Musings from the Garden

The parable of the sower is a familiar one for many: 4 kinds of soil with 4 results. Only 1 seed = gospel (good news of Jesus) yet there are two categories of the results: the saved and the unsaved.

Matthew 13
18 “Listen then to the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road.

20 The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away.

22 And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

23 But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”

I used to wonder a bit about what is the difference between soil 2 & soil 3. One thing is similar: both are affected by the concerns of the world = affliction, persecution (v.21) and anxiety of the world (v.22). The difference is soil 2 falls away. The person received the good news with joy but he turned away from his belief when hardships come. Soil 3 becomes unfruitful. This person is like the plant that grows with the thorns. The cares of the world prevent him from bearing fruit:1) fruit of the Spirit; bearing fruit like 2) sharing the gospel to make disciples of people.

To be like soil no. 3 is to be like a believer of Jesus yet not bearing the semblance of Jesus. To be unfruitful is like having no joy, no patience, no love, no peace, no faithfulness, no gentleness, no goodness or kindness and no self-control. To be an unfruitful Christian is because his focus is on the “anxiety of the world” and the “deceitfulness of wealth” not on the ‘Power of the Word.”

To be fruitful, I need to ‘hear’ (really listen, read and study) the Word, ‘understand’ (really live and apply it to my daily living). To be fruitful is to bless my neighbor as I obey God’s command to love him with all my being. How do I bless my neighbor? I love them like Jesus loves me. I forgive as I am forgiven. I give as Jesus gives. I multiply the gifts and make more givers out of my giving = that is making disciples of all nations. That is the great commission of being a fruitful follower of Jesus. So help me God.

Today is another day to bear fruit and be fruitful, dear friend.

Treasures of the Rich

Mark 10:23
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

Why? When did Jesus said this? How come he said this? What does it mean that it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God?

It is difficult not because money is a hindrance. It is not easy because the love of money hinders the rich from loving God.

Jesus made this statement because a man asked him what to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus then told him about the commandments from the 5th to the 10th – all about loving our neighbour. The man confidently replied that he obeyed each one since he was young. Jesus saw through him and spoke the truth in love: “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

After this, the man went away sad because he was very rich. This response implied that he loved his wealth more than he loved God. Jesus knew his love for his wealth hinders him from fully following God. The man’s treasure on earth is more important to him than having treasure in heaven. Again money is not evil. It is good to have wealth and resources. When our love of material wealth and physical comfort is above our love for God, it becomes difficult for us to enter the kingdom of God. Why? Because the kingdom of God is an upside down kingdom. Man’s standard is to trust in the security that money provides. God wants us to trust fully in Him.

How often our material resources, our skills and talents make us self-sufficient and independent from God. We are complacent and we go through life secure in the things that we have. We put God to one side. The man in this story obeyed the commandments diligently – he never killed anyone, he did not steal or lie or cheat on his wife or anyone. He honoured his parents. What he lacked was the 1st to the 4th commandment – loving God.

Jesus even made a comparison that it is easier for the camel to go through the needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. To this, his amazed/surprised disciples asked: Who then can be saved? Jesus replied: “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

How did this passage end? 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Jesus said this in answer to Peter’s comment that all of them disciples have left everything to follow him.

Jesus encouraged Peter that all his followers who gave up everything (including all the securities of the world) for the cause of the gospel will get their reward – a hundred times as much.. in the future – eternal life. God’s kingdom is the upside down kingdom: many who are first will be last and the last first. The rich in this world are poor in God’s kingdom. The poor in this world are rich in God’s kingdom because they have God – they love God, they put their security in God.

Where is your security? How are you rich? In your material possessions? In your talents and skills? In your good relationships? Where are all these in relation to your God? Are you in God’s kingdom? For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

A Life-changing Encounter

Jacob’s amazing dream: Genesis 28:10-21

Background: Jacob was running away from his brother, Esau because he heard that Esau planned to kill him. Why? Jacob deceived his father, Isaac into giving him the blessings that belonged to Esau, the eldest son. (Gen. 27)

Where: on the road as his bed, with a stone for a pillow (v.10-11)

12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” How amazing? “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

Jacob’s response: an offering and naming the place
18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. 19 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.

