Posted by
Jack on Sunday, November 26, 2006 2:12:53 AM
Getting our priorities straight.
"If
you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your
brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of
the alter. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and
offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23)
While this command was given during the law, it does have its
application today when we no longer offer animal sacrifices. Our gifts
today include the "sacrifice of praise" (Heb 13:15) "
By Him, then, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of our lips, confessing His name."
This
command is not something that we can relegate to a previous
dispensation and claim that it does not apply to the church age. Here
is how this command is paraphrased in The Message: "If
you enter your place of worship, and about to make an offering, you
suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your
offering, leave immediately, go to the friend and make things right.
Then and only then, come back and work things out with God."
I
don't think that I have ever heard this suggestion ever given prior to
the taking up of an offering in any of the church services that I have
ever attended my entire life. Apparently, God wants us to settle
matters among ourselves before we come to Him. Apparently, our unity is
a high priority item with God.
I am reminded of one of Jesus' last prayers as recorded in John 17, "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one."
(John 17:20) I wonder if that prayer request has ever been fulfilled.
Church history is full of conflicts and divisions. How this must have
pained the heart of the Lord.
I have loved being a Dad. Of all
my accomplishments, my greatest achievement has been to be a Father to
three children. My fondest memories are playing with my children during
their toddler and early elementary school years. However, all was not
sweet. My biggest disappointments came during times of their conflict
one with another. We could be experiencing precious moments camping in
Yosemite National Park and it could be ruined by a simple sibling
rivalry. All the beauty and joy could disappear immediately once they
began to bicker among themselves.
I suppose it is like that with the Lord. It must grieve Him tremendously to see His children bickering among themselves.
If
you are rather new to the Family of God, it may shock you to learn that
such things as conflicts exist in the church. But if you have been
involved in church life very long, you know that the sweet front that
is portraid is not reality. It seems that higher a person advances in
church leadership, the greater tendency there is for conflict. I think
that it has something to do with the competition for power and praise.
This
command of Jesus came very early in his ministry. It must have been
very heavy on His heart. Later on in that same prayer in John 17, Jesus
prayed. "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
When
we find ourselves in a conflict with others in our church, I say let
them win. We may be right but so what. Is it worth it to make it a
battle?
This blog will be up dated daily. Make this a favorite so
that you can check in to see one of the commands of Jesus that you can
begin to practice in your own life.