April 15 | James 5:1-6

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DAILY READING

James 5:1-6

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REFLECTION

Uncomfortable Verses

by Pr. Dave Mann

Passages like James 5:1-6 always make me feel uncomfortable. After all, it’s not like I am really wealthy. I am solidly in the middle class–not poor but certainly not rich, at least by U.S. standards. Then, if I am honest, I have had the privilege of living in several other countries and it is clear that the U.S. middle class, when compared to the majority of the world’s population, is certainly well-to-do. I have no worries about finding food to eat, sleeping in a warm (or cooled) house, having more than enough clothes, a car or two, going on an occasional vacation, etc.

And to make matters worse, James 5:1-6 does not stand by itself. There are many more passages like it in the New Testament, challenging me with my relationship with money. Unfortunately, none of these passages specifies a percentage of our income that I should give away, after which I can feel self-satisfied: “Whew! I’ve reached the prescribed level.” You may be thinking, “What about the tithe?” That is just the starting point. John Piper describes it this way: “The New Testament gives a relentless push toward a wartime simplicity and economy for the sake of the kingdom — away from luxury and affluence and finery.” For more from John Piper on this topic, click here.

The rich young ruler was told to sell everything (Mark 10:21).

Zacchaeus gave away half of his goods to the poor (Luke 19:9).

Jesus said in Luke 14:33 that in order to be his disciples, we must renounce everything we have.

Here are several more passages that address our uncomfortable relationship with money.

• Matthew 6:19

• Matthew 6:33

• Luke 12:20

• Luke 12:33

• Luke 18:24

• Acts 2:45

• 2 Corinthians 6:10

• 2 Corinthians 8:2

• Hebrews 13:5

• James 2:5

• 1 John 3:17

• Ephesians 4:28

• 1 Timothy 6:17–19

Then, there is C.S. Lewis, who also agrees with the New Testament. In Mere Christianity he wrote: “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.”

It appears to me that the goal of the Holy Spirit on this topic is to keep us reading his Word, praying, and loosening our grip on money (so that it loosens its grip on us).

PRAYER

O Lord, I truly need help regarding Mammon. I find myself trying to justify my status quo. I desperately want to feel okay with the way I live my life now. But I also feel the nudge of the Spirit to be open to change. Lord, I want to be willing to do whatever you want me to do. Come, Holy Spirit, lead me deeper and deeper into your life-giving ways, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

April 14 | Luke 7:36-50

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DAILY READING

Luke 7:36-50

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REFLECTION

Costly Forgiveness

by Elaine Pierce

Whenever I'm invited to someone's home for dinner, especially for the first time, I bring a small gift. It might be a box of chocolates... a bottle of wine... or maybe some flowers. Never, ever, ever have I brought a bottle of expensive perfume. Never, ever, have I poured perfume on the guest of honor's feet and wept and asked for forgiveness. I bet you haven't either. If I had been at the dinner party Luke describes in today's passage, I think I would have been very uncomfortable with what 'the woman who had lived a sinful life' was doing. It seems 'over the top,' doesn't it? Very emotive and attention-getting.

But Jesus sees beyond this outward act and he knows that this woman is ready to receive grace and forgiveness. He tells Simon a simple parable about two men who owed money, one a small amount, one much larger. The moneylender forgave both of them, but of course the one who had the greater debt would be more appreciative of this unexpected gift (see verses 41-43). Then he turns to the woman who has lavishly cleaned his feet with expensive perfume and says something very simple and very profound:

Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little (v. 47).

Why am I so uncomfortable with her emotional display of love and adoration for Jesus? Who is the greater sinner, Simon or the woman or the pharisee? Yes, the woman was a 'known sinner.' Her misdeeds were public and frequent. She needed forgiveness. But, oh, how I hide my sin, and how I justify my misdeeds. I am much more interested in being excused than being forgiven. What joy we miss out on because we cling to our need to earn our salvation. I want Jesus to be impressed with my good works, and he wants me to love him first and the good works will flow out of my thankful heart.

What do you need to bring to Jesus today? You might not have expensive perfume to pour at his feet, but you can give him your time, your talents, and your treasure. After all, he died so that you could come to the Father washed with his blood, clean and radiant, ready for everlasting life.

PRAYER

Lord, so often I look at my life, and I want you to bless me before I am wiling to sit at your feet and worship you. Help me today and every day to love you with my whole heart, and to serve those you send my way. Amen.

April 13 | Acts 4:31-37

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DAILY READING

Acts 4:31-37

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REFLECTION

This Changes Everything

by Mary Alice McGinnis

Nearly two weeks ago, we celebrated Easter. Jesus had been crucified on Good Friday, and on Sunday morning, He was raised from the dead!

My question is, how does embracing this fact impact my life? Does it change anything about how I live and what is important to me?

On Easter Sunday, Pastor Steve shared with us a scripture from Hebrews 2:14-15.

“He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of Him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

These thoughts came to mind as I reflect upon today’s passage. If you go back to Acts 3, you will find that Peter and John had healed a lame man. This infuriated the Jewish leaders.

Acts 4:2, says, “They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.”

Peter and John were subsequently put into prison, interrogated, and threatened to STOP speaking about Jesus and His resurrection. Upon their release, they returned to their community of believers. They reported to them all that had taken place. So together, with one heart and mind, they turned their hearts like a singular voice to prayer, calling on the Sovereign power of the Almighty.

Here is part of their prayer, “They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” (Acts 4:28-29)

This is the prayer that precedes the beginning of today’s passage: “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

The whole place where they were was shaken! Just like when the earth shook on Easter morning, and it was reported that dead people were breaking free from their tombs and walking out ALIVE. 

Peter, John and all the rest of these followers had a new vision. Empowered by the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all . . .”

Over and over again, the Jesus resurrection power poured out through the Holy Spirit living believers caused them to live differently.

What once gripped them with fear, now emboldened them. No need to self-protect. They had the Sovereign Lord protecting them. No need to grasp for self-interest and things that would fade away. They had an Everlasting Invincible God who would provide. What once they held on to tightly, they willingly used to spread God’s Kingdom.

NOW, nothing else mattered as much as PROCLAIMING the RESURRECTION OF LORD JESUS CHRIST.

What about you and me? What difference does knowing we have the Spirit of the RISEN Jesus Christ living in us make? How will it embolden me to FREEDOM from the fear of death? How will I live differently?

PRAYER

God, this world is not my home. Help me to be present in my interactions with others, while still yearning for heaven. Show me how to balance the temporal and eternal. I trust that Your kingdom is coming soon. Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit. Unleash us from our fear!

Being confident in Your resurrection power, fill us so full of Your abundant grace that is overflows powerfully in tangible ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.