Dave R Phillips

October 21, 2019

My Help and My Deliverer

Many of the psalms are attributed to King David. Frequently, we read words of desperation, prayers for help in times of trouble.

But as for me, I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
you are my God, do not delay.
Psalm 40:17

But as for me, I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay.
Psalm 70:5

I hope we learn to hear the psalms as musical offerings that appeal to a deeper sense than mere words describe. In the two verses offered here, it’s interesting to note the phrases that are essentially the same. The words are slightly different, but the thought is clearly the same: I am poor and needy — hurry up, God, and rescue me!

The phrase “poor and needy” does not necessarily depict someone who is bankrupt. David uses this phrase several times throughout Psalms, typically preceded by, “but as for me…” Some versions of the Bible translate the word “poor” as “afflicted.” This seems to be closer to the intended meaning. The NIV Study Bible provides a note to help clarify the meaning:

Here, as often in the Psalms, “poor’ characterizes not necessarily one who has no possessions but one who is (and recognizes that he is) without resources to effect his own deliverance (or secure his own life, safety or well-being)—and so is dependent on God. ¹

Given this perspective, we’re beginning to focus on the reason for reflecting on these verses today. Those who have few possessions might be considered poor, but those who cannot care for their safety or well-being are always poor.

King David recognizes his condition is hopeless without God. As the King, David had access to possessions, but all were meaningless without the presence of the Almighty. He wrote these songs to remind everyone that we’re all on the same level. We are all poor and needy without God.

When we zoom out and read 2 Samuel we see the rollercoaster David road throughout his life. This tumultuous time in history was barbaric and bloody. In David’s lifetime, the request for immediate physical rescue was very real. While we may not experience the life-or-death trama that David lived through, we are faced with eternal decisions every day.

Without Christ, we are all lost. David expresses the sense of urgency we should feel for those who have no relationship with Jesus. Those who are physically poor remind us of those who are spiritually bankrupt. As Father Gregory Boyle reminds us:

God said, ‘As I have loved you, you need to care for the widow, the orphan, the stranger,’” Boyle said. “These are the people likely to get cut off, but these people are trustworthy guides to kinship with God. ²

As we are privileged to serve the least, the lost, and the lonely, may we remember we are all poor and needy without the redeeming hope of Jesus Christ. He is our hope, our deliverer.

¹ NIV Study Bible notes from Psalm 34:6

² Morning Worship

October 19, 2019

Be Kind to the Needy

I think it’s obvious to say, but perhaps it needs to be restated, everyone should be kind to those in need. Sometimes we need to have a simple, brief reminder. Here are three verses from the book of Proverbs to read and reflect upon:

It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,
but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
Proverbs 14:21

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.Proverbs 14:31

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17

Imagine that you prayed for wisdom, and God granted your request. In a moment or over time, difficult concepts became easy to grasp. Nothing was beyond your understanding. But even better than that, you were able to articulate these things in such a way that everyone understood. If that’s you, your name must be Solomon. Read 1 Kings 3:1-15, especially verses 9 and 12, for the story of Solomon’s request and God’s response.

In his wisdom, and at his best, Solomon wrote down his thoughts in ways that anyone can understand. The verses cited above are among hundreds attributed to him as The Proverbs of Solomon. There are 250 single statements that weave a tapestry of wisdom between Proverbs 10:1-18:5 alone. Along with wisdom, Solomon became the wealthiest man on earth, perhaps of all time. He could have anything he wanted.

As I read the proverbs, I get a sense of calm assurance. There is no need to shout or get excited about being kind to someone. Indeed, that seems contrary to the point. But it’s not a condescending attitude either. I’m not being kind to someone walking into the Salvation Army, Clean Start, LOT Project, or Mercy Center because I’ve labeled them as poor. And I’m not being kind because “the Bible says so.” Solomon’s advice here is not to look down on someone; instead, it is to look directly at those in need and show kindness. This honors God.

There will come a day when all the trappings of this earth will fade away. We will find ourselves standing before the Maker without keys to a fancy car or bank account that overflows with money. We will stand before him, as it were, in our birthday suit. There, before the King, who will look poor? Who will look rich? No one. We are all the same in the eyes of the Lord.

Be kind.

