Giving to Get or Getting to Give

Recently I was watching an old episode of Everybody Loves Raymond.  In this particular one Raymond and Robert are plotting for an opportunity to go away for a weekend of golf.  However, Ray does not feel as though he can just ask Deborah to let him go so he begins to plot a scheme to butter up Deborah.  Since it is Christmas time Ray decides to use his gift to Deborah as a perfect opportunity to guilt her into letting him go play golf.  His plan is to give Deborah a gift so nice that she will feel obligated to let Ray go on the outing.  As the time approaches to exchange gifts, Ray has discovered, with the help of Robert that Deborah is “supposed” to be giving him a tie.  Therefore, Ray plans to give Deborah the Crockpot she wants but also add in a side gift of nice cookware.   When the exchange of gifts takes place Deborah is ecstatic over her gifts but Ray has a surprise waiting for him.  When Deborah hands him his gift it was not the perceived tie but rather an expensive DVD player and movies.  (The tie was actually for Robert.)  Needless to say much turmoil and chaos erupted when the truth was revealed on the presents and the purpose behind them.

This sitcom episode makes me ask the question, “Why do we give gifts to one another?”  Do we give out of obligation or do we give out of love?  By obligation I am referring to the thought of they gave me a gift last year or I have a feeling they plan to give me a gift this year.  The word obligation does not lend itself to the feeling of generosity.  Instead, it gives a sense of necessity or requirement, neither of which conveys the feeling of love and generosity.  Obligation is defined as something that must be done because of a legal or moral duty.  This should have no part in gift giving.  We must be compelled to give out of love not an obligation.  When I give gifts to my family I do not think in terms of “having to give.”  Instead I look at the opportunity to give in order to express my love to those I cherish.

In the same sense when Jesus came to earth in the form of a baby, God’s gift to each of us was not obligatory but instead it was compelled by His great love for each of us.  John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His Son…”  God has set the great example of giving.  Just as Jesus is recorded as saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” we too should follow this example.  (Acts 20:35)

This Christmas as you make out your Christmas list examine your heart and ask, “Am I giving out of obligation or love?”  You will find your joy is enhanced when you learn to give out of love more than obligation.

May God bless you this Christmas in ways you never expected!

Pastor Ric

Faithfully Giving Back to God for the Blessings He Gives

One of the hardest subjects for me to preach is stewardship.  This is not because I don't give of my tithes and offereings but because this is one area which people get very sensitive.  I love what a pastor friend calls this issue, "Cirrohsis of the Giver."  Whether this is original with him or not does not matter.  The weight of the issue is that we have a giving problem in the church today.  When only 3-5% of church attenders give a tithe of their income, then we have a problem.  Who is to blame for this problem?  The leadership of the church for not teaching the proper way to give?  Dave Ramsey says, "Don't tell your church to give; teach them how to give!"  Is the problem the economy?  I have a tough time believing that because we find ways to continue to eat out, go to movies, buy new things, and the list could go on and on.  I tweeted a quote which I recently read that said, "If it is important to you then you will find a way; if not you will find an excuse."  We like to make excuses for not tithing more than actually tithing.  Is it the person's fault?  Well in my house, if I don't set my alarm the night before to awaken me the next morning, I can blame my wife and kids, but the truth is I am an adult with responsibilities; therefore, I must "man-up" to my shortcomings. 

In Ps. 24:1 David writes, "The earth and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants, belong to the Lord."  How much are we taking from God's treasury by not giving back to God of His tithe and His wealth?  Malachai tells us to "Bring the full ten percent into the storehouse...Test me in this way says the Lord of Hosts.  See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour our a blessing for you without measure."

Why not give it a shot?  God has never been unfaithful!  Give Him your tithe and see how He blesses you.

Pastor Ric

Prayer

I am wondering about Prayer and how we respond to prayer.  Would you give me your thoughts on the following questions regarding prayer? 

