Holes

"You earn wages, only to put them in bags with holes in it" (Haggai 1:6).If one were to compare one's life to a purse or a bag, it might be an apt metaphor. Sometimes it feels as if there are holes in the bag and our very life seems to seep through the seams. Our life, like a  poorly-constructed bag seems to be shoddily put together and doesn't seem capable of holding all the pain, suffering, affliction, and difficulty that it seems forced to carry. So heavy are the weights, like rocks, that it appears the very fabric of our lives will fray and fall apart. That the handles of the bag will be ripped from its seam.Of course, one bag looks dissimilar in appearance from another. In fact, one person may carry what appears only to be a small wallet or daintily-made evening pouch; while others seem to be loaded down with a carpet bag or even something akin to a Samsonite valise. But all in all, we all have baggage. But what really matters is not the size of the suitcase but would we put in it. 

How does one go about making a life that resembles something of value, of tenacity, of persistence, of resilience, of strength? That is the question. So we ask that God do what He promised. He said in Ecclesiastes 3:7 that there is a time to tear but that there is also a time to mend. We ask that He will come in and mend, sew, and repair the broken places. We ask Him to fill our purses with love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, patience, faithfulness, joy, and self-control by His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). There are holes caused by all the wounding, brokenness, pain, and grief of life which cause our power to leak out. "Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool." (Isaiah 1:18). We know the truth that the things that are broken need to be healed: "He is the healer of the brokenhearted. He is the one who bandages their wounds" Psalm 147:3. The holes need to be repaired. Let God sew them together to hold the treasures of His joy and power. Then, we will have something worthwhile to share with others.

Fellow Carpetbagger,
Mella

 

The Woman doth protest too much!

If asked whom I resembled in the Bible, likely the least person I would mention would be Saul. But recently as the Holy Spirit has been dealing with me, I recognize that there is some of Saul in me. 1st Samuel 15 tells the story of God asking Saul to destroy the Amalekites. In 1^st Samuel 15:3 to go to attacks and destroy everything to that belongs to them,  do not spare them, put to death men, women, and children and cattle sheep, camels, and donkeys. However, Saul did not follow instructions; instead he captured, rather than destroyed God’s enemies. Instead of killing the terrorist king Agog, he spared his life and saved the best of the livestock to sacrifice to God.

 

 He believed that his ideas were somehow better than God’s. But God rebukes him in verses 22, “Do I delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices in as much as obeying my voice. To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” I have been guilty of this kind of misguidance, to say the least. Unfortunately, I have cared more about what people have thought, put a greater impact of being a people-pleaser.

Now, I have followed instructions; I have been obedient. I have done what I was told, but in my heart of hearts, I am like Saul. These people that you gave me- they wanted- that was always Saul’s excuse for not following instructions. The people, the people, the people.  And, that’s me. What do people say? What do the people think? And God is saying, I am more concerned about what I think, what I say, what I require of you.

Hmm. If I am listening to God’s voice, He has made it clear that what He has asked for is obedience. He didn’t ask for my opinion. He asked me to live beyond whatever is rooted wound in me that makes people’s opinions far more inflated and valuable than his command to simply follow instructions. See, man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart, and that becomes particularly frightening because my  motivations are revealed for the crass, base things that they sometimes are- the need for man’s approval.

Scrutinizing,
MJ

On the Other Side

Some of us wonder, when, if ever, we will receive a reward. First, we must understand that there are those of us who received their reward on this side and then there are the other-siders. Yes, I know that other-siders is not a real word.  But I use it to express the idea that some people spend all their lives without ever seeing the fruit of their efforts.  It is easy to get discouraged if you're one of these people. Luckily, Jesus makes a promise to those of us who have to wait to see the reward of their labor. Jesus promises that although some people's good works are apparent while they are still living, He reminds us that some people's good works and deeds will not be revealed until Judgment Day. Paul also reminds us that "the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later.  In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light. (I Timothy 5:24-25).

So what does one do if you are one of the other-siders? Will one continue to work joyfully when one doesn't see one's reward? Well, it's really about focus: focus on the reward or the Rewarder?
Why I am doing what I am doing? Is it for the praise of man or the praise of God? In the end, "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (I Corinthians 5:10).

Galatians 1:10 says if I'm serving man then I could not be a servant of God When we do not understand this principle, we easily become disillusioned and disappointed with God in life. We ask questions such as: why do bad things happen to good people? But the real question is about payout. Some people get paid in advance in this life and others get paid in eternity. This truthful enigma answers the same dilemma about why some people get punished for evil while others seem to go unpunished? Again, the principal of the other-side provides the answer. In the end, we must trust God's ultimate sovereignty and wisdom in how He metes our both punishment and reward. We can only do so if we trust in the inherent goodness of God's nature.

Jesus told us plainly that there would be those who would be rewarded for both good or evil in this life and others who would not see their recompense, except in the life to come. So, why are we so stressed? Do we really think that God would defraud us? That God is not fair? Did He really is asleep at the wheel? He is simply a Divine watchmaker who started everything, but won't take care of us till the end?

Great news. God is not asleep at the wheel. Every tear we shed has been saved and written in His book (Psalm 56;8), so how can He forget everything we have done for Him?  Hebrews 6:10 says God is not just; he will not forget our work and the love we have shown as we continue to help his people.

I want to end with Jesus' own words as an encouragement:

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.“ So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matt. 6:1-4).

 

Holding on for the Other Side,

MJ