Dilemmas, Dilemmas, Dilemmas (Daily Reflections on Ps. 119:125-128)

The last couple of weeks there's been a lot serious postings and debates among the Christian blogs and social media sites regarding World Visions' announcement that they were going to hire homosexual couples and then within a day or so their reversal of that policy. It created a firestorm of discussion with accusations being tossed at both sides of the issues. Not overlooked in the not-so-friendly dialogue was the fate of the many innocent children who would be affected if support was withdrawn. The moral dilemma began to take on a lesser of two evils scenario. Some argued that the starving and homeless children should be the focus. That to withdraw from them would be an injustice and an abomination before God. Others took the stance that not to uphold the principles of heterosexual marriage was immoral and an abomination before God. Thus the discussion zeroed in on the sin of homosexuality and the legality of gay marriage in God's eyes.

What's a Christ Follower to do? What is he/she supposed to think? What should be our response? Tough questions because there are valid points to each argument. There is also no doubt that our culture and societal influences play into this discussion. 

In my lifetime I have seen divorce go from being a stain on a persons community and social standing, making them a virtual second class citizen to an accepted status where approximately fifty percent of marriages now end in divorce. I have witnessed homosexuality go from an absolute societal taboo, believing that person was a morally depraved degenerate to gay marriage being legal in several states. In my younger days, when a girl got pregnant outside of marriage it was disgraceful and a family shame. Today sex outside of marriage, adultery and living together seems to be the norm and almost expected behavior. It causes me to wonder what the status of pedophilia will be in coming years. It's totally unacceptable today. Yet the rise of the child pornography and teachers having sex with their students should give us an insight into the coming path. Ridiculous you say. That's what they said about homosexuality just a couple of decades ago.

Societal norms and cultural practices should not be the standard by which we measure truth. Since God is truth, His word is truth; His statutes are truth. That means that the practices and patterns of our life should pursue His truth, His statutes or precepts. It really doesn't matter where society goes or what society endorses as acceptable norms of behavior. As a former college professor of mine once said, "Truth is truth whether anyone believes it or not." Generations ago societal truth said that the world was flat and the the sun orbited the earth. Let's be honest, society doesn't always get it right no matter how many people believe and experts testify about it.

Two thirds way through the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119, the writer pens these words about the statutes or precepts of God. He begs God to give him discernment so that he may understand God's statutes. He proclaims his love for the commandments of God and values them more than any amount of monetary gain. There is something refreshing and pure and right about them. And following them brings about a greater fullness and peace and satisfaction in  life. The psalmist acknowledges that the culture has abandoned God's precepts and prays for an intervention by our creator. In comparison to the principles God lays out, the author expresses disdain for the path/paths the world upholds.

So in answer to my previous question "what's a Christ Follower to do?", the answer is simple, pursue the statutes of God, value them first and for most. I have to live my life by God's commands and precepts to the best of my ability relying on the Holy Spirit to give me direction. I cannot base my life on where the world is going or what everyone else is doing. As my mother always challenged me, "If everyone was jumping off a cliff, would you do it to?" It has to be about me and my pursuit of a relationship with God. As a Christ Follower, my life isn't my own any longer any way. Jesus is my commander. I do what He directs me to do. Jesus said, "If you love me you will obey my commandments." Not out of duty but out of love. If I truly love Jesus, I will love His truth. If I don't love His truth, then I don't truly love Jesus.

Should I have sex outside of marriage? What does Jesus say? Should I support the hungry, the poor, the starving children? What does Jesus say? Should I accept homosexual marriage or relationships? What does Jesus say? Questions like these should cause us to dig deeper into His Word with the prayer of this psalmist on our lips, "give me discernment that I may understand your statutes."

God, life is sometimes complicated. We face moral dilemmas all the time. I need your truth to guide my life. I want to understand your statutes and precepts. I want to mold my life around Your Word. I want my decisions to sync with your principles. Give me discernment. I don't want to be a legalist, but I do want to completely follow your path and lift up your truth with love and grace.

