What About Me?

What about me?

1 Timothy 5: ¹¹ But do not include younger widows in the list; because when their desires make them want to marry, they turn away from Christ, ¹² and so become guilty of breaking their earlier promise to him. ¹³ They also learn to waste their time in going around from house to house; but even worse, they learn to be gossips and busybodies, talking of things they should not. ¹⁴ So I would prefer that the younger widows get married, have children, and take care of their homes, so as to give our enemies no chance of speaking evil of us. ¹⁵ For some widows have already turned away to follow Satan. ¹⁶ But if any Christian woman has widows in her family, she must take care of them and not put the burden on the church, so that it may take care of the widows who are all alone.

 

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Feeling sorry for myself had become a ritual. I was in another bad situation and simply wanted someone to get me out of the current trial. Tired of being needy and tired of being in trouble, I groused instead of being excited.

 

• I could only see my problem.
• I needed help and did not know who to ask.
• I felt that no one could understand the trial I was going through.

 

Paul continues giving advice to Timothy regarding widows. He referred to “the list” as a special list reserved for those who have cared for others as a lifelong pursuit. Paul speaks harshly about young widows who can leave their identity in CHRIST by substituting marriage as a pursuit of a new identity. He also points out a new goal, namely caring for others because the need is huge!

 

My Observations

• Sometimes I can pity myself and desire things in substitute of GOD?
• Focused attention on what GOD wants me to do, keeps me away from the traps of the enemy.
• Realizing that I am chosen by GOD as part of the solution, takes my mind off my problems and places focus on what GOD wants.

 

Let’s face it, we have all asked “What about me?” Right? I mean, when life gets hard we want someone who can provide for us during the trial or lift us out of the hole. When this doesn’t happen, we feel GOD isn’t listening and easily stop following HIM to try something else. BUT GOD understands.

 

HE wants us to focus our attention on HIM by caring about other people. This trial is not about you rather it is about keeping you from seeing GOD as the solution. Care is a great remedy to the trial. GOD may have me simply care for those around me enough to pray for him or her and possibly even meet a need every now and then. I am glad GOD helps me take my focus off of “my” trials and place it on HIS love.

 

Challenge

• Be honest, do the words of the writer sound harsh?
• Why?
• Have you ever pitied yourself and just wanted out of this trial, with or without GOD’s help?
• Will you continue to walk with the LORD, asking HIM to firm up your reliance on HIM and to open your eyes to someone who is in need today?

Brightened House

Brightened House

Acts 16: ²⁹ The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” ³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³ At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. ³⁴ The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

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“Do you know where the candles are?” a family member asked. I searched and found several candles and stands that were given to us as a gift. Placing the lit candles around the house brightened the darkness. I felt at ease as the storm raged and the power outage persisted.

• There have been times when I was in the dark.
• There have been times when I worried about the safety of my family because of the storms.
• There have been times when I benefited from the gift someone gave our household.

The jailer knew something was different about Paul and Silas. While they were singing, an earthquake shook the doors and chains off the prisoners. The jailer asked “What must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas gave the answer “Believe in the LORD JESUS and you will be saved – you and your household.”

• GOD wants me to know HE cares for me.
• GOD wants me to know HE cares about those who are in my household.
• GOD wants me to know HE cares about my neighbors, my coworkers, and the people I see when I walk around.

JESUS wants to include entire households in HIS plan of salvation. HE may enlighten one so everyone in the household can believe in HIS saving power. HE fills people with joy when the household is saved. I am grateful GOD wants me and my family to believe.

• Is your household in darkness?
• Do you think GOD has left you and your family?
• Will you seek JESUS as your Savior so you and your household will be saved today?

True Dedication

Matthew 10: ³⁴ “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
³⁶     a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

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Does GOD want me to bicker and complain about my family? It sure seems like it in this passage, but there may be another view.

• GOD wants me to have total dependence on HIM.
• GOD wants me to have total faith in HIM.
• GOD wants me to have total trust in HIM.

If my family, friends or neighbors do not have their own dependence, faith and trust in HIM, then weird things happen. Decisions made on faith will be questioned by those who have little. The cry to spread GOD’s message of salvation will be rejected instead of being embraced.

• GOD does not want me to spread hatred towards any person but HE wants me to let go of those who do not chose to follow HIM.
• GOD does not want me to pick fights with those who are close to me rather HE desires that I focus them on HIM and step back from their relationship with HIM.
• GOD wants me to place HIS desires for me over any desires I have for myself or others.

Choosing to follow GOD sounds harsh but really is not. JESUS took on the sins of the world and is blamed for what I do daily. The FATHER and HOLY SPIRIT agreed on JESUS volunteering to become a human to save all. It’s no wonder that anyone who does not love this action will be released from GOD’s single act of ultimate love.

GOD wants my total belief and HE wants my family to do the same. If they choose not to follow GOD, then HE wants me to love them but allow HIM to do as HE pleases to guide them back to HIM. HE then wants me to do HIS will daily.

• Are you ostracized by your family or community because you have chosen JESUS as your savior?
• Are you scared to follow GOD’s calling for you because of your family?
• Can you love your family but follow GOD’s calling for you?
• Will you take up your cross daily meaning give up your will daily for HIM?

GOD Wants One Hundred Percent.

Luke 18:  ²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God ³⁰ will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

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Okay, I will admit my greedy dream. There is a specific spot on the lakefront where chemicals have been discharged for years. The stench of air pollutants permeated the air. I wanted to be a billionaire to be able to buy the entire area, clean it up with no excuses and turn it into a high rent district. Why, to make perpetual money and have my slice of paradise here on earth.

• When GOD makes me wealthy HE expects me to give HIS money to people.
• When Satan makes me wealthy he expects me to want more and more stuff and less and less GOD.

• When GOD blesses me with a family HE expects me to follow HIS ways no matter what.
• When Satan sees I have a family he tempts me to believe I can fix all of their problems so I hold on tight setting false expectations no one can keep

• When GOD tells me to go and serve HIS people the first thing I need to do is pack and say goodbye.
• When Satan hears I may go to serve then family matters, relationships and other obstacles seem to surface.

Wait, Satanic that sounds a bit harsh! Anything that takes my eyes “off” of GOD is not “of” GOD. “You should not have any gods before ME,” GOD says. It’s easy to see money can be a god but I never knew my family could become one as well.

GOD owns the money HE has given me and the family HE entrusted to me. HE can do with them as HE pleases. HE wants me to give HIM one hundred percent of my life and stuff.  HE wants me to focus my busy schedule on serving HIM at work or to spend my day seeking people who truly need to hear HIS message. GOD wants me to love HIM more than anything or anyone.

• Do you want to serve GOD more but you just can’t seem to find the time?
• Are you waiting for things to be perfect before you begin serving HIM?
• Can you give to GOD even when your income is lower?
• Do you think GOD wants ten percent of your money or one hundred percent?

Family is “my” responsibility!

1 Timothy 5: ³ Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. ⁴ But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

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⁷ Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. ⁸ Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

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Crash was the sound that came from the kitchen. When we all went back there to see what happened we found my sister with one foot through the old floorboards of grandma’s house. Once grandma washed my gym shoes and dried them on the hot tin roof melting them in the process.

Later my parents saw the house was no longer adequate for grandma to live in. They bought a house in the state they live in and paid to take care of her on a fixed income. As their money began to dry up, it was now up to me to step in, so I bought grandma’s new house down the street from my parents.

• In many countries it is an abomination to “throw away” older people.
• In other countries people expect to take care of their parents so they plan for it.
• In this country it’s alright to focus on money and less on caring for the family.

My parents taught me an important lesson “family is my responsibility.” This is a tremendous responsibility indeed. Not everyone has the resources to fully pay for the care of their parents, their family and their children’s family, BUT GOD wants me somewhere in the mix trying to take care of them.

• If I don’t have the money to take care of my parents then time is better than money.
• If I don’t live in the same state then a phone call or letter or e-mail will suffice.
• If my relationship wasn’t great with my parents then mending it now is better than waiting until they die.

I have seen my family get into scuffles over taxes, money and visitation, but what is GOD telling me to do?

• GOD wants me to serve my wife and kids.
• GOD wants me to serve my parents in their twilight years.
• GOD wants me to serve my siblings whenever they are in need.
• GOD wants me to help other families in my community.

Preparation for caring for others is very important so I need to think about it today.

• Are you prepared to take care of your parents?
• Can you get past any problems you had with them and follow what GOD says to do?
• When is the last time you have spoken to your parents to ask them how they are doing?