Another Take

Philippians 2:3-4 NLT

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Another Take

When people get seriously difficult news from the doctor often friends will encourage them to "get another opinion."  In life we all recognise the value of a "fresh set of eyes." So when someone comes along and offers a new perspective based on some lateral thinking we're inclined to take notice. That's what I think Paul is offering the people of Philippi.

In most cultures of the world things haven't changed much, in fact even in the animal kingdom the tenancy is to look out for number one. It's a "dog eat dog" kind of a world. In fact just yesterday a quite selfless colleague of mine repeated that very motto. "You've got to look out for yourself because no one else is going to do it."

Self promotion is the heart of competition, grades, ranking, management levels, pay scales and dibs on "riding shotgun".

Here in Britain the culture highly values the "no queue jumping" sentiment but it is not humility that protects your position in the queue, its self preservation. We don't want some one at the front to begin letting a long string of late-comers into the queue ahead of them because that will put them all ahead of us.

So Paul's perspective is fresh because it counts on God's justice. The person who subscribes to the point of view found in today's verse-of-the-day can let everyone take his place because they are confident of God's advocacy on thier behalf.

Do you trust God to have your back? Can you prefer others over yourself? Are you willing to humble yourself and prefer others because God will promote you if you need to be promoted.

God will feed you, clothe you, save you, give you a home and a place at his table. Jesus humbled himself and his Father exalted him to position number one. Satan will tempt you to grasp it. Look where that got him. Jesus didn't travel the easy path of queue jumping when Satan tempted him to, instead Jesus trusted his Father's plan.

The way up is down

Social welfare is the strongest defence.

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Jeremiah 22:3, 13, 16-17 NIV

This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his own people work for nothing, not paying them for their labor.

He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord.  “But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion.”

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Leeds City Hall

When they march it feels like the ground actually shakes.  Hanging sweet in the air is the smell of oiled leather and sweaty horses. The din of soldiers speaking a foreign language echos in the valleys outside the city.

Had Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians left one man at home? Surrounding the city in every direction as far as the eye can see are these invaders.

You think God would be concerned with foreign affairs. But no, Jeremiah, the prophet everyone hates and the only one to warn us of this siege says, God is concerned with the needy and poor. Jeremiah has the audacity to go on and on about petty domestic issues.

We're all going to die and it gets worse and worse! Jeremiah says God wants us to be socially aware and to alleviate the situation for the most vulnerable. Can he be serious?

Why is God harping on about people who've supposedly been cheated? A King and his court have to make a good impression if I'm going to negotiate with Nebuchadnezzar! Those unproductive wasters will be glad to give up their food if I save their worthless lives. If we're going to make it out of this, I'm going to have to commandeer a lot more as well. I'll need to make sure the strong, good looking and the healthy are making the best impression, so some of the less important will have to contribute to the war effort to bolster our campaign to impress those foreign dignitaries. Maybe I'll secure our release? I've got no time at all to be settling the ridiculous complaints of a few street urchins and unfortunate old women. Priorities, man!

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Possibly an attitude like the one I've fictionalised above is being held by you or your friends. Maybe you think times are hard, terrorism is on the rise, the economy is plummeting, and crazy foreign governments are plotting a nuclear holocaust. So of course now is not the time to extend a free lunch to the needy. You think of ways to stimulate the economy by helping the rich create jobs, and if we have a strong nuclear deterrent, then in better times we'll maybe be able to help the poor help themselves.

That is not God's way. Need protection? Go God's way. Need to help the economy? Go God's way.

Take care of the poor and God will take care of you because you are just as poor and needy. The rich and the mighty will not be able to rescue you!

Jeremiah 22:25 NIV
I will deliver you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.

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Humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 29:23 NLT

Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

James 4:1-10 NLT

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?  But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

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Somewhere in the early 1980's I spoke in an evening church service to Cowden Lake Bible Church and the text of my talk was James chapter 4 verses 7-10.
About 30 years later I'm still learning this lesson. The way up is down. The verse in Proverbs this morning reminded me of that first sermon I'd preached as a teen.

The problem is that we don't believe it is true. We don't trust God.

Let me first remind you that it is first and foremost that you are to humble yourself before God. It is in the sight of God that you are to bend the knee. It should be easy, but we are head strong fools.

James points the finger and says with authority your problems are rooted in your pride. It is your pride that fuels your greed.  It is your pride that encourages your envy. Your pride causes you to harm your fellow man. Our pride tricks us into esteeming the praise of men more highly than the opinion of God, making us his enemy.
It is pride that convinces us that we know better than God. We'd stop the suffering, we'd heal the sick and lame and help the poor. If we were God, the world would be a better place. We'd rule it like we do our own little world. We'd bring order to everything. We'd be just. We'd judge the wicked.

Haven't you thought you knew what to do. Have you sat in judgement over your friend, family, or fellow christian? Haven't you spoke with confidence that you knew better than all the corrupt politicians? Haven't you laughed at the foolishness of the rich and famous because of course you'd not be as stupid?

