Value Proposition

Value Proposition

Genesis 29: ¹⁵ Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what should your wages be?” ¹⁶ Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. ¹⁷ Leah’s eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance.

 

¹⁸ Now Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter.”

 

¹⁹ And Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” ²⁰ So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her.

 

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Human ownership had arisen as a custom. Handmaids were property of the wives and herdsmen were property of the flock owners. Laban asked Jacob a precarious question. “What should your wages be?” Jacob had to show that he valued Rachel.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob knew there was a lot at stake in him getting married.
• Jacob desired to marry Rachel.
• Jacob met Rachel first and had sheep herding in common with her, but he also knew about Leah.

 

Since Jacob knew about Leah, he may have also known that a cultural tradition was in place that stated the eldest daughter must be married first, then the next and the next. Jacob tried to circumvent tradition by proposing a large number of years that he would work for Laban to get permission to marry Rachel.

 

Seven years was nothing to Jacob because he was able to interact with Rachel., He had conversations with her and worked side by side with her for seven years tending Laban’s sheep. This seemed very easy to Jacob. But he did not know what was coming.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD mention Leah’s “delicate” or “Weak” eyes to Moses?
• Have you ever valued something so much that you were willing to work for it?
• Have you ever bargained with GOD, trying to get your way, by telling HIM how many years you’ve done something?

Break in Tradition

Break in Tradition

Genesis 11: ²⁴ Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begot Terah. ²⁵ After he begot Terah, Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years, and begot sons and daughters.

 

²⁶ Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

 

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Up to this point, the descendants of Shem had unique names. But Terah did something different and named one of his sons after his father Nahor. Terah may have been close to his father Nahor and possibly listened to the stories of Shem together with him.

 

Terah waited until he was older before having children. This was different from his ancestors who traditionally had kids in their thirties. Terah only had three kids, which was also another break in tradition.

 

My Observations:

• Lifespans were getting shorter which may have been a cause for concern for Terah.
• Terah was the father of Abram and may have taught him about the LORD.
• Terah may have learned about the LORD from his father Nahor and from Shem.

 

It seemed like Terah was different than his ancestors. Family seemed to mean a lot to him, but tradition may not have been his thing. Terah seemed to be growing restless living in the same traditional place as we will see in upcoming scripture. He wanted to see the world.

 

But the world was possibly getting meaner and sicker. Violence, that GOD mentioned to Noah, was in the hearts of humans. Ailments may have been introduced possibly due to a lack of contact with GOD. Greed was possibly growing and the desire for pieces of the Garden of Eden were in high demand. Gold was a precious rock people sought after. GOD saw and protected the descendants of Shem.

 

Challenge

• Why does it seem that Terah breaks tradition as GOD explains Shem’s descendants to Moses?
• Has GOD ever made you restless, wanting to do something different, specifically for HIM?
• Are you able to break traditions, yet keep your walk with the LORD solid?

Traditions and Lifespans

Traditions and Lifespans

Genesis 11: ¹² Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Salah. ¹³ After he begot Salah, Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters.

 

¹⁴ Salah lived thirty years, and begot Eber. ¹⁵ After he begot Eber, Salah lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters.

 

¹⁶ Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Peleg. ¹⁷ After he begot Peleg, Eber lived four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters.

 

¹⁸ Peleg lived thirty years, and begot Reu. ¹⁹ After he begot Reu, Peleg lived two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters.

 

²⁰ Reu lived thirty-two years, and begot Serug. ²¹ After he begot Serug, Reu lived two hundred and seven years, and begot sons and daughters.

 

²² Serug lived thirty years, and begot Nahor. ²³ After he begot Nahor, Serug lived two hundred years, and begot sons and daughters.

 

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As GOD transitions from Noah’s plan and purpose, HE lists specific people who would become the lineage of JESUS. I believe this set of people held onto traditions in their way of following GOD. Each person had a child in his thirties which may not have been a coincidence. Lifespans were getting shorter.

 

My Observations:

• GOD seemed to be shortening human lifespans with this list.
• This list only contains people who would eventually birth JESUS as the human Savior.
• The list is about JESUS more than a celebration of human tradition.

 

Each of these generations had parents who were having children while they were having children. Shem passed on the conversations of Noah and GOD to Arphaxad, his son and Salah, his grandson, Eber, his great grandson, Peleg, his great, great grandson, Reu, his great, great, great grandson and Serug, his great, great, great, great grandson.

 

This community was probably rich in tradition, listening to stories about people times and circumstances related to the Garden of Eden and how GOD used to walk and talk with humans. I believe they praised GOD for salvation! Shem may have described what the world looked like before the flood in extreme detail that may have made these people to desire to follow GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why, do you think, Shem’s family chose to have children in their thirties?
• Did you grow up with any traditions?
• Do you have any traditions that focus on celebrating GOD with all your heart?

