Meekness vs Weakness

I think I may have covered the concept of biblical meekness before but I came upon a daily devotional from Pastor Greg Laurie that explains this better than I can.
I hope he doesn't mind my using it here.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
— Matthew 5:5


"Meekness is not weakness. Sometimes we confuse the two. But the difference between a meek person and weak person is this: a weak person can't do anything. A meek person, on the other hand, can do something but chooses not to.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5). The word "meek" from the original language was used to describe reining in a stallion. It is the idea of a horse being controlled by a bit and bridle. The horse is choosing to submit to authority. That is meekness. It is power under constraint.

Although Jesus said, "Blessed [happy] are the meek," we don't celebrate meekness in our culture. Instead, we celebrate assertiveness. We celebrate getting things from other people, sometimes even taking advantage of other people. When is the last time you saw a movie that celebrated the virtue of meekness? When is the last time the big buildup for the movie was the moment when the good guy meekly restrains himself, even though he was wronged? We don't want to go to a movie like that. We want to see a payback movie in which the first half consists of bad things happening to the hero, and the last half consists of bad things that come to the people who did those things to the hero. That is what entertains us. That is what our culture celebrates.

How different this is from what the Bible teaches. The Bible celebrates meekness. The biblical worldview says last is first. Giving is receiving. Dying is living. Losing is finding. The least is the greatest. Meekness is strength. The idea is that we are living by God's truth—not by what our culture says should make us happy."


Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.

“Be Content With What You Have”

To follow up on last weeks discussion on folks that are in the "Jesus Business" I want to discuss the concept of being content with what we have, something I have rarely heard from people who teach this peculiar “ology”.
Here are several verses that address contentment.

Phil 4: 10-12
10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. NIV

Paul through the tough times was content with his circumstances because his focus was on Christ and spreading the gospel. He always managed to do just that regardless of his circumstance because he learned to be content with what he had. Why? How?
Phil 4:13 "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." NIV

This concept is buttressed by this verse from Hebrews:
Heb 13:5
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you." NIV

There is a great admonition in the Old Testament. I thought I would go there since so many in the "Jesus Business" live in the Old Testament.

Ecc 5:10
10 "Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless." NIV

Lack of contentment leads to unhappy lives and in the long run it all means nothing since we came into the world naked, and will leave it the same way.
1Tim 6: 7,8 NIV
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.NIV
WOW! There is that word again!

Think about these points, pray about them and when you do ask yourself what the accumulation of material wealth has to do with spreading the gospel if that wealth is not used to spread the gospel.


Until next time may the LORD bless us and keep us. In Jesus name I pray.

The Business of Jesus vs The Jesus Business

There are many radio and TV teachers and preachers that are not so much going about doing the business of Jesus as he commanded, but are rather in the Jesus business, using the word for their own financial gain.

1Tim: 6: 3-5
3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our LORD Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. NIV

2 Peter 2:3
3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction is on the way. NLT

As believers we need to be able to discern incorrect teaching when we hear it. Sometimes we are given a gift of discernment when we are saved. I think though, in most cases, discernment is usually developed over time.

So, how do we develop our discernment?
By reading and studying the word daily. The more we become familiar with the word the less likely we are to be led astray by strange doctrine.
Please be alert, be aware, and test all teaching you hear against scripture so you won’t be trapped by false doctrine. You need to dust off the Bible and read it daily. It is your greatest asset, your best defense, and the best way to develop discernment. Read what GOD says in his word.

Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.