“You make Hell better!”

Ever had someone say that to you?

I did.

It was on the way home Saturday.

My wife had just finished thanking me for joining her in her errands and the wonderful fact that we had just gone to Walmart and Sam’s Club together.  Neither one of us are huge fans of doing Saturday grocery shopping, but it had to be done (or at least according to our 4 hungry kids).  I would have much rather been doing anything but spending my Saturday in Walmart, but my wife asked if I would go, so… I went.

Now, let’s be honest.  I probably could have found an excuse somewhere inside my brain to not go.

“Uh, Honey, I need to go scrub the siding of the house with a toothbrush.  I don’t think I’ll finish in time. ”

Or…

“Honey, that’s a great offer, but I really need to visit David’s mother’s uncle’s cousin’s brother in the hospital this afternoon.  You know how he asked me to pray for her, I mean “him,” last Sunday in church.”

Yeah, I probably could have come up with something really good to not go to Walmart.  But for some reason, I didn’t.

Why? I’m not really sure.  I think maybe because I knew that my wife was dreading going as much as I was, and she wanted a reason that would make the trip a little better.  Now, I’m not sure how my presence at Walmart could do that, but according to her, it would.  So I went.

90 minutes later, we were done, but for those 90 minutes, it was just me and her.  Sure there were a lot of other “unique” people there, but we were oblivious to them (except for the punk rock lady.)  We were chatting and just enjoying each others company.  Before long, we were checking out and loading up.  Our trip to the nether regions complete.

So, why do I share this?

Because I wonder how many of us have helped make someone’s “Hell” a little better today.  I mean, isn’t that part of the reason God has left us here?  Aren’t we suppose to be a blessing to someone?

Now, don’t think for a moment that I’m holding myself up as a “model” to be followed.  That is certainly NOT the case!  What I AM saying is what the Spirit reminded me of.

“Aren’t you glad you did that?  Isn’t it better when you focus on someone else and not yourself?  Putting someone before yourself wasn’t too bad was it? ”

I somehow someway did something that made my wife’s day better, because I didn’t put myself first but put her first.  I wasn’t planning on doing right, it just happened.

Still, it was kind of nice to make her “Hell” a little better.

Wonder if I can do it again tomorrow?

 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.  Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it.”  Luke 14:28

So, how are you doing on your New Year’s Resolutions?  If you are like many of us, frustration has set in.  Maybe you are already behind on your read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan.  Are the numbers on the scale increasing, rather than decreasing?  Did that goal to reduce television watching stop when American Idol started?  While we love to set goals, and dream of becoming a slimmed down, spiritually mature and more well-read version of ourselves, the living out of those goals is infinitely more challenging. 

That’s because every time we set a goal for ourselves, a more appealing alternative is presented.  Have you noticed this phenomenon?  Just as you decide to diet, someone brings you a plate of brownies they “baked just for you.”  As soon as you decide to get up early and pray, the cold weather makes it much more appealing to stay in bed.  And that decision to stop gossiping gets challenged when some interesting news about your boss finds its way to your inbox.   Every good intention will be met with a challenge at some point.  Without a plan, most of us will abandon those intentions, telling ourselves we knew we couldn’t  _________ (fill in the blank).

 The reason this happens is we overlook the fact that every “yes” we say, requires a “no” to something else.  Without that understanding, we operate outside of how life works, and underestimate the cost of achieving our goals.  Here’s an example of what I mean.  When you say “yes” to reading your Bible every day, you have to say “no” to the morning news or your favorite novel.  If you say “yes” to teaching a small group of women, you’ll say “no” to your favorite Tuesday night tv show, plus free time to prepare.  There will always be a sacrifice of something when we desire to move forward in an area of our lives.  Goals are exciting.  Possibility of change is alluring.  Sacrifice is hard, but worth it in the big picture of our lives.  In fact, it’s the road Jesus called His followers to walk daily.  The resolutions you set at the beginning of the year have great value if they are helping you grow into a more disciplined, mature follower of Christ.  However, if you feel like you’ve reached a plateau, or hit a dead end, perhaps it’s time to evaluate if you’ve said enough “no’s.”   I invite you to remove the “New Year’s” label, and reevaluate the goals you set in January.  Recommit to them and consider what you’ll have to sacrifice to make them happen.  The good news about sacrifice is we serve a Lord who lived it out on our behalf.  When we are frustrated with the cost of achieving our goals, we can always turn to the One who understands. 