Jacob’s prayer and promise:
“If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

To ponder:
1) Where do I discover God? When can I find Him? I can encounter in Him the strangest of places, in unexpected experiences at the most unlikely times of my life. Jacob was fleeing and afraid for his life. He had a rough road for his bed and a hard stone for his pillow.

2) What is God saying to me? Whatever my experiences (not necessarily in dreams), it is God reaching out to me. His promise: I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised.

3) What is my inner response? Does my heart bow in worship? Do I realize the significance of each encounter? Am I in awe of God’s presence? Is my experience of God’s presence like the gate of heaven?

4) How do I respond outwardly? What will my hands offer? Jacob made an offering in thanksgiving, he set up stone of remembrance of experience. He named the place. Do I remember and honor each encounter with God? In worship and thanksgiving, in praise and sharing the blessings to others?

5) What do I say to God? Jacob’s prayer is simple and basic: food, clothing, shelter. Provision for his journey: food to eat and clothes to wear, safe passage to home. How contented or how greedy am I when I pray to God?

Ultimate response:
a) Loyalty to God: the Lord will be my God. Where is my focus? Is there a shift in value or perspective when God reveals Himself to me? Do I linger in my problem or in the One who promised to be with me never to leave?

b) Witness for God: pillar set up to be God’s house: so others will also experience God. Do I pay it forward: Share the good news? Does an encounter with God make me less selfish and think more of others?

c) Give back to God: all you give me, I will give you a tenth. All I have come from God. What do I have that is not by His grace? What have I earned that is not by His mercy? Material blessings: how do I perceive them? How do I receive them? Are they taken for granted? With a sense of entitlement? Am I grateful? Even a breath of air is a breath of life. Can I give God back each breath I take? Does He need it from me? No and no.

Giving back to God is rightful response of a thankful heart – a heart of worship. All of life is meant for worship to the Ultimate Giver of life… a worship of thanksGiving by thanksLiving.

To Store or Not to Store

Matthew 6:19-21 (New American Standard Bible)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What is your heart’s treasure? What do you hold most precious in life? Where do you store your treasure?

What are treasures?
Treasures: (from Greek θησαυρός – thēsauros, meaning “treasure store”, romanized as thesaurus) is a concentration of riches, often one which is considered lost or forgotten until being rediscovered. (Wikipedia)

Merriam Webster defines it as something valuable (such as money, jewels, gold, or silver) that is hidden or kept in a safe place.

Choices, choices..
1) To do and not to do:
Do not store treasures on earth.
Store treasures in heaven.

2) Two kinds of treasures: earthly treasures and treasures in heaven.

3) Two places of storage: earth and heaven.

4) Two possibilities for earthly treasures:
4.1. moths/vermin destroy – nature; disasters
(others include anay/termites; molds as in moldy food; Ondoy flood; yolanda storm surge)

4.2. thieves break in and steal
(akyat bahay; dugo dugo gang; ATM scams; credit card frauds; pickpockets; stock market crash; economic crisis etc.)

5) Heavenly treasures: cannot be destroyed or stolen

Application:
Where my treasure is, there, my heart will be also. What I consider valuable, that i will put my heart into. Choices, choices… how to choose: choose treasures that will last. What to choose: treasures of eternal value

Fame fades; houses, cars, material wealth depreciate; people forget.

Faith, hope and love: these 3 last. Whatever I say or do or invest in with faith, hope and love, God remembers.

.Today what is my treasure? Where is my heart?

The Why’s & How’s of a Worry-Free Life

Question: Are you worried? Why are you worried? How does one overcome anxiety?