It’s more than a wise saying. Only the richest can truly be kind–and we are rich, my friends, we are exceedingly wealthy. We are sons and daughters of the Highest King. Our inheritance dwarfs Solomon’s royal vault at it’s highest. While our earthly possessions may not reflect such a majestic appearance, our hearts should be filled with joy beyond measure. Let that joy overflow and bless someone the world has labeled as poor. Embrace the outcast.

May we be known as those who are kind to everyone.

October 12, 2019

Remember the Poor

Pull up a chair. Sit and listen to the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians:

All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. Galatians 2:10

The impact of this single verse fails to convey the powerful punch with which it was intended to deliver. The verse comes in the middle of Paul’s appeal to others to understand his approach to spreading the Gospel. He wasn’t trying to justify his actions; instead, he was trying to show that though his methods were different, they were consistent with James, Cephas (Peter), and John.

Paul and Barnabas continued to spread the Gospel in Gentile nations to the uncircumcised, using tactics that made sense in their context. From the beginning of chapter 2, we get the idea that a lot of time has transpired since Paul began his ministry. The beginning phrase, “Then after fourteen years…” helps me gain some perspective. Hear this, my friends, if Paul was willing to work for 14 years before checking in with “headquarters,” we need to be patient when our efforts take more than a year or two (or ten).

Verse 2 gives us some fascinating insight. Note: “them” in this case are people who are in key leadership positions in the church.

I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. Galatians 2:2

Don’t you want to be sure you’re not running your race in vain?

I recognize the letter, and this chapter, in particular, is more concerned with issues that have arisen in the early church, but what I find amazing is Paul includes verse 10 as the closing statement in his paragraph that summarized his evangelistic missionary approach. Essentially, do whatever it takes to spread the amazing, great news about Jesus, but don’t forget to look after the poor.

Why tag on this request? Did Paul need a reminder? Do we need a reminder?

For those of us that have been around the church for a long time, the simple answer is yes. I added this quote from Tim Keller’s sermon (now on the index page for this series):

If you think you have a relationship with [God] and you don’t have a relationship with the poor and the oppressed, you’re mistaken. If you don’t have a relationship with the poor and the oppressed, you don’t really have a relationship with me.¹

Paul had to appeal to “those who were held in high esteem” in his day. Tim Keller continues to preach this message in our modern-day and age. Yes, we need a reminder.

Whatever role we are blessed to play in church, business, non-profit, etc., we must never forget the requirement to be attentive to the poor.

Remembering the poor is just the beginning. This is not a box to check or a mandate to fulfill. Keller’s words are carefully chosen to capture the key idea: we are to seek relationships with those who would otherwise be forgotten by society. The concept is simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to apply.

I find it fascinating that Paul, in all his greatness, has always been eager to serve the poor. How do we convey this message to others? Perhaps we just need to continue providing safe places for people to get to know the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized. Most important, we must not let people forget.

Lord, help us to seek out relationships with all people, regardless of status or lack of status.

¹See Tim Keller’s sermon, Doing Justice and Mercy, starting at 8:57

October 9, 2019

Spend Yourself on Those In Need

Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah as he cuts through the noise and calls us to true worship:

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:9b-11

The NIV Study Bible’s outline for the book of Isaiah refers to this chapter as False and True Worship¹. Everything we do can be filled with worship. Please don’t mistake worship for 20+ minutes on Sundays when the band is playing!

I suppose finger-pointing and malicious talk are nothing new, but my goodness, the culture we live in, is immersed in the outrageous slandering of people right and left. I wish I had a filter for my Facebook feed that eliminated any post (or advertisement) that hinted at such things. Isaiah’s words to Israel come with a promise that I believe is relevant for us today.

Instead of spending energy on tearing people down, let’s devote ourselves to satisfying the needs of the oppressed and feeding the hungry. We shouldn’t need any incentive to do these things, but he gives us a profound promise that is meant to encourage those who work tirelessly to help others in need.

Your light will rise in the darkness
Your night will become like the noonday
The Lord will guide you always
The Lord will satisfy your needs
The Lord will strengthen you
You will flourish (a well-watered garden)
You will be like a spring whose waters never fail

Spending Ourselves

When we spend ourselves, that is, we pour our energy into helping those who cannot help themselves, we are doing the very thing Jesus came to do. Remember when he rebuked His disciples when they tried to dismiss the children?

