"There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 8:14)
The NIV says, "....the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve." There is not a person reading this who hasn't observed what Solomon observed. Yet there are still, to this day, the purveyors of, just-do-this-and-everything-will-be-fine, theology. Anyone with eyes to see knows that as far as we humans can ascertain, "the work of the righteous", does not always go to, "the righteous."
So now what? Maybe a little re-reading of the Bible comes into play here, and, more particularly, of the Gospels. Jesus tells us not that we will have "favor" with all, but that we will be, "hated by all." Christendom is enamored with mega churches, and the assumption by most is, "Well, that's God's favor. How can you be that successful if God is not with you?" Look around.
David Brainerd, a great American Missionary, died on his knees in a tent at the age of 29. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was forbidden by the German Government to speak in public, imprisoned for two years, then hanged at age 39. I knew a great pastor/evangelist in Czechoslovakia who was banned from preaching and evangelizing by the communist government. The last time I was with him after the revolution we were meeting in his house with about 10 people. How do you compare him with the leaders of the 20-30,000 member mega churches? Does one really want to entertain the idea that the big "ministry" guys have more "favor," more "approval of the Lord;" are they more, "righteous"?
Do not evaluate your life or any other, for that matter, by long life, wealth, or how large the "ministry," or "loved by many." You just may be falling into great deception. "Looking unto Jesus," studying His Words, has never and will never go "out of style." Perhaps that someone or group whom you have relegated to the "failure" status just may be a source of immeasurable blessing. Our Lord Jesus commands us, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgement." After preaching to thousands, there were only four at His "Funeral."
Father, in Jesus' Name, May I always, "....judge with righteous judgement." Amen.
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It's June, but October is coming.
The NIV says, "....the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve." There is not a person reading this who hasn't observed what Solomon observed. Yet there are still, to this day, the purveyors of, just-do-this-and-everything-will-be-fine, theology. Anyone with eyes to see knows that as far as we humans can ascertain, "the work of the righteous", does not always go to, "the righteous."
So now what? Maybe a little re-reading of the Bible comes into play here, and, more particularly, of the Gospels. Jesus tells us not that we will have "favor" with all, but that we will be, "hated by all." Christendom is enamored with mega churches, and the assumption by most is, "Well, that's God's favor. How can you be that successful if God is not with you?" Look around.
David Brainerd, a great American Missionary, died on his knees in a tent at the age of 29. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was forbidden by the German Government to speak in public, imprisoned for two years, then hanged at age 39. I knew a great pastor/evangelist in Czechoslovakia who was banned from preaching and evangelizing by the communist government. The last time I was with him after the revolution we were meeting in his house with about 10 people. How do you compare him with the leaders of the 20-30,000 member mega churches? Does one really want to entertain the idea that the big "ministry" guys have more "favor," more "approval of the Lord;" are they more, "righteous"?
Do not evaluate your life or any other, for that matter, by long life, wealth, or how large the "ministry," or "loved by many." You just may be falling into great deception. "Looking unto Jesus," studying His Words, has never and will never go "out of style." Perhaps that someone or group whom you have relegated to the "failure" status just may be a source of immeasurable blessing. Our Lord Jesus commands us, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgement." After preaching to thousands, there were only four at His "Funeral."
Father, in Jesus' Name, May I always, "....judge with righteous judgement." Amen.
*********************
It's June, but October is coming.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
