Christian Living

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Do you remember in the New Testament how Jesus washed the feet of his deciples? When his followers protested and asked, “why are you doing this, since we as your students should be washing your feet?” Jesus replied, “The Son of Man was not sent to this Earth to be served, but, to serve others in the glory of Gods word.” During Jesus ministry he had many occasions to meet the Chief Priests and Pharisees, and in each case while teaching he would admonish their practices as ritual without feeling. Doing the things required by mans law to further their stature in life. Showing others how they followed the traditions that all good Jews should honor, by fasting and observing the Sabbath. All this to earn a Place for themselves in positions of authority based on their standing in the community and righteousness. Using their power and influence to further their financial and political future. These were the servants of the people in Jesus time. The ones who set down laws and raised taxes but never considered their fellow man or God’s purpose.

Jesus also taught tolerance, to allow other to speak from their hearts. Remember when another Christian convert was teaching in Jesus name? The Apostles were outraged and told Jesus, he is not in our group how can he teach in your name? Jesus stated, “ That surely if he is not against us he is with us.” Tolerance has to be granted with wisdom also; I would not stand by and watch someone steal from someone else. Nor would I allow someone to bring bodily harm to someone else. We all as Christians believe in the Ten Commandments, that man’s law will pass, but God’s law is everlasting. Why are so many of us willing to be tolerant of violations in God’s law, and less tolerant of mans law? Do you feel that man’s law is greater than God’s is?




I am reminded of a story told by a minister in our church when I was about 16 years old. A very rich man had spent a lifetime building a business; he always followed good Christian values in all he had done. He helped where needed, took care of employees and God rewarded him handsomely for his labor. Except the man’s wife could not bear children. He loved her with all his heart, but he so wanted sons that he could pass his legacy on to. One day his wife asked if they could take some young wards in. “We have this big house and only us here, wouldn’t be wonderful to hear laughter and have a family?” He agreed and they took in 3 boys who had lost their families during the war, each was about 12 years of age. The man and his wife treated these boys as if they were their own, and loved each one dearly. As the boys grew the man taught them the business, showed them how God had blessed him. Gave them one rule for business, “Treat others as you would want them to treat you.”
And one philosophy, “It is much more rewarding to give than to receive.”

The Boys; Tad, the second Roger, and the third Paul learned from their father all his knowledge and wisdom, watched as he made deals and increased their worldly possessions. At age 18 the man gathered his adopted sons and gave them a mission. “ It is time for each of you to make your way in the world, and to show me which of you is right to lead the business when I retire.” Tad decided he wanted to go into investment banking, and enrolled in the best college that would teach him good investment practices. Tad believed he could further the stature of his father’s business if he could take it public.

Roger felt politics was where he belonged, if he could help form the laws that business and industry operated under, his fathers business would be the leader in business development. So Roger enrolled in a university for Political Science. Paul, who was a little more conservative, did not want fame and glory. He remembered all those who had lost so much from the war, and from the age of 12, his only goal was to help them. Paul felt he needed to become a community planner, so he went to school to learn social work and education.



Over the next several years all three sons grew in their chosen field, but in slightly different ways. Tad was known as a shrewd investor, using leverage to buy out companies and expand his father’s financial empire. Roger grew too, as a politician, securing his position in the senate, where he worked hard to pass bills that would benefit his father’s company and help other partner companies benefit. Paul used his education to build community centers and schools, to develop communities that employed workers, and open factories that were closed after the war. Areas of the country where there was little hope, and communities were dying, Paul, through good planning, and community involvement, brought new hope to its people.

