rockvillecogop.com

A La Carte (8/31) by Tim Challies

When To Be Suspicious – There is some wise counsel in this article. “Once in a while you will stumble across a sentence that goes something like ‘theology says…’, ‘philosophy says..’, or ‘economics says..’. That is, I would argue, is the time to be suspicious.”

Public Worship Is Better than Private Worship – David Murray goes to the old preacher David Clarkson and offers twelve reasons why public worship is better than private worship.

A Man After God’s Own Heart – Christian Focus has lowered the price on R.T. Kendell’s A Man After God’s Own Heart, a book about King David, to $2.99 in the Kindle edition.

Pornography Robs a Man – Ed Welch discusses why pornography robs a man of his humanness.

Bad History – “Earlier this month, George Mason University’s History News Network asked readers to vote for the least credible history book in print. The top pick was David Barton’s right-wing reimagining of our third president, Jefferson’s Lies: Exposing the Myths You’ve Always Believed about Thomas Jefferson. But just nine votes behind was the late Howard Zinn’s left-wing epic, A People’s History of the United States. Bad history, it turns out, transcends political divides.” It’s an article worth reading, no matter what you think of the two books in question.

The Allure of Child Preachers – The BBC writes about the curious allure of child preachers. “An 11-year-old boy in the US has been ordained as a minister in his family’s church, and also preaches at a number of local churches. He is the latest in a long history of American child preachers – so what is the appeal?”

God’s promises are like the stars; the darker the night the brighter they shine. —David Nicholas

By Perry Noble

One of the biggest frustrations among singles is NOT being able to get a date, here are EIGHT reasons to consider why you may not be dating…

#1 – It’s not time!!! Proverbs 24:27 says that we should make sure our lives are in order before we build a house!!!

#2 – You want to get married more than you want to walk with Jesus! If this is true then a relationship/dating is an idol in your life, and for the Lord to give it to you would do nothing more than set you up for disappointment in the person you want to be with because they could never fulfill you!!! (See I John 5:21)

#3 – You are bitter! Either at your mother, father or an ex spouse!!! And…one of the WORST things a person can do is carry bitterness from a past relationship (any relationship) into a current relationship (see Ephesians 4:31!)

#4 – You struggle with impurity! I Thessalonians 4:3 says that IT IS GOD’S WILL that we avoid sexual immorality! If you are wrestling with porn…or every relationship you are in moves quickly towards “going too far” then you REALLY need to get those issues worked out…because if that is the case you would not be someone who could strengthen someone else and their walk with Jesus, you would actually weaken them!

#5 – You are trying too hard!!! If you are a dude then PLEASE get this…if you are always asking girls out then I promise you that you have a reputation among them (and not a good one!!!) Yes, I believe the guy should be the one to pursue (Proverbs 18:22) BUT…there is a difference between pursuing and stalking…and no one has EVER fallen in love with a stalker!!!

#6 – You are finding your identity in who you date (or if you can get a date) more than you are in a relationship with Jesus!

#7 – You are willing to compromise in order to go out with someone! If you are a follower of Jesus Christ then compromise can never be a consideration!!!

#8 – Especially if you are a dude…you are not responsible financially!!! If you want to find a wife one of the BEST things you can do TODAY is NOT go on eharmony.com but rather do whatever it takes to GET OUT OF DEBT!!! (Proverbs 22:7)

1. Words of Wisdom

Thought for the week: “A good way to have the last word is to apologize.” – Barbara Johnson

“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” – William Shedd

“Whatever we expect with confidence becomes our own self-fulfilling prophecy.” – Brian Tracy

“Living consciously involves being genuine; it involves listening and responding to others honestly and openly; it involves being in the moment.” – Sidney Poitier

“Never does the human soul appear so strong and noble as when it forgoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury.” – E. H. Chapin

“You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.” – Golda Meir

“Don’t ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up.” – Robert Frost

2. On the Lighter Side

A young lady signed up on an Internet dating service. She got to the section of the application that asked, “What exactly are you looking for?”

This was her description: “He needs to be good-looking, polite, humorous, sporty, knowledgeable, good at singing and dancing. Willing to accompany me the whole day at home if I don’t go out. Be able to tell me interesting stories when I need a companion for conversation and be silent when I want to rest.”

In a matter of moments, the results were returned to the woman: “Buy a television.”

