He was and that He would be born soon. The shepherds came to celebrate and honor God. They did what they were commanded by God to do… which did not involve bringing gifts. The wise men did not even come when Jesus was born… contrary to common tradition.  Scripture tells us they came and found Jesus in a house, not a manger. Herod killed all the male children two years and younger… not a week and younger, or even a few months and younger. It was likely they arrived over a year after Jesus was born. When they did come, they brought gifts to honor God. They did not exchange gifts with each other, nor did they expect to receive gifts in return from Joseph and Mary. I should not fail to mention that God came down as Jesus to die for us and while this is a great gift, He expects no gift from us in return.

So if you really want to focus on giving gifts to honor Christian traditions… give in a way that honors God to those who will not be able to give anything in return and convince others to do the same. You will honor God more, find more joy instead of stress, and spend less.

If suggestions number 4-5 seem overwhelming… start with suggestions number 1-3. The less focus you put on gift exchange, the more focus you will find is available to consider God’s gift to us in the person of Jesus Christ. You will have more time and less stress to enjoy the holidays and hopefully next year you will not have the Christmas hangover in January.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Faith / Trusting God, Hope, Loving / Kind, Money / Finances / Wealth, Provider, Submitted / Servant

There Are Rewards for Those That Follow Yeshua

There are rewards for those that follow Yeshua. We can be encouraged to know this, especially as we sometimes have to walk away from other things we value today. As a caution, I might also emphasize that should not be our primary motive for following Him. If it is, then we are following selfish motives and not really given our heart to Him.

Matthew 19:27-30

The Disciples’ Reward

      27Then Peter said to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?” 28And Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. 30“But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.

Scripture says we will receive many times as much as we had to leave behind to follow Him and inherit eternal life. What an encouraging reminder for those who face persecution or are having strife in their family because they choose to follow Christ and walk in His statutes and commandments.

As a side note, we also see that we should pay close attention to context to understand which promises apply to all believers and which apply to His closest disciples when He was in His earthly ministry. Notice not everyone is promised to sit on thrones of judgment. There are only twelve referenced here. Verse 29 is more broad, and emphasizes “everyone…”.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank you for encouraging me with knowledge that I will gain more than I lose by following you. It should be obvious to me, but often I can be so focused on my wants and desires and needs today, in the short term, that I can lose focus on eternity. I ask you to help me and all those who are called by your name to be encouraged by your word and promise of reward, but let us follow you out of love and not for personal gain. Please help me to live my life putting you first, above all other things and people. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Grace / Forgiveness, Money / Finances / Wealth

Steward Well What Yahweh Entrusts to You

Reading in 2 Kings 12, we find ourselves in the middle of another “page turning” story. It is engaging and full of significant action. It drives home the importance of good stewardship and organization for accomplishing what Yahweh entrusts to us.

To reconnect with the context, in 2 Kings 11 Jehoiada, a priest, sets Joash on the throne as king. He was restoring the kingdom to a rightful heir after Athaliah had murdered many of her own grandchildren to take the throne. Joash was seven years old when he became king and did right in the sight of the LORD while Jehoiada instructed him.

2 Kings 12

Joash (Jehoash) Reigns over Judah

      1In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2Jehoash did right in the sight of the LORD all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

The Temple to Be Repaired

      4Then Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the sacred things which is brought into the house of the LORD, in current money, both the money of each man’s assessment and all the money which any man’s heart prompts him to bring into the house of the LORD, 5let the priests take it for themselves, each from his acquaintance; and they shall repair the damages of the house wherever any damage may be found.”

      6But it came about that in the twenty-third year of King Jehoash the priests had not repaired the damages of the house. 7Then King Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests and said to them, “Why do you not repair the damages of the house? Now therefore take no more money from your acquaintances, but pay it for the damages of the house.” 8So the priests agreed that they would take no more money from the people, nor repair the damages of the house.

      9But Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid and put it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the LORD; and the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money which was brought into the house of the LORD. 10When they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king’s scribe and the high priest came up and tied it in bags and counted the money which was found in the house of the LORD. 11They gave the money which was weighed out into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the LORD; 12and to the masons and the stonecutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the damages to the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it. 13But there were not made for the house of the LORD silver cups, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver from the money which was brought into the house of the LORD; 14for they gave that to those who did the work, and with it they repaired the house of the LORD. 15Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt faithfully. 16The money from the guilt offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD; it was for the priests.

