Colleen Chao is living under the shadow of terminal stage four cancer, and she’s learning how to suffer with hope. It’s stunningly beautiful.
“Hereâs the thing about suffering (at least in my own limited experience): none of us are good at it. None of us have the capacity to suffer well with hope and joy.”
But the secret to slowly growing into a hope-filled, joyful sufferer has been shockingly simple: Go to God. Again and again and again.
I go to Him when Iâm angry at His will for me. I go to Him in the middle of the night when grief threatens to undo me. I go to Him when Iâm weary to the bone, or when Iâm throwing myself an epic pity party.
By ‘going to Him’ I mean I turn my thoughts to Him and tell Him exactly what Iâm feeling, all the nitty-gritty, gory details. I ‘pour out my heart like water in the Lordâs presence’ (Lam. 2:19)âand with the smallest mustard seed of faith, I believe that Heâs listening to me and that He will be able to do something about my suffering (Isa. 64:4).
That rhythmic act of going to Him softens my heart to listen to Him, to hear His voice, to end my self-absorbed monologue and begin a beautiful dialogue with Him.
And hereâs what Iâve become increasingly convinced of through this process over decades now: I cannot hear from Him or dialogue with Him (and thus cannot suffer well) apart from His Word.
Through the pages of Scripture He speaks exactly what my heart needs to hear. He reveals himself (sometimes in ways I donât immediately recognize), and those revelations change everythingâmy thoughts and desires and perspective and all.
And herein lies one of the most sacred gifts of suffering: the sufferer has a unique capacity to experience God through His Word in ways that cannot be experienced through days of comfort and ease.
I know I sound like a broken record, but Iâll sing this song to my last day: in the hands of a good God, suffering is a gift.”
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To Godâs holy people in Ephesus,[a] the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and willâ 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of Godâs grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillmentâto bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are Godâs possessionâto the praise of his glory.
Chosen(NOTES)
Esther
4:5-17 NIV
5 Then
Esther summoned Hathak, one of the kingâs eunuchs assigned to attend her, and
ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
6 So Hathak
went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the kingâs
gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the
exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the
destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for
their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and
explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the kingâs
presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
9 Hathak
went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed
him to say to Mordecai, 11 âAll the kingâs officials and the people of the
royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the
inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put
to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their
lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.â
12 When
Estherâs words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: âDo not
think that because you are in the kingâs house you alone of all the Jews will
escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for
the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your fatherâs family will
perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a
time as this?â
15 Then
Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 âGo, gather together all the Jews who
are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.
I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the
king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.â
17 So
Mordecai went away and carried out all of Estherâs instructions.
Ephesians
3:1 NIV
Godâs
Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles
3 For this
reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentilesâ
Ephesians 4:1 NIV
Unity and
Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a
prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling
you have received.
Ephesians 6:20 NIV
20 for which
I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I
should.
Acts
18:19-21 NIV
19 They
arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into
the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more
time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, âI will come back
if it is Godâs will.â Then he set sail from Ephesus.
Hebrews 9:22 NIV
22 In fact,
the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the
shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Romans 8:17 NIV
17 Now if we
are children, then we are heirsâheirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if
indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
âJezebelâ is a name synonymous with evil; she is the epitome of the wicked woman. So infamous is her name that, to this day, no one names their baby daughter âJezebel.â To call a woman a âJezebelâ is the greatest insult imaginable.
Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, a priest of the cruel, sensuous, false god Baal. Ethbaal, the priest-king of Tyre who murdered his own brother to take over the throne, was hardly a good father figure. But Jezebel followed in her fatherâs footsteps and was herself a power-hungry murderess who stopped at nothing to get what she wanted.
The king of Israel at the time was Ahab, a weak, self-pitying man who abdicated his authority to his bride, the princess Jezebel. In spite of Godâs laws forbidding idolatry and the worship of any god but the Lord, Ahab married this princess who brought to Israel with her hundreds of priests of lewd Baal worship, a cult that tended to destroy manhood and drag womanhood into shame.
Jezebel was such a domineering person that she soon became master over her weak husband. One of her first acts was to order the extermination of the prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4, 13) and set up altars to Baal. So pervasive was her idolatrous influence in Israel that Jesus later used her name to refer to a woman who led the church at Thyatira into immorality and the worship of false gods (Revelation 2:20).
Jezebelâs strongest enemy was the great prophet Elijah, who defied her and opposed her evil rule. First, he pronounced the punishment of God upon Israel in the form of a drought which lasted three years (James 5:17). This culminated in a contest on Mount Carmel between the powers of Israelâs true God and the Baals.
