Everyone loves a generous friend. A friend who is not stingy with their time or other resources, but someone who freely gives. Generous gifts build buildings, support ministries, and enrich our lives.
When the Israelites were building the tabernacle, they brought freewill offerings to pay for the construction project. Check out how much they gave:
Where does this sort of generosity come from? The key is in Paul’s opening statement about the Macedonians: “Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity…but they gave themselves first to the Lord.”
They gave themselves first to the Lord.
The ultimate source of generosity is the realization that everything I have is God’s. He owns it all; I’m just a steward.
The more I keep this in mind, the more generous I can be. The more generous I am, the more God can bless me. I am blessed to be a blessing.
It’s a well-known story: Moses is on the mountaintop with God while all the Israelites back at camp think he’s dead. They then convince Aaron to make a golden calf to be their god. The True God is ready to bring down His punishment on these idol worshipers when two incredible words stop God’s judgment dead in its tracks…
But Moses.
God was ready to wipe them out and start all over with Moses. Think about it: God offered Moses the opportunity to be on the same level of remembrance with Abraham. Years later people would be saying, “The God of Abraham, Isaac, Israel, and Moses.” What an incredible honor for Moses!
But Moses.
Instead, Moses interceded for his people. Moses sought God’s favor. He knew God to be the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. He could have had it all for himself.
But Moses.
He asked God to forgive the people’s idolatry and betrayal. God replied, “I know you by name and you have found favor with Me.” If you had God’s favor, what would you do with it? Would you ask for great things for yourself? Your family? Your friends?
But Moses.
Moses used this favor to ask God to help him stay in His favor. “If You are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You.” Moses knew that it was God’s favor that distinguishes one man from the crowd, that sets a man apart as a leader.
But Moses…
just wanted God to be glorified. And God responded: “My Presence will go with you.”
I want to be a “But Craig” leader… one that stands apart as God’s leader; one who only seeks to bring glory to God.
How about you? Do you want to be that “But ____________” leader too?
God wants you to be successful. If you call yourself His follower, why would He want you to ever suffer a defeat? He wants His name to be glorified, so He wants you to be successful.
So let Him choose your battles for you. He knows what you can handle. Let Him pick the time, the place, and the method for your battles.
His way might be longer than you would like it to be, butHis timing is better.
His place may not be your place for battle, butHis place is better.
His methods might not be what you would choose, butHis ways are better.
Check this out:
When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. (Exodus 13:17-18)
I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land. (Exodus 23:27-30)
God told me, “And don’t try to pick a fight with the Moabites. I am not giving you any of their land. … When you approach the People of Ammon, don’t try and pick a fight with them because I’m not giving you any of the land of the People of Ammon for yourselves.” (Deuteronomy 2:9, 19)
Are you in a battle now? If God brought you to this point, hang in there because He will give you the victory. Don’t try to pick a fight in territory God hasn’t given you. Wait for His timing, His place, and His method of victory.
If you’re in a battle now, let me know, and I’d be honored to stand with you in prayer.
Okay, quick show of hands: how many of you heard your Mom or Dad say this to you? I’ve got both my hands up!
I always hated this statement, because I felt like saying, “Mom, I’m not an idiot. I know where to draw the line.” This an extreme example (a hyperbole) intended to get a point across. The point that our parents were trying to make is: humans tend to be crowd followers.
We want to be accepted, so sometimes we bend ourselves a little bit to get the stamp of approval from our peers. It might be a little more obvious among teenagers with clothing choices, music preferences, or attitudes toward those “outside” the mainstream. Although it gets a little more subtle among adults, I think the desire to be accepted—to go along with the crowd—is always there.
Or else we become rebels. If society says “Right” the rebel says “Left.” If society says “War” the rebel says “Peace.” If Mom and Dad say, “Go to church,” the rebel says, “I’m going to stay away from church.” Which shows another tendency of human nature: we tend to go to extremes.
You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice. And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor.
Don’t go along with the crowd just to be accepted.
Don’t go alone just to be an individual.
Live for the approval of an audience of One.
It’s only when I take the time to reflect on my conversations, my actions, my thoughts, that I see these two tendencies in me: I do one thing to go along and then do something entirely different to show that I’m my own man. Instead of these extremes, I need to ask, “Is this pleasing to God?”
