pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: content


by Leave a comment

No Wind Chasing!

Reading: Ecclesiastes 6:1-9

Ecclesiastes 6:9 – “It’s better to enjoy what’s at hand than to have an insatiable appetite. This too is pointless, just chasing wind.”

The book of Ecclesiastes is addressed to prosperous people who think that material possessions will bring lasting satisfaction. The writer frequently reminds readers that “nothing under the sun” is permanent. Wisdom, wealth, power? Ha! Just a puff of wind.

Turning to chapter 6 today, the author addresses our “appetites” for the things of this world. Verse 1 begins with “I saw a tragedy…” Still working from the blessings-curses framework evident in Job yesterday, the author notes that God does indeed give some people “wealth, riches, and glory.” Such as these – “they lack nothing.” Yet, these folks do not enjoy the blessings. Instead, they pass away and others – “a stranger” – enjoys these worldly blessings.

Next, the Teacher writes of those with children, also considered a great blessing in this culture. Yes, someone can have 100 children and long life. But if they are not content with “life’s good things” – family and good health in this case – then “a stillborn child… is better off than they are.” The author argues that this child has more peace than one who lives 2,000 years but does not enjoy life’s good things.

In this life, whether rich or poor, the writer observes that “the appetite is never full.” All people are drawn to the things of this world. In verse 9 we read, “It’s better to enjoy what’s at hand than to have an insatiable appetite. This too is pointless, just chasing wind.” Be content. Enjoy life as it is. Don’t strive for more and more. As my friend Peggy once said, bloom where you are planted. And… don’t chase after the wind!

Prayer: Lord God, guide us to chase after you with all that we are. Lead us to trust in you for our provision, for our “daily bread.” Relying upon you alone, fill us with contentment and peace, with joy and happiness. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Heed the Warning!

Reading: Luke 12:13-21

Luke 12:15 – “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions.”

In today’s text Jesus addresses money – a frequent topic in his teachings. In the story a presumably younger brother asks Jesus to tell his brother to give him what is due to him. Jesus declares that he’s not the judge or referee – or the relationship counselor. Good thing because we all want what we think should be rightfully ours. This often includes money or possessions but can also include our time, our talents and gifts, and even our prayers and worship.

Jesus then tells a story to illustrate the gravity of his warning. Often we have to figure out which person we are in the story – or who we hope to be. Today’s story, however, has just one character. A rich man has a bountiful harvest. We get a bonus at work or that commission on the big account comes through. The man’s barns are not big enough to take in the wonderful harvest, adding to what’s already stored up. While there is always more “room” in the bank, we’ll rent storage units for our new stuff. Finding himself at the crossroads between generosity and self-indulgence, the man decides to tear down his current barns to horde more stuff in bigger, newer barns. The man thinks he’s all set – there’s plenty in the bank. Oops – in the barns. He thinks that he can now “Eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” Life is good!

Alas, Jesus says, the man will die that night. He horded and was not “rich toward God.” He was storing up treasures in earth, not in heaven. The truth of Jesus’ warning is realized: “Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one’s life isn’t determined by one’s possessions.” May we hear the lesson and heed the warning.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the warning and good story to back it up. Really, God, we all struggle with some kind of greed. Yet we read the story and almost all of us ask the question, “How much is enough?” Even this question betrays our trust in you to provide all that we need. Lord, teach us to be content with what you provide and guard our hearts against the hunan desire to strive for more. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Humble Service

Reading: Matthew 23:11-12

Matthew 23:11 – “The one who is greatest among you will be your servant.”

Matthew 23 compares who the religious leaders are with who Jesus calls his followers to be. Earlier in the chapter Jesus says, “Don’t do what they do.” The religious leaders are asking the people to do things they won’t do themselves. Looking at this admonition and the other context verses, I am reminded of the show, “Undercover Boss.” The title implies the premise of the show. A couple of things usually happen on every episode. First, the boss (or the owner) has their eyes opened as they become a new hire for their company. Performing these menial tasks takes them to the core of what it meant to be a servant in Jesus’ day. Remember the disciples’ shock when Jesus washed their feet? Servant! The second regular occurrence is the boss meeting an employee who is more servant than employee. This person’s love and dedication are noteworthy, they stand out. This is what Jesus is talking about when he says, “The one who is greatest among you will be your servant.”