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.“
Mark 10:13-14

Why did Jesus become indignant? And why did he say, the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these? For more thoughts on the passage in Mark, see the post here.

Indignant

Unlike the text we covered a few days ago from 1 John 3:17, where the word “pity” was translated differently, we find the word for indignant is consistently translated from the Greek: aganakteō. It’s interesting to note that the word shows up seven times in the New Testament. Jesus is beyond unhappy with the disciples’ actions, and they knew it. I imagine the scene unfolded some distance away from where Jesus was, so He had to move toward them to intervene. I also suspect that they felt the aganakteō when He arrived!

Such as These

The Kingdom of God belongs to those who cannot help themselves. Children, especially at the time of Mark’s writing, were undoubtedly vulnerable, but definitely could not speak for themselves. The example was vivid. I think the disciples felt the weight of the lesson — that’s why the story is covered in Matthew, Mark, and Luke!

I’m not trying to get sidetracked from today’s passage; instead, I’m trying to support my assertion that Isaiah’s words are relevant to us today. In other words, it’s not just some ancient text that warns our forefathers. We need to pay attention to his words as they affect our lives today.

The Reward

We don’t serve the needs of the oppressed for a financial reward. Take another look at the list of promises above. The theme of this list is all about the joy that wells up from inside; complete contentment. You’ll walk in the light, no stumbling around in darkness! Isaiah’s poetic words offer peace and security with words that are chosen to give you comfort. When I was underlining the words in my Bible, it seemed like the list just kept going. How wonderful. This is our God. He wants us to join in the joy that comes by helping others.

For those who have invested in the lives of the least, the lost, and the lonely, I’m sure you would agree. For those who have received love from someone investing in you, as Father Gregory Boyle might say, the feeling is mutual.

May we be known as people who care for others. Let us be the people that spend ourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed.

October 7, 2019

Be blessed: Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind

Jesus is speaking to a gathering at a prominent Pharisee’s home when He shares a parable that ends with:

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Luke 14:13-14

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus would make a particular point to invite those who are the outcasts of society to the home of one who is the most prosperous? This amazing passage is captured by Luke and printed in red letters in my Bible — the very words of Jesus. Please pause and let that sink in.

Will Be Blessed

The NIV Application Commentary authors seem to be captivated by this passage as well. I love their thoughts here:

Though those invited cannot repay, God will reward such care in the resurrection to come (1 Cor. 4:5). Again, the promise of reward is expressed in the passive voice (“will be blessed”), which means that God gives the response. He commends those who reach out to the needy and minister to them, often in quiet ministries that no one ever sees. True righteousness does not look for a payback but is offered free of charge, graciously, just as God in Christ has forgiven us free of charge (Eph. 4:32; 5:2). ^{NIVAC Note}

Some Context for the Passage

Let’s zoom out just a bit and see if we can discern why Jesus choose this as the appropriate parable. If it helps, here’s a post I wrote a few years ago surrounding this passage: Jesus and the Pharisees.

The first words of chapter 14 provide the setting, and it’s anything but ordinary. First of all, it’s on the Sabbath, and secondly, it involves a prominent Pharisee. Crazy. Luke makes a special note that Jesus was being carefully watched, so what does Jesus do? He heals someone as they watch — dumbfounded.

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. Luke 14:1-4

As I dwell on the section today, I’m struck by the scene in which the parable is presented. To begin with, this is in the home of a significant Pharisee. In today’s terms, that probably would look like a large house that would require an access code to get past a gate at the end of a long driveway.

How did Jesus get invited to the party?

There’s an incredible lesson to be learned from this alone. Not only did Jesus get invited, but He turned around and healed someone on the Sabbath, and they didn’t kick him out. The man who was healed was one of the main characters in his parable. He was unable to work because of some sickness, but Jesus was able to heal him and send him on his way. Surely the Pharisees and all those gathered had never witnessed a miracle such as this!

Jesus then looked around and addressed the way they invited the guests and how they seated them in places of honor in the form of a parable. These were intelligent men. They understood what was going on. Read the following verse:

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Luke 14:15

Yes! Blessed is the one invited to the feast!

Jesus drives home the point that those invited are not people who look like they should be in attendance. Those who are too busy, proud, successful, or too important won’t be at the banquet.

