You laughing at me? (Luke 6:37-42)

When my husband and I lived in Washington, DC, one of the favorite things that we used to enjoy doing in order to get out of the city was to go white water rafting with our thirty-something friends.  We were all in the best shapes of our lives. We worked out together in the local gym, tried out whatever radical sport was in vogue at the time, and kept challenging each other to new heights of daring adventure.  Its how I learned to ski, scuba dive, sail, climb & propel, and raft.  None of which I was very good at - I just liked to hang out with the people who were.  And this is also how we all ended up camping in West Virginia, waking up at dawn, and heading to a dam where water was being released that morning.  We put on our wet suits, got in our rafts, and headed down the Gauley river with class V rapids and a 14 foot water fall. Other people did the Gauley in two days, but not us... we did all 23 miles in one day.

We were a very competitive bunch, but we soon figured out that you never laugh at someone (judge someone) who has fallen out of their raft until you have passed them on the river.  That is because until you have passed them in the river, it is likely you will fall prey to the same rough spot of water that they fell prey to.  And nothing is more embarrassing than to laugh at someone (to judge someone) when you are about to go under too.  The only way smack talk doesn't make you look silly is when you have passed the danger and are yelling over your shoulder at the people behind you.  :-)

Okay, that was me talking - and we were just playing - not really judging.  But in real life... Jesus says not to judge others period.

Matthew 7:1-5  "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.  2 For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.  3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?  4 Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye?  5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye.

The other gospels weigh in...


Luke 6:37-42   37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;  38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."  39 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?  40 A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher.  41 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?  42 Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye. 


Mark 4:24-25   24 And he said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.  25 For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away."

Anxious? (Matt 6:25-34)

Matthew 6:25-34   "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?  And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,  yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'  For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today. 

If you are like me, now you can start worrying about worrying! :-)

But the cure for worrying is simple: "strive for the Kingdom of God."  This is just another way of saying focus your heart and effort on following Jesus.   You never have to put yourself first again, because God is taking care of you.  This frees you to care for others first, to do God's work, and to truly live unselfishly!

*****

The other gospels weigh in:

Luke 12:22-32   22 He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.  23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.  24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!  25 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?  26 If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?  27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.  28 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you-- you of little faith!  29 And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying.  30 For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  31 Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.  32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 

You Gotta Serve Somebody (Matt 6:24)

Matthew 6:24   24 "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." 

"It may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you gotta serve somebody," belts out Dylan.    He's right.  

A few years ago, a big Atlanta company hired me to be their Vice President of Product Development.  My first day of work was spent being taken around by my boss who introduced me to the officers of the company and the organization of engineers that would report to me.  On my second day of work, my boss was fired and I was promoted into her job (without an increase in pay or a change of title). On my third day of work, they moved me into her all glass (hotter than Hades - literally, the air conditioner did not work) penthouse corner office.   On my fourth day of work, my neighbor, another VP (whose office was air conditioned), stopped by, closed my door, and whispered to me that he had just been in a meeting where two Presidents of two different divisions had argued for having me and my organization report to them.  One of the Presidents was over Operations and the other was over Marketing.  This VP said that to keep everyone happy, it was decided that I would report to both of them.  Now I can't tell you how incredibly absurd that is - and what a lack of leadership it demonstrated at the top of the company.  

The President of Marketing got his bonus based on how the product sold.  So he wanted engineering to concentrate on features - it mattered very little to him personally how hard it was to manufacture the product.  The President of Operations got his bonus based on how efficiently the product was produced.  So he would want engineering to concentrate on ease of production - it mattered very little to him personally that the product was what the market wanted.  Not only did these two Presidents have conflicting goals, but everyone knew the two men did not get along. Another sign that the company obviously lacked leadership at the very top.  Everyone knew that it would be my job to referee since their boss wouldn't step up.  And everyone was right!   On my 30th day of work, I grew tired of watching grown men act like pitbulls and gave two week's notice for a job where my office had air conditioning.

