Stewardship; May 12, 2025

Posted on May 13, 2025 by jgarrott

1 Chronicles 29:14 “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.”

It’s interesting how much trouble we tend to have with this fundamental truth that David expressed. When we give things to God, or more specifically, to a church, we tend to feel like He owes us, or at least that somebody owes us something. How foolish! We certainly didn’t create ourselves, and though our effort was probably involved, any wealth we might have has come from outside of us. All we can really offer God that wasn’t His in the first place is love, obedience, and praise. David was rightly blown out of the water by how much he and his people were able to give for the construction of the temple. I don’t know what the financial calculations would be, but it was a staggering sum! As David rightly realized, it was evidence of how good and generous God had been to them. Material offerings are indeed useful for the operation of the church, but what God really wants is our hearts. If we are properly dedicated to Him, then all other giving becomes a joy and privilege. This doesn’t mean at all that we are to be passive. That’s the whole point of Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25. We have come to use “talent” as meaning “ability,” but it was originally a weight, and applied to gold or silver, that meant money. With either meaning, we are accountable to God for what He has provided to us. If our stewardship has produced an increase, then it should be our joy to return it to Him. After all, we won’t take any of it from this life!

I have never had very much financially, but God has been very generous in terms of abilities. My stewardship of those has been spotty, to say the least. They enabled me to carry a clarinet more than a gun while I was in the Army, and I am certainly grateful for that. However, I haven’t touched either of my clarinets for over a year. I was delighted to be able to do the electrical wiring for this building, and I’m looking forward to replacing a defective LED fixture this morning, but that has never been a paid occupation. Simply the ability to walk is a gift from God. When weather and schedule allow, I try to do a 5K walk three times a week, taking pictures of birds and such along the way, and I very much look forward to doing that this morning. I need to be conscious in giving that to God, praying as I walk. That is certainly the way of blessing! I don’t know when the “expiration date” is on any of the abilities I’ve been given, but I don’t want to waste them. They came from my Lord and belong to Him, so I am to use them as He directs.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the delighted anticipation I feel about putting in that light fixture. Thank You that schedule and weather have coincided so I will be able to walk this morning. Guide in my interaction with that man I often see on the way, that he may truly understand that You love him and want to make him Your child. May I be a steward pleasing to You with every minute You give me today, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Wealth; May 11, 2025

Posted on May 12, 2025 by jgarrott

1 Chronicles 29:9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

It does feel good to be able to give! Some people don’t seem to have discovered this fact, and that’s sad. At the same time, the figures given just before this of how much was given are an indication of the extremely uneven distribution of wealth back then. Historically, the whole idea of a “middle class” is a fairly recent development. That said, I doubt that anyone I know, much less anyone reading this by way of the Internet, is in what would historically be abject poverty. Society today is actually unimaginable luxury, on the historical scale. So why is there so much unhappiness? Because our perspective shifts with our circumstances. Over a hundred years ago one of the richest men in America at the time was asked, “How much is enough?” His answer? “A little bit more.” Jesus addressed that directly when he said, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” (Luke 9:25) This also ties in with what is the only quote of Jesus that isn’t in the Gospels: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 25:35) God gives us the resources necessary for us, but how we relate to them greatly affects how much we enjoy them. A stingy person is not a happy person! One of the most important things Jesus taught, in terms of daily happiness, is, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) When our focus is on the material, we will never be satisfied. When our focus is on God and His kingdom, then life is an ever-increasing feast.

Growing up, I was never particularly aware of finances, which indicates wisdom on my parents’ part. Thankfully, my parents’ mission board didn’t require that they scrounge up their own support, but the salary certainly wasn’t overwhelming. When my parents inherited funds from their parents, the adjustment wasn’t all that easy! I do know that they tithed faithfully. In my own personal finances, I never worried about money until I had a wife and then children to support (though I did do some stupid things as a college student, not properly valuing what I had versus what I wanted). Between marriage and the birth of our second child we did have some very tight times, but I look back on them as valuable growing experiences. Around the time our second daughter was born, my wife and I both felt strongly that we should resume tithing. We had largely forgotten that part of stewardship, though we had both been raised in it, but we never had a tenth of our income left over at the end of the month. We finally decided to take the tenth out as soon as funds came in, and what do you know, at the end of that month we had a little left over! In the 50+ years since then, God has met our needs beautifully, often in very unexpected ways. Recently we received an inheritance from a relative who had no particular reason to think so kindly of us! Now, we are delighting to give in a variety of ways, but are striving always to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

