Then again, we may be guilty of something too similar more times than we realize. We carve out a living, put money into savings to fall back on later, purchase fine homes, automobiles, and a variety of toys. If we aren’t careful, we grow to depend on these things and spend the majority of our time striving to maintain the high standard of living we feel we deserve and to which we  have become accustomed. We begin to trust in these things rather than in God.

At some point we must come to realize that we are depending on what our hands have created. We have become the creator and sustainer robbing God of the position only He deserves. He deserves it because He is a Sovereign God. In reality, the only One who can provide for us.We often take for granted the health and abilities He has given us that enable us to get up everyday and work  to earn the money that buys all those other things. We forget that in one instant, our health could be gone. Lying flat on our backs we would be forced to stare upward begging God to provide for us, finally realizing that He was the provider all along.

Idolatry is not just a problem ancient people in far away lands were guilty of committing. If the truth be known, it is a sin we probably have all been guilty of at one point or another. If we ever wonder if a material possession, job, money, or even relationship means more to us than it should, it probably does.

Riches are not a sin but a blessing from God if gained honestly. It is our reliance on them instead of God that becomes a sin. I’ve heard it said before that we should hold loosely to all things on earth so that it won’t hurt so badly when God has to pry our fingers loose. In the end, it is only our trust in Christ that will save us, not any of our possessions. Only things done for Him will last into eternity. God’s word to Habakkuk over 2,500 years ago, given during a time when pagan idol worship thrived in all regions of the world, still rings true today.

Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it?…For he who makes it trusts in his own creation;…Can it give guidance?….there is no breath in it.

But the LORD in in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.

Habakkuk 2:18-20

Our LORD is alive! Come before Him reverently and wait silently to hear what He has to say. Depend on His goodness totally and exclusively.

But one song in particular stood out to me, with our time spent in Habakkuk. That song is Bound To Come Some Trouble. When faced with pain and trouble in this life – the kind that drives us to tears, and drives us to our knees – we are reminded that Christ has been there, too. He has faced pain, rejection, injustice and deprivation. God dwelt among us and experienced life in a sin-broken world.

Take a listen and spend some time thanking God for being present in your life, and in the life of the body at The Mount. Ask yourself, how does the fact that God knows what it is like – that he has been there – give you peace, comfort, or even confidence?

Below, I have provided a link to the lyrics. I am not endorsing the site or any of its advertisements, just using it as a resource to share this song and God’s heart for us. As we draw one day closer to Thanksgiving, thank him for the comfort he offers to those who seek it.

Rich Mullins – Bound To Come Some Trouble lyrics | LyricsMode.com

Lyrics | Rich Mullins lyrics – Bound To Come Some Trouble lyrics

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  I’ll say it again-it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Matthew 19:24

You’ve probably heard this whole “camel through the eye of a needle thing” before.  And perhaps you’ve dismissed it as something you’ll never have to deal with since you’re not a rich man. Well, what exactly is rich in this context anyway? Is it someone who has a lot of money in their multiple bank accounts? Maybe it is someone with a summer house and a winter house.  Perhaps it is an individual with a country club membership, three or more bays in their garage, a boat, designer clothing, and a “better than anyone else” attitude to compliment their assets? Someone who travels to exotic locations, maybe that’s part of being a rich man or woman.  What exactly is Jesus talking about when He tells His disciples that a camel has a better chance of squeezing through the eye of a tiny needle than a rich man entering God’s Kingdom?

Consider this: What if the definition of a rich person in this context is “anyone who is more preoccupied with using their resources to serve their own desires and pleasures than loving God and their neighbors sacrificially?” Now that definition might just open up a whole new can of worms when it comes to who fits in that category.  Yeah, we’d all need steel-toed boots to keep our toes from being stepped on with that definition!

The amount of wealth it takes to make one rich is immaterial. It is the attitude and heart behind the resources.  That is what Jesus is trying to convey here.  He is saying, “Having a lot of resources is dangerous, because humanity has a tendency to selfishly hoard things for themselves.”

We must be careful to recognize the Source of all we have and not buy into the lie that whatever we possess we attained of our own achievement.  Every single thing we own, every thing tangible and intangible, is on loan to us from God.  We have done nothing, absolutely nothing, independent of Him to acquire it, whatever it is.  There is no such thing as a “self-made man” or a “self-made woman.”  All of us are God-made!!

