Why are you praying?

This week, we are talking about a temptation that we can all face when it comes to the whole issue of responsibility. And this temptation flows from a tension that we experience as followers of Jesus between a fundamental aspect of our relationship with Jesus and responsibility. The tension I am talking about is the tension between prayer and responsibility.

Yesterday, we looked at a story in the Old Testament of the Bible called the book of Joshua where the Jewish people, unaware of an irresponsible act of selfishness and rebellion that had taken place, vastly underestimated the defenses of the city of Ai and were vastly overconfident in their ability and strategy as they planned to attack the city. And in the midst of an unexpected counterattack; in the midst of their overconfidence; in the midst of underestimating their enemy, the Jewish army began to flee in order to escape the men of Ai. And in their escape, thirty six Jewish soldiers were cut down in defeat.

And as the Jewish soldiers returned to their camp battered and beaten, the hearts of the Jewish people melted and became as water. In other words, the Jewish nation’s resolve and will to take possession of the land that God had promised them dissolved. The Jewish nation was like water that would provide no resistance to any opposition it would face.

Today we will continue to look at this story as in the midst of the hurt, pain and disappointment that came with a dissolving resolve, we see Joshua approach God:

Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan! "O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? "For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?"

Now to tear one’s clothes and to put dust on one’s head was a sign of profound grief and sadness that accompanied mourning. This behavior is still seen today in many cultures around the world during a funeral procession. Joshua and his leadership team respond to their unexpected defeat by falling on their face in prayer before the Ark of the Covenant, which was the place that signified where the presence of God dwelt among the Jewish people.

Notice Joshua’s prayer here. If Joshua were to pray this prayer in the language that we use in today’s culture, his prayer would have sounded something like this: “God, why did this happen? Why did you bring us across the Jordan if you were just going to kill us once we got here? God this is your fault. Why didn’t you just let us stay on the other side of the Jordan? If only we would have stayed there instead of crossing here. Because now all the nations will hear about how we fled from battle and will come and attack and destroy us. Then, after we are destroyed, what are you going to do then God, to make your name great?”

Have you ever found yourself praying a prayer like this? Have you ever found yourself praying the blame game? Maybe Joshua’s prayer is the prayer that you find yourself uttering over and over again. “So, God what are you going to do now? Because God, this is your fault. God how are you going to fix the problem that you have gotten me into?” We see God respond to Joshua’s prayer in a most unexpected way in Joshua 7:10:

So the LORD said to Joshua, "Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?

In other words, God tells Joshua “get up. Get off your knees and stand up! Why are you praying to me? You shouldn’t be praying right now”. Now you might be thinking “well that’s kind of harsh. I thought we were supposed to pray. Why is God telling Joshua not to pray?”

Friday, we will God answer this question and provide for us another timeless principle when it comes to the issue of responsibility…

Are there times that we should not pray?

At the church where I serve we have launched into the New Year with a sermon series entitled responsibility. During this series, we are spending our time together looking at what the Bible has to say about the issue of responsibility and what responsibility looks like in our lives.

This week, I would like for us to look at a temptation that we can all face when it comes to the whole issue of responsibility. And this temptation flows from a tension that we experience as followers of Jesus between a fundamental aspect of our relationship with Jesus and responsibility. The tension I am talking about is the tension between prayer and responsibility.

You see, the Bible clearly teaches that prayer is an essential part of the life of a follower of Jesus. The Bible tells us that prayer connects us with God and that we are to bring all of our requests and concerns to God. The Bible tells us that, as followers of Jesus, we are to pray to God for wisdom, guidance, and direction. But are there times that we should not pray? Are there times that prayer is unnecessary? Are there times that prayer gets in the way of responsibility?

To answer these questions, I would like for us to look at a story that us recorded for us in a letter in the Bible, called the book of Joshua that records such a tension. To fully understand this story, however, we first need to understand the context in which this story takes place. The book of Joshua records the efforts of the Jewish people to restart their lives after forty years of wandering in a literal desert of hurt, pain, and failure as a result of their selfishness and rebellion. Joshua was the leader of the Jewish people who was given the responsibility to lead the Jewish people from Egypt to the land that God had promised them, which was located across the Jordan River and was called the Promised Land.

