2 June 2012

Psalm 30, 32; Prov. 25:15-28; 1 Tim. 6:6-21; Matt. 13:36-43

The interpretation is difficult in that Jesus has just lectured the Pharisees about forming a judgment concerning him that would be blasphemous but here Jesus says the tares are the sons of the evil one who has sown them as an enemy.  How do we deal with that reality?  How and when do we make that judgment?  It certainly requires much prayer but it also goes back to fruit, what is the fruit of their lives.  The field is the world not the church.  For those who accept the doctrine of predestination this parable certainly fits with that understanding.  How else could we possibly interpret these words other than some are destined for destruction and only God knows at present who those are?

Paul says that contentment isn’t found in things of earth as they are perishable.  The problem is that they are visible and “real” in a way that the things of heaven are not.  We like to possess things in real time, not by faith. Money won’t buy happiness but it will certainly buy a lot of things that we want.  Paul tells Timothy that the things to be sought are righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.  What would the world look like if Christians laid aside the pursuit of everything else and pursued these things with all our hearts?  The world would have to take note of a people whose value system was based in something other than worldly things.  Those things that are unseen are truly the most valuable things and the fruit produced by them is the fruit that truly lasts.

It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.  Twice in this passage the writer has warned against eating too much honey.  The first time he says to eat only our fill because if we overindulge we will vomit.  This world, God’s creation, is a good thing but only if we keep all things in their proper place.  If we seek ultimate pleasure from temporal things we display not wisdom but folly.  The first step is in believing that there is something eternal, then seeking to know of the eternal and then seeking to possess the eternal.  Generally the seeking of one thing means that the seeking of other things be abandoned, we don’t have the capacity to pursue more than one ultimate thing.  Jesus sought only the glory of God the Father, no matter the cost, and tells us to do the same.  I have a long way to go in becoming like Him.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

Tune