Most people think of the Ten Commandments as God’s law given through Moses. Actually the Ten Commandments are just thebeginning of the laws, practices, and regulations that God gives to His people. The rest of the book of Exodus, the entire book of Leviticus, and the first ten chapters of Numbers compromise the bulk of the law.
For those of you keeping track, that’snearly 60 chapters of rules and regulations.
Why so many? I think the answer is found in the lead-up to the Ten Commandments:
Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
God wants people who are treasured. A people who are priests. A people who are holy. In short: He wants pacesetting leaders.
Priests have intimate access to God, and they are people who set an example for others to follow. In order to enjoy these special privileges, priests must be held to higher standards.
These are not standards just for those of Jewish ancestry, but for anyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ. Look what John recorded in the last book of the Bible:
To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father—to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
…With Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.
Yes, the standards to be a priest—to be a holy leader—are higher. Butthe rewards are immeasurable!
Are you ready to bring greater glory to God? Do you want to be a pacesetting leader for the Kingdom of heaven? Then ask the Holy Spirit to sanctify you as you take on the discipline of greater responsibility. Live up to higher standards, and you won’t be disappointed by the rewards!
How many times have you heard someone say you, “Let me give you a piece of advice”? Ah, yes, everyone has some advice to share. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone wants to give you a piece of their mind. Everyone is an expert in an area where they think you’re deficient.
I remember going through comment cards at the end of a long week of youth camp. I’d read one card that would say the food was excellent. Just a couple of cards later some “expert” would share how terrible the food was. One would say they loved the evangelist, another would give their “advice” on where the evangelist missed it.
Whom should I listen to? Who should get my ear?
In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Polonius gives this counsel to Laertes “Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice: Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.”
Nice prose, but how do we live it out?
I like the example I see from a man named Jethro in the Bible. Jethro is Moses’ father-in-law, and he really only appears on the scene in just one chapter (Exodus 18), but his method of giving advice should be a model for us all.
Credentials—Jethro was a God-fearing man. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, weigh carefully the advice given to you by those who don’t have the same biblical foundation.
Relationship—Jethro had a personal relationship with Moses, he wasn’t just a business acquaintance. That means Jethro had a vested interest in Moses’ success or failure.
Firsthand—Jethro heard about what was happening, but he came to see it for himself. Beware of those “experts” who only have secondhand information about you or your situation.
Up-Close—Jethro spent an entire day right by Moses’ side just watching and listening. He saw what was going on from the front row.
Questions—Jethro led with questions, not with advice. Before giving Moses his opinion, Jethro asked clarifying questions.
Wisdom—Only after all of this did Jethro give his opinion to Moses. The words that he shared were then received by Moses as God-given wisdom.
Your counselors shouldearn the right to be heard. Just because someone has an opinion doesn’t make him an expert. And just because someone has been-there-done-that doesn’t mean that her way should be your way.
Screen out the clamoring voices by making sure they have credentials, a relationship with you, firsthand experience, and godly wisdom.
Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.
I read a verse in the Bible that I think may have been the origin of the cliché: “We are between a rock and a hard place.”
Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. (Exodus 14:2)
Well, except the Israelites would have said, “Remember that time we were stuck between Migdol and the sea?”
The cliché implies that neither of my options are very pleasant. In fact, it really doesn’t matter whether I choose the rock or the hard place, there is going to be some pain involved in my choice. One way looks bad, and the other way looks just as bad.
Ever been there?
The rock and the hard place the Israelites found themselves between was the onrushing, ticked-off, fearsome Egyptian army and the un-crossable Red Sea. ″Let’s see, would I rather have death by the sword or death by drowning?″
Between a rock and a hard place for sure!
But it gets even worse when the Israelites stopped to think, “How did we end up here? Oh, yeah, God told us to encamp here!”
Sometimes I end up between a rock and a hard place—an angry army and an uncrossable ocean—because of my own stupid choices. I can accept that. But it’s a little harder to accept my predicament when I realize that God put me here.
Why would God do this to the Israelites? Why would He do it to me? Here’s what God said:
But I will gain glory for Myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD. (v. 4)
Is this a scary place to be? Yep! In fact, the Bible says the Israelites were terrified!
