The Heaton File

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come! (1 Corinthians 16:22)

Would You Hire Paul?

It would be hard to imagine how difficult the task of writing a church like Corinth and dealing with all the problems they faced and many they brought on themselves. Paul was a master craftsman selecting the right words and exhortations to admonish the saints, rebuke their sin and challenge the spirit to be united in Christ. His letters to Corinth are classical examples of tact, diplomacy and gentleness all wrapped into one. The ending of the letter does not go unheeded as he simply, boldly and clearly sums up the message – if you do not love Christ there is no hope. It becomes an emphatic statement of truth that brings all of his arguments to bear on the hearts of the disciples. There are no vague exhortations in this letter. Paul demands by the authority of Christ for the brethren to shape their lives in accordance to the will of the Father or else. This is hard preaching but must be heard. If the love of the Lord Jesus Christ is not first in the hearts of the saints then they should expect the wrath of God. Truth does not change because of a misguided view of what is right and wrong. Believing the world is flat does not make the world flat; it just deceives the mind of those who believe in falsehood. What Paul dealt with at Corinth was a multiplicity of problems plaguing the early church and the only solution was to make the heart right with God so the sin would be removed. Hard preaching. A tough message. Bold truth. There are two choices: either serve God and live or to rebel against the gospel and perish.

Preaching in the New Testament was not a watered down message of accommodating truths based on any man’s endowments of wealth, standing or popularity. The message of the gospel was a two-edged sword piercing to the marrow of the soul and discerning the spirits of truth and righteousness. Paul’s final admonition was a demonstrative message about Jesus Christ. There is only one Lord and service to Christ must be total and absolute. Minimal Christians were unacceptable who sought to do as little as they could and be impressed with a cavalier view of obedience. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ he was to be accursed or anathema. There are a lot of churches of the Lord today that would not allow Paul to preach for them. His message would be too stern and revealing. It must be said the apostle began his letter with love and compassion for the brethren. He spoke of his continual thanksgiving for their faith remembering them in his prayers. What remained were the many problems the church had and quickly the apostle directed his letter to their division and carnality. With a pen of love he stripped away the façade of their hypocrisy allowing a man with his father’s wife to be accepted among the saints. Their mockery of the supper of Christ, rebellion of women, legal wrangling, insensitivity to others, abuse of the spiritual gifts and denial of the resurrection of Jesus all became the foundation of his message to the saints. Repent was the message of the day. There could be no quarter given to the appeal he gave the Corinthians to correct their lives to be in harmony with the word of God. He was not suggesting things they should be doing but commanding them to repent. Paul said what Jesus said Himself: if you love God you will obey His commandments. There is nothing else a man can do to find happiness before the Lord but to love Him and obey Him. If you do not love the Lord Jesus Christ you are in serious trouble.

Many churches today do not hear the message of God’s love and His wrath. Often they hear only one to the detriment of the other. Preaching only the love of God will not bring about a heart of repentance and fear. Suggesting the wrath of God is all a person must hear will create a heart of unrighteous fear and loathing for the Lord. Paul had a huge problem to deal with at Corinth and he began his letter showing the love of God. Throughout the message he used the style of steel and velvet to impress upon the hearts of the saints the love of God and the will of the Lord. When he finished his letter he announced to every child of God a choice must be made and that choice will determine the eternal destiny of the soul. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul and mind they would be accursed. Loving the Lord is not just in name alone. Showing up for services does not prove love. Expressing love is through the action of the heart, hand and mind giving them totally to the word of God. Do you have a man who will preach like the apostle Paul? The whole counsel of God includes the goodness and severity of God. Sin must be rooted out and challenged. Love is at the root of the message for the salvation of the soul. Preach the whole counsel of God. Anything less is not the gospel. Preach the word.

Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” (Acts 5:34-39)

Theudas Claimed To Be Somebody But Was Not

The church of the Lord suffered persecution from its infancy as the Jews responded to the teaching that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Christ of Old Testament scrip. When Peter and John healed the lame man at the Temple it caused a great stir among the religious leaders who demanded explanations from the apostles for what they had done and why they were teaching a risen Jesus. These events were not far removed from the life of Jesus Christ and His miracles and teaching. For a second time the apostles were arrested and thrown into the common prison but an angel of the Lord set them free. The next day when the High priest and elders found the apostles preaching in the Temple they brought them before the council warning them to stop teaching in the name of Jesus. Peter declared they would obey the command of God over the pressures of the Jewish leaders continuing to teach that Jesus was raised from the dead exalted to the right hand of God as Prince and Savior. Infuriated by their insolence, the council sought to kill the apostles. It was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law that intervened and counseled the Sanhedrin to be very cautious of the apostles and their work. There was something clearly different about these men who followed Christ and Gamaliel knew the dangers of fighting against the plan of God.

Jesus was not the first person to claim to be the Messiah or Christ. Many false prophets had risen trying to lead the people away. Gamaliel mentions two men who tried to lead a rebellion claiming to be someone important but met with failure instead. Theudas rose up claiming to be somebody and a large number of men gathered around him. Four hundred followers joined Theudas in his quest for power. It all came to nothing when he was slain and his followers scattered. Judas of Galilee was another man who claimed to be someone but he was killed and his movement came to nothing. Gamaliel’s point was very clear in comparisons. Theudas and Judas lead a revolt but were killed and the movement died. Jesus of Nazareth had done remarkable things in His life and was killed like others who tried to be someone. The difference was that now His followers claimed to have seen this Jesus alive after a public crucifixion and death and their numbers were not dwindling but increasing. Thuedas claimed to be someone and came to nothing; Jesus claimed to be someone and everything proved Him to be right. The apostles stood before the Jewish council having been warned previously to stop teaching in the name of Jesus and nothing was going to dissuade them from teaching a risen Savior. These men were remarkable in their devotion to Christ and Gamaliel could sense the purpose of God in their lives. He knew if this religious movement was true nothing man could do would stop it.

Two thousand years later the words of Gamaliel continue to ring true. Men like Theudas have come and gone a thousand times. They claim to be someone but are found to be frauds, charlatans and liars. Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. This claim was a bold proclamation that on the surface the Jews had every right to challenge. It was blasphemy for anyone to declare themselves to be God when no man could take on the mantle of deity without the authority from the Lord God. What the Jews could not see and refused to admit was that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and proved He was deity by His teaching and His miracles. Four hundred men followed Theudas and when their leader was killed the movement came to nothing. Thousands of people followed Jesus and when He was killed His disciples would later be found throughout the world proclaiming the message of a risen Savior. This message continues today because the message is true. With each passing year the words of Gamaliel ring clearer and louder as the work of the man from Nazareth continues to change hearts and turn men to God. It will never be overthrown or come to naught because the message of Jesus Christ is eternal in its nature and saving in its power. Followers of Jesus continue to multiply and nothing in this world will destroy it. The church has suffered greatly from apostasy as men have sought to change the character of the church. With all the challenges from the apostate Roman Catholic Church to the minions of its followers in the Protestant creations of men, the New Testament church of Jesus Christ remains the same. Men like Theudas will try to challenge the plan of God but they will always come to nothing. There is one Lord, one faith, one body, one church and one way. The kingdom of God will continue as long as the earth remains because that is His plan.

Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. (Romans 15:14)

Three Points Of Confidence

Paul’s letter to the saints in Rome is a powerful declaration of the grace of God saving all men through the death of Jesus Christ. The Jews could not boast of their spiritual heritage as an advantage over the Gentiles and salvation would not be granted by living as a law to self. In his closing remarks to a heavily filled message of the doctrine of the gospel, the apostle tells them his purpose in writing and his confidence in their faith. It is a wonderful three part exhortation that would be invaluable for any Christian to emulate and pattern their life after. Paul knows these brethren were full of good works, filled with the knowledge of Christ and they genuinely cared for each other. Being full of good works expresses the kindness and benevolent heart shared by the saints in Rome. Their relationship with one another was not filled with hatred against one another as Jew and Gentile but accepting and willing to grow together in the gospel. There had been doctrinal issues that caused problems within the church but Paul was confident the overriding spirit of goodness prevailed in their hearts to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. The tools to congregational harmony come from saints who have the virtues of kindness in their attitudes respecting the unique character of everyone. It was difficult to convince the Jews and Gentiles to sit together, worship together and to be as one with each other but in Christ it could be done. Having a spirit of goodness paths the way for unity. They not only possessed it; they were full of it.