It seems that Jesus prefers the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. Perhaps there’s something to learn from His example.

Not my words. His.

NIVAC Note. Wilkins, Michael J.. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

October 5, 2019

Show Love by Giving to Others

Not everyone has the capacity to provide material things for others, but the Apostle John provides this simple reminder for those who can help:

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 1 John 3:17

One of John’s reoccurring themes is love. I hope and pray you will invest time to get to know John, the Apostle, the human, pastor, and brother in Christ. After writing 78 blog posts on the gospel of John and his letters, I feel like I know him personally. When he asks, how can the love of God be in someone, he is speaking from an in-depth, personal knowledge from serving Jesus in person for something like 1,000 days. His words come from a heart that is intimately aware of God.

Here’s some context to consider. John’s first letter was to warn the church about those who are trying to divide it into factions that propose false doctrine. He used the term “liar” to identify those who would suggest that Jesus was not fully man and fully God. There were those in the church that were woefully misguided and were leading many astray. John’s words are strong and significant yet loving and kind. He is trying to instill what Father Gregory Boyle calls, radical kinship.

Back to the text at hand.

No Pity

There are times when some English translations are not so helpful. In this case, the NIV translates the original phrase to include, “has no pity,” but most of the other translations follow the Greek a bit closer (I looked at 59 other translations):

But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, 1 John 3:17

The idea of “closes his heart against him” carries a lot more weight in my mind. While we might pity someone else, we are not called to pity one another. We are commanded to love everyone in actions and deeds. A closed heart is one that is cold, not willing to be vulnerable, rigid, uncaring. The opposite is a tender heart. One who is moved by seeing a brother or sister in need.

One Who Sees

We have to be able to see the person in need. If we are inwardly focused, it’s unlikely we’ll even see the one in need. This brings us back to the idea of seeing invisible people. As Christ-followers, we can’t stick our heads in the sand and proclaim we never saw someone who needed help. If we do, we’ll be the ones asking:

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? Matthew 25:38-39

They Will Know We Are Christians by our Love

An old song that probably needs a new arrangement declares that we should be known as a people who love one another without reservation. Where we work, the words we use, the care we show for one another, in all ways, our demonstrated should draw people to Christ. Sometimes this looks like giving material possessions, but love doesn’t cost anything and is only amplified when it’s given away.

Give goods when you can, please, but in all things, love your neighbor as yourself.

October 2, 2019October 3, 2019

God will never forget the needy

I’m stuck on Psalm 9 this morning (actually it started yesterday). In particular, this verse keeps ringing in my ears:

But God will never forget the needy;
the hope of the afflicted will never perish. Psalm 9:18

How can anyone be still after hearing that God is so concerned for the needy? Can we just read this verse and continue unmoved? Sometimes I wonder if we’ve heard this so much that we simply stop listening. Many are convinced that the problem is so big that there is nothing one person can do to stem the tide of despair in our community. I don’t think this is a valid observation. From my perspective, the opposite is closer to the truth. The needy and the afflicted are near and dear to the heart of God. When we come upon an issue that is beyond our reach, we have the opportunity to see His hand at work. And here’s the thing: His hand is actually attached to our arms.

Pastor Jay Sloan illustrated this point in a sermon at Artisan Fellowship one Sunday earlier this year. In reference to Shea Abramo’s painting, he asked us to consider that the canvas was at one point, just a plain white surface. We now see the beautiful painting that inspired Shea to pick up the brush, dip it into various pigments, and render what God planted in her mind. Did God paint the picture? Yes indeed. God painted the picture through the hands and artistry of one who is listening to the Spirit speak to her heart.

God will never forget. Neither should we.

The second part of this simple verse reminds us of this amazing truth:

the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

The hope, in this case, is none other than the Almighty God, the Holy One, the Creator of all. He will never perish, and He is always concerned.

Before closing out this post, let’s take a quick look at the first word from verse 18: but. If there’s a but at the beginning, there must be something preceding that requires our attention, so let’s back up to verses 15-17:

The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
all the nations that forget God. Psalm 9:15-17

The nations who have forgotten the ways of the Lord will be snared by their own noose. Take a look at the subtitle for this psalm as written in the NIV:

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David.

Ouch! I wonder what that tune sounds like! The title alone paints an ugly portrait I would not want to display in my home!

Let’s end on a positive note:

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:9-10

For those who work with the oppressed, the lost, the lonely, please hear the words of the psalmist and know that you are in great company. When you are providing shelter, food, clothing, and much more, you are the hands and feet of the Lord. May God bless your work! Amen.

September 30, 2019

Learn to do right

Today’s inspiration comes from the ancient text recorded in the book of Isaiah. The introduction to the most significant prophetic work in the Bible includes this rebuke:

Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17

Isaiah’s words are strong and powerful. Through the first five chapters, we find strong words against our forefathers, coupled with few words that promise restoration. The rebellious nation will be held accountable! Their transgressions are intolerable and are a testimony against the Mighty One of Israel.

The verse that precedes today’s text amplifies its significance:

Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong. Isaiah 1:16

Stop doing wrong! These words may come from the mouth of Isaiah, but they are from the Lord. They sting and burn because they were valid for Israel hundreds of years ago. It seems they are every bit as relevant to our postmodern culture–without the threat of Assyrian invasion or Babylonian exile.

Isaiah tells the people there are many things they are doing wrong; modern instances of meaningless worship gatherings that we might experience today. Please read chapter one to get the full impact of his words, especially Isaiah 1:13-15.

The focus of this blog, however, is to emphasize why we serve the marginalized in our communities. I don’t want to be naive and cherrypick Scripture out of context. Isaiah’s point here is that they are rebellious when they should be doing what is right. They should be seeking justice, defending the oppressed, orphans, and widows. Apparently, they are not doing any of these things.

The question for the churches we serve and for us, are we doing the same? Are we known for seeking justice? When did we last defend the poor? Shouldn’t we lead the fight for orphans and widows?

When we look back at the tumultuous history of our forefathers, we are tempted to mock them as fools, but I’m afraid the mirror doesn’t lie. If I’m completely honest, I’m pretty sure I’ve submitted meaningless offerings and participated in worthless assemblies.

My friends, this must not be our story.

Let us learn to do that which is right and just. May we be known as the fools that stood with Christ to take up the case of the least, the lost, and the lonely.

I’m excited to work with non-profit organizations that are doing much of the heavy lifting in seeking justice and fighting for the poor, but it’s time to mobilize the church. I’m confident there will be little argument about the concept; instead, implementation becomes the sticky point.

We need to focus on efforts that work in concert with others, not going against the grain. The secret is defining what we are passionate about in terms that are not selfishly motivated. In other words, we need to defend the poor because they have no defense otherwise, not to promote one organization over the other. Our concern should focus on the people.

There are no easy answers, but that is not a valid excuse for doing nothing. Throughout the Bible, we see example after example about caring for those who can’t care for themselves. If it’s that important to the Mighty One of Israel, it most certainly should be important to us.

September 28, 2019September 28, 2019

Serving those in Need: Holy Responsibility

What if serving those in need was more than merely a good thing to do? Job makes his case in chapter 31:

¹³ “If I have denied justice to any of my servants,
whether male or female,
when they had a grievance against me,
¹⁴ what will I do when God confronts me?
What will I answer when called to account?
¹⁵ Did not he who made me in the womb make them?
Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

¹⁶ “If I have denied the desires of the poor
or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,
¹⁷ if I have kept my bread to myself,
not sharing it with the fatherless—
¹⁸ but from my youth I reared them as a father would,
and from my birth I guided the widow—
¹⁹ if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,
or the needy without garments,
²⁰ and their hearts did not bless me
for warming them with the fleece from my sheep,
²¹ if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
knowing that I had influence in court,
²² then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
let it be broken off at the joint.
²³ For I dreaded destruction from God,
and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things. Job 31:13-23

Job would rather his arm fall off than to be in the company of those who treated servants unjustly. Stated in a more positive sense, we should be known for those who:

treat all people justly
serve the poor
take care of the widow
cloth those in need
look after the orphans

Serving as an Obligation

If we make serving an obligation, we completely miss the point. Viewed this way, there is always one above the other. In essence, we strengthen the barriers that divide rather than eliminating them. There are no neighborhoods in heaven. But if I had to choose between obligatory serving and not showing up, I’m afraid I would rather side with serving and trust that God would provide the necessary transformation. A seed that remains in the pouch has no chance of growing. One planted on rocky soil won’t grow either, but it might provide a snack for a passing bird. The story of Job above suggests he did all these things in the shadow of “fear of his splendor.” Do something, even if it feels mechanical for a time. Keep looking inside for that which ignites the passionate desire that is consistent with God’s plan for your life. Do nothing, and we all lose.

