We are borrowing Jane Austen's pictures of Sense and Sensibility, personified in the two Dashwood sisters, to look at the first phrase of Titus 2:5, and how we can be sensible, discreet, or self-controlled in various areas of life. Today's topic is finances.
The Bible has much to say about money and possessions. Christ Himself had more to say about money and possessions than about heaven and hell combined. 1 out of every 10 verses in the gospels is about money and possessions.
God says so much about money and possessions because He knows this is an important area of our lives. It is something we need to deal with just about every day. It is definitely a spiritual issue, and an area where we must be sensible.
We need to realize that everything we have really belongs to God.
Psalm 24:1: The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.
Haggai 2:8: The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, declares the Lord of hosts.
So if everything we have belongs to God, we are merely stewards, or money managers.
1 Corinthians 4:2: In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy
While the context of this verse refers to spiritual resources, God requires this of our physcial resources as well. The woman of ‘sense’ takes this stewardship seriously. She wants to please the Lord with her finances.
Therefore, she has a plan for her finances, a budget. Her purchases are made according to this plan. She gives regularly to the church. Because she plans ahead, she can help those in need.
She isn’t stingy or miserly, but she is frugal. She’s a wise shopper. She has a plan for her meals, and shops from a list. She knows where to get the best deals. She saves up for larger purchases, and sets aside money for those unexpected events—car repairs, medical emergencies, etc. She balances her checkbook and pays off her credit card bill each month. She is content with what God has given her.
Miss Sensibility, on the other hand, thinks budget is a dirty word. She doesn’t think about being God’s steward, she thinks about pleasing herself. She shops according to her desires, not any kind of plan. It doesn’t matter if she can’t afford it. I’ll just charge it, she thinks. She may even hide her purchases from her husband, or lie to him about what she has spent. She shops where it’s most convenient, or at the most popular place, regardless of cost.
She is a sucker for any kind of advertising gimmick. She’ll buy things she doesn’t need because she has a coupon or it’s on sale, and thinks she’s being a smart shopper. No interest until 2010 will sound too convincing to pass up. Her giving at church is pretty much hit and miss, perhaps more miss than hit. She either foregoes giving to missionaries or those in need, or gives to them extravagantly. She is most always discontent, but perhaps a trip to the mall will take care of that!
The reality is we are God’s stewards. The only question is whether or not we are faithful.
What have you found that helps you be a faithful steward of the financial resources the Lord has placed in your care? What money-saving tips do you practice? Please leave a comment with your suggestions.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sense and Sensibility: Time Management, Priorities, Scheduling
In our ongoing series on Sense and Sensibilitiy, today's topic is time management, priorities, and scheduling.
The woman of ‘sense’ knows that this is a very important area, so she gives it serious consideration and planning.
Ephesians 5:15-16: Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
To display good sense you must:
--Know your priorities and regularly evaluate your practice to make sure they match.
--Have a prayerfully planned schedule for the day and week.
--Continually be on the look--out both for ways to maximize your time, and time wasters that must be eliminated.
--Remember that interruptions and unexpected events are part of God’s sovereign plan for your day and life, and should be embraced, not fumed over.
--Realize that making the most of your time will involve saying No! to many things, even good things.
On the other hand, time management, scheduling, and priorities may seem like words of restriction and limitation to the woman of ‘sensibility’. She wants to be free to spend her time as her fancy leads her. She has no plan, so she flits from one activity to another, not accomplishing the truly important in favor of the enjoyable or seemingly urgent.
Or perhaps her particular bent of sensibility manifests itself in perfectionism. Her house is immaculate, but her family doesn’t feel like they can be at home there. Her ducks are all in a row, but relationships are neglected.
God calls us to use our time wisely, making the most of our opportunities. That’s being sensible.
What techniques do you use to make the most of your time?
The woman of ‘sense’ knows that this is a very important area, so she gives it serious consideration and planning.
Ephesians 5:15-16: Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
To display good sense you must:
--Know your priorities and regularly evaluate your practice to make sure they match.
--Have a prayerfully planned schedule for the day and week.
--Continually be on the look--out both for ways to maximize your time, and time wasters that must be eliminated.
--Remember that interruptions and unexpected events are part of God’s sovereign plan for your day and life, and should be embraced, not fumed over.
--Realize that making the most of your time will involve saying No! to many things, even good things.
On the other hand, time management, scheduling, and priorities may seem like words of restriction and limitation to the woman of ‘sensibility’. She wants to be free to spend her time as her fancy leads her. She has no plan, so she flits from one activity to another, not accomplishing the truly important in favor of the enjoyable or seemingly urgent.