After the 450 priests of Baal and 400 priests of Asherah spent the day beseeching their gods with wailing and self-mutilation to end the drought, all to no avail, Elijah prayed to his omnipotent God who responded by accepting the sacrifice, having the false prophets slaughtered, and providing an abundance of rain (1 Kings 18:16-46).
Instead of acknowledging the awesome power of the one true God, Jezebel was enraged and vowed to kill Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-2). Elijah fled from her wrath to the wilderness (1 Kings 19:3-8).
In the meantime, Jezebel was proving herself to be the greedy, murderous, evil woman she truly was. A righteous man named Naboth owned a vineyard next to Ahabâs palace. Ahab offered to buy the vineyard, but Naboth, honoring Godâs command to keep inheritances within the family, rightly refused to sell.
Ahab became âsullen and angryâ and went home to sulk on his bed. Jezebel ridiculed him for his weakness and told him to cheer up for she would get the vineyard for him. She plotted with two lying scoundrels to have Naboth falsely accused and denounced, then put to death.
Then she calmly declared to Ahab that the vineyard was his (1 Kings 21:1-16). Here we see the formula for a disastrous marriage: a weak, childish man who allows his evil, domineering wife to rule the home. This is the exact opposite of Godâs plan for marriage: a loving husband who leads his family, and whose care for his wife mirrors that of Christ and His church (Ephesians 5:25-26, 28-29), and a godly woman who submits to her husband âas to the Lordâ (Ephesians 5:22), each submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21; Colossians 3:18-19; 1 Peter 3:7).
As with all who defy the Lord, Jezebelâs end was not a pretty one, although it was more gruesome than most, perhaps as an object lesson to all who set themselves up against the one true God. Her doom was sure, having been prophesied by Elijah in 1 Kings 21:23.
Even as she saw her death approaching, she remained defiant to the end, painting her face and adorning herself in queenly garments. She looked out the window and shouted her defiance to Jehu, the next king of Israel who came to take his throne (2 Kings 9:30-37).
Jehu commanded her to be thrown out the window to her death, where she was trampled by the horsesâ hooves and almost entirely consumed by dogs. Her thirty years of tyranny over Israel had ended. The terror visited upon Jezebel was a testimony to the Israelites, and to us, that Godâs power is supreme and those who defy Him will meet a terrible end.
5 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.2 And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely.
3 O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.4 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God.
5 I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
7 How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.8 They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.
9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?10 Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the Lord’s.
11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the Lord.12 They have belied the Lord, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
13 And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.14 Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
15 Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.16 Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.
17 And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.18 Nevertheless in those days, saith the Lord, I will not make a full end with you.
19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the Lord our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not your’s.20 Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,
21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:22 Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?LikeCommentShare
16 The Lord said to Samuel, âHow long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.â
2 But Samuel said, âHow can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.â
The Lord said, âTake a heifer with you and say, âI have come to sacrifice to the Lord.â 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.â
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, âDo you come in peace?â
5 Samuel replied, âYes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.â Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, âSurely the Lordâs anointed stands here before the Lord.â
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, âDo not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.â
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, âThe Lord has not chosen this one either.â 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, âNor has the Lord chosen this one.â
10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, âThe Lord has not chosen these.â 11 So he asked Jesse, âAre these all the sons you have?â
âThere is still the youngest,â Jesse answered. âHe is tending the sheep.â
Samuel said, âSend for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.â
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, âRise and anoint him; this is the one.â
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
The Heart Of A Leader(NOTES)
Matthew
15:19-20 New International Version
19 For out
of the heart come evil thoughtsâmurder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft,
false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed
hands does not defile them.â
Romans
2:15 New International Version
15 They show
that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences
also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other
times even defending them.
Acts 15:9
New International Version
9 He did not
discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
1 Peter 3:4 New International Version
4 Rather, it
should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet
spirit, which is of great worth in Godâs sight.
Acts 14:17 New International Version
17 Yet he
has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you
rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of
food and fills your hearts with joy.â
James 5:5
New International Version
5 You have
lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in
the day of slaughter.[a]
John 14:1
New International Version
Jesus
Comforts His Disciples
14 âDo not
let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me.
Romans
9:2 New International Version
2 I have
great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
2
Corinthians 2:4 New International Version
4 For I
wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not
to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
John
16:22 New International Version
22 So with
you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice,
and no one will take away your joy.
Ephesians
5:19 New International Version
19 speaking
to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make
music from your heart to the Lord,
Acts 2:37
New International Version
37 When the
people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other
apostles, âBrothers, what shall we do?â
1 John 3:20 New International Version
20 If our
hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows
everything.