To take possession of the land that God had promised them, however, the Jewish people would have to conquer several nations that lived in the Promised Land. The first city that the Jewish nation would encounter was the city of Jericho. Now if you grew up in the church or have attended church before, you are probably at least somewhat familiar with the story of Jericho. God commanded the Jewish people to march around the walls of the city one time a day for six days while blowing a horn and carrying the Ark of the Covenant. Then, on the seventh day, the Jewish people marched around the city seven times and then shouted, at which the walls of the city came tumbling down.

God commanded that, with the exception of Rahab the spy and her family, Jericho was to be raised to the ground and all life destroyed. After 400 years of extending grace and the opportunity to change, God chose to use the Jewish people as an instrument to exercise His justice and judgment on the people of the Promised Land, who had refused to change and were left with no excuse or defense for their wickedness.

You see, God made it clear to the Jewish people that they were not receiving the Promised Land because they were especially good; they were receiving the Promised Land because the inhabitants of that land, including Jericho, were exceptionally evil. In fact, most historians and scholars believe that the society of the inhabitants of the Promised Land was the most evil society that ever existed.

In addition, God commanded the soldiers to keep themselves from taking anything from Jericho. Everything except the precious metals were to be destroyed, while the precious metals were to go into funding God’s mission to give the Jewish people that land that had been promised to them. Now with this context in mind, let’s jump into this story together as the Jewish people have conquered and destroyed Jericho and were moving into the Promised Land, beginning in Joshua 7:1:

But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the LORD burned against the sons of Israel.

This story begins with a word that sets an ominous tone- “But”. Instead of following God’s command, a man named Achan took some things that were to be devoted to and given to God. And as a result of Achan’s selfish rebellion and sin, God’s righteous anger was kindled and burned against the Jewish nation. God was fired up at the Jewish people for this irresponsible act of selfishness and rebellion that was committed by this Jewish soldier. This sets the stage for what unfolds next:

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." So the men went up and spied out Ai. They returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few."

Unaware of the irresponsible act of selfishness and rebellion that has taken place, Joshua sends two spies on a reconnaissance mission to the next city that the Jewish people would encounter, which was named Ai, so that they could prepare for battle. The spies, upon returning from their reconnaissance mission, explained to Joshua that Ai was relatively small and seemed to be far less fortified than Jericho. As a matter of fact, the spies were so confident in their ability to destroy Ai that they recommended that only two to three thousand men would be necessary to achieve victory.

The spies explain that there is no sense in wearing everyone out, just send a few soldiers and let everyone else relax. Joshua responds to their suggestion by sending the maximum number of troops that the spies had suggested. The spies, however, vastly underestimated the defenses of the city and were vastly overconfident in their ability and strategy, which we see as the story continues: 

So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

The men of Ai responded to the Jewish nation’s assault on their city by launching a successful counterattack. And in the midst of this unexpected counterattack; in the midst of their overconfidence; in the midst of underestimating their enemy, the Jewish army began to flee in order to escape the men of Ai. And in their escape, thirty six Jewish soldiers were cut down in defeat.

As the Jewish soldiers returned to their camp battered and beaten, the hearts of the Jewish people melted and became as water. In other words, the Jewish nation’s resolve and will to take possession of the land that God had promised them dissolved. The Jewish nation was like water that would provide no resistance to any opposition it would face. And in the midst of the hurt, pain and disappointment that came with a dissolving resolve, we see Joshua approach God.

Tomorrow, we will look at Joshua’s prayer and how it relates to responsibility…

When it comes to responsibility, we experience the consequences later and greater...

This week, we are looking at a principle that surrounds responsibility that does not discriminate. There is a law regarding responsibility that works the same way for all people. Wednesday, we began looking at the context in which this law or principle is revealed and discovered that followers of Jesus have a responsibility to help one another stay on track and live responsible lives when it comes to our relationship with Jesus. We also discovered that followers of Jesus have a responsibility to support and encourage one another relationally and financially.

Today, after providing the context for this principle, we see Paul transition to reveal this timeless and true principle when it comes to responsibility in verse 7:

            Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

Now when Paul uses the phrase do not be deceived, this phrase, if communicated in the language we use in our culture today, would sound something like this: “Do not fool yourself into thinking that you can fool God. You can pull the wool over your momma’s eye’s; you can pull the wool over your daddy’s eye’s; you can pull the wool over your community group’s eyes; you can even pull the wool you’re your pastor’s eyes; but you cannot pull the wool over God’s eyes”. 

