"Addition and Subtraction"

“Addition and Subtraction”

 

Remember those first grade days when we learned the basics of arithmetic? In my case I recall counting from 1 to 100 before the 2+2’s and 4-2’s came along. Calculators and computers have largely replaced the manual methods but the old ways are still a handy tool to call on in a pinch.

Addition and subtraction are certainly appropriate when it comes to numbers. But what about God’s Word? In a comic strip years ago Dagwood asked Blondie for more spare ribs. When she pointed out he’d already had two helpings he told her it was in the Bible that he could have all he wanted. When she expressed doubt he got the family Bible, pointed at a page, and said, “See, I wrote it here myself.” Karen recently read me an on line devotional which told of a man asking a church for financial help. When the pastor questioned him about his employment the answer was, “God told me not to work.” The pastor then cited 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (“If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”) to which the man responded, “I don’t accept that.” The common denominator in both cases is trying to change Scripture to say what they wanted it to say.

Scripture isn’t subject to polls or an up-or-down vote. Psalm 119:89 reminds us, “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” So no amount of spin or exegetical gymnastics (a fancy term for bending it to suit our wishes) will change what God has already said. As a line in a great old hymn says, “What more can He say than to you He hath said….?” So God by “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him….” (2 Peter 1:3).

The Bible closes with a strong warning: “If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words of this prophetic book, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19, NLT). Sounds like a pretty good reason to confine our addition and subtraction to numbers, not God’s truth. Remember, “Every word of God is flawless….” (Proverbs 30:5).

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Self Service"

“Self Service”

 

Our society has largely become one of self service. We pump our own gas, do our banking on line or at an ATM, and even check out our own purchases at retail stores. This trend can save us time and money but isn’t always the panacea we’re looking for—it seems that more often than not I have to call a store employee to straighten out a self-checkout problem! Ah, the wonders of modern (in)conveniences!

While doing things ourselves can have certain advantages there’s another type of self service which has become more and more commonplace. To illustrate: during a plane trip a man went into cardiac arrest and the crew (assisted by a physician who was on the flight) was doing CPR. In the midst of their procedure another passenger tapped a flight attendant on the shoulder and said, “My coffee is cold!” Apparently she thought her “right” to a hot beverage trumped her fellow traveler’s need for medical attention. An extreme example? Perhaps, but it does give a case in point of how some see themselves as Numero Uno.

Selfishness is an inborn human trait. As precious and cute as infants and toddlers are they are concerned only with themselves. Part of raising our children is teaching them to think of others and we’re thankful when they begin to learn this lesson. Too many, however, don’t grasp this and scenarios like the one described above can result.

Since God created us He knows all about our weaknesses, including the one about being self-serving at the expense of others. For this reason He inspired the Apostle Paul to write, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4). And he practiced what he preached (“…If what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.”—1 Corinthians 8:13). So I need to ask myself: Do I view others as there to serve me or there for me to serve?

Jesus Himself put others first by His service when He washed His disciples’ feet (John 13) and by giving His reason for coming to earth as being a servant, not to be served (Matthew 20:28). How can I do any less?

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

 

"Retirement"

“Retirement”

 

Not long ago my brother Dave met a man at a special event who had served as pastor of our grandparents’ church in Brooklyn during the 1950’s. He’s now 90+ years old and pastoring a small church on “Lon Gisland.” As Dave spoke with him (he still remembered our family after 60 years) he mentioned that I’d retired from full-time church and hospice ministry to which the pastor replied (Dave wasn’t sure if in jest or seriously), “I didn’t think pastors were supposed to retire.” Either way, does he have a valid point?

I’ve heard some say, “Retirement isn’t in the Bible.” Not so—Numbers 8:24-25 says, “This applies to the Levites: men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting, but at the age of fifty they must retire from their regular service and work no longer.” (Emphasis added). The Hebrew word translated “retire” (this is the only place the NIV so renders it) appears over 1000 times in the Old Testament and has the basic meaning “turn back’ (“Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God.”--Hosea 14:1, emphasis added). So what were the “retired” Levites to turn back to? Speaking through Moses, the Lord went on to say, “They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting….” (Numbers 8:26). So the door was open to continuing ministry but in a different way.

As a whole our society sees retirement as a reward for many years of working. But does this mean (as it did to a retired judge years ago) that we sit around, do nothing, and wait to die? Or does God still have a purpose for us when our active employment ends? If we take God’s words about the Levites seriously, we can still be productive as He gives us strength but our type or amount of labor will likely change. Remember, “…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6).

I’m thankful for the doors God’s opened for me in “retirement”: part-time hospice chaplaincy, leading a Bible study, translating the New Testament, and writing this blog (not to mention some golf, travel, time with Karen, and enjoying friends), all of which provide reasons for getting up each morning. And with God’s help I want to continue to be active until He calls me Home to my ultimate retirement: being with Him forever.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Eternal Shelf Life"

“Eternal Shelf Life”

 

When Karen and I buy food and medicine we’ve learned to check the dates stamped on the packaging. This tells us the recommended time for the product’s safe sale before spoiling, often referred to as its shelf life. For some food items the time is short (two weeks for our most recent milk purchase), for others much longer periods (almost two years for apple juice). But according to a Harvard Medical School study updated in 2015, most medications retain their potency for up to 15 years beyond the time of “expiration”. Still, we’re probably more comfortable purchasing and using goods within the suggested time period.

One food, however, is unique in that it never spoils when stored properly: honey. It may crystalize but is restored to its edible form when the container is heated. Karen’s grandfather was a bee keeper by trade and on each label were the words, “To liquefy put in warm water.” (This was before the microwave was a common household appliance.) It’s reported that honey dating back some 5000 years was found in Georgia and was still fit for consumption (I wonder who tested it). So it has, according to a Smithsonian article, “Eternal Shelf Life”.

Our Associate Pastor in New Hampshire, Mike Conneally, observed that many ministries have a shelf life. That is, at some point they outlive their usefulness and need to be changed, replaced, or eliminated to make the best use of God-given resources.

But there’s something much better than honey that has eternal shelf life: God’s Word. The psalmist (my guess: the Old Testament scribe Ezra) wrote, “Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalm 119:89). Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35). Further, in keeping with our theme, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103, AMP) and “Eat honey…for it is good…Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul….” (Proverbs 24:13-14). Now that’s a great taste to be left in our mouths!

So the next time we drench our hot biscuits with that sweet, thick, golden, sticky liquid let’s think of the sweetness and satisfaction of God’s Word and its eternal shelf life.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan