EXCESS BAGGAGE

It seems like nowadays if you have excess baggage it is going to cost you.  If you fly anywhere, you’ve got to pack stuff really tight.  Anything that can’t be carried on board is going to cost you – and in some cases even the stuff you carry on board will have a fee.  It makes you think about stuff that you really don’t need.  In the “old days”, you might pack a few extra outfits just in case you need them.  Now you’re thinking that maybe you can wear each outfit twice and only pack half of what you need.

We have excess baggage in our emotional and/or spiritual lives as well.  Things we have hung onto since childhood, religious habits or traumatic events in our lives.  Instead of dealing with it, we have packed it away into the corners of our heart.  We carry it with us wherever we go.  And it is costing us dearly.  Every now and then we run into an old hurt and bam – the baggage pops open and a flood of hurt comes pouring out.  Some of us pack away bitterness and resentment and we tell ourselves that we are over it but it is really still there waiting for an opportunity to bust open.  Some of us pack away hurt feelings and abuses we have endured at the hands of another.  We don’t really want to feel all those old hurts again but that is exactly what happens.  We don’t really want to carry it around with us but somehow that is what we end up doing.

Matthew 11:28-30, a familiar verse that we all know but here it is: ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  If our burden is heavy, it is because we have overloaded ourselves.  Jesus says that His burden is light.  Wouldn’t we rather have a light burden? I know I would.  Jesus wants our baggage.  I want to give it to Him.  But each time I do, somehow I find it again, rearrange the contents and lock it back up.

What’s the solution?  Well, we all know that Jesus is the answer.  But how do we do that practically?  How can we really give it to Him and not take the burden back onto ourselves?  The only way that I know how to do it is by praying at the exact time that it hits me.  I still carry around some old baggage.  I long to be rid of it.  Little by little I am making progress.  Each time something happens that triggers one of my old “bags” to pop open, I immediately start praying.  I try not to over-react to the current situation.  My emotions may still take over but I am praying through them.  Lately, I have noticed that it doesn’t take as long as it used to.  I haven’t gotten rid of all the bags yet, but the load does seem to be lighter than it was.

Remember that we have an enemy and he knows what our baggage is.  He will certainly go out of his way to put people in our path that are going to “push our buttons” that cause our bags to pop open and all our hurts to fall out.  He will use the people we love to say the exact thing that will cause those old wounds to open up.  We can continue to collect the hurts and add them to our already over-stuffed bags, or we can run to Jesus and ask Him to “kiss our boo-boo and make it all better.”  We can go to Jesus like a child runs to his/her mommy after a fall, knowing that the boo-boo is going to be all better with just one kiss.  They KNOW, they don’t just think it, but they KNOW that mommy is going to make it all better.  We need to KNOW that Jesus will take our burdens.   In return, He gives us peace and rest.  What a trade!

Who is Lazy?

Proverbs 6:6-11

Go to the ant, you sluggard!  Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain,

overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.  How long will you slumber, O sluggard?  When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.

Wouldn’t it be nice if everything was just handed to us – we didn’t have to work for anything?  It might be nice for a while – like a vacation – but I am sure we would get bored.  Even Adam and Eve, living in a perfect world (before the fall) worked in the garden.  Genesis 2:15  “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”  After the fall, the work got hard.

The Bible has a lot to say about working.  The Apostle Paul worked to provide for himself so that no one could say that he was in the ministry for the money.   1 Thessalonians 2:9  “For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.”   2 Thessalonians 3:7-10  “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;  nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.  For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

Notice that Paul says “will not” work – not “can not” work.  There is a difference.  If you are able bodied, then you need to work to support yourself.

But what about God providing all that we need?  If we are working, then we are providing for ourselves, right?  Wrong!  God provides our skills and abilities.  God provides the opportunities for work.  God will provide but it does require our participation.

Proverbs 14:23  “In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter[fn] leads only to poverty.”

God allows us to create a life for ourselves.  He gives us the skills, abilities, tools and resources so that we can have the best life possible.  It is what we do with that provision that determines what kind of life we will have.  This earthly life is just a blip on the radar in contrast to eternity.  But this earthly life will dictate what our eternal life will be.  We have free will and we can do anything we want.  The choice is ours.  However, choices have consequences.  No one is perfect and we all make bad choices at times.  We can land ourselves in a pit.  But we don’t have to stay there!