Paul then reveals the proof as to the reason why you cannot pull the wool over God’s eyes with a timeless but true principle: “for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” Have you ever heard the phrase “you reap what you sow”? This phrase actually comes from the Bible. This phrase is often referred to as the Law of the Harvest.

And as with any law or principle, this principle is not good; this principle is not bad; this principle just is. Paul uses this principle as proof that you cannot deceive, mock, or fool God. Whatever drives the actions of our lives will drive the results that are produced in our lives. Whatever fruit, or results, that are produced in our lives, are the direct results of our attitudes and actions in life. And we are responsible for the fruit or results that are produced in our lives, because we are responsible for the attitudes and actions that drive our lives. We see Paul unpack this reality in verse 8:

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Here we see Paul reveal the stark contrast that arises between the results that are produced as the result of irresponsibility and the results that are produced by a life that is lived responsibly. For those who are live irresponsible lives when it comes to our relationship with God by allowing our lives to be driven by selfishness and rebellion that results in us doing things that hurt God and hurt others, Paul explains that the fruit, or the results of their lives, will be to experience eternity apart from God. 

For those who are living responsible lives that strive to follow the message and teaching of Jesus by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul explains that the fruit, or the results of their lives, will be to experience the relationship with God that they were created for throughout all eternity.

Because you reap what you sow. Whatever drives the actions of our lives will drive the results that are produced in our lives. Whatever fruit, or results, that are produced in our lives, are the direct results of our attitudes and actions in life. And we are responsible for the fruit or the results that are produced in our lives, because we are responsible for the attitudes and actions that drive our lives.

But there is a tension when it comes to the Law of the Harvest, isn’t there? There is a tension when it comes to this principle that we reap what we sow. And that tension often arises because we do not immediately experience the consequences for our actions. The tension often arises because we do not immediately see the results of our decisions.

Have you ever experienced that tension? Have you ever experienced the tension, the frustration that can often arise when you try to be more responsible, but you do not see the results of your efforts immediately? Have you ever experienced the tension and frustration of trying to lose weight or exercise or quit an irresponsible behavior, only to give up after seemingly seeing no results or change? How often do we give up on our attempts to be responsible and fall back to being irresponsible because of a lack of immediate results? We see Paul address this tension and frustration in verse 9:

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Paul commands the members of the churches of Galatia to not lose heart in doing good. Now this little phrase to not lose heart literally means to not lose one’s motivation to continue to do something. What they were not to lose motivation about was in doing good, which refers to living a life of high moral quality. But why would the Apostle Paul have to command followers of Jesus to not lose their motivation when it comes to living a life of high moral quality and responsibility that reveals and reflects Christ?

Paul provides that answer for us in the second half of verse 9 when he states that for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. Paul is commanding followers of Jesus to not give up or give out when it comes to living responsible lives that reveal and reflect Christ, because over time the motivation that drives the actions of our lives will drive the results that are produced in our lives and through our lives. But why does Paul even have to say that? What is going on here?

To understand why Paul would give this command, we first need to understand something else about the principle of the Law of the Harvest. What we need to understand about the Law of the Harvest is that we reap later and we reap greater.

Since most of us today do not farm, let me give you an example to help unpack this reality. I grew up in the Midwest and in the Midwest corn farming usually begins in late March or early April. During the early spring, famers plant a tiny corn seed into the ground and begin to water it. Then the farmer waters and watches what he has sown. March-nothing. The month of April-nothing; the month of May- a little plant begins to sprout; June- seemingly very little growth. Growing up in the Midwest, we had a little saying “knee high by the 4^th of July”. In other words, the hope was that by the 4^th of July, the corn plant would be knee high. So for four months, this corn seed would have grown only this high. I don’t know about you, but that is not a lot of progress.  

But in the months of July and August, the corn plant grew from knee high to being over 6 feet tall. And by September, farmers are beginning to harvest multiple ears of corn from this large plant that started off as a little seed some six months earlier. You see, as a farmer, you know that you reap greater and you reap later. You reap something that is much greater than what you have sown. And you reap much later than when you have sown. You do not sow and then reap the next day; it takes time. But in time, your efforts produce fruit.

And that is why, in verse 10, Paul encourages the members of the churches of Galatia to stay motivated and take advantage of every opportunity to live responsible lives that reveal and reflect Christ to those around us.

