Transformed Talks About "Money Strategies for Tough Times!" with Matt Bell

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Thank you for tuning in again to the Transformed podcast! Today we welcome Matt Bell back to the program. Matt is a personal finance writer and speaker.

He is the author of three books: Money, Purpose, Joy (September 2008), Money and Marriage: A Complete Guide for Engaged and Newly Married Couples which was published in March of 2011 and Money Strategies for Tough Times, which we will talk about today.

Matt has been quoted in U.S. News and World Report, the Chicago Tribune, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, has written for ChristianityToday.com, writes the Matt About Money blog, and has been a guest on several nationally syndicated radio talk shows.

 

Matt is a return guest to Transformed! His first interview about Money, Purpose, Joy can be found here.

 

In today’s episode, we explore how you can successfully navigate the challenging times we live in and how to get to a better place with your personal finances.

We know this episode will be a great help as Matt talks with Matt about …

  • How to get past the financial crisis
  • Find some breathing space
  • Ditch the debt, and
  • Position yourself for lasting success

Many of these topics are from Matt’s book, Money Strategies for Tough Times.

In these tough times, Matt encourages you to pick up a copy of Matt Bell’s book, Money Strategies for Tough Times. We know this resource will help you take charge of your financial life.

Matt talks about home mortgage help from the government. Click here for that website.

We are giving away TWO copies of Matt’s book, Money Strategies for Tough Times as well! Check out these simple rules and tell your friends.

To be eligible for a FREE copy …

1.     Just sign up for the Eagles In Leadership blog notifications (Right side of this web page)

2.     Make a comment below this post on the web page indicating your desire for the book and how you would envision using it.

3.     Deadline for the free copies will be September 15th.

Winners will be notified after the contest concludes.

Posted in Book Reviews, finances, Interviews, Stewardship, Transformed | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Jeremiah: God’s Message of the Coming Babylonian Invasion to the Defiant Nation of Israel!

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Artwork Credit: seekingyahweh.wordpress.com

Editor’s Note: We continue our series of blogs for those who are reading the Bible with us cover-to-cover this year. Interspersed with our thoughts on our daily reading, we want to provide some tips about reading the Bible in general.

 

Jeremiah, God’s Message of the Coming Babylonian Invasion to the Defiant Nation of Israel!

Have you ever told someone that what he or she was doing was going to end badly, but they refused to listen? Maybe you were talking to your kids, your friends or someone at work. No matter how much you encouraged them to think reasonably, they refused. And then, it happened … the disaster or crisis you predicted. And they seemed to be surprised!

That is exactly what is happening in the book of Jeremiah. Written over the last four decades of Israel’s national life, God instructs Jeremiah time and again to speak to the power brokers and the politicians of his day. The message is quite simple: If you don’t change your ways and live like the Lord God Almighty has already prescribed for you in the Law (Genesis – Deuteronomy), then the nation would be conquered by the Babylonians and the people would be carried off into captivity.

It is amazing how alike things can be, despite there being almost 26 centuries between us and these accounts. Politicians of that day didn’t listen to the religious leader Jeremiah. Are you shocked? You shouldn’t be!

Despite God’s warnings through his messenger – the Prophet Jeremiah to five administrations (Kings Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah), the nation continued to worship God with lip service but live their lives like He didn’t exist.

You can capture the heart of God, his love, frustration and disappointment as you read passages like this:

  • First, take note the six-fold mission of Jeremiah, given to him by God Himself!

“Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” (Jeremiah 1:9–10, ESV)

Note the abundance of words that denote the “removal” of the current before the planting of the future can occur. This mission was set to create conflict from it’s inception!

  • Second, God sends Jeremiah to interrogate the people of Israel about their lack of loyalty, wanting to know what He has done to bring about their abandonment. (Jeremiah 2)

God is clearly upset and wants to get to the bottom of this relational break-up. Listen as He questions …

“Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the clans of the house of Israel. Thus says the Lord: “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?” (Jeremiah 2:4–5, ESV)

  • It’s obvious the heart of God is broken deeply, for many times He cries out for Israel’s return to Him, using the marriage metaphor to describe their relational troubles. (Jeremiah 3)

“If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man’s wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? declares the Lord. Lift up your eyes to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been ravished? By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers like an Arab in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your vile whoredom. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and the spring rain has not come; yet you have the forehead of a whore; you refuse to be ashamed. Have you not just now called to me, ‘My father, you are the friend of my youth— will he be angry forever, will he be indignant to the end?’ Behold, you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could.” (Jeremiah 3:1–5, ESV)

  • God longs for resolution and makes generous offers of forgiveness for those who will be sincere in returning – despite the level of abandonment and injury that He has experienced at Israel’s expense already. (Jeremiah 4)

“If you return, O Israel, declares the Lord, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver, and if you swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.” For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.” (Jeremiah 4:1–4, ESV)

Again and again throughout this compilation of messages, arranged to express and explain the heart of God through forty years of consistent urgings, one central truth reverberates: God loves you so much that He will wait until your grandchildren reach out to Him and He will bless them with the blessing He had reserved for you, if you choose to refuse Him!

““For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:10–14, ESV)

Jeremiah is the last attempt by God to bring His wayward children back to His love and care. As you read it, remember their refusal broke Jeremiah’s heart as well and often he wept until there were no more tears. Thus is the heart of God and His messengers to rebellious, stubborn people.

It is our hope that this background information helps a bit as you read on in the Bible.

© 2011 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, All rights reserved.

 

For daily insights into the passage we are reading together each day, you can follow Dr. Smith on Twitter and on Facebook.

You can obtain more help from the FREE Bible reading schedule on our resource page. In His Image is a daily devotional that also follows our reading schedule and expresses the Biblical truth: “God Created You to Love You.” You can find this resource on the side bar of our website.

 

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Host a Reaching Your Community In Your Generation Seminar!

The world around us changes approximately every 18 months! Such change brings great challenges to our mission. Eagles In Leadership has designed a weekend to help you energize your congregation or organization to fulfill the Great Commission in your community. You can bring this weekend to your church or organization!

The weekend revolves around four key messages:

  • Help! My Community Is Changing!
  • What’s Your Dream for Your Church? (And How Do You Reach It?)
  • Healthy Churches Grow!
  • Reaching Your Community In Your Generation! (It’s All About the Mission!)

You can learn more here.

 

 

 

Posted in Bible Reading, Just Read It! | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transformed Interviews Tom Cocklereece on the Disciple-Maker's Toolkit!

Posted on August 17, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

We are so pleased you have returned to the Transformed podcast!

In today’s episode, we welcome back Tom Cocklereece, author of Simple Discipleship, which we talked about recently (here’s the link to that interview).

Today we talk about a companion to the book, and it’s called Simple Discipleship: The Disciple-Maker’s Toolkit. You can purchase the toolkit in Kindle here.

This toolkit is filled with all sorts of ideas, advice and practical tools. We know you will enjoy this interview.

You can learn more about Tom’s ministry by clicking this link.

Simple Discipleship is on Facebook as well!

Matt encourages you to pick up a copy of Tom’s book, Simple Discipleship and it’s companion Simple Discipleship: The Disciple-Maker’s Toolkit. These resources will help you reach your community in your generation.

 

Posted in Book Reviews, Discipleship, Interviews, Transformed | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Transformed Interviews Shannon O'Dell About "Transforming Church in Rural America!"

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

In today’s episode, we want to explore effective ministry in rural areas. Matt would tell you that many of the truths in this episode apply equally to urban ministry as well.

Shannon O’Dell has focused on vision, attitude, leadership and innovation to watch God work in amazing ways! When called to his rural Arkansas church of 31 God began to work so that today they are a multi-site church of several thousand.

 

His book, transforming church in RURAL America, Shannon centers on 5 principles that bring transformation to any smaller church desiring to reach their world in their generation.

This book in a blueprint for transforming church and Matt wants to encourage you to pick up a copy of Shannon’s book, transforming church in RURAL America. We know this book will help you move forward for God to reach your world in your generation.

We are giving away TWO copies of Shannon’s book as well! Check out the rules in and tell your friends.

To be eligible for a FREE copy …

1.     Just sign up for the Eagles In Leadership blog notifications (Right side of this web page)

2.     Make a comment below this post on the web page indicating your desire for the book and how you would envision using it.

3.     Deadline for the free copies will be August 15th.

Winners will be notified after the contest concludes.

In this passionate discussion, Matt and Shannon talk about how you too can work with God to transform your church – whether it is rural, suburban or urban.

 

You can learn more about Shannon here.

You can sign up for Shannon’s blog here.

You can learn more about Brand New Church here.

You can purchase transforming church in RURAL America here.

