TREASURE DIGEST

• BRP Spring Feasts Supplemental Readings
• How Does the Holy Spirit Help?
• "Baali" No More
• Humility and Pride
• Which Women Came to Jesus' Tomb?
• A Taxing Situation
• Counting Blessings: Money No Longer Going Up in Smoke
• Respect and Love—Meeting Needs of Husbands and Wives
• Parents: Promote Positive Attention-Seeking
• The Proverbs 31 Woman of Today
• What Is Worship?

BRP Spring Feasts Supplemental Readings

The Bible Reading Program supplemental readings for Passover and Unleavened Bread were printed in the March/April 2002 United News on page 2. You can also find this on the Internet at www.ucg.org/articles/un/un0203/bible.html. Just adjust the dates to suit your needs this year.

How Does the Holy Spirit Help?

Galatians 5:19-21 describes our natural state, and as we examine ourselves before Passover, we see some of these carnal tendencies still lurking in the recesses of our minds. What can we do?

In 2 Timothy 1:6-7 Paul describes the antidote. God's Spirit gives us the help we need, but we must stir it up—rekindle the flame till it is blazing within us. It is not a spirit of timidity or cowardice, "but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

When we admit we need added help and ask God for it, the Holy Spirit helps provide the willpower we lack (Philippians 2:13). It also provides the divine love of God that allows us to obey God's law and take action to clean out the dark catacombs of our minds (Romans 5:5; 1 Corinthians 13). And it helps us to have a sound mind (self-control, RSV; self-discipline, NIV).

All this help is available, if we seek to be "renewed day by day" by God's Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:16).

(Based on a sermon by Richard Pinelli, Feb. 8, 2003, to the Cincinnati East congregation.)

"Baali" No More

Some things do get lost in the translation. God shows through Hosea that He still loves Israel in spite of her infidelity (Hosea 2:14-16). The Hebrew words reveal an interesting play on words not conveyed in the English translation.

"At that time, Israelites are to call God Ishi ("My Husband") instead of Baali ("My Master" or "My Lord") in order to remove all remembrance of their former devotion to Baal. Actually, ancient Israel practiced syncretism, i.e., blended religion, often confusing the identities of Baal and the Eternal—in part because both were referred to as Lord" (Bible Reading Program for Hosea 1-3, Feb. 27 reading).

The Bible Reading Program (www.ucg.org/brp) covers many such interesting facts about the Bible. If you haven't read it recently, check it out today!

Humility and Pride

Dale Schurter

I am convinced that it takes humility to recognize humility. And that it also takes humility to recognize pride. Pride sees faults in others, while humility recognizes faults within. Pride accuses others of pride and sees humility as weakness.

Humility contains the power to conquer pride. Humility is loved and has many friends.

Understanding pride is an important key to self-control; in the presence of pride, self-control will flee. Another truism is that self-control is a friend of humility. In fact, it is a loving friendship that produces righteousness.

Pride is all alone, and often contains fear; while humility is a tower of peaceful strength.

I have observed a conclusion of the matter: Humility spawns kindness, gentleness, self-control, love and righteousness, while pride spawns conceit, jealousy, fear and blame. Pride accuses and condemns, and supports lying, greed, hate and unrighteousness.

"Everyone proud in heart is an abomination [detestable] to the LORD...Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:5, 18). "The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts" (Psalm 10:4).

"By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life" (Proverbs 22:4). "Blessed [happy] are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven... Blessed [happy] are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:3, 5).

Which Women Came to Jesus' Tomb?

The Gospel writers recorded the events of Christ's death and resurrection from various points of view. Putting them together gives a fuller picture. For example, which women went to the tomb?

"Apparently Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna, and 'the other women from Galilee' (Luke 23:55). John singles out Mary Magdalene for mention (20:1) presumably because it was she who brought information back to Peter and the other disciples: she herself implies in 20:2 that there were others with her—we do not know. So the writers could each be mentioning by name those of the party whose behaviour made an impact on those from whom the writers gained their information." (Eerdmans' Handbook to the Bible, page 530.)

A Taxing Situation

Tax day (April 15 in the United States) is approaching. What does the Bible have to say about this taxing subject?

In an age where tax collectors were despised and lumped with sinners (Matthew 9:11), and in a empire ruled by the evil Nero, Paul still strongly insisted on the necessity to pay taxes. Since all authority comes from God, "Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor" (Romans 13:7).

"A few years after Paul wrote these words, Nero launched a persecution against the church at Rome; multitudes lost their lives, and not because of doing evil" (NIV Bible Commentary, Volume 2, page 588).

It may not make it easier, but we can be glad we don't have to pay our taxes to Nero!

Counting Blessings: Money No Longer Going Up in Smoke

"I used to be a heavy smoker," Rama Naidoo wrote. But thanks to Herbert W. Armstrong's teaching that "you are not pleasing your neighbor by smoking," this member from Durban, South Africa, quit.

