Working Extra

Nehemiah 3:27

Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel.

I learned from a very special mentor back in college that a leader is most successful when the work continues even without him. So last month, before I left for my sister’s graduation in Manila, I made sure I delegated the children’s ministry tasks to competent people. Receiving no calls that weekend, I was confident all went well as prayed for. It did. Except for that detail that the teacher assigned for the evening service had a surprise guest and another willingly took her place to attend to the kids. The latter had all the reasons not to do it: she already taught that morning, she also needed to attend the service, she had a full day already, and she still had wife-y responsibilities when she gets home. But she didn’t use all those valid excuses to avoid working extra.  She didn’t even complained after or brag about her sacrifices. She just did it with her whole heart - - and with a right heart.

Chapter 3 of Nehemiah was a lengthy read, especially because it’s an account of hard-to-pronounce names and i-have-no-idea-where locations. The long and short of it was these remnants were called by God through Nehemiah’s leadership to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. From priests to goldsmiths, rulers to commoners, fathers, sons, even daughters, all worked as one to complete the task.  Aside from Baruch who zealously repaired a section, my reading highlighted the men of Tekoa too. The verse above was the second mention of their names, meaning, this was already an extra work for them. Earlier in verse 5, they were next to Zadok working near the Fish Gate and then we read these words: ‘though their leaders refused to work with the construction supervisors’. But despite the lack of expected help, these men of Tokea  were able to finish their double-load, even faster than others, and willingly walked some more extra miles to help where it was needed.

We all wished to be regarded as good Samaritans. We are compassionate people and if really needed, will extend help to those hurting.  But of course, everyone understands that sometimes we also have family issues, and have tight budgets, and have very important meetings, and can’t be Superman all the time. Better yet, isn’t ‘I’ll pray for you’ godly enough? Why extend another hand? Why walk an extra mile? But can you imagine God clicking autopilot after creation? What He gave us was perfection that could last a thousand generation. But when we chose sin and the consequences gave birth to more rottenness, He didn’t say ‘Not my problem guys. I did my part.’ Instead He sent Jesus to take that painful extra mile to save us all.  And although it was enough, His grace still overflows. Note His answers to our prayers. His timely protection. His daily provision. These are all extra love. And what do we do with our extra supplies? Yes, we give it out : )

Love’s Story

1 Chronicles 16:41

With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, ‘for his love endures forever’.

As early as December last year, we’ve already marked February 12 as a one of the special Sundays in Kiddiepointe. When the team sat again four weeks ago, it took us quite some time to unearth a concept based on this question: How should kids celebrate Love Day? Definitely, the boy-girl, date-theme was readily discarded. Family love was next crossed out because we just had that last Christmastime. Friendship was next considered, but somehow, it couldn’t pull that chord of excitement to overflow us with ideas. We ended that meeting afloat. After another week, God’s faithfulness made us realize we’ve been wandering in circles instead of wonder-ing the Cross. How could we miss the greatest love of all? In pursuing His theme, t’was amazing how easily everything fell into place. The finished product yesterday was picture perfect: God so loving us and sending Jesus and the kids responding in love and seeking Jesus. Such a beautiful love story!

When the chronicler came to retell the story of bringing back the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, everybody expected him to take hold of the account of Samuel and simply copy-paste the event details. He did. He even stretched it to two chapters long. But for some God-reason, he was kept in his chair, and his heart was somehow unsettled. From the pile of notes and scrolls around him, God prompted him to pull their songbook and soon found his answers. Three of these psalms were first sung corporately during that joyous event. David handed it over to his chief musicians and instructed them to sing it regularly before the Lord. It has been their hearts’ music ‘til they were exiled to Babylon. With the remnants back in promise land, God wanted them to learn their love song. He desired for them to see that the covenant of love He made with Abraham, Jacob and David was an everlasting one. That though they ‘wandered from nation to nation’, He kept them safe from harm. He kept them safe in His arms. 

With barely twelve hours to Hearts’ Day, many of us, singles especially, have our minds wondering and wandering how this season of love can beautifully include us. There are those in denial of course, but that doesn’t change the fact that we want to be part of a love story – both as givers and receivers. Either or both can be disappointing. As givers, what if they’re unappreciative? As receivers, what if they gave thoughtlessly? At the end of the day, you might end up even feeling worse. How then can God expect us to give thanks for His love? Like the remnants, God encourages us to look further back and move further on. The remnants immediate back was exile and their immediate front were ruins. Nothing appealing there. But looking further back, they saw the covenant promise, and further on, they saw the Messiah. Finally, they felt loved. I pray we can have the maturity to look beyond February 14 and see how high and wide and deep God’s love is for us. Look further back at the Cross and realize it was love at its best. Look further forward to eternity and you’ll run out of words describing how beautiful ever after is with God. Felt that love? 