Hebrews
4:12 New International Version
12 For the
word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it
penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the
thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Acts
11:23 New International Version
23 When he
arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them
all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
2
Corinthians 9:7 New International Version
7 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.
Romans
6:17 New International Version
17 But
thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to
obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your
allegiance.
Colossians 3:15 New International Version
15 Let the
peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were
called to peace. And be thankful.
Because I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to have a lot of Native American friends, and brothers and sisters, and be on many reservations with our On Eagles’ Wings team, I’ve gotten to hear some of the very colorful ways that Native Americans express themselves.
One of them I heard when we were with tribes in the Northeast. And it’s really stuck with me, because it sounds like something Jesus said. They were talking about the choice historically that their people had to make between the world of the white people and the world of the Native people.
And the elders would say, “No man can stand in two canoes.” That’s a pretty funny picture if you think about it. The guy trying to stand in two canoes as they drift apart. You know what? You had to choose your canoe.
I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Torn Between Two Masters.”
Jesus had a lot in common with the Native people of North America, because He was a tribal man; He grew up in a village; His country had been taken over by others; He loved nature; He told stories; He was poor; He died a violent death.
Now, while He didn’t talk about those two canoes, He said something about following Him that sounded very much like it. It’s recorded in Matthew 6:24, which is our word for today from the Word of God.
Jesus simply said, “No man can serve two masters.” Or have his feet in two different canoes. You can’t claim Jesus as your Lord, the decider of what you do, and have someone or something else that is your deciding factor. Like a man trying to straddle two canoes, you’ll be pulled apart.
In spite of the impossibility of living for two masters, so many who say they belong to Jesus are trying to do it – maybe you. You say Jesus is your Lord, but you’ve got a boyfriend or girlfriend you really revolve your life around.
When it comes to a choice between what Jesus wants and what you need to do for money, money wins. Or a choice between what certain friends want and what Jesus wants. The friends win.
You say Jesus is “number one,” but what you watch, the websites you go to, what you see on TV? Is it something He died to deliver you from? No matter how much your music is about things that Jesus hates, you just keep hanging onto it.
God’s book commands you to not be “unequally yoked with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6:14), but you’re in a partnership or a romance that continually forces you to choose between their values and Jesus’ values. And all too often, they win.
What you do with your body, what you do when you’re lonely, what you do when you’re tempted, what you do when your temper or your hormones are in control, “Goodbye, Jesus.”
But nobody loves you like He does. Nobody else was butchered on a cross to take your hell. He died so you don’t have to serve that other master. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He bore our sins in His own body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.”
When you live the opposite of what He wants, you basically say, “I don’t care why You died, Jesus. I want this.” You might as well just say, “I want this more than You.”
Aren’t you tired of being torn apart inside, trying to choose between your two masters; trying to live with your feet in two canoes? They continue to drift in opposite directions, and so do you.
God has some straight talk to you, right from His Word in Joshua 24:15, “Choose…this day whom you will serve.” And choose is what you’re going to have to do. Choose the One who loves you most. Choose the One you’ll be with forever. Choose Jesus.
đ A Colorado mother proved she would stop at nothing to protect her child. Her five-year-old son was playing outside when she heard him screaming. She rushed outside and, to her horror, saw that her son had an unexpected âplaymateââ a mountain lion.
The large cat was on top of her son, with his head in its mouth. The mother summoned her inner mamma grizzly to fight off the lion and pry open its jaws to rescue her son. This motherâs heroic actions remind us of how motherhood is used in Scripture to illustrate Godâs tenacious love and protection for His children.
đââđââ Yes, in scriptures we often read – God tenderly cared for and comforted His people as a mother eagle cares for her young. Also, like a mother who could never forget a nursing child with whom she had built an inseparable bond, God would never forget His people nor forever withhold compassion from them.
Finally, like a mother bird offering protective cover under her wings for baby birds, God would âcover His people with his feathersâ and âhis faithfulness would be their shield and rampart.â
đââ Sometimes we feel alone, forgotten, and trapped in the grip of all kinds of spiritual predators. May God help us remember that He compassionately cares, comforts, and fights for us. â Marvin Williams
đ Heavenly Father, as baby birds find protection under their motherâs wings, may I find refuge under the shield of Your faithfulness.
To know the faithfulness of god is to know the peace of god.
1Â Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, âYou are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead[a] us, such as all the other nations have.â
6 But when they said, âGive us a king to lead us,â this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: âListen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.
