Tag Archives: Priorities

Values and Priorities

Kingdom Building

November 16, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 21:5-19

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.’

They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’ And he said, ‘Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and, “The time is near!” Do not go after them. –Luke 21:5-8

What is valuable to us? What are our priorities? What is valuable to God and what are God’s priorities? How well do our values and priorities mess with God’s? One of the important comments made after a devastating fire or storm when people have lost most of their possessions is the statement that at least we are still alive, we have each other possessions can be replaced.

There was another school shooting this week in the USA. Two youth were killed, three more were shoot and the killer shot himself but survived.  I heard a survivor when interviewed saying something to the effect that students are being killed and nobody cares. We must ask ourselves why is this happening and what do we need to do to save our children? The only answer I can discern is that we as a nation have lost sight of the values on which this nation was formed and the only priorities that seem to be in play are lust for power and greed. We are indeed being led astray and it is impacting all aspects of our lives even the safety of our children. We must beware that we are being led astray and we must reestablish our basic values and priorities. In the instance described here the juvenile shooter at a very young age seems to have lost all hope and seems to have been led astray by false values.

Jesus Christ came to seek out and to save the lost*. Those of us who follow Christ are called to do the same thing. We are called to live through example and through the work of reconciliation to bring all God’s people together as one. Such work requires us to first let go of those things of the world that are distracting us so that we can get about the business of seeking God’s priorities through loving God and loving others.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we get caught up in the distractions of the world. Create in us clean hearts and right spirits so we will be conduits of reconciliation.  Amen.

*Luke 19:10

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

First Fruits

Jesus’ Ministry
March 5, 2019

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 26:1-11

When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, ‘Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.’ When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, …So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.’ You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house. –Deuteronomy 26:1-4, 10-11

Today even farmers contribute portions of the money they earn from the crops they grow rather than bringing the actual first fruits of the season.  I do remember the importance of those first fruits. I did not inherit the gardening gene, but my mother was probably first and foremost at home in a garden, vegetable or flower. I am trying to remember what vegetables were ready first during the growing season in central Oklahoma. Leaf lettuce and radishes is what I remember. Next came sweet peas and new potatoes, and then suddenly, we became very busy as everything blossomed and bore squash and green beans, watermelon and cantaloupe, corn and tomatoes.  I wonder if the Israelites brought just the first fruits of the season or the first fruits of each type as they ripened. We rarely if ever sold vegetables. If we harvested more than we could eat, can, or freeze we gave it to neighbors or friends. Of course, this was just the vegetable garden. The “cash crops” my family harvested were hay and wheat, sometimes cotton and field vegetables used to feed animals. We stored what we would need for our cattle over the winter and sold the rest. It is easy to see why it became more convenient to donate money.

So, what does the teachings about giving the first fruits mean for us today? I think we are called to set priorities regarding our resources. First, we must determine what is our proper gift back to God for the abundance God provides from which we draw those first fruits. That leads to setting priorities for our all aspects of our lives: time, talent, and tithe.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your abundant gift of this earth and all that is in it. Show us how to prioritize our resources to the furtherance of your Kingdom. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Greener Grass

Living in the Spirit
October 14, 2017

Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. –Matthew 22:1-7

I had agreed to accompany a girlfriend on a canoe float trip down the Illinois river with a larger group when a guy I liked called with what I considered a better offer. I told my friend at the last minute; I would not be going. The thing is in a canoe two rowers are important. She went anyway, and a young teenager with his family was excited to get the chance to row. Fast forward 40 years, my girlfriend and I are still good friends in spite of my fickle behavior. I do not have a clue where the guy is or what he is doing.

To our peril, humans tend to seek greener grass in all aspects of our lives. Christ calls us to an eternal commitment. In our parable today some invited to a banquet put work first, others pursued criminal behavior. What appears to have the greatest short-term value may not be good for us at all.

In our world today, we seem to be blind to the long-term consequences of our actions until we are brought up short by some disaster. Loving others takes priority over selfish gain. Family is more important than a house. Our parable suggests that when we get our priorities straight in alignment with God from the start, we will grasp the abundant life to which Christ calls us.

