Old Jerry

The letter to Timothy was to be willing to share what you have. The wealthy should be willing to sacrifice what they have to help other. They are not to put there hope in earthly wealth but should be storing wealth in heaven. The connection between wealth and arrogance is that the rich like to flaunt their good fortune and wants everybody to know that they are rich in earthly goods.

I think that giving to help the poor is basic because we were brought that way. I know that the reason that I am hesitant to help the poor I see on the streets is because I don’t know if they are really poor and are just trying to get money. I will give them something to eat but I will almost never give them money. There are lot of the people on the streets are drunks.

Jesus’ wisdom will give us eternal life where the worldly wisdom will put us in hell. Jesus’ wisdom wants to help mankind where worldly wisdom wants to destroy mankind. The sense that “all the treasures and wisdom and knowledge” are hidden Him because of Jesus we will be able to give us eternal life. The way we go about becoming “wise” in Jesus is to study the Bible.

The building of the Temple was the building project that was designed to glorify God. The building of the palace was designed to glorify Solomon. The building of the walls was for the protection and security for the people. God has given me a bit of disposable income and the primary financial outlay that is designed to honor God is my giving to the Church. The monies that I give to missionary establishments is designed to serve others.

At Solomon’s finest he was devoted to God. He did everything the way that God wanted it to be. The one that stands out most to me that loved God and was loved by God was Jesus. There of course others that loved God but not like Jesus but God loves us all. Solomon’s life is a cautionary tale for believers because later on in life he didn’t follow God so closely.

He is asking God to heal his land and to have the people to repent of their sins. We need to be doing the same thing. We need to be confessing our sins and turn from them and ask for God’s forgiveness. We must have a true repentance in our hearts if we want God to turn and accept us. This this can be shown by the way that we act and study the Bible. If we have a Holy Spirit-sent revival then it will be genuine.

God calls Solomon to walk with Him and follow his instructions. This kind of life style looks like a single-minded person following God. The obstacles that believers face in seeking to walk before God in this way is ridicule and harassment. The opposite of integrity of heart is falling into sin.

The cloud that filled the temple represents God’s presence. I think that God’s glory filling the temple and fire falling on the sacrifice represents God’s accepting what has been offered. We can sense the glory of the Lord by looking around us and seeing what miracles he has performed. Especially in this day in age we really need to keep close to God.

If the Israelites thought that God was only in the temple then they could run amuck everywhere else and not worship Him all the time. God dwells everywhere. The universe is his dwelling place. The importance of the temple is to have a central place to meet and praise God. There is nothing wrong to go to a sacred place such as a church to pray. It makes me feel that I am closer to God.

“Sacrifice” should be a sense that costs us time, effort, and focus. If we don’t do those things then how can we get closer to God. The “sacrifice” that is most meaningful to me is studying God word. Being with God’s people and discussing God’s word is also a very meaningful way for we. The most difficult for me is focusing on God word. When I read God’s word, I sometimes read it again because I lost focus of what I was studying.

The Old Testament sacrifices had to be an animal without blemish. Jesus’ life was without any sin so He was the perfect sacrifice for my sins.

I don’t think that church buildings relate to the central mission of the Church unless it is the building that is bring in the people. I think that the beauty and glory of God is expressed in the environment. There isn’t anything more beautiful than a sun rise or sun set. I think church buildings should conserve resources for other tasks.

I seem to have a talent to compliment others and make them feel good about themselves. I have a talent to save money and now that I am retired, I can give a lot of it away for the advancement of the Kingdom. A spiritual gift was one of being able to keep books and I have done it for the church. I have used my “natural” talents and “spiritual” gifts for both my career and my Christian life.

I think that Solomon’s writings have made it possible for me to stay out of trouble. It has helped me to bring up my children. The proverb that I like the best is the one that says that if we dripline our children they will return back the Lord when they get older.

The Scripture emphasize justice for the poor and disadvantaged because it is known that those that are rich will take advantage of the under privileged and try to justify there moves to the court system. The wealthy can afford the best of lawyers that know how to abuse the system and get things their way. We don’t know the outsiders therefore they are not to be trusted until they have proven themselves.

It looks to me that Solomon’s heart is trying to govern God’s people the way that God wants it be done. He will need help from God and he is asking for it. I have a give and take relationship with Jesus. I serve him because I know that He will take care of me. The bible tells us that we can have only one master because you will hate one and love the other.

The way that Solomon’s marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter enhances his status is usually the Pharaoh wouldn’t attach the person that she was married to. The Old Testament says they shouldn’t marry outside the tribes. The brides’ beliefs would be handed down to their husbands. Since the wises man, King Solomon didn’t destroy the high palaces then why should the kings that follow do it?

I think the reason that Solomon didn’t more quickly against David’s enemies because he didn’t want it to look like a bloodbath. This indicates that Solomon had great wisdom. I don’t know if God was pleased in the way that Solomon dealt with his enemies. But I thinking that He probably was. I think that the way that Solomon dealt with the monarchy was as balanced as any human being could deal with it.

I think the reason that we are tempted to break God’s commandments is because of our pride we want people to think more of us than we are. If we obey God’s commandments then usually, we have a clear conscience and this will usually make us prosper.

King David said that Solomon would build the temple. Nathan also said that Solomon would build the temple. God protected his choice by letting King David know what He wanted and also Bathsheba and Nathan. Nathan the prophet was the first to move to protect Solomon because He knew God’s plan.

The main provisions of the Davidic was that King David would have someone from his blood line on the throne. It says that he is not to build the temple but that his son Solomon would build it. But God would punish those that did not follow God’s guidance.

It was important to Paul for Timothy to come before winter because Paul needed his cloak and travel would be more difficult in the winter. If Timothy delayed then he probably wouldn’t be able to get there at all because the shipping lanes would be closed for the winter. I think Timothy did drop everything and came to Paul’s side. Paul was his mentor and respected him very much. I think I would come at once because of love for him.

It is hard when trusted friends desert us because they know all about us and we know all about them. We have probably told them things that we had not told any body else. It is difficult when they move away or die because the two of you are now family. It would be a lonely world if we didn’t trust anybody. Who can we vent frustration on and still keep it a secret. Besides Luke the Lord was with Paul.

The “crown of righteousness” represents us followers of Jesus and sticking with it in thick in thin. This crown is given to those who have been waiting for it. The award is based on Jesus forgiving our sins.

To “fight the good fight” means that he has faithfully taught the gospel and he didn’t let the false teacher take over. He was punished for what he taught but he did not waver from his teaching. It takes trusting in God to “finish the race” that God has designed for me.