21 August 2005

Tanakh study for 21 August 2005

You shall not set your heart on your neighbour’s house. You shall not set your heart on your neighbour’s spouse, or servant, man or woman, , or ox, or donkey, or on any of your neighbour’s possessions. (Exodus 20:17, New Jerusalem Bible)

I like this translation. To covet something is to set your heart upon it. This is some ways a very easy commandment for us, and yet in other ways a most difficult commandment. To obey this commandment, it is necessary to truly enter into a true state of Shalom, i.e. in good relationship with God, with our neighbour and with nature.

Today we live in a much different society than the Hebrews. Coveting our neighbour’s spouse or servants is not something that we are likely to do. We are more likely to covet their house, possibly, but I am not sure about that. In fact I believe our desires are somewhat different. Maybe we do not covet our neighbours house, but we want our new house. That is what is going to make us happy. A dear friend of mine and her husband are getting ready to buy them a four bedroom house, for this is what will make them happy, or will it? Another friend of mine believes that if she returns to Honduras, all will be well, or will it? That brand new car, or stereo system or wife, or husband, will it really give us happiness?

I hope it is apparent that these commandments often interconnect. Are there idols in our lives? If so then we are most likely to set our hearts upon them for our happiness.

What do you set your heart upon for happiness? Is it money, house, friends, money? I have three main goals in my life. The first is to love Jesus with all my heart, my mind and my strength. The second is to obey him in all things. The third is to look our for my family’s spiritual and physical well being. Now let us translate this into real life.

In Honduras, for three years I served on the Miskito Coast. I lived in a wood frame house, slept on a sleeping bag on a palm mat for the first year. Had electricity from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, water from 6:00-9:00 AM and rarely enough money to do what I thought needed doing. I travelled by boat or foot, and occasionally in Cesnas. I still remember one trip in which I had to walk back home 26 miles by foot. Many people thought I was a saint to live there. My wife keeps talking about how much I must have suffered to live there. Balderdash. I did not suffer. I was in a state of Shalom. I was with God, building churches, building disciples and doing his work. Did I need a fancy car or house? NO, I did not. As long as I was doing God’s work, I was content.

Today because of some odd circumstances, I live in a small three bedroom mobile home with my wife, and my three youngest sons. Sometimes it is too hot, and sometimes we gripe because we have a lot of things in a warehouse that we cannot fit in here, but does it affect my happiness? No, my joy is in Jesus, not my circumstances. We hope to buy a new home (one build in 1925 with a building we can use as a church behind it) but my overall happiness will not be upset if this doesn’t work.

In other words, there are two secrets to obeying the 10th commandment. First make Jesus the true centre of your life. When he is your joy, you will be content. The second is do not worry about what you do not have, but be thankful for what you do have.



Shalom and blessings in the Name of Yeshua

+Mar Michael Abportus
mjthan@quik.com

8 August 2005, Do not bear false witness

Tanakh study for 7 August 2005

Do not give false evidence against your neighbour (Complete Jewish Bible).

A straightforward commandment, apparently intended for legal proceedings. As there are many injunctions against violating the Sabbath, there are many injunctions against being a false witness. I believe the legal intent here is clear, when in a court of law, we must be honest. The penalty for being a false witness was that the false witness would receive the punishment for the crime he was witnessing against.

Should this then only be applicable in court or other places as well? We know that Yeshua (Jesus) is the truth and that the truth shall set us free. Does this mean we should always tell the truth, or are white lies permitted. I know that there are many excuses for white lies and half-truths, but I am not convinced that they honour our Lord. In fact many times they are only necessary to cover up other sins, in which case they are definitely wrong. If your spouse or your mother wants to know how they look, and they do not look so hot, then instead of brutal honestly, we can offer constructive criticism (I do remember that my honesty with my mother, while it disheartened her, kept her from leaving the hospital before the doctor was ready to dismiss her.)

Where else should we look to discuss honesty and being an honest witness. Are we honest witnesses to Yeshua HaMoshiach? Do our lives reflect that he is our Lord and Saviour? Do we sometimes hide that we are Christians because our actions or circumstances would cast aspersions on our Christianity? These are questions that we should often consider. Many times the only Bible that some of our friends and neighbours will ever read will be our lives. My collar has often reminded me of what I should be doing or not doing. If I felt embarrassed about watching a movie in my collar, then I should feel embarrassed by watching the movie period. That is why the fringes (tzit tzit ) help me, for when I look at that one blue string, it reminds me that I am to strive for heaven and live in holiness.l


Shalom and blessings in the Name of Yeshua

+Mar Michael Abportus
mjthan@quik.com