The Bickering Church

 

Jesus’ disciples were a varied group about which we know not much. Among them was a tax collector, a zealot, fishermen, and a thief. They all had different backgrounds, upbringing, temperaments, and status in the community.

The majority of the disciples were quiet and unassuming but Peter was the opposite, belligerent and demanding. John was loved and demonstrated his love. Matthew was wealthy. Thomas was a skeptic looking for proof. Simon was the fundamentalist zealot. And Judas, not Iscariot, unknown except for the one question he asked. I can imagine him asking it while sitting among his companions and listening to their arguments and questions.

‘Why us Lord?’ John 14:22(KJV) Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

Traitors in the Church

 The characters in this drama:

Judas Iscariot, self-important goes with the flow for his own profit

Peter whose loud mouth hid a weak heart and uncertainty

Caiaphas the legalistic senior pastor who refuses to have his traditions challenged

Pontius Pilate the politician who avoids difficult decisions trying to please everyone

The crowd like all crowds follows and does as others do because they can't all be wrong, can they?

Me an example of all of the above.

Let the Corn Grow - Compound Interest

 

Mar.4:28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

One of the best ways to accumulate wealth is through the effect of compound interest i.e. interest paid on interest or other people’s(bank) money making you money.

Mat.25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming, I should have received mine own with usury.

If you imagine the soil is your bank or investment portfolio and you plant one kernel of corn in it, you will see results, first a leaf, then the formation of the ear and finally the ear full of kernels.

What prosperity meant for JohnWesley.

 

In my office I have piles of donated clothes to be distributed to those in need. Most of these clothes are brand new designer labels with price tags still attached. So much wasted on stuff never used. Looking at those heaps of clothes reminded me of a sermon by John Wesley I read some time ago. In it, he called on his listeners to use their money wisely and with care. It became known as his trilateral sermon because it stood on the three points of his summation, “Gain all, save all, spend all”.

And Wesley was a man who practised what he preached. He believed that when it came to making money, there was no need for the Christian to take a back seat to the world. His philosophy was that Christians should be diligent in earning as much as possible and there was no reason for them to be ashamed of it. Wesley was a hard worker who spent little time at home, always on the move, spreading the Word, sleeping on hard floors, and even reading and studying on horseback while travelling between towns and villages.

The Secret of Caleb's Success

 

The story of Caleb is well known. One of the original twelve that were sent to spy out the land of Canaan and, with Joshua, made up less than 17% of those who voted to trust the Lord. Unfortunately, although the majority saw, tasted and touched the good of the land, they failed to believe in God for the possible. He must have been deeply disappointed. But he decided to wait, believing his time would come.