In a world chattering with competing values, the scriptures provide clear-sighted guidance for those who want to live a meaningful life.

David, for instance, lists several traits of the righteous person. The first area revolves around the use of words. He informs us that the one whose walk is blameless speaks the truth; their tongue utters no slander; they cast no slur on others; and they keep an oath even when it hurts.

A second characteristic involves finances. The honorable person lends money to the poor without interest and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Words and money. Not much cuts closer to the bone.

Learning to control my tongue, and not let money control me, leads to life secure in the Lord. Indeed, David promises whoever does these things will never be shaken.

Solid practices to fold into my day by day.

Psalm 15 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Dave Goudreau

This morning my wife announced she’s pregnant. Ha! I knew better than to be taken in by that April Fool’s prank. She’ll need a more clever ruse before I play the fool.

The scriptures mention a variety of fools. One stands out as particularly malevolent. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

This fool is morally deficient. He acts corruptly, chews people up and frustrates the poor. Such fools live solely for themselves and take whatever possible from others. They justify their actions by denying the existence of God, allowing them to develop a unique moral code, which just happens to benefit themselves.

Such cruelty exists in every generation. These fools strategically exploit. Sadly, good people may live their entire lives under the thumb of their evil.

Fortunately, God is present in the company of the righteous. At some point, in the present or in the future, salvation will arrive from Zion and the Lord will restore his people.

No joke.

Psalm 14 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Rachel

Jesus invited everyone to come and taste the kingdom of God. But he also drew boundaries. Notice these statements from Jesus as recorded by Luke:

Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division (Luke 12:50).

Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to (Luke 13:24).

Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples (Luke 14:33).

Following Jesus involves giving up everything. Ponder a bit on that idea. This involves possessions, career, and financial plans, but doesn’t stop there. His ask soaks to the core of my being. Surrender of self-will to his will. Letting Jesus have his way, whatever that means. Everything strikes me uniquely.

Jesus didn’t give a two-tier call, where the saintly enter the narrow door and the rest shuffle through the turnstiles of heaven. As I read, there’s only one door, and it’s narrow.

Make every effort to enter.

Luke 12, 13 & 14 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Filip Kominik

When discussing the role of money in our lives, a friend once honestly remarked, I don’t love money…but I do love stuff, and I need more money to get more stuff! I believe many of us would agree with his sentiment.

Jesus spoke of values surrounding wealth—you cannot serve God and money. A group of Pharisees in the audience, holding a philosophy similar to my friend, sneered at Jesus. How naive. Jesus turned and responded, You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

Money and the stuff it buys, power and position, places of honor, attention—these the Pharisees loved. Yet God despised their values.

Which leads me to wonder—what do I think of highly that God actually detests?

Money, the use of money, the temptation to think more money will solve all my problems springs forth. Like the religious leaders surrounding Jesus, I value position, attention, pride of place. Values this world fuels with intensely narcissistic fires.

I need to pause and examine if I’m holding values that God not only finds distasteful, but actually loathes. Perhaps then I may move out of the detestable zone into a more humble region of God’s pleasure.

Luke 16 in reading the Bible in 2023

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