Introduction
What about the "stuff" of life?
Our world is changing every day and there is so much going on that we can often find ourselves grappling for answers to life questions. How many times do you find yourself wondering about the future, struggling to forget the past or trying to make sense of some of the things that are happening right now? Life has "stuff" and the "stuff" of life, whether past, present or future, seems to demand our attention. When the "stuff" of life requires our attention, it usually does so by causing us to question what we should or should not do.
At times, we think we know what we should do in response to the "stuff" of life and at other times, we feel stuck, uncertain, or even gripped with paralyzing fear that makes us think we cannot move, although we are certain we need to "do something." As it multiplies and intrudes on our everyday existence, the "stuff" of life can cause us to question and then vacillate (go back and forth) in our minds with what we should do in any given situation. This can immobilize us at times when we need to move off of "middle of the road" inactivity that keeps us from living a purposeful and successful life. The "stuff" of life can also be so overwhelming that it can push us to do something that is not appropriate, adequate or useful. When this happens, we end up having to spend time and effort trying to fix and adjust situations so that they do not yield more "stuff" that must be handled. Our study of the Word of God for this month is intended to help us begin to deal with the "what to do" question that the "stuff" of life so often presents.
Our world is changing every day and there is so much going on that we can often find ourselves grappling for answers to life questions. How many times do you find yourself wondering about the future, struggling to forget the past or trying to make sense of some of the things that are happening right now? Life has "stuff" and the "stuff" of life, whether past, present or future, seems to demand our attention. When the "stuff" of life requires our attention, it usually does so by causing us to question what we should or should not do.
At times, we think we know what we should do in response to the "stuff" of life and at other times, we feel stuck, uncertain, or even gripped with paralyzing fear that makes us think we cannot move, although we are certain we need to "do something." As it multiplies and intrudes on our everyday existence, the "stuff" of life can cause us to question and then vacillate (go back and forth) in our minds with what we should do in any given situation. This can immobilize us at times when we need to move off of "middle of the road" inactivity that keeps us from living a purposeful and successful life. The "stuff" of life can also be so overwhelming that it can push us to do something that is not appropriate, adequate or useful. When this happens, we end up having to spend time and effort trying to fix and adjust situations so that they do not yield more "stuff" that must be handled. Our study of the Word of God for this month is intended to help us begin to deal with the "what to do" question that the "stuff" of life so often presents.
The Bible's Answer for the "stuff"
During Biblical times, there were religious leaders who studied and taught the Word of God in order to help the people of that day to understand and apply it to their lives. They were called Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees. They thought that they had the answers to life questions because they had an intellectual and legal understanding of God and His Word. They thought that pleasing God, and ultimately handling the "stuff" of life, meant following a certain set of rules. If those who believed in God followed these rules, they should be able to handle all of the "stuff" of life without difficulty. The problem was that while the rules given to the people were based on God's commandments, the religious leaders added their own interpretations. The list continued to grow and become so legalistic that the rules were like a yoke or a burden, making it difficult for the people to keep them.
In Mark chapter 12, some of the religious leaders sought opportunity to show off their understanding by presenting Jesus with questions about life. They posed questions to Jesus with an ulterior motive of catching Him unaware and without the "right" answers to the questions. They wanted to discredit Jesus as the Son of God - the One with all of the answers for life. They did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. Their disbelief in Him was supported by their certainty that their study and interpretation of the Word of God gave them the ability to answer the people's questions about life and living.
In verse 28, one of the Scribes asked what perhaps sums up the question that many of us are asking in response to the pressure of dealing with the "stuff" of life. A Scribe asked Jesus, "Which is the first commandment of all?" He was asking Jesus to identify which of the commandments was the most important commandment. In essence, he was trying to start a debate about keeping one of God's commandments over all of the commandments. It appears that this Scribe was asking: if one commandment was greater, how could one keep the greatest commandment and all of the rest of the "rules" that had been established as necessary to please God? It was as if the Scribe was asking, with everything that God wants us to do and given all of the "stuff" that is going on in the world around us, what should we do? He might have been saying, is it possible to obey God and deal with the "stuff" of life?
