Sunday School was AMAZING today!  It is awesome to see the folks get involved in the lesson.  James 5 is one of those passages that really draws you into the scripture.  We all need to be in the habit of immersing ourselves in the passage when we read.  The Bible isn’t a “book”, it’s God’s Word written to us.  We should read it like it’s the most important thing we’ve ever read – because it is!

James 5:1-6 is where we spent our time Sunday.  The point from James is clear.  If you spend your life chasing earthly wealth and pleasure, you will end your life miserable, distraught, and searching for significance and happiness.  Those things can not satisfy, and as long as they are the focus of our time, energy, and ambitions we are chasing something we can never catch.  We moved from James 5 to Philippians 4:11-12.  Paul deals with this same problem from the opposite side.  He challenges us to be content no matter our circumstances.  It’s very easy for us to play the comparison game in all areas of our life.  We compare finances, relationships, intelligence, abilities, sin, and more.  We search for opportunities to be “better” than everyone else at something.  

The problem isn’t wanting to do my best at everything I put my hand to. The problem is allowing the desire for things and happiness to rule my life, instead of my desire to know and please my Creator and Redeemer to rule my life.  It isn’t a new struggle.  Adam and Eve wanted to know as much as God more than they treasured their relationship with Him.  Cain killed Able because he wanted God’s approval more than He wanted God himself.  Paul is very clear in Philippians 4:11-12.  He says he has “learned” to be content in any circumstance or place.  I can learn something in various ways, but in my life, I can’t really say I’ve learned something until it’s put to practice in my life.  Paul had put contentment into practice.  He was writing the words in Philippians from a jail cell.  

Here’s the question of the day (week, month, year, decade).  How do I put contentment into practice in my life when everything I see around me tells me to chase after money, power, education, praise, and happiness?  I welcome your discussion.

Love you all very much.  Have an amazing week!

WG

The series we began several weeks ago about relationships has led to some very interesting discussions on Thursday nights.  The topic is one most of us want to discuss.  Everyone’s relationships take work.  No one gets great relationships without putting effort into them.  It would be really nice to have perfect relationships just drop out of the sky, but it’s not going to happen.  

Because no one gets perfect relationships for free, we have discussed some of the pieces necessary to make our relationships what we need and what God wants.  Peace and forgiveness were the first two building blocks of great relationships.  This week, we discussed trust.

Trust is a “must have” in any relationship.  I certainly want trust in my marriage and my close friendships, but I also want to know I can trust my doctor, my mail carrier, and my garbage man.  There really isn’t a relationship around that doesn’t involve trust.  The earthly concept of trust in another person is built on the spiritual foundation of FAITH.  We learn as children to trust in God and His promises because we can trust our parents.  We take to plunge into a deeper walk with Christ because we see others who have gone deeper and seen amazing results.  We build all of our trust in others on what we’ve seen and experienced in others.  God never lets us down so after a while of trusting in Him, we develop the ability to trust others with an unwavering confidence. 

Here is the dilemma:  If I put my unwavering absolute trust in those around me, then eventually, even the best of them, will fail me.  So what do I do with my trust?  Look at the following verses about trust.

Psalms 9:10 (HCSB)

Those who know Your name trust in You because You have not abandoned those who seek You, Yahweh.

Psalms 37:5 (HCSB)
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act,

Psalms 44:6 (HCSB)
For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword does not bring me victory.

Psalms 91:2 (HCSB)
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Proverbs 3:5 (HCSB)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;

Isaiah 2:22 (HCSB)
Put no more trust in man, who has only the breath in his nostrils. What is he really worth?

2 Corinthians 1:9 (HCSB)
Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

The ultimate test in our trust is to put our trust in someone we know will fail us someday, and still give them our trust.  God will never fail us, and because of His love for me, I’m not dependent on these other relationships.  I’m free to trust knowing that ultimately, God has me in His grasp.  I’m supposed to treat people like Jesus treats them.  He had 12 disciples in whom He placed the future of Christianity in their hands.  They had failed Him over and over again, but His faith in them changed them from scared, frustrated, ineffective men into bold, courageous champions for Christ.  

What can your trust in someone do for them? 

WG