Value of Information--Information of Values

Thanks for the request Andrew!


Ecclesiastes 1:12-14 (NRSV)

I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

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Same old song
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do
Crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind

"Dust in the Wind" by Kerry Livgren from "Point of Know Return" by Kansas

Greed was a sin, a sin that eventually played in the death of Judas. But vanity, oh vanity, there's a sin for the ages.

The teacher in Ecclesiastes has a point about the thirst for wisdom, chasing the wisdom of the world is an unhappy business, a vain pursuit. All that we do, all that is done under the sun; all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

We live in the "information age." We constantly seek information, thinking that more and better information will increase wisdom. Many say that they have to see it themselves, do it themselves before they will believe. Everyone wants the hands on experience, not trusting the word or deeds of another.

We hope that more information will lead to better wisdom. It is unfortunate that more often than not, more information leads only to a better quality of chaos. All of the information in the world does not lead to wisdom, synthesis of information around a compass is how information points to wisdom. And perhaps there is no greater wisdom than knowing that all of our information seeking is vanity and a chasing after wind.

All we do crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see. The pyramids have been around for thousands of years. But of the ancient wonders of the world, what others still exist? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? The Colossus of Rhodes? The Lighthouse of Alexandria? Dust in the wind, each and every one.

The greatest monuments of the ages now just memories. Ecclesiastes reminds us that the great wisdom of the world is not found in the vanities of our lives. It is found in the value of a friend because two are better than one. When one falls, there is another to lift the stricken.

It is reverence, humility, and contentment that are to be prized above all else. Service not to the things of the world, but to the Lord who created it is where wisdom lies.

It's easy to say that the one with the gold rules, but it is better to give the gold for the Kingdom of God than to keep it for the Colossus who will fade into distant memory.

Oh, Very Young

1Samuel 16:10-13

Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.” He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

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Oh very young
What will you leave us this time
You're only dancing on this earth
For a short while

"Oh Very Young" by Cat Stevens

This is how David is anointed King. The Lord has told Samuel the priest that one of the Sons of Jesse will be the next King of Israel. This is kind of dicey though since there is currently a king of Israel. At any rate, the Lord will leave a new king in the land.

So The Sons of Jesse go before Samuel. One at a time until seven pass by and none of them are to be anointed. Don't misunderstand, they all have standing. The eldest son would have been a traditional choice. The seventh son would have been a good choice, especially among those who love the numerology. Each of the sons were handsome. Each of them were strong from work. But none of them found the Lord's favor.

Yes, there is one more. He is young and he is in the fields keeping the sheep. He is ruddy, has beautiful eyes and is handsome. The Lord picks him. From that day forward, the Lord came mightily upon David.

David lives into the blessing he receives. Not every day mind you, there are some things that would have been better left undone, but even his mistakes had holy consequences. So it's a question of either serendipity or the work of the Holy Spirit, "Oh very young, what will you leave us this time?"

When we consider what can be done, we have to remember that what we think is important, what we think is needed for success is sometimes just that much smoke. Sometimes what we think is vital is just window dressing. The skills we think are requires sometimes build walls that get in our own way. Instead, we need to be open to what God is doing in our lives and our world. Because only by the Holy Spirit, will great things ever happen.

The Splendor of Youth

On the passing of Dick Clark


1Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

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I remember when rock was young
Me and Suzie had so much fun

"Crocodile Rock" lyrics by Bernie Taupin, music by Elton John

Dick Clark, the "World's Oldest Teenager," has died. Clark wasn't the first to host American Bandstand, but in every way he was the most important. He took the show from a small Philly broadcast to national exposure. From national exposure he took the show to Los Angeles. From LA he took it to the world.

Something important happened after the move to LA, a conscious decision was made by Clark and the producers to fully desegregate the show. The talent on the show had been integrated for years, but only after moving to LA did black and white kids dance side by side. For much of the nation this was a big deal, but it didn't seem to be to the kids on the show. Hooray! The youth find something to congregate around, in this case the music, and they came together in ways adults couldn't.

It was a time when rock was young and fun. It was a time when there were riots in nearly every major American city. It was a time when blacks and whites danced together.

Paul encourages Timothy, let no one despise your youth. It's easy for the fuddy and the duddy to do things and believe things because that's the way it has always been. It's the nature of growing not more mature, but growing older. Paul reminds Timothy that he has a place in the church and in the world. It is a place where by his speech and conduct the world will see his love, faith, and purity.

There is no subterfuge in Timothy, there is only sincerity. There is no hidden agenda, there is only the gospel. Timothy lives seeing love and grace and peace in the way only the young who have not been injured by the world can live it. This is worth remembering. This is worth recapturing.

Suzie leaves the singer for some "foreign guy," but the Lord will never leave. Nostalgia for the good old days of "Crocodile Rock" has no place in the faith. Living into those days of God given innocence and potential, now that's worth the risk.

Paul says let no one despise your youth. By the grace of God, let us instead imitate his speech and conduct in love, in faith, and in purity..

God Is Faithful

1Corinthians 1:4-9

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind--just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you--so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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If you would give me all,
as I would give it to you
Nothing would be,
nothing would be,
nothing would be
No matter where you go
There will always be a place
Can't you see in my face girl,
oh girl don't you

"No Matter What" by Badfinger

Paul gives thanks to God because the Corinthians have been given the good gift of God's grace in Christ Jesus. By God's grace Paul gives thanks that they have been enriched. They lack nothing, all they have received has been through the work of Christ, in life and on the cross. It is through the power of the resurrection that they have the bounty and abundant gifts of God.

God is faithful. It is God who says to the world, no matter where you go I will always be with you. God is faithful blessing us with the holy presence, especially when we deserve it least. God is faithful, giving his blessing.

In return though, God wants us to give our all in return; just as God has given all to us. Badfinger sings, "If you would give me all, as I would give it to you. God knows we can't, that's the nature of sin. But God knows that and still God has given all; even blood upon the cross, God has given all.

Still, God is faithful. Especially when we don't deserve all God has given. For that we should all give thanks every day.