What's Your Motive?

'...do not do your charitable deeds...to be seen...' Matthew 6:1 NKJV

God measures your giving in two ways: (a) Your means; how much do you have? (b) Your motives; why are you giving? 'Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in Heaven...do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.' (Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV)

Here are two stories that illustrate the point Jesus was making.

Story one: In 1977 a couple agreed to donate the three million dollars needed to build a new children's zoo in Central Park, New York. But problems arose because the 5 cm tall plaque acknowledging their gift wasn't big enough. Plus, a couple who'd donated half a million dollars thirty years earlier to build the original zoo had a bigger plaque. It was proposed that the names of the original donors be replaced by the names of the new donors. When the park commission refused, the couple withdrew their gift. Story two: It's said that Charles Spurgeon and his wife would sell, but refused to give away the eggs their chickens laid. Even close relatives were told, 'You may have them if you pay for them.' As a result the Spurgeons were misrepresented as being greedy. Only after Mrs. Spurgeon died was the full story revealed. All the profits from the sale of the eggs went to support two elderly widows. Apparently the Spurgeons were more concerned with how God felt about their giving, than how people felt.

Do the Numbers

'...My entire lifetime is...but a breath.' Psalm 39:5 NLT

Talking about a friend's funeral, Bryan Wilkerson says: 'The man...was a Christian - bright, hardworking, and dynamic. He helped start two hospitals...the local soccer association...travelled...sang in choirs around the world...a man of remarkable energy and ability...But nobody spoke of his spiritual influence. He introduced many to soccer but few...to Christ. The pastor could say nothing of his contribution...except he critiqued the sermon at the door on Sunday. His wife and children had few words; they got the short end of his attention and energy. Imagine what he could have accomplished by offering his time and talent to God. Compare that to another funeral I attended. This man was also...highly regarded in the secular community. But he was careful to number his days and resources and offer them to God. People didn't speak about his success and influence in the marketplace, but of his spiritual impact...how he pointed them to Christ...his leadership and support of Christian ministries...his years of church service...his mission trips to Moldova. His family spoke of his love of Scripture...his love for them...his faithfulness as a husband and father. I remember...wishing the whole church could be there to see what God can do with somebody who offers...every day of their life to Him.' So, how many people have you pointed to Christ? Where are you investing your time, treasure and talent? God's gifts are never loans, they're deposits and He expects a return. The only even thing in this world is the number of hours in a day. The difference between winning and losing is how you use them.

Do the Numbers

Just a reminder to our Tuesday night fuel Group: there will be no fuel Group for the next two Tuesdays. We will resume on January 4th 2011 @the Clark's. This Friday December 24th @7pm is our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service @Calvary. Come celebrate with your family the birth of Jesus our Savior...Merry Christmas!

'...seventy...or...eighty years...pass quickly...' Psalm 90:10 NCV

Our souls aren't hungry for fame, comfort, wealth or power. Those things create as many problems as they solve. Our souls are hungry for meaning. We want our lives to matter. The Psalmist writes, 'Our lifetime is seventy years or, if we are strong, eighty...' (Psalm 90:10 NCV) Eighty years is just under 30,000 days. Think about that in financial terms: $30 000 will buy you a car or make a deposit on a house. It's not that much money and it's not that much time. None of us knows how many years we've left, but we know how many we've been given till now. If you were to draw a line and add them up, eternally speaking, what would you have to show for your life? Job said, 'My days fly faster than a weaver's shuttle...' (Job 7:6 NLT); '...they flee away...' (Job 9:25 NAS) Bryan Wilkerson says: 'Teens count the number of friends they have, the number of colleges they get into. College students count grade points...credit hours...how many countries they've visited... Adults measure success by the number of bedrooms in their house, cars in the garage...or the yield on their investments. Most make two mistakes...they think they've so much [time] they can afford to waste it, or so little time they can't possibly do something significant, so they don't try. Our days are like suitcasesall the same sizebut some can pack more into them than others. 'A person who chases fantasies has no sense.' (Proverbs 12:11 NLT) Numbering your days means offering them to God and seeking His direction for your life.'

Peace Out

'Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.' Colossians 3:15 NIV

When God speaks to us He gives us a deep sense of inner peace to confirm that the message is truly from Him. Beware of false peace! When we have a strong desire to do something it can produce a false sense of peace that actually comes only from our excitement. As time passes this false peace disappears and God's true will for our lives emerges. So we should never move too quickly on important decisions.

When the devil speaks to us he cannot give us peace. And when we try to solve things with our own reasoning, we cannot get peace. 'But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is...peace.' (Romans 8:6 NLT) Lay your decision on the scales of peace. Don't proceed if your inner peace cannot hold its weight against what you think or hear. You don't have to explain to others why you don't have peace about it; sometimes you won't know why. Just say, 'It's not wise for me to do this because I don't have peace about it.' There's power in having peace! And once you know you've clearly heard from God, you must do all you can to 'keep your peace' and not become anxious.

Peace is an inner 'knowing' that your actions are approved by God. 'Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which...you were also called [to live].' (Colossians 3:15 AMP) God leads us by peace. His peace is like an umpire who decides what's 'safe' or what's 'out'. No peace? It's 'out.'

Your Self-Esteem Must Come from God

'...I have called you by your name; You are Mine.' Isaiah 43:1 NKJV

Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones said, 'Though you are one of the teeming millions in this world, and though the world would have you believe that you do not count and that you are but a speck in the mass, God says, 'I know you.' How wonderful is that? Take a moment and consider the things in life that rob us of self-esteem. Words such as, 'I don't want you; I don't love you anymore.' Or 'You're unsuitable for the job; sorry, we have to let you go.' Or, 'You keep making the same stupid mistakes. You'll never get it right.' Or, 'Why can't you be like your brother, or your sister, or so-and-so?' Understand this:

(1) Your self-esteem cannot be based on what you do for a living. Because when you can no longer do it you'll feel worthless. Think about some of the famous people you know: athletes, artists, speakers, etc. When they can no longer do what they do they often get depressed, even suicidal.

(2) Your self-esteem cannot be based on what you own. Recently the US housing market lost up to 40% of its value in one year. Millions of people saw their social status go down and their financial security go up in smoke.

(3) Your self-esteem cannot be based on other people's opinion because it will always make you vulnerable to rejection. What's the solution? Discover what God thinks about you and build your life on it. '...thus says the Lord, who created you...who...redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.'(Isaiah 43:1 NKJV) It doesn't get any better than that!

Integrity

'May integrity...protect me...' Psalm 25:21 NIV

Though repeatedly tempted by Potiphar's wife, Joseph said no. Faced with similar circumstances, David said yes. But the story doesn't end there. David married Bathsheba; when their son Solomon grew up 'He had seven hundred wives...and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.' (1 Kings 11:3 NIV) Integrity may not seem like a big deal now, but your lack of it will have far-reaching consequences. Integrity means keeping commitments, even though the circumstances in which you made them have changed. One leader points out that when integrity is the referee, your lips and your life will be in agreement. Your beliefs will be mirrored by your behavior. There'll be no discrepancy between what you appear to be and what you are, whether in good times or bad. Integrity is not only the referee between opposing value systems, it's the decision maker between being at peace and being fragmented within. It frees you to become a whole person no matter what comes your way. There's a story about a job applicant who was asked why he was discharged from his last position. He replied, 'Because I wanted to take work home with me.' When asked who he worked for, he replied, 'The First National Bank.' We smile, but in a recent survey of employees, 55% said they didn't trust their top management. Are you trustworthy? Will Rogers said: 'People's minds are changed through observation, not argument. People do what people see. What they hear, they understand; what they see, they believe and follow.' That's why a corrected and contrite Psalmist prayed, 'Guard my life...let me not be put to shame...May integrity...protect me...' (Psalm 25:20-21 NIV)

Integrity

'...I have walked in...integrity...' Psalm 26:1 NKJV

To protect themselves from the barbaric hordes from the north, the people of China built the Great Wall. It was so high nobody could climb over it and so thick nobody could break through it, so they settled back to enjoy life. During the first hundred years of the wall's existence, China was invaded three different times. Not once did the enemy try to break down the wall or climb over it; they simply bribed the gatekeeper and marched in. While those who built it were relying on their wall of stone, they neglected to teach integrity to their children. As a result they grew up without moral and spiritual principles to guide them. Have you ever watched a big tree fall while others around it stood tall? How come the same storm that builds strength in one, topples another? You'll find the answer in the tree's core and roots. Getting the idea? When it comes to building integrity, here are some questions you should ask yourself regularly:

(1) Am I the same, no matter who I'm with?

(2) Am I willing to make decisions that are best for others, even though another choice would benefit me more?

(3) Can I be counted on to keep the commitments I've made to God, myself and others? Can you say like the Psalmist, 'Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in...integrity...'? (Psalm 26:1 KJV) Life is like a vice: at times it will squeeze you. In those moments whatever is inside will come out. Image-building and self-interest promise much but produce little, but integrity never disappoints. So, work on your integrity.