3.4-American Founders and Bible Reading

3.4-
American Founders and Bible Reading

Luke 18.

²² When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The impact of John Adams and John Quincy Adams on our country is hard to overestimate.  This father and son team had major influence on the founding of the country as well as its first few years.

1735 to 1848 is the span of their lives.

John Adams wrote to John Quincy Adams regarding Bible reading:

“..it is of all books in the world, that which contributes most to make men good, wise and happy—that the earlier my children begin to read it, the more steadily they pursue the practice of reading it throughout their lives, the lively and confident will be my hopes that they will prove useful citizens of their country, respectable members of society, and a real blessing to their parents…

I have myself, for many years, made it a practice to read through the Bible once every year…

My custom is to read four to five chapters every morning immediately after rising from my bed.  It employs about an hour of my time…”

It is essential, my son, in order that you my go through life with comfort to yourself, and usefulness to your fellow-creatures, that you should form and adopt certain rules or principles, for the government of your own conduct and temper.”

Letter from John Adams to John Quincy Adams, September, 1811, America’s God and Country, Encylopedia of Quotations, P. 15, 16

America is a generous country and its founders wanted it to be generous.

In the year 2014 America gave 258.1 Billion away to charity in America and around the world.  It is normal for the people from the church where I attend to give away about $60 per week to charity to benefit other people.  No one forces them to do this or checks on them to do it or twists arms for them to do this.  They do this because they want to do so from their hearts.  

 This doesn’t include the money given to the homeless and hungry on street corners in our town.  One lady recently told that she likes to keep coats and clothes in the trunk of her car so when she sees homeless and needy people she can offer them a coat.  Another friend of mine carries water bottles and snack bars in his car to hand to people on the streets who ask for money.

Once Jesus said to a potential follower who was rich and arrogant that he should sell out and give it all to the poor.

He went away sad because he was wealthy.

Those who follow Jesus who are wealthy will be saved by the mercy of God.  With men it would be impossible to be saved and follow Jesus if wealthy.  God makes it possible by His mercy.  His mercy causes people to be humble and seek grace from God who is full of compassion for sinners crying out for mercy.

It is my hope that through the mercy of God I may be transformed day by day with a renewed mind to not look away from the poor, but to them for opportunity to be a blessing.

Luke 18.

Larry Wishard