Sharing Is Caring

Believe in the power of God and bring love to others by sharing the truth of the good news.

“Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you…King Rehoboam consulted the elders…How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him…tell them…My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier….When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they…all the Israelites went home. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.” 2 Chronicles 10:4-19

Can you picture Rehoboam? He seems like Commodus in Gladiator or a third-generation spoiled kid. He seemingly had a golden spoon growing up and no grasp of how his lack of care would be received by those he was made to care for as king.Where did he go astray? He listened to the foolishness and falsehoods of yes-men in his inner circle instead of the truth and wisdom of those who knew better. He traded truth for a lie. He chose fleecing his people over caring for his flock. His heart was not aligned with God’s, and like a bad divorce, it cost him most of his kingdom.This may seem like an ancient story, but ask yourself if you have seen anyone do what Rehoboam did. Has anyone you know sought their own desires ahead of serving the greater good? Consider stepping in front of the mirror. What do you see? Is there anywhere in your life you have chosen to listen to what you wanted to hear rather than listening to the voice of truth?“

When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint…I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people…The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand” Psalms 77:2-20

How is it that someone can think of the same thing and have two different responses? Asaph is the author of this psalm, and he said he remembered God and groaned, then he remembered God and was grateful. What could have been going on in his heart? Is it possible that the groaning came when he realized that his own performance was not perfect, but the gratitude came when he considered the goodness of God?

It is easy to make the Bible all about you. Just to be clear, the Bible is God’s story, not yours. History is His story, not yours. We can make everything about ourselves, but that is not the point of the triumphal procession. We are not meant to praise ourselves or pursue our self-interests ahead of God’s purposes. We were made to glorify God and praise His name. If you think about yourself, inevitably you will find failures that can lead to groaning because we all fall short of the glory of God.But if we shift our focus and think of how faithful God is, everything changes. This is what Asaph did during this song. He started thinking about his own performance, and he groaned. Then he thought about the power of God, the miraculous, the mighty arm, the movement, the waymaker, the sea parter, the good shepherd, and he found the peace he was seeking. Hope returned. He said that he meditated on the mighty deeds and miraculous works. What will you meditate on today? Will you learn from the advice of Asaph?

“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both. Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance. A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much. A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way? Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.” Proverbs 20:1-28

Think back to Rehoboam. Odds are he loved to drink, eat, and fool around with his friends. Solomon said to watch out for the effects of alcohol. Jesus drank wine, so this is not a call to return to abolition days, but we would be wise to think about how we use our bodies. Rehoboam had eyes and ears, but he did not use them. God gives each of us eyes and ears and the ability to decide how we will use them.What about the rest of your body? Will you be a fighter? Solomon said the fool is quick to fight, loves to gossip, and is drawn to drama. Is that you? Is that what you enjoy watching on Instagram or on television? What gets into our heads through our eyes and ears gets into our hearts. What are you letting in?Solomon said everyone falls short of the glory of God, but that it is through love and faithfulness that the throne is secure. What if love and faithfulness were our filters? What if every decision we made was based on whether or not what we said or did was loving and faithful to others? Does that not sound like Jesus?

“He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them…the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. Then the Spirit lifted me up…When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself…Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.” Ezekiel 3:4-27

God resets the standard for each of us. The life of following Jesus is not a life of avoidance. It is not enough for us to just avoid sin in our own lives or to abstain from things that are unholy. God calls us to do good. He calls us to make a difference. He has gifted each of us in ways in which we can help impact other people.God called Ezekiel to speak and said that he would be held accountable for anyone he did not help. Each of us should take note of this truth. We all belong to each other. We are not responsible for whether or not people respond when we share, but we are responsible for sharing. How often do we go through life simply thinking about what we want and not what God wants? Does it not change how we think if we know that God will hold us accountable for whether or not other people hear the good news?

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness…For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen…so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him…They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator…They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.” Romans 1:7-32

This may not be the most heartwarming passage in scripture, but sometimes the most loving thing we can do is warn someone who is wandering away. Every day we are called to proclaim the power of Christ on the cross, proclaim the resurrected King, and tell people about the Prince of Peace. We speak grace and truth regardless of whether people or culture like what we say. We should always lead with love and check to make sure we meet people where they are, but let us not ever shy away from sharing the truth. Are you ashamed of the gospel message, or are you going to give someone good news today?

The elders told Rehoboam the truth, but he refused to listen. Ezekiel was called to speak whether people responded positively or not. Paul continued on the faithful path, proclaiming the miraculous power of God. He was not ashamed of the gospel because he knew it is the only way to salvation. We literally have the cure for spiritual cancer. Will we share it?Remember the advice of Asaph. Control your thoughts by meditating on the mighty works of God and His miraculous power. Remember the God who parted the sea, led His people like a good shepherd, and ultimately revealed His power through an empty tomb. Jesus has done for us what we could never do for ourselves. He defeated death and paid the price for sin. We do not need to save anyone. Jesus saves. Our job is to point people to Jesus.So use the eyes and ears God gave you.

Listen for His voice and look for the people He puts in your path. Let love and faithfulness be your filter. Use your hands to serve, your feet to go, and your words to share the good news. Some may listen, and some may not. The outcome belongs to God and will happen in His timing. Believe in the power of God, live out your faith, share the truth in love, and make sure you do not finish a day without telling another person about the transforming love of Jesus Christ.