In Matthew 6, Jesus taught his disciples antidote to worry by pointing out to them – wrong perspectives and values in life that make us worry. We need to ask ourselves questions Jesus asked.

Here is the secret to a worry-free living:
Questions to ask when you are worried and answers to seek to stop worrying…

Q1: IS NOT LIFE MORE THAN food and the body more than clothing? (6:25b)

To ponder: What is life about? Why am I who I am, where I am? What for? What is life really about? Accumulation of things to feed my physical being? Is my life about material things of this world? Is my anxiety due to the lack of these things? Do I think I might lose them? Do I worry that I would not have enough tomorrow?

26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

Q2: ARE YOU NOT WORTH MUCH MORE? than what? the birds of the air.. lilies of the field

To ponder: What is my worth? Where do I find my worth?
In financial security? In social affirmation? In personal achievement? Doing things to please people, striving for recognition? Is my life worthy because of what I work for? Am I living because of my sowing, reaping and storing? Is life about work and rewards? Do I worth much more in my doing or in my being?

Our worth is in our being – we are the beloved children of God. God loves us so much He sent His One and Only Son to save us from eternal death.

27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

Q3: CAN WORRY ADD to life?
To ponder: If I worry, does it make time skip the stuff I fret about? Does it make it go slower to the day I dread for it? Or will worry make it go faster or quicker – make the journey to recovery shorter? Can I add anything to life by worrying? More glory? More life?

28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’

Q4: Why am I worried?
To ponder: When I worry, am I helping God along? Or do I think I can do better – than how He can provide? Solomon was very rich yet the lilies of the field are clothed more gloriously than he was. When I worry, is it because I do not trust God to provide for me?

32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Implication: When I worry, I am eagerly seeking the things that Gentiles (those who do not know God) seek. What are these things? Eating, drinking, clothing… money matters, right? Read Matthew 6:19-21. All about money matters.

These questions help us find answers on ‘how’ not to worry by asking the why. These why questions highlight the reasons for worry. They show us wrong perceptions and values on life and living.
What is the right reason not to worry?
At the start of this lesson on worry, Jesus said:

25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life,

What reason is this?
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Worry lies in the heart of one who loves money more than he loves God. The reason we worry is we love wealth. Jesus taught his disciples not to worry because He wanted to remind them to love God above all else.
Jesus started the lesson with loving God. In the same way, He ended the lesson – how to love God:

33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The antidote to worry is to seek God – put Him first – go after the things that matter to Him – His kingdom and His righteousness. How? Find out when you read the Bible – all that He wants for His children are found in His word.

And the promise is that ‘all these things’ – all the things that you worry about needlessly, these will be ‘added’
Added – means that we will have more than we need, more than we ask, more than we ever imagine.

Life is more than money.
You are worth so much more to God.
God provides for his children.
Love God and worry no more, my friend

The Good amidst the Sad

I used to perceive Ecclesiastes as a pessimistic outlook on life. I have not tried counting how many ‘meaningless’ or ‘chasing after the wind’ there are. Yet, this book imparts wisdom in looking at the hard realities of life and living wisely in the broken world.

Background: (taken from http://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Ecclesiastes.html

Author: The Book of Ecclesiastes does not directly identify its author. There are quite a few verses that imply Solomon wrote this book. There are some clues in the context that may suggest a different person wrote the book after Solomon’s death, possibly several hundred years later. Still, the conventional belief is that the author is indeed Solomon.

Date of Writing: Solomon’s reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.

Purpose of Writing: Ecclesiastes is a book of perspective. The narrative of “the Preacher” (KJV), or “the Teacher” (NIV) reveals the depression that inevitably results from seeking happiness in worldly things. This book gives Christians a chance to see the world through the eyes of a person who, though very wise, is trying to find meaning in temporary, human things. Most every form of worldly pleasure is explored by the Preacher, and none of it gives him a sense of meaning.

