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Hannah lived with her husband, Elkanah, and his second wife Peninnah and her children (1 Samuel 1:1-28). The first description of Hannah her lack of children. In ancient Israel, a barren woman was seen as a sign of a woman’s and family’s greatest misfortune.1 Though Hannah bore him no children, he still loved her (1 Samuel 1:5).
When her family went up to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, Peninnah and her children would receive their portion, but Hannah received a worthy portion from Elkanah because of his love for her. Even as she endured the shutting of her womb by the Lord, her adversary provoked her sore, causing her to fret (1 Samuel 1:6). This provocation occurred year after year as she went up to the house of the Lord. She would cry and not eat.
When Elkanah saw her, he asked why she was crying, wouldn’t eat, and heart was grieved (1 Samuel 1:8). He asked if was better to her than ten sons she could bear him. Though she would eat and drink, she went into the temple of the Lord in bitterness of soul, prayed unto Him, and wept sore (1 Samuel 1:10).
Many people seek positions of status and wealth. A person’s status and wealth provide them access to certain people and places not typically offered to others of a lesser status or wealth. In Psalm 15:1-5, David asks the Lord who shall abide in His tabernacle and who shall dwell in His holy hill. Here’s the response:
- walks uprightly
- works righteousness
- speaks the truth in his heart
- backbiteth not with his tongue
- does not do evil to his neighbor
- does not take up a reproach against his neighbor
- in whose eyes a vile person is contemned
- honors them that fear the Lord
- swears to his own hurt, and does not change (keeps his promises even when it hurts)
- does not put not out his money to usury (with interest)
- does not take a reward against the innocent
The Lord states that he that does these things will never be moved. Status and wealth can change overnight, but someone that lives unto the Lord in the manner spoken of in Psalm 15 shall never be moved. Choose your status and position wisely…
Photo courtesy of Flickr.com/thomashawk
Everything that is free is not free.
Across the body of Christ, there are many ministry leaders and churches giving away various resources for ‘free.’ A few definitions of free (according to Dictionary.com) are:
- provided without, or not subject to, a charge or payment: free parking; a free sample.
- not subject to special regulations, restrictions, duties, etc.
- not subject to rules, set forms, etc.
- without cost, payment, or charge.
Leaders and churches are giving away these resources (i.e. books, slides, pictures), but not without YOU giving some form of your personal information. In exchange for the free resource, they ask that you subscribe to their newsletter/website/church by providing your name, e-mail address, etc. These resources are used to lure you to support an organization or person that you would not have previously. Then, you are subjected to continuous e-mails about their ‘for-profit’ items seeking to make merchandice of you:
I received a question from a friend on Facebook:
Besides the Word, what makes preaching effective? (paraphrase)
Here was my ‘seven’ cents:
- The Spirit’s power (1 Corinthians 2:4, 4:20).
- Not trying to please people (Galatians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:3-5; James 4:4)
- Following the Holy Spirit’s direction for the message (especially when it’s not what you studied).
- Knowing that preaching is not about you (and your style of preaching/dress), but the One who called you (1 Corinthians 1:17).
- Being humble.
- Not looking at the number of people coming to the altar as a ‘sign’ of your ‘success.’
- Knowing your ‘success’ comes from being obedient and faithful to the Lord, not in what others say about your preaching (Matthew 25:14-30).
Photo courtesy of CreationSwap/axcvilla
Ephesians 5:15-16 – See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
1. Make the most of every opportunity. There are 1,440 minutes in each day. Everyone receives the same amount. The difference is how each person uses those minutes.
- You can use a minute (or more) to pray.
- Help someone in need.
- Give of your time and talent.
- Spend quality time with your family.
- Mend a bad (or strained) relationship.
Some opportunities come and never return. Don’t waste the moments you have, make every minute count.
John 3:20-21 – For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Many people live with hidden sins. There’s a great sense of fear, terror, and shame drives us to remain silent because we don’t want that part of our lives to be exposed. When we live in this manner however, we allow sin to live and breed in the darkness of our mind, will, and emotions. We allow sin to have its greatest victory over us, where we become its slave (John 8:34; Romans 6:16).
Sometimes we’re so ashamed that we refuse to speak about our sin to the Lord, who knows and sees all (Psalm 44:21, 139:7-12).
Matthew 5:13-16 – Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
SALT
Many have referred to salt as a cleansing agent or a preservative. When looking at the Greek translation for ‘lose his savor’ in Matthew 5:13, it is to make flat and tasteless, to be foolish, to act foolishly or act as a simpleton.1 The opposite of a fool is a sage or wise man. From this translation, being the salt of the earth is being the wisdom of the earth, godly wisdom and character.
When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John, they immediately followed Him (Matthew 4:18-22). There was no concern about what they were doing prior to Jesus’ arrival. They were called by Jesus…and followed.
A bit later in Matthew 8:18-22, a scribe came to Jesus saying He would follow Jesus where ever He sent, but Jesus said, “[t]he foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head (Matthew 8:20).” Jesus’ statement may have been a direct ‘challenge’ for the scribe to accept considering his lifestyle as a scribe. The scribe was not disqualified from following Jesus, but it was something he needed to consider.
1. The foundation of any ministry grows from your love of God and compassion for His people (cf. Matthew 22:36-40; John 14:12).
2. Ministry is associated with serving others – giving and not receiving (cf. Acts 20:32-35).
3. Ministry is given freely from one’s talents, gifts, and calling(s).
1. There are times when we will not accept God’s will because it is not inline with what we want to do or believe is right at the time. In reading the story of Jonah, he was called of God to go to Ninevah to cry against it. Jonah therefore arose and fled from the presence of God in the opposite direction of Ninevah (Jonah 1:1-3). After he spoke against the city, it is discovered that He didn’t want to see the people of Ninevah repent of their evil (Jonah 4:1-3). He knew God would forgive them if they repented of their evil.
There are many things God will call us to do. Many times they will come without notice and may even challenge the way we believe or feel toward the intended audience…and we may not want to do what He asked us.
The hardest part for many people is to accept His will for them.
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