A Better Gift

Recently, I have been thinking a great deal about the gifts that we give our children. Some are lasting, part of the family legacy really. Other gifts we give our kids are temporarily important but not going to generally influence their lives one way or another, it just brings them joy in the moment and gives us the pleasure of seeing their joy. In so many ways we give gifts to our kids simply because we want to be a blessing to them in every way we can. When they are young this may mean a special toy or a surprise trip. As they get older it may mean something a little more expensive, a car or a college education. Yet are we giving them what will benefit them most?

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’, which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’ And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition (instruction) of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:1—4(NKJV)

Christmas is not too far off and that means that every parent in America is, or has already, starting to hear from their children what they want for Christmas. Every major retailer, toy manufacturer and package delivery company is gearing up and hoping for a profitable season as parents do their all to satisfy the manifold desires of their little ones wish lists. But there are times when we need to ask ourselves, with brutal honesty, “does our child need another blinking, beeping, fully active or interactive toy? “ “Will the latest and greatest” entertainment technology assist them in becoming men and women of character and virtue? In other words, is giving them all the “stuff” giving them what they need most?

I am not against giving our kids gifts at Christmas on any level. It simply seems appropriate that as we consider giving our kids gifts during this time of year we consider giving them a gift that will be a blessing and benefit far beyond this time of year and well into the years to come. Our kids need steady, ongoing and consistent investment from us, as parents, in the training and instruction of the Lord. They ought to enjoy their gaming systems, their sports equipment, their computers and such, but these are not the necessary things they need from us. If life is a cake, these things are the icing.

 As we raise our kids we do so in a world that is changing rapidly. This ought to inform of us of their deep need to be truly instructed in the ways of the God who loves them and does not shift and change with every fashion trend or political season. There are rock solid principles and instructions found in the Word of God that will equip to the lives we dream for them, good ones. When the culture and influences around them seem to exalt the quick fix and happiness is the only goal mentalities, they will be living in the confidence of the One who has conquered sin and death and is on their side. They will have the confidence of David when he said, “The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.”(Ps.23:1) And they will have the peace in their souls, not of those who have given in to the world but as those who have been given peace by the One who has overcome the world. This is the gift our sons and daughters need.

Not only at Christmas, but everyday of their lives until they leave our homes to establish theirs. If we are to give them what they truly need then we will give them righteous and faithful instruction in the “training and admonition “ of the Lord. They will be ones who know their God and because they know their God will have the confidence to live full and free lives. They will live lives of purpose and influence. When they speak they will speak with wisdom. When called upon they will respond with grace and strength, not their own but flowing freely from the hand of God into and through their lives.

This is gift that we can not only give them, but we are instructed by the Word of our God to give them. In his third epistle John wrote some words that should encourage us as parents. I don’t think he was writing them to biological children, but rather those the Lord had given him great influence over, but is that not what God has done in giving us children? “I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (3 John :4) May we give our sons and daughters the gift of “training and admonition of the Lord” and in doing do have the joy of hearing that our children walk in truth.

It Ain’t Hard

“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:3(niv)

The life that believers in Jesus are called to and given is not really all that hard. Which is a huge contradiction to all the information, education and energy that has been developed, promoted and invested to “equip” the saints of God for their purposes. Trust me in the realms of this religion called Christianity there is as much competition for the outlets of influence as that which exists for food court space in a busy shopping mall or airport. the ideas of “sincere and pure” have been disregarded in the pursuit of high customer traffic and budget maintenance. All the while the call of the Lord, “Come and Follow Me.”,  remains the foundation for everything.

It has become increasingly interesting to find that while I have been harshly accusatory towards the institution on this matter it is easily found in just about every circle of people who are “trying” to follow the Lord.  We all desire to have the right language, the right connections, the right beliefs and the right understanding of matters that we believe are important to the kingdom. But who is setting the standard for what is right. It is still the insecurity of not finding one’s place that allows the ideas or insights of others to move from the position of helpfulness to somehow becoming the standard of things about the faith. When this occurs we have just given up the “pure” devotion and have become those with divided hearts; trying to serve two masters – the living God and the good opinion of those we want to be a part of.

When our faith can be shifted and tossed about based on who is informing it, then have we not also lost the “sincere” devotion we started with? Maybe it is the result of our quick fix culture or our fad of the week approach to life, but it seems that many brothers and sisters in the faith are highly informed about but poorly equipped for the life of following the Lord. The pursuit of information has become the replacement for actual relationship based entrance into the activity of the kingdom of God. We are sincere, sincerely committed to a chameleon like existence that bears the image of the current information but bears little of the image of Christ.

Paul spoke an incredible word of freedom that to walk in creates the framework for “sincere and pure devotion to Christ”. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (romans 8:14) When it comes to our devotion to Christ it really is more about Who you know than what you know. When we follow the Lord in the Spirit of the Lord we are free, really free to love, obey and display Him. And in the doing of this we are putting on display the life that is not hard but rather as simple as breathing. I am fully convinced, it ain’t hard.

This is not a declaration that education and learning has no value, quite the opposite. I fully believe that we can never stop learning and that learning is a vital aspect of our growth. But learning is not the goal of our lives, living in the purposes of God is. Learning ought to equip us to do so with more understanding and freedom. My good friend and a father in the faith, Leo Free, recently put out an encouraging and informative piece that I believe would be helpful to any believer. (www.completelove.net then click on the letter tab) Another man who I deeply appreciate, Sam Soleyn, an apostle of the faith has an amazing series on the House of God, that gives amazing insight into the times we are living in as they relate to the kingdom. (www.soleyn.org click on downloads tab and get the entire series) Both of these are educational, you will learn and you will gain information, but if they are not allowed to become part of your equipping and therefore your living, they end up having far less value. They simply become deceptions that cause us to move away from our , “sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

I want to close with a simple example, marriage. I am always married to my wife, when we are in the same room or we are a thousand miles apart, my wife is my wife and I am to be devoted and faithful to her regardless of any proximity in any moment. Now if there is an area that I may need to learn and apply some things in my life that will assist me in my being a husband to her then I ought to seek that out. However, the source of that information or assistance does not somehow take on a more important role in my life than my wife, if that happens then I am actually less faithful and less devoted to my wife. But in proper use and context that source can be extremely helpful and then become a blessing to me and my wife and actually encourage and strengthen my devotion and faithfulness to her. So it ought to be with any source of information or insight into the things of the Lord, our “sincere and pure devotion to CHrist” ought to only be strengthened. It ain’t that hard.

So learn it and live it. We must have both. And for the sake of your health and your sanity, do not make learning it the end goal – live it out in sincere and pure devotion to Christ. One more time….   say it with me…. IT AIN’T THAT HARD.

Continuing On…

In my previous post I was inquiring as to the influence wealthy people were being afforded in the Body of Christ . I was hoping to hear from others in different places and discover either a widespread issue or more of a regional/local one. I enjoyed the interaction on the matter very much and while some posted others called for more in-depth and on occasion intense interaction. It is interesting how the issue of money has the ability to stir up a variety of responses. I will freely admit that finances are an issue in my life as well.

Everyday we make decisions that are related to what our abilities, financially speaking, are. From simple things like going out to eat or buying a soda to weightier matters that have us choosing between purchasing a needed prescription or paying the mortgage. Our financial status at any given moment bears influence that we may not even recognize in regular situations but when an appliance goes out, the kids are needing something extra or medical issues arise our awareness level certainly increases then.

 Is it right to give honor, respect or influence to someone based on their financial status? This is the question that I am seeking more interaction on.