The Injustice of Persecution (Daily Reflections on Isa. 50:2-9)

I've been thinking a lot about the persecuted church around the world recently. There are injustices of all kinds that permeate cultures and countries. Hunger, poverty, sex trafficking, physical and sexual abuse, racial, cultural and gender discrimination abound throughout the world. But somehow the persecution of the Church seems to be ignored when we talk about Human Rights. The vast majority of the church in China still must remain underground. People are tortured and killed, church meeting places burned or bombed in places like India, Indonesia and Sudan. There are fewer Christ Followers today in Iraq because of persecution, torture and murder than under Saddam Hussein's regime. It's illegal to be a Christian in many middle eastern countries. Being a Christian in many of those countries is punishable by imprisonment or death.

Although in the west, especially in the United States, Christians do not face that type of persecution, there is a rising tide of discrimination in the media, government and cultural attitudes. Churches have lost their influence and Biblical values are being tossed aside with disgust and disdain. New laws are being in acted which fly in the face Christ's teaching and God's morality. Christianity is mocked openly in the media. Some lawmakers are targeting traditional Biblical standards and values for extinction. 

Jesus said that we could expect it. In John's Gospel, Jesus is quoted as telling His disciples that they would be persecuted. He said that because the world hated Him, we could expect that the world would hate His followers. In fact, most of the Twelve suffered a martyred death. The Apostle Paul found himself in prison for his faith on more than one occasion. He was beaten and stoned and even left for dead. But Paul's mantra, as recorded in Philippians, was "To live is Christ, to die is gain."

Throughout history, God's spokesmen have always been in danger of torture, persecution and death. They were often hated, ridiculed and run out of town on a rail. Many of God's messengers lived isolated lives because of their message. The warnings of the prophets often went unheeded, falling on deaf ears. Some were imprisoned or chained. Some beaten. Some impoverished.

In Isaiah 50, God talks about His displeasure with the Israelite people for rejecting Him. He poses a series of questions through Isaiah which call His people to recognize His power and faithfulness. Then Isaiah proudly proclaims His own stand for God as His messenger. He declares his eagerness to hear and speak the truths of God. But he also asserts his steadfastness of his faith and determination to continue to bring forth boldly the prophecies of God. He announces, "I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced."

Isaiah has confidence in God. He knows that although he may be tortured and ridiculed that he will be proven right in the end. God's truth will reign. Isaiah says, "It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up." That's a great picture. The efforts to disavow, ridicule, persecute, torture, silence God's voices will ultimately prove ineffective. God still wins in the end and so do His children, His faithful followers.

As a Christ Follower we can expect mocking, ridicule and even severe persecution for our faith. Jesus promised it would happen. Martyrs throughout the history of the church have gone to the grave with the name of Jesus on their lips. In the last 100 years, probably the last 50 years, there have been more Christians martyred/murdered for their faith than in the previous 1900 years combined. Persecution is growing. Our voices should grow louder in denouncing this injustice. But we should also brace ourselves for what is to come. 

God will ultimately prove victorious. In fact we already have the victory in Christ. So we should cling to the mantras of Paul and Isaiah and hold onto God while proclaiming boldly His Good News. Maranatha!

God, I confess that I don't like persecution. I'm not sure that I'm very strong. I have a hard enough time when people criticize me for my belief or mock me for my faith. I don't like getting left out at times. I can't imagine being beaten, tortured, or imprisoned for my faith. I'm not sure how I would do facing death or watching a family member face death (or worse) for sharing your Good News about Jesus. But I lift up my brothers and sisters around the world who are facing severe persecution daily. Empower them. Stand with them. Protect them. Comfort them. Use their message and stand for you to ring out your truths, your glory even louder. Demonstrate your power through them. Give them justice. 