And it is here that we see that Apostle Paul reveal for us a timeless truth when it comes to the whole issue of responsibility. And that timeless truth is this: When it comes to responsibility, we experience the consequences later and greater. As followers of Jesus, we are to stay motivated to take responsibility for our lives because we experience the consequences for the decisions we make in life later in life. And we are to stay motivated to take responsibility for our lives because we experience the consequences for the decisions that we make in our lives greater in life.

Think of it this way: We do not wake up one morning to suddenly find ourselves so deep in debt that we need to consider bankruptcy, do we? We do not wake up one morning to suddenly find ourselves 40 pounds overweight, do we? We do not wake up one morning to suddenly find ourselves failing a class, do we? No, that is not what happens is it?

Instead, what happens is we begin to be irresponsible when it comes to our finances, our health, or our homework. But we do not experience the consequences of our irresponsibility immediately, because that is not how the Law of the Harvest works. So we continue to sow seeds of irresponsibility. And then much later and much greater, we experience the consequences of that irresponsibility.

The good news when it comes to the Law of the Harvest is that when we begin to live our lives responsibly; when we begin to sow seeds of responsibility, while we do not see the immediate results of being responsible, over the long haul, much later and much greater, we will experience the consequences of that responsibility. Because, when it comes to responsibility, we experience the consequences later and greater.

So here is the question: What kinds of seed are you sowing? What attitudes and actions are driving your life? What is going to be produced much later and much greater in your life? Are you taking responsibility for your life? Really?  

A Warning and Example When It Comes To Responsibility...

This week, we are looking at a principle that surrounds responsibility that does not discriminate. There is a law regarding responsibility that works the same way for all people. Yesterday, we began looking at the context in which this law or principle is revealed and discovered that followers of Jesus have a responsibility to help one another stay on track and live responsible lives when it comes to our relationship with Jesus. When we see other followers of Jesus get off track, we have the responsibility to lovingly and gently help them get back on track, while at the same time guarding against us getting off track and into irresponsible behavior as well.

We also discovered that part of the responsibility that we have to one another is to support and encourage one another to live responsible lives. Today, we will see Paul confront a potential danger in Galatians 6:3. Let’s look at it together:

For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load.

Now verse three, if communicated in the language that we use in our culture today, would sound something like this: “Anyone who thinks that they are somebody when they are a nobody is only deceiving themselves. Just because you have not had a problem with being irresponsible, you are only misleading yourself if you think that you are better than others”.

You see, a potential danger arises when we begin to compare our circumstances and struggles with others circumstances and struggles. A potential danger arises when we begin to compare how responsible we are with how irresponsible others are. And that potential danger, according to Paul, is that we become full of ourselves and think we are somebody spiritually.

Instead of deceiving ourselves into thinking that we are somebody when we are nobody, in verse 4 Paul commands the members of the churches of Galatia, and followers of Jesus throughout history, to examine his own work. Now this phrase literally means to make a critical examination so as to put to the test. What we are to put to the test is how we are living our lives as followers of Jesus. Paul’s point here is that instead of comparing ourselves with others, we are to focus on whether or not we are living responsible lives that reveal and reflect Jesus in our character and conduct.

If their close examination of their lives reveals that they are living a responsible life, Paul explains that they can boast, or take pride, in something. But what they can boast in is only in regard to how they are doing when it comes to meeting the standard of Jesus. Paul’s point here is that if you want to compare yourself with someone, your comparison is to be against the example of Jesus and not other followers of Jesus. 

Paul hammers his point home in verse 5 when he states that “For each one will bear his own load.” Paul’s point here is that at the end of our lives, when we stand before Jesus, there will be no comparison of how responsible we were with how responsible other followers of Jesus were. Paul is saying “You better focus on your how responsible you are being instead of comparing yourself with others”. Paul then provides a practical example of how followers of Jesus demonstrate responsibility have as we live in community with one another in verse 6:

The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.

Here we see Paul provide a practical example of how followers of Jesus live responsibly in community with one another. When Paul commands the readers of this letter to share all good things with the one who teaches, this phrase literally means to give or contribute a share financially in order to meet the material needs of the person who preaches and teaches the message and teachings of Jesus.

Now while this passage most specifically applies to providing material support for a pastor, I want to expand the application of this verse to the Church as a whole. You see, when we worship the Lord through giving, we are acknowledging God as the one who owns everything and as our provider, and we are responding to the generosity of God by reflecting His generosity as an act of worship. And that act of worship was divinely designed by God to be the means by which His Kingdom Mission would be funded.