Father, thank You for Your provision, and for the privilege of giving. May we be the stewards You want us to be, not just of material resources but of all You pour out on us, for the blessing of those around us and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Evangelistic Imperative; May 10, 2025

Posted on May 11, 2025 by jgarrott

1 Chronicles 16:23-23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

This chapter collects several of David’s Psalms, and I can’t read it without musical settings coming into my mind and heart. That’s not a bad thing! When you read it with an open mind, it’s remarkable how evangelistic, even missionary, the Old Testament is. We generally think of evangelism as a strictly New Testament thing, but again and again we run into passages like this one, that speak of “among the nations” and “among the peoples.” Just yesterday I was watching a video from Jews for Jesus of an encounter in Israel between one of their leaders and a very earnest young Jewish man. The young man was saying, “One difference between Jews and other religions is that we don’t want everyone to become Jewish.” I’d say he wasn’t very familiar with his own Bible! From the very first, when God called Abraham to be His agent, God said, “Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.” (Genesis 18:18) That thought is repeated several times, in Genesis and later. God chose Abraham and his descendants to demonstrate and share His truth to all the world, but they messed that commission up repeatedly, and the young man in the video didn’t recognize it at all. Sadly, the same phenomenon can be seen in many churches today. Despite Jesus having said explicitly, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” (Matthew 28:19) they have little to no interest in anything or anyone outside of their own immediate circle. How sad! Selfishness, self-centeredness, is never the way to fulfillment and genuine happiness. God is the Creator of all the universe, and He loves all mankind enough to send His Son to die for us. That news is far too wonderful to fail to share it with all who will receive it.

Obviously, since my parents were missionaries, I was raised with a strong awareness that the Gospel wasn’t an “inside secret.” I don’t feel personally gifted as an evangelist, but I am deeply aware of the evangelistic imperative. The Great Commission wasn’t just a suggestion! That doesn’t mean that every believer is to go to far-off lands as a missionary, but it does mean that every believer is to be earnest about making disciples of everyone they encounter. Not everyone will accept the Gospel as applying to them, and we can’t force them to do so, but we are accountable to give them the opportunity. Some are indeed called to far-off lands, but that doesn’t mean to ignore your next-door neighbor! It is very significant that America, which has been the greatest missionary-sending nation in history, is currently receiving missionaries from many nations that were once thought of as just mission fields. Many Americans, even, don’t really know the Gospel, and that it applies to them. Of course, that applies in spades to me, since I live in a nation that is no more than 2% Christian, according to government statistics. I think every missionary in Japan is at risk of burnout and overload, because there is always so much more we could be doing, or so we think. The biggest challenge, as I think it is in most countries, is in getting all believers to recognize their own part in communicating the Gospel to their friends and neighbors. We can’t do it effectively on our own, but God is ready and waiting to do it through us, if we will make ourselves available to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the BBQ we have planned for tomorrow, as an outreach to the neighborhood. Thank You for the neighbors who have indicated they will attend. May we indeed share Your love and grace with them in ways they can receive it, making them hungry for more spiritual food even as we are pleasing them with physical food, so that they may repent and believe for their salvation. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Seeking the Lord; May 9, 2025

Posted on May 10, 2025 by jgarrott

1 Chronicles 16:10-11 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.

It’s hard to know where to stop when reading this Psalm, and indeed, we will read more of it tomorrow. David was naturally thrilled that the Lord had allowed him to bring the Ark into Jerusalem, particularly after what had happened with Uzzah, as came up yesterday. The focus right here is on seeking God, as David definitely was doing at this point. He tells all who do so to rejoice, and we have every reason to do so. He also tells us to “inquire of the Lord’s strength,” as the Japanese puts it. David had experienced many times that when he sought the Lord, strength was provided. I’m sure there were plenty of times when he realized his own strength was insufficient. And then he says to earnestly seek the face of the Lord, without ceasing. That is good advice for as long as mankind exists! Some people seem to seek God casually, thinking it might be interesting, or at least a good idea. That’s no way to find Him, though in His grace He does sometimes shock such people by showing up. It’s like he told Jeremiah, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) Actually, there are countless passages that tell us to seek God, because without knowing Him, we have no purpose in life. However, He is very gracious and loving, and as David famously said in Psalm 51, “A broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”(Psalm 51:17) Every objection to seeking God is a lie of the devil, because he knows that when we are in right relationship with our Creator, we are invincible. As Isaiah exhorts us, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked
forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