1 Samuel 10:17-24 NIV
17 Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the Lord at Mizpah 18 and said to them, âThis is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: âI brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the power of Egypt and all the kingdoms that oppressed you.â 19 But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, âNo, appoint a king over us.â So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.â
20 When Samuel had all Israel come forward by tribes, the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. 21 Then he brought forward the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, and Matriâs clan was taken. Finally Saul son of Kish was taken. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. 22 So they inquired further of the Lord, âHas the man come here yet?â
And the Lord said, âYes, he has hidden himself among the supplies.â
23 They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others. 24 Samuel said to all the people, âDo you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.â
Then the people shouted, âLong live the king!â
We Want A Human King(NOTES)
Genesis
12:7 New International Version
7 The Lord
appeared to Abram and said, âTo your offspring[a] I will give this land.â So he
built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
1 Samuel
8:1-3 New International Version
Israel
Asks for a King
1 When
Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israelâs leaders.[a] 2 The name of
his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served
at Beersheba.
3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain
and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
Exodus
23:6, 8 New International Version
6 âDo not
deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.
8 âDo not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words
of the innocent.
Deuteronomy 16:19 New International Version
19 Do not
pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds
the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.
Deuteronomy
17:14-15 New International Version
The King
14 When you
enter the land the Lord your God is giving you and have taken possession of it
and settled in it, and you say, âLet us set a king over us like all the nations
around us,â 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the Lord your God chooses. He
must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you,
one who is not an Israelite.
1 Samuel
9:10-16 New International Version
10 âGood,â
Saul said to his servant. âCome, letâs go.â So they set out for the town where
the man of God was. 11 As they were going up the hill to the town, they met
some young women coming out to draw water, and they asked them, âIs the seer
here?â
12 âHe is,â
they answered. âHeâs ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town
today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place. 13 As soon as you
enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat.
The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the
sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should
find him about this time.â
14 They went
up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward
them on his way up to the high place.
15 Now the
day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 16 âAbout this time
tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over
my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have
looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.â
đ Educator and author Howard Hendricks cautions parents not to bribe or threaten their children to get them to obey. What they need is firm, loving, and at times painful discipline.
Hendricks recalls being in a home where a bright-eyed grade-schooler sat across the table from him.
“Sally, eat your potatoes,” said her mother in a proper parental tone.
“Sally, if you don’t eat your potatoes, you won’t get any dessert!”
Sally winked at Hendricks. Sure enough, mother removed the potatoes and brought Sally some ice cream. He saw this as a case of parents obeying their children rather than “Children, obey your parents”.
đââ Many parents are afraid to do what they know is best for their youngsters. They’re afraid their children will turn against them and think they don’t love them. Hendricks says, “Your primary concern is not what they think of you now, but what they will think 20 years from now.”
đââ đââ Even our loving heavenly Father’s correction is painful, yet afterward (perhaps years later) “it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness in those who have been trained by it”. As loving parents, dare we have less long-term vision than our heavenly Father has ?
âJoanie Yoder
We shrink from the purging & pruning,
Forgetting the Gardener who knows:
The deeper the cutting and paring
The richer the cluster that grows-Anon.
The surest way to make life hard for your children is to make it soft for them.
đ One of the major problems with which we are all confronted is that we have at the core of our being a deep thirst for God, which makes us entirely dependent on Him for satisfaction. Our weak human nature resents this, because it dislikes the feeling of helplessness that such dependence brings; it prefers to have a hand in bringing about its own satisfaction. This tendency of the human heart to try to satisfy its own thirst independently of God however, has terrible consequences.
đââ There is no lasting earthly satisfaction. Marriage, family, money, fame, enlightenment, travel, athletics, academic achievement â nothing completes our joy. Any satisfaction we gain in our quest fades quickly and becomes a vague memory, if it can be remembered at all. Oh, to be sure, there are happy events along the way, unexpected moments when we experience pure delight. But those moments are fleeting, and we can never go back in time to relive them and recapture the sensation.
đââ đââ Why then do we keep seeking for something to satisfy us ? Simply put, itâs because we have to. Whether we realize it or not, our souls are thirsting for God. Every desire, every aspiration, every longing of our nature is nothing less than a yearning for God. We were born for His love and we cannot live without it. He is the happiness for which we have been searching all our lives. Everything that we desire is found in Him â and infinitely more. And so, when you find yourself restless and thirsting for something more in life, respond to His invitation, âCome to Me and drink.â Go to Him, drink freely of His grace and experience true joy. â David H. Roper
Jesus wants us to come to Him
To quench our thirsty soul,
For from Him flow life-giving streams
To heal and make us whole. â Sper
Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on God !
