Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 30

George Washington Carver: A Life of Self-Forgetful Service

George Washington Carver (1864–1943) was born into slavery on a Missouri plantation. He was a frail and sickly baby whose father had recently died. While still an infant, George and his mother were kidnapped. He was later returned to the plantation and traded for a horse, while his mother was never heard from again.

Carver was ten when he went to Kansas and put himself through high school. In 1891, he entered the college that’s now called Iowa State University. He graduated in 1894 with a bachelor’s degree and two years later with a master’s, becoming the first black student and professor at the university.

Carver became an internationally known botanist, educator, and agricultural researcher, famous for his innovative development of crops, including peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes. He was also an accomplished musician and artist.

He wrote in a 1930 letter about seeing God’s hand in creation: 

“The singing birds, the buzzing bees, the opening flower, and the budding trees all have their marvelous creation story to tell each searcher for truth . . . from the frail little mushroom, which seems to spring up in a night and perish ere the morning sun sinks to rest in the western horizon, to the giant redwoods of the Pacific slope that have stood the storms for centuries . . . Nature in its varied forms are the little windows through which God permits me to commune with Him, and to see much of His glory, majesty, and power by simply lifting the curtain and looking in . . . I love to think of nature as unlimited broadcasting stations, through which God speaks to us every day, every hour and every moment of our lives, if we will only tune in and remain so . . . I am more and more convinced, as I search for truth, that no ardent student of nature can ‘Behold the lilies of the field,’ or ‘Look unto the hills,’ or study even the microscopic wonders of a stagnant pool of water, and honestly declare himself to be an infidel.”

Carver wrote to a friend who was facing racism, “Keep your hand in that of the Master, walk daily by His side, so that you may lead others into the realms of true happiness, where a religion of hate (which poisons both body and soul) will be unknown” (George Washington Carver: In His Own Words).

At the Tuskegee Institute, Carver’s tombstone reads: “A Life that stood out as a gospel of Self-Forgetful Service. He could have added Fortune to Fame, but caring for neither, he found happiness and honour in being helpful to the world.”

He wrote, “When I was young, I said to God, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the universe.’ But God answered, ‘That knowledge is reserved for me alone.’ So I said, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.’ Then God said, ‘Well George, that’s more nearly your size.’ And he told me.”

George Washington Carver is remembered for his life of brilliant, humble service. That inscription connects his happiness with his “Self-Forgetful Service” (I like that the phrase is capitalized, suggesting it has substance and importance).

Here are some more resources about his life:

George Washington Carver’s Inspirational Faith

George Washington Carver: Journey from Slave to Scientist by God’s Grace

And here’s a 51-minute documentary made about Carver, showing photographs and footage from his life.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

What I Would Tell My Younger Self

During a Q&A interview earlier this year, I was asked “What would you say to your younger self?” Here was my answer:

And for those who would like to read a summary of what I shared, and want more resources:

1) Learn to say no to even very good things so that you can be free to say yes to those few wonderful things God has called you to do. 

Years ago I wrote an article on Planned Neglect: Saying No to Good Things So We Can Say Yes to the Best. I said then, and I still believe it to be true: We need to neglect doing the things that countless people want us to do, so that we will be available to do what God wants. Instead of exhausting ourselves doing many secondary things, may we do a few primary things well. And that begins with our daily time with God.

I later wrote a related but not redundant blog: A Lesson Hard Learned: Being Content with Saying No to Truly Good Opportunities. I also wrote on Does It Matter How We Spend Our Free Time? And here’s a short article on understanding the difference between the urgent and the important. Finally, years ago I wrote about Mary and Martha in an article: Can’t You See That I’m Busy?

2) Don’t listen to those voices (including the ones coming even from the church) who are saying, “Don’t be radical for Jesus.”

Jesus Himself expected radical obedience from His followers: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46). To follow Christ is not about being comfortable—it’s about being sold-out to the God with the nailed-scarred hands, being radical for Him, standing up for Him, and speaking the truth in love, with grace.

A day of judgment is coming upon all men. God promises great reward for all who have served him faithfully. He will reward ­every­ loyal servant for works done in this life: “At that time each will receive his praise from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5). This is a particularly encouraging passage, suggesting that God will find something to praise and reward each one of us for. Shouldn’t that motivate us to do more for our Father that He will take pleasure in and be proud of?

