WHAT IS THE GOAL OF YOUR LIFE?

I find Jacob’s prophetic word about Issachar particularly apropos for many Americans.

“Issachar is a strong donkey,

    crouching between the sheepfolds.

He saw that a resting place was good,

    and that the land was pleasant,

so he bowed his shoulder to bear,

    and became a servant at forced labor.

Genesis 49:14-15

Issachar was strong, but he spent his energy in getting out of labor and responsibility. He recognized a comfortable resting place and he saw good things that he wanted. That is what he sought with his life. As a young man he may have asked, “What is the Lord’s will for my life?” Many young people ask such questions. But he decided the easiest route and the most comfortable way of life was what he really wanted. But it did not turn out to be so good in the end. He found himself a slave to comfort, leisure and luxury. And to maintain that lifestyle, he wound up working 80 hours a week. 

I need to be honest with you who have been looking at the will of God. It will not always be easy or fun. You will have to sacrifice for it. So, what benefit is it? Let me point out three things that you get from pursuing the will of God. They are Character, Purpose, and Satisfaction.

 

CHARACTER

One of the greatest benefits of seeking and following the will of God is what you become rather than what you attain. Would you rather drive a material Cadillac or become a moral and spiritual Cadillac?

PURPOSE

Meaning in life comes from having a high purpose. For Christians it is not finding your purpose in life, but God’s purpose in eternity. We join God in what He is doing on the earth. Anything less than that will in the end prove to be meaningless.

SATISFACTION

Satisfaction does not come from getting all the chocolate you want. In the end what we see as the sweet life will always disappoint. Eternal satisfaction is satisfying God. Nothing will be so fulfilling as hearing God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” 

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It’s Raining

 

It's raining here, enchanting all the trees.

Humbling summer's harshness to its knees.

Calming filtering softening every light,

Blending vivid contrasts to autumn's delight.

It’s raining now dripping from the colored leaves,

Cooling and refreshing with a gentle breeze.

Not raining cats and dogs with their noisy quarrels,

But hummingbird wings in smoky swirls;

It's misting still, undisturbed by howling gales.

In calming stillness the forest now inhales

Its final breath in calm anticipation

Of winter's freezing sleep and hibernation.

Foliage on the ground forms a musty coffin.

Dying leaves into earthy compost soften,

Entombed in peace in confident reflection

Of springtime and its resurrection.

This poem was published in the book TAKE ME TO THE GARDEN, by Jonna Padgett and David Young.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1696964849/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tpbk_p1_i3

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A HAVEN

I love the blessing given to Zebulon by Jacob and its application to America and the church of Jesus Christ.

“Zebulon shall dwell at the shore of the sea; 

he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon.”

Genesis 49:13

The land of Zebulon with its place on the sea became a refuge for ships from distant lands and for foreigners who needed a haven. Have you read the poem, The New Colossus, which is on the bronze plaque at the base of The Statue of Liberty?

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus

Wave after wave of Americans came from the rest of the world. And yes, God forgive us, those who came in previous generations were often prejudiced against new people coming to our shores. They looked different. They talked different and had not learned our language. Their customs were noting like ours. But we also became stronger with each new group of immigrants. 

I always enjoyed living in The Puget Sound region which, like the land of Zebulon, became a haven for those who came from other lands. God gave me many friends. I came to consider of them as my children from other cultures who spoke other languages as they were rapidly learning English. I thank God for you whom I taught and encouraged as you taught and encouraged me.

I have recently been reading the Book of Acts whose theme is the gospel reaching out to all peoples on the earth. As Paul wrote in Galatians 3

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, 

there is no male nor female, for you are all one in Christ.”

The gospel breaks down every social or cultural barrier that separates people. Most of us need to struggle with this truth with one group or another. But as we draw nearer to Christ, we come into the true unity of the church of Christ.

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CHARACTER AND HOPE

 Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4

When troubles come upon your life like storms upon the sea,

Let your heart rejoice, knowing God is working all the while.

God’s power in your life will overcome the enemy.

When your circumstance seems harsh, God is present in your trial.

So, glory in your tribulations though they test you sore.

Our God is building character in ways you cannot see.

And though it sometimes seems you cannot handle any more,

God is planting faithfulness in you for eternity.

Draw near to Him in your quiet time, in His word and prayer.

Stretching vision beyond yourself gives eternal scope. 

Still walking on this Earth, a taste of heaven you can share. 

Let patience have her perfect work of character and hope

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THE BLESSING OF WEALTH

Binding his foal to the vine

    and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,

he has washed his garments in wine

    and his vesture in the blood of grapes.

His eyes are darker than wine, 

and his teeth whiter than milk.

Genesis 49:11,12

The contemporary gospel hymn, Blessed Be Your Name, by Matt Redman, begins “Blessed be your name in the land that is plentiful.” Singing that always sounds strange to me. I have usually focused on blessing His name when things are difficult. However, it can sometimes be as difficult to praise God when we are distracted by frivolous blessings.

America has been given unprecedented blessings of wealth even frivolous wealth. If we look at the passage before us we see something that common sense ought to tell us. Such blessings still come from God. In the picture, Judah tied his donkey to the vine. His focus was on the sweetness of this blessing. God gave life to the vine. He caused it to bear fruit for our enjoyment. During the cold war The Soviet Empire devoted its resources to military prowess. In America we were focused on increasing the wellbeing of our citizens. But making people wealthier enabled us to strengthen our military as well.