 

Posted in Church Health, Missional, Transformed | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Immigration and the Gospel (Guest Blog)

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

By Dr. Russell Moore

The Christian response to immigrant communities in the United States cannot be “You kids get off of my lawn” in Spanish. While evangelicals, like other Americans, might disagree on the political specifics of achieving a just and compassionate immigration policy, our rhetoric must be informed by more than politics, but instead by gospel and mission.

I’m amazed when I hear evangelical Christians speak of undocumented immigrants in this country with disdain as “those people” who are “draining our health care and welfare resources.” It’s horrifying to hear those identified with the gospel speak, whatever their position on the issues, with mean-spirited disdain for the immigrants themselves.

This is a gospel issue. First of all, our Lord Jesus himself was a so-called “illegal immigrant.” Fleeing, like many of those in our country right now, a brutal political situation, our Lord’s parents sojourned with him in Egypt (Matt. 2:113-23). Jesus, who lived out his life for us, spent his childhood years in a foreign land away from his relatives among people speaking a different language with strange customs.

In so doing, our Lord Jesus was re-living the life of Israel, our ancestors in the faith, who were also immigrants and sojourners in Egypt (Exod. 1:1-14; 1 Chron. 16:19; Acts 7:6). It is this reality, the Bible tells us, that is to ground our response to those who sojourn among us (Exod. 22:21; Ps. 94:6; Jer.7:6; Ezek. 22:29; Zech. 7:10). God, the Bible says, “executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Deut. 10:18-19).

This is much more than a “political” issue, abstracted from our salvation. Jesus tells us that our response to the most vulnerable among us is a response to Jesus Himself (Matt. 25:40). God will judge those who exploit workers and mistreat the poor. No matter how invisible they seem to us now, God hears (Isa. 3:15; Amos 4:1; Jas.5:4).

This is also a question of our mission. There are upwards of 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country right now, and many more in the Latino community who came here legally. If our response to them is to absorb the nativism and bigotry of some elements of society around us, we are showing them a vision of what the Bible calls “the flesh” rather than the Spirit. If our churches ignore the nations around us who are living in our own communities, we will reflect 1970s Bible Belt America rather than the kingdom of God which is made up of those from every tribe, tongue, nation, and language (Rev. 7:9).

It is easy to lash out at undocumented immigrants as “law-breakers,” and to cite Romans 13 as reason to simply call for deportation and retribution. But this issue is far more complicated than that. Yes, undocumented immigrants are violating the law, but, first of all, most of them are doing so in order to provide a future for their families in flight from awful situations back home. Many of them are children (as our Lord Jesus was at the time of his immigration).

And, even given our nation’s Romans 13 responsibility to maintain secure borders, the message our nation sends to those across our borders isn’t clear and univocal. As Southern Baptist leader Richard Land puts it, there are two metaphorical signs on our border: “Keep out” and “Help wanted.”

This isn’t to say that there aren’t real political challenges here. I agree that the border should be secured. I support holding businesses accountable for hiring, especially since some of them use the threat of deportation as a way of exploiting these vulnerable workers. I support a realistic means of providing a way to legal status for the millions of immigrants already here. But there are many who disagree with me, and for valid reasons.

The larger issue is in how we talk about this issue, recognizing that this is not about “issues” or “culture wars” but about persons made in the image of God. Our churches must be the presence of Christ to all persons, regardless of country of origin or legal status. We need to stand against bigotry and harassment and exploitation, even when it’s politically profitable for those who stand with us on other issues.

And, most importantly, we must love our brothers and sisters in the immigrant communities. We must be the presence of Christ to and among them, even as we receive ministry from them. Our commitment to a multinational kingdom of God’s reconciliation in Christ must be evident in the verbal witness of our gospel and in the visible makeup of our congregations.

Immigration isn’t just an issue. It’s an opportunity to see that, as important as the United States of America is, there will be a day when the United States of America will no longer exist. And on that day, the sons and daughters of God will stand before the throne of a former undocumented immigrant. Some of them are migrant workers and hotel maids now. They will be kings and queens then. They are our brothers and sisters forever.

We might be natural-born Americans, but we’re all immigrants to the kingdom of God (Eph. 2:12-14). Whatever our disagreements on immigration as policy, we must not disagree on immigrants as persons. Our message to them, in every language and to every person, must be “Whosoever will may come.”

<<<<>>>>

Russell Moore is the Dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice-President for Academic Administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. This article is reprinted by permission from his blog.

