21

Jump Start # 140

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 140 

Ecclesiastes 9:4 “For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.”

  This is a great passage! It catches our attention and we can understand it. Solomon talks about death throughout Ecclesiastes. Death is part of life. Death happens. It doesn’t wait for us to be ready, it just comes. It comes to the busy and the bored, the important and the unimportant. Earlier in Ecclesiastes, Solomon would say that it is better to go to the house of mourning than the house of feasting. Death sobers us and wakes us up.

  In this passage, Solomon illustrates his principle by using two animals—a dog and a lion. A dog is no match for a lion. The lion is the king of the forest. It is the roaring lion that God used to compare Satan to. Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den. Samson ate honey out of the carcass of a dead lion. David killed a lion. The young prophet who disobeyed God was killed by a lion. The only lions we see are in the zoo. In the Bible lands, lions were a part of the wildlife.

  Lions are fierce. Their roar is intimidating. They are huge. They are extremely dangerous. A lion could easily kill a dog, any dog, any size. But a dead lion is not a threat. A dead lion cannot scare you, harm you or do anything to you. Even a little dog, can come up to a dead lion.

  The contrast Solomon is making in this passage is similar to the way some of the Proverbs are written. Given the choice between the dog or the lion, the lion would win in a battle. But add the qualifying words “a LIVE dog” and “a DEAD lion” and everything changes. The dog wins. He wins because he has life. There is hope with life.

  Even as a dog, when things aren’t going well, there is hope with life. Things can change, things can get better. When life has ended, so has the options. Solomon doesn’t explore “life after death.” Is attention is upon the now and the obvious. This verse demonstrates why suicide is never a good option. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Death ends all hope and options. Things can be very bad right now. The loss of jobs, a stinky marriage, strained relationships can make us feel trapped and hopeless. But it’s not. There is hope. The day always brings possibilities. Doors can open. People can change. Situations reverse. What is a no can become a yes. But it takes life to have hope. Without life the situation is hopeless. All options have ceased.

  You may feel overwhelmed.  Your situation may make you seem like a dog facing lions. Don’t give up nor give in. Take your problems to the Lord. Trust in the Lord. Follow His path.

  I can’t help but think of Dorothy and Toto going down the yellow brick road with their scarecrow companion singing, “lions and tigers and bears, O my!” A lion appeared. But he wasn’t much.

  Don’t lose hope!

Roger

20

Jump Start # 139

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 139 

Ecclesiastes 2:9-10 “That which has been is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? Already it has existed for ages which were before us.” 

  This week we turn our attention to the book of Ecclesiastes—that wonderful book where Solomon explores and examines what the meaning to life is. Solomon was gifted. He was raised by the king of Israel and grew up in a palace with splendor and wealth. His father, David, had conquered the enemies and it was a time of peace. Sometimes the lack of hard times can make us spoiled.

  Solomon was in the position to try the things he did to see what brings joy and happiness. His famous conclusion was “to fear God and keep His commandments” (12:13).

  Our verse today could be taken in sadness, “there is nothing new.” Some might challenge what Solomon is saying. The IPad is new. Solomon did not have HD TV, wireless internet, cell phones, microwaves and a zillion other things we have in our world. X-rays, CAT scans, the means to transplant hearts, lungs, replace knees were completely unknown in his time. We could just go on and on about all the things we have today that did not exist in Solomon’s time. So then, how could he say there is “nothing new” when we can list so many things?

  Solomon wasn’t talking about technology, if he even knew what that word meant. He has in mind man. Man is the same. He seeks happiness. He faces choices. He lives, tries to make a difference, and then dies. You can stand in an old cemetery and get this same lesson. The people who live a hundred years ago dressed differently, cooked differently and in many ways seem very different from us. But then you reflect and realize that they felt, longed, desired for about the same things we do. They wanted their families to grow and be decent people who love the Lord. They wanted their churches to grow and be strong. They wanted their nation to be peaceable. They fussed about their children, took care of each other and made a living and a life. Forgetting technology we are not much different than Solomon. Boys still want to see who is the fastest and strongest. Teenagers still want to date each other. One generation does not like the music of the next generation. Grandparents get old. On the inside we struggle with worry, fear, doubt and purpose. We want to do what is right. Sometimes we just are lazy and seems to take over.