6 The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.
Judges 6:7-16 NIV
7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 8 he sent them a prophet, who said, âThis is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
9 I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. 10 I said to you, âI am the Lord your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.â But you have not listened to me.â
11 The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, âThe Lord is with you, mighty warrior.â
13 âPardon me, my lord,â Gideon replied, âbut if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, âDid not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?â But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.â
14 The Lord turned to him and said, âGo in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midianâs hand. Am I not sending you?â
15 âPardon me, my lord,â Gideon replied, âbut how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.â
16 The Lord answered, âI will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.â
Confidence Provides Necessary Courage(Notes)
Genesis
25:1-2 New International Version
The Death
of Abraham
25 Abraham
had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan,
Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.
Judges
2:1-5 New International Version
The Angel
of the Lord at Bokim
2 The angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, âI brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, âI will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.â Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this?
3 And I have also said, âI will not drive them out before you; they will become traps for you, and their gods will become snares to you.ââ
4 When the
angel of the Lord had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people
wept aloud, 5 and they called that place Bokim.[a] There they offered
sacrifices to the Lord.
2 Kings 7:18 New International Version
18 It
happened as the man of God had said to the king: âAbout this time tomorrow, a
seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a
shekel at the gate of Samaria.â
1
Corinthians 15:9 New International Version
9 For I am
the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God.
Ephesians 3:8 New International Version
8 Although I
am less than the least of all the Lordâs people, this grace was given me: to preach
to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,
2
Corinthians 12:9 New International Version
9 But he said to me, âMy grace is sufficient for
you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.â Therefore I will boast all the
more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christâs power may
When you read the apostle Paulâs letters, itâs clear that some of his favorite metaphors and analogies for the Christian life come from the realm of athletics.
For example, in Philippians, he speaks of pressing on like a runner toward the goal of knowing Christ (3:14). Near the end of his life, he describes his ministry as one in which he âfought the good fightâ and âfinished the raceâ (2 Tim. 4:7). And in 1 Corinthians 9:25â27, Paul draws a parallelâone that is worth our time and attentionâbetween the self-control and discipline needed for both athletic competition and the Christian life.
An Alarming Thought
In Paulâs mind, self-control and discipline are not optional; they are essential. âI discipline my body and keep it under control,â he writes, âlest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualifiedâ (1 Cor. 9:27). Paul recognizes that there is a real danger facing every Christian: the danger of disqualification.
This danger is an alarming thought. Paul says that it is indeed possible for us to run the race well for some time and yet to become disqualified. We might press on for a time but eventually fail to reach the prize of hearing our Lord say, âWell done, good and faithful servantâ (Matt. 25:21, 23).
We may compete but miss out on being rewarded âthe crown of righteousnessâ (2 Tim. 4:8). Simply put, itâs possible to preach salvation and show others the way to heaven yet never get there ourselves.
How can we guard against becoming disqualified? Considering Paulâs own life and lifestyle is helpful. He lived with a kind of holy fear. He was under no illusions about the danger of disqualification facing his ministry.
Paul demonstrates that reverence, and not presumptuous confidence, is the best security against apostasy. In relationship to God, his perspective was one of holy faith. In relationship to himself, his perspective was one of holy fear.
Itâs possible to preach salvation and show others the way to heaven yet never get there ourselves.
A Lesson from History
To flesh out his point on the danger of disqualification, Paul recounts the story of Israel in the Old Testament. He tells the Corinthians, âI do not want you to be unawareâ (1 Cor. 10:1). In other words, he says, âI need you to be informed. Be alert. Learn from Godâs people before you.â
He then goes on to identify the shared privileges of Godâs people, pointing out that all were under the cloud, all passed through the sea and were baptized, and all drank together. All of Godâs people Israel shared in Godâs spiritual blessings. âNevertheless,â Paul explains, âwith most of them God was not pleasedâ (1 Cor. 10:5). The people enjoyed Godâs blessings in the wilderness years, but they abused those blessings.
The lesson for today is clear: we must understand that the enjoyment of spiritual privilegesâbaptism, Communion, fellowship, etc.âdoes not negate our need for spiritual watchfulness. Possession of spiritual privilege is no guarantee of immunity from divine judgment.
We must be careful not to undo with our actions the truths we profess with our mouths. We must deal with the internal and not merely the external facets of our lives.
Paul wants us to learn from Israelâs bad examples. Our reading of their history should lead us away from sin and toward godliness. When we consider Israel as Paul did, we find that they displeased God in four ways.
