What Does My LIfe Consist of? Finances

What is My Life?

One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.—Luke 12:15

When I was ten years old or so, I thought I got blamed for everything. I remember when my six siblings and I would get into trouble. Our parents would ask, “Who did this? Each of the three older children would respond, “I didn’t do it.” “Not me.” My parents’ question wasn’t “Did you do this;” rather, “Who did do it?” By the time it got to me, I guess my parents figured I had to have done it. The three younger children were still so innocent; so, I got blamed.

Think how silly it would be if we always answered questions with a negative. What time is it? It’s not noon. It’s not five o’clock. These negatives do not answer the question. When approached by a man with a request for money, Jesus warns him in a similar negative way.

A man came to Jesus and ask Jesus to command a brother to divide the inheritance with him. Jesus refused and then warned him about greed and covetousness. Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Some translations phrase it as, “Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed.”

Jesus said, “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” If our lives do not consist in the abundance of things; then, what do they consist of?

To covet means to desire, crave, or set your heart on something. Greed carries that desire to focus on things that belong to others. Jesus may have used this negative way of teaching because human beings appear to believe exactly the opposite of what Jesus said. We do think our lives consist of how many things we possess. Even after we quit using those things, we rent storage spaces, buy storage tubs, and fill our attics with things.

Our schedules reflect this same insatiable desire to have it all. We want our children in every activity, sport, and event. We try not to miss out on anything that might move us ahead. We stretch ourselves so thin because we fear saying, “No” may mean will have to sit still for a moment and consider what our lives do really consist of. We are so busy, going, getting, and trying to get even more. But Jesus warns us, “Watch out! Be on guard of every form of greed.”

In order to understand what Jesus was saying our lives do consist of, one must read the rest of the 12^th chapter of Luke. Jesus tells a story of a farmer who built bigger and bigger storage barns only to die rich in earthly things but poor toward God (12:16-21). Jesus then instructs us not to worry because we are more important than birds and lilies. Jesus makes a very profound statement that I believe tells us what our life does consist of. “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms…for where your treasure is there your heart will be also” (12:32-34).

As I read it, we consist of what we focus our hearts on. If we give away earthly things to show God’s love to others and focus on God’s Kingdom which has already been given to us, then we consist of God’s love, God’s heart, and God’s riches. Where is your focus today? What does your life consist of?

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.

Made to Serve, Jesus washes disciples' feet

Made to Serve

After that, he [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.—John 13:5

I remember hearing of a man who complained about a church’s request for a special offering to meet a specific need. In the same service, they asked for volunteers to help move a family from their flooded home. Finally, as the service concluded, worshippers were invited to join the community in a walk to raise money to feed the world. The man could not take it any longer. He greeted the pastor on the way out of the church with this rebuke, “Christianity! It is give, give, give. I think that’s all you people care about!” The minister paused to consider the complaint and responded, “Yes, I think you are about right. Christ gave for us and expects us to give in return.”

Although our tradition, the United Methodist Church, does not regularly practice foot washing as an ordinance, I have participated and led foot washing services many times. Recently, I conducted a wedding where the bride and groom washed each other’s feet immediately after saying their vows and before their first kiss as husband and wife.  It was so moving, and even though my position behind the couple partially blocked my view, it was a priceless moment filled with overwhelming emotion. Love and service are so intertwined.

This past week, Oakland was privileged to host the installation service for our new Johnstown District Superintendent. After being consecrated by the Bishop, members of the district gave him symbolic gifts. One of those gifts was a basin and a towel because leaders are among us to serve.

Jesus, at the Last Supper, took off His clothes, girded Himself as a slave, and “poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (John 13:5).  When Jesus finished washing the Disciples’ feet, He put His clothes back on and returned to His place at the table. He then began to teach them the meaning of the foot washing. Jesus said, “‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet’” (13:12-14).

When Jesus sent out the 12 Disciples, He did so with this commission, “Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Jesus concluded the foot washing at the Last Supper by saying, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:15, 17).

Our good works of service will not and cannot save us. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us we are saved by grace as a gift of God. Our works do not save us so no one may boast. We have been saved, reconciled to God, and given a home in heaven by grace through faith as a gift. Ephesians 2:10 goes on to say, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Human beings are made and Christians are recreated in Christ to serve. Jesus has shown us by example that even leaders and teachers are made to serve. So, where are you serving? How are you serving at home, in the community, in the Church, and in our world? Jesus has given us an example and a command. Let us go and wash one another’s feet. You were made to serve.

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.

Triple-do-dare, Living in Victory over our enemy

Triple-dog-dare

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

—1 John 2:17

Growing up, we would often get each other into trouble by daring someone to do something risky or not permitted. Who would do it first? “I dare you” was the first response. If the dared person was unwilling or afraid, he could always reply, “I double dare you.” Now the challenge was squarely back on the other. Then, there was an ultimate, unable to be topped challenge, the “triple-dog-dare.” Now, the originally dared person must act or be labeled a chicken or fraidy-cat.

In the Christian life, the power of Satan and worldly desires have been defeated by Jesus’ blood and His sacrificial death and resurrection, but Satan continues to use lies and temptations to lead Christians astray. Colossians 1:3 tells us, “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” If God has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and the world and its desires pass away, why do so many Christians live defeated lives?

Just like the triple-dog-dare, Satan and this world launches a triple attack upon those who would live godly lives. If we back up one verse in 1 John 2, we find verse 16 shows us three ways we get sucked back into wanting what the world offers. “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” We are not alone in this. Jesus Himself was tempted in these exact ways by Satan.

After His baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. The first temptation concerned the lust of the flesh. Jesus was fasting—had not eaten for 40 days and was hungry. Satan tempted Him to turn the stones into bread. Jesus, with ultimate power and unlimited resources, could do anything He wanted. Jesus responded, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone’” (Luke 4:4).

How many of us are challenged in our bodily needs and desires. Our human need for food can become abused as gluttony. The world also uses triple-dog-dares to tempt us to eat more. The Chinese recipe for the Happy Family meal is also called Triple Delight because it includes shrimp, chicken, and beef. Many restaurants offer a tempting dessert, Triple Chocolate Delight, combining chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate fudge topping. Take it. Eat it. You can afford it. Food, clothing, intimacy, and shelter are all human, God-given needs that can be taken to the extreme and abused as sin.

Satan then tempted Jesus with “the lust of the eyes.” Satan offered all the kingdoms of this world to Jesus if He would worship Satan. Jesus could have it all without suffering and without the Cross, but the world would have remained lost in sin. Jesus refused. God alone is worthy of worship. Finally, Satan tempted Jesus with the “pride of life.” By jumping off the highest point of the Temple, angels would have rescued Jesus, and He could have said to all, “Look at Me.”

Let us keep our eyes on Jesus and receive the victory He purchased for each of us. We can defeat the attacks of the evil one and live in victory through the power of God’s Holy Spirit within each believer. Jesus has already “rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” Let us live as children and heirs of the King.

Double-Down Faith, from the Sermon, "Where is God in Suffering?"

Double-Down Faith

The God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not.—Daniel 3:17-18

Doubling down began as a gambling term. Although I’m not a gambler, I believe “double-down” means to double your bet after seeing the first of two cards dealt to you. In modern politics, double-down has become frequently used to push a questionable position by doubling support for it in the face of increased criticism. I guess even preachers double-down sometimes. I remember a joke I heard about a preacher who would put the letters, “WPPP” in his sermon notes. WPPP stood for, “Weak Point, Pound Pulpit.”

Doubling-down is not always risky or ill-advised. At Oakland, we are in week 4 of a 10-week sermon series and small group study entitled, “Rooted.” The reading for Day 3 describes the “Double-Fisted Faith” of the three Hebrew children. In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego doubled-down on their faith when facing the fiery furnace for refusing to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s image of gold.

King Nebuchadnezzar erected a ninety foot image of gold. To dedicate the image, he decreed that whenever the music was played, every official and all peoples who heard the music must bow and worship the image. The three Hebrew children serving in the king’s court, being Jews, could not and would not bow. The punishment, “Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace” (Daniel 3:6).

The King gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego one last opportunity to bow, but before the music played, they refused again. Their response may be understood as a double-fisted or doubled-down faith. With one fist, they declared that God is all powerful and can rescue them from the blazing furnace. They believed He would. The second fist comes up, and they say with equal confidence, “But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (3:18).

The Hebrew children had faith in an all-powerful God. They also had hope that God would be with them and deliver them. But they surrendered to whatever circumstances they would face for their faith and disobedience to the government—faith, hope, and surrender.

As I read this passage, my mind immediately connected with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest and crucifixion. He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus knew all things were possible with God. He had performed many, many miracles: fed the multitudes, healed the sick, and even raised the dead. Jesus knew His Heavenly Father could deliver Him, but then Jesus surrendered to what was to come.

You may be facing big challenges, today. Those around you, your circumstances, family or employer may be pressuring you do what you know you cannot do as a Christian. Follow the example and faith of the Hebrew children and Jesus. Double-down on your faith. Believe that God can do all things. Rest in the hope that the Lord is with you and will never let you down. And surrender to the consequences for doing what is right and following Jesus. Faith, hope, and surrender is a doubling down that is neither foolish nor risky.

Randy Bain is the Senior Pastor of Oakland UM Church at 1504 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15902. You may reach him through the church website www.oaklandonline.org.