Total Commitment

Luke 14:25-33

Total commitment.  That is what most companies and employers want from their employees.  They want them to be totally committed to their job and the projects they work on.  That is also what our spouse and family wants from us, as well.  They don’t want an absentee father or mother, or one whose heart and mind is off somewhere else.  We would also like total commitment from the athletes on our favorite sports teams.  What about total commitment by Christians to the Lord Jesus?  Is that reasonable for Him to ask of us, or is it okay to be a “casual Christian”?  Our Gospel reading for this week takes a look at that question.

As we read this Scripture passage, right away we are confronted with a verse that seems rather harsh, and difficult to swallow.  Jesus is speaking to the crowds around Him, and He tells them that if they don’t hate their father or mother, their wife or children, brothers or sisters they cannot be His disciple! (vs. 26).  On the surface that sounds terrible!  Why would Jesus want me to hate my parents and my spouse?  How can I possibly hate my children?  What we need to realize as we read this verse is that Jesus is using hyperbolic language - an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally.  It is like saying that you are so hungry you could eat a horse or an elephant.  Everyone knows you would not eat those!  It’s just to say how hungry you are.  We know that this is that type of statement because of other verses in the Bible.  God told us that we can’t love Him unless we love others, which would include family (I John 4:7-8).  He also told us to honor our parents (Ephesians 6:2-3).  This verse emphasizes supreme loyalty to Jesus.  Our love for Jesus must far exceed our love for anyone else.  No earthly relationship should rival our devotion to Him.

We see this sometimes played out in families, where the adult child feels called to go overseas as a missionary, but their mother gets all upset because she doesn’t want them to move away.  Or they tell the family that they are going to become a pastor, and the father gets upset and tells them they should pick a job that makes more money, like a lawyer or doctor.  Will he do what the Lord wants, or will he follow his father’s directives, or give in to his mother’s tears?  Who does he love more?  We cannot truly be a disciple unless we place Jesus as our top priority, which might very well upset family members.  We are not to love anyone more than Jesus.

Jesus tells us that we need to bear our cross and follow Him, otherwise we cannot be His disciple (vs. 27).  This means dying to self, enduring persecution for His sake, and living sacrificially.  Carrying our cross symbolizes death to our former sinful lifestyle, and, if necessary, a willingness to die in order to remain faithful to Jesus.  True discipleship involves suffering and separation from the world (II Timothy 3:12).

The Lord then proceeded to give an example of someone deciding to build a tower (vs. 28-30).  A wise person would first check his bank account to see if he has enough money to cover the cost.  No one wants a half-built building that had to stop construction because of lack of money.  A second example is a king going to war with another kingdom (vs. 31-32).  He needs to consider beforehand whether his army can defeat the other.  Salvation is free, however discipleship is costly.  Many people make a profession of faith, but then fall away when trials come.  This passage urges people to give serious self-examination before committing.

Jesus finishes His teaching with the statement that whoever does not forsake everything that he has, he cannot be His disciple (vs 33).  This is a call for total surrender.  Nothing - neither our possessions, ambitions, or any relationships, can be held back.  This is a tough call, but Jesus does not want any half-hearted disciples with divided loyalties.  We cannot serve both God and our belongings, desires, or relationships (Matthew 6:24).

Have we submitted to Jesus’ authority in our life?  Discipleship demands a break from all worldly values.  If we want to be a genuine disciple of the Lord we must crucify our flesh every day (Galatians 2:20).  It is a lifelong commitment which requires endurance (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Have you counted the cost of being a true disciple of Jesus, and are you ready and willing to make a total commitment to Him?  This is a difficult Scripture for some.  The Lord Jesus did not make His message more appealing in order to gain a larger following.  There is a high cost of discipleship.  However, it is worth it in the end when we hear Him say “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

A Life Turned Around

Philemon 1:1-25

If someone has done you a wrong, and then you are told that they have completely repented and changed their ways, are you willing to forgive them?  Sometimes it is difficult to do so, and it may be difficult to believe that they have truly changed, especially if such behavior has been a long pattern with them.  What if you were the wrongdoer?  You might be afraid to face the person you wronged for fear of some type of punishment.  Today’s Scripture, from one of the shortest books of the Bible, addresses these issues.  Let’s take a look.

