Drawing
the Line
Matthew Chapter
One
These "begats"
are rich indeed (if one has a working knowledge of the rest of the Bible).
I made it to verse :12 before
I got sidetracted (in a good way).
A familiar name in verse
:12 grabbed me, so I just had to go to the Old Testament book of "Ezra" to check it out (Ezra 4:1-3).
The name was
"Zorobabel".
This man is mentioned
several times (in several places) in scripture, but until today, it just didn't sink into my active consciousness that he
was descended from the Kings of Judah and was in the lineage of Jesus.
What was so
special about Zorobabel?
Well, the first
time he caught my attention, I had to admit I was quite impressed with the man.
He was laboring
with Ezra and a group of captives, who had been allowed to return from Babylon) on re-building the temple in
Jerusalem.
Now this was not
a popular undertaking with some local strong-men who decided to take the less obvious approach of "weakening
from within" (infiltration) first--by offering to help with the work.
Zerubbabel (different
spelling--same guy) was having none of it.
He didn't even
thank them for their offer when he sent them packing.
(their response
to that revealed their true motives--see verses :4-5).
Should we be following
Zerubbabel's example when we are faced with accepting help (in the ministry) from sources that could potentially cause us
to compromise in our obedience to God?
I read once that
Corrie Ten Boom (missionary--death camp survivor) handed a large check back to a donar who was not saved.
As she handed
the check back, she told the very wealthy woman to keep her money--that God wanted her heart and her life--not her money.
What about government
grants that come with strings attached?
What about incorporating
our churches (and in doing so, swear to uphold the best interests of the government (the same one that doesn't allow
prayer in schools and upholds the murder of babies through aborting)--did you know that is built into all incorporations
(incorporations are the creation of the government)?
Something to think
about. ...
Where do we
draw the line?
Who do
we tell, like Zerubbabel did...
"Ye
have nothing to do with us...."