July 16

Jul 16 - Today from Proverbs 16 we look at verse 8
"Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice."

The wisdom of this proverb seems all but lost on our modern Western culture. We measure and live by the bottom line. We have perfected 'bigger is better' pragmatism. The philosophy has seeped into and saturated the church in the West. This generation has developed and cultured the 'prosperity gospel'. Pastors of mega-churches get attention as the regional example of a 'successful' church. Many of these pastors and leaders write books and give seminars on how other churches can do the same thing -- and their success increases as they make thousands of dollars on residuals. Television evangelists and preachers operate with seven digit salaries and promise viewers prosperity of their own if they will but send in their very best 'faith offering'. Growth is success, setbacks are curses. 'Much gain' is the blessing of God, 'little' is the evidence of failure.
Don't misunderstand me here. I have nothing personal against mega-churches and (some) TV evangelists. Where God's Word is preached, there will always be testimonies and fruit. My point is, that our culture ultimately holds them up as the model of 'success' while ignoring the faithful pastors and flocks who quietly go about their service to God, being faithful but never seeming to grow in those areas which the culture around them revere as 'successful'. 'Much gain' has become such an icon of success that even believers can tend to submit their attitudes and emotions to this new god.
"Our church has doubled in size over the past three years." Elation! That could be good, but I am always interested in how that growth was achieved. Are souls being brought into the kingdom through the shed blood of Jesus? Or are people simply shifting their memberships to a feel-better social atmosphere where the music entertains and the speakers have more pizzazz?
"Our church has lost 30% of its membership over the past three years." Depression. I can sympathize. But the question is, are those who remain faithful to the Lord? Are they committed to their own spiritual growth and to the care of others around them? Are they making a difference in their families, their campuses, their neighborhoods and the workplaces by being an example of Godliness?
Or -- are they primarily focused on getting those numbers and offerings up? Are they looking for all possible methods to strengthen that 'bottom line'? Are they placing their hopes of increase in something rather than placing their trust in Someone? After all, "If we were doing everything right, if we had the right programs and the right Pastor, we would be BIG!" Tell me that thought hasn't crossed your mind. It crosses mine. I am as much of a victim as anyone in this 'Bigger is better' society. Then God gives us this little nugget of wisdom and encouragement; "Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice." He is telling us to focus on faithfulness and not numbers. Justice is moral rightness. Justice is practicing integrity. Justice is meeting your fulfillments to the One who redeemed you and to your neighbor. Justice is working on developing and committing to proper values. Injustice is any infraction of justice. Injustice is compromising God's Word; compromising your own word; ignoring or violating moral values; deserting or betraying your neighbor; and giving up because your values are misplaced.
Jesus promised that "Where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them." (Matthew 18:20). I guess His bottom line is different than that which our society has so carefully cultured. "In my Name" means "In my authority and my character." His authority comes from the Father, and His character is perfect integrity and perfect justice. His bottom line is certainly quality, not necessarily quantity.
Wisdom seeks to live a quality life, and leaves quantity to God.