Prayer: Lord, turn our dissatisfaction in life into energy to seek and find the life you provide, if we only respond to your invitation. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Priorities

angel-appears-to-josephAdvent
December 17, 2016

Scripture Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

But just when [Joseph] had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’–Matthew 1:20-21

We really have no idea how old Joseph was. He possibly was many years older than Mary. He apparently died sometime between the trip to the temple when Jesus was twelve and the beginning of Jesus public ministry. At least he is never mentioned after the trip. Having made the decision to undo his betrothal to Mary, Joseph is brought up to speed with what is really going on by an angel, no less. It is hard to image being in the predicament this couple faced, trying times.

When we consider what some people are dealing with around the world today, it is interesting how bent out of shape we can become over small things. I had a well mapped out Christmas shopping trip one day this week. I was going to Barnes and Noble then to Bath and Body Works and end up a Cabela’s. I knew exactly what I was going to get at each place. Did not think it would take more than an hour. Had to wait in line for a while at Barnes and Noble, got into a terrible traffic jam heading toward Bath and Body Works, stood in an even longer line there. While in that line I decided, I was going straight home on back roads if necessary. I got home in time to watch the noon news reporting on the citizens of Aleppo once again not being rescued from the devastation there.

I enjoy buying gifts for family and friends but that is not the priority at this season. Preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ into our lives is our primary tasks during Advent. Jesus came to save us. Perhaps the primary thing some of us need is to be saved from ourselves.

Take a few minutes to consider where your priorities are in life. Do you need to reorganize them?

Prayer: God of Mercy and Justice, order our lives to put us in sync with your priorities. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Jesus’ Priorities

Priorities-1-2Eastertide
April 10, 2016

Scripture Reading: John 21:1-19

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. –John 21:15-17

Jesus’ constant challenges to us as his disciples is “What are your priorities?” A lot of us probably muddle through life doing the everyday things of living without a lot of thought to our priorities. For priorities to really work they must become habits. It is interesting to me the habits I have that I have no difficultly practicing religiously and the ones that I can drop without a moment’s notice. Apparently the act of doing things repetitiously does not always create a habit. Childhood is when most of our true habits are formed. When I was a child, teeth flossing was not in vogue so when the dentist first told me to add it to my routine, it did not come easily. I still have to be intentional about teeth flossing. Although if I have not brushed my teeth by ten o’clock in the morning, my mouth begins to feel dirty.

In our busy world we have consistently to carve out time to spend with God and that includes touching base with God routinely throughout the day. Our being in synch with God drives the way we treat those about us. Jesus’ priority as described here in his discourse with Peter is that we are to nurture each other as he has nurtured us and is nurturing us still, when we open our being to him.

What are our priorities? Where do we invest our time, talent, and treasure? Identifying that will help us see the priorities we are actually following. Are they the priorities we would name as our priorities? If not, does our list of priorities need to change or our lives? What can we do today to bring our priorities into synch with God’s?

Prayer: Lord, help me see clearly the priorities I am living. If they are not in line with your priorities guide me to the right path. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Watered Down Faith

FAITH THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEENLent
March 26, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 24:1-12

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. –Luke 24:1-5

Perplexed seems a bit mild for what the woman felt when they found an empty tomb. Perplexed might be what one would experience, if he or she had misplaced his or her car keys and could not figure out where they were. Even “at wit’s end” isn’t strong enough to me. Stronger than perplexed, “at wit’s end” does imply a bit of hopelessness. Anger might have been a response, “Who has desecrated the body of the Beloved One?” The numbness of grief might have been increased by this one more horrible event to add to the other events of the past week. So despondency might have resulted. But I wonder if a single one of them recalled Jesus’ words about being raised from the dead.

Of course the book of Luke was written 40 or more years after the fact and written most likely not by an eye witness. The women present told their story to others who told it to others who told it to Luke. In all honest, how the women felt or perceived the situation was not most likely the authors primary focus.

How watered down is our faith today? What is our primary focus as members of the Body of Christ called to bring about the world that Jesus model, lived, taught? Are we so caught up in arguing theology or raising the church budget or establishing who’s in charge of what that we have lost sight of the magnitude of the resurrection in our living and in our loving?

Prayer: Lord, give us the strength and courage to model our lives after yours. Help us get our priorities straight. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

What Satisfies?