Brethren who share the word of God together grow together in the love of God. Their love for one another comes from a common bond of knowing the will of God. The word of God always unites people under one flag of allegiance and loyalty. Learning about the word brought their lives into one foundation of truth. The knowledge of Christ does not divide. With each kernel of truth the heart draws closer to the Father and with that knowledge is drawn in greater harmony with the children of God. The Roman church was filled with the knowledge of Christ which produced in Paul a confidence they would take his letter on its merit of God’s word and bring unity between Jew and Gentile. No congregation can survive if the study of the word is not emphasized and implemented as the foundational work of the church. The Bible must be at the forefront to know God, understand the person of Jesus Christ and be filled with Spirit of the Lord.

Finally Paul exhorted the saints in Rome to admonish, instruct and teach one another. A congregation filled with the goodness of benevolence and the knowledge of Christ will build the spirits of others up in their love for one another and the vigilant stand for truth. All men need encouragement and in the body of Christ one of the most important elements of unity is found in the character of building others up in the most holy faith. Filled with the word of God creates an atmosphere of power where all the souls are united for the common cause. No one is left behind. The weak are built up, the needy taken care of, the downtrodden exhorted and the examples of faith are followed. Commending and praising one another in the faith of Christ increases the strength of the work of God. There is a spirit of excitement and joy when saints come together because they know everyone is seeking their exhortation. Forsaking the assembly destroys that fabric but gathering as people of God to study, sing, pray, praise and worship the Lord is a mantle of strength that will carry the heart throughout the week. Like the early saints, daily exhortation is needed also. Never losing the desire to be with one another is a mark of a growing church. Home Bible studies, recreation with holy people of God and sharing in meals together is a means of admonishing one another. The church that spends time together grows together. Built upon the goodness of one another, being filled with the knowledge of Christ and seeking opportunities to instruct the hearts of all saints will bring great joy to the Lord and unity among brethren.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

Why Is There Pain?

The greatest joy a man can have is to know a day will come when the shackles of life that oppress, subdue and afflict the body will be taken away and an eternal relief is granted by the grace of God by removing death, sorrow, crying and pain. Four pillars of life are defined by the Lord why there is suffering in this world and a longing for eternal life. There are few who live in the world that does not experience the death of a loved one, the sorrows of life filled with endless tears and the pain that accompanies the body and the soul. All men will suffer; some more than others. There are many uncertainties of life but these are all real and certain. It is not a matter of if they will happen but when they will occur. God created the eyes to fill with tears because grief is a natural part of life. He made man in the image of the creature that feels emotions on an eternal plane that is torn with grief. Death is real and it comes to all men with no exceptions. Sorrow fills the voids of life in an endless parade of events that often go unanswered. Babies cry, young children cry, men and women of all ages and nationalities grieve with tears flowing down the cheeks because God fashioned the body of man to shed tears. He created the emotion of sorrow to help deal with the emptiness grief brings.

Pain is a part of the world for one reason and one reason only: the rebellion of man to the law of God. Sin is where pain originated. When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden there was no pain. Their bodies were equipped for grief, sorrow and tears but pain had not entered the world of man because sin had not darkened the soul of man. As a result of sin, man experienced the feeling of emptiness separated from God. The consequence of sin was the loss of the tree of Life and man began to die. Adam lived 930 years but he died. Methuselah may have lived the longest of any known man on earth but he still died. Jesus suffered the pains of life before the cross. He knew what it was like to sorrow at the death of others when he wept for Lazarus and for the city of Jerusalem. His heart was rent in two at the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Pain was a part of His life like it is a part of all men. Why is pain so important and why did God create pain? It shows that we are alive and it gives us hope for a better world.