Posted in christian life, Guest Column, Missional, Multi-ethnic / Urban | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Isaiah: God’s Condemnation and Consolation to the Nation of Israel When They Reject His Guidance!

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

Artwork Credit: biblestudy.pppst.com

Editor’s Note: We continue our series of blogs for those who are reading the Bible with us cover-to-cover this year. Interspersed with our thoughts on our daily reading, we want to provide some tips about reading the Bible in general.

Isaiah: God’s Condemnation and Consolation to the Nation of Israel When They Reject His Guidance!

God loves His people! God loves you! Consider this never-ending truth:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. ”

(Jeremiah 31:3, ESV)

This is the message of all of the Bible, and especially the book of Isaiah. As the father of a rebellious teenager, God is trying to bring His people back to a path that will avoid their certain injury and destruction.

Reading through these compiled messages to the nation over three to four decades, God speaks through Isaiah, one of the men of God at that time. His messages are pointed and repeated. There is one path to abundance in life and another to destruction and death. How God longs for His people to choose life and do a u-turn from their present course.

Since the nation is a theocracy (a God-run nation through a king), many of the messages are addressed to the leadership of the nation – namely the king, his advisors and influencers. Israel is not singled out in this book though. God also addresses other nations and their leaders with messages as well. This reminds us that the love of God has always been a global-love, one that has sought to bring the leadership and love of God to all humanity!

As you read through the book, you will see these compiled messages are broken into three distinct sections:

  • First, God is addressing His rebellious covenant people before it’s too late! (Isaiah 1-39)

As you read through this large section, you will see how the people of God have chosen the world over God – the cravings to be like their culture over the calling to be like the character of their God. Isaiah walks onto the scene and willingly volunteers for the mission of God (Isaiah 6), not knowing what it will involve.

As God works through the message and messenger, he seeks to bring them back to a lifestyle of purity, one that radiates the wisdom and blessing of God’s path. Unfortunately, like most of history teaches us, the majority takes Israel to disaster. Some return to God and enjoy His kindnesses. However, the nation fails to respond and is taken into captivity by Babylon 150 years later. The message of God can be summed up in these words …

“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling! ” (Isaiah 30:15, ESV)

  • Second, God is addressing His rebellious covenant people after it’s too late! (Isaiah 40-55)

Isaiah speaks of the impending captivity from God’s perspective – as one who sees all of time. Thus, for God, the captivity is inevitable. Isaiah gives God’s heart-felt messages of love and compassion to the people who will be in exile. He aches with His captured and demoralized people. Note there is no shame or brow-beating here. Just messages of love and caring instruction flow from God. God never wants His children to suffer – that’s why He gives them His path to follow, the path of life and abundance. God’s hope of rescue and return can be heard in these words …

“And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” ” (Isaiah 40:5, ESV)

  • Finally, God is addressing His covenant people of all times before the end of times! (Isaiah 56-66)

Ultimately, this compilation of messages ends with a section to all who trust God’s love and live out His will. You will find these chapters filled with instructions on how to live in preparation for our coming life with Messiah (Jesus Christ), when He is ruling and reigning over the world from Jerusalem. The summary of this life in Messiah is expressed in these words …

“Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. ” (Isaiah 56:1, ESV)

Isaiah reminds us time and again that we are citizens of a different world, led by a different Lord, the King of glory who gave His life to remove our failures and bring us into abundant life with God: ““Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. ” (Isaiah 55:6–7, ESV)

It is our hope that this background information helps a bit as you read on in the Bible.

 

© 2011 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, All rights reserved.

 

For daily insights into the passage we are reading together each day, you can follow Dr. Smith on Twitter and on Facebook.

You can obtain more help from the FREE Bible reading schedule on our resource page. In His Image is a daily devotional that also follows our reading schedule and expresses the Biblical truth: “God Created You to Love You.” You can find this resource on the side bar of our website.

 

======

 

Host a Reaching Your Community In Your Generation Seminar!

The world around us changes approximately every 18 months! Such change brings great challenges to our mission. Eagles In Leadership has designed a weekend to help you energize your congregation or organization to fulfill the Great Commission in your community. You can bring this weekend to your church or organization!

The weekend revolves around four key messages:

  • Help! My Community Is Changing!
  • What’s Your Dream for Your Church? (And How Do You Reach It?)
  • Healthy Churches Grow!
  • Reaching Your Community In Your Generation! (It’s All About the Mission!)

You can learn more here.