SatisfactionLent
February 22, 2016

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
   and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
   and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
   listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
   my steadfast, sure love for David. –Isaiah 55:2-3

Good question: Why do we spend our money on things that do not satisfy? I do it all the time but not usually on things that other people disapprove, like smoking. I often hear criticism of poor people for wasting money on cigarettes. Some legislators routinely introduce bills to check welfare clients for drug use as an eligibility criterion even though studies show only a small fraction of persons on public assistance have ever tested positive for drug use. Besides the drug tests are very expensive. I recently replaced a broken indoor grill with one that was too small and was hard to clean. I got it very cheaply but did not think twice about buying the right size grill with removable fixtures that can readily be cleaned. I will donate the little grill to a good cause. Truth be told I probably did not need an indoor grill at all.

Grills and cigarettes are not the issue. The issue is searching for nurture and joy in things that cannot provide either. Eating is a necessity of life, and I enjoy good food as well as anyone, but in most instances the nurture from the food we eat comes as much from the love of people with whom we share it as it does from the vitamins and minerals in the food. I am sure the same could be said for sharing a drink or a cigarette.

Life satisfaction lies in our relationship with God and with sharing our love of God with one another. The rest is just the props that set the stage for our interaction. Keeping our priorities in order will help us lessen our dependence on that which does not satisfy.

Prayer:
Fill my cup, Lord;
I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole*. Amen.

*Chorus from Hymn Fill My Cup words by Richard Blanchard see at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/ns/340

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

What’s in it for Me?

goal3_smLiving in the Spirit
August 2, 2015

Scripture Reading: John 6:24-35

What must we do to perform the works of God? Jesus answered the, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. –John 28b-35

What’s in it for me? Jesus’ answer is essentially: Everything—meaning to life, wholeness, oneness within the Body of Christ, love, fulfillment, and justice. His followers were targeting the lesser things, food for the body but not necessarily for the soul.

I worked for wages from the time I was 15 years old and for 35 years for the State of Oklahoma where I participated in a defined benefit retirement system that theoretically will be there for me for the rest of my life. It ultimately is controlled by the legislature who does not have a good track record with the public trust. It may seem strange but it was really hard for me to accept deep within my being that I would be getting a check every month without working. I rather held my breath until the first retirement check was deposited into my bank account and still do as I read reports of proposed shenanigans of our elected officials who seem more and more interested in there key supporters good than the common good.

I enjoyed all of my paid jobs most of the time, but there are occasions in any job when we have to do things that we really do not enjoy. While it may seem weird to some people, I like to work. What those defined benefits have allowed me to do is to define what I do and when I do it.

In our scripture today, I think Jesus is talking about living the fullness of life within the framework of his love no one can take away and that is more important than anything. Recognizing God’s love in its proper place in our lives is rather like receiving a defined benefit that has already been fully vested and is under the control of the Trusted One. Such a plan opens the door for our loving like Jesus without fear of not having enough love to sustain us.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the gift of your abundant love. Let is empower each of us to love like Jesus loves. Amen.

 All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

Coming Home to God

Living in the Spirit
July 28, 2014

 Scripture Reading: Genesis 32:22-31 

Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’ So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ Then the man said, ‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.’ Then Jacob asked him, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.’ The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. —Genesis 32:24-31

The last time we encountered Jacob having anything to do with God was at Bethel when he was running in fear from his brother Esau and dreamed of a stairway to heaven. One would think that would have left enough of an impression that Jacob would have developed a deeper relationship with God, but that does not seem to be the case. He has been away from home long enough to work seven years for his wife, married two women, and had eleven children by four women. Now he has decided it is time to go home and on that trip who shows up again but God. This time Jacob did not experience a comforting dream, he wrestled with God and apparently in that struggle he wrestled with himself. While he came out limping, he came out alive. I wonder if he had decided he should not have come out alive. Perhaps he stacked up all the evidence and saw himself condemned. Perhaps according to human standards, he was right. God had a different plan for him. He was declared no less than the father of the great nation promised to his grandfather Abraham. He became Israel.

We can’t really call Jacob the prodigal son; he was not returning home because he had wasted all his material resources. On the contrary he came with and abundance of wealth according to the world. His poverty rested in his estrangement with both his family and with God. Reconnecting with God was the first step in potentially reconnecting with his family. At some point Jacob had gotten his priorities straight. Perhaps it was in that wrestling match.

Prayer: Lord, it is hard to keep our priorities straight to know what is really important and what is not. Please order our lives so that we live them fully for you and thus everything else will fall into place. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.