As we begin our Scripture, it is important to get a little bit of background, which will help in understanding what had happened.  The Book of Philemon was written by the Apostle Paul.  At the time he was a prisoner in Rome for his faith in the Lord Jesus.  Philemon was a wealthy gentleman who lived in Colossae, an ancient city in western present-day Turkey.  The church of the Colossians met in his home, and he was a leader in that church.  The other person involved in this Scripture is Onesimus, a slave of Philemon’s, who had stolen from him and ran away, ending up in Rome and becoming acquainted with Paul.  (Slavery was very common in the Roman Empire, and probably the whole world at this time.)   Onesimus had likely known of, or been acquainted with Paul when the Apostle was ministering in Colossae at Philemon’s house.  When Onesimus heard he was imprisoned there, he came to see him.

It was during one of Onesimus’ probably several visits to Paul, that the Apostle led him to faith in Jesus as his Savior.  Onesimus knew that what he had done was wrong, and had repented of it.  Both he and Paul knew that he needed to make restitution.  However, Onesimus was understandably nervous and afraid to return.  The penalties for a runaway slave in the ancient Roman Empire were harsh, including sometimes the death penalty, and in addition to running away, Onesimus had stolen from Philemon.  But he knew he had to do what was right.

Paul decided he would send Philemon a personal letter that Onesimus would take with him when he returned.  In this letter, Paul commended Philemon’s strong Christian faith (vs. 4-7).  He was a pillar in the Colossian church, and he had great love for the believers there and elsewhere.  With that in mind, Paul appealed to Philemon to accept Onesimus back with love, rather than with punishment (vs. 8-16).  He told him that while Onesimus had been there in Rome, he had led him to salvation in the Lord.  Paul could have used his position as an Apostle, and told Philemon that as a Christian and leader of the church there, it was his duty to receive Onesimus back, but he preferred that he do this out of love, not out of duty.  He calls for Philemon to forgive and restore Onesimus, thus modeling Christlike love.

Paul then uses a little play on words (vs. 11).  The name Onesimus in the Greek means “profitable” or “useful”.  Onesimus was really not very profitable for Philemon, as he not only ran away, but he had stolen from him, as well, possibly a large amount, as he would have needed money to travel and then provide for himself while in Rome.  However, Paul stated that now that he was a believer he was a new man (II Corinthians 5:17).  Onesimus was helpful and useful to Paul while he was in Rome, and that he will be to Philemon if he receives him back with forgiveness and love.  Onesimus is not just a returning slave, but is now a beloved brother in the Lord (vs. 16).

The Apostle also offers to pay back whatever Onesimus owed to Philemon (vs. 17-21), even though he reminded Philemon that he was the one who had led him to the Lord, and thus had a spiritual debt.  Paul’s willingness to pay that debt reflects the Gospel message.  Jesus paid our debt in full.  This shows grace in action.

In closing, how can we apply these lessons to our life now in the 21st century?  The first is that we need to forgive others just as Jesus forgave us.  Even when someone has wronged us, believers are called to extend grace.  That is what Paul was instructing Philemon to do for Onesimus.  We can also help bring about reconciliation among believers.  Paul desired that there be a loving reconciliation between Philemon and Onesimus, now that Onesimus was a believer.  As Christians we can pray for, and help where we can to bring restoration in relationships.  Lastly, we should remember that no one is beyond the reach of the Gospel.  It doesn’t matter what the person did, even the worst murderer, serial killer, war criminal, or child abuser, if they sincerely call upon the Lord Jesus as their Savior, they can and will be saved.  God’s love has no limits!

Do You Hear Me, God?

Psalm 10

Have you ever felt like God was ignoring you, that He was turning a deaf ear to your prayers?  Perhaps you felt like God was hiding from you, and that He was too far away to be bothered with you.  Many Christians, at one time or another, have probably felt that way.  They have felt that their prayers got no further than the ceiling.  Some believers have been in such a desperate situation that they felt as if God had abandoned them.  Our psalm for this week speaks of feelings like that, and how their trust in the truth about God brought them out of such thoughts.

Psalm 10 is another “orphan” psalm, meaning that its author is unknown.  We don’t know any specifics about what brought on his feelings of despair, but we can sense that things just weren’t going well for him in his life right then.  And to make matters worse, the psalmist looks around and he sees how his wicked, unbelieving neighbors seem to be prospering.  Everything they do seems to go fine, all they touch seems to turn to gold, while his life is a mess.  He prays and prays but God does not seem to listen.  God is seemingly blessing the wicked, while he, a righteous believer, is struggling just to get by.  However, as the psalmist contemplates the matter more thoroughly, he remembers that God is a just God, that He is sovereign, that He does hear his prayers, and cares for the oppressed, even when it might not immediately look like it.

