Just over a year ago, on June
18, 2015, I began the Write from My Heart adventure. In my introduction I
cautioned the reader on three specific points.
·
You will
encounter devotional and scriptural content intended to encourage and
strengthen your commitment of faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
·
I will
write original thoughts as I feel the Lord lays them upon my heart to share
with others.
·
My
writing is not for the purpose of argument or debate. I fully acknowledge other thoughts,
doctrines, and philosophies exist.
Although you may find some of my content to be doctrinally or
theologically controversial in nature, this is not a forum for “Trash ‘n’
Bash.”
I further understand that a
myriad of ministers, theologians, and biblical scholars could pull rank on my
limited scriptural knowledge base.
However, as I grow in age, I also grow in depth of understanding. Furthermore, I have made a personal
commitment to share my thoughts with honesty and sincerity, and allow the Holy
Spirit to help others grow in their understanding of God’s word.
My blog title is a brief
excerpt from traditional wedding vows; however, today’s blog will not focus on
weddings. Rather, I would like to share
my thoughts concerning contemporary Christian views regarding two seemingly
unrelated subjects that I find totally related to modern Christian life. Subject #1: Those who suffer versus those who
have peace. Subject #2: Those who are
rich versus those who are poor. If you could choose, which one would be better
than the other for living a devout Christian life?
Notice the italicized word could in the above sentence? Let’s make
a clear distinction before we go any further!
The reality is most of us have no depth of understanding how many people
in our world experience true suffering each and every day. I cannot fathom the pain, agony, and abuse
they endure. Likewise, most of us have no depth of understanding how many
people in our world experience true poverty each and every day. Whether the cause relates to health issues, unemployment,
or poor judgement does not seem to matter when total poverty is the
result. This blog entry is NOT about
people who endure true suffering or total poverty. This blog entry is about the rest of us.
Yesterday’s Sunday School
lesson included the familiar passage from Romans:
“And we rejoice in the hope of
the glory of God. Not only so, but we
also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans
5:2-4 (NIV)
The question posed was this,
“Why did Paul write rejoice in our sufferings instead of
writing rejoice because of our sufferings?” Our little group produced several
thought-provoking responses. But most of
you are beginning to know me, and you probably chuckle a little inside when I
tell you that at this point my brain took a little bunny trail. It occurred to me that if a person is in
suffering…they have no choice. It is cast upon them from outward sources. Paul was writing to Christians who were
enduring the horrific suffering imposed upon them from the oppressive Roman
rule of Nero. In fact, there are numerous passages in the New Testament related
to the suffering of these early Christians; people who desperately needed
encouragement to rely on God’s promises of peace and the blessed hope of a
glorious future. This was the reality of
life as an early Christian, but it is not our reality, at least not for most of
us.
In our reality, a slight change
in wording to because of suffering brings the temptation to use
suffering as an excuse for anything that bothers us. Ex: I’m suffering because it’s so hot outside
and my air-conditioner is broken. Ex:
I’m suffering because this traffic is so congested I’ll be late. Ex: I’m suffering because someone is taunting
me or calling me names. Or the one that
irritates me the most, Ex: I tried to
share my faith, but they ignored me, so I’m “suffering for Christ’s sake.” Folks, most of us have no clue what true
suffering is, and by God’s grace and mercy I hope we never have to know from
personal experience. How quick we are to
claim suffering as an attempt to look more pious or Christ-like to others. We have somehow deluded ourselves into
believing that unless we suffer, we must not be a true Christian. What ever happened to the concept of simply thanking
and praising God for blessing you?
The topic of poverty is
absolutely related. Yes, I realize
scores of ministers and Bible teachers will cite “The Parable of the Rich Fool”
(Luke 12:16-20); the encounter of Jesus with “The Rich Young Man” (Matthew
19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30); and Jesus’ observation of “The Widow’s
Offering” (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4); all as proof that being rich is somehow wrong
and the true Christian should desire poverty, again, “for Christ’s sake.” And folks, just for the record, I really do
abhor that we tack Christ’s name onto the end of our human agendas! In my opinion, such teachings are erroneous
and totally miss the point altogether.
You see, the amount of money was never the factor in question. It was the attitude of the heart. It didn’t matter that the rich had a lot—it
mattered that they couldn’t yield it to the Lord. It didn’t matter that the widow had only a
mite—it mattered that she gave from the heart. Yet somehow we have perverted
this teaching to mean that unless we live a life of abject poverty or
self-deprivation, we are somehow less of a Christian in God’s eyes. God never taught this! He taught us that all we have is HIS; we are
to give of our means; and, giving must come from the heart. What ever happened to the concept of simply
thanking and praising God for blessing you?
“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know
what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in
any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty
or in want. I can do everything through
him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)
“Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep
falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me
only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may
have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor
and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Proverbs 30:7-9 (NIV)
What
ever happened to the concept of simply thanking and praising God for blessing
you?
Respectfully
written and submitted by:
Dotty
Willmon, Resurrection Christian
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