1. When do you pray most?  (Not just time of day but occasions)
2. What enhances your prayer time?
3. What restricts your prayer time?
4. How do you approach God when you have prayed for something but not received the answer you desired?
5. How do you feel when you have prayed but your answer was not what you desired but other people have received the answer to their prayer?

 I would love your feedback.  Have a great day and may God bless you greatly this day.

Pastor Ric

Philippians 4

Philippians 4

I love chapter four of Philippians.  I know I really stressed how great chapter 2 is, but the reality is that I just love the book of Philippians.  Paul writes with such practical advice for the church.  In chapter four alone I find six different verses which are stand out verses, meaning they really pack a punch for each of us in our Christian walk.  These verses have been quoted time and again by numerous believers from all walks of life.  Let's look at each of these with a brief explanation.

Verse 4:  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!--I once heard Dr. Mark Foley speak on this passage to which he reminded us that Paul is stating that we must rejoice not in circumstances for they will change but to rejoice in the only true constant, our Lord Jesus Christ.  By the way, Paul really wanted to stress this by repeating himself!

Verse 6:  Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving; let your requests be made known to God.  Paul continues the thought of rejoicing in spite of circumstances by saying not to worry about anything.  He tells the reader to take the burden or worry to God through prayer.  I think the major problem we see in situations where we worry is not that we don't pray, but that we pray without leaving the problem in God's hands.  We lay it at His feet but pick it up before we leave.  In addition, we also fail to trust God is listening, caring, and working the situation out to our best in the way we want.

Verse 7:  And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Here Paul is carrying out the thought of submitting our worries to God by stating that WHEN we leave our cares with God we will experience such a peace that only God can bring.  This peace will not only be indescribable but liberating from the anxieties of life on this earth. 

Verse 8:  Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.  Paul recognizes the mind is a powerful weapon for or against us depending on how it is utilized.  What we find is that Paul is stressing the importance of understanding the correlation between the things we think about compared with the way we act.  If we think on worldly things dwelling on them, then our attitude and actions will  reflect the world.  Additionally, he recognizes that if we think on God and His realm then we are more likely to take on the attitude and activities of God.  As the mind thinks, so the person shall act.  There was an old saying years ago about the dangers of drugs that went like this, "The mind is a terrible thing to waste."  I think this statement is equally true, "The mind is a terrible thing to misuse!"

Verse 13:  I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.  At Faith Academy Christian School where Raegan attended in Mobile they asked the student athletes and cheerleaders who were graduating to give their favorite Bible verse.  When they responded, the majority of the students quoted this verse.  Raegan had on her megaphone for cheerleading this verse.  I have heard many people quote and use this verse in trying times.  What makes it so powerful and widely quoted?  There seems to be a correlation between accomplishing great things in the power of God.  However, if we look at the context Paul is stating that regardless of what state of circumstances he has been in, he has found that through the power of God he could succeed.  Paul reminds us that he has plenty and he has had little to nothing, but regardless God has strengthened him to succeed in the mission to which God has called him.

Verse 19:  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever.  Like many other verses in the Bible, this one is often misquoted.  I hear people say, and my God will supply all MY needs...when the verse really says all YOUR needs... We like to think that God is going to supply our needs, and he will but the context of the verse deals with Paul's encouragement to the Philippians for giving generously to his mission endeavors while in Thessalonica and Macedonia.  He wants them to understand that as they have sacrificially given, God will supply for the needs they encounter.  Therefore, be cautious in claiming this verse out of context.  Paul states that because of their generosity, God will supply their needs.

While I have listed several primary verses, I would love to hear your thoughts on which verse means the most to you and why.  Please post your comments here for a source of encouragement to all of us.

Philippians 3

I remember this passage well from a time years ago when a lady looked at me and sad she was tired to which I replied that I understood for I was also tired.  She gave me one of those looks like yea right.  I replied that it had been a long hard week and I had put in a lot of hours.  She very pointedly told me she could work that many hours too if she were pressing.  I asked, "What do you mean by pressing?"  She told me, in no uncertain terms, "Pressin' yo bottom on that chair."  Well Paul talks about pressing but not pressing a portion of one's anatomy to a chair.  He encourages the church of Philippi to press on to the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.  Before we can press on though we must forget the past!  Some of us are weighed down so heavily by our past that we cannot move forward adequately.  Many times in my life I have allowed Satan to beat me up over past mistakes, of which I had already been cleansed, but could not forgive myself.  These mistakes had become a burden which the enemy kept me from pursuing the calling of Christ in my life.  Other times people allow their past accomplishments to keep them from pursuing the goal set before them by God.  I think of one friend in particular whom God had called to life at a young age but my friend would not surrender.  He went out on his own made a mark in the business world and continued to run from God's calling.  It wasn't until later that God got his attention through a tragic accident that he forgot the accomplishments of self and sought out the prize of God. 

After we forget the past, we must then press on reaching forward to what is ahead.  While in high school I played wide receiver for our football team.  One of the things our coach taught us in running our routes for pass plays was not to look back for the ball until the right time.  One of the reasons for this technique was because when we look back it slows us down.  The race we run as a Christian requires that we not allow anything to slow us down from pursuing the directions of God.  We must continue to work at keeping our velocity at a pace to run so as to win the prize of God.  Another reason we are told not to look back is that we could miss the goal.  While running track, I ran the 220 low hurdles race.  In one race I lost my focus and had to choose between hitting a hurdle and going around it.  I chose to run around the hurdle so as not to fall.  Although I crossed the finish line first, I was disqualified because I missed one of the goals.  When we lose our focus and do not finish the race of God's because we took our eyes off of the goal, then we can lose the race and not finish strong as God desires. God's desire is for us to finish the race by glorifying Him in all we do and sharing His Good News with all we meet.  I like Paul's way of thinking when he says, "Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus."  Here is the question for the day, "Have you been taken hold of by Jesus Christ?"  When Jesus gets a hold of us, our passion will be to compete in such a way as to honor Him and finish the race for Him well.  How are you running? 

Philippians 2

As I read this great chapter from Paul's letter to the Philippians, I remember my first semester in seminary as I was working on my master's degree.  I was an unknowing first year student and did not realize the enormity of my load in one class in particular until it was too late.  We sat and listened to the syllabus for the class and discovered that one assignment was to exegete the first eleven verses of chapter two.  What I discovered is that this passage would become one of my favorites from Paul's writings and one of the most prolific in describing the divinity and humanity of Christ explicitly detailing His heart of generosity and love for mankind.  In detailing this chapter I want to share two thoughts regarding the portions that stand out to me so greatly.

First, as we look at verses 1-4 once again we see the theme Paul stressed to the church of Corinth and Dr. Luke stressed to the early church in Acts, be united in all things.  If these two men find this matter to be of such importance to the early church I believe strongly that we should make it a matter of urgency in the postmodern day church.  Keep in mind the first four statements in the passage appear to questions in the English language, but are really statements of affirmation in the Greek.  When Paul writes "If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if an affection and mercy...", he is really saying "since there is encouragement, consolation, fellowship, and affection" make my joy complete by thinking the same way...focusing on one goal!  He further details the manner of fulfilling his joy by saying put aside selfish ambitions and ways of thinking by putting others first in how you think and behave.  This parallels what we have been discussing on Sunday mornings about the "Contextual Church."  The contextual church puts aside her personal desires for the betterment of the kingdom of God and the advancement of the Gospel.  The contextual church wants to see things done in such a way to draw in those who do not know Christ.  The contextual church is less concerned with the consumer mentality of the church and more concerned with the best way to reach to the unregenerate community.  Unfortunately we have allowed the worldly mindset to creep into the church of saying, "What does the church have for me!"  I am reminded of the words of John F. Kennedy as he made his inaugural speech in January of 1961 when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country."  An interpretation of this statement for the church could be, "Ask not what the church can do for you, but what you can do for the church."  Could this be what Paul is implying here as well?  Could this be the mindset of unity?  Could this be what we must do in God's church today?

