Transformer - 08/30/2020

Answering “Why?”

Very small kids are well-known for always asking their parents, “Why?” Parents get tired of answering the “why” questions, so they teach their children not to ask, “Why?”

In asking why, the kids are wanting to know the reasons, the rationale supporting a certain action or thought. They are trying to understand a person’s justification for their actions, attitudes or behavior.

Good or bad, it does not matter to the child; they still want to know why. However, over the course of time, because of negative reactions to them asking “why,” they soon learn that it is “improper” to ask why. They conclude, from both their parent’s and society’s reaction, that it is socially unacceptable to ask why.

So, I am going to break the rule and ask why? Why have we taught children to not ask why? Why have we as adults stopped asking why? Why do adults get offended when they are asked by other adults why they do certain things?

Is it not still important for us to know the reasons for doing, saying or thinking something?

Maybe the reason for why we do not want to answer the “why” questions is because we do not think we have to give an answer for our actions. Our thinking is, “I am an adult. I am accountable to no one.” But is that really so?

In our employment, our supervisor may ask us why we did something. They want reasons for our proposals, suggestions or comments. We simply answer their questions, give our explanations and do not get offended.

In the educational field, students (regardless of age or degree pursued) are expected to give reasons for their conclusions. Term papers are written giving reasons or justification for a certain conclusion. There are “discussion questions” on a test. In order to obtain some higher degrees, an “oral explanation” is required in order to defend what has been written.

Peter encouraged Christians to “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). He wants them to be prepared, to answer the questions of why they believe what they believe. To give reasons supporting their actions.

To do this, preparation is mandatory. Knowledge must be acquired. Understanding must be realized. Answers must be contemplated.

Christians should not be offended, but rather consider it an opportunity to express their reasons for their faith. While some will consider their religious beliefs a private matter, God expects His disciples to share their belief. He expects Christians to be able to answer those who ask why and to explain why they are living God’s way. - cgm

Thinking on the Word…

Decrease So He Increases

Born to a mother who was past the child bearing years and a father who was a Jewish priest, John the Baptist (as we know him) as an adult did his work in the wilderness. As the forerunner for the Son of God, appointed by God Himself, John’s dress and diet were not what the religious elite had expected. They considered him as one having a demon (Luke 7:33).

Jesus on the other hand had high praise for John and the work that he did. To the Pharisees, Jesus said about John, “Among those born of women, there is no one greater than John” (Luke 7:28).

A lot of people thought John was “the Prophet,” or Elijah or the Christ Himself. John told the people that he was not the Christ and that someone was coming after him who he was not worthy to even untie the thongs of His sandals (John 1:27). He told to his own disciples that he had seen the Lord’s Christ, but he was not Him. John also told his disciples that Jesus “must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

How does a man, who has the honor of being the one who was to announce to the world that Jesus of Nazareth was the Lamb of God, “decrease while He increases”? How does a man with such high honors accept the fact that He must “fade away” while another “begins to shine more and more”?

The immediate response, everyone would say, is humility. But how does one have the kind of humility to let Jesus “increase while he decreases”? This type of person must realize, as John the Baptist did, that Jesus “has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me” (John 1:30). The type of person who would put Jesus first must accept that Jesus needs to be in the spotlight and not themselves.

Our “job” or “mission” as Christians is to be like this great man because the longer, we live the more we must let Jesus increase in our life. The longer we live the more we must be telling others about Jesus. He must increase while we decrease. - cgm

Words of Wisdom

“It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it.” - Proverbs 10:22

What really, makes a person rich? Is it the amount of land they possess? Is it the amount of money they have in the bank? Is it the number of cars or houses or employees or the value of their stock? Could Solomon be advising his sons that what truly makes a person rich is receiving some type of “blessing of the Lord”?

Notice that the verse does not say “from the Lord” but rather “of the Lord.” This seems to indicate that the source of the blessing originates from the Lord. It is true “happiness”.

This “happiness” or being rich is something that God will give us. Having the status of being “rich” will only come when we implement the “understanding” that comes from God. When we do the things which He has instructed, then we will be rich.

Being “rich” is not limited to some material possession. We can be “rich” because we have things which other people do not have. We can be rich because we “possess” things other people desire but do not know how to acquire.

A person can be “rich” because they know how to use their “tongue” as an asset. Having “understanding” or wisdom which comes from the Lord, would truly make one “rich” and that would be a “blessing of the Lord.”

In a sense, we can say that using the instructions, practicing the proverbs of God, or allowing our speech to be guided by God will make us “rich.” Having these things from God provides us with a “great resource” for how to live this life.

Being rich is not limited to money or assets. We can be extremely “valuable” because we are doing what the Lord says, in the way that He says for us to do them. The poorest of people can be “billionaires” because they are doing things God’s way. - cgm