      17Then Hazael king of Aram went up and fought against Gath and captured it, and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. 18Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred things and all the gold that was found among the treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the king’s house, and sent them to Hazael king of Aram. Then he went away from Jerusalem.

Joash (Jehoash) Succeeded by Amaziah in Judah

      19Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 20His servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash at the house of Millo as he was going down to Silla. 21For Jozacar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Amaziah his son became king in his place.

Verses 2 and 3 highlight that Joash did right while having benefit of the instruction of the priest who helped him. He was young and he listened to council. However, we see that he failed to remove the high places where false worship took place, even as he worked to restore the house of Yahweh. It would seem that Joash and Jehoiada had a blind spot regarding either the need or the courage to remove the high places. In the end Joash delivers mixed results… some good and some disappointing.

Digging further in the passage, we see a powerful example regarding the importance of how we steward and organize ourselves to accomplish tasks for the LORD.

When they started collecting money and giving it to the priests to restore the temple, they took the money and never made repairs. Perhaps they did not have the skills or the time? Perhaps they were simply not held accountable. I do not know how long before they had to face stewardship by the King, but it took that to get the repairs on the right path. They had to make a change after assessing the first approach and then have the money directly paid to the workmen to make the repairs. This was more successful. It is a good reminder that stewardship is necessary to ensure we get the expected outcomes even within ministry. It may not be by wickedness that it fails, but it could be we do not have the right organizational structure and approach for the task at hand.

It is interesting to note that the workmen did not require detailed stewardship. They were faithful. So let us not assume we need to micro manage everything in order to be successful either. We need to assess each situation and evaluate the right level of stewardship. We do need to validate progress and results are as expected in some manner.

As part of stewardship when you have something valuable, you also need to think about security to protect it. In this case Joash did not have an army prepared to defend that which he was investing in to restore. They lost many valuable objects as payment for the hostile king to leave.

Overall we see mixed results in Joash’s leadership. He had some good and some bad. We can learn from both. Sadly, when Jehoiada died, Joash acted wickedly, but we can study that more when we get to 2 Chronicles 24, which gives more history on Joash.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please open my eyes to what you want me to accomplish on your behalf. Give me the wisdom and courage and help from others I need to boldly and effectively pursue what you call me to do. Please remove any blind spots for areas in which I do not see clearly the wickedness still present in my family or my self as we have been blended with the culture around us. Thank you for being with us and for your grace and mercy to love us even when we are not perfect in accomplishing all that you desire. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Giving, Money / Finances / Wealth, Traditions / Holidays

Avoid The Christmas Hangover – Spending, Debt, and Stress

Christmas is a holiday with many competing areas of focus. Some manage to stay focused on the Lord, but there are many distractions. Some focus on family, but one can easily get caught up in a month long stress about the “perfect holiday” and “who is or is not coming” and “do we have the perfect gifts for everyone”,  etc. I have seen people who strive to genuinely follow Jesus yield a month of every year to stress associated with the Christmas holiday.

Others get lost in debt, convinced by marketing and our culture that to celebrate Christmas requires spending lots of money, often money they don’t have. For the record, even “good sales” cost you money unless you were going to buy that item anyway. It costs even more if you buy other stuff along with the thing that was on sale. That is why the companies selling you things run the sales… to make money, not to save you money! Often this debt creates stress that lasts for months after Christmas is over as the credit card bills roll in.

Rather than waiting for that after Christmas “hangover” to set in along with the credit card bills and extra 5 pounds you put on by eating too much… consider challenging some of the holiday cultural norms.

1- Reduce the number of people for whom you buy gifts.

Buying gifts for everyone you know is not necessary. Instead of buying gifts out of obligation for many with whom you are not close, just make a point to be nice to them all year round. Treat them with kindness and sensitivity and they will know you care for them even if you do not give them a gift. If they only like you when they receive a gift, then they are not really your friend anyway. If you are concerned they will buy for you and you will not have something for them, just have a real conversation with them about managing your expenses and budget responsibly and encourage them not to give something to you. If they are not close enough to you to have this conversation, then why are you even exchanging gifts with them? In some cases, it may be very important to someone close to you to exchange gifts… go ahead if you want to.

2- Reduce how much you spend on each person

Contrary to advertising… you do not need to buy a car, a diamond, gold jewelry, expensive electronics, etc. for people just because it is Christmas. If you don’t show them you love them throughout the year, you will not fool them with an expensive gift in December. For those with whom you want to give or exchange presents, you can set a reasonable budget for each person and then stick to it. This helps you set your overall Christmas budget in a predictable instead of impulsive way.