Or perhaps her particular bent of sensibility manifests itself in perfectionism. Her house is immaculate, but her family doesn’t feel like they can be at home there. Her ducks are all in a row, but relationships are neglected.
God calls us to use our time wisely, making the most of our opportunities. That’s being sensible.
What techniques do you use to make the most of your time?
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Sense and Sensibility: Food and Exercise
In the previous post, we began to look at the term "sensible" (or discreet, or self-controlled) from Titus 2:5. We are going to borrow Jane Austen's contrasting viewpoints of sense and sensibility to look at different areas of life, to see how we can apply the truths of Titus 2 to our own lives. Today the topic is food and exercise.
To take a ‘sense’ approach to our food, we will be governed my moderation.
I Corinthians 10:31: Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
To glorify God we must be thankful for the food He has given us. It is okay, even appropriate, to enjoy the food He has given us. We want to be good stewards of the bodies God has given us, so we must seek a generally healthy, nutritious diet.
I think it is very easy to see food as a totally non-spiritual issue. But that is a lie. God commands us to glorify Him in all that we do, including our diet.
Elisabeth Eliot said, "We cannot give our hearts to God and keep our bodies to ourselves."
In contrast, a ‘sensibility’ approach to food could take a number of forms.
Probably most frequently we overindulge our desires in this area. Our senses tell us, I want chocolate, or potato chips, or ice cream, or whatever is your own favorite, and, in this case very literally, we feed that desire. We eat not to glorify God, but to please self, or because we’re discouraged, or nervous, or angry, or bored.
But sensibility can take other, more deceptive forms.
We can be zealous regarding our diet, but for all the wrong reasons—such as vanity, sensuality, desire for acceptance, fear of man.
We can become obsessed with healthy eating to the point where it, rather than God, dominates our thinking, discussions, and decision making, and we become judgmental toward others. God wants us to eat in a way that will glorify Him. That’s being sensible.
Miss Sense knows that exercise is good for her, part of a healthy lifestyle. She has a plan and puts it into practice with a reasonable degree of consistency, on days she feels like it and days she doesn't. Miss Sensibility again can go to extremes. She may avoid exercise altogether, or participate only when she's in the mood. Or she may be an exercise fanatic. Fitness is the driving force in her life. She frantically fights against the aging process and is determined to work out like a 25 year old, even if she's 50. Actually she needs to work out even harder, because she still hopes to look like that 25 year old.
In this area of life, who are you--Sense or Sensibility?
Please share any ideas or practical steps you take that help you to be sensible, or self-controlled regarding food and exercise.
To take a ‘sense’ approach to our food, we will be governed my moderation.
I Corinthians 10:31: Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
To glorify God we must be thankful for the food He has given us. It is okay, even appropriate, to enjoy the food He has given us. We want to be good stewards of the bodies God has given us, so we must seek a generally healthy, nutritious diet.
I think it is very easy to see food as a totally non-spiritual issue. But that is a lie. God commands us to glorify Him in all that we do, including our diet.
Elisabeth Eliot said, "We cannot give our hearts to God and keep our bodies to ourselves."
In contrast, a ‘sensibility’ approach to food could take a number of forms.
Probably most frequently we overindulge our desires in this area. Our senses tell us, I want chocolate, or potato chips, or ice cream, or whatever is your own favorite, and, in this case very literally, we feed that desire. We eat not to glorify God, but to please self, or because we’re discouraged, or nervous, or angry, or bored.
But sensibility can take other, more deceptive forms.
We can be zealous regarding our diet, but for all the wrong reasons—such as vanity, sensuality, desire for acceptance, fear of man.
We can become obsessed with healthy eating to the point where it, rather than God, dominates our thinking, discussions, and decision making, and we become judgmental toward others. God wants us to eat in a way that will glorify Him. That’s being sensible.
Miss Sense knows that exercise is good for her, part of a healthy lifestyle. She has a plan and puts it into practice with a reasonable degree of consistency, on days she feels like it and days she doesn't. Miss Sensibility again can go to extremes. She may avoid exercise altogether, or participate only when she's in the mood. Or she may be an exercise fanatic. Fitness is the driving force in her life. She frantically fights against the aging process and is determined to work out like a 25 year old, even if she's 50. Actually she needs to work out even harder, because she still hopes to look like that 25 year old.
In this area of life, who are you--Sense or Sensibility?