Source: MickeysFunnies, www.mikeysFunnies.com

3. The Power of a Single Candle

In a Daily Encounter I had said how, as Christians, we need to let our light shine so that others would see God’s love shining through us and made the comment that all the darkness in the world couldn’t put out or diminish the light of one small candle.

A subscriber, Angela Mehan, responded by saying, “This reminds me of an experience I had when I was in Girl Scouts. We used to go spelunking (cave exploring), and I remember one trip in particular. We had gone deep enough into the cave that no light from the outside could get to us. The guide had us turn off all our flashlights so we could see just how dark total darkness is. I couldn’t see anything! No matter how close I got my hand to my face I still couldn’t see it. Then the guide lit a single candle. It was amazing how much we could see, even though the candle itself wasn’t all that bright. So even though we were completely surrounded by darkness, that single candle allowed us to see.

As we used to sing in Sunday School when we were kids: “See this little light of mine / I’m going to let it shine … Let it shine / Let is shine / Let it shine.”

4. The Only Way to Get Love

The only way to get love is to be lovable. It’s very irritating if you have a lot of money. You’d like to think you could write a check: I’ll buy a million dollars’ worth of love.’ But it doesn’t work that way. The more you give love away, the more you get.

– Warren Buffett

5. The Importance of Saying Thank You

Bishop Gerland Kennedy of California tells the true story of a shipwreck off the coast of Evanston, Illinois many years ago. The students of Northwestern University came to the rescue. One student, Edward Spenser, personally saved the lives of 17 persons that day.

Years later a reporter was writing a follow-up story on the event, and went to interview the now elderly Spenser. When asked what was the one thing that stood out about the incident in his mind; Spenser replied: “I remember that of the 17 people I saved that day, not one of them ever thanked me.”

– Cited on www.eSermons.com

6. Teach or Punish—That’s the Question

By Michael Josephson of Character Counts (761.4)

As Greg paces the floor, waiting for his 17-year-old daughter Sandy to return from a school event, he feels two conflicting emotions: fear and anger. Fear that something terrible has happened to her. Anger because he thinks his fear is probably unfounded and Sandy is not hurt, simply irresponsible.

Finally, Sandy calls. She’s all right. She just lost track of time. Greg’s fear disappears, but his anger grows.

The love that motivated his worry is overwhelmed by a growing sense of outrage. He begins to rehearse what he will say and what punishment he will inflict. Unless he intercepts his anger, it can easily turn to rage, an emotion likely to produce foolishly impulsive conduct that’s likely to alienate Sandy and widen the rift between them.

Here’s the character challenge: Can Greg stop his runaway train of anger long enough to think about his objectives? His immediate goal is to vent his fury and frustration and teach Sandy a lesson. His long-term goals are to strengthen—not weaken—his relationship with his daughter and to help her become more responsible and respectful.

If Greg stops and thinks about his broader goals, he will want to turn this event into a positive teaching moment. To do that, he will have to choose his words and tone carefully.

Good managers don’t yell at or demean employees because it would be ineffective and unethical. Parents have no less of a duty to be tactful and respectful when dealing with their children.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

© 2012 Josephson Institute of Ethics; reprinted with permission. Michael Josephson, one of the nation’s leading ethicists, is the founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the premier youth character education program, CHARACTER COUNTS! For further information visit www.charactercounts.org

7. Creative Adversity

A sample of Daily Encounter by Dick Innes

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”1

In 1832, French engineer Ferdinand Marie de Lesseps was traveling on the Mediterranean Sea. One of the passengers on the ship (he was on) came down with a contagious disease and the ship was quarantined. Lesseps became very frustrated. To help kill time he read the memoirs of Charles le Pere who had considered the feasibility of building a canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.

In 1869 the Suez Canal was completed. It was constructed following the design by and under the leadership of de Lesseps which, thirty-seven years earlier during that quarantine, was germinated and conceived. The entire world has reaped the benefit ever since.

In my own life and work almost every major change for the good that I have made has been the result of a setback or crisis of some kind. Most of the things I write about have come out of my own struggles, setbacks, and failures and my subsequent search for answers to these issues. I turned to writing in the first place over four decades ago when I felt God had put me on the shelf and forgotten I existed. I never wanted to be a writer but God has used my writing to help many others.

Be assured that God wants to use your trials, failures, and setbacks, too, not only to help you grow, but also so you will be able to help others who are going through the same or similar trials that you have gone through.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please use the struggles in my life to help me become more Christ-like and compassionate so I can be a comfort to other fellow-strugglers. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV).