3- Save up your budget in advance and avoid credit cards you can not pay back before you have to pay interest.

Once you decide who you will get gifts for and how much to spend, you have a good estimate for your budget planning. Now divide by 11 and start saving it each month starting in January and continuing through November. Inevitably you will still have surprise expenses in December from the season’s activities, so you don’t plan on taking money for gifts from that months budget.

4- You can even consider replacing your current gift exchange traditions with a donation to a charity or family in need… someone you can give to in God’s name with no hope of receiving a gift in return. You will spend less money and honor God more.

If you find yourself condemning me as “Grinch”… I do not mind. You are not alone, but you are in fact also not correct. If Christmas is all about giving and getting gifts as the centerpiece and focus, then it has nothing to do with Jesus Christ and is simply a pagan festival where people want to get a lot of expensive stuff from each other. I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically reject giving (and receiving) gifts on the basis of obligation.

The alternative is to recognize that gifts are intended not as the focus, but as a means of showing those closest to us that we were thinking of them. That does not require spending lots of money, despite what our culture would have us believe. Besides, you can  give gifts to those you love any time during the year. You do not need Christmas as an excuse to give a present.

Many tell us that giving gifts is a tradition originated to honor God’s gift to us in the birth of Jesus Christ or because of the acts of the real man who came to be known as Saint Nicholas. Though many give with this in mind, the fact is that this is not the accurate origin of gift exchange. In fact gift giving to children in late December did not start with Christian origins, but rather as part of a pagan celebration of the sun god, Saturnalia, in ancient Rome. It is easy to research for yourself… even in Christian history encyclopedias such as by Zondervan.

Let’s explore the gift giving tradition further and test if it is even consistent with celebrating Jesus’ birth according to the principles of the Biblical record of that glorious event. Does this tradition point to or honor God, or is it just a tradition of men and a potential distraction from God?

Mary and Joseph did not get gifts for one another or even for Jesus and they knew who He was and that He would be born soon. The shepherds came to celebrate and honor God. They did what they were commanded by God to do… which did not involve bringing gifts. The wise men did not even come when Jesus was born… contrary to common tradition.  Scripture tells us they came and found Jesus in a house, not a manger. Herod killed all the male children two years and younger… not a week and younger, or even a few months and younger. It was likely they arrived over a year after Jesus was born. When they did come, they brought gifts to honor God. They did not exchange gifts with each other, nor did they expect to receive gifts in return from Joseph and Mary. I should not fail to mention that God came down as Jesus to die for us and while this is a great gift, He expects no gift from us in return.

So if you really want to focus on giving gifts to honor Christian traditions… give in a way that honors God to those who will not be able to give anything in return and convince others to do the same. You will honor God more, find more joy instead of stress, and spend less.

If suggestion number 4 seems overwhelming… start with suggestions number 1-3. The less focus you put on gift exchange, the more focus you will find is available to consider God’s gift to us in the person of Jesus Christ. You will have more time and less stress to enjoy the holidays and hopefully you will not have the Christmas “hangover” in January.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Evidence in Scripture, Miracles, Money / Finances / Wealth, Righteous

Consider The Effects of Our Choices on Others

Yeshua set a perfect example in so many ways they can’t be counted. Scripture is rich with application in our lives today in nuanced areas many overlook.

In Matthew 17, we see Yeshua confronted with what could be described as an awkward situation. He is confronted by others to pay a tax (to the temple, not Caesar) from which He is actually exempt. Jesus is very aware of creating a stumbling block for others and puts less emphasis on claiming His right to not pay.

Matthew 17:24-27

The Tribute Money

      24When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?” 25He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” 26When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt. 27“However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”

Before we get to Yeshua’s example in this scripture, a few things about the weakness of man show up we can reflect on as well.

It appears the collectors of the temple tax wasted no time in coming to find new visitors and ask them to pay the tax. There is no record here of a welcome or greeting of any kind but rather the focus is clearly on collecting their money. This behavior is not the model to follow.

Peter is caught off guard and appears to lie when confronted with the situation, as he was not sure how to respond.  It is worth noting, that if the Bible were a false record made up just to convince people Yeshua was God then the disciples and followers would not honestly document so many times when they responded in the wrong way and made mistakes. These parts of scripture actually proclaim loudly the truth of the Biblical text.