We must be careful not to undo with our actions the truths we profess with our mouths
First, they committed idolatry (1 Cor. 10:7). Paul specifically has in mind the incident of the golden calf, citing Exodus 32:6. Second, Israel displeased God in their immorality (1 Cor. 10:8; Num. 25:1â9). Third, they tested God (1 Cor. 10:9; Num. 21:5).
To test God is to push Him, determining to discover whether God will do what He promised to do. Rather than trust, Israel would repeatedly test Godâs word. And finally, they grumbled against the Lord, leading to their destruction (1 Cor. 10:10).
Yet these things happened to Israel for, among other reasons, our instruction. They are negative examples, teaching us what not to do as we aim to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel.
An Important Warning
Paul then gets to the heart of the matter: âTherefore,â he warns, âlet anyone who stands take heed lest he fallâ (1 Cor. 10:12). Speaking to those who are self-deceived, those who think the bad examples from Israelâs history do not pertain to them, he addresses the issue of presumptionâhaving an unrealistic confidence in oneâs own spiritual fortitudeâwhich is an issue that can tempt anyone.
His words stand to this day as a warning against living the Christian life outwardly to convince those around us, but not in such a way as to convince God or even our own consciences.
Consider the seriousness of Communion, for example. God gives us Communion as an outward sign of His commitment to preserve us in His grace. But it is also possible for the believer, approaching the Table, to eat and drink judgment on himself (1 Cor. 11:29). In other words, we can participate in the externalities of the meal while never dealing with the internal realitiesâthe condition of our hearts.
For this reason, we should always examine ourselves and deal with our sin prior to participating in Communion (1 Cor. 11:28). We are not to have too high a view of ourselves at the Communion table. We are to be not presumptuous but humble, contrite, and penitent.
When such humility is our posture, we can see somebody who has fallen into sin and realize that we are a nanosecond away from the very same thing.
We guard against presumption, understanding that we have no basis upon which to stand and take the high ground with another brother or sister in Christ, and we pay close attention to our own lives, lest we also fall into sin.
A Source of Encouragement
In light of Paulâs sober warnings and Israelâs bad examples in the past, we might be tempted to despair. But Paul closes out his point by offering a word of comfort and encouragement: âNo temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure itâ (1 Cor. 10:13).
Temptation is common, but God is faithful.
The danger of disqualification should produce not despair but humility, spurring us on to a deep reliance on Godâs perfect faithfulness. Yes, temptation is common, but God is faithful.
Rather than yield to sin, we are to flee from it (1 Cor. 10:14). And we can hold fast to the truth that when we are tempted to fall into sin, God will always give us a way out. Always.
3 I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! 4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
5 They are corrupt and not his children; to their shame they are a warped and crooked generation. 6 Is this the way you repay the Lord, you foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator,[a] who made you and formed you?
Deuteronomy 32:10-14 NIV
10 In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, 11 like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft. 12 The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him.
13 He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag, 14 with curds and milk from herd and flock and with fattened lambs and goats, with choice rams of Bashan and the finest kernels of wheat. You drank the foaming blood of the grape.
Deuteronomy 32:16 NIV
16 They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols.
Expressing Thankfulness(NOTES)
Romans
1:22-31 New International Version
22 Although
they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the
immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and
animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore
God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for
the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth
about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creatorâwho
is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because
of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged
natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also
abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one
another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves
the due penalty for their error.
28
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge
of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought
not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil,
greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.
They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful;
they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no
understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
Isaiah
42:8 New International Version
8 âI am the
Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
Deuteronomy 31:16 New International Version
16 And the
Lord said to Moses: âYou are going to rest with your ancestors, and these
people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are
entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them.
Deuteronomy 31:19 New International Version
19 âNow write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them.
Deuteronomy
32:1-2 NIV
32 Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my
mouth. 2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like
showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
Deuteronomy 32:19-27 New International Version
19 The Lord
saw this and rejected them because he was angered by his sons and daughters. 20
âI will hide my face from them,â he said, âand see what their end will be; for
they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful.
21 They made
me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols. I will
make them envious by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a
nation that has no understanding.
22 For a
fire will be kindled by my wrath, one that burns down to the realm of the dead
below. It will devour the earth and its harvests and set afire the foundations
of the mountains.
23 âI will
heap calamities on them and spend my arrows against them.
24 I will
send wasting famine against them, consuming pestilence and deadly plague; I
will send against them the fangs of wild beasts, the venom of vipers that glide
in the dust.