 

 

Posted in Bible Reading, Just Read It! | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Route No. 4: Listening to God’s Warnings Through His Messengers!

Posted on August 1, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Artwork Credit: kaneva.com

 

Editor’s Note: We continue our series of blogs for those who are reading the Bible with us cover-to-cover this year. Interspersed with our thoughts on our daily reading, we want to provide some tips about reading the Bible in general.

Route No. 4: Listening to God’s Warnings Through His Messengers!

Continuing our journey through the Word of God, we will explore how God tried to guide Israel on the easiest path he could provide for their lives during their history. God’s messengers here are his prophets.  Although they do not originate their messages, they did deliver them with passion for God. The primary focus of each of these messengers is the nation of Israel. Often those messages are not received well, and just as often the messenger is abused or killed for delivering the message of guidance from God. This may be where the phrase “Don’t shoot the messenger” found its earliest origins. We will explore each message in more detail as we proceed. For now, consider:

  • The book of Isaiah, God’s condemnation and consolation to the nation of Israel when they reject his guidance.
  • The book of Jeremiah, God’s message of the coming Babylonian invasion to the defiant nation of Israel.
  • The book of Lamentations, God’s funeral for the capital city of Jerusalem.
  • The book of Ezekiel, God’s desire for his people him know him, despite their rejection and defiance of him.
  • The book of Daniel, God’s future plans for his captive people and for the world until the end of time.

Embarking on this section of the Bible often stops many in their tracks. All they can see are messages of discipline. However, when you see discipline, remember this truth about God found in these two verses from the New Testament: “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:6, ESV) “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”  (Revelation 3:19, ESV)

It is our hope that this background information helps a bit as you read on in the Bible.

 

© 2011 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, All rights reserved.

 

For daily insights into the passage we are reading together each day, you can follow Dr. Smith on Twitter and on Facebook.

 

You can obtain more help from the FREE Bible reading schedule on our resource page. In His Image is a daily devotional that also follows our reading schedule and expresses the Biblical truth: “God Created You to Love You.” You can find this resource on the side bar of our website.

 

======

 

 

Host a Reaching Your Community In Your Generation Seminar!

The world around us changes approximately every 18 months! Such change brings great challenges to our mission. Eagles In Leadership has designed a weekend to help you energize your congregation or organization to fulfill the Great Commission in your community. You can bring this weekend to your church or organization!

The weekend revolves around four key messages:

  • Help! My Community Is Changing!
  • What’s Your Dream for Your Church? (And How Do You Reach It?)
  • Healthy Churches Grow!
  • Reaching Your Community In Your Generation! (It’s All About the Mission!)

You can learn more here.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Bible Reading, Just Read It! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Song of Solomon: Warmed by a Love Song of Marriage!

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Artwork Credit: agapeworldwide.wordpress.com

Editor’s Note: We continue our series of blogs for those who are reading the Bible with us cover-to-cover this year. Interspersed with our thoughts on our daily reading, we want to provide some tips about reading the Bible in general.

Song of Solomon: Warmed by a Love Song of Marriage!

Wrapping up Route 3, we come to the Bible book on the love and sex life of the married couple. Often people are surprised by the open treatment of the gift of sex in the Bible. Many forget sex was God’s idea – He created it! And while sex is a part of the married life of a man and a women, it is glorious and wonderful.

We would be remiss if we forgot the lessons found in the book of Proverbs, which we have recently read. Among them, we discover:

  • Adultery is to be avoided is you are seeking wisdom. (Proverbs 2:16)
  • When adultery is committed, it yields 4 unchangeable consequences. (Proverbs 2:18-19)
  • Being sexually active apart from one’s spouse follows 6 consequences of the one who seduces you with folly. (Proverbs 5:3-6; 9:13-18)
  • 12 personal losses can happen to the person who is sexually active apart from their spouse. (Proverbs 5:7-14)
  • Many are the sexual benefits that come to a loyal married couple. (Proverbs 5:15-19)
  • The Lord himself watches adultery! (Proverbs 5:20-21)
  • The sexually active, apart from their spouse will die for lack of discipline! (Proverbs 5:22-23; 7:21-27)
  • Those who disregard their parent’s teaching are sexually active apart from their spouse. (Proverbs 6:23-24; 7:1-5)
  • Adultery is committed by a senseless person and can bring 11 consequences! (Proverbs 6:25-35; 7:6-9)
  • A prostitute is wily of heart, loud, wayward and forward. (Proverbs 7:10-13)

With this foundation firmly in place, we understand that sex can be a terrible master when experienced apart from the loyalty of a relationship between one man and woman who are married.

