ODJ: none of my business?
Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever (v.10).
READ: Obadiah 1:10-14
When we first read the book of Obadiah, it’s easy to regard its contents as little more than a prophetic tirade in which God’s wrath is directed toward Israel’s enemies. We see His wrath and the reality that evil does not go unpunished. But the book has far more to say than simply those two truths.
Some other key points include the fact that we should be careful about what we plant, because the time of harvest will come quickly. God is offended by wrongdoing, and He brings justice for the oppressed.
Obadiah details the main reason for the judgment of Edom: “Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever” (v.10). The details of the violence against Israel are given in the next four verses: They stood aloof and withheld assistance (v.11). They rejoiced over Judah’s downfall (v.12). They plundered Jerusalem (v.13). They prevented the escape of Judah’s fugitives (v.14).
Edom’s sins against Israel progressed downwards. At first their sin was simply indifference, but then it became the promotion of evil and, finally, participation in the evil. This reveals sin’s downward path.
While writing this article, I received a text message. A church friend was asking for my help. I was tempted to ignore it, as it would inconvenience me. However, I was reminded that Edom’s downfall began with withholding assistance. So I quickly attended to the request.
Often we’d like to think that somebody else’s trouble is none of our business, but Galatians 6:9-10 reminds us, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” —Poh Fang Chia
What are some needs of others you are often tempted to turn a blind eye to? How could you step out in love today?
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Loading ...Portrait of Our Souls
By Rachel Ang, 21, Singapore
The portrait of a beautiful young man sits in an abandoned and dusty corner of a luxurious mansion. As the owner of the picture travels the path of hedonism, denying himself none of his desires for pleasure, the figure on the canvas decays, wrinkles and turns loathsome and hideous. It was a reflection of the man’s ravaged soul.
So goes the story of Oscar Wilde’s only novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, even if slightly over-simplified. But for a person who indulged in an equally glamorous, pleasurable and terrible lifestyle, Oscar Wilde seemed to have a good idea of the toll of sin on a person’s soul.
And the degradation of sin is inevitable. “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death” (James 1:14).
We might not be over-indulging in pleasure as Dorian Gray did, but none of us can truthfully say that we have never had wicked thoughts before. We have to be taught how to be good, and even then, we often fail. If left to ourselves, our depravity would overwhelm us.
But we seldom realize this. I often find myself feeling proud of all the good things that I’ve done, while forgetting to be ashamed of all of the bad that far outweighs them. Because the ugliness of sin is not visible or tangible to us as it was to Dorian Gray, it’s so easy to become self-righteous and forget that we would not be able to make it on our own strength and efforts alone.
Hold on a moment. Why is it so important to keep in mind that we are bad? Shouldn’t we be focusing on the good and happy things so that progress in humanity can be made? What’s the rationale behind this almost masochistic harping on how deplorable we are?
The answer: It is only when we realize how wicked we are, and how helpless to save ourselves from that wickedness, that we can truly appreciate God’s grace in providing us salvation through Christ.
All of us used to live that way [in sin], following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature . . . But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
Ephesians 2:3-5
When Jesus Christ came to die on the cross, He was here not for the spiritually healthy, but the sick. “’For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners’” (Matthew 9:13b).
Admitting transgression is something most of us would have been trained not to do. Yet it is the first step to being saved. At the display of Jesus’ divine power, Peter’s reaction was to fall to his knees in fear and declare, “I am too much of a sinner…!” (Luke 5:8b). Without this conviction of sin, we remain blind to the truth of how much we need God in our lives.
As a Christian, this thought helped me to appreciate so much more what God has done for me in sending Christ. I am thankful for God’s mercy and grace.
If you are not yet a believer, maybe you could take some time to think about this question that Dorian Gray was eventually challenged with: “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?” (Mark 8:36).
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July 13, 2010
READ: Deuteronomy 15:7-11
If there is among you a poor man of your brethren . . . you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand. —Deuteronomy 15:7
Francis Chan, in his book Crazy Love, tells of a family with an interesting Christmas tradition. On Christmas morning, the Robynson family doesn’t focus on opening presents under the Christmas tree. Instead, they make pancakes and coffee, and serve the breakfast to the homeless. This is a small but creative way to show God’s love and generosity to the poor.
God expected this kind of generosity from His people. In Deuteronomy 15, Moses emphasized the reality of poverty and how the more affluent must deal with it. They were warned of four dangers:
A hard heart, ignoring the needs of the poor (v.7).
A closed hand, withholding what the poor lacked (v.7).
An evil thought, hesitating or refusing to loan money to the poor because the year of canceling debts was nearing (v.9).
A grudging spirit, a reluctance to satisfy the needs of the poor among them (v.10). Not only were they warned about selfishness, but more important, they were encouraged to be spontaneously generous (vv.8,10,11).
Among God’s people, there must always be a spirit of generosity toward the poor. Let’s open our hearts and our hands. —Marvin Williams
Generosity stems from the heart that has experienced God’s grace.
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