When Peter approaches Yeshua, likely trying to figure out how to broach the subject, Yeshua already knows what happened and brings up the subject Himself. Just one more example indicating He is God and not just man.

At this point it is worth noting that the temple tax was deemed a measure of atonement for sin. As Yeshua was free from sin, He could have rightly refused to pay it. Additionally, Yeshua makes the point that God does not tax Himself anymore than a King taxes himself or His sons, and thus Yeshua would again be exempt.

However, Yeshua was aware that refusing to pay the temple tax may stumble some and discourage them from following Him. The greater purpose directed Him to pay the tax even though He was exempt.

We also see clearly that Yeshua could have easily paid the tax without having this discussion with Peter. We see at the end how easily He provided money when needed… and in such a memorable way.  It was not about the money. Jesus wanted to use this as a teachable moment for Peter and His other disciples and eventually all who read the Bible for generations to follow.

Each of us should prayerfully reflect… when we decide whether or not to do something, do we only consider what is best for us or do we also consider how it may affect others? (e.g. Yeshua paid the tax not because He was required to but because He did not want to stumble others.)

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Courage / Fear, Faith / Trusting God, Money / Finances / Wealth, Share the Good News

What Did Yeshua Tell His Disciples Before Sending Them Out?

What did Yeshua tell His disciples before sending them out? Some of this is directed specifically at the 12, and not everyone, and some of it applies to all of us still today.

Matthew 10:1-15

The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service

      1Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

      2Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.

      5These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; 6but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9“Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support. 11“And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. 12“As you enter the house, give it your greeting. 13“If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. 14“Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. 15“Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

Clearly Yeshua has authority over unclean spirits and healing the sick. Take note these are two different afflictions. The are mentioned separately. In this scripture, He gave authority over this to the twelve, not to all followers for all times.

Yeshua instructed the twelve to only go to the lost sheep of Israel and not to the Gentiles. We receive instruction further on in the Bible where we are told to go to all the nations, so for us, we know to go to everyone (Matthew 28:19). Yeshua went first to the lost sheep of Israel. When the message was rejected there, he went out to others (Matthew 22:1-14).

There was clear instruction to give freely what you have received from God freely. They were not supposed to charge for healing and casting out demons. They were instructed not to acquire wealth on this mission. However there is also a note that they should not bring extra provisions as the “worker is worthy of his support”. There was an expectation that the people being brought the good news would support them as messengers from Yahweh.  This one is interesting to split how to apply today generally vs. specifically to the twelve. I think it is clear those with healing power are not to charge others for it and make money off it. It also seems reasonable to accept basic support from those to whom you are preaching the message of the gospel. Of course, we know from elsewhere in scripture that Paul did not accept money to support him (at least not in Corinth) while on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:8-14). Paul reinforces that the LORD said that one who proclaims the gospel can make their living from doing so, but also chose not to personally because he thought it would hinder the gospel, perhaps specific to the situation in Corinth. I think this applies to us today as well as to the twelve. However, the emphasis is that they should not get wealthy by healing. It also implies to me that there is an expectation that one who preaches the gospel is not accumulating great wealth by doing so, but simply making a living… and some may choose even to “self fund” by having a day job as similar to Paul.

Lastly, we see that where the messengers are not received, they are to move on. This applies still to us today. We are not to simply stay at one place trying to force people to convert. Generally speaking we are to shake the dust from our sandals and move on to the next village, which may receive us. Many can get consumed trying to force a single “conversion” of someone. However, their efforts may be more effective if they moved on to others who are prepared to receive the message. Of course, if Yahweh directs you to stay in one tough situation where the message is directed, then do so.

Please do not overlook the faith and courage that was required of the twelve as they went out and took nothing extra and trusted in the instructions of the LORD to guide and in the people who received them to provide. Imagine yourself in that position to get a better feeling for what they experienced.

Prayerfully reflect on the instructions Yeshua gave His disciples before sending them out and write down some key ways in which it affects you in your life. Ask the Father to help you in how to apply it to your life today.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Family, Money / Finances / Wealth, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Suffering / Adversity

Our Commitment to Discipleship Will Be Tested at Times

Our commitment to discipleship will be tested at times. There are at least three key principles illustrated in today’s scripture in Matthew 8. See if you can pick them out, or find more, and I will highlight three after the scripture.