There is a prevailing ideology that wealth is earned rather than bestowed, and believing that turns our hearts away from the True Benefactor and to ourselves.  Without even realizing it, each of us has the capacity to make little gods of our possessions, and even ourselves, if we fail to worship Almighty God as the creator and giver of all things, and to use whatever He chooses to give us for His glory and not our own. It comes down to a matter of who or what you’re serving.

No one can serve two masters.  For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:24

People who possess a modicum of wealth (and that would be everyone reading this today) must be vigilant in honoring God with their possessions.  They must give regularly to the work of God’s Kingdom through tithes and offerings and donations of various sorts and even their personal time.  Doing this acknowledges God as the Source of all, and helps keep us and “our stuff” in its rightful place.  We should treat possessions in such a way that they serve God’s purposes, rather than finding us serving them.

Is it impossible for “wealthy” people such as ourselves to enter God’s Kingdom?  No.  But, it takes wisdom and will-power to keep things in the right perspective, lest we make that ol’ desert dweller start trying to “thread the needle!”

Promises usually come also with some  reference to a source of authority. Jesus even had to criticize people for swearing, making promises about what they would do in the future, in God’s name. So often people are unable to come through with their promises. We can’t see the future. Unforeseen circumstances keep us from doing what we want in our hearts.

God is not like either of these scenarios. He is not afraid to promise – even when it comes to big things. His promises to Abraham, to Isaac and Jacob were huge, and God came through powerfully, faithfully. And since God has no higher authority to base his promises on, he can promise in his own name. When God says he is going to do something, we do well to believe him.

God has promised that if we respond to him, he will forgive us. He has promised the presence of his Holy Spirit, not just close-at-hand, but within. Jesus promised that he would return, declaring that he had authority in heaven and on earth. What other promises can you remember from scripture? Hoe do God’s promises affect the way you respond to him, the way you live daily?

Let’s end today with a promise from the book of Hebrews:

When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” This means that the things on earth will be shaken, so that only eternal things will be left.

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, let us be thankful  and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:26-29

Each one thinks they are in control of the game. They imagine their plans working perfectly. They think they have excellent judgment, and that people will understand in the end that it is “just a game”. Sadly, few realize until too late that they aren’t in control. Even those who seem to be in control can find that one misstep, one moment of pleased self-satisfaction can turn the tables, ripping control from their plotting fingers.

Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it. I am raising up the Babylonians (Habakkuk1:5-6)… The Babylonians trampled many nations, and took all the credit for it. They were brutal, overpowering their enemies, ripping apart cities and kingdoms and flinging the inhabitants to the far reaches of their empire. Isaiah was given visions of the coming onslaught, while Jeremiah witnessed the devastation first-hand. Habakkuk, just prior to the rise of Babylon, hears God share his plans – to use Babylon to discipline his wayward people.

Babylon saw their success and imagined that it was their own strength and authority that gave them victory. But in God’s plans their success was temporary, short-lived even. They were tools, not nearly as sovereign and “in control” as they imagined. What Habakkuk learned, what God shared with him as the questions and complaints flowed, was that God is in control.

Life is not simple, nor straight-forward. Life is messy, with bills to pay, obligations to fulfill, and never enough time and energy to get it all done. You can succeed at work, and fail in your relationships at home. You can live an outstanding life on the outside, and be overrun by sin and shame that is eating you up inside. But in all our circumstances, God is in control. We don’t have to fear being overwhelmed. God is there, and he has not for a moment been dethroned. Not now, not ever.

All the powers that oppose Christ and his kingdom, all our circumstances that tempt us to take shortcuts and serve ourselves, will all come to nothing. Those who think they are in control, they will be astounded, with those who supported them. All the false impressions of control will be blown away like chaff – an image of something that lacks worth and lasting value (check out Jeremiah 13:20-26!). God is in control, and we can be comforted that this sovereign is full of love and good will towards us, his people.

Will you let them get away with this forever? Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?

Habakkuk 1:17

The life of the wicked has a lot of appeal. No dependence on others, we can be what we want to be. Take what you want! If it makes you happy, why not get your fill? No need to wait for justice, you can decide what is best, what is right. You can make it happen. Why would you want to suffer? Look at those less fortunate; why waste money on people who are just going to take advantage of you? They don’t deserve what you have worked so hard for! It can seem like the wicked succeed by the worst things imaginable, and no one stands up to challenge them.