  It’s hard sometimes not to see the Bible through American eyes. I am an American. This is my world. The Bible transcends time, culture and nationalities. We are all basically the same. We all need God. We all hope beyond today for the eternal home. We all need grace and forgiveness. We need help with our journey, our marriages, our families, our attitudes. Maybe that is why the hymn, “tell me the old, old story, write on my heart every word” resonates with so many. It’s not new answers we need, but the old one given by Christ. Churches need to get back to being churches, families to being families and all of us standing on that ancient gospel of Jesus Christ.

  There is nothing new…now that’s something to think about!

Roger

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Jump Start # 138

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 138

Job 42:3 “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” 

  This declaration from Job comes after God speaks to him. For thirty-four chapters, Job and his friends argue about the cause of suffering. These chapters are long, tedious and repetitive. Then God speaks. He doesn’t say anything to the friends, He speaks directly to Job. God doesn’t tell Job about the conversation He had with Satan. He doesn’t reveal that this is a test to see if man will still serve God. He doesn’t offer comfort. He doesn’t answer “why.” Instead, God asks questions. A bunch of questions. There are over sixty questions. God is challenging Job. If Job is going to question the activity and dealings of God, then he must be on the level to know and understand. So God asks. The questions are about the creative acts of God. He asks about the birth of mountain goats and of snow and such things. Job can’t answer these questions. No one can. I can’t. You can’t. There is a point to all of these questions. These are the “lay ups,” the easy ones. If man doesn’t understand about the depths of the sea, how can he understand the “big stuff” such as justice, fairness and the “how comes” of God.

  Job is stunned. Our verse shows that. He repeats his ignorance. He says, “without knowledge,” “I did not understand,” “I did not know.” Job is nearly speechless. He doesn’t have all the answers, but He knows God is great and God is not to be questioned. God is not accountable nor answerable to us. He is free to do what He wants, when He wants.

  I often wonder if we’ve forgotten the lesson here from Job. Something bad happens and folks scream, “Why God?” Do you expect Him to answer? Do you think you can handle His answer? More than that, why should He answer? He is God.

  The cotton candy theology of modern churches today makes God everyone’s buddy. He’s a good guy folks think. He’s on my side, I hear some declare. There is a song that talks about walking and talking and laughing with God. Best be careful with some of that. Let’s not forget who God is.

  I wonder if what is really behind much of this is just an uneasiness and a lack of understanding of who God is. At times He seems to bless us and love us. But then the storm clouds roll in and we ask, “Why God?” Has our view of God changed? Do we now doubt? This kind of thinking is found in the language of some prayers. Some nearly demand that God answer their prayer, right now. They are used to telling kids what to do. They tell co-workers what to do. And so, they tell God what to do. Sorry. He doesn’t jump when we tell Him to. He is God.

  Job got that. I don’t know if Job ever knew what all was happening. He may learn the truth in Heaven, but by then it really doesn’t matter. A lot of this stuff won’t matter then.

  Trust God. Know God. Love God. God is good. But understand, God is not answerable to you. It is the other way around.

Roger

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Jump Start # 137

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 137 

Job 16:1-2 “Then Job answered, ‘I have heard many such things; ‘sorry comforters are you all.”

  The majority of the book of Job is lengthy discussions and debates between Job and his three friends. They all offer reasons why a righteous man like Job is suffering. They have similar theories. They feel that God is punishing Job. The extent of his suffering reveals that he has done something really bad. If he would confess it God would end the suffering. Job disagrees. He doesn’t know anything that he has done that warrants the pain that he is in.

  Back and forth the discussions go. Each speech becomes harder and more impatient than the previous. Job becomes frustrated and declares in our verse today, “sorry comforters are you all.” That’s bad. But it brings us to some wonderful things to consider.

  Job’s friends were wrong. They were wrong about the cause of suffering. They were wrong about Job. And most of all, they were wrong about God. At the end of the book God tells Job to offer sacrifice for these friends because God is put out with them. They were wrong. Now, having said that, in their defense they spoke what they thought was the truth. I admire them for that. Sometimes we think comfort is telling a person he is ok or all will be fine. In doing this people are not honest with reality or how they really feel about things. Telling the truth can be painful. Sugar coating bad behavior or attitudes doesn’t help anyone.

