Being a cowboy meant knowing how to work, how to prepare to work, and how to do the actual work.”
                    –Bobby Cavazos  (The Cowboy From the Wild Horse Desert)

       “Let us not allow slackness to spoil our work and let us keep the fires of the spirit burning, as we do our work for God.”
                    –Romans 12:11(Phillips)
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(First, I need to fix a mistake I made in Monday’s “Echo.”  Call it old age, a senior moment, blatant disregard, or just an oversight, there was an issue that changed the meaning of what was being written.  I wrote, “Let me remind you here that we are speaking of perfectionism.”  It should have said, “Let me remind you here that we are NOT speaking of perfectionism.”  However, there is a lesson here.  What I wrote was not perfect, I left out a word.  That did not mean that my thoughts were wrong, or that my motive was wrong, or that my heart was impure.  See, even in my mistake we see how we can be pure in heart and yet at times fail in our daily lives.)
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In every culture there is a need for wealth of some kind.  Money, they say, makes the world go round, it is not love.  Wealth, then oftentimes, becomes an obsession with so many. The meaning of wealth is the total value of all assets, minus the debts.  Today’s proverb is a wonderful way to look at proper wealth.  We read from Proverbs 10:22, “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” (NKJV)  I need to ask now, what makes one rich, what is richness?  Sometimes we equate wealth and money with being rich.  Look at the Living Bible paraphrase of this verse and we see a closer meaning.  “The Lord’s blessing is our greatest wealth.  All our work adds nothing to it.”  Much of this verse depends on what we mean by wealth.
     Proverbs 10:4, says that the “hands of the diligent bring wealth,” but here we read that it comes from the Lord.  Which is correct?  I would have to say, both.  We, in our daily life, work together with the Lord.  Bob Beasley sheds light on this, “It is the combination of our diligence and God’s blessing.  The slothful person seeks wealth without diligence.  The practical atheist seeks wealth through his own diligence.  But God distributes wealth as He sees fit.”  
     No matter how hard a man works, and that is needed, industry is needed by man; he cannot expect wealth without honest work.  However, we also need to realize that God is the true source of wealth.  We work diligently as we are supposed to, but ultimately the results are God’s.  If we practice proper stewardship, are diligent in our work habits and ethics, we will find that wealth can be a blessing, not a curse.  But then true wealth–is it really money?  Dan Dick reminds us that, “A good relationship with God is the path to true wealth, and it is a richness that nothing can destroy.”
     Wealth–money or life fulfillment?  Fortune or satisfaction?  Success in life?  Ah, but then what is success–more money?  I have often used the quotation by the “Wizard” of basketball, John Wooden, “Success is peace of mind which is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”  It goes back to your purpose in life and whether you are serving the Lord to the best of your ability.  J. Vernon McGee states, “There are those who live in pleasure and think they are living it up.  But as they get closer to the end, they find life unbearable.”  Riches now often means perdition later.  McGee continues, “The contemporary Christian by his indifference to moral and doctrinal wrong, and by his laxness in his way of living, is missing a great deal that God has for him.”  Have you noticed that it goes back to true worship and proper stewardship?
     John Trapp, the 17th-century theologian speaks of the three “vultures” in regard to wealth.  There is the care of getting, the fear in keeping, and the grief in losing.  Those who depend upon monetary wealth may spend it all if they come down with a life-threatening sickness.  His wealth gone, along with his health, and all that is left is the grave and in that he loses it all.  Let me say in closing, that wealth is not money to the Christian.  We are rich in whatever way the Lord blesses us, and that is so in many ways.  John Piper warns us that “Life is wasted when we do not live for the glory of God.”  I figure I’ve done a good job not becoming a millionaire, but I have riches abundant in the Lord.  A large bank account, what will happen?  One of the vultures will come for it, and at the end of life what do I have.  Do I stick a dollar bill in my pocket as a tip for the mortician?  
     Remember the story of Gehazi, the servant of Elijah.  In his desire for wealth, his greed and dishonesty, the leprosy of Naaman came upon him.  Now, what good was his wealth, when his health was gone? (2 Kings 5:27).  Read again today’s proverb from the CEV,  “When the Lord blesses you with riches, you have nothing to regret.”  No regrets.  Let Him give you what is needed for you to work in His kingdom.  Enjoy His blessings, don’t whine and murmur that you don’t have enough.

Small decisions can have a big impact for good on many peoples’ lives.”
                    –Troy C. Wagstaff  (.44 Caliber Preacher)

       “Who may climb the mountain of the LORD?  Who may stand in his holy place?  Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.”
                    –Psalm 24:3-4 (NLT)
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          “Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.” — Matthew 5:8 (KJV)