When a hand is placed on a hot surface there is an immediate reaction of searing pain. This proves there is life and without this mechanism of pain the body would be destroyed. God put pain in life to remind man that he is alive. Pain teaches man to depend on the Lord and to know sorrow helps man understand who he is and why he was made in the image of God. Life here is not supposed to be a time of the greatest joy. If there was no pain, sorrow, tears or death here why would there be any appeal for heaven? These four realities help us see more clearly a need to be with God in eternity rather than living in this world. Men work hard to make this world their home when in fact this world is set to be destroyed and all its works. All that man works for remains when he dies. Happiness is not to be found here but in a world where pain, sorrow, tears and death is taken away: Heaven. God knows we have pain – He created it. When we see His purpose in our pain and sorrow then we can learn how to understand sorrow and to live fuller lives with His promises. “Great grief is a divine and terrible radiance which transfigures the wretched” (Victor Hugo; Les Miserables, 1862).

Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God. (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)

Speaking To God

The house of God was a place of reverence, fear and glory. Solomon constructed the magnificent place of the Lord following the instructions of his father, David. His temple would stand as a place of the holiness of God dwelling with His people for many years. Like the Tabernacle of old, the Temple in Jerusalem would be a place the people of God would sacrifice offerings seeking the pleasure of the Lord. Going to the house of the Lord has never been something to be taken for granted. There was a need to guard the steps of one’s heart approaching worship. This would especially be true of the words of dedication given at the temple. Solomon warned the heart should be careful not to utter frivolity or insincere words of devotion to the Lord because the righteousness of God would see through hypocrisy. His exhortation is to draw close to worship intending to listen more closely than offering up words of foolishness. Worship is directed toward the character of God; not the talents of men. Those who come before the Lord may impress others with their words of ostentatious braggadocios but He knows the intent of the heart. Man can easily forget that he is the clay and the Lord is the potter hastily speaking with disrespect and dishonor. A fool’s voice is known by his many words. Overcompensating for the inadequacies of an evil heart, the fool will try to impress God with his wisdom and great oratory. Nothing is more silly or useless than the creation trying to impress the Creator. Prudence is needed when coming before the Lord.

Worship is a direct relationship between man and God. The shorter the line the clearer the message. God has made His message as succinct as possible expecting man to recognize the relationship as one of truth and clarity. When a man makes a vow before God there should be no thought of reneging on the promise. It becomes a matter of a man’s word to be faithful to what he has committed himself to do. This is imperative for man to see the promise made to God is absolute devotion. It would be better to remain silent and make no promise than to try and fool the Lord God. When a promise fails the man may try to excuse himself for his failures when in fact the reason was because he never intended to fulfill the promise he made to God. This man is a fool. The admonition of Solomon is summed up in two words: fear God. There is nothing the Lord does not know and He knows the heart of man. Man can fool other men and never be discovered. Trying to fool the all-knowing, all-present and all-powerful Lord God is an exercise in eternal foolishness.

The temple of Solomon has long been laid to waste and men no longer worship in a singular place or nation. What the son of David said about going to the house of God has never changed. There is still a need to walk prudently or carefully when approaching the Lord to worship Him. This would be true when the assembly is called and during the busy days of the week. Worship is collective and individual and being rash with the mouth or uttering anything without respect for the holiness of God is a fool’s journey. The Lord knows the heart of all men. Everyone will be judged by their words which should serve as a warning and admonition to be more careful about crafting the words that come from the mouth. Good things come from good hearts and evil words come from evil hearts. Gossip is from an evil heart and is foolish. Cursing decries the nature of God, anger expresses a carnal heart, and lying is the ultimate foolishness of a wicked mind trying to fool the Lord. Promises made to God must be kept or not made at all. Marriage vows are sacred because they are made as an oath before the One who ordained the union. Promises made to one another should always be tempered by the promises made to God. When going to the house of the Lord words should be few and devotion multiplied. He allows man to come into His presence and what an incredible blessing to be able to speak to the Creator of the world, Savior of all men and Lord God the Almighty. Watch what is said.

Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord; Your salvation according to Your word. So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word.

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances. So shall I keep Your law continually, forever and ever.