There really is no point trying to serve two masters.  You will have to choose which one you will make happy.  In these verses, Jesus pits serving God against the goal of obtaining wealth.  You can't serve God and serve a desire for wealth.  Ironically so many preachers have tried to make the prosperity gospel work: "serve God and you will be wealthy".  But it doesn't work.  It conflicts with the way of Jesus.  

If your goal is to become wealthy, then you need to commit to making decisions that will bring in the cash.  That might mean bad-mouthing your competitors, underpaying your subcontractors and employees, breaking a few laws here and there, neglecting friends and family, robbing a bank, playing the stock market, or even betting on the fastest horse.  But you gotta be willing to do whatever it takes so that your pockets are always getting fuller and fuller.  If wealth is your goal, you will never ever have enough money!  It is how obsession with wealth works.  And you can't let the way of Jesus distract you.  

But if your goal is to follow Jesus, then you need to love (even your competitors), put others (such as your employees - but even your competitors) before yourself, work for the good of others, etc.  None of these things read well in mission statements and project plans.  Serving God and money just don't mix.  Sometimes wealth happens even though it hasn't been one's goal, but that is different from pursuing it.  And even then Jesus is going to tell you to give it away.  

If you are following Jesus, because you think he has promised to make you wealthy, then you aren't following Jesus.  

*****

Another gospel weighs in...

Luke 16:13   "No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." 

Light or Dark? (Matt 6:22-23)

Matthew 6:22-23  "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light;  but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 

How you see things determines whether you are full of light or darkness.

I know two people who do not get along with each other.  Unless it is out right praise, whatever Amber says to Donald, Donald thinks Amber is being critical of him.  Donald thinks this is a problem with Amber - that she doesn't really care much for him - that she feels superior to him.  But I know Amber pretty well.  She thinks highly of Donald.  The problem is that Donald sees Amber with eyes that are unhealthy.  Amber moved to Donald's small town from the big city.  And Donald's experience with big city women is that they look down on his small town ways.  He has no desire to travel far from home and doesn't understand people who do.  Amber has traveled all over - had a big city career - and is well educated.  Donald is well educated and successful too, but he got his education close to home and built a business near mom and dad.  He likes his small town ways.

Amber and Donald were thrown together when Amber joined his church and was invited to serve on the church board where he had held an office for years.  Amber was excited about working with Donald, but soon realized that there was nothing she could say to him - unless it was lavish praise - that wouldn't upset him.  He evaluated everything she said believing that she was looking down on him, his family, and his town.  If she suggested they start a clothes closet out of the church, he became angry that she thought the people in his town were poor.  If she saw him at the local high school basketball game - he would not acknowledge that she was there nor would he introduce her to his friends.  He thought she thought that she was too good for his family and friends.

He couldn't understand that Amber was excited to live in his small town, admired his family and friends, and wanted to be part of their lives.  The problem was not with Amber; Donald was blinded by his unhealthy vision of outsiders.  Donald eventually told Amber in heated tones during a board meeting that he just didn't appreciate  her attitude.  After that, she finished up her commitments on the board as quickly as possible - not without enduring quite a bit of sustained abuse during those days (I guess he wanted to be certain she wouldn't change her mind about leaving) and moved onto another church.

How you see determines whether there is light inside you or darkness.  Donald missed out on knowing someone really interesting and fun - someone who loved Jesus - someone he could have worked with to make his community an even better place - someone who actually liked him without condition - someone who had the best interest of his church and community in mind.  Instead of letting this person brighten his life, he sealed himself off and lived in his darkness.

We often do this to Jesus.  We invite him in when he is lavishing praise on us and blessing us, but we throw him out when he speaks truth into our lives.  We hear what he says when it supports our lifestyle, but have no use for Jesus when his teachings sound insulting and hard.

How we see Jesus determines whether we are filled with light or darkness.

****

Another gospel weighs in...

Luke 11:34-36   34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness.  35 Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness.  36 If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays." 

The most toys (Luke 12:33-34)

The world says, "Whoever dies with the most toys wins."  Jesus says....

Matthew 6:19-21   19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal;  20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Luke 12:33-34   33 Sell your possessions, and give alms*. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  *Giving alms = giving to those in need


The early Christians took this teaching seriously:  "There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.  They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need"  (Acts 4:34-35).

Are we this committed to following Jesus?  Some people have the idea that in the Kingdom of God, there is no one in need, because the economy is good and there is an unlimited supply.  We often believe that in the Kingdom of God, consumerism isn't a problem because God just magically produces enough to match our needs.  BUT what if... in the Kingdom of God, there is no one in need, because wealth is redistributed willingly, lovingly, compassionately, unconditionally?    What if this kingdom is made up of servants not consumers?

And what if Jesus was teaching that his followers were to begin living this way today?  Not because we are forced to do so by laws or church leaders, but because Jesus told us to?  How would our lives look differently?   How would we model this in front of our children?  Would our faith communities be supportive of this lifestyle - would they have our backs in times of hardship or would they mock our choice to follow this teaching of Jesus? 

Presbyterians (the denomination in which I am ordained) used to start hospitals, schools, and orphanages.  We can barely keep our churches open today.  And yet, we own bigger houses, have bigger savings accounts, and send our kids to more expensive schools than our ancestors.  Have we lost the way of Jesus?

What is your motivation? (Matt 6:16-18)

Matthew 6:16-18   16 "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.  17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,  18 so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 


Jesus seems to be giving mixed messages. First, he says to "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).  But then he says, "whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others" (Matthew 6:2).  Then he says not to pray on the public street corner, but in your closet and now he says not to let others know that you are fasting.

It seems inconsistent until we realize that it is all about what motivates us.  If you let people see your good works, make sure you are doing it so they will praise God.  But if your motive is to be rewarded, then it is better to do it so no one will know.

Whatever you do today... whether it is fasting - or giving away money - or doing some good deed, if you let others know what you are doing, make sure your motivation is to bring glory to God.

When God doesn't forgive (Mark 11:25)

Matthew 6:14-15  For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;  but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.


Mark 11:25   "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." 

Later in Matthew, Jesus tells a story (Mt 18:21-35):

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.  “The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.  “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”  

One of my Christian counseling professors pointed out that a book called "The Wounded Healer" had become popular.  And that it was becoming trendy to hold onto our wounds with pride. It has become cool to stand in front of your friends and say, "I have abandonment issues", but not "I have been healed of my abandonment issues."  It is cool to stand in front of your friends and say, "Pray for me, I can't forgive someone who has hurt me." But it is not cool to say, "I forgave someone who hurt me."  We live in a Christianity where being wounded is cool, but being healed is arrogant.  Our professor poised the question to us, "Instead of being the wounded healer, why not just get healed?"  Jesus wants to heal you.

Being healed requires we both forgive and accept forgiveness.

I once had a neighbor who wore her "I have abandonment issues" badge with pride everywhere she went.  If she were rude,  it was because of her abandonment issues.  Everyone was supposed to understand and excuse her behavior.  If she didn't want to go out to eat where the rest of her family wanted to go - well, if they loved her, then they'd better go to her favorite restaurant or she would feel abandoned again and the night (perhaps the whole weekend) would be completely ruined for everyone!  The rest of the world was supposed to acknowledge that she had been hurt and that she deserved special consideration because of it for the rest of her life.  The world was to understand that she was to be forgiven her rude behavior and demands.  But that because of her abandonment issues, she was excused from forgiving others.

The person who prides themselves with their wounds has not accepted God's power to be healed and forgiven.  Nor have they let themselves be transformed into a forgiving person.

We are never more Christ-like than when we forgive others - especially those who do not deserve it.