Ecclesiastes 5:8-6:2 enumerates the sad realities in life.

8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.

~ The rich oppressed the poor.

10 Whoever loves money never has enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.
This too is meaningless.

~ The human heart is a bottomless pit. Greed is meaningless… ironical reality… the poor thinks if only I have just a tiny weeny part of what he has, I would be very happy. The rich thinks if only I could have more…

11 As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owners
except to feast their eyes on them?

~ There is a limit to man’s enjoyment of material things. Simple illustration: eating buffet. Whenever I had buffet breakfast; I had the choice to go to the bigger place with more options/choices of food. But for a person who sometimes eats just a banana for breakfast, what good is all the choices or more options except than to feast my eyes on them?!

12 The sleep of a labourer is sweet,
whether they eat little or much,
but as for the rich, their abundance
permits them no sleep.

Money does not buy good sleep. So true… for an insomniac, sleep is sweet indeed. How ironical that beggars and street people sleep so soundly on the sidewalk with all the noise and heat of the sun while people in their comfy bed and air con rooms, toss and turn wishing for the sleep that eludes them – sometimes no matter how sleeping pills they popped!

13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners,
14 or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when they have children
there is nothing left for them to inherit.

~ There is no security in wealth. How sad indeed.. to work all your life hoarding and storing only to lose what you worked for in an instance! What you have today can be gone tomorrow.

Consolation?…
15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb,
and as everyone comes, so they depart.
They take nothing from their toil
that they can carry in their hands.

Reality of life: we came into the world in our birthday suit. We leave this world with our hands empty.

16 This too is a grievous evil:As everyone comes, so they depart,
and what do they gain,
since they toil for the wind?
17 All their days they eat in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.

~ There is nothing man can take with him after he dies – no matter how hard he works – not even at great costs of unhappiness.

18 This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. 20 They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.

Do you like to eat good food? I certainly do. Do you like buying good stuffs – handy useful things or beautiful clothes to make you look good? I do too. Do you like watching good movies? So do I. How about having a chat with an intimate friend to share stories, burdens, joys, etc? It makes you feel good, doesn’t it? I know coz I enjoy all these things.

Is it hedonistic to want to enjoy the good life? To be hedonistic is to be engaged in the pursuit of pleasure or to be sensually self-indulgent. So am I being hedonistic? Sounds negative, right? Hedonistic sounds worldly and carnal – belonging to the material world… not spiritual.

So here’s the caveat… A caveat is a provision or exception or warning of specific stipulations or conditions or limitations against the general application of a principle.

The caveat: It is hedonistic to be engaged in the pursuit of pleasure – to be self-indulgent without God in the picture.

The author of Ecclesiastes again and again pointed the vanity of being rich and wise and working hard because in the end, everyone dies. In death, no one takes anything with him to the grave. Yet in all the vanities (useless pursuit – all for nothing), the teacher found something good: It is good and fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment under the following conditions:

v.18
1) in the fruit of our labor -the fruit of working with our hands
2) in the few days of life that we all have
3) that God is the giver of life
v.19
4) that God is the giver of wealth and possessions
5) that God enables us to enjoy good things in life
6) that we accept our lot (what is ours) and we enjoy from the fruit of our work as Gift of God.

It is not a sin to enjoy life. It is not bad to be rich and have the material resources to live a comfortable life. It is good to enjoy the good life that God gives me – knowing that God alone is the giver of life; He enables me to work and enjoy the fruit of my labor. Every good gift is from God – how else and what else to do except to accept and receive and enjoy with gratitude!

A good perspective on life is to enjoy the good things one has knowing the God behind all of the good things in life. How meaningless is life – a chasing after the wind without knowing God – the giver of life!

Go and enjoy today, my friend! Today is a present from God – another opportunity to choose joy and give thanks.

Be Happy, Not Grumpy

What makes a grumpy person? Bad-tempered? Irritable? Grouchy? Always complaining? Definitely not happy, right? Remember Happy and Grumpy – the two dwarf friends of Snow White?