25 In the
street the sword will make them childless; in their homes terror will reign. The
young men and young women will perish, the infants and those with gray hair.
26 I said I
would scatter them and erase their name from human memory, 27 but I dreaded the
taunt of the enemy, lest the adversary misunderstand and say, âOur hand has
triumphed; the Lord has not done all this.ââ
Ephesians 2:8-9 New International Version
8 For it is
by grace you have been saved, through faithâand this is not from yourselves, it
is the gift of Godâ 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
đ Love is the spring of true obedience. âThis is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.â Now a man who is not obedient to Godâs commandments is evidently not a true believer; for although good works do not save us, yet, being saved, believers are sure to produce good works.
đââď¸ Though the fruit is not the root of the tree, yet a well-rooted tree will, in its season, bring forth its fruits. So, though the keeping of the commandments does not make me a child of God, yet, being a child of God, I shall be obedient to my heavenly Father. But this I cannot be unless I love God.
đââď¸ đââď¸ A mere external obedience, a decent formal recognition of the laws of God, is not obedience in Godâs sight. He abhors the sacrifice where the heart is not found. I must obey because I love, or else I have not in spirit and in truth obeyed at all. See then, that to produce the indispensable fruits of saving faith, there must be love for God; for without it, they would be unreal and indeed impossible.
â C. H. Spurgeon (from Strengthen My Spirit)
Happy are they who love the Lord,
Whose hearts have Him confessed,
Who by His cross have found their life,
Beneath His yoke their rest. â Bridges
Love, Joy and Peace is the result of walking with God.
đ My occupation is words. Whether I am writing or editing, I am using words to convey ideas so that readers can understand. I can usually see whatâs wrong with someone elseâs writing and figure out how to fix it. As an editor, I am paid for being critical. My job is to see whatâs wrong with the way words are used. This ability becomes a disability when I carry it over into my personal life and always look for what is wrong. Focusing on whatâs wrong can cause us to miss everything thatâs good.
đââď¸ The apostle Paul had reason to focus on what was wrong in the Philippian society. Certain people were preaching the gospel out of selfish ambition to add to Paulâs suffering. But instead of concentrating on the negative, he chose to look at the positive and rejoice in it: Jesus Christ was being preached.
đââď¸ đââď¸ God wants us to be discerning â we need to know good from bad â but He doesnât want us to focus on the bad and become critical or discouraged. Even in circumstances that are less than ideal (Paul was writing from prison), we can find something good because in times of trouble God is still at work. Thatâs just one more way He can be honored. â Julie Ackerman Link
The eyes of faith when fixed on God
Give hope for whatâs ahead,
But focus on lifeâs obstacles
And faith gives way to dread.
â D. De Haan
When your outlook is blurred by problems, focus on God.
1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months.
3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket[a] for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
5 Then Pharaohâs daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. âThis is one of the Hebrew babies,â she said.
7 Then his sister asked Pharaohâs daughter, âShall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?â8 âYes, go,â she answered. So the girl went and got the babyâs mother.
9 Pharaohâs daughter said to her, âTake this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.â So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaohâs daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses,[b] saying, âI drew him out of the water.â
A Protective Family(NOTES)
Psalm
113:9 New International Version
9 He settles
the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.
Psalm 127:3-5 New International Version
3 Children
are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.
4 Like
arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in oneâs youth.
5 Blessed is
the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they
contend with their opponents in court.
Deuteronomy 4:9 New International Version
9 Only be
careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your
eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them
to your children and to their children after them.
Proverbs 22:6 New International Version
6 Start
children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will
not turn from it.
Matthew 18:10 New International Version
The Parable
of the Wandering Sheep
10 âSee that
you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels
in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Luke 17:2
New International Version
2 It would
be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their
neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.
Colossians 3:21 New International Version
21
Fathers,[a] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Isaiah 49:25 New International Version
25 But this
is what the Lord says:
âYes,
captives will be taken from warriors and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I
will contend with those who contend with you,and your children I will save.
Psalm 68:5 New International Version
5 A father
to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
Psalm 146:9 New International Version
9 The Lord
watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he
frustrates the ways of the wicked.
Genesis 3:15 New International Version
15 And I
will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[a] and
hers; he will crush[b] your head, and you will strike his heel.â
Genesis 12:1-3 New International Version
The Call
of Abram
12 The Lord
had said to Abram, âGo from your country, your people and your fatherâs
household to the land I will show you.
2 âI will
make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name
great, and you will be a blessing.[a]
3 I will
bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all
peoples on earth will be blessed through you.â
Genesis 15:12-14 New International Version
12 As the
sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful
darkness came over him.
