You Can't Take It With You!
Psalm 49:13-20
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
14 They are like sheep and are destined to die;
death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
he will surely take me to himself.
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—
and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,
who will never again see the light of life.
20 People who have wealth but lack understanding
are like the beasts that perish.
Leviticus 9:12-10:20
For an excellent synopsis of why Nadab and Abihu were struck down dead for their improper offering of sacrifices and why Aaron’s two remaining sons were not when they did not eat the meat of the sin offering as prescribed read this article…it is an excellent synopsis of grace vs. law and the spirit vs. the letter of the law, which we see in both the Old and New Testament.
http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx270.htm
Leviticus 10
The Death of Nadab and Abihu
1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:
“‘Among those who approach me
I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.’”
Aaron remained silent.
4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” 5 So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire. 7 Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, because the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses said.8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, 10 so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses.”12 Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering left over from the food offerings prepared without yeast and presented to the LORD and eat it beside the altar, for it is most holy. 13 Eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is your share and your sons’ share of the food offerings presented to the LORD; for so I have been commanded. 14 But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a ceremonially clean place; they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites’ fellowship offerings. 15 The thigh that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the food offerings, to be waved before the LORD as a wave offering. This will be the perpetual share for you and your children, as the LORD has commanded.”16 When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked, 17 “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the community by making atonement for them before the LORD. 18 Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place, you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.”19 Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the LORD have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?” 20 When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.
Mark 3:13-19
Jesus Appoints the Twelve
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Reflections:
The psalmist continues to reflect on the fate of those who place all their trust in earthly riches. His thoughts are summarized in verse 17 when he states, “For they will take nothing with them when they die”. We hear that often repeated today with the cliché, “You can’t take it with you.” Verse 20 also makes a helpful clarification, it is not wealth that is bad, but wealth without understanding. Meaning not understanding the proper place of wealth in one’s life. Or in short, not placing your trust in things, but in God!
In Leviticus, we have a scary but very important story for our understanding of the difference between Law and Gospel. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu offer an unauthorized fire offering before the Lord, and they were quickly consumed in the fire of the Lord. Moses brings in their cousins to bring them away, but insists that Aaron and his remaining sons continue to preside over the offerings. (No small task since I’m sure Aaron was in extreme grief). Then Moses commands the sons to eat of the meat of the sin offering. When they don’t he is upset, and I’m sure Aaron is wondering if he is going to lose his remaining two sons. Aaron intervenes and basically explains that given the events of the day, he could not in good conscience eat of the sin offering. Basically he is saying he couldn’t eat on his day of grief. Moses accepts this explanation as the text says, “When Moses heart this he was satisfied”.
Some might say, “Why did the two sons die when they disobeyed, and the other two received grace?” You can read the above link for a detailed explanation of this dilemma, but suffice it to say that the main point is that Nadab and Abihu were arrogant in their wrongful offering, whereas Eleazar and Ithamar were doing it out of respect and trying to honor the Spirit of the Law. And Moses, on behalf of God accepts this explanation. So we see even in the Old Testament things are not always so black and white. We will see this concept of grace and law throughout the bible. It is important to rightly distinguish between the two as we hope to rightly interpret God’s Word with the help of His Holy Spirit.
Finally, in our gospel lesson we see Jesus giving the same power and authority that he had to his 12 appointed disciples/apostles, who were called to do the same things he did. This consisted of preaching the Good News (of the Kingdom Jesus sought to bring in), and then casting out demons and healing the sick, as a sign of the power of the same kingdom they were preaching about. Right away Jesus is modeling that he was not going to try and do it all himself, but he needed to equip his disciples and send them out, if he were to reach the world with the Good News.
So what can we take away from today? For one, we see God is holy and as we approach Him we need to do so with sincere hearts and trusting in the once and for all sacrifice that Jesus has given us. Though we come into God’s presence by the blood of the lamb, we shouldn’t take lightly the holiness of God as demonstrated in the judgment of Aaron’s sons. But we also see God’s grace. As we sincerely seek him, we are bound to make mistakes like Aaron’s sons as well. But if our hearts are in the right place, God sees our hearts.
Finally, we too are called like the disciples to do the ministry Jesus did, in the power of His Spirit. We are called to advance God’s kingdom today just like in Jesus’ day!
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. Psalm 147:5
Jesus said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible." Mark 10:27
All-knowing and all-sustaining God, we open our hearts today that we may reflect your wisdom by our actions in our communities. Help us to reach out to those in need of safety, shelter and sustenance in Jesus' name. Amen.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
14 They are like sheep and are destined to die;
death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
he will surely take me to himself.