When the boys were all about 30 years old their father called them to a meeting. “Your mother and I have decided it is time to retire, and I am going to make the decision who will lead the Company. I want to hear what each of you has accomplished.” Tad spoke up first, “ I have built a strong financial portfolio to carry our business into the next century, I have acquired many competitors businesses and large plots of land for further expansion. I can lead this company to further growth and opportunity.” Tad’s father looked at him soulfully, then spoke. “Tad, You learned much in College, you have done much in your career, but you have developed a reputation as ruthless and cold. Willing to put others out of work, ruin what others have built and destroy whole communities; in order to further your financial future. You have hurt the reputation I spent years building, and spent thousands on lawsuits, you have forgotten all that I taught you.

Roger smiled knowing what his father was getting at, and then spoke up. “Father I could not agree more, as a law maker I passed bills to keep our environment safe, to regulate industry and create health care bills that would help protect employees and their families. Through my contacts I can lead this company to a future of prosperity, and influence in our government.” The father looked at his son, thought for a while, then slowly nodded and spoke. “Roger your political career is impressive, what disappoints me is you had the power and influence to make real changes, and did nothing.

You passed laws that benefited businesses, you gained power through deal making, and destroying others reputations. You are so feared that no one will challenge or run against you. You have the reputation as a bully with a sweet tongue. I have had to distance this company from your policies, to protect our reputation. Everything I taught you, you forgot.”

At this point Paul was a little scared; he never wanted to lead the company, so everything he did had nothing to do with the company. If his brothers who had made a real effort to become great leaders, and feel short, where would he be? Paul cleared his throat and spoke up. “ Father I have done nothing to set myself up as the leader of this company. All I ever did and wanted to do was rebuild what was lost. I saw so many that had homes and families and jobs, put out on the street because of a war. They lost all they had when jobs were lost and our economy fell, I saw suffering, and I wanted to do something with the advantages you provided me to help.” Paul’s father look at him with a frown, then slowly a smile started to appear, and his father hugged him. After a few stunned minutes, with the other brothers looking on their father spoke. “Paul you have made me the proudest father in the world. You have no idea the reputation you have bestowed on yourself and this family, do you?” Paul dumbfounded shook his head unable to speak. Father continued, “My son you took my one law and one philosophy and set it in your heart. Not only have you rebuilt our communities but also, you have restored hope. You instilled a spirit of giving and helping others, lost at the end of the war. You gave unselfishly to others, and took only what you needed. You learned my greatest lessons, what we make on Earth is nothing compared to what we build in Heaven. Those that take care of Gods children with open heart he will rewarded 10x10 fold.”






The father did retire and Paul assumed the leadership role of the company. Along with his brothers Paul led the company to many years of prosperity. In the boardroom on the wall for all to see, were the laws the father had taught the boys when they were young, which became the hallmark of their business. This story illustrates the principles of Gods law to man and what Jesus did while on Earth. Those who are in power and have influence, have the opportunity to do great things. Satan does not want those things done, so opportunities present themselves that distract us from the mission God has for us.

In today’s world Satan is hard at work and distracting us from God. We no longer stand up for Gods laws. We tolerate immoral activities and justify them as a natural action that a person was born with. We allow our children to live together out of wed lock, because everyone else is doing it. We allow our schools to influence our children’s morals, through interaction with other children. We are tolerant of murder when it is done under the control of a doctor in an office. We are in awe of those that are in power over us, even though our interests and good morals are not their concern. We tolerate the removal of Christian artifacts from public display and call it a contradiction in separation of Church and State. Yes Satan is very busy, and we as Christians are being distracted from our God.

A message is being sent very clearly to every Christian in the world, Satan is taking over, and unless we as Christians stand up and stop taking the easy road, and do what is not popular, the end may come sooner than we want. Gods laws are in the Bible, we have read them since we were children, are they less important than man’s law? Absolutely not, our laws are to mirror Gods laws, that is the foundation of our Government, to have public programs is not socialism but good sound Christian values. We all need to loose the distraction and stop seeing how much more money we can make, but how many more of my brothers and sisters I can help. God will do the rest. Jesus was the example of our Christian life and God provided for him. He will do the same if we remember his laws.

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