And yes, we wash our clothes in wealth which seemed frivolous to the Soviet leaders. I remember a joke I heard years ago in a seminary class. In Amos 4:6, referring to famine, the prophet declares that there will be “cleanness of teeth in all their cities.” We all laughed at what sounds like a toothpaste commercial. But while our motivation to make our “teeth whiter than milk” was shallow, dental hygiene has improved the overall health of Americans.

We became healthier in many ways. In the 20th century Americans had grown taller and stronger than our European counterparts who came from the same stock. I remember being cynical about medicines sold over the counter in America because they only addressed the symptoms of illness. But on my first trip into the former Soviet Union I discovered that the people there longed for anything that addressed the symptoms of minor things like headaches and sore throats.

China, which is still a communist country, learned this lesson. During the years after the fall of the Soviet Union, they brought in capitalist measures to strengthen their economy. During those years of increasing individual wealth the government loosened their grip on the lives of their citizens, at least in some parts of that great country. I am not sure how these two things are related. Did their economy grow because they loosened their hold on people, or did they have to loosen their grip on individuals because of their increased prosperity? China has cracked down again on things like human rights and religious freedom while continuing to promote material prosperity. I wonder what the outcome will prove to be from this effort. 

It is also important to see that increased wealth brings responsibility. You can use your wealth to be more generous to those around you. Or you can become more and more selfish. I have been impressed with companies that have devoted increased prosperity to increasing the lifestyle of all their employees. I know at least two fast food companies and a retail business that have increased the minimum they pay employees to at least twice the minimum wage required by law. I see this as good even if the demand for employees has driven wages up. Incidentally, the three companies I referred to raised their wages long before coved19 and its continuing effects on the job market. 

There is a biblical principle of God's blessing on generosity. To a great extent our increased wealth is a result of past giving to the needs of others. And make no mistake, we will give account to God for how we use our material blessings.

I think you will enjoy Matt Redman’s music. This message of this hymn is wider than blessing God in good times. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTpTQ4kBLxA&list=OLAK5uy_mgph29CwC_vLE3NLr3KbWByOQI6hDMGd4

HE GIVES MORE GRACE

 

In the weeks in between posting MY FINAL BLESSING, an exposition of Jacob's final blessing of his children in Genesis 49, I have been posting some of my poems. But this week I want to post a poem by Annie Johnson Flint. I have been struggling with my attitudes and frame of mind. This poem ministers to my soul, so I thought it would be good to share it with you.

He Giveth More Grace 

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase

To added affliction He addeth His mercy

To multiplied trials His multiplied peace

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure

His pow'r has no boundary known unto men

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again

When we have exhausted our store of endurance

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father's full giving is only begun

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure

His pow'r has no boundary known unto men

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure

His pow'r has no boundary known unto men

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again

Long after Annie Johnson Flint had left the trials of her pain filled life Don Moen put this poem to music. You might enjoy the music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzhKGPireAA

THE GIFT OF DOMINANCE

I don’t believe I have ever written or spoken publicly about the military dominance of the United States of America. But it has been a reality for nearly a hundred years. And we need to see it as a blessing and a responsibility that God has given us. 

Among the sons of Jacob Judah was given dominance. In verses 8-10 of Genesis 49 we read these words prophesied for Judah that can be applied to us.

“Judah, your brothers shall praise you;

    your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;

    your father's sons shall bow down before you.

Judah is a lion's cub;

    from the prey, my son, you have gone up.

He stooped down; he crouched as a lion

    and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?

The scepter shall not depart from Judah,

    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,

until tribute comes to him;

    and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Some of these words will apply to positions of power that any of you may have obtained. You will give an account to God about how faithfully you carry out your responsibility. And it is important to see this from the larger perspective of our country.

While there is some truth to books like The Ugly American which pointed out reasons for the rest of the world to hate us, we have held a special place of respect in the eyes of much of the world. We have been a proponent of human rights around the world. We have sought to defend the weak. We have not sought to enlarge our borders by military force. While we have unblushingly promoted democracy, which is not something we could force upon other nations in the same way that totalitarian governments have been. This is not to say that we have always been righteous in our goals or behavior, but we have sought truth and goodness, even at our own expense. 

And dominance will remain in our hands, even as the balance of power is being shaken around the world. 

It is important for us to see that there is a difficulty in interpreting or translating verse 10. The E.S.V. has this footnote. Genesis 49:10 By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh.

However we interpret this, it is important to remember that our dominance in the world is on loan from Him to whom it really belongs. It is foolish to imagine that peace and safety in the world belong to us. Psalm 33:16-17 reads,

“The king is not saved by his great army;

    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

The war horse is a false hope for salvation,

    and by its great might it cannot rescue.”

For many years America held the modernist view that everything was getting better and better. That is a dangerous misconception of reality. The picture of end times in the Bible is not sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows everywhere. In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, the Bible says,

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

However, we can seek to use the dominance in truth and righteousness. This comes from God. We must seek Him to keep ourselves from using our dominance for vainglory and selfish advantage.

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