LET ME BE FIRST

Newsletter 230 January 28, 2011

I have just completed reading the book, “House of the Seven Gables” authored by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It was published in the mid-nineteenth century after Mr. Hawthorne had lived in Salem and seen an actual house that inspired his imagination. It seems that there exists in the documents of Waldo County a record of similar incidents which occurred in such a house.

It being Salem, a wealthy man owned the site next to a poor man’s home, and in order to build a giant English style castle of a house he declared his neighbor to be a witch and had him hanged. In the process the man seemed to cast a spell on his tormentor, and that he and his descendents would die choking on blood. The third one to do so also had delusions of his own importance and wealth, and the story leads up to his death and restores the property to the original families through the descendents of both.

The whole story began with the fact that a man of great wealth coveted the tiny bit of land on which his neighbor had built his tiny home. His covetousness led to his lying, and his lies to murder. That murder resulted in a whole series of evil results. The same sort of situation resulted when King David looked down upon his neighbor’s rooftop and coveted Bathsheba. In this text, Jesus knips it in the bud when the mother of James and John came seeking a position of influence and power for her sons in His kingdom to come.

Matthew (King James Version)
20:20-28

20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. (Matthew 10:35-45, Mark, Matthew 4:21, Matthew 10:2, Matthew 8:2)

I learned long ago, when sons-in-law, or really anyone, comes asking, “do me a favor,” the only possible reply is, “what is it?”

21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. (Matthew 19:28)

Clearly, they had no idea what they were asking, and his reply shows that. With any commitment there is a result. You are setting in motion a whole series of possible future events. Sign surety for a car or a house and you are actually just buying that item as a gift. They are asking, because they have a bad record, and you haven’t. Matthew Henry sums it up, “Nothing makes more mischief among brethren, than desire for greatness.” Jesus knew that they would all suffer for their faith, and would all die a martyr’s death except John.

22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. (Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 49:12, Matthew 26:39, Matthew 26:42, Luke 22:42John 18:11)

Here again, their reply, shows that they have no idea what they are really asking for. Had he told them, they would have fled in fear, losing their reward, a reward of far greater value than anything they could possibly suffer.

23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. (Acts 12:2, Revelation 1:9, Matthew 13:11, Matthew 25:34)

24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. (Matthew 20:25-28, Luke 22:25-27)

The goals of the world are wealth, power, prestige, but all these things are of this earth only. None of them carry over into eternity. When we died to sin, were buried in baptism, and arose to a new life, we were showing our trust in Him. We were starting over, born anew to live for ever. It does not bother me that ninety percent of my wardrobe was worn by someone else several years ago. He will provide all that we need.

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; (Matthew 23:11, Mark 9:35, Mark 10:43, Luke 22:26)

Almost weekly, this past year, I have been asked if I did not want to work for another degree, free tuition even. What would I use it for? So I could add “Dr” to my signature? I leave that to those who need it because they are teachers by profession. We all can and should serve.

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 8:20, Matthew 26:28, John 13:13+, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Philippians 2:7, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:28, Revelation 1:5)

We are his disciples just passing along His message. (Matthew 28:20)

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RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
JANUARY

30th. Sunday – Job 16, 17, 18, Matthew 21:29-46, Psalm 17:6-10
31st. Monday – Job 19, 20, Matthew 22:1-22, Psalm 17:11-15

FEBRUARY

1st. Tuesday – Job 21, 22, Matthew 22:23-48, Proverbs 3:21-35
2nd. Wednesday-- Job 23, 24, 25, Matthew 23:1-22. Psalm 18:1-6
3rd. Thursday - Job 26, 27, 28, 28, Matthew 23:23-39, Psalm 18:7-15
4th. Friday – Job 29, 30, 31, Matthew 24:1-25, Psalm 18:16-24
5th. Saturday-- Job 32, 33, Matthew 24:26-51, Proverbs 4:1-9

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

Matthew 12:32
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You Never Know What You're Gonna Get...
Sally was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona when she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road. As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she would like a ride.

With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car. Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman.

The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail, until she noticed a pink bag on the seat next to Sally.

"What in bag?" asked the old woman.

Sally looked down at the white bag and said, "It's a box of chocolates. I got it for my husband".

The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two. Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, she said: "Good trade."

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