Let’s follow Jesus wherever He leads, then depend upon Him to give us more courage to take the next step. “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:26).

See my article Our Mission: Make More Disciples and Fewer Performers, and the books Radical and Follow Me by David Platt.

Photo: Unsplash

Who Is the Holy Spirit?

Note from Randy: Costi Hinn has seen close-up the hyping of the Holy Spirit for personal gain. Acutely aware of the dangers of false doctrine, he carefully grounds his new book Knowing the Spirit in God’s Word. If you’re looking for a biblical and pastoral treatment of the Holy Spirit, His person, His works, and His importance in the Christian life, you’ve found it! Hope you enjoy this excerpt from the book.

I clicked the play button on the video of a woman sitting in a chair on a stage, microphone in hand, seemingly ready to share something from the Bible to a crowd of eager listeners. She was a well-known singer and songwriter, so the crowd undoubtedly was on the edge of their seats in anticipation. The video began: “The Holy Spirit, to me, is like the genie from Aladdin.”

The crowd responded immediately with laughter, engaged with her right from the start. I tried hard to fully understand what she was saying and not be hasty to judge her. Perhaps she was just attempting to have a little fun and bring levity to a theological subject. As she went on, however, no well-intentioned motive could account for what she said, and my concern deepened because of how much confusion abounds in the church today when it comes to the Holy Spirit.

She continued, “That’s who He is to me. He’s funny, and He’s sneaky, and He’s silly. He’s wonderful. He’s like the wind. He’s all around.”

When studies show that only 6 percent of professing Christians have an accurate Christian worldview, and nearly 60 percent of those who identify as Christians do not believe the Holy Spirit is real, likening Him to a chaotic Disney character is the last thing a professing Christian with a microphone should be doing.

The truth is that the Holy Spirit is not funny and definitely is not silly. If He is sneaky, it’s because you can’t predict Him or because in His sovereign power he does incredible things that you never see or know about. He’s not at all like the genie from Aladdin, for He’s not some magical force you can coerce and control with just the right phrase. He is active and powerful, and Scripture has made it possible for you and me to know enough about Him that we need not be lured away from the truth by comical versions of Him.

When it comes to the Holy Spirit, we need to make sure everything we believe lines up with Scripture. I’ve often heard this quote attributed to Charles Spurgeon (though I can never find the original source) that says, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”

You and I must get our understanding of the Holy Spirit right if we love the truth and want to glorify Jesus Christ with our lives.

The Holy Spirit Is God

First and foremost, we need to understand that the Holy Spirit is God and that He is an equal and active part of what we call the Trinity. While few people who claim to be Christians would argue against God the Father or Jesus the Son being God, there is widespread confusion among us regarding the divinity of the Holy Spirit. Is He just an expression of Jesus in spirit form? Is He a less than divine force that God uses to express His power? Is He an angel?

The Bible answers these questions with absolute clarity.

Several key passages from both the Old and New Testaments give us evidence that the Holy Spirit is an equal part of the Trinity: which is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. In Christianity we understand that God is one, yet He exists in three persons. This may seem a bit confusing to the human mind, but God is infinite, beyond our comprehension, and outside of the limits that creation is bound by. That God is three in one is possible because he is God, though it’s a mystery to us. When you think that such teaching is a contradiction to logic, remember the words of renowned theologian R. C. Sproul, who wrote, “The doctrine of the Trinity is not a contradiction but a mystery, for we cannot fully understand how God can exist in three persons.” The word trinity is not found in the Bible, but we use the word to describe the triunity of God because in the Bible we clearly see the three persons of God in action, equally divine and unified.

The Holy Spirit is seen as operating as God in a number of passages in the Old Testament, including:

Hovering over the waters before creation (Gen. 1:2)
Filling certain men under Moses (Exod. 35:30–35)
Empowering Joshua to lead Israel (Num. 27:18)
Coming upon Gideon (Judg. 6:34)
Coming upon Samson (Judg. 13:25)
Rushing upon David when he was anointed as king (1 Sam. 16:13)
Departing from Saul (1 Sam. 16:14)
Carrying along the word of the prophets (2 Peter 1:21)
Enabling Ezekiel to prophesy (Ezek. 2:2)
Prophesied to one day rest upon the Messiah (Isa. 61:1)

Anyone confused about where the Holy Spirit was in the Old Testament can rest assured that He was very much present and active before what is commonly known as Pentecost (Acts 2). While Jesus did promise that the Holy Spirit would come and move powerfully in the life of the church from Pentecost onward, that incredible moment was not the first time the Holy Spirit was revealed as an equal part of the Trinity.

