MAKING THE WORD OF NO EFFECT

”For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Mark 7:10-13 NKJVMark 7:10-1310 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Jesus gave us a great example in this scripture that we can relate to a lot of things that are interpreted in the same manner even today.

Biblical interpretation demands help from the Holy Ghost, diligence and a true estimate of where you stand. Paul says in Romans 12:3Romans 12:3 Serve God with Spiritual Gifts 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. that every man should attempt not to think of themselves more highly than they ought to. You cannot be able to correctly receive the love, the correction, the reproof, the rebuke, or equipping of God unless you have the right estimate of who you are in Christ.

Some think of themselves highly, more than they actually stand. Others think of themselves lowly and belittle what God has wrought in them. This is not to be mistaken from being humble. Humility is not effective by being separated from confidence or boldness.

In our theme scripture, Jesus gives us an example of how men may render the Word of God of no effect because in wanting to do what is right you must not overlook other principles that define righteousness. The full scope of things must be undefiled and blameless.

If God has set the principle of the younger looking after their elderly parents, you cannot attempt to give this portion of the support you owe them even if it is to the church that you may be counted faithful. That is a dead work. Our giving to the house of God is a discipline that has more to do with circumcising our hearts’ to know whence all good and perfect gifts come from, rather than thoughtless giving or depriving those in need.

God does not need our money for He is all sufficient, instead — He does work through the will and resources of those who understand the stewardship of what was entrusted to them and does so in wisdom and understanding that His name may be glorified.

That is why the instruction tied to giving is ‘cheerfulness’ (2 Cor 9:7)2 Cor 9:77 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.; you cannot give cheerfully with underlying anxiety of abdicating other responsibilities assigned to you by God. Be wise and by all means, give no opportunity to evil or appearance of evil in your life.

Prayer: Father I thank you for this word. I thank you for the wisdom that undergirds me and the sound judgement of your holy spirit that echoes through my decisions and actions. I am submitted to the counsel of your Word for in it are words of life, to the glory of your name. Hallelujah!

CI.