The Two-god System
Scripture
Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.
~2 Timothy 4:10, NKJV
Quote
No man can serve two masters.
~Jesus of Nazareth
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Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells the story of the farmer who was blessed with the birth of twin calves. He was so excited that he ran to the house to tell his wife all about it. He said, “Honey, I think what we will do is raise these calves to weaning age and then sale them. We will keep the money for one and give the other to the LORD by donating the money to the church.” His wife said, “That is a wonderful idea. Lets go out to the barn and decide which one we are going to dedicate to the LORD.” He said, “No, that is not necessary, we can decide that later.” Months later, just prior to loading them up to take to the sale, he came in the house all dejected. “What is wrong with you?” Said his wife. “I have bad news,” he said. The wife said, “What on earth is it?” He said, “The LORDs calf has died.” She said, “You don’t know that, it could be our calf, you never made a decision.” “On no,” he said, “I am sure, it is the LORD’s calf that died.” Isn’t it strange that the LORD’s calf is always the one that dies. We get in a bit of tight and the first thing we do is cut our giving to the LORD’s work.
Demas was one of Paul’s co-workers. Paul mentions him, along with Luke, in Philemon and Colossians as a faithful fellow worker. He has stuck with Paul through out the entire Roman imprisonment but just before Paul’s execution, he leaves and we don’t have any idea where he went. Paul said he did it for the love of the world or literally, this present age. Did he do it for money? Did someone else offer him a raise? Possible but there are a lot of things to consider: Fear of persecution, desire for safety and comfort, or perhaps homesickness.
Things in this present world {age} cab lured Demas to forsake his post. Demas started well, and served faithfully for years, but he did not finish and Paul gave us the reason. There are many things about this present age that are unattractive: Sickness, suffering, sorrow, death, divorce and dissppointment to mention a few, but there are many attractive things that will seduce us and draw us away from our calling. The older I get, the more I crave comfort. I want to be under the A/C and I want my sleep number at night, not to speak of at least three meals a day. Comfort is a huge temptation for a senior adult.
Of course I do believe that the biggest lure of them all is money. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “You can’t serve God and money.” The two masters will not work. I can just here someone saying, “The King James says ‘mammon’.” I know, but it means money. This is why so many love the KJV, they can read it without understanding it. It is easier on the conscience. Just a couple of years out of seminary I was on the edge of being bitter about the lack of financial support I was getting from the church I was serving. An older and wiser preacher straightened me out. He said, “The church is not your supplier, Philippians 4:19 says, ‘My God shall supply ALL your needs. Now how many gods do you have?'” I said, “Two, I guess because I have not been looking to Him for the financial part.” He said, “You look to Him for everything…He said All.” I have never trusted a church to provide for my financial needs since. I go directly to the LORD for my needs. The older preacher was right and taking his advice saved me from bitterness and resentment. I have no complaints about the LORD’s provisions. How many gods do you have? One for your sins and another for your daily needs.
We celebrated America’s 250 birthday yesterday at the POINT. David and Joe put it together and they did an excellent job. The video was top notch. I am sure that the left would not approve of our party but we celebrated anyway. We are patriotic at the POINT: the libs in DC will have to get use to it. The four major branches of the Military were present. We had one Navy veteran, one Marine, three Air Force and the rest were Army. Great service guys.
I am thrilled to report to you that while June and I were at Marie’s COLS it came a rain at our house. We got almost an inch and a half {1.41}. The garden is muddy and the pond is full. I told someone the other day: the pond will not be full again until November. I was wrong and gladly so.
God bless you and thanks for reading the blog.
Mens Breakfast coming up Saturday week at the POINT. That is July 11 at 8:00 am.