I observe that I am often not happy when I think ‘the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.’

This thought has implications.

1) Taking things for granted

When I start looking for/at things I do not have, it means that I am not paying attention to the things that I do have.

And when I start thinking on what I have, how about being thankful for each one of them?

Being thankful:

Living a joyful life is about having the right perspective. If I have a half glass of water, I should be thankful that the glass is half-full and not complain about it being half-empty. I do not have a son but I have three wonderful daughters. A thankful person makes a happy person.

2) Greed

Why do I focus on things I do not have? Because I want more … because I am greedy…

Being Contented:

The Bible teaches us that godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim 6:6) Paul pointed out to Timothy: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Tim 6:10) More than money, people often seek contentment in other intangibles like fame, affirmation/approval of other people especially those in power and influential.

Being contented brings peace. There is rest in finding satisfaction in life. It is liberating to stop striving, to stop wanting, to stop burning ourselves out in the pursuit of endless wants and needs for more material comfort, for more status, for more fame, for more power, for more affirmation. To free ourselves from greed – we need to know that we came into this world in our birthday suit and the most we have with us leaving this world can be contained in a box or an urn. A contented person is a happy person.

Last but not the least, I focus my thoughts on the things mentioned in Philippians 4:8

The true way of being happy is to have the God of peace be with me.. the ultimate Shalom that is beyond human understanding.

Ransom Money for Richer or for Poorer

There is no doubt that the gap between the rich and the poor in the world is getting bigger than ever before. It is a sad reality that there is such inequality in the world.

In the OT, when the Israelites came out from Egypt, such a condition also existed. There were the rich and the poor. Yet in the eyes of God, their lives were of equal value. How do we know this?

Exodus 30

15 The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the Lord to atone for your lives.

The background to this is found in the preceding verses:

11 Then the Lord said to Moses, 12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them. 13 Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the Lord. 14 All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the Lord.

Facts to observe:

Why atonement money?

The so-called atonement money was to be given whenever a census was taken. This offering is to given as ransom for the life of those who were liberated from bondage in Egypt.

How much is the atonement money?

There is standard amount to be given. How much is half shekel? The gerah is the smallest unit of coin in those days and is 1/50 of an ounce, or 0.6 grams. The sanctuary shekel = 0.4 of an ounce of gold (20 times 1/50 of an ounce), or 12 grams. If based on a price of 42.38 USD per gram, the approximate value of a sanctuary shekel would be $508.56. (http://www.gotquestions.org/sanctuary-shekel.html)

Who must pay the atonement money?

All who cross over, everyone older than 19 years old, whether rich or poor.

Application:

Today we do not need to pay atonement money because Jesus Christ has paid the ransom on the cross for us.

Each life is of equal value in the Creator’s sight. The rich did not give more and the poor not to give less. $500 is an absolute amount but of relative value. For the homeless sleeping on the sidewalk outside our home, $10 is a huge impossible amount. For Bill Gates, $500 is peanut.

One might say so unfair, the rich should give more. On the other hand, how about the fact that the poor had the same capacity to give? God is just – He did not require the poor more than what they could afford. He also did not ask the rich for more than what was required even when they could afford.

No one can earn his salvation. God did not liberate man based on his earning capacity. Freedom from slavery was granted based on His compassion. Justification from sin is achieved through the precious priceless blood of Jesus. Salvation is free yet costly.

Ultimately, the atonement money is about God’s grace – He rescued both the rich and the poor from bondage in Egypt. Both the rich and the poor were to remember the deliverance of God. The same applies today. Jesus died for all humankind – the haves and the have-nots. All are of equal worth in God’s eyes.

Clean hands.. Clean hearts?

Do we not teach our children to wash their hands before eating? We teach them clean eating habits so that what goes into their stomach will be clean. This is the rule for physical hygiene. Input-output. Jesus spoke of spiritual hygiene: inward-outward.