And that Kingdom mission is not just about paying the salaries of the staff here at City Bible Church. That Kingdom mission is also about providing the resources so that we can continue to create environments where people can explore faith, grow in their faith, and experience genuine and authentic community. So when we affirmed the budget here at City Bible Church, we have agreed to take responsibility to support and encourage this community financially.

Part of our responsibility toward one another in community with one another is to support and encourage one another that community financially.

Tomorrow, we will see Paul transition to reveal this timeless and true principle when it comes to responsibility…

Our Responsibility To Help One Another Be Responsible...

During January at the church where I serve we have launched into the New Year with a brand new sermon series entitled responsibility. During this series, we are spending our time together wrestling with the issue of responsibility and what responsibility looks like in our lives.

This week I would like for us to talk about a timeless principle that powerfully impacts the whole issue of responsibility. The thing about a principle, however, is that a principle is not good; a principle is not bad; a principle just is. Take the law of gravity for example. The law of gravity is not good; the law of gravity is not bad; the law of gravity just is.

If you ignore the law of gravity, however, that does not mean that the law of gravity does not exist. Instead, if you ignore the law of gravity, you will experience its consequences in a powerful and painful way. The law of gravity does not discriminate; the law of gravity works the same way for all people.

And in the same way, there is a principle that surrounds responsibility that also does not discriminate. There is a law regarding responsibility that works the same way for all people. We discover this law in a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of our Bibles called the book of Galatians.

To fully understand the law and its implications, we first need to understand to context in which the Apostle Paul reveals this law. So let’s look at the context in which this law or principle is revealed, beginning in Galatians 6:1:

  Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

Paul begins this section of this letter with a situation: Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass. Paul here is referring to someone who is experiencing the consequences that come as a result of being irresponsible in a way that  hurt God and others. This is a person who has gotten off track when it comes to their relationship with God because of their irresponsible behavior.  After revealing the situation,

Paul then provides the members of the churches of Galatia a command in terms of how they are to respond to the situation. Paul commands those in the churches who are spiritual to restore such a one. When Paul refers to those who are spiritual, he is referring to followers of Jesus that are influenced and controlled by the Holy Spirit and who are living responsible lives. In other words, those who are on track and who are living Spirit-filled, responsible lives as followers of Jesus are to help those who have gotten off track as a result of their irresponsibility get back on track when it comes to their relationship with God.

But notice how Paul says that followers of Jesus who are responsible are to help those who have gotten off track as a result of their irresponsibility get back on track when it comes to their relationship with God. First, Paul explains that we are to display a spirit of gentleness as we come alongside those who have gotten off track as a result of their selfish and rebellious irresponsibility. The phase “in a spirit of gentleness” literally means in a gentle manner.

In other words, followers of Jesus are not to use their Bibles like a sledge hammer to beat the person who has gotten off track back on track. Instead, for the person who has gotten knocked off track by their irresponsibility, we are to lovingly and gently come alongside and guide them and encourage them in a way that results in them getting back on track.

Second, Paul explains that we are to be “looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”  Now if Paul was making this statement in the language we use in our culture today, this statement would sound something like this: “As you are helping those who have gotten off track get back on track, pay attention and look out that you don’t end up being enticed by your old nature apart from Jesus that is dominated by selfishness and rebellion so that you don’t end up off track as well.”

Paul here is revealing for us the reality that followers of Jesus have a responsibility to help one another stay on track and live responsible lives when it comes to our relationship with Jesus. When we see other followers of Jesus get off track, we have the responsibility to lovingly and gently help them get back on track, while at the same time guarding against us getting off track and into irresponsible behavior as well. Paul continues to unpack the responsibility that followers of Jesus have toward one another in verse 2:

Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Here we see Paul command followers of Jesus throughout history, to bear one another’s burdens. Now this command conveys the sense of sustaining and supporting one another through the difficulties that come about as we follow Jesus here on earth. And it is here that we see Paul reveal for us the reality that part of the responsibility that we have to one another is to support and encourage one another to live responsible lives. We are responsible to be developing deepening relationships with one another that strive to support and encourage one another as we live life in community with one another.

