Tag Archives: Values

Family

Living in the Spirit

July 6, 2020

Scripture Reading: Genesis 25:19-34

Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, ‘Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!’ (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ Esau said, ‘I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?’ Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. –Genesis 25:29-34

Family, whether biologic or adopted or borrowed, is our first experience of dealing with others for good or for evil. The movie Oliver, based on the book Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens illustrates that point well. At the start, Oliver is shown as an orphan living in a harsh setting with other orphans, finding community and caring among a band of thieves, but eventually he finds a loving home. One of the songs from the movie, Where is Love, hauntingly describes his quest to find his mother who is dead.

Genesis is filled with almost soap-opera tales of family intrigue. The story above describes a younger brother, Jacob, his mother’s pet, conning his older brother, Esau, out of his birthright. One could argue that the Israelite tradition of the eldest son inheriting the family fortunes was unfair. One could also observe that if Esau could be so easily bought with a bowl of soup, he probably could not have handled the family business.  If we read the rest of the story, we learn that when Dad found out, Jacob had to disappear for a while.

The values we teach our children matter. Loving our neighbors matters too. When children do not learn the values of mercy, justice, humility, self-respect, respect for others at home, it is even more critical that they learn it from the other adults in their lives. Communities of faith must be strongholds for teaching how to love one another.

Prayer: Lord, help us to take our role as neighbors modeling love very seriously. Forgive us when we set terrible examples. Amen.

Where is Love by Lionel Bart, see at https://genius.com/Oliver-musical-cast-recording-where-is-love-lyrics

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.

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.

Satisfied Mind

Kingdom Building

September 26, 2019

Scripture Reading:

1 Timothy 6:6-19

Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. –1 Timothy 6:6-19

I grew up with country music. My dad sang and played the guitar. He loved the songs of the blue yodeler, Jimmie Rogers. So, I am enjoying learning about country music history on the PBS Ken Burns country music documentary. The song that came to mind after reading this scripture from Timothy was A Satisfied Mind.

How many times have you heard someone say,
“If I had his money I’d do things my way.”
But little they know that it’s so hard to find
One rich man in ten with a satisfied mind*.

We are suffering from an epidemic of greed in our world that is plunging us into ruin and destruction. Riches is the idol of our times and idols only possess the illusion of satisfaction. Greed is an addiction worse than tobacco or heroin. When we were in college, my roommates and I had very limited funds. We pooled our resources to pay rent on a garage apartment that had one large room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Hamburger was the most expensive food we bought, and we always bought the cheapest kind that was 20% fat, If I remember correctly. Since that experience, I observed that most of us live lives dedicated to obtaining more and better stuff, whether we need it or not, while some of our neighbors near or far do not have enough of the necessities of life. There is more to life than the pursuit of prime steak.

What we value in life matters from our food, clothing, and shelter to our work, education, and entertainment. Jesus calls us to value God first and people second. All material resources are only a means to the end of living within those values.

Prayer: God of Justice, forgive us when we turn to greed for our satisfaction. Open our eyes to the idols we worship and grant us the courage to resist their temptations. Amen.

*First verse of A Satisfied Mind by Red Hays, see at http://www.bobdylanroots.com/satisf.html

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.