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is undeniably present and divine. He moves from coming “upon” believers in the Old Testament to entering “into” believers under the new covenant through Christ. The Holy Spirit is God, and we can see this in a number of passages in the New Testament, including:

He is mentioned almost one hundred times in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
He conceived Jesus in Mary’s womb (Matt. 1:20).
He was present at Jesus’ baptism (Matt. 3:16).
He was sent by the Father (John 14:16).
He teaches the disciples all things and reminds them of what Jesus taught (John 14:26).
He is God, and believers are baptized in his name (Matt. 28:19–20).
He is eternal (Heb. 9:14).
He has the power to seal believers so that nothing can steal their salvation (Eph. 4:30).
He dwells within believers and makes them his temple (1 Cor. 6:19–20).
He has the power to make believers new and washes away sin (Titus 3:5).

It’s not hard to find in Scripture the Holy Spirit operating as God. The Holy Spirit is everywhere. You could probably add twenty more items to each list in no time at all.

One of my favorite slam-dunk pieces of evidence for the Holy Spirit being God is in Acts when a husband and wife named Ananias and Sapphira put on an elaborate show of generosity when actually they had lied to God about the money they were giving to the church. The apostle Peter confronts them, saying, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the proceeds of the land?” Peter goes on to say, “You have not lied to men, but to God” (Acts 5:3–4). If the Holy Spirit is not equally God, why would Peter say that Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit and refer to Him as God?

These passages were pivotal to my understanding of the Holy Spirit years ago, and I hope they help you grasp the remarkable truth about who He is. According to Scripture, our God is three in one, the Holy Spirit is equally God, and the Holy Spirit is distinctly God (meaning that He is not merely an expression of Jesus in spirit form). As you study what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit, you will find that this is essential doctrine, which is why I want you to know the Spirit in a deeper way.

Photo: Unsplash

Andy Stanley, the Unconditional Conference, and Why We Cannot Be More Loving Than Jesus

I met Andy Stanley twenty years ago. I found him interesting and likeable. We had a number of mutual friends, I knew people at his church, and I have recommended several of his books that I found helpful and on target. I am sad to say that in the last eight years or so I have been unable to recommend Andy’s teaching for a variety of reasons. This 2016 article by Josh Buice documents some of those. I take no delight in being a critic in this situation. On the contrary, I find it heartbreaking.

Many readers are aware of the recent controversy surrounding Andy, who is senior pastor of North Point Community Church. North Point hosted the Unconditional Conference, designed for parents of LGBTQ+ children and ministry leaders, which claimed to approach LGBTQ+ issues from “the quieter middle space.” It featured speakers who are either in same-sex relationships or are supportive of those who are.  

I’d like to recommend a few resources related to this. First, Sam Allberry wrote an article on Andy Stanley’s ‘Unconditional’ Contradiction. He does a good job of summarizing the serious issues with the conference.

Second, before the conference, Albert Mohler wrote a thoughtful column for WORLD: The train is leaving the station: Andy Stanley’s departure from Biblical Christianity.  After it, Andy Stanley responded to Mohler’s article in his Sunday sermon. In his follow up article (Go and sin no more: Andy Stanley doubles down on his departure from Biblical Christianity), Al writes, “…he stated up front that he ‘never subscribed’ to the Christianity I represent, so he has not departed from it. Stanley represented my understanding of Biblical Christianity as drawing lines and suggested that Jesus, unlike those who draw lines, drew circles: ‘He drew circles so large and included so many people in His circle that it consistently made religious leaders nervous.’”

Al Mohler continues:

The problem with Stanley’s assertion that Jesus drew circles rather than lines is that the four Gospels consistently present Jesus as drawing both. He did draw lines, such as when He told of the good Samaritan who, unlike the religious leaders of His day, helped the man assaulted by robbers. Casting the Samaritan as the God-honoring character in the parable was indeed a way of drawing a circle. Jesus came to save sinners, and thus we are saved. But Jesus never drew circles that ignored the reality of sin. Christ also drew lines with clarity, such as the line separating the sheep from the goats. Similarly, the Apostles preached the great good news of the gospel, yet also called Christians to holy living and to avoid sexual immorality. As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9–10).

