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Pass the Lima Beans
When I was growing up, our family had 10 staple meals we would rotate in our house for dinner. Looking at me, you can tell that my mother was an excellent cook, but there was one meal that was met with dread…Pork Chops! Don’t get me wrong, I love pork chops, but invariably she would serve lima beans with them. I quickly realized that I loathed lima beans. After trying to outlast mom and refuse to eat them, it became apparent I needed a better plan because she was just as stubborn I was. Finally, I devised a plan that would work. First, I wouldn’t complain and draw her ire so quickly into the meal. Then I would slow my eating down because I knew she would feel compelled to start the dishes while I was finishing up. It was at that moment I would pool all resources available to extricate myself from this bean dilemma. One third would quickly be dissolved into my crumpled up napkin, then I would take a half eaten roll and embed another third. Finally, I would use a dollop of potatoes to cover the remaining perpetrators. This is a very elaborate and well executed scheme, but you have to understand, I detest lima beans.
This passage tells us that God detests the ways of man. Maybe the ways of man are His “lima beans”. Why would God detest the ways of those He created? I think it’s because the more people look at themselves and try to acquire money, power, and prestige the less they look at and for the real treasures God has given us like Love, Mercy, and Kindness. He knows that left alone, the things that man covets will soon destroy us. I can’t help but look at today with all the fraud, greed, and corruption and think that God detests what his people are doing. Are we going to let ourselves be corrupted by passing pleasures or are we going to accept His perfect treasures? Now pass those lima beans!
The problem with the things that I value is that they are also the things that I justify. My justificiation begins to overpower my God given sense of reason.
Lord open my eyes to the justifications that I am making for the things that are detestable to you. Provide me with insight into how I can put those things behind me, and place you in the center of my life.
For me it was spinach. I just couldn’t seem to eat it. One year we had spinach for dinner. It was my brother’s birthday. I grumbled and complained and just couldn’t seem to swallow it. My father sent me to bed. I wasn’t allowed to attend my brother’s party. Still I wouldn’t eat the spinach.
Maybe what got to my father was all the grumbling and complaining. When we look at Israel in the Old Testament we see them grumbling about all that God had given them. They even complained about the Manna God had given them to eat. Maybe the ways of man is complaining instead of praising. We have the tendency to keep our eyes on our situations instead of on God’s blessings.
Why did God not walk with Adam in the garden any more? Sin. why does God destest the way of man, sin. How does one lead ourselves and others to a lifestlye that reflects the lasting treasure? The answer is simple yet hard at the same time. It is to walk with God alowing Him through His Son to cover our sin with His blood so we can have a right relationship with God. All those churchy words to say take care of the sin in your life and God won’t detest your ways.
Chuck -
You are a good writer! Thanks.
In these funky times, I’m wondering this morning what lines Jesus followers will be willing to cross. What things of character and integrity will we fudge to get by or survive in this economy? What practices will we justify because our model is Washington and not Jesus?
And why am I preaching at you? I need to be careful. I need to put on the armor of Jesus.
I need to pray about what I justify or how I should rather act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
How could the Pharisees found in Luke 16:14 be found sneering at Jesus? These were people who, at one time, had great hearts towards God and men. They had committed their lives to act justly… but now are being condemned as they justify. Wow. God help me!
What is highly valued by me is often highly detested by my wife. If I am willing to back off those things for her, why is it hard to back off those things that are detestable to my God? Isn’t God’s wrath worse than the wrath of my wife? (No contest by the way, despite what many men would say in jest at this point.)
So much of my daily life is for passing pleasure…I need to refocus much of that in order to think long term. I am meeting with my financial advisor today and his advice is always, “think long term…”
By the way, I’ve always enjoyed lima beans, but warming some up the other night my wife said, “what is that smell?” I had to toss out my beans.
lima beans are room freshners in parts of Kentucky…
Since the Pharisees were once men who had hearts for God, where did they go wrong? How can I avoid the same fate? One last question, The Pharisees didn’t recognize Jesus as the Saviour because He didn’t meet their expectations, are there areas where I turn from God because He doesn’t meet my expectations? By the way, I never stop in Kentucky because of the air fresheners!