Many people say that the Bible is nothing more than a story book!
Are they right … or … is God’s Word really true?

In Mal. 3:10 God says … “Prove Me…!”
So let’s find out for ourselves …
Let’s put the Bible to the test and see whether it is true or not.

God said …
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden,
… Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
— Gen 3:3 – (Gen 2:17)
… Satan said …
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
— Gen 3:4
… What happened …?
That very day man died spiritually and was separated from God,
and eventually he died physically as well …
for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
— Gen 3:19
the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years:
and he died. — Gen 5:5
… God’s Word is true …!

God commanded and …
Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven,
and hasted not to go down about a whole day.— Josh 10:13
… What happened …?
Read the history books and ask the scientists … the sun stood still for 24 hours!
… God’s Word is true …!

God said …
And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests
that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth,
shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan
shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above;
and they shall stand upon an heap.
— Josh 3:13
… What happened …?
In history books it is recorded that the water of the Jordan dried up below
… and heaped up above Jericho! …
… God’s Word is true …!

Yes … God’s Word is true!
Every word God has spoken and every promise that God has made, is true…!
… Yes you can believe God’s Word … and not only can you believe it,
… but every one of God’s promises will work …
… for those who dare to believe His Word!

There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken
unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. — Josh 21:45

Joshua believed God’s Word and he was abundantly blessed!
You can believe God’s Word and also be abundantly blessed!

… Read …
Isaiah 55:11
2 Chron. 16:9
Deut. 28:1-13

She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

A great wife is creative and diligent. She will not settle for convenience, economy, or habit. She seeks better dishes to serve her family and better ways to fulfill other domestic roles. She gladly puts forth the effort to obtain excellent and unique things for her husband and children. She is not discouraged that creativity requires extra work and time.

Solomon’s Proverbs include the lengthiest and most detailed description of a wife’s role found in the Bible. Written by a queen mother, it is inspired wisdom for men to marry an industrious and productive woman. After the fear of the LORD, which is the crucial trait for a virtuous wife (Pr 31:30), she must be diligent in her life. Here she must be creative.

Addicted to convenience and ease, the world has spawned a generation of lazy women, who have lost the ability and drive to be creative and diligent domestically. They are often more concerned about how easy of a supper they can throw together than plan an imaginative and pleasant surprise for the family. This is a loss! This is the lesson!

Excellence marks the virtuous woman. She does not look for shortcuts; she looks for the best. Convenience means little to her. Superb nutritious eating and great pleasure and comfort for her family are far more important. She does not care what other women are doing; she wants to reward and honor her husband and children with special service.

She knows well that a new meal with an innovative dish or two is a special event for everyone. Enjoyed in the quiet, warmth, and security of a peaceful and loving home, it provides double pleasure to those at the table (Pr 15:17; 17:1). Soul and body are nourished and renewed there, and she rises to new levels in the esteem of her family.

Merchant ships did not travel short distances to find whatever was available or on sale; they went great distances to find unique commodities and special products that would command a premium. The ship arriving back in port with the most unusual and useful items would receive much more attention and build the reputation for that merchant.

A virtuous and industrious woman generally does not sleep in, go to bed early, take naps, talk on the phone, play every day, email friends, window shop, watch television, sit at Little League games twice a week, take up hobbies, play board games with children, and waste time other ways. She lives with a sense of time urgency, rather than pursuing ease.

A man would get fired, or never get ahead, if he worked the same way – looking to avoid as much work as possible and protect an easy daily routine. He is expected to be creative, diligent, and work with his own time urgency, every day! Many Christian women, piously claiming to be a “keeper at home,” lead a life of ease that women in history could not have imagined. Life is close to a perpetual vacation for many such women.

The average woman a few generations ago could outwork any two women of this generation, and she never complained that her husband did not take the family out to eat enough. She did not know what it meant to eat at McDonalds or any other restaurant, and she never begged, bribed, or coerced her husband into ordering pizza! You better believe she worked hard! What do you think the chief character trait of Proverbs 31:10-31 is?

A virtuous woman knows she can create a more unique and exciting meal for less than going out to eat. She also knows the atmosphere at home is more conducive to family unity and marital affection. The reverence of her husband and children far outweighs the lazy desire to skip meal preparation and cleanup. And she also knows her meal is better nutritionally than any fast food deal. She gladly chooses excellence over convenience.