Can't you see your pride?

(Of course you just need to be more assertive. You only need to speak up. You just need to take charge. You need to give people a piece of your mind. All you need to do is show them all how it is done.)

Listen to your heart. Hear your pride.

God is good. William is not good.
God is faithful and William is unfaithful.
God is just and William is unjust.
God is kind and William is unkind.

We need to see ourselves as we are before God.

We need to confess or pride and sin and praise God for his forgiveness.

Jesus humbled himself! Though he had no sin. Jesus humbled himself though he had all power. Jesus humbled himself though his plan is the most prefect plan. Jesus humbled himself though he had wealth beyond comprehension.

You and I are not greater than Jesus. So how can we too not so much more humble ourselves?

Take a good look at Jesus. Take a look at yourself.

Now get on your knees in humility and confess, repent and praise God Almighty righteous and good.

So do you agree that the highest purpose is praise and the biggest problem is pride?

Your feedback would be appreciated.
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Thoughts on being poor.

How or why is blessing is often equated with wealth and ease.

People usually think it is a blessing to be rich, but the Bible warns us against wanting to be rich. Why are we to be cautious about wealth?

Job 1:1-5 NLT

There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area. Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.

What problems did riches not solve for Job?

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Why is poverty is seen far too often as a curse brought on oneself.

Job 1:20-22 NLT

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord !” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

It is a shame in this world to be poor. The poor are treated with contempt and often thought of as lazy or lacking good moral character. Many people think poverty is a curse brought upon people for their own ignorance or sin.  How is that view challenged and supported by Job’s story?

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What is the relationship between health and wealth?

Job 2:4-5 NLT

Satan replied to the Lord , “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

How does wealth effect health?  Why are the poor vulnerable?  What value is wealth to a very sick person? What does Satan think of the relationship of health and wealth?

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What does an admirable righteous life look like?

Job 29:12-17 NLT

For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help. I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy. Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban. I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help. I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims from their teeth.

Why did Job tell us about what he did for the poor?

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What does a just life consist of?

Job 31:6, 16-25 NLT

Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows my integrity. “Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows? Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans? No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows. Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear, did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm? “If I raised my hand against an orphan, knowing the judges would take my side, then let my shoulder be wrenched out of place! Let my arm be torn from its socket! That would be better than facing God’s judgment. For if the majesty of God opposes me, what hope is there? “Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold? Have I gloated about my wealth and all that I own?

According to Job what should a wealthy person do with their wealth?
And what should they not do with their wealth?

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What do people think of God's opinion of the poor?

Job 34:28 NLT

They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention. He hears the cries of the needy.

Job got a lot of bad advice from his friends and family. But among all this we learn a bit of what people think about God's view of the poor.  How does the view expressed here similar or different to views you encounter today?  What about among Muslims, Christians, conservatives, democrats, labour, Buddhists, Hindus?
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Psalms & Proverbs

Psalms 140:12 NLT

But I know the Lord will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor.

Proverbs 14:31 NLT

Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.

19:17 - - God identifys with the poor.
22:09 - - Blessing is associated with helping the poor.
28:03 - - What are the consequences of individual oppression?
31:8-9 -  -  We are told to defend the poor.



Psalms 82:3-4 NLT

“Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.

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Gospels

Matthew 11:5
Luke 4:18, 11:41

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Jesus

2 Corinthians 8:9

Became poor so we could be rich.

How can we change our thinking about wealth and poverty?

In what ways can we be like Jesus concerning or attitudes of wealth and poverty?

What does it mean to be just or righteous towards the poor?

In what ways specifically van we change?
How will this change of view effect our spending, our earning, our giving, or generosity?
How proactive for the poor should we become?
Can you think of other places in the Bible that addresses the disparity between rich and poor in the Bible?  (James)

Further related thoughts :

http://williambode.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/1-timothy-66-10-nlt-yet-true-godliness.html?m=1

http://williambode.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/there-should-be-some-equality.html?m=1

http://williambode.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/why-do-you-want-to-make-it-so-hard-on.html?m=1

http://williambode.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/what-is-your-fate.html?m=1

Psalms 112:9 NLT They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor. Psalms 146:6-9 NLT He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.

You don't really understand God's purposes!

Proverbs 16:4 NLT

The Lord has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.

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You don't really understand God's purposes! I'm pretty sure most people have a real reluctance to accept the truth in the Proverbs 16:4. But like it or not there it is. So what did it mean? How should we think differently about God? What does this mean in reference to the world's terrible atrocities? Do this mean God made Hitler for his own purposes?
If God has even made evil people for his purposes and that purpose is to bring disaster upon them, then can you accept that?

God isn't simply allowing the circumstances of this world, he ordained them. Surely we need to think about this.

Everything has been made by God. You have been made by God. Your enemy had been made by God. God made all this for his purposes.