(Further reflections on “Protection 24/7”—Sunday 23-Apr-2023)
Created but fallen human beings, in many ways, work for “a loaf of bread.” All toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another (cf. Ecclesiastes 4:4). Idolatry is the ‘mother’ of all sins. It gave birth to immorality which brought forth injustices.
“A loaf of bread” (cf. Proverbs 6:20-35) can be a metaphor for something of a daily need. It satisfies hunger, which can be a physical or sexual. When a (male/female) prostitute sells his/her body for money, both the ‘seller’ and ‘buyer’ are reduced to a level of “a loaf of bread”—something which has a very small value. The ‘seller’ sold it for ‘food’. The ‘buyer’ bought it for ‘food’ (sexual hunger). In similar fashion (though it’s slightly different), those who commit adultery (sex outside marriage) bring ‘fire’ to his/her chest or walk on ‘hot coals’ with his/her bare feet. They will both be ‘burned’. They both will not go unpunished. When a thief steals ‘a loaf of bread’ to satisfy his/her appetite when s/he is hungry (cf. Proverbs 6:30) and when caught, s/he must pay with a hefty penalty. Unlike the thief, the adulterous lacks (common) sense. S/he does it without thinking about the consequences. His/her actions destroy not only their life but the life of others, from families to communities and to societies. The adulterous may think that they won’t get caught. But sooner or later, as God cannot be mocked, all adulteries will eventually be brought to light. The adulterers will get wounds, dishonor, and disgrace which will not be wiped away. However, their sins might be forgiven when repentance takes place in Jesus. The unfaithful spouses will get the revenge from the “cuckold” (a man whose wife committed adultery) and “cuckquean” (a woman whose husband is unfaithful). The force of jealousy has always been destructively strong. Money/gifts cannot settle the rage of the “cuckold” or “cuckquean". Jealousy derived from adultery demands life. Why? Because if a “cuckold” or “cuckquean” accept a payment, they agree that they sold their spouses for ‘a loaf of bread’. And these are among the many injustices that have been happening through the ages. To fight any form of injustices, we need to address immorality which is deeply rooted in idolatry.
And the root of idolatry can only be uprooted by Jesus—His incarnation (God became man); His crucifixion (God died for our sins); and His resurrection (God resurrected Christ and those who believed in Him to have new life). Uprooting idolatry is a work in progress. God knows it and He gave His Son—Jesus to be the head of the church and those who believe and live in Him are members of His Body—the local church. Uprooting idolatry requires our soul (mind, will, and emotion) and it needs to be fed with “the Living Bread”—Jesus and His word. Uprooting idolatry in our life desperately needs the power of the Holy Spirit to remind us God’s word; to prompt us with His voice; to prevent us from ‘selling’ our soul for ‘a loaf of bread’; and to sanctify our spirit which gives godly direction to our soul—how we think, will, and feel. And when our spirit is in line with the Spirit and the Word, our hunger (physical/sexual) hunger will be godly satisfied. Furthermore, living our life in view of His return (which can be anytime), we therefore conduct our life in a godly and wise manner, for the fear of the Lord is in us. And this prevents us from being led astray by our own hunger for “a loaf of bread’.
May our daily need (“a loaf of bread”) be met by the Living Bread. May none of us set aside God’s wisdom, so that we won’t become fools, who always want to be wise in our own eyes and have no fear of the Lord.
Amen.
—
Pastor Lap
Comments