Oh my, this is a tough one.  Ponder a minute before going on.  Pure in heart.  What does that mean?  Is my heart pure?  Oh my…  When we look at the meaning of the term “pure” it makes it even harder.  The Greek is katharos and it means clean, washed clean, purged of chaff, to drink unadulterated with water or metal with no tinge of alloy; it means to be entirely guileless; and the expression of inward purity is there–the quality of those who have been cleansed from moral defilement.  Thomas Watson states, “Morality does but wash a man, grace changes him.”  To continue, the word means “heart-rightness” rather than “rule-rightness”; singlemindedness with its reference pointing to sincerity.  “Freedom from defilement and divided affection,” states Arthur Pink, “it is sincerity, genuineness, and singleness of heart.
     Oh, Lord, how can I keep my heart pure?  I understand part of this, being cleaned and washed, for it is the blood of Christ, but then as I go through life I want to keep a pure heart.  If you have noticed in our study that the Beatitudes reflect a process of sanctification.  Our life is to be pure as John Stott relates, “The pure in heart have their whole lives, public and private, transparent before others.  Their very heart–including their thoughts and motives–is pure, unmixed with anything devious, ulterior, or base.”  See purity stands diametrically opposed to whatever defiles.  Read the rules of the tabernacle.  Yes, we are not under that law, but understand the reasoning behind those laws–purity.  Do not meet with God without having a pure heart.  “Blessed in the man whose motives are always entirely unmixed, for that man shall see God.” (William Barclay)  That is why Paul tells us that we can not be mixed with Belial, and John states that we cannot be part of the world system.  
     Let me remind you here that we are speaking of perfectionism.  If we tend to lean in that direction for sure legalism can seep in.  The Pharisees looked to external purity, forgetting the heart.  We are to look inwardly and from the heart will flow an expression of gratitude and love towards God.  John writes, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7, NIV)  We are reminded that we are not holy in seeking God, but after we are born again we are holy because we have found HIm.  Watson states, “A pure soul is cast into the mold of holiness.  Holiness is a blood that runs in his veins.”
     One more thought this morning.  Paul declares that we are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  Where was the heart or foundation of the Temple located?  It was in the holy of holies.”  If we are the “temple” then our hearts most certainly ought to be holy.  Peter tells us, “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'” (1 Peter 1:15-16, NIV)  No, try to be holy.  Or, be holy if it fits your agenda.  Or, in my liberty I can choose how to be holy.  No!  We are to be holy in all we do, for He is holy.  Whom do you serve?  You must be free from ulterior motives in your service.  Why do you do what you do?  If the heart is holy, our affections will be, our duties will be.  It is not easy, and Barclay says, “To examine one’s own motives is a daunting and a shaming thing, for there are few things in this world that even the best of us do with completely unmixed motives.”
     Before taking communion we should examine ourselves.  Check the purity of attitude, motives, and actions.  “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:28, NIV)  Look in the mirror, the spiritual mirror of the Word of God and we will find that we do not measure up.  “The truth is that one of the most conclusive evidences that we do possess a pure heart is the discovery and consciousness of the remaining impurity that continues to plague our hearts.” (Arthur Pink)  Our prayer should be as that of David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, NKJV)
         
            “Search me, O God, and know my heart today;
            Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts I pray:
            See if there be some wicked way in me:
            Cleanse me from ev’ry sin, and set me free.”
                  –J. Edwin Orr

Sometimes a man has got to stand up for what’s right, no matter what the consequences might be. Doing right by others was a code I could understand and was a staple in the way I lived my life.”

If there’s no struggle, there’s no progress.”
                    –Zachary McCrae  (Warriors Never Sleep)

          “And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me.”
                     –Luke 14:27 (NLT)
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          “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.'”
                        –Luke 9:23 (NKJV)

This is one Scripture that people tend to push aside in their buffet-style Christianity.  It is too hard, or too legalistic, or it costs too much.  What must I give up to follow Jesus?  Everything!  I like the way the CEV translates this verse and the Phillips as well.

          “…If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself.  You must take up your cross every day and follow me.” (CEV)
          “…If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, he must give up all right to himself, carry his cross every day, and keep close behind me.” (Phillips)

Take a few moments to ponder what is being said.  This is part of working out your own salvation, growing in grace, reaching down, picking up your cross, everyday, and following the way that Jesus has for you.  Not easy, not fun, but needed, and it is dutiful, and it is a requirement of a disciple.  I would remind you that this is not justification, this is discipleship, being a soldier of the cross.  It is not a one time event, but a decision that is made everyday from the time you open your eyes in the morning until sleep overtakes you at night.
     First of all–deny yourself!  Ouch, oh me, do I really have to?  It is to ignore the very existence of self; to treat self as if it does not exist.  We, most of the time, treat self as the most important thing that exists, and Jesus tells us that we must deny ourselves.  It is a daily duty, a daily discipline to say no to personal and selfish desires.  To realize that God’s will is the most important thing and that involves reaching down, purposely, and picking up the cross and what it means for that day and following Jesus.
     To pick up your cross means to be prepared to face things as you are loyal to Jesus.  It means to be ready to endure the worst that man can possibly do to you, for the cause of Christ.  It means the willingness to suffer, if need be, to lose things or give them up for Christ.  I am reminded of the oath of office I took when I went into the military.  Self was to be put aside, I now belonged to Uncle Sam.  Duty and mission became paramount.  Follow orders, remember civilian life is over.  Even spare time was taken up with study, or polishing boots.
     The cross, what does it entail?  It means giving all for Christ.  It means spending your life, not for selfish desires, but for the cause of Christ.  No longer are we living in and for the world’s system, but now for the kingdom of God.  As Barclay says, it is not the minimum possible that I should do, but rather, what is the maximum possible?  “The Christian must realize that he is given life, not to keep for himself but to spend for others; not to husband its flame but to burn it out for Christ and for men.” (Barclay)
     Worldly possessions, what are they in comparison to the reward waiting for us in heaven for picking up the cross?  It may seem contradictory, but picking up the cross is actually living the abundant life.    Don’t look to the left, for there you will see the cares of the world.  Don’t look to the right for there you will see the idea of suffering and pain.  Follow in the Master’s footsteps and stay close to Him.  Don’t waver, don’t fret, don’t be anxious because you think the cross is too heavy to lift and bear.  Jesus is there, He will help you lift it, for He said His burden is light (Matthew 11:30).  Onward is the way, onward we go, carrying our cross along the way.

          “The consecrated cross I’ll bear
          till death shall set me free;
          And then go home my crown to wear,
          for there’s a crown for me.”
                    –Thomas Shepherd