As our psalm opens, the psalmist begins with a cry of confusion (vs. 1).   As mentioned earlier, this is something that most of us have felt at some point in our life.  Why does God seem so distant in my troubles?  This was the cry of Job throughout his whole book.  It is very possible that at some points during his years of oppression, that Joseph in the Book of Genesis might have wondered where God was.  Even the Lord Jesus, as He hung on the cross, cried out, feeling forsaken by God (Matthew 27:46).  Each one, though, knew in their heart that God had not abandoned them.  God’s seeming absence is never actual.  His presence is constant, even when hidden from sight (Hebrews 13:5).  In these times our faith needs to override our feelings.  Cling to God’s promises, not our perceptions.

Next, our psalmist goes on to describe the wicked person, one who is not a believer, nor following the Lord and His Word (vs. 2-11).  He paints a vivid portrait of such a person.  In these verses he catalogs their arrogance, their violence, and the deceit of these ungodly people.  They exploit the poor, deny any accountability for their actions, and they mock God and His justice.

These wicked people are filled with pride (vs. 4).  Pride is at the root of their rebellion against God.  Because they are filled with pride and are so full of themselves, they have never even considered turning to God or seeking after Him.  Thoughts of God do not even cross their mind.  Instead, they spend their time thinking of ways to oppress and prey on the vulnerable (vs. 8-10).  Then they turn around with words of blasphemy, claiming that God does not see, nor will He judge their actions (vs. 11).

Our psalmist sees all of this, and of course, we know that God sees this, as well.  The psalmist proceeds to pray for justice to be done (vs. 12-15).  Instead of spending his time lamenting his poor condition, he turns to intercession for what he sees going on in the world around him.  Knowing that God is a God of justice, he calls on Him to act.  God hears the prayers and cries of the righteous, especially when injustice is being done.  His justice may be delayed, but it is never denied (II Peter 3:9).  Knowing this, we should always pray boldly.  God wants His people to seek His intervention when evil is being done.

Our psalm ends with the psalmist reassured that God is still on His throne and in control (vs. 16-18).  We know that God still reigns throughout the earth, and He still cares for the afflicted.  He still defends the fatherless and the oppressed.  Even when injustice seemingly abounds, we can trust in the righteousness of God, knowing that the time is soon coming when He will judge the wicked.

As we close, we should always remember that if we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we are never abandoned by God, even when in any given circumstance we might feel alone.  God is always working behind the scenes.  When it looks like the wicked are prospering, remember, that is only temporary, and they will be judged by the Lord.  Also, remember that prayer is powerful, and as believers, we need to constantly avail ourselves of that.  God does hear our prayers.  He is eternal and sovereign, and will defend His children.

Choosing Life or Death

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Everyone’s life is filled with decisions they must make.  Most are not life or death decisions.  Some are rather insignificant, such as decisions about what to eat, what to wear, what to do over the coming weekend.  Others are much more important, such as whether or not to go to college, what career to pursue, who to marry, where to live.  Though extremely important, they are still not life or death decisions.  They will not affect you into eternity.  Each of us will have to make a few life and death decisions throughout the course of our life.  With that in mind, let’s look at our Scripture today where God’s Word instructs us on such decisions.

The Book of Deuteronomy was the final message that Moses gave to the people of Israel, right before they were to enter and take possession of the Promised Land, and right before his death.  In it he restated some of the Laws given previously, and now that the book is coming to a close, Moses had several very important words to leave the people, and this was one.  Moses stated that the people had a very important decision to make, one that had to be made.  It was a clear choice: life or death, blessing or cursing.  The decision hinged on obedience to God’s commandments and loyalty to Him alone, or to decide to disobey along with betraying and be disloyal to Him.

As our Scripture begins, Moses laid out before the people a very clear choice they had to make, a choice that we in our lives today must make, as well (vs. 15).  It is a clear choice, as there are no gray areas here.  Obedience to God will lead to life and blessings, whereas disobedience to Him and His Word will lead to death and judgment.  There are some decisions that we make that do have divine consequences.  This is one of the most important ones, and one that we all have to make in our lives.

God’s Word instructs us here that if we choose life and goodness, we need to love God (vs. 16).  Loving God involves walking in His ways and keeping His commandments.  We cannot possibly truly and honestly say that we love God if we disobey His Word, found in the Bible.  Many people claim to love God, but pick and choose what they want to obey from the Bible.  Jesus stated very plainly that if you love Him you will obey His commandments (John 14:15).  Loving God leads to walking in His ways and keeping His commandments.

Moses then warned the people about turning their hearts away from God (vs. 17).  Apostasy begins in the heart.  Turning from God to serve other gods is spiritual adultery.  This includes mixing the worship of Yahweh with that of other religions.  Later, throughout the Old Testament, we see how the people turned to worshiping the pagan idols of neighboring countries.  Some completely abandoned Yahweh, however many just mixed the worship of Him with other pagan gods.  That was no better, as God abhors that just as much.  God does not want us to mix in any other religious beliefs with our Christianity.  He does not want us to sprinkle in a little Buddhism or New Age paganism, or anything else with our Christianity.  Compromise is also spiritual adultery.

God’s judgment is certain for those who reject His covenant (vs. 18).  When this verse said we would “perish” if we turned away from Him, it didn’t only mean physical death, but it also includes spiritual death, separation from God in torment for eternity.  We see the seriousness of sin and the justice of God.

Just as Moses set the choice before the Hebrew people, God sets the same choice before us (vs. 19-20).  We have the choice of life or death, blessing or cursing.  The whole universe is our witness to the choice we will make.  The choice is urgent and it is public.  We are urged to choose life.  It is a divine plea to each of us.  The choice will both affect us for all of eternity, and it will also affect our descendants for generations.  We are called to cling to the Lord God, for He is our life.  He is not only the giver of our life, He is life itself, and abiding in Him is the only way to truly live.

God has given each of us the ability to make our own choice.  Our decision is not forced upon us.  However, God holds each of us accountable for the choice we make.  To choose to obey God is not a drudgery.  There are innumerable and countless blessings tied to being obedient to God and His Word.  It is life or death, good or evil.  God’s standards are clear and unchanging

Do we want the blessed, holy, and eternal life?  Or do we want the sinful life of evil that brings death?  We must decide whether we want to choose eternal life, to hear the Voice of the Lord and live a holy, set-apart life.  It is up to us to choose life or death, blessings or curses.

The Highest or Lowest Seat

Luke 14:1, 7-14

A businessman goes to attend a business meeting, and he sees the seats at the long table, right by the speaker’s seat.  They are empty, so he scurries to grab one of them.  He wants to be seen sitting right near the speaker, even though his role in this particular project was rather small.  As more and more people enter, he smiles, quite content with himself.  A few minutes later, though, he is asked to give up his seat, as it is reserved for a more important man on the project.  So this fellow now has to seek out, with much embarrassment, one of the last remaining seats in the room.

In another conference room a similar business meeting is going on.  In this one, seated in the back corner sits a gentleman.  Shortly after the start of the meeting, the speaker asks him to step forward and take a seat right next to him.  As he approaches, people nod with commendatory comments.  We don’t even need to ask which situation you would rather be in.  Our Gospel reading for today speaks of similar situations.  Let’s see what Jesus had to say about these scenarios.

As we open the Scripture passage, Jesus had been invited to a Sabbath dinner at a Pharisee’s home (vs. 1).  Even though many of the Pharisees openly opposed His ministry, and tried to trap Him as they were here, Jesus always accepted their invitations.  This gave Him more opportunities to speak the truth of the Gospel to them, and try to reach their hardened hearts.  We, too, should not isolate ourselves from the lost or deceived.  As Jesus said, we are to be salt and light to the lost.

As more guests arrived, and people were preparing for the meal to begin, Jesus noticed how they all scrambled to get the best seats at the table (vs. 7).  No one wanted to sit far from the host.  Everyone wanted seats of honor.  Jesus then told a brief parable of how it is better to first sit in a lower seat and have the host honor you by calling you forward to have a better seat, than to have the host request you give up your nice seat for someone else, and you have to move to a lower seat (vs. 8-11).

Pride can cause people to do some shocking things.  Imagine attending a wedding reception, and some random guest just decides that he wants to sit at the head table with the bride and groom!  Or some ordinary person at a State banquet just decides that he wants to sit at the seat right next to the President!  You or I would never think to do that, but some egotistical person, filled with pride might.  Pride is the root of so many different sins.

Jesus taught that true honor comes from God, not from our self-promotion.  His words are also reminiscent of a statement of Solomon in Proverbs 16:18.   The world is always striving for the highest positions.  And ambition, even if it is achieved by trampling over others, is esteemed.  Believers, though, should reject such thinking.  God will rightly honor those who serve quietly and faithfully.

Jesus then concluded His short parable by stating that if we give a nice dinner party, we shouldn’t invite those who can reciprocate by inviting us to their nice dinner parties.  Instead, we should invite those who can’t, such as the poor, the sick, those with disabilities (vs 12-14).  That way, instead of being invited to more dinner parties, God will give us His blessings in heaven.  Are you always looking to be repaid for everything that you do?  If you know that someone can’t or won’t invite you to her party, do you avoid inviting her to yours?  Jesus said that instead of spending your time picking who from the society people to invite, do some good for the poor and vulnerable.  That is where you’ll find God’s blessings.

This Scripture passage reflects the heart of God’s grace.  Salvation is not earned or repaid.  It is freely given to the undeserving (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Our homes and hearts should be open to those in need.  Hospitality is not a social strategy, but it is a spiritual discipline (Romans 12:13).

In closing, we need to remember that entry into God’s Kingdom is by grace and not by status.  Being concerned by one’s status will often lead to sinful pride.  As God’s Word states, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).  Don’t be obsessed with status and self-glory, but instead reach out to the poor, the broken, and the lost, showing them the love of Jesus and His message of salvation.

Living Faithfully For Jesus

Hebrews 13:1-8

Often when an older child leaves the family home to go off and attend college, or they move out on their own with a job, their parents will give them some final thoughts and words of advice.  We also see this at high school and college graduation events, where a commencement speaker gives his thoughts and words of advice for the graduates, setting off to start a new life.  Our Scripture today from the final chapter of the Book of Hebrews is similar, as the author gives some final thoughts and words as he concludes his letter.  Let’s take a quick look at the several different instructions he gives.

Our Scripture begins with an admonition to show love to our fellow Christians (vs. 1).   The Greek word the author used here is “philadelphia”, which means brotherly love, and which is where we get the name for the large city in Pennsylvania.  That city was named for the ancient city of Philadelphia located in modern day Turkey, and also mentioned in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 3:7).  Love for our fellow Christian brethren is not optional.  It is a command, as we are all members of the Body of Christ.  Sometimes it might not be easy, as when personalities clash, but God’s Word doesn’t give exceptions.  When we show this love, it is evidence of genuine conversion (John 13:35).

The author next reminds believers to be hospitable to others, including those we might not know (vs. 2).  He gives us the example of Abraham, when he hosted three strangers, who unbeknown to him at the time, were heavenly visitors (Genesis 18).  Is there a new family at your church?  Invite them to have lunch together afterwards.  Do you have a new neighbor?  Get to know them, and then you might have the opportunity to witness to them about the Lord or invite them to church.  Open your home and heart to others, especially fellow believers or those in need.  This can give God the opportunity to work in their lives.  When we welcome all people openly and with Christ-like love, we reflect our Savior’s love and compassion.

We are further instructed to remember those who are imprisoned and persecuted, especially for their faith (vs. 3).  The Church is one body, and when one member suffers, we all suffer (I Corinthians 12:26).  We should all be praying for persecuted believers.  Also we can support ministries that care for the imprisoned and afflicted.  The more we reach out and minister to prisoners, we can show them the love of Jesus, witness to them, and lead them to salvation, changing their life around.

Next we have an instruction regarding marriage (vs. 4).  Marriage is a divine institution, not just a cultural ceremony.  Sexual purity is commanded throughout God’s Word, and He tells us here that He will judge immorality.  Believers need to uphold the sanctity of Biblical marriage and reject all worldly distortions.

The next two verses show us that we can and should trust in the Lord to provide for our needs (vs. 5-6).  Covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5).  When we are content with what we have in life, it shows our trust in God and His provisions.  In verse 6, the author quotes Psalm 118:6.  God’s presence in our life should eliminate all fear.  When we face uncertain times, whether it is financial strain, persecution, or anything else, we can rest in God’s help.  No experience at any time in our lives compares with knowing Jesus.  Don’t be tempted to choose what Satan has to offer.  Jesus is there for us, and He has promised us that He will never leave us or forsake us.  We know that we cannot say that about everyone, but we can trust in God.  We are never alone.  Jesus is always with us!

Our next Scripture here reminds us to remember our spiritual leaders (vs. 7).  Spiritual leadership is ordained by God.  Those who preach God’s Word properly and truthfully deserve respect and remembrance.  If their example is a godly one, that should encourage us to a deeper relationship with God, and we should remember to pray for them.