Dear Lord, I praise You and thank You for sacrificing Your son, Jesus, so I could live forever with You. In light of that, help me keep my sacrifices in perspective.  I ask for Your strength to fulfill the dreams and goals You have placed in my heart. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”   Malachi 3:10

Most people would agree that they want a close relationship with God. We want to hear from him and know his direction for our lives. And the greatest way for that to happen is to obey God’s Word.  We can’t say, “I want to grow spiritually, but I don’t really want to do what God tells me to do.” Yet, too often, that’s exactly what many of us try to do when it comes to God’s commands. This is especially true when it comes to our money.

Our money matters to God. In fact, the area of money is the only topic in Scripture in which God tells us specifically to test him. The reason is because God wants to bless us so much that we don’t even have enough room to store it all!  If you are hoping and praying for that close relationship with God; if you are looking for his direction and purpose for your life, make sure you are being obedient to God in every area, including your money. Because when you are, you will be able to enjoy all the blessings that he has in store for you.  

Lord, I want to be obedient to you in every area of my life, including my finances. Today, I choose to put you first by bringing to you what is already yours, so that I may receive all that you have in store for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  Luke 12:15

God wants all of us to live in his sweet spot of success. For that to happen, we must be willing and ready to honor him in every area of our lives—including the area of finances.  But in today’s schizophrenic economy, many people question the biblical principle of tithing. But the truth is, whether it’s respecting our parents, loving our neighbor, or yes, even managing our money God’s way—honoring God’s Word is the fastest way to discover a blessed life. When we honor God through everything we do, say, touch and feel, we find ourselves positioned for a life of blessing.  When God challenges you to bring the first 10% of everything you make to your local house of worship, he’s simply telling you to return to him what is already his. Because he knows that where you treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).  People say, “Money talks.” If that’s true, what does your money say about your priorities?

Lord, Please help me to always be on guard against the temptation to hoard my wealth, no matter how great or how small that may be. I want to be a good manager over the financial resources that you have blessed me with so that I can be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.  Proverbs 3:9-10

God has given us a tool to help us understand that we are managers. This tool helps us better resist the temptation to think that we are the creators of what God blesses us with. That tool is the tithe. Very simply, the tithe is 10% of whatever comes into your household.  Satan knows that the tithe is a powerful tool in our lives. And he is a master in how he deceives us and convinces us to hoard this resource rather than bringing it back to God. Satan’s goal is to keep us living outside of God’s blessing by whispering excuses into our lives like: “You can’t afford it,” or “It’s ok to just give a little bit after you take care of everything else.”  Whenever you are tempted to play the role of owner instead of being a good steward; whenever you are tempted to keep the tithe for yourself rather than returning it to God, just remember the motives of Satan. He doesn’t want you to be blessed, and doesn’t want you to be a blessing to others. Take care of first things first and always bring God what is rightfully his. Because when you are faithful in the tithe, the blessings you will experience will always be worth it!

Dear God, Please help me commit to always bring you what is rightfully yours, my firstfruits, my tithe. Help me to always trust and believe in your Word, and not fall for Satan’s deceptive ways. I want to be in your will for my life by being obedient and honoring you with my wealth. In your son Jesus’ name, Amen.

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’   Acts 20:35

There’s a philosophy in our culture that breeds mediocrity. Most people do only what is necessary to get by.  If there’s a job to be done, it’s done adequately. We tolerate people we work with, instead of actually taking an interest in them. And when it comes to really important matters, like our relationship with God, our spouse, our family and friends—some offer indifference instead of creativity and an eagerness to engage.  Our God is not a lack-luster God. Our God is overflowing with power and a desire to know you, to bless you, and to offer you his peace and hope for the future. But to receive that, you have to be willing to share what you have now with others. God’s design is that in order to get more, you have to give more. And once we understand that, our lives will be blessed and go above and beyond anything we’ve ever dreamed.

Dear God, It’s so easy to become complacent and only do the bare minimum. Help me to live life with excitement and joy. Help me to put forth effort in helping others, building relationships, in being generous with my time and resources and in going the extra mile in everything that I do. In your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

[Jesus] called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.” Mark 12:43

Many years back I had been helping the Salvation Army by operating one of their kettle stations and ringing a little hand bell in front of a local grocery store. Some days the winter cold makes the bell ringing challenging and unpleasant, but the faces of the coin droppers make it all worthwhile. Last Christmas season, a dear elderly woman stood near the kettle searching a long time in her purse for some coins. She appeared as if she were the one who needed financial help. Finally, she beamed with success as she deposited her rather meager offering. But as Jesus noted in his story of the widow and her penny, it was the sacrificial giving from the heart that mattered.

Often during my Salvation Army bell-ringing experience, I noticed that the people who gave the most often were ones who seemed to be the poorest, and their beaming countenance reflected their joy in giving. But the ones I remember the most are the children who deposited coins given to them by a parent. When they heard the words “Merry Christmas” they flashed wonderful smiles. Yes, giving — however small the amount — can bring us a bright face and a soaring spirit.