Please share any ideas or practical steps you take that help you to be sensible, or self-controlled regarding food and exercise.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Sense and Sensibility
If you are looking for a Jane Austen book club, you've come to the wrong place! I am just borrowing her imagery to look at the first phrase in Titus 2:5.
Titus 2:3-5: Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.
This is part of a larger passage in Titus 2, where Paul commands Timothy to “speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). The focus here is not on preaching doctrine, but practical instructions for living. In verses 2-10, Paul goes on to give detailed description of fitting, or appropriate behavior for different groups within the church—older men, older women, young women, young men, and slaves.
This instruction is not a list of good ideas for those who want to go above and beyond; these are commands for us so that we will honor God’s word, be a shining testimonies to even our enemies, and make the doctrine of God our Savior appear attractive to others.
The phrase, to be sensible (in the NASB), is also translated to be discreet (KJV), and to be self-controlled (NIV, ESV). As I looked in various lexicons and commentaries, I found all these descriptions:
Of a sound mind, sane, in one’s senses, curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate
Mature judgment and proper restraint
Common sense and good judgment
A well-balanced, properly regulated mind; discreet and prudent
You can see why the translators had a hard time capturing this concept in a single English word!
To get a better understanding of this concept, let’s look at other places in the Bible where this term is used.
In Titus 1:8 and 1 Timothy 3:2 this is one of the requirements for an elder.
In our context of Titus 2:1-10, this is the only quality required for everyone. In verse 2 older men are to be sensible. In verse 6 younger men are to be sensible. The term in verse 4 which is probably translated encourage or train in your Bible is a form of this same word, literally the older women are to bring the younger women to their senses, implying that the older women are to be sensible themselves. And of course we are looking at it here in verse 5, for the younger women. This quality may seem unimportant, perhaps even a little boring, to us, but it must be important to God if He requires it of everyone. We need to think of it as important as well.
Other forms of this word are used in:
Mark 5:15—After Jesus heals the man possessed with a legion of demons, it says he was in his right mind
Romans 12:3 commands us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, but to think so as to have sound judgment
In 1 Peter 4:7 we are commanded to be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. This verse highlights the spiritual implication of our concept. If we are being sensible, we will realize our dependency on God; it will drive us to our knees.
While this term encompasses the idea of self-control, it is broader than that. A totally different word is used in Galations 5:23.
By looking at the ideas of sense and sensibility from the Jane Austen novel, I think we can see a contrasting picture that will help us understand this biblical concept, and how we can apply it to our own lives. In today’s thinking and language sense and sensibility might seem like synonyms. But in Jane Austen’s day they were opposites. Austen uses these terms to capsulate the two sisters that are central in her story. Sense and sensibility summarize each one’s framework for living. If you’ve ever read the book or seen the movie I want you to picture those two sisters. One is dominated by sense. She seeks to make wise decisions, even when it means restraining her own emotions and desires. It’s not that she doesn’t feel strongly, but she exercises self-control. The other sister is dominated by sensibility—she is totally consumed by what she senses and feels. In modern language, we might describe her as excessively emotional and sensitive. Not only does she not curb her emotions and desires, she eagerly feeds them.
Over the next few posts, I want to look at several areas of life, and paint two pictures--actually, they will merely be preliminary sketches—one of sense, which for our purposes we will embody our biblical concept, and the other of sensibility. As we look at these different areas, look for ways you can put this into practice in your own life.
Titus 2:3-5: Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored.
This is part of a larger passage in Titus 2, where Paul commands Timothy to “speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). The focus here is not on preaching doctrine, but practical instructions for living. In verses 2-10, Paul goes on to give detailed description of fitting, or appropriate behavior for different groups within the church—older men, older women, young women, young men, and slaves.
This instruction is not a list of good ideas for those who want to go above and beyond; these are commands for us so that we will honor God’s word, be a shining testimonies to even our enemies, and make the doctrine of God our Savior appear attractive to others.
The phrase, to be sensible (in the NASB), is also translated to be discreet (KJV), and to be self-controlled (NIV, ESV). As I looked in various lexicons and commentaries, I found all these descriptions:
Of a sound mind, sane, in one’s senses, curbing one’s desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate
Mature judgment and proper restraint
Common sense and good judgment
A well-balanced, properly regulated mind; discreet and prudent
You can see why the translators had a hard time capturing this concept in a single English word!
To get a better understanding of this concept, let’s look at other places in the Bible where this term is used.
In Titus 1:8 and 1 Timothy 3:2 this is one of the requirements for an elder.
In our context of Titus 2:1-10, this is the only quality required for everyone. In verse 2 older men are to be sensible. In verse 6 younger men are to be sensible. The term in verse 4 which is probably translated encourage or train in your Bible is a form of this same word, literally the older women are to bring the younger women to their senses, implying that the older women are to be sensible themselves. And of course we are looking at it here in verse 5, for the younger women. This quality may seem unimportant, perhaps even a little boring, to us, but it must be important to God if He requires it of everyone. We need to think of it as important as well.
Other forms of this word are used in:
Mark 5:15—After Jesus heals the man possessed with a legion of demons, it says he was in his right mind
Romans 12:3 commands us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think, but to think so as to have sound judgment
In 1 Peter 4:7 we are commanded to be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. This verse highlights the spiritual implication of our concept. If we are being sensible, we will realize our dependency on God; it will drive us to our knees.
While this term encompasses the idea of self-control, it is broader than that. A totally different word is used in Galations 5:23.
By looking at the ideas of sense and sensibility from the Jane Austen novel, I think we can see a contrasting picture that will help us understand this biblical concept, and how we can apply it to our own lives. In today’s thinking and language sense and sensibility might seem like synonyms. But in Jane Austen’s day they were opposites. Austen uses these terms to capsulate the two sisters that are central in her story. Sense and sensibility summarize each one’s framework for living. If you’ve ever read the book or seen the movie I want you to picture those two sisters. One is dominated by sense. She seeks to make wise decisions, even when it means restraining her own emotions and desires. It’s not that she doesn’t feel strongly, but she exercises self-control. The other sister is dominated by sensibility—she is totally consumed by what she senses and feels. In modern language, we might describe her as excessively emotional and sensitive. Not only does she not curb her emotions and desires, she eagerly feeds them.
Over the next few posts, I want to look at several areas of life, and paint two pictures--actually, they will merely be preliminary sketches—one of sense, which for our purposes we will embody our biblical concept, and the other of sensibility. As we look at these different areas, look for ways you can put this into practice in your own life.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Holidays: Ideals can be Idols
Holidays can be wonderful. They offer a special time to spend with family and friends, enjoying the relationships God gives us. They can also be times of disappointment and unmet expectations.
I recently had a great holiday, well, really, it was the day after Mother's Day, but that's close enough. I was able to spend time with all three of my sons, and my grandson. We spent the day at Disneyland with Ben, Bobby, and his wife Christa, and their son Tyler. The picture to the right is Ben, my youngest, me, and Bobby, my oldest. On the left I am enjoying a silly moment with my grandson, Tyler. That evening we had dinner with Billy and Cory. Sorry, no pix.
Mother's Day is one holiday where it is very easy to make the ideal an idol.
Maybe you are not a mother, but greatly desire to be one. That desire can become an idol of the heart with little or no effort, and Mother's Day becomes a day of self-pity.
Maybe your ideal Mother's Day comes from a Hallmark commercial, complete with breakfast in bed, flowers, lunch or dinner at your favorite restaurant, and new jewelry. When that ideal fantasy doesn't become reality (I can almost guarantee you it won't!), your day is ruined. You spend the day regretting what you don't have instead of rejoicing in what you do have. Your ideal has become an idol.
Maybe your Mother's Day includes a family celebration with multiple mothers, so you have to serve instead of being served. You respond dutifully, but perhaps also resentfully.
Maybe you are struggling with a difficult child, or a wayward teen or adult child, and your frustrations and disappointment dominate your holiday.
Maybe your children are grown and gone, and none of them, or not all of them, will be with you on Mother's Day. For most moms, having all the children and grandchildren around her would be the ideal holiday. If that ideal has become an idol, the day can be filled with dissatisfaction and discontent when the crowd is small or non-existent.
The possibilities are abundant, our hearts are idol-factories. So we must guard our hearts. As the next holiday approaches, we must search our hearts for any idealistic and idol-istic expectations, and confess them as sin. We are then free to enjoy the opportunities God gives us with thankfulness, not disappointment. When we focus on pleasing the Lord, and not ourselves, we can always have a happy holiday.
Monday, May 12, 2008
When it Doesn't Make Sense
It is easy for Christians today, myself included, to evaluate commands from God's Word from some personal perspective. Maybe the command seems too difficult, or it is in direct conflict with the wisdom of the world or our own emotions, or it just doesn't make sense. We have become masters at justifying our own disobedience. Instead we need to obey whether it makes sense or not, whether it is popular in our day or not (usually it's not), whether our emotions are cheering us on, or screaming No!
This isn't an issue unique to our day. Peter faced the same concern. We find one such occurence in Luke 5:1-11. Verses 4-5: And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your bidding I will let down the nets." It's easy to imagine Peter's thoughts. "I'm the professional fisherman here, your request doesn't make any sense at all." Yet, out of his respect and love for Jesus, he obeys.
You probably remember what happens next. Verses 6-7: And when they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish; and their nets began to break; and they signaled to their partners in the other boat, for them to come and help them. And they came, and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. Jesus was in control. He knew the fishing situation far better than the fishing experts.
The same is true today. God is sovereign. God's wisdom is far above our own. Isaiah 55:6-7: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways", declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Romans 11:33: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
We don't need to understand; We need to obey. Peter understood the crux of the matter. In verse 8 he says, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" We are the sinners; Christ is the Savior. We are the sheep; He is the Good Shepherd. We are the clay, He is the potter. We are the slaves; He is the Master. We need to obey Him, no matter what.
This isn't an issue unique to our day. Peter faced the same concern. We find one such occurence in Luke 5:1-11. Verses 4-5: And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your bidding I will let down the nets." It's easy to imagine Peter's thoughts. "I'm the professional fisherman here, your request doesn't make any sense at all." Yet, out of his respect and love for Jesus, he obeys.
You probably remember what happens next. Verses 6-7: And when they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish; and their nets began to break; and they signaled to their partners in the other boat, for them to come and help them. And they came, and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. Jesus was in control. He knew the fishing situation far better than the fishing experts.
The same is true today. God is sovereign. God's wisdom is far above our own. Isaiah 55:6-7: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways", declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Romans 11:33: Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
We don't need to understand; We need to obey. Peter understood the crux of the matter. In verse 8 he says, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" We are the sinners; Christ is the Savior. We are the sheep; He is the Good Shepherd. We are the clay, He is the potter. We are the slaves; He is the Master. We need to obey Him, no matter what.
Friday, May 09, 2008
In the Swim
Our pool was officially finished today. Praise the Lord! Today the temperature was in the 90s, perfect swimming weather. So Bruce and I both took advantage of it. Actually I went swimming yesterday as well, even though everything was not completely finished and hooked up. There was a pool full of water, it was hot, I thought, "Why not?"
God is so gracious to not only meet our basic needs, but bless us in so many additional ways. He indeed "richly supplies us with all things to enjoy." (1 Tim 6:17) I am thankful that He has so graciously provided for us to have a pool. So whatever of God gifts you are enjoying, whether it's your favorite food, or spending time with family and friends, a special hobby or recreational activity, or even your
favorite salad dressing, enjoy it and praise God for it.
Not only are we to enjoy what God gives, and be thankful, but we can share what we have with others. So, if this picture looks inviting to you, give us a call, and come over and swim!
Friday, May 02, 2008
Back to Blogging
After months (actually, more than a year) of not being able to access my blog after my computer froze when they were updating the way blogger operated, (It wasn't just my technological ineptitude, even my kids couldn't figure it out) I discovered I could access it from my laptop. Praise the Lord! Blogspot is much more user friendly than wordpress, so I am happy to be able to return to blogging here.
Last month I was reading in Psalm 119, probably my favorite--176 verses exalting the Word of God. What a blessing! We will be studying it this summer in our women's Bible study; I'm looking forward to it! Here are just a few of my favorite verses:
Last month I was reading in Psalm 119, probably my favorite--176 verses exalting the Word of God. What a blessing! We will be studying it this summer in our women's Bible study; I'm looking forward to it! Here are just a few of my favorite verses:
v.4--Thou hast ordained Thy precepts, that we should keep them diligently.
v.11--Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee.
v.38--Establish Thy word to Thy servant, as that which produces reverence for Thee.
v.92--If Thy law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction.
v.128--Therefore I esteem right all Thy precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.
v.140--Thy word is very pure, therefore Thy servant loves it.
v.160--The sum of Thy word is truth, and every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting.
v.165--Those who love Thy law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.
And here's the verse I've been praying this week--for myself, and those on my prayer list:
v.27--Make me understand the way of Thy precepts, so I will meditate on Thy wonders.
I would heartily recommend that you spend some time in this wonderful psalm. If you go to Believers Fellowship, sign up for the summer study, or at least get the material so you can study it on your own.
As you read this psalm, you can't help but notice the whole-hearted devotion of the psalmist to God and to His Word. As I pray verses from this psalm, I trust that the Lord will change my heart, and I might more consistently stand in awe of Thy words. (v. 161)
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