But here’s the really great news: When I realize that God has put me between a rock and a hard place, stay calm! Because He brought me here, He is going to do the heavy lifting.
The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.
God shattered the rock by wiping out the onrushing Egyptian army.
God made the hard place smooth by parting the waters of the ocean.
God was glorified and all people knew He was God.
Are you in a tough spot? Are you between a rock and a hard place? Do you feel like God put you there? If so, it’s time to stay calm. He’s in control. If He put you there, let Him fight the battle for you. Let God be glorified in smashing your rock and making your hard place smooth.
Here’s an odd one. The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for a long, long time. God does these miraculous things, culminating in the death of every firstborn child in Egypt who’s not in a house covered by lamb’s blood. Pharaoh has finally had enough, “Quick!” he shouts, “Get out of here now! Leave this country!”
So the Israelites pack up as quickly as they can to leave before Pharaoh changes his mind. And then this odd statement appears, “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him.”
Seriously? Bones? We’re kinda in a rush here!
Well, they’re not just any bones. It’s not like they’re just loose bones lying around. They’re in a mummy case.
Yeah, and…?
They were the bones of Joseph. The one who foresaw the coming famine. The one whom Pharaoh put as second-in-command to make preparations for the famine. The one who saved the Israelites from starvation. That Joseph. Just before he died he made his family take an oath that when they left Egypt, they would take his bones with them (Genesis 50:25-26).
They took the oath. And for the next 430 years someone had to watch over the bones. Through about twelve generations, from father to son, from son to grandson, from grandson to great-grandson, the oath was passed: “Guard these bones. When we leave, the bones go with us.”
So when they left Egypt, Moses took the bones with him. But then the Israelites sinned and had to wander in the wilderness for another 40 years. Another whole generation died, and still the oath was passed: “Guard these bones.”
The Israelites finally re-entered their home land, but had to defeat their enemies that had taken possession of their land while they were in Egypt. For about 30 years the Israelites fought. And still the oath was passed: “Guard these bones.”
Finally as a postscript to Joshua’s account we see Joseph’s bones being buried in Shechem, nearly 500 years after Joseph died!
For 500 years they kept the oath; they guarded the bones.
Do you realize thatthe way you are living today could be the answer to a 500-year-old prayer? Just like the Israelites who kept their eyes on God, you and I must live today with a purpose and with a mission. When we live godly lives, we are guarding the bones of prayers that were prayed, the bones of petitions that were made, the bones of oaths that were requested and honored.
What are you doing today to guard the bones of your ancestor’s prayers?
You know the story, or maybe you’ve even seen it portrayed on the big screen, where God appears to Moses in the burning bush. God handpicks Moses to lead His people to freedom. He assures Moses, “I AM the One who is sending you with My authority.” God shows Moses these miracles that He is going to do through him.
And how does Moses respond? “Yeah, but….” Sadly, this is how I usually respond too.
“Yeah, but who am I that You would handpick me?”
I don’t have the right credentials.
My family is dysfunctional.
I’m not comfortable with risk.
I’ve never done anything like this before.
“Yeah, but how do I really know this is You, God?”
I need a sign.
I’ve made mistakes before when I thought I was following You.
Have I mentioned I’ve never done anything like this before?
“Yeah, but what if this doesn’t work out?”
I need assurance.
I want to know where this is going to end up before I get started.
What happens next?
“Yeah, but how will I know what to say or do?”
I don’t want to look like a fool.
I don’t want to be embarrassed.
I want to be in control.
It’s interesting to see that God patiently answered all of Moses’ “Yeah, but” questions. It was only when Moses reached the conclusion “You’ve got the wrong guy” that God became angry.
Moses’ first response was his best response: Here I am.
This is what usually happens to me. God calls me to do something or say something for Him, and I immediately say, “Here I am.” Then I begin to think about what I just committed to. It’s then that I come up with all my “Yeah, but” reasons why I can’t be the guy God thinks I am. In other words, I think my way out of God’s plan for me.
Here’s what I need to remember: IfGod calls me, it’s only because He has already equipped me.
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
No more “Yeah, but” second-guessing, I’m just sticking with “Here I am.”
Everyone loves a generous friend. A friend who is not stingy with their time or other resources, but someone who freely gives. Generous gifts build buildings, support ministries, and enrich our lives.
Craig T. Owens 