Nothing Else Needed

Matthew 17: ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

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“Salvation is free, all you need to do is believe” I was told, so I did. I believed that I was saved from an eternal state of hell. “What a relief!” I thought to myself. But as time went on, problems arose. Maybe my salvation came a little too easy. “I better try to be saved a little harder by not sinning as much” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I try to supplement what JESUS has already done.
• Sometimes I put up rules to make me feel saved by accomplishments.
• Sometimes I tell GOD “Look at what I have done” as if to say “I deserve salvation.”

GOD made salvation so easy that all I need to do is believe in HIS position, power and my problem of sin. It is that simple. But over time I thought salvation meant doing a whole bunch of stuff that seemed righteous in order to “remain” saved. I became exhausted!

• GOD’s salvation of me is permanent.
• GOD’s declaration that I am saved is final.
• GOD’s decree of my salvation is everlastingly written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

“No one can pluck you from MY hand” is what GOD says to me, not even myself. GOD’s declarations are eternal. I do not have to wait on anything else to happen. JESUS has already been raised from the dead. My belief in HIM through the measure of faith HE has provided me is all I need.

• Do you feel that following GOD is difficult?
• Do you try really hard to please GOD but feel like a failure?
• Can you stop thinking so lowly of GOD and allow HIM to love you and protect you the way HE wants to?

Strange Teaching

Matthew 16: ⁵ When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. ⁶ “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

⁷ They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

⁸ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? ⁹ Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? ¹¹ How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” ¹² Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

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“Maybe people should use a pink envelope” I thought to myself as I dreamt of ways to distinguish the collection for the parking lot. It would require teaching as the collection was already complicated. But this was necessary!

• There were times I thought of rules for participating in church.
• There were times I dreamt of ways to “easily” follow the rules.
• There were times I believed that more rules meant more order.

When I look back on my church tenure I notice a soulless march towards rules and regulations. I mean, I “had” to be in church and I “had” to give and I “had” to sing and I “had” to pray.  There could be no deviations from the schedule, structure, dress or tone in order to fit in. BUT GOD wants me to act different.

• GOD wants me to follow HIS teachings, not the soulless teachings of man.
• GOD wants me to test every word that is being said to hear if GOD is in the words rather than man.
• GOD wants me to teach from HIS word, not from sinful, efficient ideas.

Having needs as a church is not the sin, but sometimes I can focus a little too much on the church building or group and not enough on GOD and HIS flock. I find myself name dropping the church name rather than JESUS’ name. GOD wants me to be part of the church of JESUS which could include every local gathering if they believe.

• Are you proud of your church?
• Do you name drop your church name more than JESUS’ name?
• Can you stop coming up with more church rules and teach GOD’s words of love?

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?

Are all traditions good for me?

Colossians 2:⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

 ⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

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Holiday season is quickly approaching and the traditions around my house begin to unfold. Turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce and many other meats and sides adorn the table during this festive time. I have loved this time of year since I was a child. But my perspective has changed on the holidays over the years.

• As a child I loved Thanksgiving for what I could eat.
• As a child I liked Christmas for what I could get.
• As a child I disliked New Year’s celebrations because it meant school was back in session.
• As a child I liked Easter because of what I could eat and I would get a new suit.

Traditions seem okay, but without CHRIST they seem empty. Spring break to college students has turned into a lustful pilgrimage, weddings have turned into showcases for “beating the Joneses”, and other celebrations have turned into “gimme” exercises.

So should I be boring and mope around with a glum face while the world seems to be enjoying itself? NO! GOD wants me to live an excited life and there is a way to truly celebrate.

• Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for what CHRIST has done for me.
• Christmas is the celebration of the birth of JESUS and the beginning of salvation for humans.
• New Years is a date in which I can leave the past in the past and look forward to GOD’s blessings.
• Easter is the most sacred time in which I celebrate JESUS giving up HIS life for mine.

GOD wants me to remain “rooted” in HIM, “built up” in HIM and “strengthened” in HIM so my thankfulness will be overflowing. This enables me not to pout when I don’t get the gift I was looking for, yet still give to those who haven’t fully caught on to celebrating CHRIST.

My new tradition is to enjoy the season and help others do the same while remaining focused on my LORD and SAVIOR.

• What traditions do you follow?
• Have you ever asked “what does this have to do with GOD?”
• Does every tradition have to be focused on GOD?
• Are there any harmful traditions you follow that are taking you away from following GOD?