"Do Not Be Afraid When a Man Becomes Rich" (4/24)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87.

Many in our society seem to be so concerned with others becoming (or having already become) rich. They are so worried that other’s wealth will somehow bring harm to them that they want to see something done to limit the amount of wealth one can obtain, or confiscate the wealth one has already obtained – often by using the force of government.

David expressed a very different attitude toward those who become wealthy. Rather than worrying about them and fearing them, we should just leave them to their own devices.

Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him. Though while he lives he congratulates himself—and though men praise you when you do well for yourself—he shall go to the generation of his fathers; they will never see the light. Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, is like the beasts that perish” (Psalm 49:16-20).

Continue Reading

“Teach Us to Number Our Days” (3/1)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Numbers 14-15; Psalm 90.

As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; for soon it is gone and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).

In this psalm attributed to Moses, we are reminded of the brevity of life. We will not live forever here on the earth. Although seventy or eighty years may seem like a long time from a certain perspective, it is really a short period of time.

James writes, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). The Hebrew writer notes, “It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Continue Reading

The Penalty for Killing Men and Animals (2/21)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Leviticus 24-25.

If a man takes the life of any human being, he shall surely be put to death. The one who takes the life of an animal shall make it good, life for life. […] Thus one who kills an animal shall make it good, but the one who kills a man shall be put to death. There shall be one standard for you; it shall be for the stranger as well as the native, for I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 24:17-22).

This is a reminder of penalties that were already given. The punishment for murdering another man was death (Exodus 21:12). When a neighbor’s animal was killed, restitution was to be made (Exodus 21:33-36), but a man who killed an animal was not to be put to death. There are some lessons we can learn from this law:
Continue Reading

Man is Short-Lived and Full of Turmoil (1/7)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Job 14-16.

Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil” (Job 14:1).

Job, while enduring the degree of hardships that most of us will never face, well understood two facts that are easy to forget when everything is going well.
Continue Reading

Walking with God (1/2)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Genesis 4-7.

When Adam and Eve sinned and were banished from the Garden, access to the Tree of Life was lost. This meant that Adam, Eve, and all of their descendants would have to face physical death.

This consequence is emphasized in Genesis 5 as the “generations of Adam” are outlined (Genesis 5:1). Over and over, each man was born, fathered the next generation, then “he died” (Genesis 5:5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 27, 31). There was, however, one exception to this – Enoch.
Continue Reading

Thoughts on the New Year

Happy New Year

As the beginning of another year rapidly approaches, Christians can use this time in three ways: as a reminder, as an opportunity, and as a warning.
Continue Reading

When Disaster Strikes

Tornado Damage

Whenever a disaster occurs – whether it is a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or some tragic accident – people often wonder if God was somehow involved. If so, they wonder if the event was an execution of divine judgment against the victims or the greater nation/society as a whole.

Questions like these are nothing new. Jesus commented on this concept when He discussed a couple of tragedies with which His audience was familiar.

Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish’” (Luke 13:1-5).

It is important that we know why these things happen. As Jesus made clear, we should not be quick to attribute these things to God’s direct operation. Yet even when an event occurs without direct, divine involvement, there are still lessons we can learn from these disasters.
Continue Reading