And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts. I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love. My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes.

(Psalm 119:41-48)

The Salvation That Comes From The Word

There is no greater message given to man than the words of the Creator to His creation. Revealed in the Bible is the way of truth according to the One who designed, ordained and created the nature of man to seek holiness, righteousness and godliness. The free moral agency of man allows him to choose how to live his life and often he will choose to live apart from the word of God. From the beginning of time the way of goodness has always been revealed through the testimony of divine word. Whether spoken orally or written down, the word of God has always been fully revealed to man that he may seek after the promises of the Lord God. Contained in these promises is the full life intended by the Creator to bring the greatest happiness for man. Salvation only comes from the word of God and the divine truth is the only measure of what a man must do to be saved. How does one answer the questions of life? Where can man go to find out where he came from, why he is here and what future is ahead for him? The making of many books there is no end but there has always been one avenue of knowledge that directs man in the way of truth: the word of God. Answers to all of life’s puzzling inquiries can be found in the word of God. Through its pages the Lord is revealed as faithful, true and never fails on a promise He has made. Reading the word of God will teach a man to trust in the love of God because it never fails. Meditating on the stories of holy writ will fill the heart with the hope of everlasting life as the word of truth reveals the character of God to a needy heart. Many men live hopeless lives because they seek answers from their own wisdom. The law of the Lord abides forever and ever. Trusting in the word of God will bring hope to a hopeless heart, faith to a faithless spirit and love to an empty life.

Throughout this great psalm is the recognition of what the word of God means to man. It is the word of truth, ordinances, law, precepts, testimonies, commandments and statutes of God. Looking for answers apart from the word of God is futile. There can be no hope if a man does not walk in the liberty given by the Lord in His word. Seeking the precepts or teachings of righteousness will turn the heart of man to trust in the promises of God. Faith comes by hearing because in the word of God a man learns the commandments of the Lord and willingly walks according to those statutes. Through the knowledge of the word of God a man is willing to speak before kings the testimonies of the Lord without any trepidation. Boldness comes from knowing the word of God. There is clarity and understanding trusting in the divine word of truth established by the mouth of God. The wisdom of man is futile because it is always changing. Trusting in the word of God is finding the rock of salvation that will not move or change at the whims of man. No book contains such knowledge as found in the word of God, the Bible. It is the message of hope because it can be trusted. Seeking the precepts of the Lord brings freedom to man in his knowledge of the divine way.

Reading the word of God brings happiness as one delights in the truth of God. Commandment keeping is not a drudgery whereby man is bound to walk in an unhappy and miserable state of mind. Loving the commands of God is for the joy of man to find true fulfillment in the plan created by his God. The word of the Lord has always been to bring happiness to man through the divine will. To delight in the commandments of God is to create a deep love for the Father. Measured in the words of the Father to His children are His protection, care, trust, nourishment, providence and promises of a greater day on the eternal shore. Expressions of joy fill the heart as the commandments of God are established before the eyes of man. Meditating on the statutes of God bring joy and peace. The word of the Lord is salvation. Nothing will bring greater joy than the time spent in trusting, hoping, and keeping, walking, seeking, speaking, delighting and loving the word of God. Salvation is found in the sixty-six books of the heavenly library.

So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:48-52)

Jesus On Mother’s Day

The celebration of Mother’s Day is a special day to honor the woman who bore a child into a world through the procreative power of God. Child birth is the closest thing to a man producing a miracle as the Lord gives life to the seed of man and woman growing into a newborn nine months later. With the exception of Adam and Eve, every human has come into the world through the agency of motherhood including the Son of God. All men have had human fathers that procreated the seed in the woman with the exception of Adam, Eve and Jesus Christ. Adam was formed of the dust of the ground, Eve from the rib of man and Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary was very favored to be chosen to be the mother of Jesus. This would not make her an object of worship as the Roman Catholic Church has done for centuries but rather a symbol of God’s love for man to bring His Son into the world in the fashion – almost – as all men. Jesus was conceived in the womb by the Spirit of God and grew in Mary’s womb until the time of her deliverance. He had an umbilical cord, ten toes and ten fingers and cried as all newborn babies do at birth. Jesus learned how to eat, stumbled a lot before learning how to walk and mastered the language of His birthright. He was taught that one plus one equals two and the bright ball in the sky was called the Sun with the Moon glowed in the dark. It must have been many precious moments in the early childhood of Jesus that He recalled the soothing voice of His mother singing to him and teaching Him about God’s word and the importance of the Temple and worship. He knew the protective care of Mary as they traveled to a far off land called Egypt after those strange men from the East visited them. Life in the town of Nazareth was filled with the sights and sounds of a carpenter’s town. Jesus would enjoy the company of his brothers and sisters watching them grow to maturity, marry and have children. Life was ideal for the supposed son of Joseph.