In our final verse of this passage, we are told that Jesus never changes.  The world around us is always changing, including people.  However, God never changes (Malachi 3:6).  The fact that Jesus is unchangeable and unalterable is foundational.  He is eternally trustworthy, unlike the shifting cultural norms or theological trends today.  Because Jesus is unchangeable, He deserves our complete confidence.  When we fix our hope in Jesus Christ, we can be sure that our anchor will hold.  He isn’t moving, changing, or leaving.  He is the same as He always has been.

As we look back at these several verses, we see that they provide sound doctrine for our daily life.  As Christians we are called to live out our faith with integrity, love, and confidence in God’s unchanging nature.  We can live faithfully for Jesus in a shifting world.

Do You Want To Be Blessed?

Psalm 112

Being a part of some groups or organizations often comes with certain benefits or rewards.  Some people will often try to join those groups just so that they can reap these rewards.  When someone accepts the Lord Jesus as their Savior, they become a child of God, a part of God’s family.  If they obey His Word the Bible, following closely in the footsteps of Jesus, there are also many blessings, rewards, and benefits that He will provide.  Psalm 112, our psalm for this week, highlights some of these blessings.

Psalm 112 is one of the “orphan psalms”, psalms whose author is unknown.  In the first verse, the author tells us of the promise that God makes to bless those who fear Him, and who obey His commandments and His Word.  The remainder of the psalm describes some of these blessings and rewards that God will give us if we do as He has said.  This is a portrait of a righteous believer, one who is closely following the Savior, showing the blessings of godly living, and the impact it can have on the generations that follow.

Our psalm begins by stating that these blessings come to those who fear the Lord and obey His commands in His Word (vs. 1).  We read in multiple places in the Bible of how important it is to have a godly fear of the Lord.  This is not the same type of fear that we might have of some criminal lurking in a dark corner of the street at night, or of some bully.  This is having a reverent awe and a godly respect and honor due to God.  We don’t have a flippant or casual attitude towards Him, but give Him the honor and respect that He is due.  Having a proper fear of the Lord will lead us to being obedient to His Word with joyful submission, not reluctant duty.

Those who are not only believers, but are ones who fear the Lord and obey His Word are much more likely to also train and instruct their children and grandchildren in His ways, and thus their families are more likely to follow the Lord in their own life (vs. 2).  Our walk with God impacts our children and grandchildren.  God honors generational faithfulness, which we see in His promise given by Moses in Deuteronomy 7:9.  Righteous living leaves a legacy.

As we continue, we read about wealth and riches (vs. 3).  Material riches are not a guarantee for every believer.  However, God has promised us that He will provide for all of our needs (Philippians 4:19), and we do not need to fear when bad economic times hit.  God will not leave His children who are faithfully obedient to Him lying in the dust (Psalm 37:25).  True wealth is not just financial, it is enduring righteousness and spiritual fruit that outlasts earthly riches.

The Lord also provides a guiding light for the believer (vs 4).  When we are closely following the Bible, we find that He will direct our paths throughout life.  Not only that, when we are blessed by the Lord, we will reflect God to others in our life.  Our life becomes a beacon to others.  Another mark of a person whose life is blessed by the Lord is that he is generous and is a good steward of all that He has blessed him with (vs. 5).  We see in verse 6 that the Lord will uphold the righteous, and they shall not be moved.  When things around us in society and the world are falling apart, the Lord will hold us secure.  We can stand firm and secure, as God remembers our faithfulness.

Are there things happening in the world, whether political, natural disasters, or wars, that bring fear to you?  There are some people who nearly collapse in fear when disturbances such as these happen.  However, as Christians who are walking with the Lord in our life, we do not need to be afraid (vs. 7-8).  If we, as believers, crumble in fear when bad news comes, we are acting no different than the unsaved.  They do not have Jesus to run to, but we do!  If we have a heart that is fixed or anchored in God’s promises we do not need to panic when bad news comes.  Our faith should dispel any fear.  We have His faithfulness, we have a living hope.  Take courage and rely on the faithfulness of God.

As we close this psalm we see that we can trust in the Lord to fight our battles (vs. 8-10).  We don’t need to seek revenge on the wicked who come against us, as God will vindicate us.  Let Him bring a resolution in His time.  Instead, be generous, as God honors those who care for the poor and who live uprightly.  God never grows too tired or weary to carry our burden.  He is always available for us when we surrender and cry out for help.  God’s justice will prevail.  We don’t need to envy the wicked, as their path ends in frustration and ruin, while ours will lead to eternal reward.