Get Rich Quick?

(In light of the growth of gambling establishments in our area, indeed across the nation, I thought this article to be worthy of sharing. - TL)

Linda was on vacation playing the slot machines. It was her first time in a casino, and she wasn't sure how the machines operated.

"Excuse me," she said to a casino employee. "How does this work?"

The worker showed her how to insert a bill, hit the spin button, and operate the release handle.

"And where does the money come out?" she asked.

He smiled and motioned to a far wall before saying, "Usually at the ATM."

That's the trouble with gambling and other "get rich quick" schemes. There's only one person getting rich, and it's not you!

The lure of the schemes, however, is quite strong. The temptation is that you might come away with that big jackpot and go home with your pockets full without putting forth much effort. The reality, however, is much more like the apostle Paul said: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (1 Timothy 6:9 NKJV).

Considering the constant temptation of money, it's not surprising that Jesus had much to say about the subject. It is significant, though, that Jesus didn't talk as much about what to do with our money as he talked about the right kind of attitude we ought to have toward it.

Agur, in his pearls of wisdom contained in Proverbs, also had much to say about our attitude toward wealth. One of my favorite verses on the subject is this one: “Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:8-9).

May you be sufficiently blessed. But, may your riches – and your desire for them -- never diminish your sense of need for God.

From Thought for the Day by Alan Smith

See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.

Love, Tony

Tradition or Commandment?

In Matthew 15:1-9 there is the account of the scribes and Pharisees asking Jesus why His disciples did not observe the “traditions of the elders” because they didn’t wash their hands before eating. Jesus answered in this way, “Why do you also transgress the commandments of God by your tradition?” Later, Jesus says, “In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

In this passage, Jesus very strongly condemns depending on tradition instead of God’s commandments. But how do we distinguish between tradition and commandments? God’s word tells us.

In 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 Paul writes that God’s word is “profitable for doctrine (what to teach), for reproof (to tell us if we are doing something wrong), for correction (how to stop doing wrong), for instruction in righteousness (to tell us how to live to please God): that the man of God may be perfect (or, complete/mature), thoroughly furnished to all good works.” If we are thoroughly furnished by God’s word, do we need more?

Second Peter 1:3 says God has given us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” If He has given all things, then do we need additions, or tradition to supplement God’s word?

Jesus says in John 12:46-48 that the word will judge us in the last day. Therefore, we must depend only on God’s word to distinguish between tradition and commandment.

The Restoration plea is to encourage people to search God’s Word to prove all things and not depend on men. It is an effort to restore New Testament Christianity by doing Bible things in Bible ways, calling Bible things by Bible names, speaking where the Bible speaks and remaining silent where the Bible is silent. Therefore, we offer no man-written creeds, dogmas, catechisms, disciplines, or manuals of doctrine. Restoration demands constant maintenance. We must not allow ourselves to become complacent with that message, however. It is up to each individual to know the difference between tradition and commandment. Peter says we should “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.

Love, Tony

“Them” or “Us”?

Robert B. Reich, U S Secretary of Labor from 1993-97 once spent six months visiting American workplaces, administering what he called the “pronoun test.” He explained it this way. “I ask frontline workers a few general questions about the company. If the answers I get back describe the company in terms like ‘they’ and ‘them’, then I know it’s one kind of company. If the answers are put in terms like ‘we’ or ‘us’, I know it’s a different kind of company.”

Let’s apply that test to the church here. When you think of the church and whatever is going
on, do you think “they” or “we”, “them” or “us?” God’s word states clearly that each of us has our own place in the church. The church is made up of individuals. You and I are the building blocks of the church. Christ founded it, died for it, and will return to present it to His Father. In 1 Corinthians 12:12 we are told, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” Verse 14 says, “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.” It explains that the foot is just as important as the hand and the ear as important as the eye. In verse 18 we read, “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” Basically, the conclusion is in verse 27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

So, what pronouns do you use when you think or talk about the church? Is it “them” or “us?” Are you being the part that you can be? Anyone can say “they” ought to be doing something but it takes commitment to say, “I will do what I can do.” or “I am a part of Christ’s Body.” or “It is MY responsibility.” I read another neat little thing a long time ago. It says, “What kind of church would this church be if every member were just like me?” Interesting question.

It takes the whole church pulling together to grow. Be a part. Do your part. If you aren’t sure what your part is, ask someone for something to do. And remember, you can always ask someone to attend with you.

See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.

Love, Tony

“Behold, new things have come.”

It’s great to have new things. Many of us received gifts at Christmas that were new things. What makes something new?

First something new is what replaces what has worn out or become outdated. For example, we get new clothes, new electronic devices, new appliances, new cars, etc. Also, new describes something that has not been before, such as new inventions. Some of us who are older easily remember when there were no such things as cell phones, or even computers. We remember our parents and grandparents talk about “new fangled gadgets” that revolutionized our lives in so many ways.

But the “new” I’m thinking of is that which is found in what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (NASB)

Some observations:

Newness is in Christ. Jesus ushered in the reality of what God had been talking about throughout the Old Testament and in the Old Law. But the real newness is the life Christ gives to those dead in sin.

Old things pass away. When we become a new creature (or, creation) in Christ we put away what was old. Just like when we make those New Year’s resolutions and promise to put aside old habits we have told God that we will put aside an old life that was not consistent with His will.

New things have come. What are the results when we put off old habits and resolve to change? That depends on whether or not we follow through on our commitment. When one is successful on a diet you can see the results. When maturity comes as we grow older it can be seen. When we commit our life to follow Christ the change is also noticeable. People around us can see the “new.”

These words of Paul are familiar to most of us. Let’s take a closer look at them and make sure they apply to us so those around us can see Christ in us and the resolve we have in being new.

See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.

Love, Tony