October 6, 2016 I began writing as our small group was studying “Jesus is Better” and here we are as I continue to study, I again come to that same topic; “Jesus is Better”.

“²⁰And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, ²¹but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever.”’ ²²This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.” – Hebrews 7:20-22 (ESV)

Levite priests were “born” into the priesthood based on the fact that they were Levites. Jesus was brought forth by God to be our “priest forever”.

A “guarantor” of matters was someone that was ultimately responsible, the highest power, the final say. Now imagine in our lives having someone ultimately responsible and willing to have the final say. Jesus is that someone.

I am certainly not worthy of having someone vouch for me. I am a sinner and do not feel as though I am living to my potential as set by God. BUT, Jesus is my guarantor. Jesus claims me. Jesus has the final say about me. Jesus is BETTER.

Looking at your life, are you in a similar position to not feel worthy of having someone vouch for you? Are you aware that Jesus is here to do just that? Will you allow Him to do so and accept that “Jesus is Better”?

I do not want to sound like someone that is ill-informed for I know there are plenty of generous individuals and organizations out there. However, we are a selfish society by nature. We are self-serving and really do things for ourselves.

“²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²²if I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ²³I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and join in the faith, ²⁶so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.” – Philippians 2:21-26 (ESV)

I believe that we, as a society want to be better at serving others first, but we are fighting the urges to serve ourselves. It is natural to want the best for ourselves, who does not want to be secure, safe, and profitable?

Paul gives us his view and as you read, you can feel how, in prison and considering his current position, he is torn between death (which provides instant gain by being with Christ) and life (which allows for more work to be done for others). It is not an easy decision and truly, how many of us have the decision to make.

Paul makes the decision to continue serving others as that is what he is called for by Christ. Will his decision generate more safety, security, and profit? Not likely. But, he is willing to do what is better for others based on his calling.

I get caught up in trying to figure out how I can do more to impact the lives of others for Christ. Am I doing my part? Am I doing enough? The answer as I read and study is, YES. I am doing my part. I am doing enough. I am and we are called to do the work God has established for us. The biggest part of that is to do for others for it is better.

When you look at your workings, are you working for others first? Are you serving yourself or others first? Are you thinking of better for others?

“⁸To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. ⁹But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” – 1 Corinthians 7:8-9 (ESV)

Paul is speaking to the Corinthians at this point and setting a few things straight as well as giving them sound biblical teachings. The Corinthians believed, at this time, that all sex was a sin and were avoiding marriage to avoid the sin.

Paul lets them know that sex out of wedlock is a sin, not sex in and of itself. Verses 8-9 lay out how to give in to the sexual desires of us as human. Doing things the right way by committing to the person is the better way to go.

I want to be careful and quote the commentary from my NIV Bible: “This does not mean, however that people who have trouble controlling themselves should marry the first person who comes along. It is better to deal with the pressures of desire than to deal with an unhappy marriage.” So, do not marry for sex, but commit to the right way.

We find ourselves in a number of situations where we are struggling with what to do and simply give in to our desire. It is up to us to research and find the “right way” to approach and commit to taking that appropriate action to be better.

When you are experiencing desire, what is your first tendency? Are you looking for the opportunity to give into the desire and maybe find yourself sinning? What if you looked for the right way and commit for the sake of better?

Do we have something in our lives that consumes us, causing us to act in ways that are not in accordance with God’s Word? I am sure that most of us have something that gets in our way.

“²⁹If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. ³⁰And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” – Matthew 5:29-30 (ESV)

Notice in the verses above that we should be removing that with causes our sin. Jesus is speaking figuratively with the reference to the law of the time. If someone was caught stealing, a punishment was to remove the hand (if you have to hand, you cannot steal).

Jesus was not advocating the removal of the hand or the eye, only making the connection to something people already knew. If we are aware, or are made aware of a desire that could lead to sin, then we should take action now to avoid the sin (“it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell”). If the liquor store you drive by continually temps you to stop and buy more to feed your drinking habit, then decide on and take a different route. If you are made aware of your increasing tendency to seclude yourself from others, then get rid of your video game console that consumes your time.

We find ourselves in a situation where our temptations become desires and desires become actions. When the temptations and desires arise, it is better to remove them than to act on them. It is better to be without something than to allow it to continue consuming our minds, for if left unchecked, we will likely act.

Your actions, what is the likelihood that they began as temptations and desires? Are you aware of those temptations and desires? Will you begin to take action to remove them in the interest of being better without?

I know, my title is not exactly awe inspiring, but I do believe it is accurate based on my closer examination and what God’s Word gives.

“¹A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. ²It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. ³Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.” – Ecclesiastes 7:1-3 (ESV)

When I read God’s Word above, I am taken to any time I have experienced loss or adversity. Ultimately we come out the other side better for having gone through the experience. We have taken time to think deeply and cherish more of those things around us. Our adversity or loss have driven more introspection and learning, thereby giving us the opportunity to grow.