13 Then the Lord said to him, âKnow for certain that for four hundred years
your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they
will be enslaved and mistreated there.
14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will
come out with great possessions.
Over the past several years, the headlines have been filled with stories about Christian leaders who were ultimately untrustworthy, whether that be in their relationships, their running of an organization, or their own spiritual lives. Unfortunately, this kind of dishonesty exists in many institutions, nonprofits, and Christian companies.
Many people have responded to this slew of news with skepticism, scrutinizing those who claim the name of Jesus and questioning whether any individual or institution is worth wholehearted support. Others have buried their heads in the sand, blinded by loyalty and unwilling to consider an exercise in discernment.
Neither of these responses is sufficient for Christians who want to learn from past ministry failures, make wise choices in the present, and participate in Godâs future work. Fortunately, experts in ministry health say that there are clear red flags to look for before financially supporting an organization .
Not Giving Can Be the Wisest Choice
Warren Smith, president of MinistryWatch.com, says that there are some red flags that should be considered absolute non-negotiables, such as an organization:
According to Smith, if an organization fails in any of these three areas, it would be unwise to support them financially. Learning whether or not a ministry meets these standards requires that potential givers follow Smithâs most important piece of advice: âDonât give to any organization that you donât know.â
This may seem like an obvious statement, but consider the giving patterns in our congregations. Itâs common for mercy-motivated believers to have an emotional response to hearing about compelling programs and projects that align with their core values. Combine that feeling with a belief in Scriptureâs call to be generous, and, oftentimes, thatâs enough for a Spirit-led Christian to make a donation without due diligence.
But itâs incomplete theology to believe that Christians should give to a ministry simply because it claims to do good work. âThatâs not taking into account the full counsel of Scripture,â says Smith. âGod gave us a mind as well as a heart, and we should be open to what the Holy Spirit is doing in our minds and our hearts as donors.â
Additional red flags that should be considered dealbreakers include an organization lacking a statement of faith and failing to provide senior leader compensation information to inquiring donors. Donors should also steer clear of ministries that claim IRS status of churches if they are not performing the true functions of a local church, such as preaching, baptism, and the sacraments.
Keep an eye out for whatâs known as founder syndrome, as well. Founder syndrome occurs when loyalty to an organizationâs founder trumps making decisions that are in the best interest of an organization. Symptoms of founder syndrome include a board that is composed of the founderâs friends and family members or an organization that is named after the founder.
Researching an organization and its leaders isnât cynicalâitâs spiritual. This kind of investigation is an act of faithfulness because it demonstrates your commitment to generosity by giving only to those organizations and causes that exhibit stewardship.
Some Red Flags Mean âKeep Learningâ
While major red flags are reason enough to walk away from an organization entirely, Smith also says there are indicators that should encourage potential donors to keep researching an organization.
Calvin Edwards, founder and CEO of a consulting firm that provides philanthropic counsel, agrees. Edwards points out that some red flags should prompt thoughtful questions, and the answers offer clarity for donors.
If an organizationâs board isnât gathering regularly, for example, it may be because the members agreed to keep in communication by email rather than meetings. The lack of meetings is a red flag, but the fact that the board consistently communicates is positive. Potential givers may then determine whether the email system seems effective enough, or they may feel that regular meetings should not be replaced by technology.
Other potential red flags that require further investigation may include a high rate of staff turnover, a poor rating by a watchdog organization like Charity Navigator, or inconsistent communication with donors.
By talking to ministry leadership about the red flags they see, potential givers have the opportunity to learn about the organizationâs posture and humility. If leadership is defensive in the face of questions or suggestions, itâs likely they are leaving other behaviors and processes unexamined as well. Organizational leaders who respond to questions with openness, listen to advice with grace, and welcome further discussion communicate volumes about their organizationâs character.
Looking for red flags isnât a technique to encourage frugality, says Edwards. But rather this due diligence âminimizes risk, and itâs also a blessing to ministries to have these items confronted.â As prospective donors hold organizations accountable, ministry leaders can learn and grow from the wisdom of outside perspectives, empowering them to serve with greater impact.
Do you want to give wisely but donât know what questions to ask or information to seek? The experienced donors at Strategic Resource Group can help you learn more about stewardship, generosity, and how to identify trustworthy ministries. Interested in learning more? Email impact@srginc.org.
1 Peter 5 New International Version (NIV) To the Elders and the Flock
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christâs sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of Godâs flock that is under your care, watching over themânot because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders.
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, âGod opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.â 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under Godâs mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen
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