The second verse in today’s passage also is a regular occurrence on “Undercover Boss.” The boss is usually the one who has lifted himself or herself up (in a good way – through hard work…) Often this rising up, though, breeds pride and/or arrogance, as it has in the religious leaders of Jesus’ day. The religious leaders work hard to set themselves apart from and therefore above the people. Opposite of this, Jesus notes, “all who make themselves low will be lifted up.” This is often the case on the show with the employee who is more like a servant. The boss rewards their servant attitude with a nice promotion or a generous raise. While God doesn’t give us promotions or raises when we choose to humbly serve others, there are definitely “rewards” – joy, peace, content… – that come with living our neighbors in ways that stand out. May we choose to serve well today.

Prayer: Lord God, it can be easy to get caught up in ourselves, thinking this task or that job is “below” us. It can be hard to humble ourselves to scrub a toilet or to mow a yard or… thinking “someone” else should do that. This poor attitude soon permeates our spirit. When we struggle in these ways, O God, remind us of Christ’s example. Call us to walk in his servant footsteps. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Equipped for Faithful Living

Reading: Hebrews 12-13

Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix your eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter.”

Hebrews 12 continues the ‘heroes of the faith’ ideas developed ch chapter 11. We begin today with the encouragement to also run the race of faith, surrounded by this “great cloud of witness.” This would include those names in chapter 11 and those we can make in our hearts. To run this race we are invited to “throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix your eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter.” Without these entanglements of this world we can better live a life of faith.

The author then turns to discipline and hardship. These work together, one ever strengthening the other. These partners benefit our faith, building us up in holiness, yielding “the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” So, the writer says, “make straight paths… pursue the goal of peace… and holiness as well.” Living a disciplined life of faith, one will be drawn towards the city of God and to Jesus, the “mediator of the new covenant.”

The writer of Hebrews then declares that the faithful will receive a “kingdom that cannot be shaken.” Therefore, he or she says, keep expressing gratitude, keep serving in ways that are pleasing to God. Chapter 13 continues to unpack faithful living: love each other, open your homes to guests, visit the prisoners and the mistreated. Be free of the love of money. Be content. Remember and imitate your leaders. Draw close to Jesus and to “that city yet to come.” Do good and share what you have.

Hebrews draws near to a close with a prayer that the God of peace would “equip you with every good thing to do his will, by developing in us what pleases him through Jesus Christ.” May this too be our blessing!

Prayer: Lord God, we invite your power and presence into our lives, equipping us to run the race of faith with endurance and confidence. Remind us of those who have gone on before us so that we can draw strength and encouragement from their example. At the front of this line, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, our ultimate example of faith and love. Amen.


by Leave a comment

A Different Answer

Reading: Ecclesiastes 3-6

‭Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “God has made everything fitting in its time, but has also placed eternity in their hearts.”

Chapter 3 begins with the familiar “There’s a time for everything.” We recognize times in our lives when we’ve experienced both halves of each pair. In verse 11 we read, “God has made everything fitting in its time, but has also placed eternity in their hearts.” While we don’t know the whole plan, the sage’s advice is still to eat, drink, and enjoy your work. These are gifts from God.

The Teacher also acknowledges the fragility of life. There is justice and wickedness in the world. All will be judged; all will return to dust. So enjoy what you’re allotted in life.

Unless you’re oppressed. The dead are more fortunate than these and the unborn are better off yet. And unless you’re a miser. They’re lonely and they’re never satisfied with wealth… That’s why two are better than one. Add God into the mix and it becomes better yet.

Speaking of God, in chapter 5 the Teacher advises us to watch our steps and to not be too quick to speak before God. Guard your actions too. Keep your promises to God, pronto! He then repeats familiar themes. The money lover is never satisfied. People hoard to their own detriment. All end like they started: naked and with nothing. But eat, drink, and enjoy your work. All are God’s gifts to us.