Fatalism, Determinism or Uniqueness, God's Plan for my Life (Daily Reflections on Prov. 20:24)

I do not consider myself a Calvinist nor an Armenian theologically. But when one reads passages like Proverbs 20:24, "The Lord has determined our path; how then can anyone understand the direction his own life is taking?," it raises questions regarding fatalism, determinism and free will. What is Solomon saying here? That I don't have any choice? That my life is laid out for me? That everything in my life happens because God has already determined or ordained it? And how far does that go? Does that mean that God determines whether or not I get get cancer? Does He determine what job I'm going get or who I'm going to marry? Does that extend to what I eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner? How much I drink? When I go to bed at night? Has God determined absolutely everything for me? Logical questions which raise even more questions. 

However, I think the bigger question has to do with the impact of your life. Have you ever noticed that everyone is different? I know that's a dumb question. Of course we know that everyone is different. Even identical twins are different. Just like every snowflake is unique, so are we. That's God's designed. God crafts each of us with our unique blend of gifts and talents and passions and skills and bents. And with all our uniqueness comes a unique purpose for our life. God's plan for me is totally different than God's plan for you. The people you impact, influence and do life with are different from the ones I impact, influence and do life with.

Notice our paths take us different places. That too is God designed. Our gift mix, personality, passion, experiences are all used by God, when we surrender it to Him, to accomplish His purpose and plan for us. Surrendering it to Him, that's the rub. God has a unique plan for each of our lives. We will only be able to fulfill God's plan for our lives when we are open to His leading and live each day for Him.

The problem is that many of us, okay most of us seek to live our lives for ourselves. We try to make a life for ourselves. We map out plans to take us to where we think we want to go. We read self help books, listen to inspirational or motivational speakers, push ourselves all in an attempt to get something we think we want. I heard one speaker say, "What if we spend all our energy, time and effort climbing the ladder of success only to get to the top of the ladder and find that it's leaning against the wrong wall?" 

I'm not saying that we should never plan or set goals or work hard to achieve success in our field. But, if we are honest with ourselves, this kind of pursuit of life is really all about us. What do I want for myself? It really gives little thought to the eventual impact of our life. It definitely avoids the questions, "Why am I here?" I really don't believe that God put us on this earth just to take up space, breath, use up some of the earth's resources and die. I believe that God has a specific plan for all us.

When Solomon writes these words, he indicates the uniqueness of every one of us. Instead of asking ourselves, "What do I want to accomplish in my life?" We should be asking "What does God want to accomplish through my life?" We don't have the vision to be able to see how our life will impact others not only in our lifetime but in the future. A life we impact today may influence someone else who in the future may impact thousands. We can't see that. We can't even see how our life affects those around us really. Our shortsightedness keeps us from understanding how God could use and is using us.

I struggle all the time with trying to figure out how my life is making a difference to anyone. I don't have visions (or delusions) of grandeur. I know that I'm not a rockstar pastor. But I do want my life to count to the people around me. I do want to impact them, to influence them for Christ. However, I can't even see if I'm really doing that. I really don't understand how God is using me.

And that's Solomon's point. God determines our path. He knows how he wants to use us. We haven't got a clue, really, what the total impact our life is having on others. So instead of killing ourselves trying to accomplish our dreams, why not live to allow God to accomplish His purpose for us. What does that look like? I don't know for you, but I do know that it involves people no matter what profession you hold, gifts you have, place you live, or education you have. When I release myself into the hands of God and let Him use my life fully, every day, then I don't have to worry about climbing a ladder to success or accumulating lots of wealth or being tops in my field. All I have to worry about is focusing on the people God brings around me to serve and care for. If we make serving Him our priority and giving Him our best at work, with friends, with neighbors, with family, in our community, then I believe that God will place us in positions that we can best be used by Him.

I think one the joys of Heaven will be that we get to see how God's plan was worked out through the influence of our lives. People we never met on this planet will be giving testimony of how our lives ultimately influenced them, especially in their relationship with God. I know of an older lady that taught a high school Sunday School class for years in a small town in North East Oklahoma. She loved her kids, had them to her house, always had cookies for them, listened to them, shared her faith with them and encouraged them in their walk with Christ. When they went off to college she would mail them cookies and send them notes. Through her service as the High School Sunday School teacher, she saw over thirty-five of her students become full time ministers and missionaries. Through her influence thousands of people have come to Christ all over the world. 