Jesus' answer is in Mark 12:29-30 which reads,"The first of all the commandments is, Hear O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Jesus answered the Scribe's question by first telling him that there is only one God who is Lord over all of the commandments. Because He is God, the greatest commandment is to love Him with all (our total being). The answer to all of life's questions is simple, love God. The greatest commandment is to love God. When we love God, we are engaged in a relationship with Him that ensures that He has the answer to every life question. God's answers are the answers we need and the only answers that allow us to effectively handle the "stuff" of life.
During Biblical times, there were religious leaders who studied and taught the Word of God in order to help the people of that day to understand and apply it to their lives. They were called Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees. They thought that they had the answers to life questions because they had an intellectual and legal understanding of God and His Word. They thought that pleasing God, and ultimately handling the "stuff" of life, meant following a certain set of rules. If those who believed in God followed these rules, they should be able to handle all of the "stuff" of life without difficulty. The problem was that while the rules given to the people were based on God's commandments, the religious leaders added their own interpretations. The list continued to grow and become so legalistic that the rules were like a yoke or a burden, making it difficult for the people to keep them.
In Mark chapter 12, some of the religious leaders sought opportunity to show off their understanding by presenting Jesus with questions about life. They posed questions to Jesus with an ulterior motive of catching Him unaware and without the "right" answers to the questions. They wanted to discredit Jesus as the Son of God - the One with all of the answers for life. They did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God. Their disbelief in Him was supported by their certainty that their study and interpretation of the Word of God gave them the ability to answer the people's questions about life and living.
In verse 28, one of the Scribes asked what perhaps sums up the question that many of us are asking in response to the pressure of dealing with the "stuff" of life. A Scribe asked Jesus, "Which is the first commandment of all?" He was asking Jesus to identify which of the commandments was the most important commandment. In essence, he was trying to start a debate about keeping one of God's commandments over all of the commandments. It appears that this Scribe was asking: if one commandment was greater, how could one keep the greatest commandment and all of the rest of the "rules" that had been established as necessary to please God? It was as if the Scribe was asking, with everything that God wants us to do and given all of the "stuff" that is going on in the world around us, what should we do? He might have been saying, is it possible to obey God and deal with the "stuff" of life?
Jesus' answer is in Mark 12:29-30 which reads,"The first of all the commandments is, Hear O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Jesus answered the Scribe's question by first telling him that there is only one God who is Lord over all of the commandments. Because He is God, the greatest commandment is to love Him with all (our total being). The answer to all of life's questions is simple, love God. The greatest commandment is to love God. When we love God, we are engaged in a relationship with Him that ensures that He has the answer to every life question. God's answers are the answers we need and the only answers that allow us to effectively handle the "stuff" of life.
Loving God in the midst of the "stuff"
Has the "stuff" of life multiplied and intruded into your life so that you do not know what to do or have you been pushed to make some choices that have added more "stuff" to your life? If you are wondering what to do -- love God. First, love God and demonstrate your love for God by seeking first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). This is the winning solution to handling the "stuff" of life.
The situations, circumstances, issues, problems, trials, challenges, and things that occur as a part of life (the stuff) are common to every person living. With an ever changing world that is becoming more morally bankrupt with sin exponentially abounding, your situation, test or trial may seem to be closing in and you are perhaps asking the question, with everything that is going on in my life, what do I do? How do I deal with the "stuff" of life and maintain some form of sanity, normalcy, and the simple joy in living? The answer is simple and it is what Jesus said - love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the greatest commandment and in obeying it, we open the door of a real relationship with God and real answers to life situations are readily and always available.
Has the "stuff" of life multiplied and intruded into your life so that you do not know what to do or have you been pushed to make some choices that have added more "stuff" to your life? If you are wondering what to do -- love God. First, love God and demonstrate your love for God by seeking first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33). This is the winning solution to handling the "stuff" of life.
The situations, circumstances, issues, problems, trials, challenges, and things that occur as a part of life (the stuff) are common to every person living. With an ever changing world that is becoming more morally bankrupt with sin exponentially abounding, your situation, test or trial may seem to be closing in and you are perhaps asking the question, with everything that is going on in my life, what do I do? How do I deal with the "stuff" of life and maintain some form of sanity, normalcy, and the simple joy in living? The answer is simple and it is what Jesus said - love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the greatest commandment and in obeying it, we open the door of a real relationship with God and real answers to life situations are readily and always available.
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