That is why we are such strong proponents of community groups here at City Bible Church. Community groups are intentional environments that afford the opportunity for us as followers of Jesus to develop deepening relationships where people can grow in their relationship with God as they experience the support, encouragement and the loving accountability that fosters spiritual growth and responsibility. That is why our hearts desire is that every regular attender at City Bible Church invest their time in a community group, because it is in community groups that we can develop the deep relationships that support and encourage one another to live responsible lives.

Paul then reveals for us the reality that when we experience those deep relationships that support and encourage one another to live responsibly, the result is that we fulfill the law of Christ. Paul’s point here is that when we live in community that is marked by deepening relationships that strive to support and encourage one another to live responsibly, we reveal and reflect Christ’s character and conduct. We are living in such a way that meets Christ’s standard to love God with our total being and that shows our love for God by how we love and treat others. 

Tomorrow, we will see Paul confront a potential danger when we live responsibly…

Instead of Taking Responsibility, We Want to Play the Blame Game...

This week, we have been asking the question “Were we created to be responsible?" Wednesday, we discovered that humanity was divinely designed humanity to be responsible. We have been created in the image of God to be responsible beings. We are created to be responsible when it comes to our relationship with God. We were created to be responsible when it comes to work. We were created to be responsible and the capacity to be responsible. And we were created to be responsible in relationships with others.

Now today, you might have a question and objection that has begun to run through your mind. And if we were able to have a conversation about that question and objection that conversation might sound something like this: “Well, wait a minute Dave. You are saying that the Bible says that I was created to be responsible. But if God created humans to be responsible, then why are there so many irresponsible people around? Why do I struggle when it comes to being responsible if I was created to be responsible? We see God provide the answer to these questions in what follows, beginning in Genesis 3:1:

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"

Here we are given a glimpse into an encounter that Adam and Eve would have with the serpent. Now a natural question that arises here is “are you saying that Adam and Eve are talking with a snake? Because, Dave, that seems pretty weird”.

So who are Adam and Eve talking to? The serpent who Adam and Eve are encountering is Satan, who had disguised himself as a serpent. Satan begins this encounter by asking Eve a question: "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" The Bible then records what happens next in verse 2:

“The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.' The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."?

Satan tempts Eve by challenging God’s character and God’s motives. Satan basically tells Eve “Don’t believe God because God lied to you. You are not going to die if you eat the fruit. God lied to Adam when He told him that. Instead, God knows that if you eat the fruit you will become like Him. You will be like God and God does not want that. Eve, God is trying to keep you from being all you can be. Eve don’t you want to be like God?” We see the decision of Adam and Eve and its consequences in verse 6:

“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.”?

Eve responded to Satan’s temptation by buying into the deception that she could become like God. While Eve was deceived into buying into the lie, Adam had no such excuse. You see, Adam was the one who had been given the command in Genesis 2:17. Eve was not around yet. And it was Adam who was given the responsibility by God to lovingly lead, provide and protect Eve. But instead of leading, Adam decided to be a coward. Adam allowed Eve to take the role that he had abdicated. And it was Eve who was deceived by Satan into violating the only rule on the planet.

That is why the Bible says in 1 Timothy 2: 14 that Eve was deceived. Eve was deceived because it was Adam who was responsible. And it was Adam’s cowardly irresponsibility that led to sin entering into the world. And as sin entered the world, we see the consequences immediately affect the world. The relationship between Adam and Eve and humanity throughout history was drastically changed. They were no longer comfortable in their own skin.  Something had come between them that resulted in a loss of vulnerability and transparency. And as a result they covered themselves with fig leaves. We read what happens next in verse 8:

They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"

Now God is not asking “Where are you?” because He did not know where they were. God knows where they are. Parents, have you ever asked your children where they were at, even though you knew where they were at, as an introduction to a conversation? And usually that conversation involves dealing with something that your children have done wrong that they are trying to hide from you as they hide from you, doesn’t it? That is what is happening here. God is engaging Adam and Eve here by saying “Why are you trying to hide from Me?” Look at Adam’s response:

He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself." And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

Again, God is not asking “Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” because He did not know that they had eaten from the tree. God already knew that they had eaten from the tree. And Adam’s response of his fear as a result of being naked revealed the reality that they had eaten from the tree.

You see, God is not asking these questions in order to get information. God already has all of the information. God is asking these questions in order to see if Adam was going to take responsibility for his behavior. God is asking these questions to see if Adam is going to own his irresponsible disobedience. We see Adam’s response to God’s questions in verse 12:

“The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate."?

In other words, Adam says “God, this is your fault. The woman whom YOU GAVE to be with me, she is the one who deserves the blame. She gave me the fruit and I ate it. God this is your fault and this is her fault, but it isn’t my fault”. Adam’s response leads God to ask Eve a very simple and pointed question in verse 13:

“Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"

God is asking Eve “What do you have to say for yourself?” We see Eve’s response in the second half of verse 13:

“And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

In other words, Eve says “God, this is not my fault. God this is the Devil’s fault. God it is the devil who deceived me. God, the devil made me do it. God this is Devil’s fault, but it isn’t my fault”.

And it is here that we see the timeless reason why our lives are often marked by the desire to live irresponsibly and then allow others to be responsible for our irresponsibility. It is here that we see why we often struggle with the concept of responsibility. And that timeless struggle is this: When it comes to responsibility, instead of taking responsibility, we want to play the blame game. 

You see, we are just like our first parents. Just like Adam and Eve, while we have been created in the image of God to be responsible beings, there is something within us that would rather place blame than take responsibility. There is something within us that would rather blame others than take responsibility when it comes to our relationship with God. There is something within us that would rather blame others than take responsibility when it comes to work. There is something within us that would rather blame others than take responsibility to be responsible. And there is something within us that would rather blame others than take responsibility in our relationships with others.

But here is the problem with the blame game. When we play the blame game, the result is conflict and shame. When we live irresponsible lives and then attempt to blame our irresponsibility on others, the result is conflict. If we were able to look on as Adam blamed Eve for Adam’s irresponsibility, how do you think Eve responded? “God the woman you gave me, she gave me the fruit. Really. You are going to blame this on me? You did not just try to blame this on me?”

Do you think the blame game resulted in Adam and Eve having a closer relationship? Of course not. And in the same way, when we choose to play the blame game instead of taking responsibility for our attitudes and actions, the result in conflict in our relationships.

But not only does the blame game result in conflict in our relationships. The blame game also results in shame. Adam and Eve’s irresponsibility and subsequent blame game resulted in shame. They were no longer comfortable in their own skin. They could no longer be vulnerable and transparent with others. Adam and Eve recognized that they were now flawed and broken people.

You see the blame game never removes the shame, does it? In fact, the blame game does the opposite. The blame game only enhances the shame of our irresponsibility as we try to hide our irresponsibility instead of owning it. The blame game only enhances our shame that we feel deep in the core of our beings because we never deal with our irresponsibility. And over time, our lack of taking responsibility to instead play the blame game only results in that shame festering and consuming us. Because, when we play the blame game, the blame game only leads to conflict and shame.

So here is the question that we are going to be asking throughout this series: Am I taking responsibility? Really? Are you taking responsibility for your relationship with God? Are you taking responsibility for your performance at work? Are you taking responsibility for the time, the talent, and treasure you have been given? Are you taking responsibility for you relationships with others?

Were We Created To Be Responsible?

This week, we are beginning the New Year by talking about the subject of responsibility. Yesterday, we talked about the reality that as a culture, we have been steadily moving away from the concept of personal responsibility. As a culture, we are often marked by the desire to live irresponsibly and then allow others to be responsible for our irresponsibility. We asked if we have a moral obligation to be responsible? Or is it o.k. to be irresponsible and allow others, whether it is the government, family, or other individuals to be responsible for our irresponsibility? Are we accountable for the level of our responsibility in life? And who are we to be responsible for and accountable to when it comes to the idea of responsibility?

 Today, I would like for us to answer the question “were we created to be responsible? Were we created to take responsibility for our lives?”  To find the answers to these questions, let’s begin where the Bible begins, which is in the very first letter in the Bible called the book of Genesis. In the very first chapter of the very first letter in our Bibles, we read the account of the creation of humanity, beginning in Genesis 1:26. Let’s look at it together:

“Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Here we see the Triune God’s design and desire for the creation of humanity: “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”. But this morning, what does it mean to be created in the image of God? Does that mean we look like God? What is God talking about here? To be created in the image of God means that every human being bears the thumbprint of God. We were created in God’s relational image.

We were created for relationships. Just as God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit live in relationship with one another, we were created for relationships. We were created for a relationship with God vertically and for relationships with one another horizontally. That is why the most devastating feeling is that of loneliness, because we are living outside of God’s design for our lives.

