the rich

The Needles Eye and Salvation

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples
“How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!”
And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them,
“Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!                            
And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”   And Jesus looking upon them saith,
“With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
Mark 10:23-27

Jesus has just spoken with a young man of  great wealth.  He has asked Jesus how that he might inherit eternal life.  Jesus basically tells him that he must obey the Ten Commandments.  When he said that he had been obedient since youth Jesus told him to  go and sell all that he had.  That was too much and he went away.

By his leaving as he did shows us that his heart was away from God so he had not been obedient to the first four of the Ten.  His heart was on His wealth.

Jesus then teaching His disciples that it is hard for the rich to get into heaven, then they ask Him, “Who then can be saved?”

What is that “Needles eye”?  A camel and a needle?  A camel passing through a needle’s eye?  I have known some who say that there is a small gate in the walls of Jerusalem called the Needles Eye Gate, and they say that for someone take a laden camel through that gate they needed to unload all their packs, for the camel to get through.   There are also some who believe that The Needles Eye is exactly that and shows us that we cannot save ourselves, by unloading our sins, but solely by the power of God and His grace.  Jesus said,  “Come unto Me all of you who are burdened, and heavy laden and I will give you rest’

With God nothing is impossible; even getting a camel through the eye of  a needle; and especially a rich man to receive eternal life through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  He died, He was buried, and He rose again.

She Prayed for a Child, and the LORD Heard Her Prayer

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

In chapter one of First Samuel we find a woman who is the a wife of a man named Elkanah.  One wife has children; and Hannah has so far been without a child, but so yearns for a son from God. She has prayed, and vowed to the LORD, that when the child is weaned she will give him to the LORD.

Now she has conceived, and has a son she named Samuel.  When Samuel is weaned she takes him to Eli, and to God, with sacrifices according to the word of God, and leaves Samuel, at that time a small boy, with Eli who has some wicked sons who are priests; whom Eli knows are wicked, yet does nothing about it.

After Hannah leaves her son she prays another prayer,

And Hannah prayed, and said,

“My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in Thy salvation.  There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside Thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
“Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by Him actions are weighed.  The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
“The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and He hath set the world upon them.  He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
“The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and He shall give strength unto His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.”

1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah shows a great heart of praise and worship to the LORD for the blessings which God has given her.  She recognizes Him as being supreme in power.  He is the One who brings death, and the  One who gives life.

He breaks His adversaries, and He judges the end of the earth.  He also exalts the one His anointed king.

O, may we as followers of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be always faithful to pray for more of God’s children to come to Him.  Then when they come to Him may we continue to pray and served the Lord.  Amen.

Having a Just Society

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.  For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state shall be prolonged.
A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all.
Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.”  Proverbs 28:1-7  (KJB)

Having a Just Society – Proverbs 28:1-28

Verses 1a, 4, 12, 15, 28 –   A look at the wicked.   The wicked are those who refuse to recognize the way of God, His Word, and refuse to submit themselves to Him; whether rich, or poor.  1.) The wicked see a conspiracy behind everything that is against them, and flee.  2.) For anyone to turn their backs on righteous laws is to give praise to the wicked who break those laws.  3.)  When the wicked rule and are in leadership people tend to hide.  4.)  Wicked rulers among poor people are as devastating as an angry growling lion (Job 24:4;  Prov. 19:12;  1 Peter 5:8).

Verses 2, 5, 8-9, 11, 16-17, 21-22, 25-26 –  A look at the wicked who are wealthy; leadership, rulers.  1.)  Many rulers, maybe “Big government” is a result of a wicked nation.  2.)  True justice is not understood by the unjust; and that goes along with exorbitant interest, profits, low wages, etc..  3.)  The unjust will be “cruel oppressors”, and will most likely have “blood on their hands” thus face eternal judgment.  4.)  Greed, partiality, will ultimately bring poverty into the lives of those who practice it – ultimate destruction.