Third: writer, theologian, and pastor Gavin Ortlund made a video on Is Same-Sex Marriage an “Agree-to-Disagree” Issue? He responded to Stanley’s comments after the Unconditional Conference:

Gavin says, “Jesus said, ‘Come as you are,’ but He didn’t say, ‘Stay as you are.’” And: “Giving people clarity on what God commands is love. And giving them ambiguity about what God commands is unloving and unkind. It isn’t compassion.”

Finally, Greg Stier shared these reflections:

It’s not whether or not a church is affirming that bothers me so much as what that church has to do to Scripture to get to that conclusion. Yes, we must love those in the LGBTQ community. We must reach them with the hope of the gospel. But we cannot dismiss, redefine, or minimize what Scripture clearly says on these issues.

All of the current Christian chatter on social media regarding this subject ultimately comes down to one issue, Biblical authority. Do we really believe God’s Word is authoritative? Are we willing to submit to its commands, both to love everyone with the love of Christ and being willing to call a sin a sin?

It is my contention that we can be 100% truthful and 100% loving at the same time. I believe we can speak the truth in love. I believe we can call homosexuality a sin and compel those in that community to come to Jesus as they are. As the old hymn goes, “Just as I am, thou wilt receive wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve because Thy promise I believe. Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come.”

Once any sinner comes to Christ in simple faith based on his finished work on the cross, they are born again (John 3:3). They have a new identity in Christ and as a child of God (John 1:12).

We can help new these new believers shed their old lifestyles and live holy lives as new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Everyone comes to Christ as a sinner, totally unable to change themselves or turn from their sins in their own strength. But as soon as they put their faith in Christ they are declared righteous in the sight of God (Romans 4:5), regenerated spiritually (Titus 3:5) and immediately indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13,14.) Now, that new believer has all the powers of heaven at their disposal to live a life that pleases God on every level, including when it comes to their gender and sexuality (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8).

And we, as fellow sinners-turned-saints, must help them walk in that spiritual victory, as others have helped us!

That journey will be messy; sanctification always is. But we must “fail forward” together, helping each other make progressive steps in holiness until we ultimately fall into the arms of Jesus and (hopefully) hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”

Let us strive to submit to God’s Word on these issues. May we speak the truth in love. May we strive to live humble lives drenched in love, compassion, and holiness.

Some last thoughts: John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (emphasis added). Jesus distinguished Himself from the attitudes of the Pharisees toward the adulterous woman when He said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” But He still said to her, “Go and sin no more.” The Gospels show us how Jesus treated each person, full of grace and truth. Sometimes (sensing that person’s particular heart and needs), He came across heavier on truth, and other times heavier on grace, but never devoid of either. He came across differently than the truth-only Pharisees, but also differently than modern grace-only Christians who would picture themselves being loving because they never raise the sin issue, or redefine what is and isn’t sin. (Do we really think it’s possible to be more loving than Jesus?)

To admit we are unworthy sinners, that we are lost without Jesus, and that we are called to forsake our sins is difficult, but it is necessary in order to come to true faith in Christ. That is the gospel message for everyone, heterosexual or homosexual: that all our sins are sufficient to send us to hell, which is why we desperately need the Savior. The gospel is insulting to all of us. But it is the grace and power of God. And it is Christ’s grace and His truth that set us free.

Also see our recent article series on gender confusion and sexuality .

Photo: Pexels

Prayer Requests from a Church in Israel

The following is from a church in Israel that Nanci and I attended years ago. We got to know the founder and pastor, and I believe this information to be trustworthy:

October 16, 2023

As of this writing, Israel has not entered into Gaza by ground yet. The Israeli army is waiting, giving more time for the innocent citizens of Gaza to flee south (near Egypt), thus escaping the war zone. Day after day, the IDF [the Israel Defense Forces] is strongly urging the civilians to flee. The army goal is to obliterate Hamas only, not the people of Gaza.

