Why do people reject God and deny the work of The Spirit? One answer is found in the parable of the three servants in Matthew 24:14-30.

The key passage for this observation is:

“Then the one who received two thousand dollars came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you are a hard person to please. You harvest where you haven’t planted and gather where you haven’t scattered any seeds. I was afraid. So I hid your two thousand dollars in the ground. Here’s your money!‘” (Matthew 25:24-25 God’s Word©).

The useless servant (verse 30) was afraid and accused the Boss of taking credit for, and hoarding, all the benefit of the work “done by others”.

But wait just a minute!

The Boss gave the servants all the money (all the resources) for the venture. The servants had no personal finances to invest in the enterprise. The servants simply had opportunity to multiply the estate of the Boss (of which they were a part!).

The Boss praised the work of the two servants who did that and rewarded them handsomely (verses 21 and 23). The useless servant slandered the Boss (verses 24-25).

People want the credit and praise for what God does! And if they can’t get the honour and authority they seek, then they will not only do nothing for, but will even become enemy of, the Boss, even though Jesus paid the entire cost to deliver every human from selfish egotism, replacing that with a profound respect for The Creator and everyone created.

In other words, no rigorous activity, no intellectual achievement, no religious ceremony, no adventurous quest, nor membership in any group, race, gender, political party or system can add anything to what Jesus paid on the cross. A response of, “I accept”, to what Jesus Christ did opens the door to an eternity of revelling in all the goodness in the universe. Solitary satisfaction becomes living for the benefit of the whole human race, which brings unity and community rather than division and derision.

Those who cling tenaciously to their superiority over others will only know the eternal loneliness of having nothing more than self.

So, are you multiplying grace (God’s gifts and resources) with an eye to eternity, or are you mired in fear that your ego will not get what it craves (to the detriment of others) in this life?

Psalm 94 is disturbing to me.

To modernists it is disturbing because in their arrogance they refuse to allow God to act against sin. For them God can only be gentle love and consolation.

That is not what disturbs me, however. What a heart-breaking poem Psalm 94 is because the wicked do wickedly and have no sense of remorse, even claiming that God doesn’t see what they do because there is no God except their power over others.

Personally I have been persecuted and treated with contempt for justice by those who have the power to do just that. Even years later these people show no remorse; they continue living like they can do no wrong because they can do what they do and, so far, God has not sent cataclysmic punishment upon them.

Without remorse there is no repentance and so there is no forgiveness which means their eternal condition is at stake.

God continues to show that racist bigotry, gender hatred and economic oppression or any evil are against the very fabric of the universe. The power-abusers don’t care, and as Jesus observed even from the cross, “Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”.

In a long story in Matthew 25 Jesus points out that those who show sympathy, empathy and compassion will receive the blessing of The Creator, while those who are heartless, self-centred and malicious will also receive payback in kind, with eternal consequences.

If we steal from someone (reputation or property) or kill someone (through hate) or destroy someone through emotional vandalism we act as Apollyon (Abaddon), The Evil One.

We can never consider that we are right if we win against someone. Our call is never to be right, but to do right. And if we do right it will cost us something or build someone else up.

So have you been in a debate or argument and made someone look foolish in the eyes of others, or competed and took everything and left someone standing emotionally naked? Then repent and apologize.

Eternity is awaiting, for blessing or suffering. What you cause here is what you can expect there.

PSALM 94

1
O Lord, God of vengeance,
O God of vengeance, appear!
2
Arise, O Judge of the earth.
Give arrogant people what they deserve.
3
How long, O Lord, will wicked people triumph?
How long? vengeance, appear!

⁴ They ramble.
They speak arrogantly.
All troublemakers brag about themselves.
⁵ They crush your people, O Lord.
They make those who belong to you suffer.
⁶ They kill widows and foreigners, and they murder orphans.
⁷ They say, “The Lord doesn’t see it.
The God of Jacob doesn’t even pay attention to it.”

⁸ Pay attention, you stupid people!
When will you become wise, you fools?
⁹ God created ears.
Do you think he can’t hear?
He formed eyes.
Do you think he can’t see?
¹⁰ He disciplines nations.
Do you think he can’t punish?
He teaches people.
Do you think he doesn’t know anything?
¹¹ The Lord knows that people’s thoughts are pointless.

¹² O Lord, blessed is the person
whom you discipline and instruct from your teachings.
¹³ You give him peace and quiet from times of trouble
while a pit is dug to trap wicked people.

¹⁴ The Lord will never desert his people
or abandon those who belong to him.
¹⁵ The decisions of judges will again become fair,
and everyone whose motives are decent will pursue justice.

¹⁶ Who will stand up for me against evildoers?
Who will stand by my side against troublemakers?
¹⁷ If the Lord had not come to help me,
my soul would have quickly fallen silent ⌞in death⌟.

¹⁸ When I said, “My feet are slipping,”
your mercy, O Lord, continued to hold me up.
¹⁹ When I worried about many things,
your assuring words soothed my soul.

²⁰ Are wicked rulers who use the law to do unlawful things
able to be your partners?
²¹ They join forces to take the lives of righteous people.
They condemn innocent people to death.
²² The Lord has become my stronghold.
My God has become my rock of refuge.
²³ He has turned their own wickedness against them.
He will destroy them because of their sins.
The Lord our God will destroy them.

Is life comfortable with everything running smoothly? Then this is a time to fall humbly before God in thanksgiving and exercise faith to resist fleshly impulses. If you can “take life easy” life can be easily lost. Read more…