Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Jude

Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. Jude 11

I proceed with my study of Jude using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book.  Today, my study consists of a review of Jude 11-16, with a focus on a commentary-assisted review of the first division per the commentary - v11 - which the commentary describes with the title God Condemns the Ungodly Because of Their Decisions.  Scripture is full of examples of those condemned by God because of how they reject God.  False teachers, as describe by Jude, represent one such category of those condemned by God.  The commentary shares how these false teachers from Jude are "hateful, greedy, and rebellious."  They are compared by Jude to Cain as depicted in the commentary as "self-centered in character and consumed by self-love, [Cain] chose his way over God’s and in the process killed his brother. Guilty of fostering a man-made religion, he turned from God and turned on others."  Balaam is also used as a reference point by Jude for false teachers - the commentary points us to Numbers 22-24 where Balaam's story as a false teacher unfolds - he was simply seeking monetary gain. "People were a means to an end, and God killed him for it (see also Numbers 31:8)." V11 also describes Korah as a false teacher/leader who led the Israelites astray - Korah's story unfolds in Numbers 16. The commentary describes Korah as a "Levite who rejected the God-ordained spiritual authority of Moses and Aaron. As a result, God destroyed him, his household, and his followers. Like Korah, these men in Jude’s day were a law unto themselves, rebellious in heart and nonsubmissive in attitude. Like Korah, they would perish. Arrogance and pride are always on the radar screen for God’s certain condemnation."  We must always be on the lookout and be able to discern false teachers and teaching.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that gives me Truth so that You can reveal Yourself to me, speak to me, sharpen me, and make me more like You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You provide scripture and Truth.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?

Hebrews 13

The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me? Hebrews 13:6, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 118:6, and Isaiah 51:12

I continue my study of Hebrews, and today my focus is Hebrews 13:1-6, and my unaided observations of the text. As the concluding chapter of Hebrews - where the primary focus of the book overall is to encourage Jewish believers, familiar with the Old Testament and the heroes of the faith as described in chapter 11 (aka the "hall of faith") - the author of Hebrews pivots to encourage readers with practical ways to lead a Godly life, one pleasing to Christ.  We are encouraged to: 

• love our brothers and sisters in Christ (v1)
• show hospitality to strangers (v2) 
• support and encourage the persecuted (v3)
• hold up marriage as honorable and that it be "undefiled by sexual immoral[ity] and adulter[y]" (v4)
• avoid love of money and envy (v5)

The text for today concludes (v6) by exhorting readers to heed words similarly spoken in Psalm 27:1, Psalm 118:6, and Isaiah 51:12.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord, You are a great God full of amazing grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of Your amazing grace and compassion.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this.

1 Samuel 30

David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this. v23-35

Greed and selfishness drive much of what all of us do.  In this case some of David's men felt that not everyone deserved a share of David's plunder:

But all the evil men and troublemakers among David’s followers said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered.” v22

Yet David - as a man after God's heart - steps in and provides not only for those that stayed behind to watch supplies but also to other parts of Israel - see v23-31.

God wants those of us in the church to not just care for each other in the church but also for those outside the church who are in need.

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42

There are many people in need in our community and in the world and John challenges us to meet people where they are - to help.  Not just in prayer or words but in action - to give.

 

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice. Psalm 112:5

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:42

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 

One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
    another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17

The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern                  Proverbs 29:7 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who gave everything away so that I could be rescued from sin and have eternal life.  Thank You Jesus. I am not worth such love as I am often selfish.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”

1 Samuel 20

Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!” v30-31

Saul's anger stems from his selfishness and greed to be in control and to have everything according to his will vs God's will.  Note Saul's statement where he implies he is control over who will reign as King.  Of course, we all know that God reigns supreme and if there is to be an earthly king it will someone that God anoints - just as God anointed Saul and David.

We should not be so arrogant that we place our will above God's nor should we be so arrogant that we can stop God's will.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

 

See also this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God, full of love and compassion for me...patient and forgiving.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry and I am harsh with words and actions, including gossip.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. v10

Paul is warning Timothy against false teachers and those who use the name God for financial gain.  Of course this is sinful!  Additionally, Paul also warns us to not root our contentment in money:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. v17-90

Contentment, peace, and security come from God alone - help me be a good steward of money and not hold on to it tightly.

My Prayer: God You are an awesome God full of love, compassion, understanding, mercy - all of the fruits of the Spirit...for me!  You also protect and You heal and for these things I am grateful Jesus!  However, I need You most desperately to forgive me of my sins...my lust, my anger, my worry, my impatience, etc.  Help me turn from sins and towards You Jesus.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me be a good steward of the money You have entrusted with me.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength, and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.