We are a resilient people, but right now, our hearts are shattered at the depth of barbarism that occurred on October 7. More than two thousand Hamas terrorists slaughtered innocent families who were hiding in their homes, burning them alive and beheading babies, as well as brutally kidnapping many of them to Gaza. They kidnapped soldiers, entire families, shot parents in front of the children then dragged the children off to Gaza after just seeing their parents killed in cold blood. The pictures and stories are beyond our capacity to digest. The numbers are devastating: 1,300 died, 3,842 injured as of this writing. One hundred ninety-nine families have been informed their relative was kidnapped. Currently, some of them are in critical condition, not receiving proper care. There is no one in Israel who doesn’t know someone impacted by this war. The state of Israel is devastated and in mourning, with funerals happening non-stop. Never before have so many Jewish citizens been murdered in one day since the Holocaust, and the rockets are still being fired into Israel, over 6,300 up till now.

In the midst of all the atrocities, there are miracles that are taking place every day. Soon, we look forward to sharing them with you. But until then, please continue to pray for God’s shelter from the arsenal storm of the enemy. We take comfort that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through God’s mighty outstretched arm, and the prayers of the saints.

When you see Israelis say “Am Yisrael Chai,” we are declaring that “the People of Israel Live.” We know it is because of the Grace of God alone. Together we bow in prayer and praise, to Him to care for us, to protect us, to heal our land.

Join us in praying for:

A wall of prayer to hold back Hezbollah, Iran, and Syria from opening a front in the north.
Security and protection for the soldiers and citizens as we enter into Gaza by ground forces.
Protection and salvation for the innocent civilians of Gaza.
That accurate news will be disseminated throughout the world and not propaganda causing people to believe lies and get into fear.
For the shock and trauma to lift off and healing and comfort to take place throughout Israel.
The body of Yeshua to be united both in Israel and the world to pray against the schemes of the devil.
Believers to be able to share our Faith, and the people receive the Hope and Love of our Savior.

"Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me." (Michah 7:8)

And here are more prayer requests this church sent last week:

Pray for the young people who have been called up to active military service as well as their families who see them off knowing how devastating this conflict is. Joining with the soldiers who are already in service. There are many from our congregation and all the congregations in Israel being called up daily.
Pray for the soldiers, for wisdom and discernment when looking for the terrorists who are still hiding in the villages and other places through the country.
Pray for the kidnapped soldiers and citizens, many elderly, women, small children, for their safety and quick release.
Pray for a wall of fire, for protection against the intervention of Hezbollah, the Muslim Shihad from Lebanon, allies of Iran, that they will not open another front against Israel from the North.
Our families and friends living in the south where the devastation is the most extensive. Pray they are safe, out of harm’s way and will be healed of post-traumatic stress. All of them will have friends/relatives that they celebrated the holidays with, now gone.
Our government and military to make wise, long-lasting decisions that honors God, seeks His help and wisdom to defeat the enemy and save our troops.
Many families lost their home along with all their belongings. Pray they God will supply and provide for them.
For the body of Yeshua to unite and be the light to their friends and family. Going through this trauma as well, for God to give them the strength to give out.

Photo: Pexels

Raising Faithful Stewards

Jesus said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:25). This is the Good News Translation, and it correctly renders the Greek word makarios as happiness.

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is freedom from materialism. How? By teaching them to be generous givers who know everything belongs not to them, but to God. And by demonstrating that greater joy is found in giving than keeping.

Giving statistics are bleak. They consistently show that older generations give away a higher percentage of their money than younger ones. We’re failing to teach our children to give, and that failure will both rob them of joy and hinder the work of Christ around the globe.

When our girls were seven and five, I gave each of them three jars labeled “Giving,” “Saving,” and “Spending.” Every time they received money from chores or gifts, they were to put at least ten percent into the giving jar, then distribute the rest between the other jars. Once they put money in the giving Jar, it was untouchable until they gave it to the Lord at church.

When they put money in “Saving,” they could spend it only for something planned. But they were free to transfer money from saving or spending to giving, or from spending to saving.

I’ll never forget the night I explained this system to my daughters. They were so excited they immediately distributed the money they already had between the jars. They used those jars for years. This simple system may have resulted in more financial education than anything else my wife Nanci and I did.

Many of us have become so immersed in our culture that we’ve lost the ability to discern what will—and won’t—count for eternity. But Jesus commanded us to store up treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:19-21). We put our treasures in Heaven by giving to build God’s kingdom, not our own.

God entrusts riches to us, not to increase our standard of living, but to increase our standard of giving. When Jesus tells us to store up treasures in Heaven, He’s saying, “You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.”

How can we pass these truths to our children? By example.

