There's More than One Deadly Camel

S - Matthew 23:23-24 (NLT): "“How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. 24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat; then you swallow a camel!"

O - Why does religious culture find it acceptable to focus on tithing while neglecting the "important" things of the Scriptures? Why would the leaders be "careful" over the smallest part of an income and yet "ignore" justice, mercy and faith? The Lord's point was not that tithing was wrong or should not have been engaged but rather that the other was of no practical influence or daily focus. What is it in us that allows or even inspires such a dysfunctional and myopic conclusion to Scripture and to God who gave it? We can't serve God and money but apparently we can tithe and still serve (or love cf. Luke 16:14) money; or tithe and not serve God. Those who serve God won't serve money; but tithing is not proof positive we have it straight in our minds, right in our hearts or clear in our vision. How do we prevent and avoid camel swallowing?

A - Maybe the issue is that we actually can't completely avoid camel swallowing as fallen humans, but we can (and must) be aware of our predisposition and available (open, responsive) to repentance and recalibration when we find ourselves in such a state. We must admit that we are not immune. Peter certainly seems to swallow a few camels in his discipleship career (cf. Mark 8:31-33; Gal. 2:11-13). God's patience is to lead us (all of us) to repentance (Romans 2:1-4). Jesus does not require us to be flawless but blameless; he does not say we'll never have a 2X4 in our eyes but rather to remove it before attemtping to help with another's vision. The superlatives (the greatest commandments) are to always be the "main thing" for followers of Jesus. If I love the Lord and love my neighbor then justice, mercy, faith are huge and even tithing will follow in its place. If I'm failing at the superlatives, the rest really won't matter much (cf. 1 Corinthians 13;1-3).

P - Sovereign Strong and Only True Friend of the World,
Thank you for always loving us where we are and for loving us too much to leave us there. I admit that I will always have some propensity for 2X4's and camel swallowing … and that you are fully prepared to help me with the same. Lord, I don't want to be one who uses your word and yet has somehow lost its meaning. You always start at mercy and lead with love and call me to do the same with everyone … even myself. So, today while its called today, I will run to truth and choose love no matter what. If I love I cannot fail and if I do not love failure is certain. I am grateful to be relying on your love,
Steve