A real meal takes longer than mac-and-cheese (from a box), pancakes (for supper), frozen TV dinners (from a sale), two-for-one pizza (from a newspaper clipping), and fish sticks and tater tots (from the same frozen food bin)! Meat, gravy, eggs, potatoes, and biscuits for breakfast take more work than spreading an array of boxes of sugared puffs with a pitcher of so-called milk! A wise woman will remember the simple fact that the “food” in a box is worth only a fraction of the packaging, marketing, and distribution of the box!

Most men complain little as their wives become less creative and diligent. To criticize such things condemns her person and performance, which can disrupt things elsewhere. Slothful women know how to act confused at mealtime to solicit the husband’s call for take-out, so men endure a deteriorating routine of domestic slothfulness until they escape by death. (Or a friend, who married a virtuous woman, invites them to eat at his house!)

Christian woman, God’s standard for a virtuous wife is very high. But remember that a woman, one of your own, looking out for her son, wrote it (Pr 31:1). This is the kind of woman wise men should seek in marriage, and this kind of woman will be honored by her husband and children (Pr 31:28). Can you be more creative and diligent as a wife? A woman with a pure conscience and strong fear of God will soberly consider these things.

As bride of Jesus Christ, what will you give your Husband today? Will you settle for the convenient – hurried Bible reading and a quick prayer? Or will you meditate carefully, pray fervently, praise gloriously, and obey faithfully? Do not fall into the religious rut of a mere form of godliness. Do not be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Diligently work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12; II Pet 1:10).

God told David he could not build a temple for Him. Since David loved the LORD, he did not use God’s answer to alter his conscience, which craved to do something special. He gathered funds with all his might so Solomon’s temple might be exceeding magnifical (I Chr 22:5; 29:2). Follow David’s example of loving and serving God. What have you done recently to be compared to this man’s zeal for the worship of the living God?

Forward email

I have read Jerry Bridges’ books all out of order, undoubtedly not the best way to read an author’s works. However, doing this has shown me something I find interesting: Throughout his writing career, he has remained on a single trajectory and has emphasized and re-emphasized only a few themes. In reading The Discipline of Grace I see the seeds of what would become his later books. What he writes about here in just a few words or a few pages, he would later develop into entire books.

But I digress. This morning I want to share just a couple of thoughts about chapter four of The Discipline of Grace, a chapter that deals with the tricky subject of how the Christian has died to sin.

Before we can talk about dying to sin, we must understand how we came to be sinners. Bridges offers a helpful illustration of the biblical concept of federal headship.

Federal headship or representative capacity is somewhat illustrated by the concept of power of attorney. A friend of mine wanted to refinance the mortgage on his house to take advantage of lower interest rates. When the date for the closing was finally set, he realized that he and his wife would be out of the country at that time. He asked if I would represent them at the closing, and I agreed, so he and his wife executed a power of attorney authorizing me to act on their behalf.

I went to the closing and, as my friends’ legal representative, signed all kinds of papers. When I signed those documents it was just as if they had signed them. When I signed the promissory note to pay a certain amount each month, that act was as legally binding on them as if they had signed the note, because I was acting as their legal representative. In like manner, Adam was our legal representative in the garden, and when he sinned, his action was as binding on us as if we had sinned personally.

We may object that we did not appoint Adam as our representative in the garden. To do so is futile, however, for in our objection we are actually complaining against God. It should be enough for us to know that God, the Sovereign Creator of the universe and the One in whom we live, and move, and have our being, appointed him.

Of course the ultimately good news about federal headship is that Adam is not the only federal representative; God has appointed that Jesus Christ would be the second one and that just as Adam’s sin would bring condemnation to his race, Christ’s atonement would bring reconciliation to all who would trust in him.

Here is Bridges’ explanation of what it means that the Christian has died to sin. This is a glorious doctrine, but one so many Christians do not understand. Read this until you absorb it!

To die to sin then means, first of all, to die to its legal or penal reign and, secondly, as a necessary result, to die to its dominion over us. … There is no such thing as salvation from sin’s penalty without an accompanying deliverance from sin’s dominion. This obviously does not mean we no longer sin, but that sin no longer reigns in our lives.

How did we die to sin? We have already noted that we died to sin through our union with Christ. Paul said in Romans 6:10 that Christ died to sin, and in verse 8 he said we died with Christ. That Christ died to sin is a rather startling but wonderful statement. Christ did not die to the dominion of sin, as He was never under it. However, when He was made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21)—that is, when He was charged with our sin—He did come under its legal reign and was made subject to its penalty.

When Jesus died, He died to the legal reign of sin. Through our federal union with Him in His death, we, too, died to the legal reign of sin. But because the legal reign and the practical dominion of sin in our lives are inseparable, we died not only to its legal reign but also to its corrupting dominion over us. Hallelujah! What a Savior we have who was able to not only free us from sin’s penalty but also from its dominion.

The question arises, however, “If we died to sin’s dominion, why do we still struggle with sin in our daily lives?” When Paul wrote, “We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” he was referring, not to the activity of committing sins, but to continuing to live under the dominion of sin. The word live means to continue in or abide in. It connotes a settled course of life. To use Paul’s words from Romans 8:7, “The sinful mind [one under sin’s dominion] is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” But the believer who has died to sin’s reign and dominion delights in God’s law. The believer approves of it as holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12), even though he or she may struggle to obey it.

We must distinguish between the activity of sin, which is true in all believers, and the dominion of sin, which is true of all unbelievers. Sinclair Ferguson has written, “Sin is not primarily an activity of man’s will so much as a captivity which man suffers, as an alien power grips his soul. It is an axiom for [John] Owen [whose teaching Ferguson is summarizing] that while the presence of sin can never be abolished in this life, nor the influence of sin altered (its tendency is always the same), its dominion can, indeed, must be destroyed if a man is to be a Christian.

Therefore a believer cannot continue in sin. We no longer live in the realm of sin, under its reign and practical dominion. We have, to use Paul’s words, died to sin. We indeed do sin and even our best deeds are stained with sin, but our attitude toward it is essentially different from that of an unbeliever. We succumb to temptations, either from our own evil desires (James 1:13), or from the world or the Devil (Ephesians 2:1-3), but this is different from a settled disposition. Further, to paraphrase from Ferguson on John Owen, our sin is a burden that afflicts us rather than a pleasure that delights us.

A La Carte (8/30) by Tim Challies

The Porn Gateways – Here’s a helpful word for those who struggle with pornography: “While taking a deeper look into the heart of the sin, I noticed that people were battling their sins (of pornography and lust) at a shallow surface level, and deep at the root of the problem were ‘innocent’ gateways sins that were feeding into their daily struggles.”

The Rise of New Calvinism – I responded to Justin Taylor’s article on the rise of New Calvinism and now he has responded to mine. I think it has been a useful back-and-forth.

Better Members’ Meetings – 9Marks has a short article that includes nine ideas for having better members’ meetings.

Authentic or Artificial Community? – I appreciated this blogger’s reflections on the nature of community and how we [she writes to women but it is equally applicable to men] too often forsake authentic community in favor of something artificial.

The World’s Lowest Voice – Here’s an interesting article on the man with the world’s lowest voice and widest vocal range. Be sure to listen to his rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

Rescuing Daniel – George Lawson rescues Daniel from all the children’s books. Because the main point of Daniel 6 is not Daniel’s example, Daniel’s faith, or Daniel’s courage.

No creature that deserved redemption would need to be redeemed. —C.S. Lewis

It makes no sense…!

So often God is blamed for everything that happens …
… especially when things go wrong …
… when something bad happens…
!!!
Yet the Bible is quite plain …
… about who really is to blame …

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:
I am come that they might have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly.
— John 10:10

Jesus quite candidly said …
… the devil is the one who steals, kills and destroys!
Therefore …
Would God make you sick and take your life …
… whilst He is the One who gives life?
Would God be the one who steals your property …
… when He is the One who supplies all your needs?
Would God be the one who destroys what we have …
… when He is the One who gives us life in abundance?
???
No! … it makes no sense!

Phil. 4:19, 1 Pet.2:24, Gen 1:28, Deut 28:1-14

As hard as it may be at times to understand what’s happening …
… particularly when loved ones are involved …
… or when our country or livelihood are at stake …
!!!
God is still not the one who kills in order to give life!
God is still not the one who makes sick so He can heal!
God is still not the one who destroys so He can bless!
… Much rather …

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that he might destroy the works of the devil.
— I John 3:8

The truth is that …

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from
the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
— James 1:17

… And …

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him
that hath called us to glory and virtue:
— 2 Pet 1:3

Look past what is happening and what is coming against you …
… and draw from the source of life …
… from God, through Jesus, by the Holy Spirit!

Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Both prosperity and poverty are dangerous. Riches lead to self-confidence and security, which cause a man to forget the LORD. Destitution leads to desperation, which causes a man to consider stealing and reproaching the LORD’s name. A wise man will ask for a moderate portion of success to avoid both of these dangers. Lord, give such wisdom!

This verse explains Agur’s prayer for two things in life (Pr 30:7-9). He asked first for salvation from sin – vanity and lies; then he asked for convenient food – neither poverty nor riches. Here is a wise man’s careful reflection on what he needs in life. He begged God for them. He had learned the spiritual wisdom that moderate success is just right!

He feared only one thing – sin! He did not fear the troubles of riches, or the difficulty and shame of poverty. He feared them both for the temptations to sin they create. Here is practical holiness that should convict and provoke your spirit. The name and service of the LORD was his primary concern to be delivered from both extremes. His relationship with God was of much greater concern than any economic condition. Lord, let it be so!

Only fools think riches would help them serve God. All the evidence refutes it. Pharaoh was the richest man of his generation, but he literally said, “Who is the LORD?” When God blessed Israel, they rebelled and forgot Him. “But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation” (Deut 32:15).

Riches are a horrible temptation and often a curse to men who fear God and love holiness (Deut 6:10-12; 8:10-14; 31:20; Neh 9:25-26; Job 31:24-28). Jesus plainly warned about the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choking out the word (Matt 13:22).

The rich young ruler turned away from Jesus, when faced with choosing his money or the Lord (Matt 19:16-22). What a horrible exchange! Jesus said a camel could go through the eye of a needle before a rich man could enter the kingdom (Matt 19:23-24). Ask God to teach you fear of success and riches, to love and follow Jesus Christ without temptations.

You have an economic life. But when you must trade, treat the endeavor as if you had nothing; when you must use the financial world, soberly limit the use (I Cor 7:29-31). Your goal is to be without carefulness to better please the Lord (I Cor 7:32). You cannot serve two masters, so the goal of being a rich Christian is folly (Matt 6:24; I Tim 6:6-10).

True success is godliness with contentment (I Tim 6:6). Learn it! A contented man is always happier than a rich man! And he does not have the rich man’s worries! The Lord promised to be with you, so you should be content with anything (Heb 13:5). With Him as your Portion forever, there is nothing else in earth or heaven s (Ps 73:25-26). It was this contentment Paul learned by Christ’s strength for his circumstances (Phil 4:11-13).

Are you content with necessities? Jacob prayed for food and raiment (Gen 28:20-22). Jesus taught you to pray for daily bread (Matt 6:11). And Paul encouraged Timothy to be content with food and raiment (I Tim 6:8). It is the wise man that does not seek riches that may be blessed with them (I Kgs 3:10-13)! Ah, Lord God, Thou art very great!

Do not think for a moment you have given up much, as Peter once did! Jesus promised to return 10,000% in this world and eternal life in the world to come (Mark 10:28-31). Now that is an exchange with which to live and die! The rich young ruler was a loser!

Poverty is hardly a fear in this nation. But you also want the Lord to save you from that side of the economic coin, lest you despair, or are tempted to sin to provide your needs. Oaths were often used to extract confessions from suspects, including thieves, thus the warning here (Ex 22:10-12; Lev 5:1; I Kgs 8:31-32). See the comments on 29:24.

With sufficient means for subsistence, there are fewer temptations to steal, covet, deny the poor, neglect giving, or other financial sins that reproach the LORD. It is wisdom to pray for a minimum of mercy to keep the righteous from temptation (Ps 125:3).

Dear reader, consider the spiritual weight of Agur’s prayer. Many pray against poverty! But few pray against prosperity! Is it possible in an age of greed and covetousness for a man to pray against poverty and prosperity? Is your affection on things above (Col 3:2)? Or do you mind earthly things (Phil 3:18-19)? Can your soul make the prayer sincerely?

A wise man will sell all that He has to buy the spiritual treasures of Christ (Matt 13:44-46). He perceives the exchange is entirely in His favor. The world loses, by taking the cursed riches off his hands. He gains his soul in the trade (Matt 16:26). He wins, by obtaining the true riches of glory, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col 1:27)!