Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Joshua 22-24, Luke 12:1-31
Good morning, noon, or night, whichever the case may be for you. I pray your day goes well, or is going well!
When I read the passage in Joshua, the first thing that came to mind was COMMUNICATION! These people could've avoided getting in a stir if they just talked with each other! I mean the Israelites beyond the Jordan were literally up in arms ready to go to war against their brothers on the other side. If they had just talked to each other instead of assuming what was going on, they could have had a lot more peace.
But something struck me about this passage other than the communicating part. It was that the whole congregation of Israel was concerned about sin and it's consequences for everyone. They site the Achan incident, the iniquity of Peor and so on and how because of one persons sin everyone else suffered. How many times do we have sin amongst us and we don't call people on it? Clearly sin is not a personal thing. Oh we might do it in private, but it has far reaching consequences. It effects everyone. We can see that in our world today! We are so complacent to let people just do what they want. Here we see that, even though there was no sin, their brothers called them on it! We need to do the same. No, it's not easy, but if we want to avoid the consequences of someone's sin, we need to call them on it.
I saw the worry passage (Luke 12:22-31) as really connected to the previous passage about the Rich Fool. Here we have a man worried about money. Who doesn't worry about money? He is demanding that his brother split the inheritance with him. Gee, things haven't changed much in 2000 years. We still have siblings fighting over inheritance. Anyway, Jesus tells a parable about a man who reaped a huge harvest and stored it all up for himself, thinking he was good to go for a while. When really that harvest did him no good because that night he died. Then Jesus goes into not worrying. I always saw the worry passage in regards to those who don't have much. But now I see it also in regards to those who have lots! I've noticed that the more money or stuff I have the more I worry about losing it. We never know when our world will turn upside down and we'll lose everything. Worrying about keeping what we've got, or worrying about how to get more never really does any good. Rather trusting that our Father God will supply what we need (and trusting that He knows the difference) is a better use of our time.
I pray we can remain trusting of our Father. For He is so faithful.
Tomorrow's passage: Judges 1-3, Luke 12:32-59
4 comments:
Worry and greed actually sort of go hand-in-hand when you think about it, don't they? Those who never seem to have enough, who constantly want more, seem to worry more about being able to keep what they have and also, interestingly, that it won't be enough. Those who are content with what they have seem to trust and live by faith more. Quality of life is really at stake here ~ and it's got nothing to do with how big our house is, how new our vehicles are, or whether or not we go on expensive vacations!
(Oh, how I wish contentment were easier to develop!!!)
How sad that the Israelites don't keep up this passion for holiness for much longer :(
Communication, passion for holiness and God's glory, contentment - yup, I'd say the Word is pretty relevant for our lives today!
Great post! I've believed for a long time now that those who have much don't worry any less than those who have little. They just worry differently.
Great thoughts. I agree with your thoughts on calling out sin. It is so much easier to just ignore sin in the lives of others because it's "not our problem" and yet it is because of how quickly sin takes hold and roots itself.
Every time I read the worry passage, I feel like it was written just for me, lol! I find it so hard to not worry.
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