Underemployed

Underemployed

Revelation 6: ⁵ Then the Lamb broke open the third seal; and I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there was a black horse. Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ I heard what sounded like a voice coming from among the four living creatures, which said, “A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages. But do not damage the olive trees and the vineyards!”

 

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Getting in my car, I noticed the seat would no longer stay upright. Having no money to spend on this, I figured out a solution. I grabbed a block of wood and propped up the seat. “There! Good as new!”

 

• My wages were not enough to cover the expense of the repair.
• My wages were only enough to pay for rent and gas to get me back to work.
• My wages were not enough for any luxury, so I ate wisely.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, heard the third living creature say “Come!” after the third seal of Satan’s sentence scroll was opened. A spirit of greed was unleashed. Then John heard a voice from among the four living creatures. People would work hard and barely have enough money to eat.

 

My Observations:

• GOD will dismantle Satan’s temporary kingdom by allowing greedy people to raise prices.
• Greed will cause painful desires on the poor to want something better.
• GOD is in control of what gets damaged and what does not.

 

Greed is a silent killer. I mean, the world praises the rich and powerful and says “too bad” to the poor and powerless. As greed escalates, new words emerge that make people desire a piece of heaven on earth and justify indulgences. BUT GOD has all the wealth.

 

JESUS looked at humanity and cared enough to die for it. HE saw a price that no one could pay but HIM. Life itself was at stake. HE gave HIS life so you and I would not have to. HE gave up everything for us. But now HE is the most wealthy being and wants to share HIS love with us.

 

Challenge

• Does the writer convey unfairness?
• Does it seem like the rich and powerful get richer and the poor stay poor?
• Will you place your hope in JESUS who is methodically taking down Satan’s kingdom?

Lacking Nothing

Lacking Nothing

James 1: ⁴ Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵ But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. 

 

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After the conference this past weekend, someone from another country asked for help. I knew my meager funds would never be enough so I started thinking of solutions. His current solution to local hunger is to teach farming. I sent videos on hydroponic farming. His response was , “that’s for the middle class.” I found videos on farming using discarded plastic bottles. His response “That’s for the middle class.”

 

• I lack wisdom.
• I do not know how to address this.
• The problem is far greater than any of my current solutions.

 

James addressed a scared scattered group of people who believed in JESUS and were persecuted for it. The first solution was to run and hide from those who oppressed people with religious persecution. He knew GOD was the only solution.

 

My Observations:

• Extreme problems require GOD to intervene.
• It is amazing that I can ask GOD to address an extreme problem and HE is willing to help.
• GOD will provide the wisdom it will take to address the need.

 

Feeling helpless is not an option for many people. I mean, those who are facing major issues that they think need a financial solution cannot afford to fall into despair. A solution is needed. But what?

 

GOD says “I AM the solution.” I believe that James said “endure” , not for the poor to just remain poor, but for those sent to help to “endure” until there is a solution. GOD will provide the right people at the right time. HIS love endures forever. I am glad I can ask GOD for wisdom and HE is gracious and generous to provide it!

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer talk about “falling?”
• Have you ever tried to do something and it seemed hopeless to the point where you felt like giving up?
• Will you ask for wisdom to address the overwhelming situation so GOD will get the glory and so eyes and hearts will be open to accept JESUS today?

Looked Over

 

Looked Over

Romans 13: ⁸ Be under obligation to no one—the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law. ⁹ The commandments, “Do not commit adultery; do not commit murder; do not steal; do not desire what belongs to someone else”—all these, and any others besides, are summed up in the one command, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” ¹⁰ If you love others, you will never do them wrong; to love, then, is to obey the whole Law.

 

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Getting off the train for the first time on the new job, I ran into a homeless person. I had an extra dollar, so I gave it to him. As I rounded the corner, there was another and another. “I’m sorry, I don’t have anymore” was the lie I told as I had much more in my pocket. The next day it was the same. So the following day I decided to go a different route to avoid seeing the homeless.

 

• Many times I have overlooked the homeless.
• Many times I avoided giving to the homeless because the problem seemed too large for me.
• Many times I said to myself, “I barely have enough for me, let alone this person.”

 

Paul writes about the greatest commandment JESUS spoke about, namely Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Love is required to obey the Law. But “Who is my neighbor?”

 

• GOD wants me to love the people in my household and the houses surrounding me.
• GOD wants me to love the people who are not in my neighborhood, but are out on the street.
• GOD wants me to love the overlooked such as the poor, widowed and physically sick.

 

When GOD said “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few” HE knew many people would be so focused on their own struggles that we could not open our eyes to another person’s struggles. GOD wants me to take a moment to “see” others and be involved by loving them. Even if it is a cup of water given in love, I have obeyed GOD.

 

• What will you do to show your love to a stranger or a homeless person today?
• Will you go out and give to a person in need and do it in secret?
• Can you add love to your heart so you will see more people who GOD wants you to serve today?

Insignificantly Known

Luke 16: ¹⁹ “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. ²⁰ But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, ²¹ desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. ²² So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. ²³ And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

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Holding a conversation with one of the higher ups felt great. I was getting my points in and was balanced in listening. Suddenly the CEO walked in the room and my conversation ended with “Excuse me” from my guest. I watched the distracted person veer away from me to get in position to do what I was doing.

• There have been many times when I felt insignificant.
• There have been many times when I was the invisible person in the room.
• There have been many times when I walked past and looked over.

JESUS tells a recount of a situation between two people. One was not given a name and the other, Lazarus, was a sickly beggar. JESUS used few words to describe how the person, who had plenty, never stopped to give a beggar even a crumb. When they both died, the rich person became the beggar and Lazarus was taken care of.

• GOD wants me to see those around me who are in need.
• GOD wants me to understand that when I am in need, HE is there to provide.
• GOD wants me to know that if I am suffering, I am not so insignificant to HIM that HE won’t stop and listen to me.

Each day I have a choice. I can be blind to my calling and remain nameless to GOD or I can accept HIS purpose and reach those who I am sent to or who HE sends to me. GOD wants me to be the “Crumb giver” and sometimes the “Crumb receiver”, depending on the way HIS blessings flow. All in all, GOD has a plan for me.

• Which person are you?
• Do you need help physically, financially, mentally or spiritually?
• Are you tired of begging?
• Will you allow GOD to complete HIS purpose in you, knowing your suffering will be rewarded some day?