Value Proposition

Value Proposition

1 Corinthians 9: ⁸ I don't have to limit myself to these everyday examples, because the Law says the same thing. ⁹ We read in the Law of Moses, “Do not muzzle an ox when you are using it to thresh grain.” Now, is God concerned about oxen? ¹⁰ Didn't he really mean us when he said that? Of course that was written for us. Anyone who plows and anyone who reaps should do their work in the hope of getting a share of the crop. ¹¹ We have sown spiritual seed among you. Is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? ¹² If others have the right to expect this from you, don't we have an even greater right?

 

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Armed with a set of clubs purchased from Goodwill, I set out to learn how to play golf. Though I dreaded this path, I finally conceded. “You are going to use those?” questioned a colleague. He then urged me to purchase a name brand set of clubs and see his pro for lessons. “This is worth it because I will be playing golf with the higher ups” I said to myself.

 

• Many times I weighed the “value” of doing things.
• Many times I played out the “value” of my time to see if what I was doing was “worth it.”
• Many times I placed “value” on things that would make me more money.

 

Paul mentions something many people do not like to hear. Basically he raises the question, “Should those who preach about the Gospel of JESUS be paid?” He just finished answering some difficult questions about true service to the LORD and is now he is trying to mature everyone on placing value in supporting people who give their lives to GOD.

 

• GOD wants me to place the highest value on HIS word.
• GOD wants me to learn and teach HIS word.
• GOD wants me to value those who learn and teach HIS word.

 

Sharing my “material benefits” with those who preach and teach GOD’s word, needs to be at the forefront of my thinking. I mean, the same value I put into learning an industry that will make me money, needs to be placed on those who give their lives to humbly live for GOD’s service.

 

GOD places value on HIS word being “sown”, why shouldn’t I? The world values GOD less and less. BUT GOD sees when I place value in HIM, HIS SON and the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT. I am grateful GOD values me, so I value HIM and those HE sent.

 

• Where do you place your value?
• How much time do you spend talking about what is valuable to you?
• Will you shift your value to hearing GOD and supporting those who teach and preach HIS word today?

Rules to Support the Rules

Matthew 15: Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, ² “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

³ Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? ⁴ For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’⁵ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ ⁶ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. ⁷ You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

⁸ “‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.

⁹ They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’”

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“Wear a suit to church” was the statement given to me. I actually did not understand why. I mean it was July and I had layers upon layers of clothes on. I asked, “Why do I need to put on this suit?” “Because you have to give GOD your best!” was the reply. I went to church, frowning and hot, but I looked good.

• Many times I followed human traditions.
• Many times I thought human traditions were GOD’s rules.
• Many times I made up rules to support GOD’s rules.

At first I thought making up rules to support GOD’s rules was a good idea. I rationalized “suit wearing” and started to make others do the same. Then one day I went out into the neighborhood and invited people to church. “I don’t have anything to wear” was the person’s issue. I have never worn a suit to church again.

• GOD sees my rules as a barrier to HIS Word.
• GOD does not want me to add a “jot” or a “tittle” to HIS word.
• GOD recognizes when I am following tradition versus following HIS guidance.

Meet on Saturday. Meet on Sunday. Sing three sings. Sing four songs. Dress up. Celebrate church anniversaries. Celebrate calendar holidays. Wear a cross. Don’t wear a cross.

After a while I forgot the primary message “Believe in the SON and you will be saved.” My traditions are quite dangerous. Divisive tones and exclusion are the undetermined side effects of my innocent rule making. GOD simply wants me to follow HIM.

• Are you making up rules to support GOD’s rules?
• Do you follow rules and traditions that are not in the Bible?
• Can you assess the effort you are making to support human rules and give your life to following GOD’s guidance?

It is not easy

Hosea 9: ⁸ The prophet, along with my God,
    is the watchman over Ephraim,
yet snares await him on all his paths,
    and hostility in the house of his God.

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“I’ll teach Sunday School” was my noble decision. Read a little and guide people through a few Bible verses was my concept, but I had no idea what I signed up for. The more I taught, the more I had to study. Then I hit a verse that made me want to jump out of this “teacher” job. GOD said “Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.” I noticed GOD was treating me differently than others.

• While others could get away with things GOD held me to a higher standard.
• When other people could do what they wanted to do, GOD held me to a more strict code.
• While others could say what they wanted to say GOD treated me with less tolerance.

Teaching and prophesying for GOD can be a tough road. Humans and even GOD looks at me differently. The desire to have people change their lives over to following GOD can be met with ridicule and at times, persecution. Temptation to simply say what people want to hear pops up regularly. BUT GOD wants me to say what HE says.

• GOD says to me “I did not spare my one and only SON to save all who believe.”
• GOD says to me “Do not speak MY name in vain or make light of MY power.”
• GOD says to me “Do not be proud that you are in MY family rather be thankful enough to teach others.”

Nervousness mixed with confidence is the best way to describe being a teacher of CHRIST. I may “know” something, yet my sinful doubt keeps me from executing GOD’s word flawlessly. Fortunately for me, even though I am held at a higher standard, GOD said “No man will pluck you out of MY hand.” This is comforting and the snares mixed with hostility become bearable.

• Are you in a ministry and still facing persecution?
• Do you find following GOD to be difficult at times?
• Can you rest assured that HE loves what you are doing and asks that you press on?
• Will you allow HIM to protect you in HIS way and keep going anyway?

It is Time to Teach

2 Chronicles 17: ⁹ They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

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“I could have said that better” is what I thought as the old man stammered through his words. I looked around and saw people asleep. When they asked for volunteers, I said “of course!” I prepared a very entertaining speech and of course added some scripture for flavor.

As I filled the hour with my rhetoric, I kept everyone awake but someone came up to me and asked me to explain the deeper meaning of the scripture. I stammered and couldn’t explain.

• GOD said “Go Baptize and Teach” to me.
• GOD said “Teachers and preachers will be held to a higher standard” to me.
• GOD said “Do not think more highly of yourself” to me.

I had surface knowledge of GOD’s word and thought it was boring, outdated and irrelevant so I figured I would spice it up with entertainment. GOD says, “Do not add a jot or a tittle to MY word” meaning I don’t need the flash and fanfare.

GOD wants us to understand that we no longer live by the Law, but HE hasn’t thoroughly thrown it away. HE actually wrote the Law on every human’s heart to show how serious HE is about what HE said. GOD then cleared the confusion by summarizing the entire law through this statement… “Love one another as I have loved you.”

GOD volunteered to die for me so HE became a human to do so. HE allowed HIMSELF to be accused, slandered and murdered by pastors, ministers, preachers, missionaries and teachers who misinterpreted HIS true purpose and twisted HIS word for their convenience.

To teach means to live GOD’s word. It means saying all the promises along with the consequences. It means saying things that apply directly to me before they apply to who I am saying it to. GOD holds me to a high standard so I must be careful with my words.

• Are you complaining about someone?
• Do you think they are crazy?
• Do you think GOD is calling you to become the teacher instead of the complainer?
• Can you begin looking at GOD’s truths more deeply so you can begin teaching?