Over two decades ago my family began giving away 100 percent of the royalties from my books. When my youngest daughter was a teenager, we rode our bikes into an expensive neighborhood and admired the biggest, most beautiful house. When I saw the selling price, I said, “If we had kept the royalties from the last year and a half, we could pay cash for that house. Do you wish we would’ve done that?”

My daughter laughed. “Dad, it’s just a house!”

Money didn’t have a hold on her. She had learned it all belonged to God, and there was no greater joy than giving it back to Him. Keeping it would have gained us a nice house; giving it gained us an eternal investment.

The more children witness us practicing wise and generous stewardship, the more natural it will seem. If we give generously, save rather than borrow, and spend carefully, we grant our children a wonderful gift—and guard them from financial disaster.

The next generation is growing up amid vast wealth, which many will inherit. Yet most have not learned the habits and joys of giving, saving, and wise spending. If we parents don’t teach our children how to manage God’s money, who will?

If you want your children to develop hearts for God, don’t overlook what Jesus explicitly says will accomplish that: giving. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Our duty is clear: “Bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

Some say we shouldn’t require our children to give. That makes no more sense than advising, “Don’t make your children wash their hands before they eat or wear coats when it’s cold.”

Others say, “Giving must be from the heart, not imposed.”

I respond, “But giving—like Bible study, prayer, and witnessing—is a habit, and all good habits can and should be cultivated.” There’s no better way for parents to cultivate giving than by making it one of their family’s standard practices.

In the movie Chariots of Fire, Olympian Eric Liddell says, “When I run, I feel His pleasure.” When they give, our children can learn to feel God’s pleasure.

Likewise, we can teach our children how to properly manage money by showing them how we spend it. (If you aren’t spending it wisely, this could motivate you to change!) By the time children are ten—in some cases younger—they’re old enough to learn about the family budget.

Nanci and I occasionally allowed our daughters to spend impulsively. This was difficult. But if we always say no to their unwise decisions, even though children may reluctantly obey, they won’t learn wisdom through firsthand experience.

We must be careful not to bail them out or say, “I guess you learned your lesson, so I’ll get you what you want.” If your child squanders his lunch money, what should you do? Nothing. He must earn more money, use the money he’s saved, or go without lunch. If we don’t interfere with the natural laws of life, mistakes can be our children’s finest teachers.

An alarming number of children growing up in Christian homes are afflicted with the killer disease “affluenza.” Consider a typical Christmas in the U.S. After the annual obstacle course through crowed malls, the big day culminates in a pile of abandoned, unappreciated toys. Far from being thankful, children are often grabby, crabby, and ungrateful—because they’ve been given so much.

Children who grow up getting most of what they want without having to earn it have a predictable future. Odds are they’ll misuse credit, blame others, and believe their family, church, country, and employer—if they have one—owe them.

Nothing will interfere more with our children’s relationship with God—or prevent them from having one—than a life centered on things. Though many parents seem content to leave their children an inheritance, our job is to leave them a legacy of wisdom and generosity they can pass on to future generations.

An eternal impact can result from our acts of faithful stewardship. That’s because we’re stewards, not just of God’s money, but also of the children He entrusts to us.

Your Challenge

How can you teach your children the emptiness of materialism in a memorable way? Try taking them to a junkyard or dump. (The lines are short, admission is free, and little boys love it.)

Show them the piles of “treasures” that were formerly expensive presents. Point out things children quarreled about, honesty was sacrificed for, and marriages broke up over. Show them the useless remnants of battered dolls and electronic gadgets.

Explain to them that most of what your family owns will one day end up in a junkyard. Read to them 2 Peter 3:10-14, which tells us that everything in this world will be consumed by fire.

Then ask: “When all that we owned lies broken and useless, what will we have done with our lives that will outlast this world?” Tell your kids you want your life to count for eternity, and that you’re praying they’ll learn with you the Christ-exalting joy of generous and faithful stewardship.

Your Plan

If you can’t get to a dump or junkyard anytime soon, try a thrift store or garage sale—or just lead a safari through your storeroom, closets, or an old toy chest. Point out items that once seemed so desirable but are now abandoned. If that won’t work for you in the next 24 hours, use the following space to make a list (with your child’s help) of at least five possessions your family used to have but no longer does. Talk about why these items are gone. What did they cost? What was their real worth? How could remembering them help you and your child next time you face a buying decision?