Paul continues this thought of self-abandonment by giving the greatest example for us which is found in Jesus Christ.  He states, that though Jesus was in the very same nature and form as God did not see that as something He could clutch but abandoned His rights for the sake of mankind.  I like the way the HCSB states this, "He emptied Himself."  How much different God's church would be if we all "Emptied Ourselves."  Paul doesn't leave it at that statement but also adds, "He Humbled Himself" to the very lowest form of mankind at the time, a servant.  Here the King of Kings and Lord of Lords became a servant for those who had (and continue to) wronged Him.  I think of what the first nature and first thoughts we have when wronged.  Too often we want to think, "How dare them treat ME that way."  We also begin to think of revenge in some manner.  However, Christ chose to become their servant out of love.  How we act when treated wrongly manifests a sacrificial heart or a selfish heart.  Which do you have?  Do you want retaliation or reconciliation?  Do you seek to serve or seclude yourself in self-pity? 

If we are going to manifest the very nature and attitude of Christ, we must think of others before ourselves, how we can advance the Kingdom of God, and how we can Glorify God and share His love.  Today let us make the Joy of Christ complete by being of the same mind, sharing the same love, sharing the same feelings, and focusing on one goal.  Let us glorify God today in our attitude and actions.

    

Philippians 1

As we look at the book of Philippians we need to understand that Paul writes to the church of Philippi from a prison cell.  In addition, as he sits in the jail his fate is uncertain, at any moment he could be sentenced to death/execution.  However, during this time Paul does not become bleak or dismayed.  Instead, he opens his heart to extend the gracious love of God to the jailers, the church of Philippi and even unto his enemies.  Paul shows forth a masterful display of the attitude we should, no must, exhibit when our life path suddenly turns to a stony path lined with briars, thorns, and even ravenous animals.  His heart is bent on what Warren Wiersbe described as rejoicing in spite of life’s hardships.  Wiersbe says, “Paul rejoiced in spite of his circumstances, because his circumstances strengthened the fellowship of the Gospel (Phil 1:1-11), promoted the furtherance of the Gospel (Phil 1:12-26), and guarded the faith of the Gospel (Phil 1:27-30).”

Paul’s demeanor is not set by a determined will or a disciplined mind alone, though these two factors were necessary for his time.  Instead, Paul was engulfed with what we discussed yesterday in our study of “The Contextual Church.”  He was devoted single-mindedly to two critical components.  First, he wanted his life to glorify God in every aspect.  Secondly, he sought to share the Gospel with as many people as possible in all ways of life.  Wiersbe says that single-mindedness is the attitude that says, "It makes no difference what happens to me, just as long as Christ is glorified and the Gospel shared with others."   Is this attitude the one we carry each day?  Do we care not what happens to us so long as God is glorified and Christ is shared?  This is the mind of Paul.  While some may have contended Paul to be suicidal when he made the statement in verse 21, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain,” that could not be farther from the truth.  Paul simply longed to do the will of Christ, yet he knew that if he died in the process his life would then be spent in eternity with the One whom he loved and adored.  However, until that day when Christ summoned him home, he would live to share the Gospel in every situation of every day. 

The opening verses of the book share with us the intense joy of Paul to have partners in his ministry to advance the Gospel.  The church of Philippi had been tremendous avenues of support and encouragement.  Paul acknowledges that their support, both material and emotional, were of tremendous encouragement.  He considers them to be his partners in advancing the kingdom.  While they may not have been with him physically, they were spreading the Gospel in their world and sending him support for his ministry, which they felt strongly regarding.  This approach is not different than that of the ministry which we do at FBC with regards to local ministry and support of international ministry.  Not all of us can go, as Paul did, but we can support and encourage, AS WE DO LOCAL MINISTRY.  So here is the question?  How are we doing in supporting missions abroad?  Financially?  Prayerfully? Encouraging through emails, letters, care packages?  How are we doing in sharing the Gospel at home?  Today, let us evaluate and do what God has called us to do!  In the words of Josh Wilson’s song “I Refuse”

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse
To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

As we live, can we say, “For me to live is Christ?”