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—
and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,
who will never again see the light of life.
20 People who have wealth but lack understanding
are like the beasts that perish.
Leviticus 9:12-10:20
For an excellent synopsis of why Nadab and Abihu were struck down dead for their improper offering of sacrifices and why Aaron’s two remaining sons were not when they did not eat the meat of the sin offering as prescribed read this article…it is an excellent synopsis of grace vs. law and the spirit vs. the letter of the law, which we see in both the Old and New Testament.
http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx270.htm
Leviticus 10
The Death of Nadab and Abihu
1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:
“‘Among those who approach me
I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.’”
Aaron remained silent.
4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” 5 So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the LORD will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn for those the LORD has destroyed by fire. 7 Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, because the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses said.8 Then the LORD said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, 10 so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses.”12 Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering left over from the food offerings prepared without yeast and presented to the LORD and eat it beside the altar, for it is most holy. 13 Eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is your share and your sons’ share of the food offerings presented to the LORD; for so I have been commanded. 14 But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a ceremonially clean place; they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites’ fellowship offerings. 15 The thigh that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the food offerings, to be waved before the LORD as a wave offering. This will be the perpetual share for you and your children, as the LORD has commanded.”16 When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked, 17 “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the community by making atonement for them before the LORD. 18 Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place, you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.”19 Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the LORD have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?” 20 When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.
Mark 3:13-19
Jesus Appoints the Twelve
13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Reflections:
The psalmist continues to reflect on the fate of those who place all their trust in earthly riches. His thoughts are summarized in verse 17 when he states, “For they will take nothing with them when they die”. We hear that often repeated today with the cliché, “You can’t take it with you.” Verse 20 also makes a helpful clarification, it is not wealth that is bad, but wealth without understanding. Meaning not understanding the proper place of wealth in one’s life. Or in short, not placing your trust in things, but in God!
In Leviticus, we have a scary but very important story for our understanding of the difference between Law and Gospel. Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu offer an unauthorized fire offering before the Lord, and they were quickly consumed in the fire of the Lord. Moses brings in their cousins to bring them away, but insists that Aaron and his remaining sons continue to preside over the offerings. (No small task since I’m sure Aaron was in extreme grief). Then Moses commands the sons to eat of the meat of the sin offering. When they don’t he is upset, and I’m sure Aaron is wondering if he is going to lose his remaining two sons. Aaron intervenes and basically explains that given the events of the day, he could not in good conscience eat of the sin offering. Basically he is saying he couldn’t eat on his day of grief. Moses accepts this explanation as the text says, “When Moses heart this he was satisfied”.
Some might say, “Why did the two sons die when they disobeyed, and the other two received grace?” You can read the above link for a detailed explanation of this dilemma, but suffice it to say that the main point is that Nadab and Abihu were arrogant in their wrongful offering, whereas Eleazar and Ithamar were doing it out of respect and trying to honor the Spirit of the Law. And Moses, on behalf of God accepts this explanation. So we see even in the Old Testament things are not always so black and white. We will see this concept of grace and law throughout the bible. It is important to rightly distinguish between the two as we hope to rightly interpret God’s Word with the help of His Holy Spirit.
Finally, in our gospel lesson we see Jesus giving the same power and authority that he had to his 12 appointed disciples/apostles, who were called to do the same things he did. This consisted of preaching the Good News (of the Kingdom Jesus sought to bring in), and then casting out demons and healing the sick, as a sign of the power of the same kingdom they were preaching about. Right away Jesus is modeling that he was not going to try and do it all himself, but he needed to equip his disciples and send them out, if he were to reach the world with the Good News.
So what can we take away from today? For one, we see God is holy and as we approach Him we need to do so with sincere hearts and trusting in the once and for all sacrifice that Jesus has given us. Though we come into God’s presence by the blood of the lamb, we shouldn’t take lightly the holiness of God as demonstrated in the judgment of Aaron’s sons. But we also see God’s grace. As we sincerely seek him, we are bound to make mistakes like Aaron’s sons as well. But if our hearts are in the right place, God sees our hearts.
Finally, we too are called like the disciples to do the ministry Jesus did, in the power of His Spirit. We are called to advance God’s kingdom today just like in Jesus’ day!
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. Psalm 147:5
Jesus said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible." Mark 10:27
All-knowing and all-sustaining God, we open our hearts today that we may reflect your wisdom by our actions in our communities. Help us to reach out to those in need of safety, shelter and sustenance in Jesus' name. Amen.
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