By the grace of God and the loving instruction of my parents, I have always found the Lord to be very near, to the point of taking Him foolishly for granted. He is not stingy with His presence, but I certainly need to make Him my first priority. However, I have certainly learned that any time I don’t feel Him, He’s not the one who moved! As a pastor and as a believer, my desire is that everyone seek the Lord, and find Him as I have. I rejoice to know Him, but there is no hint of exclusion in that feeling. I am deeply grateful not only for my own salvation, but also for the privilege of drawing others into that salvation as well. God gives me opportunities to witness of Him and His grace, and I don’t want to miss a single one of those. I won’t know until heaven how many of the seeds I’ve planted have born fruit, but that is in God’s hands. I am to seek Him!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all that You are doing in the world. The news of the election of a new Pope is exciting, and the fact that a close friend of mine is on first-name basis with him is mind blowing. However, it’s all in Your hands. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Handling the Holy; May 8, 2025

Posted on May 9, 2025 by jgarrott

1 Chronicles 15:13 “It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.”

The simple fact of the matter is that if you want things to turn out right, you need to seek God for how He wants things done. Often enough, in fact, almost always, He’s already indicated the right course in the Bible, as David says here, “as prescribed/according to the rule.” We tend to run off in whatever way seems right to us, and don’t even bother to ask God about it. The thing is, the “rule” is to seek God! In this particular instance, failing to seek God had resulted in the death of Uzzah, who had tried to “help God out” by steadying the Ark when the oxen pulling the cart stumbled. (1 Chronicles 13:9-10) The problem was, God had given clear instructions for how the Ark was to be handled, back when it was built during the Exodus, and those instructions were that it was to be carried by Levites, not put on a cart in the first place. Uzzah’s death certainly put the fear of the Lord into David and all those with him! We aren’t called to handle the physical Ark of the Covenant, but we do handle the truths of God, and we are not to do so flippantly. As Paul told Timothy, we are to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) We don’t handle physical holy things, but physical things are temporal to begin with, and we handle the eternal Word of God. We are never to do so casually, or seek to bend and distort it to say what we want it to. That’s a good way to get cut to pieces, because “The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) We are to handle it as God directs, to achieve the results He desires. (Isaiah 55:11)

This is an area in which I really need to be careful, because familiarity indeed breeds contempt, and I am certainly familiar with the Bible, having read it through for the first time before I was 10, and many times since then. It is a physical impossibility for me to read a Bible passage I haven’t read repeatedly before, but it is glorious reality that God gives me new insight very frequently, as I read the Bible each morning. For example, I don’t think I’ve ever written on this verse before! I am to treat God’s Word as holy, not in the sense of a particular translation, but as what He was saying through the individuals who recorded it. I have been saddened by people who have clung to a particular translation, essentially saying that it alone was the “holy” Bible. I’ve been bilingual all my life, and I know that translation doesn’t work that way! I have been blessed through many different translations, but haven’t found a perfect one yet, and don’t expect to. However, I do expect God to speak to me through what I read, and I certainly haven’t been disappointed!

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s an unexpected insight from this particular passage! Help me indeed rightly handle Your Word, just as Paul told Timothy, so that it may have its full work in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Faithfulness; May 7, 2025

Posted on May 8, 2025 by jgarrott

1 Kings 8:61 “And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”

God honored Solomon’s office as king, and He anointed him to speak real truth to the people. Sadly, Solomon himself didn’t continue to follow all that God spoke through him. This connects directly with what Jesus said about the religious leaders of His day. “So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:3) Ecclesiastical position is to be respected, but it doesn’t guarantee righteousness. This becomes a major problem when Church leaders believe what is said about them. That is a very timely subject, when the Catholics are in the process of choosing another Pope. Every time we come to Solomon this resonates in me very strongly. He was incredibly blessed and gifted, including with intelligence, but he got so used to it that he got sloppy in his obedience, substituting human logic for obedience to God, to the point that he participated in idolatry – the exact opposite of what he is exhorting the people to do here. As the saying goes, “There’s no fool like an old fool.” In relating to leaders, we are indeed to honor their position, but keep God as the ultimate authority in our minds and hearts.

At 76, I can certainly relate to the possibility of being an old fool! The Lord has been amazingly faithful to speak His Word through me over the years, but if I fail to follow it myself, it does me no good personally. What I have written continues to bless people. I get “likes” on my blog all the time for things I posted years ago. However, if I fail to walk in faithful obedience, I will lose the blessings that should accrue to such things, whatever the people around me might think. I am never to presume or coast, but keep pressing in for more of my Lord. Just yesterday I got news that someone I have known and loved over the years has joined the great throng before the Throne, and I’ll confess to a touch of envy. I do enjoy life on this earth, a great deal, actually, but sometimes the little hassles add up, and I want to be done with it all. However, I could well have another 20 years in my current assignment, and I’m never to jump ship. I am to rejoice to be useful to God, however He wants to use me, and be careful to keep my heart focused on Him in full, loving obedience, so that the distractions of this world won’t pull me away, as they did Solomon.

Father, thank You for this reminder. This year looks to have several “departures” of people who are meaningful to me. May I rest, relax, and rejoice in You for as long as You keep me here, being faithful to do all the things You say to and through me, so that the Body of Christ may be built up for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Integrity; May 6, 2025

Posted on May 7, 2025 by jgarrott

1 Samuel 2:3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
    or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
    and by him deeds are weighed.”

The verse ahead of this is dearly loved and set to music, but this verse also has real punch. This is a direct response by Hannah to Penninah, her rival wife who had tormented her for her infertility. That said, it’s still true! Our words should be circumspect before the Lord. The English and Japanese translations differ in the last line, and I chose to write largely because of that very line. The Japanese says, “His actions are beyond measure,” speaking of the Lord, while the NIV and ESV, at any rate, say “by Him actions/deeds are weighed,” speaking of what we do. Both are true, and are expressed in other places in the Bible. Since God is infinite, it goes without saying that we can’t measure His actions. Scientists plunge into the chase of trying to find them out, but new telescopes and the like are continuing to come up with data that completely amazes them. It’s not wrong to investigate, by any means, but we need to have the humility to know that we’ll never know everything. The English translation of the line is in perfect agreement with James, who wrote extensively about the difference between words and deeds. For that matter, Jesus had a lot to say about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. It all comes down to humility and integrity. The Japanese term for integrity is literally, “word-action agreement.” Our words need to be humble, and our actions need to back them up.

As I write frequently, I have really struggled with pride, and that has been expressed in both words and actions. You might say I had integrity in my pride! However, that is certainly cause for repentance. I must live every moment in the awareness that I can do everything the Lord calls on me to do, (Philippians 4:13) but I can do nothing without Him. (John 15:5) When that awareness is complete, it gives full assurance and perfect peace. I certainly want that! As much as I tell other people to get their eyes off of themselves and focus on Jesus, I still don’t do it perfectly myself. Even at 76, I’ve got plenty of room to grow! He has told me to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, and I will be in a practicum in doing that until He takes me home to be with Him forever.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s not like You haven’t said this to me before! Help me indeed take it in and act on it, reflecting the character of my Lord Jesus more and more accurately, drawing people to Him for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Happiness; May 5, 2025

Posted on May 6, 2025 by jgarrott

Deuteronomy 26:11 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.

In Deuteronomy, “rejoice” is essentially the same as “celebrate.” Thus, Moses is saying that when you have a party, be sure to invite the people who don’t have resources to throw parties for themselves. That is certainly worth noting, but the central point is that we are to recognize God’s blessings to us, acknowledge them publicly before Him, and be happy about it. America is an incredibly blessed nation, on the historical scale and also in comparison to other nations in the world. That’s why the current government’s threat to not buy the goods of other nations is having such an impact, because American consumers have more buying power than any other group of people in the world. Even so, some people engage in “victimhood competition,” seeing who can lay claim to being wronged to a greater degree. That is the opposite of what Moses is laying out here. Psychologists disagree on a lot of things, but they show remarkable unanimity in saying that gratitude is probably the most essential element of happiness. Everyone wants to be happy, but if we refuse to recognize and be grateful for what we have already been given, we certainly aren’t going to be happy. God doesn’t tell us to praise and worship Him because He’s narcissistic, it’s so that we will realize how good He’s been to us and be happy about it. When we really grasp the character of God and how He relates to us, gratitude, and thus happiness, becomes automatic. As Jesus said, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) Who wouldn’t be happy about that?