In chapter 6 we find a stark statement. Better to be a stillborn child without a grave than to be one not content with life’s good things. The chapter then closes with two questions: Who knows and who can say what the future holds? The implied and expected answer is “No one.” We have a different answer. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: Lord God, you’ve designed and ordered the world for us to be content and to enjoy your good gifts of food, rest, and work. But we too envy and get caught up in chasing, accumulating, gathering… There is a finite nature to this life, yet you also place eternity in our hearts. May this be what guides and leads us each day. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Pure and Upright

Reading: Proverbs 19 and 20

‭Proverbs 19:20 – “Listen to advice and accept instruction, so you might grow wise in the future.”

To choose to ignore wisdom is to choose to be a fool. Folly first of all corrupts the heart against God. That can lead a foolish son to be a “disaster to his father” and a “contentious wife” to feel like a “constant dripping.” Fools jump right into fights and they mock justice. Fools and liars will not escape. They will perish. Therefore the sage says, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, so you might grow wise in the future.” Here one finds true life, contentment, and peace.

We seek and we enjoy these gifts. That is some of the reason that we plan. This is good to do but we are also reminded “the Lord’s purpose will succeed.” This is why we must never stop listening to wisdom and why we must never refuse discipline. When we do stop, we wander. The walk of faith is long and slow and steady. Advice for our walk comes from “the deep waters of the heart.” It requires long, slow, and steady care. With understanding we can draw from these waters, gaining wisdom and finding true life.

Listening closely and drawing deeply from wisdom allows us to apply it to our lives and to our living. Doing so we learn to restrain our anger and to walk away from senseless fights and to ignore an offense. We come to value wise speech as “the most precious jewel.” We grow to be gracious to the poor. We wait upon the Lord’s salvation. We learn to walk with integrity and honor. We, like our children, are known by our words and by our conduct. May we be pure and Upright, bringing glory and splendor to God.

Prayer: Lord God, today we see that all of who and what we are really matters. Guide us to walk as you call us to walk, clinging to wisdom and understanding and discipline, walking in your way. Keep our ears and hearts open to your guidance and your correction. Use our deeds and words to make your will and way known. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Incomplete Understanding

Readings: Job 32 through Job 37

‭Job 32:8 – “But the spirit in a person, the Almighty’s breath, gives understanding.”

Photo credit: Nathan Dumlao

Elihu speaks today. He has listened to the words of Job and his friends. He has waited to speak because he is younger. In the opening verses we see what drives his words. He is angry with Job because Job thinks he is more righteous than God. Elihu is angry with the friends because they wrongly assumed Job to be sinful, preventing them from finding an answer to his suffering. Elihu claims a divine source for his words, saying, “But the spirit in a person, the Almighty’s breath, gives understanding.” It is also this spirit within that enlivens Elihu’s speech.

Elihu tells Job that God is greater than anybody – Job included. He reminds Job that God “speaks” in many ways: dreams, visions, pain, illness. He reminds Job that prayer leads to a response from God. Elihu reminds the friends that God is not evil and that God sees all human steps. Evil doers cannot hide from God. But the divine consequences for their actions is not always immediate. Elihu says that our good and our bad does not affect God but does impact those around us.

Elihu closes by reminding all four that God does prompt people to turn from their sin. To turn from sin brings plenty and contentment. To ignore God, it brings death – at some point. His windy and winding speech wraps up with a picture of how wondrous, powerful, mighty, and just God is. So much so that God will not respond to humans. How surprised he will be when God speaks next from the whirlwind. Clearly Elihu’s understanding of God is not as complete as he thinks.

Prayer: Lord God, as we walk with you we do gain insight; we come to know you more and more. As we journey, help this to continue as we seek to know who you are. The ‘what’ isn’t so important. And, Lord, even though we hold some truths about who you are, because we do not and will not ever know the whole picture, guard our tongues lest we demonstrate the limits of our knowledge. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Living a Kingdom Life

Reading: Luke 6:24-26

Verse 24: “Woe to you…”

Photo credit: Paz Arando

Finishing up in this week’s passage from Luke 6, we turn to the “woe” section of these Beatitudes. Each of these phrases begin with the statement, “Woe to you who are…” As was the case yesterday, there is deeper meaning in these words of Jesus. It is not necessarily “bad” to possess wealth or material goods. It is not necessarily a bad thing to laugh or to be spoken well of by others. But these become bad or detrimental to our faith when they become our focus in life, when they become the place we put our trust.

When we become focused on what others think and say about us, we tend to lose sight of other’s worth and value. We become very self-centered. The same is true when we chase and chase after wealth or possessions. We soon fail to see others needs. When we focus on laughing and enjoying life now, we become disconnected from the hurting world all around us. In the long term, these things never bring lasting contentment, joy, or peace. “More” and “better” are always calling.

Jesus warns us against focusing in on these earthly pleasures so that our gaze turns away from them and towards living out a kingdom life now. May we choose to use the gifts and blessings that God gives us to share God’s love and hope with a world in need.

Prayer: Lord God, help me to see my blessings and gifts not as something to just enjoy or even hoard, but as things to give away and to share. Allow these things to be used for the building of your kingdom in this time and place. Amen.


by Leave a comment

The Worldly Lens

Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-6

Verse 5: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength.”

Our Old Testament passage for this week comes in the middle of a section titled “Days of Disaster.” Our passage for today and tomorrow deals with the impact of our choices and decisions. As people living in a broken and hurting world, we can struggle to discern and consequently follow the voices and ways of God. The voices of the world and the pain and suffering that we all face make our decisions and choices less easy – at least in ways that are pleasing to God. In reality, it is easier to go along with the culture and with the norms of the world and people around us.

In the first two verses of this week’s passage God addresses our situation when we choose the easier path. When we choose to “trust in man” and when we decide to “depend on flesh” we are cursed. Ultimately we are cursed because this is not the path that leads to eternity in heaven. This choice also affects our earthly life and this is what God addresses in these two verses. When we focus on man-made success we limit our vision. A selfish focus leads to tunnel vision. Focusing on things like wealth and power and prestige, God says we “will not see prosperity when it comes.” For those chasing the things of this world, the next success is just one rung on the ladder. Looking already to the next rung, the prosperity or blessing is missed. The tunnel of “me” is narrow. This is why there is often no contentment or joy when living only for self and for success according to the world’s definition. This is why God describes this life as dwelling in the “parched places of the desert.” Chasing the things and ways of the world does not fill us with true life. It leaves us dry and always wanting.

Instead of seeing life through this worldly lens, may we choose to see with eyes of faith. Doing so we will find joy and contentment, peace and true strength. May we turn our eyes to the ways of God day by day.

Prayer: Lord God, turn me from these selfish ways. Attract me instead to walking in your ways, considering others more than self. Guide me to walk in your light and love, seeing as you see. Amen.


by Leave a comment

Produce Fruit

Reading: Luke 3: 7-14

Verse 8: “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

Our passage from Luke 3 is broken into two parts. Today we look at what it looks like to live out our faith in Jesus and tomorrow we look at who Jesus Christ is in our lives and in our world.

Today’s reading begins by addressing the reality of people’s faith. John asks the crowd, “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” There is an implication that many in the crowd will be judged unworthy of the kingdom of God and that many are blissfully unaware of it. Today these would be the people who say “I’m a good person,” “I give to the red buckets at Christmas time,” “I grew up in a Christian home,” and so on. John says to the crowd that thinks they are “in,” “the ax is already at the root of the tree.” He explains that it does not matter if they claim to be a Jew or say they love God. Today these would be the people who say “I go to church once in a while” or “I pray every day.”

In verse eight John says, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” He goes on to explain what this could look like: sharing our extra with those in need, being content with what we have, controlling our desires for power. For John, a personal relationship with God is not just some status we claim. It is a connection that impacts and changes all areas of our life. Repentance over and over shapes us more and more into the image of God. Experiencing God’s mercy, love, generosity, and compassion leads us to extend and share these things with others. This is producing fruit. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, deepen our relationship this week. Deepen it so that I can love you and all I meet more fully, more completely. Refine me over and over to be more like you. Amen.