Serving with a Radically Changed Heart

One of the profound lessons from the teaching of Jesus is that of a radically changed heart. Radical change is required for radical generosity. When we are transformed, we don’t view possessions as something to hold onto. Whatever things we own become tools for helping others. If we have money, it can be put to good use. If we have time, we look for ways to invest the hours. None of which comes from a place of guilt or obligation. Instead, it comes from deep within our hearts and is expressed with the utmost joy.

Holy Responsibility

The term, holy responsibility, sounds like the most pious and religious perspective possible. Imagine printing t-shirts promoting the notion of such. No one would likely buy one, even with the most compelling graphic design! Yet serving those in need is something we are commanded to accept as our responsibility. How do we live with the tension?

My hope and prayer is this series of posts will help guide the discussion by creating a solid biblical foundation to build upon. As we mature, the term responsibility shouldn’t sound threatening any more than welcoming discipline from the loving Father. Growth is often accompanied by pain, but it doesn’t have to be overbearing or arduous — one step at a time.

This is the same approach we should consider when helping others: one methodical step at a time. This is when helping heals rather than hurting. Let’s strive for that!

One more thought about the story of Job: it takes a while before he comes around. The quote above is from chapter 31; the watershed moment happens much later in chapter 38, when God speaks. One of my favorite passages:

Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand. Job 38:3-4

After the seemingly endless back and forth conversation between Job and his friends, God enters the conversation. Job finally understands:

“I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2

As we seek to serve those in need, may we do so with joy; may we have the faith that God can and will do what is necessary to mend the broken-hearted, to heal every wound, to find the lost, and to satisfy the hungry. Mostly, I pray that He will use us in the process.

September 21, 2019September 21, 2019

Embracing the Outcasts

The series I’m creating here focuses on the Biblical mandate for serving the least, the lost, and the lonely. Those who are lonely are often the outcasts of society. The group transcends age, race, and income level. Someone can be incredibly wealthy and be inconsolably lonely. Loneliness leads to many mental health issues, and sadly, extreme loneliness is often the root of suicide.

Matthew was among this group. Though he was rich by worldly standards, I believe he was very lonely. To use the words of Jesus, he was sick.

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:17

Jesus demonstrated His ability to look beyond outward appearances and look deep into the heart of man. While the context suggests He sees people as sick, He does not cast them into groups of haves and have nots. How He handles these situations are there for us to learn from. Jesus is not only permitting us to engage with sinners, but He also gives us a great example.

Mark’s Gospel account provides very little backdrop for the call of Matthew. In verse 14, Jesus simply says, “Follow me,” and Matthew’s life is instantly changed. While there was probably more to the interaction, the scene is consistent with how Mark writes the oldest of the Gospel accounts. He gets right to the point without superfluous details.

The only context we’re given for this great theological statement is the event that appears to follow Matthew’s decision to follow Jesus immediately:

While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:15-17

The self-righteous in this story are looking down on Jesus because He is surrounded by sinners. Jesus goes out of His way to be in that position. This adds fuel to the fire of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Doesn’t Jesus know about these people?

Do we see loneliness in people? Can you imagine having no friends, no family, no one to lean one when you’re having a bad day? Or for that matter, having a great day. Extend that thought by imagining no friends to relate to for a month, a year, or even years. It’s easy to see loneliness in the eyes of someone walking into a shelter, but even then it’s often disguised with alcohol or some other substance use disorder. Those who have been blessed with earthly possessions can hide their loneliness with things of earthly value, but little eternal significance. All deserve a chance to have a relationship with Jesus.

Discipleship is grounded in a relationship with Christ and fueled by our relationship with others. These relationships begin with the acceptance of those who would otherwise be labeled unacceptable.

May we learn to remove our judgment robes and love people the way Jesus demonstrated, especially those who are lonely.

Holy Spirit, give us the ability to see the lonely among us, to have a heart that breaks for their emptiness, and the courage to introduce them to the One who stands ready to fill the gap.