Ministry Idolatry by Mark Driscoll
Listen to the sermon at the link above. We will be discussing it at the September SALT Meeting. Write down the particular parts that apply to you. If the Holy Spirit shows you any idols that you have, repent and share with us what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life.
Thanks,
Pastor Samuel
The other day I was watching an interview conducted by a national news show where they were interviewing residents in Paducah, Kentucky about government nationalized health care. One man made a statement against the program by saying that you shouldn’t buy more than you could afford. The government can’t afford it so they should not commit to the program (Sounds like info that would be sound for your personal budget). Another lady in the audience responded to his comment with “are you saying I don’t deserve or have a right to healthcare”.
That is what really got me. When did we come to the place where we think we deserve or have a right to something that somebody else pays for? Envy is a sin that many Christians don’t like to acknowledge. Envy is the desire for something that you don’t morally have a right to. I say morally because legislators can legally give you a right but it will still be immoral. Whatever it is that you desire belongs to somebody else but you want it. You refuse to do what the other person did to get it yourself so you decide it would just be easier to take it from them. You would never as a Believer put your hand in somebody’s pocket and steal their money but we will go into a voting booth and vote for someone who will do it for us. If you’ve done this may I say that you need to repent of theft.
We will justify our envy by giving it a moral context. We have a right to it. It would be immoral to not do it. We need to help the poor, the children, the uninsured, the aged. All these are legitimate needs and we have an obligation to God to help them. God has given a way to respond to all these needs (That’s another blog all together) and it is not through force or fraud. God has called us to voluntarily give out of our substance to deserving people with needs.
Envy always exists in a social context. It always begins with comparison. It is stirred by those who make their living and keep their power by constantly placing people in groups and then pitting those groups against one another. Rich vs. Poor. Black vs. White. Aged vs. Young. The comparison can go on and on. We need to heed Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 10:12 “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves.” (NKJV) Really the only comparison that should be made is right vs. wrong. Righteousness vs. sin. God vs. satan. (I never give him an upper case 
More on this subject to come.
Lately I have enjoyed looking at the heavens. I have stared at the stars in the night sky and have enjoyed looking at many websites that have beautiful pictures of the heavenly host. The whole thing has become a teaching lesson for me. One thing that I learned that has opened a whole new realm of worshipful awe is the leap that Jesus made in His incarnation. Psalms 19 says “The heavens declare the glory of God…” The more I study and ponder on the creation of the heavens, the more I see and savor the glory of God. For example, light travels at 186,000 miles per second. So then, in a year, light will travel approximately 5,880,000,000,000 (5 trillion 880 billion) miles. Get this! Our solar system, the Milky Way is 100,000 light years across. WOW! I’ll let you do the math to figure out how many miles that would be. On top of that, our solar system is only one of billions of solar systems. A few weeks ago someone at church asked why did God create so many stars (estimated at 70 sextillion) and galaxies (billions). Again, I must go back to Psalm 19, “The heavens declare the glory of God…” In the creation story in Genesis 1 when describing when God created the stars it says “and He made the stars also”, as if it were not a big deal. That tells me that my heavenly Father is limitless. When my mind aches in trying to imagine how big He is, He’s infinitely bigger, stronger, mightier and more glorious than I can ever imagine. That’s the point where my lesson this week came from. This infinitely wise, strong, mighty, holy God, “condescended to men of low estate”. This one who spoke and out of nothing, all matter, space and time came into existence, chose to come and live among us. Isaiah said He would be called “Emmanuel”, that is “God with us”. Wow, what a leap! He invaded our world. He loved us, walked with us, talked with us and then He chose to give His life for us that we might live. He removed every obstacle that blocked my path to the Father. When I meditate on what He has accomplished I am made humble. His humility is the springboard for my on humility. His coming doesn’t make much of me, it totally makes much of Him. Please go out this week, look in the night sky and study the stars and remember the one who made them is the same one who hung on a cross for our sin. See and savor His glory.
Hello world! Welcome to my new blog. My name is Samuel and I’m new at this and will begin posting my thoughts with regularity. I welcome your comments and suggestions as I need as many as possible since I am new at this. This will be a Christ-centered blog and with that I will be sharing my thoughts and beliefs concerning my faith. Thanks to all who stop and take their time to read my ramblings.
