Tripping up on money

Today: Ezekiel 5-8

There are a lot of TV shows that celebrate people who are rich, famous, or just want to be--everything from "Cribs" to "The Real Housewives of...(well, a bunch of different cities now!)" to entertainment news shows that talk about celebrities buying new homes, cars and the latest designer fashions.

Despite their shiny exteriors and wealth, it's interesting to see that many people who chase after fame and fortune are...well...pretty miserable. In today's passage, God is prophesying to Ezekiel about His people (before their eventual captivity). These verses about money and sin were interesting to me:

'They throw their money into the gutters.

Their hard-earned cash stinks like garbage.

They find that it won't buy a thing

they either want or need on Judgment Day.

They tripped on money

and fell into sin...

Interesting, right? In their love of money, God's people fell into sin. They chased after things instead of pursuing God and His purpose for their lives. And ultimately, He prophesied, they realized that the things that matter most in life aren't really things at all.

Is it wrong to have money? Of course not--we all need it not only to survive, but to help others by supporting churches and non-profit organizations. It's not wrong to have wealth, but it's wrong to allow wealth to have you--to run after wealth, trip up on it, and to fall into sin.

Tomorrow: Ezekiel 9-12

Builders and bullies

Today: Jeremiah 18-22

What are you building?

You may think this is a bizarre question if you're not handy with tools (personally, I haven't ever built anything...unless you count a gingerbread house). But I assure you--this question applies to us.

Every day we're building something--perhaps we're building the people around us, businesses, churches, savings, political causes, knowledge--you name it. Building any of these things can be positive, but as we've discussed in other posts, order matters to God.

In today's passage, He continued His discussion with Jeremiah and the people of Israel about their bad behavior. Let's review God's words here:

Doom to him who builds palaces but bullies people,

who makes a fine house but destroys lives,

Who cheats his workers and won't pay them for their work,

Who says, 'I'll build me an elaborate mansion with spacious rooms and fancy windows.

I'll bring in rare and expensive woods and the latest in interior decor.'

So, that makes you a king—living in a fancy palace?

Your father got along just fine, didn't he?

He did what was right and treated people fairly,

And things went well with him.

He stuck up for the down-and-out,

And things went well for Judah.

Isn't this what it means to know me?"

God's Decree!"

But you're blind and brainless.

All you think about is yourself,

Taking advantage of the weak,

bulldozing your way, bullying victims."

Yikes--these people seriously messed up. They thought they were building wealth and financial security, but they were doing it in a way that bulldozed over something much more important--other people.

It's important to point out that in this passage, God doesn't necessarily criticize wealth. When He talks about past leaders who lived correctly and treated people fairly, He said, "And things went well with him." I don't think God would have necessarily made that blanket statement about leaders who struggled financially, dealt with constant conflict, etc. Other parts of the Bible point to leaders God loved and blessed who were extremely wealthy (e.g. David, Solomon, Abraham).

However, when we are driven by greed and a self-promoting thirst for wealth or power, it's out of line with God's order. We become bullies--builders of own designs instead of building according to God's plans.

Consider what you're building, the order you're following and your motivation. If it's out of whack, the solution is simple: Go after God first with all you've got. The other stuff can follow that (see Matthew 6:33).

Tomorrow: Jeremiah 23-25

"No more gifts. Seriously."

Today: Exodus 36-38

"We're no longer accepting gifts today," he says with a sparkle in his eyes. "We have everything we need and more!"

Normally, he would tirelessly ring a bell in front of your local Target or Safeway. His red bucket would chime periodically with the sounds of change. But this year, he's stopped ringing the bell. The bucket is nowhere in sight. Why? The Salvation Army has received more money than it needs or even knows how to spend.

"There aren't any more families in need. There's no more human trafficking in the world. Drug and rehab centers are fully funded and functioning for participants. And through your contributions, we've even made it possible for every child in public schools to learn how to play a musical instrument. No more gifts. Seriously."

I REALLY wish this story were true. How incredible would that be?!?

Sadly, many non-profits continue to see need for their services increase, while contributions decrease. I realize that many of us have been hit by the effects of the economy. Or maybe we've got school loans, mortgages, bills, insurance, rent, cars, etc. to pay. We all have excuses. But if you're reading this post on a computer somewhere, my guess is that you are far wealthier than you think (first, you're reading and secondly, you're near a computer and electricity). You're probably very rich compared to 80% of people in the world who live on less than $10 a day.

What could happen if you and I chose to be more generous? How could our churches change? How about our communities? What would happen on this planet?

I realize my questions may seem a bit "pie in the sky." But an equivalent to the Salvation Army scenario I described above actually happened (at least once). In today's passage, we read about the generosity of God's people toward His house:

All the artisans who were at work making everything

involved in constructing the Sanctuary came,

one after another, to Moses, saying,

"The people are bringing more than enough

for doing this work that

God has commanded

us to do!"
So Moses sent out orders through the camp:

"Men! Women! No more offerings for the building of the Sanctuary!"
The people were ordered to stop bringing offerings!

There was plenty of material for all the work to be done.

Enough and more than enough.

Can you imagine? What would it be like if you heard a pastor say, "Today, we're not taking up any offerings. This church has everything it needs. Our city is filled with people who know God. Everyone in the world has heard about God and His love--and they've seen it in action through their healthy and vibrant communities."?

I would LOVE to see that scenario happen some time. Wow! What a statement of love that kind of giving would be. Many of us would be thrilled to see the sick healed, to see children in poverty grow into healthy, educated adults who know that God loves them. It would be a miracle. But frankly, miracles often require us to take practical steps--in these cases, we might have to first give generously. I believe it's possible (especially if God's involved!). It happened before, why not make it happen again?

Tomorrow: Exodus 39-40