Matthew 8:18-27

Discipleship Tested

      18Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. 19Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” 20Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 21Another of the disciples said to Him, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 22But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.”

      23When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” 26He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 27The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

The three I will highlight today are as follows:

  • True discipleship, following and learning after Christ, means submitting to Yeshua and making Him a priority above the comforts we may (or may not) enjoy in life (e.g. nice house, car, phone, etc.). This does not necessarily mean we will be poor (e.g. Abraham, Joseph who became second in charge over Egypt)
  • True discipleship means making Yeshua a priority over our family and others we love. (This does not mean we are to disregard our family, but we must listen to Christ first and obey.)
  • True discipleship does not promise a worry free life in which we will have nothing scary or difficult. Those who speak for and follow after Christ often face difficulty. Faith to rely on our Father in the difficult times and rejoice even when things are not going well is very important. (e.g. Paul and Silas singing praises to Him while in jail for preaching the gospel)

Prayerfully reflect on these themes. If you picked up on another, submit it in a comment.

Shalom (Hebrew greeting meaning “peace”)

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Money / Finances / Wealth, Submitted / Servant

You Can Not Serve Two Masters

None of us can serve two masters and serve them well. Yeshua teaches about true wealth and the pitfalls of pursuing financial gain as a master in Matthew 6.

Matthew 6:19-24

     19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

      22“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

      24“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

There are a number of important points.

  • Treasure on earth is temporary and subject to theft or deterioration over time. Treasure in heaven lasts forever. Think about that. It is very easy to focus on our lives today and over the next few decades, and very easy to overlook eternity. However, eternity will last forever and our lives are short compared to that standard. Which then is more important?
  • Our hearts and our minds will go to where we store our treasure. We will either store it up in heaven and focus on the LORD and His will, or we will focus on storing up financial gain in this world and lose focus on Him.
  • Keep in mind that Yeshua is not saying it is bad to have money. Abraham had money. David had money. We must not let money become our master, whom we serve. Rather, we should be master over our money and use it to do the LORD’s will.
  • Barnes commentary provides interesting perspective on how to consider verse 22. Our eyes and what we focus on will help guide and direct our bodies. If we put our eyes to the Father and His will, our whole body will move in the right direction. If, on the other hand, we focus on our money as our goal or keep shifting focus between God and money, then we will not see well what the Father is calling us to do. We will be at best distracted and splitting focus. At worst, we pursue the wrong thing.

A few additional scriptures that come to mind as relevant:

Philippians 3:14

14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 6:10

10For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Do not think that this concept only applies to money. It applies basically to anything that competes for our attention and focus with our Father. Even seemingly good things, like ministry or family members can be damaging to our walk if we place them as our primary focus and goal in the place which should be reserved for only the Father. Ask yourself, “Whom or what do you serve?” Be honest. What drives your actions and focus? Most of us probably have more than one thing.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Humility, Money / Finances / Wealth, Speaking, Submitted / Servant, Thankfulness, Through Prophets

Remain a Submitted Servant of YHWH Even When We May Seem Powerful and “In Control”

2 Samuel 7 has a lot to tell us! The LORD brought peace and rest to David as king. David reflects on the situation while at peace and has a heart to honor YHWH by building something for the ark nicer than a tent. Though, YHWH does not want this from David, He seems to understand that David means to honor Him. David is ultimately a humble servant, remembering that YHWH is the one who is great and not himself as king. He obeys and is thankful that the LORD speaks of David’s kingdom lasting forever, which occurs through Yeshua.

We do well to follow David’s example to remain humble as a submitted servant to YHWH even when we have success in this world. It is then that we should thank Him all the more, perhaps, rather than forget about Him and take credit ourselves as if we do not need Him any longer.

2 Samuel 7

David Plans to Build a Temple

      1Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains.” 3Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you.”

      4But in the same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, 5“Go and say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in? 6“For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle. 7“Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’

God’s Covenant with David

      8“Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. 9“I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth. 10“I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly, 11even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you. 12“When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13“He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14“I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, 15but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16“Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’” 17In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

David’s Prayer

      18Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD, and he said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 19“And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And this is the custom of man, O Lord GOD. 20“Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD! 21“For the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness to let Your servant know. 22“For this reason You are great, O Lord GOD; for there is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23“And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods? 24“For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God. 25“Now therefore, O LORD God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken, 26that Your name may be magnified forever, by saying, ‘The LORD of hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27“For You, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You. 28“Now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant. 29“Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken; and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.