GENEROSITY

 Isaiah 58:1-12; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12; Matthew 5:13-20

Introduction

We have taken time to study 'Christ' in our previous discussions. Today in our world, we are bedeviled with multiple ways of living, promising greatness and fulfillment. One most disappointing experience in life is to confidently walk on a road for a long time only to be redirected to the right path. God is with us today to breathe on us once again, "The True Way of Life" so that we would not be disappointed in the end. The Wiseman counseled, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." Proverbs 14:12; 16:25 (ESV).

Isaiah the prophet drew the attention of the house of Jacob to the path that seemed right in their eyes but was leading them astray in the first passage. 

Note this, it is dangerous to be bereft of someone to point you to the true way of life whiles you confidently miss it.

The Israelites had questions. "Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?" Isaiah 58:3 (ESV). They expected the hand of God in their situations because they had fasted and humbled themselves. Meanwhile, the very act they sought to bring deliverance to them was rather infuriating God, - "Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself?" Isaiah 58:5 (ESV).

Ways of Men

Eloquence or lofty speech. People are following personalities because of their eloquence and style of speech. This reminds me of my lecturer, Rev. Boama who would say, "beautiful words do not mean correct answer". 

Paul puts it, "And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom." 1 Corinthians 2:1 (ESV). 

The world has come to the point where people, the youth especially, sits in the church and mark the English language of preachers, assess their style of dressing, and seek lofty appealing speeches. The question is, 'Is that the true way of life?'

Isaiah 58 reminds me of a song we used to sing in Secondary School, "Awurade na aden ni" - we've been going to church, we've been fasting and praying but God, why this silence?

The house of Jacob sought God daily and delighted to know His ways meanwhile, He was silent. God says, "as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God" Isaiah 58:2 (ESV)

We come before God as though we are so righteous and no evil is found in our closets and demand "righteous judgments". Reflect on the kind of prayers we pray today. For instance, with the mindset that your aunty or mother or anyone doesn't like you, you pray and call for fire, thunder, and sometimes death to come upon him/her. And God says, you say these things as if you're righteous before Him. This is not God's true way of life for us.

Beloved in Christ, if we do not consider the true way of life from God and assume we're right, the glory of God will depart from us, "ichabod". Listen to what God says about their fasting. "Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist." Isaiah 58:3-4 (ESV). 

Child of God, are you questioning God, 'God why! why me! why me!?' We publicly position ourselves as Christians before men, meanwhile, it is for our own pleasure, we secretly oppress our subordinates, we quarrel, fight, and hit others with wicked fists and still turn around to ask, "God why me!?"

The Prophet Haggai told us, "Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes." Haggai 1:5-6 (ESV) This is a sign of the departed glory. My brother/sister, consider your ways, is this the true way of life?

God's True Way of Life

Through the Prophet Isaiah, God points us to some of the things He expects from us saying, "Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?" Isaiah 58:7 (ESV).

God's true way of life in sum, is to love your neighbours as yourself. We deny the poor and go to church to praise and dance to God. Is that the true way of life?

Reflect on who your neighbour is. It is that man or woman whom you hate so much and even wish him/her dead. It is that guy or lady who disappointed you big time, giving you a 'broken heart'. That person you have sworn never to have anything to do within your lifetime.

God wants you to choose His true way of life by feeding, clothing, supporting, sheltering, forgiving, and encouraging everyone who needs them.

Blessings on the True Way of Life

We travail in prayer, making supplications for us to shine, be healed, and be glorified. We draw God's attention to our generational ruins and so on. This is what God says. If we consider our ways and move to the true way of Life, "Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’" Isaiah 58:8-9 (ESV).

If you depart from the true way of life, you get covered in darkness - your time never comes, you're always left behind, you're always given excuses why you failed, and your healing from God tarry. It is only the true way of life that can bring you and me to manifest the power of God in our lives and that of others.

I love the blessings Isaiah writes saying, 

If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. Isaiah 58:9-12 (ESV)

Child of God, having done all you have done for God's attention, is left with one more thing to do; walk with me on the true way of life.

Jesus Christ: the True Way of Life

Jesus gives us assurance of the way to the Father saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." … “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:1, 6 (ESV)

The ways of life on earth and in the world may promise riches, fame, trending, comfort, human praise, etc. they are not the true way of life. 

Brethren, for the world to appreciate the true way of life found in Christ Jesus, we must point them to Him who is the way and the truth. We can do this as Jesus tells us “You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world... Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:13, 14, 16 (ESV)

The true way of life is to give glory to our Father in Heaven.

Conclusion

We may have questions as to why evil happens to the righteous? (Luke 13:1-5) Meanwhile, God's righteous true way of life may have eluded us. Let us put our feet on God's true way of life which brings glory to God and to us.

Shalom aleichem...

#myyearofglory