Unlearning Tradition, Relearning Scripture

Tag: Have faith

  • The Wedding Vow

    Recently, a friend from afar came to visit us. She inquired about my journey to becoming a pastor. To summarize my experience, I explained that I spent six years in an organized church, where I received a salary. However, for close to twelve years now, I have been serving independently, conducting Bible studies without a salary. Instead, I trust in God for voluntary contributions. She was amazed by God’s goodness and grace.

    Is it permissible for a pastor to engage in money-making ventures or be employed in secular work while also serving God? Paul addressed this question in 1 Corinthians 9:7-14.

    “Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does He not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:7-14)

    Jesus told a person who wanted to follow Him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:58)

    We do not follow Jesus for material gains, but rather for forgiveness, restoration to God, and the gift of eternal life. This principle applies to everyone, including both pastors and disciples of Christ.

    Jesus warns those who wish to follow Him that it won’t be easy. It’s not a bed of roses; life’s challenges will still arise. He further emphasized this by telling another potential follower, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

    It’s ironic that many Christians often put Jesus or the Bible on the backseat when life’s troubles or even busyness arise. This is not a true way to follow Jesus Christ. Following Him can be summarized by the wedding vow: “I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”

    Oddly, Jesus even states, “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37)

    The journey of following Jesus is a narrow path with no other options. Hence, Jesus earlier in Luke 9 teaches: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24)

    Doesn’t seem to have options there, do we? It requires a strong commitment to follow Him, regardless of the consequences or obstacles. Jesus Christ invites us, saying, “Come, follow Me,” with no qualifications or exceptions.

    During our Bible study, we often come across a passage in Scripture that leads to disagreement among some participants about its applicability to everyone. Consider Christ’s directive: “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’” (Mark 10:21).

    Is this an isolated teaching in Scripture? It is not. Jesus, in Luke 12:33-34, teaches something similar that applies to all who wish to be His disciples: “Sell your possessions and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Luke 12:33-34)

    The central message of Christ Jesus is not to demand that we sell all our possessions, but rather to emphasize that we should not love material wealth more than we love God. We need to place our hearts in the right position, as stated in Matthew 6:19-21. Jesus further explains, “No one can serve two masters; 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 money.” (Matthew 6:24)

    We should follow Jesus with full conviction and trust. Take some time to reflect on whether you can endure the journey of following Him. The cost may be high, but the reward is priceless—eternal entry into God’s kingdom. Remember that when we decide to follow Jesus Christ, we are bound by a sacred commitment, like a wedding vow.

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!

  • A Reflection on God’s Goodness

    Adam’s punishment for breaking God’s covenant was not only death, he would also toil for his food until he died (Genesis 3:17-19). However, this curse was reversed after the flood during Noah’s days, as seen in Genesis 8:20-22.

    “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in His heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.’”

    God’s restoration of His blessings to human toil was evident through His covenant with Noah. For that alone, we should be grateful for God’s grace.

    In fact, Jesus teaches us Christians to love even our enemies because God has a common grace for everyone. Check out Matthew 5:44-45, Psalm 145:9 and Acts 14:17. So why is there suffering and scarcity of food or resources for people? It is because of man’s selfishness and greed. Hence, in Christ’s parable in Luke 12:15-21, the rich man who has an abundant harvest is condemned to die because he laid up treasures for himself and is not rich towards God. 

    Christians, there have been talks of an impending economic hardship or collapse. Learn from the story of 1 Kings 17. There was a drought, and therefore, famine ensued. Elijah, a man of God, was shielded from the drought and famine. God asked him to go to the brook and commanded ravens to bring him food. Later, the brook dried up, and he was commanded to go to a widow, whom God commanded to feed Elijah. 

    Elijah came to the widow. She was destitute, with only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug, enough for her to prepare her and her son’s last meal. Strangely, Elijah told the widow to go prepare food and bring it first to him. 

    If you have been reading this story in the Bible, perhaps at this point in the story, anyone would say Elijah thought only about himself. Because the widow had already told him she had nothing left except her last resources for her and her son’s last meal. But reading on would reveal Elijah was simply exercising his faith in God. God told him to go to this widow for provision (1 Kings 17:8).

    The widow, clearly burdened by God, did exactly what Elijah told her to bring him food first. The Bible then narrates, “And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD that He spoke by Elijah.” (1 Kings 17:15-16)

    The widow and her son actually benefited from the presence of Elijah, because God was with him. They experienced God’s divine providence because the widow honored God by responding positively to God’s instructions spoken through Elijah. 

    Christians, if God can provide for Elijah, the widow, and her son in strange ways, and He changes not, He would do the same if only we would trust God, even in the midst of economic difficulties. 

    The Bible in Psalm 37 states, “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when He delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:23-25)

    Jesus Christ teaches us not to worry about food, drink, or clothing. God provides for even the birds, so how much more will He care for us, who are far more precious to Him? These worries often consume the thoughts of those who do not believe, but our heavenly Father knows all our needs. Instead, we should seek first His kingdom and His righteousness—through Christ Jesus (Romans 10:4)—and God will take care of our daily needs (Matthew 6:25-33).

    If we claim to believe in John 3:16, which states that eternal life is in Christ Jesus, why is it so difficult for us to trust that Jesus Christ cares for our daily needs? Stop worrying and have faith in God’s Word.

    Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!