March 15, 1998

John 2: 13-22

Help Us Know What Is Right

It is interesting that I have been chosen to write a devotional on this particular scripture because I have always questioned it, and wondered if it could be interpreted towards modern day life.

In these verses, Jesus travels to Jerusalem a few days before the Jewish Passover. In the temple courts he found various kinds of vendors and people changing money. When Jesus saw this he became very angry, overturning the different tables, and shouted at the vendors, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

On countless occasions I have heard this scripture in church and thought back to the many times over the years that I have sold different types of things at church or seen others doing this. I've brought my Boy Scout popcorn to church many times and I've participated in quite a few bake sales over the years. Each time I sell popcorn or sold cookies at a bake sale, I have questioned whether or not I should be doing it. I've thought, "Oh well, the money I am making is going to a good cause anyway." There is a good chance that the people inside the temple selling animals for sacrifice were somehow church affiliated and the profits were going to the church. Even though all or some of the profits of these sales were going to the church, Jesus still became extremely angry and upset at the sight of it.

I think that this is just one of many examples of questionable themes or stories in the Bible that can be interpreted in many different ways. Human nature leads us to interpret lessons and things like this in the way that are most convenient or beneficial to us. This is a perfect example of day to day situations where I first have a feeling that I am doing something wrong, but make up multiple reasons why it could probably be right.

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Prayer: Dear God, please help and direct us to do the things that you wish for us to do, not what is easiest and most beneficial to us at the time. Amen. [Yesterday |Lenten Index | Tomorrow]