Not only do we have free will but we also have rules to follow.  We can choose to follow God’s laws or not.  The consequences of our choices will follow us into eternity.

On earth, we have man-made rules to follow as well.  When we choose to break the law, we have consequences to pay.  Could be a hefty fine or jail time.  Our choices will follow us during our time on earth.

So, here’s the choice.  We can work and provide for ourselves and our family.  Or we can not work and go hungry.  Maybe you have a job and you go to work every day.  You show up but you do as little work as possible.  You don’t really want to be there and you don’t like the work that you have to do.  Could it be that God has placed you there for a reason?

Colossians 3:22  “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.”

Colossians 3:23-24  “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

A life time of work gives us an earthly reward – retirement!  (if we plan ahead)  Even the ant plans ahead and can enjoy the fruit of their labor.  Retirement is our reward.  If we haven’t worked, there is no reward – no retirement.  Only poverty will be waiting for us.

God requires us to be faithful in all that we do.  Whether it is a job to earn a living or a ministry to serve the Lord.  Do it with your whole heart.  Half-hearted attempts at anything are not worth it.  Picture God as your boss.  Would you goof off for Him?  What if the reward you received was only as good as the effort you put in?  What motives you to do your best?  Do you work only when someone is watching?  God sees it all!  There is nothing we can do behind His back.

Earthly rewards require work.

Eternal rewards require Jesus.

And you can have both!

NO INTEREST

Psalm 15:5 He who does not put out his money at usury nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

A friend or family member has come to you to borrow money. If you have enough to make the loan, do you? Do you charge interest and set a deadline for repayment? That’s what banks and loan companies do. It’s their business to loan money and they expect it back with interest. But how about you?

Could you “loan” money to someone knowing it would never be paid back? Would it cause a problem between you?

God’s word says that when we lend, we should not charge interest, nor should we expect to get it back. If you are not able to do that, then don’t loan the money. Give it if you can but don’t loan it.

God’s word has a lot to say about the poor and how they are to be treated:

Exodus 22:25 If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.

Leviticus 25:35-37 If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you. You shall not lend him your money for usury, nor lend him your food at a profit.

Deuteronomy 23:19 You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest.

Proverbs 22:22-23 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppose the afflicted at the gate; for the Lord will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

Get the picture? When someone needs to borrow money, it is because they don’t have enough. Adding on interest makes it harder for the poor to repay the loan. The poor person may be desperate, willing to repay any amount. That’s when the wicked take advantage of them.

Can you help the poor? Lend but not expect repayment?

Luke 6:34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.

I have been poor and I have needed to borrow money from family members. I was never charged interest by them. And I paid them back. I have also loaned money to family members. I have never charged interest. About 90% of what I have loaned has never been paid back. I don’t expect that it will. I have considered it a gift. I knew up front that it would most likely not be repaid. If someone wants to pay it back, I will accept it. I do not hound them for the money. I consider it gone. Whatever I get back is a gift from God.

Loan sharks take advantage of the poor. If they do not repent and choose Jesus as their Savior, there will come a day when God will deal with them. You do not want to be in that group.

What if a money loan has already caused problems in your relationship? Go to the Lord first and ask for forgiveness for your part in the problem. Then ask for wisdom to resolve it. It may mean letting go of the loan – treating it as a gift to that person. Some will have a hard time doing that. Especially if you loaned money that was meant for something else. It could cause bitterness. You will need to pray to keep the root of bitterness from getting established.

When someone can’t pay their bills and they need a loan – go to the Lord before you give an answer. God may use you to help that person. But He also may not. God may want to use that person’s situation to draw them closer to Him. He may want to teach them – to strengthen their faith. When we rescue people (outside of God’s will) we do more harm than good. Pray about it and wait for an answer. Remember, you are not the Savior, Jesus is.

Back to Leviticus 25:35-37 and Deuteronomy 23:19.  Who is your brother? Is it a family member, an actual sibling? Is it a friend or someone in your church? Yes, it is a brother, a family member, a friend, a neighbor and someone at church. Typically we don’t lend money to strangers – people we don’t know. Banks and loan companies do that.

God does not want us to hold onto money too tightly. He wants us to open our hands and freely give.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

GIVING AND RECEIVING

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

When you give something, how generous are you? Is the cup full, ½ full, less than ½? What if that same cup is used to give back to you – with the same amount that you gave? Would you want more?

We need to treat others the way that we would like to be treated. To give an amount of time, energy, resources that we would want to receive. We can’t be stingy with others and then expect to be treated with generosity.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Are you stingy? With your time, abilities, love? If you are stingy with your money, chances are you will be stingy in other areas of your life. Being stingy is a matter of the heart. We can be selfish, not willing to share what we have. A lot of things can create that kind of attitude within us. As a child, we are very selfish right from birth. Everything is “mine”! Just watch a couple of toddlers for a while and you will see a selfish nature. It comes naturally – no training needed! But we can be taught to share. If that training wasn’t part of your childhood and you grew up to be a selfish adult, there is hope. Decide today that you want to make changes. Go to God and ask for His help. He will give you opportunities to share. It will take some effort in the beginning – we are going against our nature. Once we learn how to share and to share abundantly, we will be amazed at how satisfying our life has become.

So, how generous are you? If you got back only the amount that you have given, would you be satisfied? How we treat people reflects what is in our heart. If we love our neighbor, we will want to do them good. It is hard to be stingy with someone you love. So, it is not a question of how big your bank account is, but how big is your heart?

Deuteronomy 15:7-8
If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.

Proverbs 21:13
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.

Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

Proverbs 11:24
There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

“Scatters” means to freely give. When we freely give, we end up with more. When we are stingy and withhold it all, we end up with less. Do you ignore the needs of others? Do you realize that you are missing out on blessings from God?

The Bible has a lot to say about the poor and that God will reward those who bless the poor. Check your heart. What can you do today to bless the poor?

Proverbs 22:9
He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

WHAT IS YOUR TREASURE?

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What do you treasure? Make a list. Then open your checkbook. Does your list match up with the money spent? Our checkbook (and credit card statements) will tell us where our heart is because that is what we spend our money on. You have heard the saying, “Put your money where your mouth is.” Are you saying all the right things but your money doesn’t back you up?

Is your treasure: Things? People? Power? Fame? God? Do you know what your heart wants? Do your actions line up with your heart? How do you spend your free or spare time?

If God is your treasure; if winning souls for Christ is your treasure; if reaching the lost is your treasure; then your calendar and checkbook will show it. Do you pray for the unsaved? For the missionaries? For your church? Who or what do you pray for? If a stranger were to watch what you spend your time and money on, would they know that you are a Christian?

Our heart breaks when we see pictures of people that are suffering or being killed for their faith. What do we do with that? Do we turn our backs and go on our merry way to the mall? If our heart was truly broken, we would do something. Maybe make a donation to one of the many causes that will help those people. Maybe we could pray for them . . . earnestly pray, not just a quick prayer and then forget them. Maybe we would send ourselves on a mission trip to bring them the good news. We would do something with our time and our money.

But, you may say, I go to church every Sunday and I even give money to my church. Doesn’t that show where my heart is? Not exactly. What happens on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday . . . what things do you treasure on those days?

When you get up in the morning, determine to notice exactly what your heart desires. At the end of the day, look back on all that things that you noticed. What did you do with your time? What did you spend your money on? Are you able to see what you treasure? Are you okay with what your heart desired? If not, are there changes you can make?

What do you treasure on Sunday morning? Sleep? After a long week of work, sleeping in on Sunday sounds good. Do you sleep in so late that you miss church services? No problem, most churches have their services available online – you could watch it once you get up. But, do you?

What about a devotion time with the Lord? In many cases it means getting up earlier in order to make that time. Do you hit the snooze button and promise to spend time with God later in the day? But, do you?

If we are only focused on ourselves, then that is what we treasure. If we want to do something, we will find a way, the means, and the time to do it. So the question is – What is your treasure? Is it God or something else?

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

NEEDS AND WANTS

Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:8
Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

God knows what we need. He is aware of everything that is going on. He has not forgotten you. Isn’t that a relief? Knowing that someone is taking care of us and we do not have to worry.

There is a caveat to that. We cannot just sit on the couch and wait for stuff to drop from heaven. We need to be active in our faith that God will supply our need.

