So do this, my child, and save yourself, for you have come into your neighbor's power: go hurry, and plead with your neighbor. Proverbs 6: 3 NRSV
This proverb is speaking directly to debt. Whatever you have to do, it says, get out of debt!
But why? What does Proverbs have against being in debt?
Because being in debt to someone means that you are in their power. And once you are in someone else's power, how can you be true to God's commandments? You are under the commandments to the one whom you owe. Only if you owe to no one are you completely free to be under God's commandments.
This is so very contrary to our Western society, where we have all gotten heavily into debt, even if our debt only includes our home.
My family has been trying to follow a plan to get out of debt. Right now the only credit card we own is a Lowe's card, believe it or not. And I am working on getting my husband to cut that one up (why is that so hard for him, hmmm?). We do have a couple of other debts which I hope we can someday get out from under. I must say there is something freeing about cutting up those cards. What a feeling! I think it would be so freeing not to owe anyone anything at all. We might not be rich, but we would be free.
How about you?
Are you in debt to anyone?
Have you ever tried to get out of debt? Did you? If so, how did it feel?
Do you think we can be totally free and still owe money?
God, you ask us to place ourselves in your power, not the power of the credit card or mortgage companies. Help us to pay off our debts so that we only owe to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Showing posts with label God's power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's power. Show all posts
Monday, June 21, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Power
Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God .... Psalm 62: 11 NRSV
Power belongs to God.
How often we forget that!
We are so self-involved, that we think we are the ones with the power. Or perhaps we think other people have power over us. Sometimes we allow others to have power over us. At other times we are forced to endure the power someone else has over us.
We think to be rich means to have power. We see those who have fame and notoriety as having power. Politcal power is something many of us see each day in the media. People who deal with our finances seem pretty powerful. People who treat us for medical reasons hold lots of power. Supervisors, managers, bosses - all these folks at work have tremendous power over us because they can make decisions about our jobs, benefits and pay checks.
Even our relationships with other human beings sometimes become another type of power. Even if they are dependent on us, their good opinion, reciprocity and welfare hold an indecent amount of power over us.
Yet, God is more powerful than any of these types of power in our lives. We tend to gloss over this fact when we see all these other powers affecting our lives. Instead of appealing to God who has the ultimate power, we try to contort ourselves in such a way to free us from earthly power.
God wants us to see how powerful God is over us and our lives. In this Psalm, the writer says that God has not told them once but twice that it is God who has the power. Power belongs to God. We need to remember that.
God, help us to remember that YOU have the power! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Power belongs to God.
How often we forget that!
We are so self-involved, that we think we are the ones with the power. Or perhaps we think other people have power over us. Sometimes we allow others to have power over us. At other times we are forced to endure the power someone else has over us.
We think to be rich means to have power. We see those who have fame and notoriety as having power. Politcal power is something many of us see each day in the media. People who deal with our finances seem pretty powerful. People who treat us for medical reasons hold lots of power. Supervisors, managers, bosses - all these folks at work have tremendous power over us because they can make decisions about our jobs, benefits and pay checks.
Even our relationships with other human beings sometimes become another type of power. Even if they are dependent on us, their good opinion, reciprocity and welfare hold an indecent amount of power over us.
Yet, God is more powerful than any of these types of power in our lives. We tend to gloss over this fact when we see all these other powers affecting our lives. Instead of appealing to God who has the ultimate power, we try to contort ourselves in such a way to free us from earthly power.
God wants us to see how powerful God is over us and our lives. In this Psalm, the writer says that God has not told them once but twice that it is God who has the power. Power belongs to God. We need to remember that.
God, help us to remember that YOU have the power! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Unexpected Means of Salvation
But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. Judges 3: 15 NRSV
Let's get a realistic picture of these people in the book of judges. These judges are not the best-looking, most popular and respected people. They will not be following the rules. They will be quite devious and tricky. They will be attempting things with labels that say: "Do not try these things at home." In fact, it soon will become evident that these judges really are not the nicest people. You will wonder what God saw in them in the first place. Then you will be in awe that these victories even happened.
It will eventually become obvious that this is all about God not the judges.
God seems to be trying to get the Israelites to be impressed by God's power and might. But they really don't seem to get it because they keep on back-sliding.
Makes me wonder about things that are happening in our lives right now. Is God at work and we don't see it because it isn't being done through celebrities? Is God making wondrous things happen in the world outside of the church and we are blind to it? Does God still use tricksters and devious means to save us?
God, we are often crying out to you. Are you using the least-obvious means to save us? Give us eyes to see so that we will turn and worship you! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Question of the day: Looking back on the last month, where do you see God at work using unexpected means?
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
Let's get a realistic picture of these people in the book of judges. These judges are not the best-looking, most popular and respected people. They will not be following the rules. They will be quite devious and tricky. They will be attempting things with labels that say: "Do not try these things at home." In fact, it soon will become evident that these judges really are not the nicest people. You will wonder what God saw in them in the first place. Then you will be in awe that these victories even happened.
It will eventually become obvious that this is all about God not the judges.
God seems to be trying to get the Israelites to be impressed by God's power and might. But they really don't seem to get it because they keep on back-sliding.
Makes me wonder about things that are happening in our lives right now. Is God at work and we don't see it because it isn't being done through celebrities? Is God making wondrous things happen in the world outside of the church and we are blind to it? Does God still use tricksters and devious means to save us?
God, we are often crying out to you. Are you using the least-obvious means to save us? Give us eyes to see so that we will turn and worship you! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Question of the day: Looking back on the last month, where do you see God at work using unexpected means?
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
Sunday, August 9, 2009
You need help!
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything to stand firm. Ephesians 6: 10-13 NRSV
I can do it myself.
Those of us with small children have probably heard this often. Those of us with even older children may not hear this but see it in action on a daily basis.
And I am truly guilty of trying to do it (all) myself.
I would rather get it done my way, in my time without having to ask for any help. Also, I like doing it without appearing weak or helpless.
But Paul point us in the right direction: toward God and God's power.
This is not a battle you can fight on your own, with your own strength. No matter how physically fit you are, you will need God's power and God's protection to withstand what is truly dangerous. You may possibly not put much stock in the devil's power. Nevertheless, we all need God's strength to be the people whom God calls to carry out God's mission and message in the world.
Don't try doing this on your own.
You need help: God's help.
God, we need your strength, your full armor and your power. We cannot do this on our own. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Question of the day: What battles do you need help with right now?
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
I can do it myself.
Those of us with small children have probably heard this often. Those of us with even older children may not hear this but see it in action on a daily basis.
And I am truly guilty of trying to do it (all) myself.
I would rather get it done my way, in my time without having to ask for any help. Also, I like doing it without appearing weak or helpless.
But Paul point us in the right direction: toward God and God's power.
This is not a battle you can fight on your own, with your own strength. No matter how physically fit you are, you will need God's power and God's protection to withstand what is truly dangerous. You may possibly not put much stock in the devil's power. Nevertheless, we all need God's strength to be the people whom God calls to carry out God's mission and message in the world.
Don't try doing this on your own.
You need help: God's help.
God, we need your strength, your full armor and your power. We cannot do this on our own. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Question of the day: What battles do you need help with right now?
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
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