See more resources on money and giving, as well as Randy's related books, including  Managing God's Money  and  Giving Is the Good Life .

Photo: Unsplash

Pray for Israel and the Peace of Jerusalem

Our hearts are broken for the people of Israel who have endured such great atrocities inflicted upon women and children and the elderly, slaughtered mercilessly. I also pray for those who seek peace, including believers in Jesus in Gaza, who will inevitably suffer as a result of Israel’s justified actions in defense of its people. (What else can Israel do but retaliate and try to bring justice to the perpetrators of these terrible crimes? What would the U.S. government do in the same circumstances? What would we want them to do?)

It is Hamas that has done this, a terrorist organization, and if there was a way to punish Hamas, and only Hamas for this, it would be ideal. But that would be like saying in World War II one should wage war only against the Nazis, not against the people of Germany, which included many who did not support the Nazi government, though there were, unfortunately, many who tolerated it. 

My heart breaks for innocent Israelis and innocent Palestinians, but for sure any chance of peace in the Middle East, at least in the near future, has been decimated by the horrific actions of Hamas against innocent men, women, and children. Gavin Ortlund writes, “There is some evil in this world, like what Hamas terrorists are doing, that is hard to account for apart from belief in supernatural evil (demons). God, protect the innocent and break the teeth of the wicked (Psalm 58:6).”

I have met genuine believers in Christ in Gaza and in Israel. Let’s pray for those Christians, and their influence on those around them. Pray that in the midst of tragedy—and the further tragedies that are almost certain to follow—hearts would be turned toward Jesus, who is not only King of Kings, but also the Prince of Peace. 

In his article “Rachel weeps for her children: Israel’s fight is our fight as well,” Al Mohler writes,

The cumulative shock, grief, and horror experienced in Israel over the last few days is unspeakable and incalculable. The anger is palpable and justified. The righteous wrath of Israel is now to be unleashed, and difficult days lie ahead. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Among the residents in Gaza are Christian believers, trapped in a war started by Hamas and now prosecuted by Israel. We pray for those Christians even as we pray for Israel. Some of these believers are also victims of Hamas and its ideology.

A brother in the U.K, Gavin Drake, has a written a helpful article on “What’s happening in Israel and Gaza, and how should Christians pray?” He explains some of the history of the Gaza strip, and writes:

There are two evil positions: one is to be so pro-Israeli that you want to see Palestinians crushed, the other is to be so pro-Palestinian that you want to see Israel destroyed. Peace will only come to the Holy Land when Israelis and Palestinians – Jews, Muslims and Christians – feel secure and live in justice.

…In Psalm 122, King David extols us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. That has never been more important.

Many people are thinking about prophecy right now and wondering if these events are a specific fulfillment of any particular biblical prophecies. Biblical scholar Chad Bird addresses, “Is Psalm 83 predicting events in Gaza and Israel?” and reminds us to be responsible with our treatment of the Scriptures.

We know for sure Jesus is going to return, and we long for His return, but we don’t know when it will happen. Sometimes it is obvious when biblical prophecies are being fulfilled, but often there is such out-of-context speculation that the same passages have been cited as being fulfilled dozens and dozens of times by different events. 

This goes back at least to the 70s when as a young Christian, like many others, I was reading Hal Lindsey's The Late Great Planet Earth. He was saying, based on his interpretations of passages, that Scripture was clear that Jesus would have to return by 1980.

Then there was the bestselling book 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Happen in 1988. A variety of biblical passages were interpreted in ways which history did not bear out—and obviously, Jesus did not return in 1988. He said we do not know the day or the hour of His return. We need to believe that. The errors of that popular book (and many others have made similar errors since) were dealt with in this article by the Christian Research Institute, and can still be learned from today.

Finally, let’s be careful in how we talk about these subjects with others. No doubt, we will disagree about various aspects of this conflict, the specific actions of Israel’s response, how this particular war does or doesn’t fit into prophecy, and countless other things. I have already heard some sad stories of this issue dividing brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember that Satan is called the accuser of God’s family (Revelation 12:10) and uses every means to undercut our love for each other. Too often we do his work for him. His goal is to divide churches and keep people from believing the gospel.  (See Healing a Pandemic of Disunity, and When Christians Disagree about Beliefs and Actions.)