We get ourselves into trouble when we confuse our needs with our wants. God has promised to supply our needs, not our wants. Do you need steak and lobster for dinner? No. We just need food to eat. Do you need designer clothes? No. We just need clothes to wear.

Matthew 6:31-33
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

The intent of our heart is an important part of this. We don’t do things for God just to see what we can get from Him. We do things to put ourselves in line with God’s word. When our heart lines up with His, there is no limit to what God will do.

When the Israelites traveled thru the desert, they had no food or water. All they had brought with them was gone. They were hungry and thirsty. God fed them and He gave them water. He didn’t give them steak and lobster. But they were fed. They had exactly what they needed.
Exodus 15:22-27 (water)
Exodus 16:4-5 (manna)
Exodus 17:5-6 (water)
Exodus 16: 11-14 (quails, manna)

God did supply what they needed. But, they still had to go out every day and collect it. They worked for it and God made it available to them. It didn’t just drop into their lap. Our faith needs to be active, not stagnant.

Are you living within your means? Do you have enough money each month to meet your obligations and provide food, clothing and shelter for your family? If so, then you have what you need and you are living within your means. If not, then you are living a lifestyle that doesn’t fit your means. Are there too many “wants” coming out of your paycheck?

God will supply what we need, not what we want. If we are not satisfied with what we have, we will never be satisfied with more. God will give to us as we are able to receive it. When we trust God with our needs, He will provide.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.

IS GOD FRUGAL?

What do you think? Is God frugal? I think He is! Let’s look at John 6:10-13:
Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost”. Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.

Did you catch it? Jesus had His disciples pick up the leftovers! Our God, who has cattle on a thousand hills, saved the leftovers! Why? Obviously he could make a ton of fish and loaves anytime He wanted to. This story is mentioned in all 4 gospels – Mark 6:41-44, Matthew 14:18-21 and Luke 9:14-17 – which is known as the feeding of the 5000.

The Amplified version of the Bible puts John 6:12 this way: When they had all had enough, He said to His disciples, gather up now the fragments (broken pieces that are left over), so that nothing may be lost and wasted. The NIV says this: When they had all had enough to eat, He said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”

Now, I am no Bible scholar, but I think Jesus is making a point here. We need to be good stewards even when the stuff is free.

We never read in the Bible – or at least I haven’t seen it, where Jesus is frivolous – just throwing money around. He could have been – He had the ability. But, He took a coin out of a fish’s mouth to pay His taxes. He could just as easily have gotten a bucket of coins. He only took what was needed – no more, no less. When He multiplied the loaves and the fishes, I wondered why He didn’t make just enough. Why did He allow for leftovers? This is one small verse and yet it is powerful. When it came to blessing the people, Jesus gave them an abundance. When it came to Himself, He only took what was needed. Jesus isn’t cheap with His children. He is not a tightwad. But He is frugal and He shows us that even in times of abundance, we need to be good stewards with ALL that He has given us – even the extras! Don’t waste it just because it didn’t cost you anything. When I make dinner and there are leftovers – enough to eat for lunch – I feel like I’ve just gotten a free lunch. If I throw away the leftovers, I am being wasteful. So, the next time your kids won’t eat leftovers tell them that it is in the Bible!

Now, I am sure that you all have heard it said, that when the Bible mentions something more than once, we should pay attention. I have already mentioned that the feeding of the 5,000 is in all 4 gospels. There is also another story – the feeding of the 4,000. Matthew 15:35-37 says:
So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were 4,000 men, besides women and children.

This is not the same miracle as the feeding of the 5000, even though many things are similar. This section mentions a different place where they were, a different amount of time that had been spent with Jesus, a different number of people and a different amount of food left over. Plus, Jesus said it was 2 different events in Matthew 16:9-10 which says: Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the 5,000 and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the 4,000 and how many large baskets you took up? This is also recorded in Mark 8:1-9. Jesus performed the same miracle twice – it’s like He knew we wouldn’t get it the first time.

One last scripture and that is Colossians 3:17: And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus. How much is all? Is it some things some of the time or most things most of the time? I think it means ALL things, ALL the time. Being a good steward is a lifestyle, not just a once in a while event. Start today. Choose to be a good steward of all that God has given you.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from the New King James Version of the Bible.