Sunday, 9 January 2022

I am a Fool for Messiah - 7

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Throughout this study - and this if the final installment - our working definition of a fool has been one who does not act in his own best interest. This is how Paul identifies himself and all the emissaries to the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 4:9b-10 For we have become a spectacle to the world ... We are fools for Messiah's sake.

What does he mean by that? The world teaches that you must put yourself first. It was the famous Jewish sage, Hillel the Elder, who said, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me?" That is so self-centered. Yeshua came so we could live for something (or someone) higher than ourselves. Hillel himself redeemed his selfish thought with the follow-on thought, "And being only for myself, what am I?"

That's right, if we only live for selfish gain, what's the point? As the saying goes, "You can't take it with you." Or its counterpart (sarcastically), "The one who dies with the most toys wins." As a follower of Yeshua, you are no longer in the center of your own universe, Yeshua is. To the world that might look like self-destructive behavior. It is self-sacrificing, but not self-destructive.

We are all going to give our lives to something. If your only goal this year is to take 2 strokes off your golf handicap, I implore you to rethink your priorities. Don Finto will be 92 in 2 months. For the last 8 years he's been praying, asking God, "How will you use me in my '90's?" And now He is in his 90s and still productive in the kingdom of God.

Rabbi Trail: Don's personal vision statement appears on the Caleb Global website along with the supporting Scriptures. I'm reprinting it here for your benefit and reference. It appears to be the product of many hours of prayer, inquiring of God.End RT.

DON FINTO'S VISION STATEMENT:

I believe God's Word more than I believe my own emotions or feelings. Therefore, I can boldly declare that I am becoming more like Jesus every day. The Word of God and the Spirit of God are constantly working in me to produce His nature.

I am righteous in God's sight and I have a secure future. I do not dwell on the past, but embrace the fullness of what God is doing in this day and my role in those plans. I am a man after God's heart, and will not depart from this life until God has accomplished His purpose for me in this generation and I have declared God's glory to the next generation.

I live in the constant expectation and confidence that the kingdom of God is advancing across the globe, that Jewish people are coming to faith in their Messiah each day, and that the good news of Jesus/Yeshua, the Messiah, is reaching to the remotest areas of the world.

I fear the Lord and find great delight in His commands, therefore my children will be mighty in the Land. My generations will be blessed. In the end, I will look in triumph on all my foes. I will daily come before the Lord in worship and prayer, with thanksgiving, and will ultimately see all this come to its fullness.

(Romans 8:29; Ephesians 3:18-20; Isaiah 6:8-13; Romans 11:12,15; Psalm 112; Psalm 71:18; Acts 13:22,36; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 3:21,22; Psalm 100)

Rabbi's note: Don has accepted our invitation to minister at Shomair on August 13, 2022. More about that later, but for now, please mark the date. End RT.

Let's make this a year of purpose. As we call on the Lord, may He make all of our foolishness be a benefit to His kingdom. Let's agree with Paul. Let's all be fools for Messiah's sake.