Time is money.
~ Benjamin Franklin
There are 2 things that step on people’s toes: Time and money. Want to create a huge discussion? Tell people they must tithe and keep the Sabbath.
I was told once again that I had it 100% wrong. I was accused of thinking I’m “more spiritual” because I keep the feasts and the Sabbath.
Actually, that’s sort of an insult. I don’t use phrases like “more spiritual” because it is a nonsense phrase cooked up by New Agers. What does it mean to be “more spiritual”?
No, but I will tell you bluntly that keeping the feasts and Sabbath makes one more righteous. I can tell you that without reservation and without being arrogant. Being righteous means being in the right. It means keeping the commandments. If you do not keep the commandments, you are not righteous. In fact, that would make you wrong, the opposite of right.
Jesus pushed it even further when He said our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees in order to enter the Kingdom (Mt 5:20). You see, He did not come to do away with the Law, but to magnify it!
Don’t confuse righteousness with justification, by the way. Justification is admitting we are not on our own righteous. In fact, it is admitting we have “missed the mark”, i.e., sinners.
A good way to put it is that just because we cannot keep the Law does not excuse us from trying. God does look at the effort we make.
People, however, want to define their own righteousness, their own morality. They want to set their own rules. They want to set their own standards. You can do that, of course, but then it is self-righteousness and not Godly righteousness.
Some run their entire lives seeking fulfillment based upon their feelings. They do what they think is right and avoid what they think is wrong. They think that by following a dream or following your heart, you can achieve happiness and contentment.
Yet, isn’t real fulfillment about meeting your destiny? Destiny implies that some things are set down before you without your consent. In other words, there just are some things you have absolutely no control over.
Back to the example of the alcoholic. An recovering alcoholic has to admit that he or she is not in control. That sense of control is an illusion. The harder one tries to exert control, the more he or she is likely to drink. Recovery beings by realizing that one’s life is unmanageable.
Until the alcoholic surrenders to a higher power, he or she will continue to be out of control, and their life will continue to be unmanageable. That’s because the higher power is the one in control! As long as the alcoholic fights the will of the higher power, he or she will never know peace.
So, how does the alcoholic find serenity? By submitting to a power greater than themselves.
You know, mainstream Christians talk a lot about submitting to Jesus. Yet, what does that mean? Does it not mean giving up sin? What is sin? The breaking of God’s Law. Yet, they will fight tooth and nail to deny the Law even applies. Like so many alcoholics, they are in denial of the very problem!
However, Jesus said we are to seek first the “kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Mt 6:33). Then all of the physical things we require would be given to us. Instead of seeking happiness and fulfillment, instead of pursuing what we want, we are to seek out God’s will for us and follow it. That is what will lead to fulfillment. That is what will lead to blessings.
Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). Compare that to the OT verses where God pleaded with Israel to keep His commandments so that they would be blessed instead of cursed.
Do you want to reach your destiny? Do you want fulfillment in life? Physical pleasures, money, booze, job, etc. are not the answer. The Book of Ecclesiastes was written by a man who tried all of these things. None of these things fulfill, he found out? What does fulfill?
13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, King James Version)
“Duty” might be a word that sounds quaint, like chivalry, but it still exists. We have a duty. We have an obligation. Not only that, but Paul wrote that it is reasonable to yield even our bodies to God in His service (Ro 12:1).
And what do you do with a duty? Well, you either fulfill it or not. Want to be fulfilled? Perform your duty! Do that for which you were created to do!