"When I think about cigarettes, it would cost me over 300 rand per month South African prices for three cartons. So I am saving 300 rand a month! I have no excuse for not paying tithes and offerings. Please print this to help those who are struggling to pay tithes and offerings." Our blessings might be something different, but we all have blessings to count.

Respect and Love—Meeting the Needs of Husbands and Wives

"The more you relinquish control and respect your husband's thinking, the more powerful and masculine he will feel. Your faith gives him added strength and reminds him who he is and that he wants to take care of you and ensure your delight," Laura Doyle advises wives in The Surrendered Wife.

"If he feels disrespected, his natural instinct to provide, protect, and adore his wife is derailed. When a wife respects her husband, he naturally responds with more confidence in himself and gratitude for his wife. This makes him cherish her more, and spend more time and effort memorizing the things that make her happy" (pages 56-57).

Kind of reminds you of Ephesians 5:33.

Parents: Promote Positive Attention-Seeking

"All of us are born with the basic need for attention," writes Kevin Leman in Bringing Up Kids Without Tearing Them Down. "All children start out with this basic skill, which they hone to a sharp edge as they go about the business of growing up.

"Because every child starts out in life with a natural desire to please you—the parent—you have a golden opportunity. Since children are going to seek your attention ('Hey, Daddy, watch me!'), you might as well do all you can to teach them how to be a positive attention-getter rather than a negative one. How you interact with your children as they seek your attention is the critical issue."

Dr. Leman suggests:

"1. Don't overreact to what your child says or does.

"2. Do show interest without putting on pressure" (pages 106-107).

The Proverbs 31 Woman of Today

The following poem was written in connection with the Garden Grove, California, Women's Enrichment Weekend on "Unlocking the Proverbs 31 Woman in You" (see page 21). The author, Nola Wells, attends the Garden Grove congregation.

The mother of King Lemuel, in Proverbs 31, Described a virtuous woman, who would complement her son.

The Proverbs Woman of Today, tho' challenged by a different time,
Tries her best to emulate virtues his mother had in mind.

She extends her hand to others; finds ways to reach the poor,
Gives of her time and substance, but aware she could do more;
She considers seeds and plants her garden with the choicest veggies,
That being done, you just might find her deftly trimming hedges.

For staples and for special foods she oftentimes will go
That extra mile, or many blocks to shop with "Trader Joe."

Her husband and her daughters, her sons and others too,
They rise and call her often, for favors she might do.

Her husband safely trusts her, she's proved that she will guard
The household budget, so she's now mistress of her MasterCard.

She's well acquainted with the malls, from Nordstroms to Rob-May,
And scans the ads religiously for special sales or clearance day.

The PVA and DAV, she supports from time to time;
And all those address labels will last until two-thousand-nine.

Her household does not fear the cold, whether home is condo, house or flat,
To keep that cozy atmosphere, she simply flips the thermostat.

Every day she's thankful for God's blessings and His WAY,
Her prayer is that He's pleased to see the Proverbs Woman of Today.

What Is Worship?

Richard Bennett

Worship is one of those religious-sounding words that the average person doesn't think much about. If you press him, the average man might say it has something to do with how we act toward God or some supreme being, maybe what religious people do in a cathedral, church, synagogue or mosque. Maybe it has something to do with prayers or praise or singing?

The English word worship is pretty broad. But it might be more helpful to know what the Bible means with the words that are translated worship. What does the Bible say about worship?

The word most often translated worship in the King James Version is the Hebrew shachah (Strong's number 7812). Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says it's used more than 170 times in the Hebrew Bible to mean "to worship, prostrate oneself, bow down."

Consider typical uses of this word in Exodus 34:8, Psalms 66:4 and 95:6, and Zechariah 14:16.

Worship in this sense carries the connotation of bowing down in deep respect and honor to a superior (sometimes a king or master, but in a much deeper way to the God who created us and who gives us life). This worship can be accompanied with singing praises and meeting together to keep God's Feasts.

In the New Testament the main word used is proskuneo (Stong's 4352) used nearly 60 times. Strong's says this word is probably derived from 2965, "meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand." Vine's says it means "to make obeisance, do reverence to (from pros, 'toward,' and kuneo, 'to kiss.'"

The second most commonly used word translated worship in the New Testament is sebomai (Strong's 4576) meaning "to revere." It is used six times. Latreuo (Strong's 3000) is used four times, and means "to serve, to render religious service or homage." The New Bible Dictionary says this "originally signified the labour of slaves or hired servants. And in order to offer this 'worship' to God his servants must prostrate themselves—Hebrew histahawa or Greek proskyneo—and thus manifest reverential fear and adoring awe and wonder."

Worship in its most specific biblical sense means to bow or even prostrate yourself before God, revealing the deep reverence, honor and respect we have for Him. This meaning and the underlying attitude toward God it carries is too often lost in the loose way the term is used in English today.

"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker" (Psalm 95:6).