by Tim Hall

One of the most common tendencies among people is to put great value on things. Things can be essential; our daily existence depends on having enough food, clothing, shelter, money, etc. But when we allow things to become more important than people, we've made a serious mistake.

Early in Israel's history, God attempted to teach this lesson to his people. Consider this passage from Deuteronomy 24:10-13: "When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you. And if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight. You shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the Lord your God" (NKJV).

Those who are forced to borrow from others are at their mercy. Lenders stereotypically show little, if any, mercy. God, however, required his people to show mercy and consideration to those who were poor. In the passage above, God warned the lender against entering the home of the borrower for the purpose of taking a pledge (collateral). That would send the message that the lender was now in control of the other's life, and God forbade such an attitude. Also, the lender was not to keep the borrower's garment overnight. Sometimes the collateral given on a loan was the cloak in which the poor man slept. Without it, he would be cold and sleepless through the night. It was another way of stressing that people are more important than things.

We sometimes forget this lesson. We allow things to eclipse long-time friendships and relationships. Families feud over estates following the death of a loved one -- things have become more important than people. Friends envy one another's success and prosperity, and gossip breaks the friendship -- things have become more important than people. In so many ways, we forget what God has tried to teach us.

You've heard Paul's words of warning; hear them again: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10). The love of money, the love of things -- Satan has found a vulnerable spot in many hearts.

One other observation from our text in Deuteronomy 24: Why is it so necessary that we learn this lesson about people vs. things? ". . . and it shall be righteousness to you before the Lord your God." Do we want to be righteous? "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). Righteousness comes first; God will see to it that needed things will follow.

by Don Ruhl

Read Second Corinthians Chapter Eight

Why does one church give liberally and another is stingy? It has nothing to do with the financial resources of the church! I remember that in the 1980s there was a severe drought in California. Christians in Nigeria heard of the drought and wanted to help! Imagine that! People from one of the poorer nations on earth wanted to help not only one of the richest nations on earth, but one of the richest states in that nation!

I know of churches now that are poor, but they are liberal in doing good works, and I know of other churches that have plenty of financial reserves, but hold on to their money.

Second Corinthians 8:1,2 shows what moves a church to give, regardless of its financial resources or lack of resources.

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality (2 Corinthians 8:1,2, NKJV).

Paul continues to reveal that this poor church even begged him to be able to help in a certain work. It must be that he told them they needed the help, but they wanted to help others!

You see, the grace of God has been bestowed on all, but few are touched by it. These brethren saw the grace of God, and, although they were experiencing great trials of affliction and were poor, they had overflowing joy, which translated into abundant liberality, making them rich indeed.

If we want to do something, regardless of our circumstances, we will do it. If we want to contribute to something, regardless of our circumstances, we will do it.

Lord God who is spirit, you know how much I hate to shave every morning. Scraping off the stubble from my face irritates more than my skin! Yet, and yet, how many handicapped would enjoy doing those simple movements! And what ease, with foam and three blades set just so, to whisk off the whiskers without much danger to myself. And in hot water to boot. Some even do it electrically! A far cry from years ago when the barber did it for a fee with a long blade.

In the small tasks of life, Lord, even in these you have shown your blessing. How much more so in the eternal things! Through him whose beard grew as well, Amen.

by Don Ruhl

Read Proverbs 22-24

Solomon said,

10 If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small. (Proverbs 24:10, NKJV).

Yet, from the time I became a Christian, I have heard many Christians declare that God should not let us suffer! They are already fainting before the day of adversity even arrives! If Jesus Christ our Lord, the only perfect and innocent one, was not exempt from suffering, why do we think we should be?

Tough times will come. Rather than wishing that they never would, we do better to prepare for them.