In Jesus’ time, the legalistic Pharisees criticised Jesus’ disciples for not washing their hands before eating. They were very particular about observing traditions. They washed their utensils, their hands, their feet before eating.

Matthew 15:1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

Jesus’ reply teaches us that the essence is more important than the form. Observance of laws and traditions means nothing if it does not stem from the correct posture of the heart. The Pharisees observed traditions of ‘giving to God’ as more important than helping their father and mother. They were concerned with outward piety and lip service.

3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother.’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

9 They worship me in vain;

their teachings are merely human rules.

Jesus said to them:

11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

How so? Jesus’ explanation:

Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”

Application:

How am I with my hygiene? Do I seem clean on the outside with my bible reading, church going and charitable giving… reflection writing? What is the condition of my heart each time I do these seemingly pious deeds?

Out of the heart come…..? What is inside my heart? Man sees the outward stuffs but God sees the heart.

The Whys & Hows of a Worry-free Life

Question: Are you worried? Why are you worried? How does one overcome anxiety?

In Matthew 6, Jesus taught his disciples antidote to worry by pointing out to them – wrong perspectives and values in life that make us worry. We need to ask ourselves questions Jesus asked.

Here is the secret to a worry-free living:

Questions to ask when you are worried and answers to seek to stop worrying…

Q1: IS NOT LIFE MORE THAN food and the body more than clothing? (6:25b)

To ponder: What is life about? Why am I who I am, where I am? What for? What is life really about? Accumulation of things to feed my physical being? Is my life about material things of this world? Is my anxiety due to the lack of these things? Do I think I might lose them? Do I worry that I would not have enough tomorrow?

26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

Q2: ARE YOU NOT WORTH MUCH MORE? than what? the birds of the air.. lilies of the field

To ponder: What is my worth? Where do I find my worth?

In financial security? In social affirmation? In personal achievement? Doing things to please people, striving for recognition? Is my life worthy because of what I work for? Am I living because of my sowing, reaping and storing? Is life about work and rewards? Do I worth much more in my doing or in my being?

Our worth is in our being – we are the beloved children of God. God loves us so much He sent His One and Only Son to save us from eternal death.

27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

Q3: CAN WORRY ADD to life?

To ponder: If I worry, does it make time skip the stuff I fret about? Does it make it go slower to the day I dread for it? Or will worry make it go faster or quicker – make the journey to recovery shorter? Can I add anything to life by worrying? More glory? More life?

28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’

Q4: Why am I worried?

To ponder: When I worry, am I helping God along? Or do I think I can do better – than how He can provide? Solomon was very rich yet the lilies of the field are clothed more gloriously than he was. When I worry, is it because I do not trust God to provide for me?

32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Implication: When I worry, I am eagerly seeking the things that Gentiles (those who do not know God) seek. What are these things? Eating, drinking, clothing… money matters, right? Read Matthew 6:19-21. All about money matters.

These questions help us find answers on ‘how’ not to worry by asking the why. These why questions highlight the reasons for worry. They show us wrong perceptions and values on life and living.

What is the right reason not to worry?

At the start of this lesson on worry, Jesus said:

25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life,

What reason is this?

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Worry lies in the heart of one who loves money more than he loves God. The reason we worry is we love wealth. Jesus taught his disciples not to worry because He wanted to remind them to love God above all else.

Jesus started the lesson with loving God. In the same way, He ended the lesson – how to love God:

33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The antidote to worry is to seek God – put Him first – go after the things that matter to Him – His kingdom and His righteousness. How? Find out when you read the Bible – all that He wants for His children are found in His word.

And the promise is that ‘all these things’ – all the things that you worry about needlessly, these will be ‘added’

Added – means that we will have more than we need, more than we ask, more than we ever imagine.

Life is more than money.

You are worth so much more to God.

God provides for his children.

Love God and worry no more, my friend