O God, we know you ask us to be cheerful givers. May our gifts bring joy to others. Amen.

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.   Malachi 3:10

For some people, tithing seems difficult. How can I give the first 10 percent of what I earn to God when money is tight and I have bills to pay? Yet on closer examination, we find that God makes it easy for us to obey this simple request. Everything we have actually belongs to God; we are merely stewards of what God has given us.  Ten percent is not much, really. A candidate running for office who receives only 10 percent of the vote will lose. If professional baseball players get a hit only one time out of ten, they probably won’t be on the team very long. What about business? If you had a partnership with someone and your partner got 90 percent of the profits while you got only 10 percent, that wouldn’t seem fair. But consider that God is the senior partner in our life, yet asks for only the first 10 percent.  God says “test me in this” so we can experience the love and blessing God wants for us.

 “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”  1 Samuel 17:26

I grew up hearing the story of David and Goliath. I read about it in little Golden Books, and Sunday school teachers retold the drama using flannel boards.  I can almost picture the shepherd boy David standing his ground in front of the giant Goliath with only a slingshot, while the entire Israelite army quaked in fear.  Woosh, woosh, woosh, around his head the slingshot swung.  With a strong arm, David let the stone fly and bam!  The giant fell, and David was victorious.  What a great story!  But is it a story to be left in the history books, or are we to learn anything from David’s example?  As I read the passage in 1 Samuel, chapter 17, a few things jumped out at me.  First, David wasn’t planning to get in a fight that day.  He was just an errand boy sent to deliver food to his brothers.  So truly, he was just a bystander to the fight.  But as David neared the front lines, he quickly realized what was happening.  He heard the taunts of Goliath, and got drawn into the situation.  Something within David’s heart started to stir. David tried to get someone to answer his questions about this bully.  He wanted to know what was going to be done.  David finally asked in exasperation:  “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” David’s anger wasn’t for the threat given to himself, nor his brothers.  His anger burned because someone dared to threaten and defy those chosen by his God. 

When the trained professionals wouldn’t step forward, David – confident of his God’s power and protection – put five stones in his shepherd’s bag and approached the bully.  Calmly, David said to Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Samuel 17:45). 

We could write off the courage of David as a legend to be enjoyed, but not applied to our lives today.  Except for two biblical truths: 1) David was a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22) and 2) God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6).   Although Jesus calls us to a life of forgiveness and compassion, even He didn’t tolerate those who dishonored God’s holy temple.  With righteous indignation, Jesus turned over tables, and drove out money changers and those who were selling doves within the walls of the temple, accusing them of turning His father’s house into “a den of robbers” (Mark 11:17). 

The Bible records many stories of men and women with moral courage.  These individuals knew what was right, and were willing to take a stand in spite of their own fear.  They weren’t perfect, but the heroes of our faith saw injustice as more than a personal offense, they saw it as an offense against God.  As it becomes easier to settle into a life of ambiguity, our children are finding it harder to summon moral outrage. Today a challenge is set before us as parents to raise, and to be, men and women who will stand for what is right.  We live in a world that needs the touch of God through the hand of His people.  We can’t be bystanders and make a difference.   As parents we can instill moral courage into our children by stepping out in faith to help someone else, in spite of inherent risks.  You see, we can’t learn moral courage from a book.  We can only learn it by being brave once.  Then doing it again   

Dear Lord, there’s a part of my heart that stirs when I read of the brave heroes in the Bible.  I know there is so much to do in the world. But you know my fear. Help me to trust You more, so that I can stand up for what is right in spite of the danger.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Remember the words I spoke to you: “No servant is greater than his master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.  John 15:20-21

One of the most surprising facts that people learn about the Christian faith, is that obedience does not equal a comfortable life. Jesus says in Matthew 10, that he did not come to bring peace. He came to bring a sword.  God never promised that we would have it easy in this world. Some of God’s most obedient followers have been imprisoned, tortured and have even forfeited their lives because of their allegiance to Christ.

Most Christ-followers today will not lose their life for faithful obedience. The costs are often more subtle. You may have to sacrifice some social events in order to attend church, or give of your time to volunteer serving others instead of serving your own wants and needs. But these are small inconveniences compared to the ultimate sacrifice that Christ made on the cross. 

Don’t let minor sacrifices keep you from focusing on the bigger picture. Consider what the Bible says. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus sacrificed his life because of the blessings on the other side of the cross. What are you holding on to, instead of sacrificing it so that you can experience the joy of a much bigger blessing?

Lord, thank you for your ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Because of your endless love for me, I am able to be a part of something bigger than myself. Give me the strength and courage I need to sacrifice my self-serving desires so that I can be fully obedient to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.