I was raised with essentially this understanding of the world and how it works, and as a result, I think I have had a remarkably happy life. As an introvert, I’m not really big on parties as such, but I recognize that there’s a lot to celebrate. Next Sunday afternoon this church will be having a BBQ party in our parking lot. For myself, I would just as soon not be involved, but I recognize that this is a real opportunity for outreach into our immediate community, and I’m happy about that. I’m not to focus on the work involved, but rather on God’s grace to us that we can do it, and let His grace flow through me to the people around me. From past experience, there is a real danger that I will be a “grumpy old man,” and that would benefit no one. I need to accurately reflect the character of my Lord, and so draw others to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me not focus on “I don’t like parties,” and rather focus on gratitude that You are enabling us to do this, to draw people into Your family for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Stewardship; May 4, 2025

Posted on May 5, 2025 by jgarrott

Deuteronomy 16:17 Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.

The principle of proportional giving is repeated throughout the Bible. Last Sunday the Bible story for Children’s Church was the widow who gave all she had, in contrast to the rich who gave out of their abundance. (Luke 21) We tend to get all tied in knots over monetary amounts, when God is looking at, and looking for, our hearts. The point in this verse is that each person should give in proportion to what they have been given. Every once in a while reports come out of the charitable giving of politicians, for example. The ones who make the most noise about government welfare programs and how the government should be doing more are generally the ones who give the least in personal benevolence. We aren’t called to give what someone else has been given! If believers and their churches were fully faithful in their stewardship, the vast majority of government programs would be unnecessary! That said, we can’t force anyone to be generous. I do get burned out at the constant barrage of pleas for money for various causes. Some of them are extremely worthy, and I do indeed support some of those, but God is calling everyone to individual accountability for what He has provided. Everyone has to answer to God for what they have done with what He has given them, not what anyone else has done with what they have been given.

My wife and I are currently in the very unfamiliar position of having relative financial abundance, so this is very pertinent. Our expenses are low, and God is gracious. The point is to seek God for what He wants us to do, not rushing to give things away but not holding back in anything He directs. We are in the process of giving the church a color copier, which is definitely a big-ticket item. We aren’t to trumpet what we’ve done by any means, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t to do it. We are to hold everything loosely, recognizing where it came from and using it exactly as our Lord directs, so that our hearts and lives may be given to Him, as well as the resources He has given us, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I pray that each person in this church would recognize and rejoice in this principle, so that we will individually and collectively operate in the flow of Your provision, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Fear of the Lord; May 3, 2025

Posted on May 4, 2025 by jgarrott

Deuteronomy 14:23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.

Moses couldn’t have been any more explicit than this that the tithe was to be consumed by those offering it. That certainly turns current thinking on its head! He goes on to say that agricultural products could be converted to money for convenience, but then that money could be used however the worshiper liked. (verse 26) He does say that Levites, that is, church workers, are to be provided for, as well as widows and orphans, but this is certainly not the picture most people have of church giving! The interesting thing, however, is in this verse. All this feasting is to be done so that you will learn to fear the Lord your God. (The latest NIV corrects “fear” to “revere,” but most translations have it as fear.) That certainly puts a different twist on the fear of the Lord! Going back to the reading from Revelation a few days ago, the fear of the Lord isn’t terror, but a deep awareness and appreciation for who and what He is, encompassing all His attributes. Some people want to keep God in a box, perhaps as their guide, or their ticket to heaven, but they choose not to relate to Him in His entirety. Actually, since He is infinite, we can’t do that totally, but the fear of the Lord acknowledges His power and mercy, holiness and love. Feasting before the Lord is an exercise in remembering that He is our Provider, the One who created everything and then gave it to us. Seeing Him as a mean old judge just waiting to whack us with a big stick is just as wrong as seeing Him as an indulgent grandfather who will let us do absolutely anything. Properly understood, the fear of the Lord can be expressed as loving the Lord or delighting in the Lord. He is certainly worthy of all those things!

I think my parents had a very balanced view of God, and that is what they passed on to me. I have always maintained that God has a sense of humor, because that is the environment in which I was raised. I know that following God sometimes calls for sacrifice. My parents became missionaries at a time when crossing the Pacific took days, not hours. (And we complain about long plane rides!) That said, my mother said that the only real sacrifice she made to be a missionary was proximity to family. Some are indeed called to give their lives, but in the final analysis, that’s something we can’t hang onto anyway! I am to delight in my Lord, and at the same time be totally committed and obedient to Him. He has shown Himself to be incredibly gracious and generous, loving and holy. I am to fear Him with intense gratitude!

Father, thank You for this reminder. There is always more of You for me to learn! Help me fear You as You desire and intend, so that I may be fully useful for Your purposes, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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