Jesus began His ministry at the age of thirty and Mary was nearly always there as He moved about the land of Israel. Joseph apparently had died sometime before then and often Mary would appear on the pages of scripture to encourage and help her son. At times she would bring her other children to see Jesus. The most poignant scene of Jesus and Mary was when He was nailed to the cross. As the Son of God writhed in pain on the cross, His mother and aunt along with a few other disciples stood watching Jesus die. The heart of Mary must be been bursting at the seams to see what they had done to that little boy she first laid eyes on in Bethlehem. Her son was being killed on a Roman cross and He had done nothing wrong. She knew without a doubt her son as the Son of God because no man could be born as Jesus. Her faith was so incredible that she stood at the cross and said nothing. Jesus did not need to hear her say anything because He could see it in her face. With tears streaming down her wearied and beleaguered face, Mary wept for sorrow and for joy. Sorry because of her love for her son. Joy because she knew who her son was and knew this was God’s plan. Jesus was not unaware of His mother’s grief. He had energy enough to ask the apostle John to care for His mother and to tell His mother that He loved her. She had kept so many things in her heart over the years. Her faith in God sustained her in that dark day of Jesus death. The last reference given of Mary the mother of Jesus is when the church began on the Day of Pentecost. She was numbered with the early disciples. What a joy to see a mother’s faith responding to the mission and work of her son. It is intriguing to think of Mary’s contribution to the story of the risen Christ in the first century church.

There is no doubt that Jesus is the Son of God. He declared His power and glory through His life and glorified the Father in His death. But even the Son of God honored His mother. Joseph and Mary taught Jesus everything He needed to know as a young Jewish boy growing up in Galilee. Jesus was subject to His mother and honored His mother because of who she was. Not just a chosen vessel to bring the Christ into the world but a woman of godly character who believed in the promises of God. Mary was His mother and Jesus followed the pattern of revering His mother in every way prescribed by the law of God. The Son of God gave honor to His mother increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. She was His teacher, mentor, guide and confidant in the glory of God’s grace. Jesus celebrated mother’s day every day He was with His mother and told her how much He loved her every day. Thank you Jesus for leaving us a pattern of love and respect for our mothers.

But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” (2 Kings 5:20)

Greed Got Gehazi

Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, was a great and honorable man during the days of Elisha, a prophet of the Lord. During one of Naaman’s raids into Israel, they captured a maiden girl who believed in the power of God to heal any manner of disease. She was brought into the house of Naaman to serve his wife and the little girl saw that Naaman suffered from leprosy. There was no cure for this dreaded disease and a slow painful death was the only future Naaman had. Through her compassion for her master, she told her mistress about the prophet in Israel who would be able to heal the leprosy. Naaman went down to the house of Elisha the prophet and waited for instructions on how to be healed. To his amazement, the man of God did not come out of the house but sent a servant to tell him to dip seven times in the river Jordan and he would be cleaned. Furious the commander went away angered to be treated with such contempt. At the final pleading of his servants, Naaman obeyed the voice of the prophet and dipped seven times in the Jordan. His flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean. Filled with overwhelming joy, he returns to the house of Elisha to impart the gifts he had brought with him to reward the man who told him how to be clean. The prophet refused the gifts and Naaman departed from him a short distance.

Before coming to Israel, the commander had put together a gift to be given to the man who healed him in the form of ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten changes of clothing. This was a king’s ransom that any man would be tempted to have. Elisha had no interest in the silver, gold or clothing. His work was to glorify the Lord and give honor to His power and not any wisdom on the part of a prophet. When Elisha refused the gifts, his servant Gehazi was beside himself. When Naaman came to their door, the servant noticed the silver and gold and became excited they were going to be rich from this Syrian lord. To his dismay, his master refused all the gifts. When Naaman left just a short distance away, Gehazi determined to get some of the gifts that were brought; if not for Elisha at least for himself. He overtakes Naaman and lies by telling him Elisha changed his mind and two young men of the sons of the prophets have come and they could use some of the silver and changes of clothes. Naaman insisted Elisha receive two talents of silver with two changes of garments to be carried by two of his own servants. Gladly Gehazi accepted the gifts and returned home. When he came to the citadel he dismissed the servants and hid the treasure in his own home before returning to Elisha. Standing before the prophet, Elisha asks his servant where he had been. Gehazi said he had been no place. The prophet knew what had happened and pronounced the cure of leprosy to fall on Gehazi and his skin became as white as snow.

Greed is a poison that fills the mind with the empty treasures of a passing world. Life was hard in the days of Elisha but everything the servant needed was provided. Living with Elisha would have been a joy to be around a powerful man of God who had received the mantle of Elijah to do the work of the Lord. Elisha had done many miracles from turning bad water to good, supplying water to the land, defeating the Moabites, taking care of a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets and raising the son of the Shunammite woman among other miracles. Gehazi would have known of the great power of Elisha but greed became a powerful demon for him. What good would the silver do him as a leper? He had everything he needed but he loved the treasures of the world more than the treasures of truth and righteousness. The knowledge of God is not limited to the space of time. There is nothing that man does the Lord is not aware. All things are naked and open before the eyes of the Lord. Seeking after the riches of the world is useless, vain, and empty and will only bring the misery of a heart filled with greed. Happiness does not come from silver, gold and changes of clothes. Gehazi should have listened more closely to the voice of Elisha and he would not have gone after Naaman’s treasure. The nature of sin is the folly of the moment. There is a belief that if sin can be enjoyed just for a time it will bring lasting happiness. It never does and never will. The heart that trusts in the Lord will enjoy life here and the blessings of the riches of eternity to come. Greed got Gehazi.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

He Will Never Leave Us

Wilson Adams uses this illustration in his book, “Where Is God When I Hurt?” An older couple is driving along when the wife spots a newly married couple in the vehicle ahead. She exclaims, “Look at them, Harold! Would you just look at them?” She continues, “She’s all scrunched up next to him with her head on his shoulder…” She sighs, “Harold, do you remember when we used to do that? I would sit next to you with my head on your shoulder…” She sighs again. “Look at us, Harold. Just look at us! You’re way over there under the steering wheel and I’m way over here next to the door. What happened to us, Harold?” She sighs even more. Harold was a man of few words. Ten miles later he cleared his throat and said, “I never moved.” Covetousness is an uncommon word in our daily language but it is the most common malady in our lives. The problem with covetousness is that it captures the mind and hearts of God’s people to focus more upon the blessings of material wealth than the blessings of spiritual gain. Covetousness is materialism, greed, avariciousness and a longing to obtain relics of futility to hoard for no purpose but to protect, guard, insure and leave behind when we die. Trusting in riches takes the heart away from the Lord believing that security will only be found when self is its own god that will deliver itself in time of need.

Contentment is the antithesis of covetousness. Learning to be content begins with trusting in the grace of God rather than the empty shell of material gain. Man likes to be in control. He drives himself to gain all this stuff on earth as a security blanket but never finds warmth. His life is cold and miserable as he surrounds himself with the trinkets of a material world and at the end of living faces a wasted existence. Trusting in God will bless a man in this life and the life to come because he knows no matter what happens in life – good or bad – God is always there. He does not lie and has kept every promise He has made. Included in those promises is what the Lord promised His people from time beginning that He would never leave them – and He never did. The history of man is that he always leaves God and blames the Lord for all the misery that man has. The psalmist wrote that the Lord is good and is a helper to those who fear Him. Reigning the heart in with the will of God brings joy and happiness when life is not about the here and now and all that stuff we accumulate and hoard. Man leaves the protection of God and suffers because of it.

Learning to be content takes a heart that seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The rule of the Lord must take precedent in every part of life including the pursuit of worldly gain. There is nothing sinful about riches but the riches of covetousness will darken the heart from God’s love. Without contentment the heart cannot see the blessings of God and enjoy the knowledge the Lord will care for His children. He always has and always will because He never moves from His promises. Drawing closer to God is the great need of men. Learning to trust in the grace of God will bring greater joy and satisfaction than anything man could ever imagine. He is our Helper because He made us and knows what we need. Learning to be content brings the comfort of the Lord. His promises are sure, right and true. Lean on the everlasting arms of the Lord God who cares for His saints that love and fear Him. The closer you get to God the happier you will be.

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. (Nahum 1:7)

The Hard Lesson Of Trust

It is easy to say we trust in God but to put that trust into action is the challenge. Trust means to have a confidence in and reliance upon another person to be fair, truthful, and honorable with an expectant hope in the future of good things. It also means we are willing to place our lives in the hands of another accepting they will look out for our welfare. Going into surgery we trust the medical staff to perform at their peak abilities so the procedure will be a success. Pilots are entrusted with flying the airplane with great care and expertise ensuring a safe journey. Eating in a restaurant is fraught with danger if the staff is not careful how they manage the food we consume. We trust they will do their best in making our meal pleasant. So many parts of our lives are filled with exercises in faith and trust in others to make certain we are not harmed or that we receive the highest level of care. Trusting God is another matter that often we have less faith in than the plumber or car repairman.

The greatest part of trust comes from experience. When we use professionals over a period of time we gain confidence in their abilities and are more willing to trust them. If a doctor has cared for the family for many years a bond of trust is established. Using a repairman on a constant basis ensures greater confidence when the larger jobs come. God has never left man without His testimony first to show there is all the reason in the world to trust Him. The children of Abraham stood at the shores of the Red Sea afraid they were to be slaughtered by the approaching Egyptian army. Moses assured them they would see the power of God that night and the people were delivered by God’s might dividing the sea allowing them to walk on dry land. There was no reason to fear because they had already learned to trust in the word of God. When the Lord brought the plagues on Egypt He punished the nation of Pharaoh but He also testified to the Hebrews that He had the power to protect them. What became death for one people was an example of God’s providential care for another. The plagues did not impact the Hebrews because the Lord surrounded them with His care. At the final plague the land of Egypt raised its voice in sorrow as they found their firstborns dead. None of the Hebrews had died because they trusted in the Lord and followed His word. Standing before the Red Sea there was no reason to doubt the power of God because He had already shown them His power. This would be repeated often over the next forty years.

Nahum declares the trust in the Lord is good because the people had seen the power of God throughout their history. He was a stronghold in the day of trouble as many days of trouble had overwhelmed the nation of Israel but God always delivered the righteous. Israel had history with God and had no reason not to trust Him. The Lord knows those who trust in Him because they have seen God working in their lives and believe He will continue to care for them. Life is challenging because we stand on a steep cliff unsure what to do and having no means to save ourselves. The Lord comes along and tells us to jump and He will catch us – we hesitate. It is one thing to say we trust in Him but to jump off a cliff into the air with the expectation of Him catching us is hard to accept. Trust knows He has carried us through many years and firmly believes that no matter what place we find ourselves the Lord will care for us. We trust in Him because we have history with Him. God has cared for us in every way before and He will care for us now. The days are dark but like the God when the days are bright and cheery our Father will care for us in the storms. He is the God of all days – good days and bad days. Trust knows He will not allow me to be overwhelmed with anything I cannot handle if only I put my confidence in Him. He is always faithful – that is an absolute. He has never failed and never will fail. We can let go of the rope and let His grace carry our lives in the palm of His mighty hand. Thank you God for being the great I AM and a Father we can trust to care for HIS CHILDREN. How mighty is your love.