In This Issue

• WHO OR WHAT DO YOU TRUST?
• GOOD SINGING!?
• VOWS
• UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETING SCHEDULE
• MORE INFORMATION...

Matthew tells us that after Jesus' conversation with the rich young ruler, He "said to His disciples, 'Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'  When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, 'Who then can be saved?'  But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible'" (Matt. 19:23-26).

Anglican bishop Lukyn Williams has written, "From taking a too literal view of the passage, some commentators have invented a gate at Jerusalem, low and narrow, designed only for foot passengers, which was called 'the needle's eye.'  Others have remedied the supposed absurdity by reading... 'rope,' as if to say cable instead of camel.  But there is no difficulty in the expression.  Such hyperboles and paradoxes are common in all languages.  In fact, it is obvious from the disciples' reaction to Jesus' statement, that He intended to suggest something that was utterly impossible, in order that He might emphasize the great truth that what is absolutely impossible for man to accomplish alone may be done with God's help.

Remember this exchange between Jesus and His disciples occurred as a result of the Lord's conversation with the rich young ruler.  With Jesus' help, it was not impossible for the rich young man to have eternal life.  Jesus invited him to do so.  But the young man apparently had come to trust in his riches to accomplish for him what material wealth cannot ever accomplish.  While riches, used correctly, might enhance our heart-felt service to God, riches can never take the place of heart-felt service to God.

Mark's account makes clear that what often prevents those with great material abundance from being faithful servants of God is the fact that those with great riches are often prone to put their trust in riches instead of putting their trust in the Lord.  He quotes Jesus as saying, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:24).  Perhaps a second factor in the difficulty involved in this matter is the fact that relatively few folks become rich without first coming to emphasize material things more than spiritual.

We would, however, do ourselves a great injustice if we fail to recognize that what is difficult, even impossible for man alone, is possible in co-operation with God.  Throughout the ages, most of God's servants, financially, would fall in what we call the poor to middle classes, but there have been numerous faithful servants of God who were blessed in material abundance above and beyond the average person -- men like Abraham, David, and others.  The real question is, who or what do you trust?

There was a woman who spent some months serving as a missionary in South Africa.  On her final visit to a remote township she attended a medical clinic.  As the Zulu women there began to sing together, she found herself deeply moved by their hauntingly beautiful harmonies.

She wanted to always remember this moment.  A moment that she intended to share with friends when she arrived home.  With tears flowing down her cheeks, she turned to her interpreter and asked, "Can you please tell me the translation of the words to this song?"  Her interpreter looked at her and solemnly replied, "If you boil the water, you won't get dysentery".

I do not believe there is anything inherently wrong with singing in four-part harmony.  The harmony of human voices, can and does stir us to greater heights of praise.  Members of local churches should work diligently to develop their singing skills.  A congregation that is content with status quo singing and will not use those aids (singing schools, pitch pipe, etc.) that will improve its singing, is less than it could be in its service to the Lord.

Having said that, I believe there is the real danger among us of getting caught-up with how a song sounds and not what it says.  How many times have we been guilty of being moved emotionally without being aware of the meaning of the words we were singing?

Paul said, "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also" (1 Corinthians 14:15).  It is important for the one who leads our prayers to speak out so all can understand his words and say Amen.  It is equally important for all who sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to consider the words carefully that they sing.  The melody may be beautiful, and the harmony of the singers may bring tears to the eyes, but it is the lyrics that give our songs meaning.

"Speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;" (Ephesians 5:19).  Christians are to speak to one another.  It is impossible to speak, as Paul uses it here, to one another if we do not consider what we are saying and what is being said to us.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms (and) hymns (and) spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God" (Colossians 3:16).  Further, the speaking we are to do is to teach and admonish one another.  This is only accomplished when we use songs with words that convey sound biblical doctrine.  I do not believe we should dissect every word of every song.  There is such a thing as ‘poetic license’.  However, we must give due consideration to what we sing.

What stirs you about a song?  Is it the teaching it contains?  Or, is it the sound of the song because it touches you emotionally?  The next time you are tempted to criticize the singing, think on these things.

“Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." (Eph. 5:33)

Author and business leader Fred Smith writes: "One of my treasured memories comes from a doughnut shop in Grand Saline, Texas.  There was a young farm couple sitting at the table next to mine.  He was wearing overalls and she a gingham dress.  After finishing their doughnuts, he got up to pay the bill, and I noticed she didn't get up to follow him.  But then he came back and stood in front of her.  She put her arms around his neck, and he lifted her up, revealing that she was wearing a full-body brace.  He lifted her out of her chair and backed out the front door to the pickup truck, with her hanging from his neck.  As he gently put her into the truck, everyone in the shop watched.  No one said anything until a waitress remarked, almost reverently, 'He took his vows seriously.'"

Let us likewise take our marriage vows seriously.

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