Song of Solomon shows us the joys and thrills of love and sex when it is found in a faithful relationship. The book is more like a play, with parts designated to the specific actors on the stage. At the center of this story is the relationship of Solomon and his Shulammite wife. From this love story we discover …

  • The passion of desire between a married woman and her husband. (Song 1:2; 2:8-17; 3:1-5; 5:11-12; 7:10; 8:14)
  • The adoration between a husband and his wife is constantly expressed. (Song 1:8, 12-16; 5:2-8; 8:6-7; 8:13)
  • Sexual intimacy is a constant passion in the loving married couple! (Song 1:16-17; 2:3, 6; 4:16 – 5:1; 7:6-9; 8:3)
  • The physical attraction of a man and wife in marriage is strong and virile! (Song 4:1-16; 5:10-16; 6:4-10; 7:1-9; 8:10)
  • The importance of getting away for time alone to keep the marriage passionate and romantic. (Song 4:8; 6:2-3; 7:11-13)

Reading through the Song of Solomon reminds us of God’s intention: “Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”  (Proverbs 5:18–19, ESV)

It is our hope that this background information helps a bit as you read on in the Bible.

© 2011 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, All rights reserved.

 

For daily insights into the passage we are reading together each day, you can follow Dr. Smith on Twitter and on Facebook.

 

You can obtain more help from the FREE Bible reading schedule on our resource page. In His Image is a daily devotional that also follows our reading schedule and expresses the Biblical truth: “God Created You to Love You.” You can find this resource on the side bar of our website.

 

======

 

 

Host a Reaching Your Community In Your Generation Seminar!

The world around us changes approximately every 18 months! Such change brings great challenges to our mission. Eagles In Leadership has designed a weekend to help you energize your congregation or organization to fulfill the Great Commission in your community. You can bring this weekend to your church or organization!

The weekend revolves around four key messages:

  • Help! My Community Is Changing!
  • What’s Your Dream for Your Church? (And How Do You Reach It?)
  • Healthy Churches Grow!
  • Reaching Your Community In Your Generation! (It’s All About the Mission!)

You can learn more here.

 

 

 

Posted in Bible Reading, Just Read It! | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ecclesiastes: Understanding the Futility of a Life Lived for Self

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Artwork Credit: foundationsforfreedom.net

Editor’s Note: We continue our series of blogs for those who are reading the Bible with us cover-to-cover this year. Interspersed with our thoughts on our daily reading, we want to provide some tips about reading the Bible in general.

 

Ecclesiastes: Understanding the Futility of a Life Lived for Self

Selfishness is an all-consuming, all crushing pursuit. When one comes to the end of a journey lived for self they find themselves alone. Perhaps they are surrounded by all the things they hoped for, perhaps not. Yet, one can be sure that the end of such a life is lonely, empty and ultimately of no eternal profit.

Most people agree that the writer of this book is Solomon, King of Israel. It is quite possible that the book was written towards the end of his life, at a time when he realizes his failures during the last two decades of his reign.

Whatever the circumstances of this book’s creation, there is little confusion about the purpose. Solomon writes this book to share the lessons he has learned as the richest king on the planet. Nothing has been withheld from him and he withheld nothing from himself.

As an explorer of life’s purposes and meaning, Solomon comes to a singular conclusion, which he repeats several times within the pages of this scientific journal chronicling the experimentation phase of his life:

  • Enjoy the life God has given you with great passion!

“There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:24–26, ESV)

  • Enjoy the work God has given you with great joy!

“So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?” (Ecclesiastes 3:22, ESV)

  • Enjoy the gift of life and work God has given you with total acceptance!

“Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.”  (Ecclesiastes 5:18–20, ESV)

  • Enjoy the food and life God has given you with continual intensity!

“And I commend joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.”  (Ecclesiastes 8:15, ESV)

  • Enjoy the life God has given you with the wife whom you love with dedicated might!

“Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”  (Ecclesiastes 9:9–10, ESV)

  • Fear God and keep his commands all the days of your joy-filled life!

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14, ESV)

While Solomon states that a life lived on earth for self is “vanity” he reminds us of one consistent truth: God wants you to enjoy the life he gives you, the work he sets before you and the people with whom he surrounds you!