Angry, But..

1 Kings 11:9

“The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice.”

It is said that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. Defined as having no particular interest or emotion or concern, our Pinoy term for that is dedma, derived from dead malice. In relation to love, it’s worse than hate, for haters at least relate with you. An indifferent person completely ignores your existence. It’s my son playing deaf ear and unmoved at my plea for household help. Such heats me up for it implies I’m undervalued and my works were met with ungratefulness.  No parent would brush off the disrespect. But will we care less if they continue in disobedience? Love will not permit us. 

Coming from the context of love and much grace, God as a Father became angry with Solomon for he turned his back from Him. Solomon’s indifference is evident in how he deviated from the wisdom he was equipped with, defying the commands God twice personally warned him about, and disregarding all blessings he and all Israel were enjoying. He lived his last years ungrateful and undervaluing the God who made ‘him’ all happen.  ‘He turned his heart away’ meant he called not, and worse, cared not. God was angry for it insulted His Being and His blessings. But He was never indifferent. The punishment of tearing the Israel’s kingdom proves He still is committed to the relationship. Sparing one tribe for David’s line was that grace. God detests the sin and the sinner, but did He stop loving Solomon as his son? 

So, is God angry when I sin? Yes. Will He punish? Yes. Will He stop loving? No, but that will not stop Him from executing judgment. For where sin is, His wrath is there. It’s part of the covenant relationship. At the cross, Jesus became the sinner for us, bearing the sins of the world  past, present and future. But God did not step in to stop Christ from dying. His love kept Him there. Shall we then continue to live as if all these were nonsense? Shall we disregard His warning and discredit His blessings? Do we really want God’s anger against us? Because He will if we choose to. But that will not keep Him from loving us. Mindblowing!

Still In Love?

1 Kings 3:3

“Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.”

Falling in love. It’s the greatest feeling of all. It brings you so high in your emotions, so deeply concerned for the person, and so widely open to endless hopes. It’s so powerful it makes your heart helpless and uncontrollable, thus the ‘falling’ suggests. You can’t eat, can’t sleep, can’t work - - so it’s fatal too, hahaha. Every second seems to revolve around that person. Your thoughts are filled with him - - every word he said, every move he made, even details of how he looked that day.  Yes, I can still vividly remember how Tris and I climbed that big tree in UP lagoon eight years ago. He could have literally fallen because of me. But up there with him, I just knew I’d do and give and be everything for him. Anything to please him. I emailed Tris a picture of that tree just now. Brings back beautiful memories…. and promises made.    

Whenever we hear the name Solomon, what usually follows is that we remember his wisdom and his wives (fyi: 700 official wives, 300 concubines!!). Only now did I realize we’re missing out one big word that defines him, one that came before his fame and big family - - LOVE. That’s right, I’m quite surprised myself. His parents may have given him a name which means peace, appropriately because of their restored fellowship with God, but then God sent Nathan to give him the name Jedidiah, meaning ‘loved by the Lord’. From peace to love, such grace! And he sure saw the full extent of that love when he was chosen to be next to the throne. Overwhelmed with that favor, we read now in verse three that ‘Solomon showed his love to the Lord’. He loved because God loved him first. He loved and so he walked according to the statutes. But like the rest of mankind, he allowed many things to come in between of that first love. Marrying Pharaoh’s daughter could just be political and sacrificing to the high places may  be the norm that time, but how could he not see that it is far from the pleasure of his Beloved?  Where was that promise of doing and giving and being everything for Him? Quite sad that we only remember him now as the Wise. Without love, isn’t everything meaningless?

When was the last time you felt so inloved with the Lord? And now? Has it been years or months? What stood in between? Are you really that busy with work that you completely forgot your ‘dates’ with Him? Did you found someone better? You sure? Did He love you less? Impossible. Try to go back to that time you first promised love to Him. Think about Him. What were His words to you? What did He do just for you? And what did you promise back? We’ve been carrying His name everyday - - saying we’re Christians and all - - but how many times we preferred to be called  Dr., Atty., Prof., Sir, Mrs., etc? Even the wisest who ever lived said such were vain efforts, and so he ended Ecclesiastes with these words: ‘Fear God and keep his commands’. Uhm, where is love there? Jesus gave us the answer: ‘If you love me, obey my commands’. Ready to go back to your first love? If you’re having a hard time remembering when was your special time with Him - -  look at the cross! That’s how special you are to Him!