  Job’s friends did not know when to stop. That is another lesson we need to learn. Some harp and harp, and nag and nag and preach and preach until we wear the person down emotionally. This is not help at all. Some do this to get a person to agree with them or to get them to do what they feel is best. Like an old record that is stuck (some of you will have no idea what that means) they continue with the same message over and over.

  There is a time to let it go. There is a time, as Solomon says, to speak and a time to be silent. Knowing this determines whether we are helpful or hurtful. How to talk to people about things we disagree without becoming obnoxious and disagreeable is a fine art. Some do it well. Others become “miserable comforters.” It helps to remember the golden rule. It helps to place yourself in their shoes. It helps to pray for guidance and wisdom. It really helps to be calm and think about what you want to say before you say it.

  This is hard especially when we are dealing with those in the family whose behavior we disagree with. We want them right. We want them to stop. We want to help. We want the best. But you can’t change a person. You can influence and teach, but they must make the changes for themselves.

  Miserable comforters. You don’t want to be seen this way. You don’t want people to sigh when they see you coming. Your choice of words, your attitudes, your tone of voice and whether your nag and nag determines all of this. Sometimes we get so upset that we forget these things. We think volume and intensity is all that matters. That usually fails.

  Being a comforter is awesome! Being helpful is great! Being honest and truthful is a must! But being a sorry comforter, well that’s a different story.

Roger

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Jump Start # 136

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 136

Job 2:9 “Then his wife said t him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!”

  Job’s wife cracked under pressure. She collapsed and caved in. Satan got to her and she threw in the towel. Job’s suffering intensives in the second chapter. God allows Satan to afflict Job. He is given one limitation, Satan cannot take Job’s life. Satan smote Job with boils from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head. Job was miserable. His friends did not even recognize him. Job’s wife had enough. Give up, is her advice. She told Job to curse God because she felt that God was doing this to Job. God was no longer worthy to be followed, she thought, if He would afflict such a righteous person like Job. Satan thought Job would do the same, but he didn’t. We sometimes think that Job’s wife was a witness to all this suffering, but she suffered, too. It was her children that all died. There is something devastating about parents having to bury their children. That is not the order of things. But it happens. I’ve seen it.

  Job’s response to his wife is harsh. He tells her that she speaks like a “foolish woman.” Job is not ready to turn his back on God. Even after all this, Job clings to God.

  Our passage is important. It shows that even within the same family, people react to pain and suffering differently. It also reveals that husbands and wives are not always at the same place spiritually, one may be stronger than the other. Sometimes the faith of one in the marriage begins to die. One doesn’t want to go to church services. Excuses are offered. Sometimes one will try to get the other to stay home. Attempts to go places and do things rather than going to services are made. But it’s not just skipping church services, it’s the dying of faith that takes place. Prayers are no longer offered. Questionable and even wrong behavior that would never have been done before begins to take place.

  We could spend much time talking about the “why’s”. Sometimes it’s the suffering and pain the family has been through. Sometimes it’s a bad experience the family has had with members who are not as they ought to be.

  Whatever the reason, we see the example of Job. He remained with God. He stayed the course. He didn’t quit even when his wife wanted him to. Satan did not conquer Job. He was hurt. He suffered. It was brutal but he remained with God. This is what must be done in the marriage. To compromise for the sake of the one whose faith is dying only kills your faith. To lessen your commitment gives Satan a foothold. It’s hard, very hard.

  Some of you may be there right now. You share a home, a life, a family, but not a faith with your mate. The interest is not there. They do not want to attend services. They do not want to talk about it. Good in all other areas but nothing spiritually. Our hearts break for you. It is your strength, not weakness that will make a difference. Job is your example. Job is your hero. Pray for strength. Talk with others. But don’t give in. That’s what Satan is counting on.

  For those who don’t walk this road, you and your mate are one in name and faith, thank the Lord. Be patient and understanding to those who are not united in faith. Life is hard. But God is good. And Heaven awaits us. The journey ends with God!

Roger