But not only were we divinely designed for relationships. Here we also see that we were divinely designed to rule over the earth as God’s representative. When God uses the phrase “let them rule” this phrase literally means to have rule or dominion. God created humanity and placed humanity on earth as His representative on earth.

You see, God created humanity to be responsible. We have been divinely designed to live in relationship with God and one another and have been given responsibility over the earth as His representative here on earth. But not only were we created for relationships and responsibility over the earth as His representative. We see as second aspect of God’s Divine design for humanity in Genesis 2:15:

“Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."

When God placed Adam into the Garden of Eden, He did not simply place Adam into the garden to have a vacation. God placed Adam into the Garden of Eden and gave him a job. Adam’s job was to cultivate and keep the garden. To understand what Adam’s job description entailed, we first need to understand what the phrase cultivate and keep means. The word cultivate, in the language that this letter was originally written in, literally means to serve. The word keep here literally means to protect. God gave Adam more than just the possession of the Garden of Eden; God gave Adam the responsibility of protecting the Garden of Eden. 

And it is here that we see that humanity was created with responsibility when it came to work. You see, so often I hear people talk about work as though it is a punishment. So often, work seems to be viewed as a consequence of sin. However, work entered into the world before sin entered into the world. Work is a responsibility that was given to God by man. And work is a responsibility that followers of Jesus will have throughout eternity. As followers of Jesus, the Bible teaches that we will have a job in Heaven. That job will not be impacted by selfishness and sin, so it will be a great job. We have been divinely designed with the responsibility to work.

Then, in Genesis 2:16-17, we see God give Adam one command: "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die."

In other words, Adam has amazing freedom; he can eat from any tree in the garden except for one tree. Adam only has to follow one rule. You see, when people are responsible, you do not need to have a bunch of rules. The reason we have rules is because we need rules in order to attempt to restrict and control irresponsibility. Adam was given amazing freedom because Adam was created to be responsible. We see another aspect of God’s divine design for humanity in the verses that follow:

“Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him.”

Here we see that God gave Adam the responsibility to name all of the animals. You see, Adam was not some Neanderthal with his knuckles dragging on the ground. The very first human on the planet had the capacity to name all the animals in the Garden of Eden. God did not name all the animals. Instead, Gods gave Adam the freedom and the responsibility to name all the animals. “Adam, what do you want to call that animal? Let’s call that animal an aardvark. Alright, an aardvark it is”.

You see, Adam was creative, because God designed humanity to be creative. And it is here that we see that humanity was created with responsibility and with the capacity to be responsible. However, there seemed to be a problem and that problem was that Adam is without a suitable partner. And as this story continues, we see another aspect of God’s design for humanity:

“So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”

God responds by revealing His divine design for marriage. Because it is not good for man to be alone a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and they shall become one flesh. In other words God’s divine design for marriage is that a man and woman cut the cord, so to speak, from their parents and join together in a covenant commitment that involves one man and one woman for one lifetime and become one flesh. Now this phrase is not just talking about the physical aspect of sex.

You see, marriage was designed by God to be a relationship that is marked by vulnerability, transparency and intimacy that provides a word picture to the world of the vulnerability, the transparency, and the intimacy that followers of Jesus will experience for all eternity with Him. That is why Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed. They were not ashamed because they could be totally transparent and vulnerable with one another. They were comfortable in their own skin, so to speak.

And it is here that we see that humanity was created with responsibility with our relationships. God has divinely designed humanity to be responsible. We have been created in the image of God to be responsible beings. We are created to be responsible when it comes to our relationship with God. We were created to be responsible when it comes to work. We were created to be responsible and the capacity to be responsible. And we were created to be responsible in relationships with others.

Now you might be reading this and find that there is a question and objection that has begun to run through your mind. And if we were able to have a conversation, the objection that is running through your mind might sound something like this: “Well, wait a minute Dave. You are saying that the Bible says that I was created to be responsible. But if God created humans to be responsible, then why are there so many irresponsible people around? If God created me to be responsible, then why am I always making New Year’s resolutions that I never keep and don’t really feel that bad about not keeping? Why do I struggle when it comes to being responsible if I was created to be responsible?

If I have just described the questions that are running through your mind, I just want to let you know that those are great questions to be asking.

And Friday, we will see God provide the answer to those questions…