January 14
Gen 30-31:16 | PS 12 | Prov 3:13-15 | Matt 10:1-23
Many erroneously believe that if they just had a little more of this or that, then they would be happy and satisfied, but we read in 1 John 2:15-16, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." When it comes to power, money, pleasure, etc. the thirst for these cannot be quenched by simply getting more. They are never satisfied. John D. Rockefeller, in the early 1900's, was the richest man in the world. He was asked by a reporter, "How much money is enough?" To which he responded, "Just a little bit more." History is full of one national leader after another who rose to power but whose desire for power could not be quenched. More and more power eventually leads to their own personal destruction along with the nation they claim to represent. As a pro-life obstetrician, I wish that abortion would be considered unthinkable. But those in favor of abortion cannot be satisfied in their desire to enable death in the womb to any mother who so chooses, as our state of New Jersey just passed a law allowing abortion up to and including one's due date at 40 weeks. The LGBTQ agenda knows no bounds, as it seeks to push forth it's agenda everywhere and anywhere and to children of any age. They will never be satisfied. Recently a college professor, tried to rebrand pedophilia to the more socially accepted term of "Minor attracted Persons". The list could go on and on. But suffice it to say, the things of this world, the things of the flesh, and the pride of life will never be satisfied. Lastly, realize that these items are not relegated to the fringe, but are real in our day to day to life, as they incorporate not necessarily "bad" things, but "good" things as well. So many "good" people are consumed with the success of their children (education, achievement in activities, career, marriage), their own careers, their homes, their investments, their retirement, etc. These good things consume us, and also will never satisfy, they will never be enough. Your children can always achieve a little more, you can always save a little more, etc.
We read in Genesis 29:30, "Then Jacob also went in to Rachel, and he also loved Rachel more than Leah. And he served with Laban still another seven years." So, in the game of being loved more, Rachel won. Did that satisfy her? We read in 30:1, "Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister, and said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die!”" No, finding herself barren, she was no longer satisfied with being the top wife. So she tries, in her flesh, to tip the scales in her favor by offering her husband, her maidservant (30:3-4). In the passage of time, and more children, we eventually see Rachel conceive. Did that satisfy her? We read in 30:22-24, "Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” So she called his name Joseph, and said, “The Lord shall add to me another son.”" She no sooner delivered that she had to try to catch up, as she desires another son. Laban, Rachel's father was no different. He acknowledged that his new found prosperity was due to God blessing him as a result of Jacob. Jacob simply asked for something that he could call his own, rather than providing for his father-in-law. But wealth is never satisfied, as Laban acts deceitfully in 30:35. When this attempt at cheating doesn't work, we see the results in 30:43-31:2, "Thus the man became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks, female and male servants, and camels and donkeys. Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.” And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before."
In our reading in Matthew 10:1-23, today, Jesus does the exact opposite. While most lean on the things of the world in order to feel secure and satisfied, Jesus told them to take next to nothing with them as they would go into difficult situations. Jesus was teaching them to lean on Him, not the world. He instructed them as they navigated the mission field in Matthew 10:16, "“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." If we get our eyes off of this world and onto Jesus, we will be satisfied. As citizens of heaven and ambassadors on earth (Philippians 3:20), only God can satisfy us. Lastly, as we read Psalm 12:8, we realize that our circumstances are not unique, "The wicked prowl on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men." The answer is not fear or worldly counter-measures, but seek God, as revealed in Proverbs 3:13-15, "Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding; For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her." 1 John 2:17, gives clarity to the solution, and what it is that we should do, as we read, "And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: