For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    I find it interesting how the proverb writer does such a good job of showing how certain things work together. He tells us that pride leads to conflict and that the wise take advice. Looked at on the surface this does not tell us much. However, if we look at it a little closer we will see there is an important message there.
    Why does pride lead to conflict? The answer is: those who are too proud to listen to those who have a different opinion will end up fighting with those who would give them advice. On the other hand, the wise avoid conflict by taking advice. By taking advice, they demonstrate to those around them that they value their thoughts and opinions. In addition, that advice will help them avoid getting into conflict with still others.

    The psalmist starts by calling out to God for help. He explains that the only reason he can expect God to save him is because he serves God. Then having asked God for generic help the psalmist spells out specifically what he wants God to do for him. The psalmist asks God to teach him His ways. He asks God to grant him purity of heart. It is for these that I need to persistently petition God!

    In this account, the rich man approaches Jesus and seeks how he can earn eternal life. The first hint we have about what is going on here is when he calls Jesus “Good Teacher” and Jesus’ response to that. I have heard some people say that when Jesus pointed out that only God was good, He was using the man’s statement to draw attention to the fact that He Himself was God. That never seemed correct to me, but until today I did not have an understanding of what point Jesus was making. It also helps us understand how what Jesus says here applies to us.
    In response to the actual question, Jesus starts by telling the man that he must follow all of the commands. When the man replies that he has done so since he was a child, Jesus then tells him to sell all the he owns and come and follow Him. This is too much for the man and he leaves. At this point, it might seem that this is an instruction for us to follow (and there is nothing wrong with doing that if you feel God so calling you), but this is where the story circles back to no one but God being good. Jesus tells us that it is harder for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. His disciples react to this by asking, then who can be saved? Jesus answers that question by telling them that no one can be good enough to be saved. It is only through the grace of God that anyone can be saved. It is impossible for us to be good enough to be saved. God’s power is the only thing which makes it possible for any person to be saved.

    I read this passage with its description of the land which was given to the tribe of Judah and I do not see a message or a thought to meditate on in it. The only place where there seems to be something is in the part where it describes Caleb claiming his land and his daughter marrying his nephew. I think there is something there to learn from, but I do not see it today. Hopefully the Holy Spirit will reveal something to you that I have missed. If so, please share it in the comments.

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    Goodness shines brightly out of the godly while the wicked snuff out whatever goodness is within themselves. At least one condition necessary for conflict to occur is pride, without pride, conflict will not come about. True wisdom lies in being humble enough to take advice.

    I love this psalm and will do as the psalmist recommends. I will call upon God when I am in trouble, for I know that He will answer my cry. There is no other god like Him. One of the things I ask of God is that He teach me His ways, so that I can live according to His truth. I, also, ask that He purify my heart, so that my life will honour Him. I know that I am not able, by my own strength of will, to live a life according to His ways, nor am I able to purify my heart. But I know that God has the power to cause these things to happen and I pray that He send His Spirit upon me to accomplish these ends.

    In the story of the rich man there is one element I do not remember ever being expounded upon, and another that I have rarely heard discussed. I will address the latter first. The rich man came to Jesus and asked Him what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. When Jesus told him to follow the commandments, he replied that he was already doing that. The rich man clearly felt that he needed to do more, that following the commandments was not enough. He recognized that not committing any sins of commission was not enough. He sought to find out what positive action he should take (or, possibly, he was seeking Jesus’ affirmation that he had indeed done enough). The point is that this rich man recognized that not doing wrong is not enough. In addition to not doing what is wrong, we need to do what is right.
    This brings us to the element of this story I do not remember hearing anyone expound upon. Jesus told the rich man to “Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The key part of what Jesus was telling the man was that he should come and follow Jesus. Selling his possessions and giving the money to the poor was merely there so that the man would not have it as a fallback. It was a sign of commitment. Are we willing to follow where God leads, even when it means not leaving open an option to turn back? The key thing which Jesus was telling this man to do was make a complete commitment, all-in. Are we “All-in”?

    When Caleb went to take the land that had been given to him as his inheritance, he conquered much of the land that was given to him. However, when he went up against one of the cities, he declared that he would give his daughter’s hand in marriage to whomever conquered it. After its defeat, he kept his word. As part of the marriage settlement, Caleb gave some land to her and her new husband. However, the land apparently did not have any springs on it, so she asked her father for springs to go with it. He granted them to her. I recounted all that to note that when we give to others, we should be sure that we do not make them dependent upon us to gain any benefit from the gift. In this case, the land Caleb gave his son-in-law was only usable as long as he had access to the springs which Caleb initially kept for himself. When we “help” those in need, let us make sure that we are not making them dependent upon ourselves, or upon someone else, not even upon the government. We should strive to help those in need to be able to stand on their own (with God’s help and none other).