A few years ago a list contrasted CEO compensation for non-profits versus for-profit companies. When asked about the difference, the CEO of one non-profit ministry replied, “You couldn’t pay me enough to do this job!” Some aspects of ministry spring from calling and compulsion, and can’t be quantified into dollars.
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul outlines his ministry philosophy.
Read More money, rights, compensation, graceIn the Second World War, cracking the German Enigma code created an ethical dilemma. The British could finally understand all German communications, but what should they do with their newfound knowledge? In the short term, battle victories would save lives but prompt the Germans to change their code or provide disinformation.
Read More prayer, faith, trialsHow do leaders respond when God sometimes seems silent and achingly far away at a time when our backs are against the wall?
The scene in this passage opens late in the siege of Samaria. Unimaginably desperate, people are willing to pay a huge price for things they never dreamed were edible: a donkey’s head or pigeon droppings. They are even willing to eat their own children!
Read More desperation, faith, humility, dependenceIn December 2013, a young public relations executive tweeted an offensive joke before turning off her phone for a flight to Africa. If someone would have told her that in 11 hours, her name would be known in every part of the world as millions followed her flight on Twitter, she wouldn’t have believed it.
In this passage, when Elisha tells the chief officer that in 24 hours, food will be so abundant in besieged Samaria that it will cost almost nothing, it sounds inconceivable.
Read More faith, barriers to faithHow do you react when God doesn’t answer your prayers the way you think he should?
In 1 Kings 19, after Elijah’s public showdown with the false prophets on Mt. Carmel, the prophet has an emotional crash at news the queen has called for his head.
Read More prayer, blessings, generationsIn the last chapter, we saw how God uses ungodly men to fulfill his purposes. Jehu is a different sort of man who knows the Lord and has a clear mission from God.
What comes to mind when you read that the guard in the watchtower characterizes Jehu’s driving style as “reckless”? Applying a dictionary definition of this word would suggest Jehu is unconcerned about the consequences of his actions, and so he throws caution to the wind.
Read More obedience, zealThe last chapter drew two comparisons to the story of King Baasha and his assassin. Jehu seems to follow Zimri’s roadmap from 1 Kings 16: the assassination of an idolatrous king who led the people into sin, dogs licking up royal blood and a warrior ruthlessly exterminating a family.
Read More obedience, commitment, wholehearted devotionThe whole of Joash’s early education prepared him to take the throne at age seven. While he certainly would have been taught to run a country, his real education came from the high priest.
Remember, Joash couldn’t leave the temple.
Read More advantages, privilegeGovernment projects are notorious for dragging on. So it’s not surprising that King Joash’s taxpayer funded renovation project gets off to a bad start, even though it’s a plan to restore a national monument as well as something far greater: the centre of worship of Almighty God.
Was the problem honesty?
Read More offering, stewardshipThough Elisha has been silent for most of the past 40 years, he still has huge influence over, and respect from, those in power. We see this as King Jehoash visits Elisha on his deathbed.
The scene raises questions about Elisha.
Read More consistency, role models