Verses 3, 10a, 13, 24 –  The wicked poor.  1.)  You would think a poor man would be more understanding of the poor; but the wicked poor will stoop to the lowest degree in order to improve their own situation in life.  2.)  Destruction awaits those who would lead an upright individual astray – take Balaam as an example (Numbers 31:8, 16).  3.)  It is the tendency of all wicked people to cover their transgressions, and even refuse to believe they have transgressed (v. 24).

Verses 1b, 6-7, 10b, 12a, 14, 18-20, 23, 27 –  The way of righteousness.  1.)  The righteous have no reason to fear the thing so the world or of man; they have died to the wickedness of the world.  2.)  The poor upright are better off, and wise in God.  3.)  The Lord will bless those who are upright in the things he/she possesses.  4.)  There is glory and happiness in the fear of the LORD (vv. 12, 14).  5.)  Salvation, plenty, and blessings are the reward of the righteous.  6.)  A just and righteous tongue is favored; and gives to the poor, and shall not lack (vv. 23, 27)

Agur’s Wisdom

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.” Proverbs 30:11-14 (KJV)

There is much for our generation; this generation to learn from all the Proverbs Solomon as put together for us in this wonderful instruction book.  When we are young words of wisdom, neither instruction seem to quite be what we want to hear.  They are necessary, and as we get older we will appreciate them more.  Some will even begin applying them and all of Scripture to their daily living.

We will begin doing so when the Lord Jesus has become Lord of our lives, and He changes our desires into His desires; when He gives us His heart.

Some thoughts from Proverbs 30…

“The words of Agur the son of Jakeh”. It is not known who Agur is. There is no other reference to this name in Scripture. Some have thought it to be reference to Solomon, as a nickname; but seems unlikely. There are some who believe that Agur was a court counselor to Solomon. Agur does begin the wisdom a bit differently than the other writings.

1. “The man declares, I am weary, O God; I am weary, O God, and worn out.” from ESV verse 1. It seems more likely that Agur is addressing pupils he might be teaching with the names of Ithiel and Ucal.
Agur seems also to be a man of humilty, note; “Surely I am more brutish [stupid] than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.” (v. 2-3).

2. Note the wisdom of his theology (v. 4). The obvious answers to these questions can only be “God”. Now look at his beliefs concerning Scripture (vv. 5-6); 1) It is pure; 2) God is a shield; 3) To add to the word of God makes one out a liar.

3. Agur asks for two things (vv. 7-9); 1) Give me neither poverty, nor riches; 2) Provide what I need to live.

4. The matter of slander is addressed in verse 10. See Psalms 15:3 & 101:5 “a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report” Dictionary.com

5. There are four types of evil characters in verses 11 – 14; 1) Those who do not respect their parents; 2) Those who are immoral, but refuse to acknowledge it; 3) Those who are arrogant; and 4) Those who take advantage of the poor, and enslave them. “There is a generation…”

6. There are five things in fours which are lessons wisdom can teach us. Verses 15-17 tells us of things which have unquenchable thirst or hunger, that cannot be satisfied. Verses 18-20 tells us of things that are mysterious and wonderful; with a warning in verse 20. Verses 21-23 four things that are out of place, and unnatural. Verses 24-28 tell us of four tiny creatures who are prepared for life and living. Verses 29-31 tells us four things which have honor, and are without shame.

7. Verses 32 – 33 deal with those who involve themselves in everything of others; have a comment about others situation, and find themselves with bloody noses; or worse.

Be wise today and turn to the One who loves you so much that He gave His only Son to die on the cross for you that you might have everlasting life (John 3:15-18).

Day Three Hundred and Three

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

What do I want for Christmas?

I want the poor, the orphan, the elderly, the sick, and all people to be treated justly, and fairly by all who name the name of Christ and by all who are in positions of authority in government.

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.” Proverbs 14:31 (NKJV)

“The rich and the poor have this in common, the LORD is the maker of them all.” Proverbs 22:2

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” Luke 4:18-19