It is our hope that this background information helps a bit as you read on in the Bible.

© 2011 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, All rights reserved.

 

For daily insights into the passage we are reading together each day, you can follow Dr. Smith on Twitter and on Facebook.

You can obtain more help from the FREE Bible reading schedule on our resource page. In His Image is a daily devotional that also follows our reading schedule and expresses the Biblical truth: “God Created You to Love You.” You can find this resource on the side bar of our website.

======

Host a Reaching Your Community In Your Generation Seminar!

The world around us changes approximately every 18 months! Such change brings great challenges to our mission. Eagles In Leadership has designed a weekend to help you energize your congregation or organization to fulfill the Great Commission in your community. You can bring this weekend to your church or organization!

The weekend revolves around four key messages:

  • Help! My Community Is Changing!
  • What’s Your Dream for Your Church? (And How Do You Reach It?)
  • Healthy Churches Grow!
  • Reaching Your Community In Your Generation! (It’s All About the Mission!)

You can learn more here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Proverbs – Becoming a Virtuous Wife (Proverbs 31:10-31)

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Artwork Credit: lacy.obeyingthetruth.com

 

Editor’s Note: We continue our series of blogs for those who are reading the Bible with us cover-to-cover this year. Interspersed with our thoughts on our daily reading, we want to provide some tips about reading the Bible in general.

Proverbs – Becoming a Virtuous Wife (Proverbs 31:10-31)

As we wrap up the book of Proverbs we come to one of the mist exciting passages in the Old Testament. While many speak of the denigration of women in Bible times, this passage shows us that when that happened, it was NOT God’s will or desire.

As we look carefully into the virtues of this ancient woman, we see many of the desires of their contemporary counterparts – and a lesson for husbands as well. The Biblical term for this position is “home manager,” but do not look at that disparagingly. It is obvious to any, except perhaps the casual or bigoted observer, that this position was one of great power and authority!

In Biblical days it was “all hands on deck” to bring about the prosperity and dominion of the family. Rightly understood, the husband would work with his partner to extend their profits and prospects. This meant giving the virtuous woman the “keys to their kingdom,” allowing her to do what today would seem unheard of in the normal marriage! Consider the “careers” of this model woman, from the Old Testament book of Proverbs – the book of wisdom – and learn, if you will from them for your own prosperity and dominion in your community! She was …

  • A trusted partner in the family business! (31:11)
  • A commodity broker! (31:13)
  • A manual laborer!  (31:13)
  • An importer of goods!  (31:14)
  • A 5-star chef!  (31:15)
  • An employer and staff manager!  (31:15)
  • A realtor!  (31:16)
  • An investor!  (31:16)
  • A fitness enthusiast!  (31:17)
  • A retailer!  (31:18)
  • A clothier!  (31:19, 24)
  • A philanthropist!  (31:20)
  • A woman of wealth!  (31:21-22)
  • A political aid!  (31:23)
  • A valued counselor! (31:25-26)
  • A hard-working C. O. O.!  (31:27)
  • A blessed mother!  (31:28)
  • A praised wife! (31:29)
  • A godly woman!  (31:30)
  • A community leader!  (31:31)

After you recover from the impact of these realities, one this is for sure: Those who place women as second-class citizens through their faith, are truly misguided and mistaken as to their potential and possibility as joint-heirs of all God longs to provide for them!

It is our hope that this background information helps a bit as you read on in the Bible.

 

© 2011 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, All rights reserved.

 

For daily insights into the passage we are reading together each day, you can follow Dr. Smith on Twitter and on Facebook.

You can obtain more help from the FREE Bible reading schedule on our resource page. In His Image is a daily devotional that also follows our reading schedule and expresses the Biblical truth: “God Created You to Love You.” You can find this resource on the side bar of our website.

======

Host a Reaching Your Community In Your Generation Seminar!

The world around us changes approximately every 18 months! Such change brings great challenges to our mission. Eagles In Leadership has designed a weekend to help you energize your congregation or organization to fulfill the Great Commission in your community. You can bring this weekend to your church or organization!

The weekend revolves around four key messages:

  • Help! My Community Is Changing!
  • What’s Your Dream for Your Church? (And How Do You Reach It?)
  • Healthy Churches Grow!
  • Reaching Your Community In Your Generation! (It’s All About the Mission!)

You can learn more here.

 

 

 

 

Posted in Bible Reading, christian life, finances, Just Read It!, Stewardship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment