Psalm 37

 

The Psalmist says that he has never seen the righteous forsaken or their seed begging for bread. The first reaction of many is to say, but there are lots of poor and people who do beg. However just because someone is poor doesn't mean they are righteous. Also, consider that this principle is true when you consider that the righteous don't send their children out to beg because they are generous to them and to others around them. There is also the fact that this principle is true unless evil men set in. The righteous are willing to work and share it is only when wicked men step in and bring trouble (also promised for us in Scripture) that the principle doesn't happen. The truth stands, the children of the righteous are far better off than any others. 

Leviticus 6

 

God commanded anyone who gained by cheating or stealing to pay it back with 1/5 extra. God didn't ask for more but did demand that in a way the person who was cheated could recoup a portion of what could have been gained by having that money. When I look into Luke chapter 19 at the repentance of Zacchaeus he didn't do this but paid back 4 times what he had stolen and gave away half of all he had. He was trying to make things right and what did Jesus say? “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham" Luke 19:9. It wasn't the giving that brought salvation it was the repentance which is what Jesus recognized in Zacchaeus. 

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Leviticus 5

 It has been said that "Silence is golden." There are times, a lot of times, when this is true however when we keep quiet when they should speak up then God doesn't see this as golden He sees it as sin. There is a time to keep quiet about things but too often people have kept quiet about sin or even the innocence of others. Usually, it has to do with a perceived or actual fear of reprisal that keeps them quiet. God doesn't accept that. God says if you know something and keep quiet then you will be held responsible. 

Martin Niemöller found out that sometimes the consequences come sooner than one might realize. As he wrote about his time in Nazi German:

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

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Isaiah 46

 God gives us the offer of salvation just as he did to Judah. God offers to carry us, unlike idols which have to be carried. This is so true in our lives. We carry around our idols and they weigh us down. We give so much to keep them and they ultimately give us nothing of real value in return. God on the other hand wants to care for us and carry us. When we can't make it he is willing to be there. So what is better? Something that weighs you down or someone willing to carry you? 

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Job 41

 

Job 41:11 Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.

Romans 11:35 "Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?"

1 Corinthians 10:26 "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof."

Exodus 19:5 Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations--for the whole earth is Mine.

Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, and the earth and everything in it.

The crazy thing is that this is what I have heard both well-meaning and less than well-meaning people do. They claim God owes them. One of these is that since he made me he owes me. The argument is flawed because God has given us far more than we deserve. We have free will. We have salvation if we want it. The things that God says are sins are bad for us and the world around us so what he asks is for us to have a better life and a better world. Yet, as is often the case those who don't want to see that won't. I pray I always do. 

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Galatians 3

 

Paul isn't saying that the Law of God is worthless but that it had a purpose and that purpose was to show us our sins and lead us to God. This means that we can not say that we no longer need to obey the moral code that God laid down and Jesus reaffirmed in His teaching. What he is saying is that our Salvation comes not by trying to keep it. He hints here and will later point out that we can now keep the Law not by our own strength but by the power of the new life the Holy Spirit has given us. 

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Proverbs 9

 

Both Folly and Wisdom call out to people. Neither wants to leave people where they are. Wisdom wants to draw people to higher levels. Folly to lower levels where all is about getting for themselves at the expense of others. Is what you are doing at the expense of others? That can be a tricky question because folly will say the honest hard worker is taking advantage of others to the person who doesn't work hard. Yet at the same time, folly will tell the hard worker it's okay you deserve this. This is why we need to make sure we have God's wisdom because he can show us the truth that is in our hearts and in the world around us. 

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