Upward and Outward

Too often in church we put so much emphasis on our relationship with God that we neglect our relationship with others.  When in fact, our relationship with God is no deeper than our relationship with others.  You may view yourself as having your act together spiritually.  Maybe you are faithful in many things that enhance a walk with God; prayer, studying the Word, fasting, faithful church member, big contributor, adhering to doctrinal beliefs.  However, we know from Jesus Himself, that it is not enough to just love God.

Jesus said in Matthew 22 that we are to love God first and then in conjunction with that, love our neighbor as ourselves.  It was not an A or B answer.  The two are connected.  If you love God, then you will love your neighbor as yourself.  Like Siamese twins sharing vital organs, one is dependent upon the other.

If we want to love upward to God, then we must love outward to our fellow man.  You cannot say you have the love of God in you if you do not love your neighbor.  This does not mean we have to get along all the time and agree on everything.  You love your family, at least I hope you do, and still have fights.  What Jesus was saying is that you cannot say you love God when you do not show the love of God to your neighbor.  John said it this way, “If a man say, I love God , and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” Read the rest of this entry

Room To Grow

Right now, Gavin, my 3 year old boy, is of an age where we must think ahead.  When we buy pants, we make sure we buy them with “room to grow” in them.  Meaning, if we buy them for what currently fits, then he will outgrow them shortly and we will be back at the store buying him bigger pants.

For some reason, as we grow older, we forget this childhood adage.  We do everything exactly as we currently need it.  Read the rest of this entry

God Values Borrowed Things

In 2 Kings Chapter 6 we see an interesting story involving Elisha the prophet.  A man is working to cut down trees so they can cross the Jordan river.  In the process of chopping down a tree, his ax head comes off of the handle and flies into the river.  He cries out to Elisha saying it was a borrowed ax.  Elisha then took a stick and threw it where the ax head fell in and the iron began to float.

There are probably great theological proofs to be found in this story, but sometimes simpler is best.  God cares about borrowed things.  Or to take it a step further, God likes to give back borrowed things.  Read the rest of this entry