Now think about the “good” times we experience. Where they are wonderful to have and enjoy while going through them, I do not feel the same growth and learning when I come out the other side. I will remember the time itself and reflect on the experience as a “fun” and “good” time, however other than the memory of the experience, not much else materializes.

I am not saying and would not recommend we are out there seeking adversity and loss, for that would be a bit counter intuitive to living a life of Christ. What I will say is that when we do experience the loss and adversity we should look at that time as one of contemplation and introspection and learning. It is not the adversity that defines us, but what we learn from it that makes us better.

When you look at adversity and loss, what is your take? Are you able to embrace the opportunity for growth? Are you able to grasp that adversity and loss are better?

When we are struggling to make it, we have a choice as to where to turn our attention. We can turn outward to the world and seek guidance and assurance there, or we can turn inward and focus on God.

“¹O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ²So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. ³Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. ⁴So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.” – Psalm 63:1-4 (ESV)

We may find temporary relief in the world and all around us, but our true relief is found in God. When we seek Him and spend time with Him. I know that when I am struggling, my time here with His word is a place of communion and a place of safety and comfort. Out in the world, it is a constant barrage of persecution and attack. When we are in the presence of God, we find ourselves, like David, in that place that is “better than life”.

When you find yourself in a difficult spot, where are you turning? Are you looking to the world? Are you looking to God, which is better?

God is in the business of providing for his children. I am going to be a bit direct this morning.

“²Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.” – Psalm 111:2 (ESV)

There is no guesswork here. The Lords works are great and everyone gets the opportunity to delight in those works.

“⁴He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. ⁵He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. ⁶He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the inheritance of the nations.” – Psalm 111:4-6 (ESV)

And, this is where I get a little direct. You see in the 3 verses just above that God fully provides for his family (“those who fear him…his people…the inheritance”). So those that are in the family of God and those that “fear” Him are provided for. Not just those that go to church on Sunday and the static Holidays (Easter and Christmas), but those that are and have chosen a life of Christ.

I am not going to deny anyone the opportunity to come, for God also wants us all. We are all accepted, and I mean ALL. The thing is, we have to choose to accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. Once we have, we dive into that choice of a life of Christ and follow faithfully. And then, we are able to experience the provisions and “inheritance of the nations”.

Will you be provided for by God? Will you accept the salvation given freely by God? Will you be a part of the family of God and allow Him to provide?

“⁸But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than and unbeliever.” – 1 Timothy 5:8 (ESV)

Our first priority should be, must be caring for and providing for our family. This is one that I think might be missing by and large in our society.

I have witnessed on a number of occasions, mom or dad with the best of clothing (name brands), flashy automobiles, pounds of jewelry, only to have their children, or relatives living in/with less considerable conditions.

Having a giving heart and sacrificing for yourself a bit would be much more in line with Paul’s instructions to the church in the verses of this passage. We should be exhausting ourselves in pursuit of providing for those closest to us first and then work outward.

I have to be clear here as when you read my words above, the wrong idea may come about. I am not saying that we are to completely deny ourselves. When there is a need, we should work within God’s plan to provide for that need. If we have satisfied the provision for those closest to us, then a little nicety for ourselves is ok. We just have to be careful and make sure that ALL of the needs for our family have been met prior to indulging in our wants.

When you look at yourself, are you seeing someone that is sacrificing for the good of the family around you? Are you giving up so that family can have? Are you looking to provide for family first?

I know that I have been tempted and things have looked pretty bleak from time to time.

“¹³No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

There is nowhere in God’s Word where life is intended to be easy or without difficulty. Adversity, challenges, temptations, and persecution are going to be present in our lives. But, with our acceptance of the gift of salvation and adoption into the family of God, we are presented the way out.

We have to be careful not to expect complete deliverance from any of the hardships that come our way, we are only to know that our ultimate reward is not what we have here, but our home in heaven. Our escape may not be the way out we expected it to be. We must remember that we are on God’s plan and timeline, not our own.

When you think of the temptations that have come your way, what is your view of the way out? What is your expectation of deliverance? Are you looking to God to provide?

God provides for our needs and I am pretty sure that some of us have that mistaken with having more.

“²³Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, ²⁴for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? ²⁵When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered, ²⁶the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field. ²⁷There will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of you household and maintenance for your girls.” – Proverbs 27:23-27 (ESV)

When things are good, the flow of purchases and ownership of things is a grand thing. The wise King Solomon understood the value of what he had, and wanted to be sure and pass that knowledge and value on. Having the large herds of sheep and goats was great to boast about. You could sell a number of them to gather more “wants” and “possessions”, however Solomon knew that if things got tough, he could use the sheep’s wool to make clothing and the goat’s milk for sustenance.

How often are we looking at what we have and trying to figure out how to get more or “better” items? I will say that I like a nice shirt and expensive items to make a statement, but looking at my needs, do those really fit?

God provides for our needs and it is up to us to realize that he has provided. I think that sometimes we are looking to have more and question why God has not given us the more, when clearly he has provided for our needs.

When you look at what you have, are you looking to how you can use that for your needs? Are you content with the provision for your needs and are you grateful for that provision? What is your idea of “provide”?