But in the end, the life of the wicked is no more satisfying. This lifestyle destroys relationships. It is based on pride and greed. It soaks up everything good, chews it up and spits it out destroyed. It may look good for a time, but is rotten to the core. All the hopes of freedom and self-empowerment can vanish in the twinkling of an eye. And as the wicked turn inward, they worship what their hands have made, and eventually worship themselves, giving the credit for their good fortune and numerous blessings to their own efforts and skill.

We need to avoid the temptation to jealousy when we see the wicked prosper. All the “stuff” they surround themselves with is temporary. Their successes will not last. God is not fooled. He looks beyond the appearances and sees empty hearts – cold, separated from his warming Spirit. We need to encourage each other daily: Develop a deep and lasting relationship with God, even if it costs worldly pleasure. And we need the constant reminder that God is building community, and never expected us to go it alone.

Will you let them get away with this forever? No, God will not allow those who ignore his voice to ignore it forever. All will stand before God and give an account. The “heartless conquests” will be met by the eternal reign of Jesus, who will wipe away every tear.

]]> http://devotionals.themountchurch.com/2009/11/19/prosperitys-deception/feed/ 0 http://devotionals.themountchurch.com/2009/11/18/crying-out/ http://devotionals.themountchurch.com/2009/11/18/crying-out/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:54 +0000 George http://devotionals.themountchurch.com/?p=953 All through the Bible, and especially in the Old Testament, is a repeated thought: “Who will help me? Who will defend me?” Habakkuk watches as men and women seek justice, and can’t find it:

Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed and useless, and there is no justice given in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, and justice is perverted with bribes and trickery.

Habakkuk 1:3-4

We talk a lot about mercy as Christians. And well we should. But often, we miss the cry for simple justice. We often think of justice as something negative. As something that is opposed to mercy and love. But this is not how the people of the Bible saw justice. They cried for justice as every person who has ever been unfairly treated does. They weren’t looking for forgiveness. They didn’t want someone to show them pity.  What they wanted was their day in court. But the courts of man were paralyzed and useless. Just like we often make fun of lawyers as lying, cheating crooks, Habakkuk recognizes that there is little hope for justice with wickedness ruling the day.

This theme is also repeated in the Psalms: Who will hear my case? “If only my case were heard, I would find justice, a right verdict!” But the likelihood of getting ones’ case heard is the problem. To get your case heard might require a bribe, a little “grease” for the wheels. If you were a widow, an orphan, a debt slave, you probably didn’t have a chance to get your case heard. There was no spare cash to get your case moved up in priority.

The hope of those left in the lurch is God. He will hear their case and provide justice:

Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.

Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.

If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not be like a moneylender; charge him no interest. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it to him by sunset, because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? When he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

Exodus 22:21-27

We need to carefully look at ourselves and ask the hard questions: Are we the ones perverting justice? Oppressing those who have no power to care for their own needs is a dangerous place. And if we are not the ones perverting justice, are we providing it? Are we standing up for those who day and night pray for God to hear their case? Or are we silent, watching, but unwilling to act?

We have the good news of restoration, of a right relationship with God. But this is the same good news that proclaims Jesus as king, a righteous judge who will hear the case of the widow and orphan, and of everyone who is oppressed and cast down. We need to do more than just hand out tracts or live upstanding lives, we need to plead the case of those who cannot speak for themselves, those who cry out for God to hear and respond

“How long, O LORD, must I call for help?  But you do not listen!  ‘Violence!’ I cry, but you do not come to save.  Must I forever see this sin and misery all around me?”

Habakkuk 1:2-3a

“Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked; but the righteous will live by their faith.

Habakkuk 2:4

How do you feel when your neighbor, who doesn’t know God, who doesn’t live for God, who doesn’t even give a flip about God, gets a big raise at work, drives into the garage with a brand new SUV, and takes a cruise to Cozumel with his wife for their second anniversary off the bonus he received last month?  You see him partying on Saturday nights and taking his boat to the lake on Sunday mornings.  As you wave to him on your way to church on Sunday morning, you think about the difference between your priorities and his.  As you write your tithe check for the offering during service, you think about the kind of vacation you could take with your spouse if you didn’t practice Biblical stewardship.  And yet, even as you release the check and drop it in the plate, you wonder how it can be that your neighbor who doesn’t love God seems to be so prosperous, so successful, while you  are faithful and obedient to God and still struggle to make all the ends meet and drive a car with high mileage, and never have the opportunity to get bonuses at work. And the cruise to Cozumel? You dream of doing something like that for your Silver Anniversary someday, let alone your second!  Your mind races at the injustice of it all.

Righteous indignation is not a new emotion.  Lots and lots of Christians have wrestled with it over the centuries.  In our piety, we cast dispersion on the wicked for the apparent prosperity they enjoy and wonder when they are going to be called to account for their rejection and disobedience to God.  We want to see them pay the piper for not being as good or godly as we are! Hmmm.

While we may be correct in our concern for the ungodly’s disregard for God, we’re totally incorrect to be comparing ourselves with them in order to make our deeds and our obedience seem more lofty or noble.  Take a moment right now to read Luke 18:9-14.

When you think about all the people you know who don’t give God the time of day and yet seem to enjoy a level of happiness or satisfaction that you don’t, remember a few things:

1) As a follower of Jesus, regardless of what you may or may not enjoy in this life, an eternal reward awaits you far beyond the shine and glimmer of any temporal allure earth has to offer.  You are not to be laying up your treasures here on earth, but in heaven.  (Matthew 6:19-21)  This life is not the end-game.  This life is the dress rehearsal, the precursor, the staging area for where you’ll spend eternity.  And what you do now has everything to do with where you’ll be later!

2) What eternal good would it do you to have it all in this life, and lose it all in the next?  (Mark 8:36)

3) Anyone who does not give their heart to Jesus before drawing their last breath in this world will spend eternity separated from Him.  No matter how much the ungodly may prosper now, if they die before they commit their life to Jesus, this is the only heaven they will ever know.  What I mean by that is, this life is as good as it gets for them!  How incredibly sad that is!! A second house at the beach or in the mountains that was acquired through unscrupulous business practices versus a mansion above the clouds? I know which one is more valuable to me.

4) We all deserve hell.  God’s grace is freely offered to all because it is God’s desire that everyone have a relationship with Him.  He is loving and patient.  Let me emphasize again that God is patient!

But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.  The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think.  No, he is being patient for your sake.  He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.

2 Peter 3:8-9

God really does love mankind, and every moment that He delays His return is another opportunity that those who don’t know Him have to yield to Him.  Rather than longing for God’s justice to be enacted, we should pray for all of our unbelieving loved ones and acquaintances that they would recognize their need for God before it is too late.  We should thank God for the grace we’ve already experienced from Him and for the patience He’s exercising on behalf of those who haven’t reached that point yet!

God, in His perfect knowledge and timing, will return and call everyone to account.  Those who have lived for Him will live eternally with Him, those who did not love Him prior to that day, will spend eternity separated from Him.

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.  Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and everything in them will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be exposed to judgment.

2 Peter 3:10

If you have time, read the rest of 2 Peter 3, and then take a few minutes to thank God for the fact that He’s already revealed the truth of His mercy to you.  Then pray for those around you who don’t understand God’s mercy and love for them yet.  Pray that God can use you to help them experience what you have.  One of the quickest ways to diffuse any piety or jealousy you may be feeling toward someone else is to pray for them!

The verses at the opening of this devotion were spoken by Habakkuk.  Ironically he was complaining about how frustrated he was having to witness the sin and violence around him.  As if God was blind to it and didn’t see SO MUCH MORE of it from His vantage point!  By the end of Habakkuk’s conversation with God a couple chapters later, he was breaking out in song, praising God for His sovereignty.  We all could take a lesson from that!

The book of Habakkuk is short on length but long on questions and complaints. And  Habakkuk doesn’t waste any time getting right to the point either. The book begins with a bitter but justified complaint.

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

Habakkuk 1:2

I could echo these words today. Why does a little 8 year old girl in my 3rd grade class battle leukemia? Why do so many of my close friends live in miserable marriages? Why are so many of our children at school abused and neglected? Why is there so much turmoil in the world?

Habakkuk is a reminder that we see the here and now, just a small blip on the timeline of history and eternity, but God sees the whole picture. God has long-range plans that our minds cannot comprehend. When we feel that God has forgotten us, He is thinking of us. When we see evildoers getting by with their schemes, God is setting up judgment in His own time. And believe me, we will do best to wait on His justice. It is always a much better punishment than I could ever plan. Judgment may not come on our time schedule, but it will come. Righteousness will prevail.

God answered Habakkuk, yet Habakkuk complained again. God did not get fed up with him, but instead honored his cries with an answer so moving and deep that Habakkuk broke out into spontaneous praise. Habakkuk came to realize in his conversation with God that painful times are inevitable, but God is just and fair. Evil would not triumph in the end and above all, God can be trusted to defend His own.

We can stand up with Habakkuk and shout for joy on that fact!