Who is your master?

Juxtaposition is a lovely word!  It means the act of positioning close together (or side by side), usually in order to make an emphasis.  Yesterday, I experienced an unusual juxtaposition.  Well, an 'almost one'!

At the morning worship service in Wishaw Baptist Church the pastor is leading us through that passage in the Gospel according to Matthew that is generally referred to as The Sermon on the Mount.  Yesterday, we reached 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."  In the version that was being read, that Aramaic word 'mammon' is usually translated as 'money'.

I don't wish to rehearse the full message, but one of the key points that was made is that what is being referred to here is mastery.  The original hearers would have known that, in their culture (and we must always be careful to consider the original culture!), in which a slave was the absolute property of his master, serving two would have been impossible!  So, Jesus is saying, if we allow money to be our master - and in our materialistic, consumer-orientated, society, that is not difficult - then we cannot be whole-heartedly following Him!

Then, last evening, my wife and I were at the Sunday Fellowship Meeting of Preshal.  The speaker was someone whose name, at least, is known to many people.  It was a certain Brian Souter, a man who is, financially, much wealthier than I am ever likely to be!  However, no-one who didn't know about him would ever have guessed it!  He is, as I already knew, as 'common', and down-to-earth as it is possible to be.  He is, to me, the living proof that it is possible to have a great deal of money in one's bank account - and still be a slave of Jesus.

So, the importance of money is not how we gain it; how much of it we give away; or how we garner it (sorry - that's the best I can do for alliteration!!).  It's the place it holds in our lives.   I am currently working on vol.2 of my book series (this one is on Foundations of the Faith).  This evening, I have started looking at the Ten Commandments.  The first of those reads: "I am YHWH your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  You shall have no other gods before Me." (Ex.20:2-3).  It is when money - or anything else - takes His place, that we find ourselves losing touch with Him!

Paul wrote "... I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content." (Phil 4:11).  As we commence the inevitable count-down to Christmas, may our eyes be fixed, not on the commercial advertisements that would happily see all of us drown in a sea of financial debt, but on "... Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith Who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:2).

That is how we will find true peace, true contentment, and true joy. 

Contentment!

One of the news stories over the past few days, has concerned the problems that have arisen over a certain brand of breast implant.  Closely related to it is one about the lack of training required for those who would inject others with Botox.

While it is true that a percentage of the women who have had breast implants have had them as part of reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy, the majority come under the general label "cosmetic surgery"- as do those situations regarding Botox treatment; and men who, reportedly, ask for breast reduction operations.

This begs the question, does it not, as to why some people are so dissatisfied with their bodies that they are willing to go to the expense, discomfort, and associated risks, of going under the surgeon's knife!  There isn't, in such cases, a valid medical reason - it seems that it's all to do with appearance; and that, in turn, has to do with some sort of 'ideal' bodyshape that is, itself, the result of modern airbrushing techniques used by advertisers and publicity agents!  I don't make any claim to be a modern Adonis - but I'm content with my body, just as it is, and find it difficult to understand when others want to make such wholesale changes to theirs!

Of course, we should look after our bodies to the best of our ability.  That involves exercise, diet, and abstinence from those substances (e.g. cigarettes, over-indulgence in alcohol, illegal drugs) that we know cause us harm. It's called 'healthy living' - and you know that it makes sense!

For the disciple of Jesus, there is yet another consideration.  Writing to the group of believers in 1st century Corinth, Paul reminds them of the results of immorality.  "Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body." (I Cor 6:18).  But he goes on:   "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own;  you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. " (I Cor 6:19-20).

If God the Holy Spirit inhabits my very body, then I have a sacred duty to care for that body - neither abusing it, nor defiling it, nor polluting it.   As it is given to me, by God, it ought not to be dishonoured in any way.  I may never be chosen as Mr Universe; but I can seek to glorify God by ensuring that I take care of the body with which He has provided me - and being content with His gift!