TK Torah Keepers

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? ³⁴ But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. (Mark 9:33-34 KJV)

 I can only image what it would be like if the Messiah showed up at one of our Messianic conferences, synagogues or church meetings, or home fellowships.  The doors to the auditorium, conference center, sanctuary, or living room open and in walks our Master, Yeshua the Messiah.   All eyes turn and greet him with looks of awe and amazement.  The Master smiles and nods in acknowledgement of the participants’ admiration. All music, worship, teaching, and conversation comes to a profound stop.  Pregnant silence fills the room as everyone waits for the Master to speak……..then he speaks.  “So, what were you discussing?” he asks.  Again the room is filled with stunned silence.  Only this time the silence is a contemplative one.  Instantly every teacher begins evaluating the theological and biblical correctness of the position taken in the last teaching given. As for the members of the audience, congregation, or fellowship, everything the speakers, teachers, or leaders have ever said vanishes from memory….the Master is present.  Whatever the topic was that was being so passionately presented, so ardently defended, so decisively debated, suddenly is forgotten. No can even remember what they were discussing or arguing about.  Somehow everything that seemed to be a doctrinal foundation stone and an uncompromisable dogma of truth now seems but an irrelevant and trivial intellectual exercise that pails in the presence of the Master.  Disagreements, for which we have proudly divided the body of Messiah into a million micro denominations and sects of one or two people each, now seem to be a source of shame and embarrassment in the presence of the Master. But as the pain and discomfort of the unrelenting silence builds within the room some poor soul breaks under the conviction of the silence and speaks… “We were debating why our understanding is correct and everyone else is wrong,” or “We were debating why this ministry is better than that ministry,” or “We were discussing who the best Torah teacher is,” or “We were discussing why we don’t associate with that group.” A slow blush covers the face of the crowd as a wave of shame and humiliation fills the room in silence.

 What were we thinking?  What were we doing?  What were we talking about?  Was there even a need for words? What have we been doing all of these years?  We have been talking and teaching as if the Master (the resurrected and living Messiah) is not the head of the body or even present in our meetings, conferences and fellowships. We have been listening to men who have appointed themselves as temporary heads over the body in the absence of the Master.  We have been following men and their opinions about YHWH, Moses, the Torah, and the Master Yeshua, while at the same time living seperate from our our head (our Master Yeshua). We have been debating, defending and dividing the body of Messiah over who is the greatest, who is right, who is best, who is wrong, who is worst, who is to be welcomed and who is to be avoided.  We have been arguing over trivia and speculative prophecy.  We have been warning about the imagined dangers of the end times while at the same time neglecting the very real and experienced needs and dangers of the present.  We have been spouting and spewing our own interpretations, translations, understandings, beliefs, and guesses about the Creator, the Messiah, and the Torah.  We have been teaching about Yeshua—but not as Yeshua.  Somehow, we have missed the idea that we are to be empty vessels, sanctified and set apart for YHWH to pour out himself through. Instead we have filled ourselves with so much self understanding, and intellectual fluff. Somehow our heads have been inflated while our hearts, like the Grinch, have grown small.  We have embraced all of the stimulating debate about the Messiah but have not truly embraced the Messiah as our Master and head.

 Finally at the right moment the Master speaks,

 “If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. (Mark 9:35 KJV)

 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23 KJV)

 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29 KJV)

 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34 KJV)

 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV)

 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (John 15:12 KJV)

 These things I command you, that ye love one another. (John 15:17 KJV)

 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (1 John 3:11 KJV)

 It becomes immediately clear that the Master’s teachings are not about doctrine and dogma and intellectual concepts, but about relationships, serving, caring, helping, and loving one another.  The Master’s teachings are not primarily about thinking but doing that which the Father has commanded.  This is not to say that we are free to believe whatever we want, or that we need not engage our brains, but it is saying that we need to re-evaluate what we are teaching, how we are teaching, and what we are doing or not doing.  While we all have thoughts, ideas, and insights, we must remember that our primary purpose for following the Master, is to become his body and to manifest his teachings not our own.  The question is not “what do I believe?” but “what does the Master believe?”  To be a genuine disciple and member of the body of Messiah we must submit ourselves wholly to the Master’s teachings—our own personal concepts, insights, and understandings, we are to take to the cross. Instead of our own understanding we seek the Master’s knowledge, wisdom, understanding, beliefs, and heart.  The object for the disciples is to bring his or her own understanding into submission, conformity and alignment with the Master’s understanding.  Everything we know should flow from the Head (i.e. the Master) not our own limited intellect.  What we learn should be learned from the Spirit of the Messiah and confirmed in the written word of God.  What we hear from the Spirit of the Master, confirm by the testimony of the scriptures, we are to manifest in our lives.   It really is that simple.          

There are times in all of our lives when the hurt, the heartache, the fear, the anxiety, the challenge, or the cross that is before us is so real, so painful, that we become blind and deaf to the presence of the Holy One in our lives.  The discomfort of the cross we are sometimes asked to carry reminds us that our flesh is still very much alive.  While our flesh is crying, shouting, screaming, and begging for relief from the great discomfort, we cannot always hear the still small whisper of the Holy One trying to comfort and console us.  The tears of our heartache cloud our spiritual eyes, while our screams of anger and pain deafen our ears to the presence, word and ministry of the Comforter.  It is at these times that we join our voices with the saints and martyrs of long ago and cry “How long O YHWH?” 

My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O YHWH, how long? (Psalm 6:3 KJV)

How long wilt thou forget me, O YHWH? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? ² How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? ³ Consider and hear me, O YHWH my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; (Psalm 13:1-3 KJV)

Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. (Psalm 35:17 KJV)

O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? (Psalm 74:10 KJV)

 How long, YHWH? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? (Psalm 79:5 KJV)

 O YHWH God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? (Psalm 80:4 KJV)

 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. (Psalm 82:2 KJV)

 How long, YHWH? wilt thou hide thyself forever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? (Psalm 89:46 KJV)

 Return, O YHWH, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. (Psalm 90:13 KJV)

 YHWH, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? ⁴ How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? (Psalm 94:3-4 KJV)

 O YHWH, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! (Habakkuk 1:2 KJV)

 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O YHWH, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:10 KJV)  

 In our fast paced world of modern conveniences, quick fixes and time saving technology, waiting is not understood to be a virtue.  I remember being given an electric wok and a microwave oven on the same day.  We could cook so fast that we could eat leftovers the same day!  Television shows, newspaper and magazine articles, class-room lectures have all be reduced to 10-15 minute “sound-bytes” because people have lost the patience for watching, reading, and learning.  Our culture has accommodated our fleshly impatience and desire for more stimulation and titillation by more rapid pace of life.  We want to solve problems with the push of a button. We want to change the world by writing a check.  We want to be healthy by taking a pill.  But there is no such quick fix for the cross.  The cross is not something to be cured—but something that must be patiently endured.  Oh yes, we can cry out, shout, and scream at its pain.  Even Yeshua cried out and questioned while enduring the reality of the cross.

 And at the ninth hour Yeshua cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34 KJV)

 What is important in the story of Yeshua upon the cross is not that he cried out and questioned, but that in spite of all the taunting, pain and suffering, he did not come down from the cross, but endured it until the work of the cross was finished.

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, ³⁰ Save thyself, and come down from the cross. (Mark 15:29-30 KJV)

When Yeshua therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30 KJV)

We too must learn from our Master to patiently endure the cross until the work is finished, whatever the cross or the work to be accomplishes may be. 

I will be the first to confess that there are times when I cannot stand the pain of the cross any longer.  There are times that my flesh wants so desperately to climb down and run away from the cross that the Father has asked me to bear.  There are moments when the cross is so appalling and repulsive to me that I simply cannot bring myself to accept that it is my Heavenly Father that is asking me to patiently endure it.  There are times when I cannot see any reasonable purpose or positive outcome to what the Father is asking me to do and to endure. Through prayer, however, there have been four revelations that have helped me to endure the cross. 

The first is simply that YHWH’S grace is sufficient for us.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Messiah may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)

Even though the cross, whatever it may be, pushes me beyond all of my human strength and ability, it is then at the end of me, that the Father’s love, grace, and strength is seen.  In my own strength I would have stopped a long time ago. But the longer I endure the cross, the more evident it becomes that it is not me but YHWH that is enduring.  It is in my finiteness, weakness, and brokenness that YHWH’S infinite, strong, and perfect love, mercy, grace, and character becomes manifest.  It is no longer me that bears the cross but YHWH.

The second revelation is that YHWH is likewise waiting and enduring, the offense, hurt, heartache, frustration and disappointment with his people. We should realize that as we are waiting on YHWH to answer our prayers, he is waiting for us to turn to him in every circumstance.  The cross is part of the means by which YHWH takes us beyond ourselves so that we will call upon him and seek answers, strength and comfort from him.  We need to recognize that YHWH too is asking “How long?”

And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith YHWH God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me. (Exodus 10:3 KJV)

And YHWH said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? (Exodus 16:28 KJV)

And YHWH said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? (Numbers 14:11 KJV)

How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. (Numbers 14:27 KJV)

And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which YHWH God of your fathers hath given you? (Joshua 18:3 KJV)

 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? (Jeremiah 4:14 KJV)

 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; (Jeremiah 23:26 KJV)

 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end. (Jeremiah 12:4 KJV)

 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for YHWH hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. (Jeremiah 31:22 KJV)

 Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself? (Jeremiah 47:5 KJV)

  Then Yeshua answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. (Matthew 17:17 KJV)

 While I patiently endure the suffering inflicted by the sins of others (as well as the pain of my own sinfulness), I must recall that YHWH patiently suffers waiting for me to confess, repent and restore, the damage done by my sins.  We must remember that Yeshua was not simply giving us an example of how to bear the cross, he was actually suffering our sins upon the cross!  As he has patiently borne the cross of our sins, so we too are asked to bear the cross of our brother’s sins. 

 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us. (Romans 5:8 KJV)

 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34 KJV)

 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (John 15:12 KJV)

 The third revelation is related to the second.  We need to recognize that patience or longsuffering is an attribute of YHWH that was clearly embodied in Yeshua our Master. 

 And YHWH passed by before him, and proclaimed, YHWH, YHWH God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (Exodus 34:6 KJV)

 YHWH is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. (Numbers 14:18 KJV)

 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15 KJV)

 O YHWH, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. (Jeremiah 15:15 KJV)

 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4 KJV)

 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (Romans 9:22 KJV)

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22 KJV)

 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Peter 3:20 KJV)

 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; (2 Peter 3:15 KJV)

 Clearly patience and longsuffering are attributes of YHWH and Yeshua.  As the body of Messiah, filled with the Spirit of the Holy One we should be embodying the attributes of YHWH in our flesh and in our lives.  This is our calling as the children of Israel and the body of Messiah.  We are to be the image of YHWH in the world.  If YHWH is holy then we are to be holy.  If YHWH is longsuffering and patient then we too must be longsuffering and patient. 

 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, (2 Corinthians 6:6 KJV)

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Galatians 5:22 KJV)

 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Ephesians 4:2 KJV)

 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (Colossians 1:11 KJV)

 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; (Colossians 3:12 KJV)

 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Yeshua Messiah might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:16 KJV)

 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (2 Timothy 3:10 KJV)

 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2 KJV)

 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Messiah Yeshua: (Romans 15:5 KJV)

 We should understand that at those times when we are asked to endure the cross, but cannot see any possible reason for the request, it is in the longsuffering that YHWH is made manifest in our lives.  At times such as this, the cross we endure is not for us, but for a testimony for those around us who are in desperate need of faith.

 The fourth revelation is a simple one.  While we are enduring the cross we must try to remember that the story of the body of Messiah did not end with death upon the cross but with resurrection from the grave to a new and glorious life in the presence of the Father.  Regardless of what we suffer, and regardless of why we suffer, we must recognize that the suffering is temporary and that victory over death lays at the end of its working.

 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV)

 We may also recognize that it is through the cross that YHWH builds our faith and perfects our character, making us a little less like me and a lot more like our Master, Yeshua.

 In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19 KJV)

 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua Messiah: ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Spirit of the Holy One which is given unto us. (Romans 5:1-5 KJV)

 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:25 KJV)

 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4 KJV)

 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. ¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11-12 KJV)

 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. ⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:3-4 KJV)

 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. (James 5:7 KJV)

 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. ¹¹ Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:10-11 KJV)

 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. ⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; ⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; ⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. ⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua Messiah. (2 Peter 1:4-8 KJV)

 Brothers and sisters, we must learn to patiently endure the cross as we wait upon the Father to answer our prayers, hear our cries, and heal our wounds. 

 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon YHWH, they shall inherit the earth. (Psalm 37:9 KJV)

 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon YHWH our God, until that he have mercy upon us. (Psalm 123:2 KJV)

 But they that wait upon YHWH shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 KJV)

 It is our faith in the character of YHWH that allows us to find the strength to patiently wait upon YHWH, trusting that what he wills, and what he allows, is consistent with his nature and character.  Therefore, even the cross must be understood to be good, holy, righteous, just, merciful and compassionate and about life and not death.  While the cross may repulse our flesh, our spirit touched by the love of YHWH will learn to embrace it.  For in the embracing of the cross the character and attributes of YHWH and the body of Messiah become manifest in our world.

The Apostle Shaul warned his young spiritual son, Timothy, against those who would use the word of YHWH for their personal gain rather than genuinely serving and building the body of Messiah.  Shaul also warned about those who identify and confuse their wealth as a sign of godliness.

 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Yeshua Messiah, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; ⁴ He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, ⁵ Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Timothy 6:3-7 KJV)

 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, ⁴ Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; ⁵ Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. ⁶ For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ⁷ Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. (2 Timothy 3:1-7, 9 KJV)

Even in the days of Shaul there were many who realized that “religion” sells. In the days of Shaul and Timothy, the Roman Empire ruled the world. For the genuine believer (i.e., those who keep the Torah and believe in Yeshua as the Messiah) life was very difficult and even dangerous.  Believers were surrounded by the pagan world with all of its licentiousness, perversity, and ungodliness. Believers were persecuted, oppressed, and often poor.  The world of the ancient believer was filled with all manner of gods, demigods, shrines, temples, priests, priestesses, and religious ideologies.  There were many who honestly hungered and thirsted for righteousness, hope and truth.  In their desperation these humbly, honest, hungry souls were vulnerable to those who would prey upon them for personal gain and self-promotion.  The “form of godliness” is easy to imitate, market, sell, and promote to the unsuspecting and vulnerable souls who hunger and thirst for truth and hope.   

 Things have not changed much in modern times.  Even in our day and age there are believers who genuinely hunger and thirst for righteousness truth and hope.  Given the social, political, and financial, violence, injustice, and ugliness that pervades our culture today life as a believer can be challenging and even dangerous.  Various philosophies, ideologies, theologies, and toxic religious systems all vie one with another for adherents, disciples, and donors. We are once again surrounded by gods, priests, priestesses, shrines, temples, cathedrals, synagogues and mosques.  Given the dire social, political and financial situation of many believers they once again hunger and thirst for justice, righteousness, and hope.  It is upon these hungering souls that the less godly prey.  Unfortunately, Shaul’s warnings to Timothy are still very appropriate for us today.  There are still self-promoting false teachers and false prophets that put on the “form of godliness” because they know that religion sells.  These charlatans know that if people are desperate enough and hungry enough they will swallow anything.  Solomon declared,

 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. (Proverbs 27:7 KJV)

 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. (Proverbs 20:17 KJV)     

 It is difficult to watch as the ungodly and wicked seem to prosper and become wealthy in our world. It is difficult not to envy the success, power, fame, wealth, comfort, and extravagant life of the wicked. These master-salesmen and women are able to sell the Torah and the Gospel with great personal success and very little sacrifice.  The desperate soul, hungering for truth and hope, often sell all that they have to eat of the sweet bread of deceit only to find that they have been sold a mouth full of gravel!

 Let me state clearly, that I say all of this as one who makes his living, and supports his family by the teaching the word of YHWH.  I make no apologies for this.  Like every other believer who supports his family, I work for a living.  My work just happens to be teaching and ministering the word.

 Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. (Deuteronomy 25:4 KJV)

 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? ⁸ Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? ⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? ¹⁰ Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. ¹¹ If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (1 Corinthians 9:7-11 KJV)

 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. (1 Timothy 5:18 KJV)

 That people make their living from the ministry of the word is not a contradiction of the word.  However, the calling of the ministry of the word must be clear.  The ministry of the word is not a ministry of self-promotion, or self-profiting, or self-serving.  The ministry of the word is the ministry of the sower who sows seed in the hope of an abundant harvest for the sake of the kingdom.  The minister of the word promotes and advances the kingdom of YHWH, and magnifies the name of YHWH, and edifies the body of Messiah.  For the genuine teacher, pastor or evangelist the primary focus is upon building the kingdom, glorifying YHWH, and edifying the body of Messiah, the financial rewards, however great or small, are just the natural fruit of their labor.  For the charlatan, talk of the kingdom of YHWH, the name of YHWH, and the body of Messiah are merely the means by which they promote themselves and make their wealth.  For the genuine teacher and prophet the object of their labor is other than themselves.  For the charlatan the object of their labor is themselves.

 Unfortunately, it is often the charlatan that knows the world and how to manipulate things to accomplish their self-centered agenda.  It truly is as Yeshua our Master taught;

 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. (Luke 16:8 KJV)

 Though the worldly, wicked, and ungodly, do prosper in this world we are warned repeatedly not to covet or envy their wealth and achievements. 

 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of YHWH all the day long. (Proverbs 23:17 KJV)

 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. (Proverbs 3:31 KJV)

 The Psalmist reveals why this is so.

 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. ³ For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. ⁴ For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. ⁵ They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. ⁶ Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. ⁷ Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. ⁸ They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. ⁹ They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. ¹⁰ Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. ¹¹ And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? ¹² Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. ¹³ Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. ¹⁴ For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. ¹⁵ If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. ¹⁶ When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; ¹⁷ Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. ¹⁸ Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. ¹⁹ How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. ²⁰ As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. ²¹ Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. ²² So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. ²³ Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. ²⁴ Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. (Psalm 73:2-24 KJV)

 While worldly wealth may bring with it certain worldly benefits and comforts, of what value are they if they separate us from the Father? Of what value is gold, silver, and copper if in the end the Sovereign Creator of the universe despises you?  What joy and pleasure could be endured knowing that in the end it will cost you everything?  Yeshua our Master asked;

 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26 KJV)

 We may likewise recall Yeshua teaching about those who call “Lord, Lord”.

 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:22-23 KJV)

 Surely Yeshua is speaking of those who use his name to promote themselves and gather their wealth at the cost of the kingdom and the body of Messiah. 

 We would do well to heed the loving wisdom of our Heavenly Father as revealed in the scriptures.

 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. (Psalm 37:16 KJV)

 Better is little with the fear of YHWH than great treasure and trouble therewith. (Proverbs 15:16 KJV)

 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right. (Proverbs 16:8 KJV)

 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. (Proverbs 16:19 KJV)

 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. (Proverbs 19:1 KJV)

 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. (Proverbs 19:22 KJV)

 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich. (Proverbs 28:6 KJV)

 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen. (Proverbs 25:7 KJV)

 While I will most ardently confess, that I enjoy knowing that I have the provisions to put a roof over my families head, clothes on our backs, food on the table, and means to not only survive but enjoy life, and especially to be generous with others, all of these would quickly become a curse to me, if they separated me from the Creator.  No amount of fame, power, or wealth can replace and rival the security, peace, and joy to be found in a relationship with the Father, as made possible by the Messiah Yeshua.  There is no greater honor to be found, than being associated with the great and exalted name of YHWH.  There is no greater love or life to be found anywhere in creation that could rival that which emanates from the Father.  Let the world and worldly have their silver and gold, fame and fortune, I desire only intimacy with YHWH.