Dale Cresap's blog

Are you familiar with the passage that promises that in return for your faithful generosity, I will open the windows of heaven to pour out a blessing on you? (See Malachi 3). Do you assume that this means a financial blessing, that in return for giving money you will get money in return? A reasonable reading of the passage would suggest that you will have whatever is in heaven poured out on you. Doesn’t that conclusion follow? So what are the contents of heaven? Is heaven full of money? If I poured the contents of heaven on you now would you be disappointed if it wasn’t money?

Are you ever discouraged at your current state of advancement, and the slow rate at which you are making progress? If you take a journey you can estimate your arrival time by doing a time, rate, and distance calculation. If you know your current position and how far you have to go and your rate of travel you can figure it out. Your spiritual journey does not lend itself to such easy calculations. Do not despair at what you see as a lack of progress, or your slow rate of moving ahead. As long as you are consciously engaged in the journey I will get you where you need to be in time.

Everyone likes money, but you know that the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, so some believers have a conflicted relationship to it. Money is a hindrance for many. If it is not for you I can open the windows of heaven and pour it out on you as a blessing. The Bible speaks strongly against exploiting the poor in their wages. I care more about the absolute condition of the poor than I do about the disparity between the rich and the poor, for the rich will be with you always, even as the poor will. Can you acquire wealth in a way that does not diminish the poor?

Do you know any celebrities? Some countries have official royalty, and those that don’t have celebrities which are unofficial royalty. The term implies celebration. Are there some people whose accomplishments are so great that you should honor them or throw a party for them whenever you see them? What sort of accomplishments are worthy of this? Academic and intellectual? Military heroes? Athletes? Entertainers? Do you know of anyone with spiritual achievement who is considered a celebrity? Perhaps your culture has a distorted view of what really matters.

I said that my sheep would hear my voice. How do you hear my voice? Do you expect an audible voice in a rich baritone? Have you ever gotten that? What about your own imagination or unexpected thoughts? Would you recognize these as being from me? What about events in your life, especially when a series of multiple, independent, unlikely events converge in your favor? Do you think of this as random serendipity, or do you think there is divine purpose behind it? What if this happens all the time? Do such occasions capture your awareness and make you ponder?

What was your motivation for going to school? To pass the courses assigned to you and graduate? This would be expected in a compulsory system, but a better motivation would be the value of the information and skills presented, and how they will improve the rest of your life. Do you realize that your education continues beyond formal enrollment? At that point you are no longer constrained by academic credit for graduation. Do you see yourself as a lifelong student? Do you see the Holy Spirit as your teacher who will lead you into all truth?

Do you know the difference between giving and investing? Investors expect a return, and those giving gifts do not. Or do they? The Bible speaks of both gifts and investments, but as separate categories. Have you ever received a gift with strings attached, in which you felt obligated to reciprocate, or even worse, were carrying some undefined debt against a future claim? Have you ever done this to anyone else? Is it easy to tell the difference between this and a gift that is freely given?

Are you familiar with the idea of selling yourself short? This is a common phrase that means devaluing your own capabilities. It is a figure of speech since you are not really selling yourself at all. It comes from the realm of finance and investment, in which normal investments are made with the expectation that the value will increase, but a short sale can be made if the value is expected to go down. So if you sell yourself short does it imply that you expect your value to go down? Don’t be so discouraged. I’m investing in you with the confidence that your value will increase.

Do you believe in destiny? Do you believe that you are a unique creation, and that you were put here for a purpose? Do you know what that purpose is? You can believe the underlying principles without knowing your own purpose, but if you believe the principles you should want to know and live in it. Can you follow the principles to their logical conclusion? If you have a unique contribution assigned to you and you don’t make it, then the world is impoverished for the lack of it. Don’t let a stone cry out because you won’t. Don’t let the world be diminished because you held back. 

How large is your life? Everyone has some circle of influence and connection, and much has been given to you. Does that imply that much is required of you? Are you grateful for the resources you have? I want you to think beyond money, power, and influence. Your character, integrity, and awareness are more important. How many have the former without the latter? The best way to demonstrate your gratitude for what has been given to you is to employ it to serve me and your neighbor. Don’t be content in taking on small things.