receiving the promise

Hebrews 11:39-40

The key word, as in this entire section, is faith. The author points out that all the people listed and referred to lived by faith and yet none of them received what had been promised. For the author, this is the essence of faith: building your life on what is unseen and hoped for. This speaks against the prosperity gospel which claims that faith gives you riches and success and fulfillment of the promise immediately. According to the author, faith makes you homeless and impoverished and even lifeless because the person of faith is not tied to the things of this world. The person of faith recognizes that there is something better ahead.
The author makes an interesting statement that the perfection or fulfillment of their faith would only happen through us. We, being brought to God through Christ, represent all the hopes of these people who lived by faith before us. In us, and through Christ, the promises God gave to these people are fulfilled. It is no wonder, then, that the author describes them as a great cloud of witnesses. They have a vested interest in our faithfulness because in our faithfulness they see the fulfillment of God's promise. This is what they lived, and sometimes died, for.
Two things: 1) I think we are too tied to the world. I think I am too tied to the world. I love my life. I love my job. I love my house. I don't love my car but I loved my other car. I love the things that technology has to offer and the comforts that this world has to offer and I long for most of them. I envy them. I am too often focused on this world and not on Christ. I value the treasures of this world too much and value the treasure of heaven, which is Christ, too little. 2) We too often see our faith as an individual private act. Paul constantly speaks against this, teaching that our faith is lived out in community. Here, the author goes even further saying that our faith is the fulfillment of the faith of our spiritual ancestors. So, run the race with perseverance... (but now I'm getting ahead of myself!)

Taking a shot at the prosperity gospel

1 Timothy 6:3-10

Paul draws a direct connection between false doctrines and the thought that godliness is a means to financial gain. Maybe my understanding of the prosperity gospel is faulty but I would think that this a direct shot at the heart of their teaching. Paul doesn't allow for any sort of "sow a seed" type talk here. This is somewhat timely since one of our "esteemed" media institutions here in town has recently had a complaint against it sent to the CRTC because they have been promising spiritual or financial reward if people would send them cash. The funny thing is that the complaint is coming from a pastor in Saskatchewan who sent them money basically as an investment strategy (sow a seed and you will reap the harvest) and when he didn't make a windfall off of God he complained to the CRTC. "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction."
I have been challenged recently to take a look at my life, especially in the area of financial waste and to try to simplify. Paul's statement in v. 8 is the heart of simplification: "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." This is a matter of justice and stewardship. I can use my money to bring even a small measure of justice and equality to the world rather than just using it for selfish comforts. I think that's a better use of what God has given me. I wonder if it grieves the heart of God when he sees the wealthy church of North America not motivated to action on behalf of the "least of these" in their own backyards and around the world. I wonder what would happen if the wealthy church of North America would learn to be content with food and clothing (and I don't think Paul is saying to be content because they are designer labels or super cool clothes - I think he is saying to be content that you have something to wear) and used their excess to restore justice. I wonder what would happen if I had this heart...