God, help me to focus on the people in my life today; of being a witness, an encouragement to the people in my life today. God, I want to live for you today. Sometimes chasing after big dreams or future aspirations wear me out and frustrate me and just bring me stress. I want you to handle the big picture, Lord. I know that my measly plans are nothing compared to what you envision. I just want to be used by you, however you want to use me.

The Unexpected Power of Praise (Daily Reflections on Ps. 108:1-5)

My cousin died of pancreatic cancer when she was in her twenties. She was still a newly wed with a young baby. Her life was just really beginning when she received the diagnosis. The disease and the treatments took their toll on her body and I will never forget how aged she looked when she passed. It was a painful decline for her but her steadfastness in her faith and praise for God never wavered. 

Her pain at times was so great that prescription medications would not quell it. In those moments of greatest discomfort, she would close the doors to her room, crank up the volume to her favorite praise music, sing her lungs out and envelop herself in the praise of God. Losing herself in celebration to her Lord and Savior in full surrender and adoration dissipated the agonizing pain and filled her soul with joy.

Her cancer called her to proclaim her love for God even louder. She was able to give testimony of her faith to schools and church groups. A local popular radio station in the Chicagoland area brought her in for an extended live interview which impacted the lives of thousands. Not only did shouts of praise relieve her own pain, it shown glory on God in her life testimony.

There is something about praising God and giving Him glory that changes me. I can't say that I've lost myself in praise at home like Marci did to alleviate pain. But I have found myself in a gathering of other believers entranced in the praise of God and worship. In those moments, I've noticed that all else fades from my mind. I'm singly focused on God and His glory. I'm overwhelmed at the sensation of His presence in my life. I have no cares, no concerns, no problems. I actually feel more alive than at any other time. I've often wondered if this was a glimpse of heaven.

David expresses similar views in Psalm 108. He talks about the steadfastness of his own heart as he praises and makes music with all his soul to God. You begin to sense his own feelings of assurance and invincibility as wraps himself in the praise of God. He is overwhelmed by the glory of God and proclaims in open, rich exaltation. It's as if his consciousness becomes intertwined with God. Problems dissipate. Life challenges wane. Confidence blooms. Countenance explodes in joy.

Perhaps that's the key to pressing on through life. Instead of wallowing in the gloom of life and circumstance, that we celebrate life in God through praise and adoration, that we keep our eyes fixed heavenward on the glory of God. When the cloud of doom presents itself, we stop and break into songs of exultation acknowledging the power and majesty of God. 

Your love, oh Lord, is higher the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies! Be exalted, O God, above the heaves; let Your glory be over all the earth. That's my prayer.

Distressed (Daily Reflections on Ps. 131)

It's disturbing! It grips your heart! The distinctive cry of a young child in distress. On a plane, in the store, at the park, perhaps at church, when we hear the penetrating wails of a young voice it provokes an immediate response in us. Our instinct is to run to the aid, to snatch up the child and sooth their spirit. But often, our attempts to calm the child only meet with continued cries and tears and in some cases only escalate the distress. The child is not settled until they reach the loving embrace of their mother. Cuddled in their mother's arms the wails give way to whimpers and eventually calm.

When my oldest daughter was just an young child, she would sing herself to sleep as we rocked with what I called her "sleepy song." She would hum four tones in succession over and over again until she was completely relaxed and fell off to sleep. I noted that if I wanted her to take a nap all I had to do was begin singing her sleepy song as I rocked her and before long she would join me humming and her little eyes would close, her body go limp and she was out.

But I discovered it also worked when she was in distress or fussy or frustrated. I could simply gather her in my arms, begin the rocking motion, hum the sleepy song and before long her spirit calmed and all was right with the world again. As she got older, the sleepy song was less effective. The lap time became less and less. There were worlds to explore and expressions of independence. She's grown, moved away and married today, but I've wondered what would happen if she was ever in distress, came home, climbed into my lap and I started to sing the sleepy song.

We all found comfort in our mother's or perhaps father's arms when were infants. I did. Even as I was older, the gentle touch of my mother's hand to my forehead or face would calm my spirit or bring reassurance. But just like all children we must grow up. And with growing up comes our independence. We rely more and more on ourselves as it should be. We have worlds to explore and conquer. We fall down and we pick ourselves up and move on or at least that is what we're told we should do.

But sometimes it's that independence that causes us to stop seeking God. With all the pressures of life we tend to live in a constant state of stress or distress. But when circumstances become bigger than we can control, it sends our stress level off the charts and then irritability, anger, frustration play out in unhealthy expressions.  Our stress or distress gives way to desperation. Desperation isn't a good thing and often causes us to do dumb things that only get us into deeper trouble.

Before we reach that level we need to come back and visit Psalm 131 again. It's a short Psalm, only 3 verses, but with a powerful principle to remember especially when we're facing tough stuff. King David talks about the importance of our dependence on God. He says that we need to put things in perspective and notes that some things are just bigger than us. In verse 2 he paints the picture of being like a small child that calms his spirit by climbing into his mother's arms and lap and finding contentment there.

Maybe we all need a sleepy song. In times of distress we climb into God's arms and hum with Him our sleepy song. God created us with the gift of independence, but He also created us with a desire for Him. Being independent doesn't mean that we reject or run from dependence on God. In fact it's because of our independence that God gives us the opportunity to choose. Choosing dependence upon Him is the right choice, unless we want to live in constant distress and turmoil. I have found that it takes a real man, a real woman who is willing to admit that they need help, especially God's help and then relinquish things to Him.

God, I'm not that bright, yet for some reason I find myself trying to take all matters into my own hands. I know I don't have the answers, especially when things are completely out of my control. I know that nothing is too big for you or out of your control. Yet, once again, I wrap myself up in all of it and the distress overwhelms me. I need you to sing me my sleepy song to calm my spirit. I know that means coming to you and climbing into your lap and putting everything in your hands. I need you to calm my spirit and bring me your peace and contentment.

I Feel Awful (Daily Reflections on Isa. 41:8-20)

I feel awful! As I pen these words I am nauseous, my head is pounding, all the energy seems to have left my body, I can't breath, my body aches and I am probably running a low grade fever. I am having difficulty concentrating so if I drift off somewhere or suddenly my words don't make sense, you will know why. No it's not a cold or the flu or so says my doctor. A battery of blood tests only gave way to another battery of blood and various other tests. This stuff has gone on for the last two years that I have been in Oklahoma. I say this stuff, actually I have had to face a variety of health issues that I have never had before since I moved here two years ago January. Two bouts with the flu (which I hadn't had in 20 years), several sinus infections which turned into upper respiratory infections, severe allergies, vertigo, Bells Palsy, bouts with orthostatic hypotension, severe arthritis in the neck, precancerous skin lesions and a broken tooth from eating a piece of fish. That on top of the general malaise that I've been fighting for the last two-three months. It's about to wear me out.

If that weren't enough, the church I'm serving has been in decline for a number of years. It has struggled with internal divisive issues, lack of leadership development, no unified direction, an aloofness to the Great Commission and hasn't demonstrated a heart for the community. The environment has been one of general apathy for the things of God and an attitude of negativity or perhaps depression is prevalent. I cannot remember a week in the last two years that somebody hasn't complained to me about something or someone. To say that that isn't taxing, would be a misrepresentation of the facts. 

I confess, I'm really spent. I'm drained. I got nothing other than a long list of people who are angry with me about something and a pile of doctor bills. My energy is gone. My enthusiasm is gone. My optimism is waning. My emotions squeezed out. My spirit low and I'm flat out tired. I feel that I'm coasting on the proverbial fumes. I know I'm a weeny. I'm definitely not the Apostle Paul who was able to keep going like the Energizer Bunny. But I do feel some of the pressure he talks about in Corinthians.

Then, I come across the lines in Isaiah 41:8-20 and a breath of fresh air begins to fill me. God's words begin to ring out, "My Servant," "I've chosen you," "I have not rejected you." Wow, I'm glad somebody hasn't rejected me. Reassurance comes…"don't be dismayed, I will strengthen you and help you."
Help? I need help. God then paints the picture of Him coming to the rescue, fighting the battles. He talks about retooling us and bringing victory through us.

Then He begins to encourage us further with images of water flowing from barren places, wells springing up in the desert, trees and bushes come bursting forth from the wastelands. He does all this so that everyone can see and understand what the hand of the Lord has done.

God, I'm parched, gassed, beat up, defeated, drained, empty, depressed, worn out, frustrated, tired, exhausted, broken. I could use a taste of some of your fresh water flowing in my desert. I need your hand on me. I need your power in me. I need your presence, your strength. Simply take over. I feel awful. I know that you can raise the dead. I've watched you heal the sick. I surrender! Will you do that for me! Raise my dead heart. Renew my spirit. Lift me from this mire and set my feet on higher ground.

Great Gain (Daily Reflections on 1 Tim. 6:6-10)

I hadn't been out of college too long when I begin to realize that their was a real world out there. I had left home two weeks after graduating from High School and had been on my own basically since that time. But I had still been really protected from the pull of world. I had already discovered that "paid ministry" wasn't all that lucrative as a profession. My first full time ministry paid less than my part time milk route and dock experience at a local dairy where I worked during my college years. My friends who had also recently graduated with business degrees were in starting jobs that paid three to four times what my first ministry job paid. I've noticed that most of those professional jobs still pay about three times ministry.

After leaving my first ministry, I was trying to enroll in a clinical psych program at a major university. While I was waiting to get into the program, I went to work for a retail chain. I quickly moved up the ranks when they discovered that I had a college degree. It wasn't long before I found myself in management. A few short successful months in that position of getting three out of my four assigned departments out of the red, that I was suddenly being groomed for executive training within the company. 

When the top company execs showed up one day to talk with me, I suddenly realized that this was a crucial moment in my life. All my friends that I grew up with were already doing well financially and now I had a chance. Yet, something kept haunting me. It was my call to ministry. I knew if I took the position being offered me, it was off to a different life that would center around me. But my calling was to a life centered around serving others.

The world is constantly beckoning us to chase after it's goods. It flashes it's glitter and shiny things at us, tempting us to grab onto its empty promises. Things, stuff, material possessions are alluring. And to be honest, there is nothing inherently wrong with having wealth. It's the pursuit that's the problem. In this text, 1 Timothy 6, the Apostle Paul talks about how the love of money is the root of all evil. He says it leads to destruction and people to ruin. Chasing after the accumulation of wealth is a trap. And many people have fallen into the trap thinking that this will lead to happiness and end all our problems.

Paul encourages us to pursue godliness and contentment in God if we want to find great gain. All the things in this world that we could accumulate have to stay here on this planet when we die. It's impossible to take stuff with us. It's just stuff and the only place it has value are to people here. But the things of true value, lasting value, lie beyond this place. That's why Jesus tells us to lay up our treasure in heaven where thieves can steal it or things depreciate or decay or can and will be destroyed. 

Why do we kill ourselves trying to get stuff? This consumeristic world we live in seems get more and more rabid. The more stuff we try to consume stuff, the more we get consumed by it. 

I almost fell into the trap. I came close, but I walked away. I knew it wasn't the financial reward that I really wanted. I just wanted my life to be used fully of God to carry out His mission in the world. For some, accepting that job might be exactly what God wanted them to do. God uses people in all positions of life. But I knew for me, I was having to face building my life around me and chasing after material things or giving my life completely over to God and finding my contentment in Him.

God, the allure of the world is very strong, especially in our culture. Get, get, get seems to be the order of the day. Somehow the world convinces us that having stuff gives us personal value. God, I'm still trying to find my contentment and value only in you. I want the great gain that can only be found by pursuing you. Keep me on the path that leads to you.

Seek First (Daily Reflections on Mt. 6:19-34)

The New Year is a natural time for reflection. It's a perfect time do a quick check on our current status and general direction and tweak our path or practices or habits or diet or financial investments. Each year in January the health clubs get an overflow of new membership signees. Yet studies show us that many of those eager enthusiasts lose heart and drop out of sight within six weeks. Staying focused on our newly established priorities often gets derailed by old habits and daily routines.

It's one thing to announce a new set of priorities or values or even direction. It's quite another thing to pull them off. Newton's Laws may have some impact on the personal patterns of our life. And perhaps the old cliche is right that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Or maybe the one that says, "Old habits die hard." (Sounds like the theme of a new Bruce Willis movie.)

As I was reading through the end of Matthew 6 again it began to occur to me that our vision might have something to do with the inability to get to where we need to go with our life or to become what God would want for our life. In this section of Sermon on the Mount, Jesus starts addressing the base issue. He talks about where we store up our treasure. We can either store up treasure on earthly things or we can store up our treasure on heavenly things. Vision. Where are we looking? What has the greatest appeal to us? What pulls us in for a second look and third look and captures our focus?

In Tolkien's, Lord of the Rings, Smeagol becomes so enamored by the Ring of Power that it consumes his life and transforms him to the hideous life of the creature Gollum. He refers to the rings as, "My Precious." In his own words, "he has to have it." Gollum can no longer see anything else. In the end it destroys him.

Jesus urges us not to store up our treasures on the corruptible things of this earth. He commands us to change our focus to heavenly things, things of His Kingdom which is incorruptible and eternal. He urges us to set our sites not on wealth and materialism and power and position and things that the world considers of great value. Because, what you set your vision on, you will pursue and it will consume you.

And what's interesting is that Jesus goes on in Matthew 6 to talk about the eyes. He says the eyes are the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, he says, then your body will be healthy. If your eyes are unhealthy, then your body will be full of darkness. He's not talking about pink eye or cataracts or glaucoma here. He's talking about our vision, what we set our eyes on. What we set our focus on is what we will become or what will eventually consume us. Focus on the things of this world and in the end we will be consumed by them.

And ironically, Jesus' next twist takes a direct stab at our desire for riches, wealth, money, mammon, personal gain or whatever other word you want to insert there that draws our focus away from heavenly things. He proclaims that it's impossible to serve two masters. And without beating around the bush just comes out and says, "You cannot serve God and money."

It goes back to the eyes and vision and focus and motivation and priorities and the distractions of old habits and daily routines. When we set our eyes on the things of this world, our focus moves off of God and His Kingdom and heavenly things and then our life falls back to ultimate destructive forces. Nobody sets down to gain 40, 50, 60, 100 pounds after finishing high school or college or after getting married or having a baby. Somehow it just grows on us. Nobody after getting married sets out to see if they can ruin their relationship. Nobody tries to purposely overextend themselves financially when the get that job. Yet over time it happens. It's about our eyes!

That's why Jesus tells us not to focus on material, worldly stuff. Is there anything inherently wrong with houses or cars or boats or cell phones or tablets or clothes or having a portfolio? Absolutely not. It's the focus on getting, having, accumulating stuff that pulls us downward and corrupts our lives.  

Jesus says, don't worry about stuff. Do not preoccupy yourself with material goods or gain. Focus on Him not climbing the corporate ladder or adding tallies to your life. Focus on "seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness." God knows what you need. He will meet your needs.

Some of the biggest issues people bring to me or complain about or struggle with are finances, stress and time. And usually the stress has to do with time and/or finances. And time because they are involved in four hundred million things or have their kids in those activities so that some day they can get ahead and have things. And often finances are wrapped in those things too. Of course many time finances are an issue because people haven't managed their resources well because they had to have stuff.

It's no wonder our world fills up with darkness, our hearts fill up with darkness, our lives fill up with darkness and stress and heartache and burdens and those feelings of being overwhelmed overwhelm us. It's the eyes. It's our vision. It's our focus. Seek first HIS Kingdom and HIS righteousness.

God, help me to keep my eyes only on you. You direct me my path, my life, my heart, my thoughts, my finances. I want to be full of light. I don't want those dark feeling to overwhelm me.