God’s people can be united in our desire to pray for peace, for His work in the hearts of both Israelis and Palestinians, for the growth of God’s Kingdom, and for His will to be done. We can be gracious with each other and believe the best of others. Let’s “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6), always looking forward to the day when we will experience everlasting peace when Christ reigns from the New Jerusalem.

God promises that He has a great future in store for Jerusalem: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream” (Isaiah 66:12). One day, Scripture’s repeated promises about land, peace, and the centrality of Jerusalem among all cities and nations will be fulfilled:

“I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.” (Isaiah 65:19)

“They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the Yahweh—the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more.” (Jeremiah 31:12)

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” (Revelation 21:1–5)

If you'd like to give to help those suffering, we recommend Samaritan's Purse and World Relief, two reputable organizations that will be providing aid.

Photo: Unsplash

God’s Word Sustains Us When Life Is Hard

Psalm 119:107 says, “I have suffered much; preserve my life, O Yahweh, according to your word.” The God to whom the psalmist prays knows how much and the nature of his suffering. Jesus knows the same about us but invites us to pour out our hearts to Him nevertheless.

God’s Word gives us strength in our weariness, and it comforts and sustains us. When not afflicted, we tend to go astray, but God uses our afflictions to help us obey His Word (Psalm 119:67). Without God’s Word to sustain us, we will perish in our affliction. God has purpose in our affliction, and one purpose is to know Him better through studying His Word. We must not forget God’s Word, for it preserves our lives.

Clearly, if we are to face suffering well, if we are not to waste our suffering, we must let it take us to God’s Word. If we don’t, our loss will be incalculable. If we do, our gain will be abundant and eternal.

Before difficult times come your way, develop habits of studying God’s Word, listening to Christ-centered teaching and music, and reading soul-nourishing literature, both nonfiction and fiction. Daily fill the reservoir from which you can draw when facing difficult times—and helping others face theirs. Great peace comes in meditating on the attributes of our God and His care for us. His Word is a source of delight to us.

In this video, I share about how the Bible helps us face the hardest times of life.

Photo: Pexels

What Does It Mean That Christ Is a Friend to Sinners?

I love this audio devotional from the excellent book Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund. When I really love a book, I tend to either read it quickly or slowly. In the case of this book, I read it very slowly and spent multiple days reading some of the chapters because I found it so rich and nourishing and worthy of contemplation. Nanci also read it in the last year before she went to live with Jesus. I would highly recommend this book to any follower of Christ. Listen to this excerpt:

Read the Gospels, and it’s evident many sinners loved being around Jesus. They enjoyed His company, sought Him out, invited Him to their homes and parties. Unbelievers tore off the roof to get to Jesus. Why is that? What did Jesus show them? Grace. People sensed that Jesus loved them, even when He spoke difficult words. He was full of grace and truth. He drew them out of the night like a light draws moths.

No, Jesus didn’t minimize the truth of human sin; in fact, through His redemptive work, He paid the price for us because of His desire to be our Father and friend. That Jesus truly is and wants to be our friend is still a revolutionary concept to many Christians. If we believe it, we understand how Jesus’ disciples must have felt when He said, “No longer do I call you servants . . . but I have called you friends” (John 15:15).

Dwight L. Moody said, “A rule I have had for years is: to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. His is not a creed, a mere doctrine, but it is He Himself we have.”

Like Moody, I encourage you to think of Jesus as your mentor and best friend, as well as Savior and Lord. Your relationship with Jesus grows as you spend time with Him—as you talk and listen to Him. He truly is a friend of any sinner who will come near to Him.

See Randy's books  It's All About Jesus  and  Face to Face with Jesus .

Photo: Unsplash

Are You Experiencing Bible Poverty?

One of our staff sent me this video about “If Your Bible Was Your Cell Phone…” I thought this was great:

 
 
 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jonathan Bonilla (@pastorjonathanbonilla)

It’s funny, but it makes a good point. And it’s a reminder that there are two kinds of Bible poverty in the world: first, the poverty of those who don’t have God’s Word in their own language; and second, the poverty of being surrounded by Bibles, but not reading them.

Scripture confronts sin in our lives, encourages our obedience, and gives us delight in Jesus. It is the source of correction, training, eternal perspective, and joyful rest from weariness and sorrow. Who but the devil and sin itself would distract us from such treasure?

I share some more thoughts in this video about the vital importance of Scripture in our lives:

Photo:Unsplash