I was working 4 jobs and my family and I were living with my in-laws. At my previous church in Nashville, we lived in the parsonage, so when I left the church with no place to go, we went to live with Anita’s parents. I worked part-time at another church, at the local Baptist Association, at the UPS store, and at a local gymnastics gym, all while doing my due diligence and praying to find a new full-time ministry opportunity. Some days I had to check where I was working that day. I had dyscalendaria, getting my days and weeks mixed up. My days didn’t have much time left in them for my family. I tried to spend my days off with my family, but it seems I was working every day somewhere just trying to get my feet back under me, pay my bills, and rebuild my life. One day my father-in-law said, “Bill, your son really needs you right now.” It broke my heart. All the indicators in his life checked off: he was winning awards at school and playing golf with his grand-dad, he had friends and seemed happy. My other kids seemed to be doing well too, they were enjoying country club life and being spoiled by their grandparents, while attending a school in one of the best districts in the nation. But my father-in-law was right, I didn’t have much time in my schedule for my family. They kept their game faces on, because they knew I was looking for a new ministry, but I wasn’t there for some important day to day conversations about life in elementary school, bed-time prayers, or tuck-in times. When God led me to be a pastor on staff at another church, I had to live in Chattanooga and commute 3 hours to be home with my family until the school year ended. The bonus was I only had one job instead of four. When my family finally joined me in Chattanooga, we ate dinner together every night. Every Friday was set aside to go explore our new town together. We were finally creating some new memories and experiences together, but the days we lost over that year’s time would never be recovered. The classic song, “The Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin still plays on the radio in my mind when I think about those days.
In the book of 1 Kings there was a man whose name was Hiel, which means “Brother of God.” He was from the city of Bethel, which means “House of God.” He famously rebuilt Jericho, but gave up his family for the fame. This man, who was a supposed follower of God, had not consulted God but had decided to follow the prevailing practice of using his sons as “foundation sacrifices” to the pagan gods when building a building. Actual skeletons have been found in the foundation walls of buildings excavated around that area by archaeologists. The first son, Abiram’s name means “my father is exalted.” And the second son’s name, Segub, means “exalted.” This man was willing to give up his family to be seen as exalted for his great work. This story comes from one verse in the book of 1 Kings. Here’s how it reads: “... Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn, he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest, he finished its gates, according to the word of the LORD he had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.” (1 Kings 16:34 CSB17) Notice that the Israelite conqueror of the Promised Land, Joshua, had prophesied that this very thing would happen. Remember this was the city whose walls had collapsed after the Ark of the Lord and the Israelite army had marched around it for 7 days and they shouted and blew trumpets. Sometimes even people who are considered “God’s people” do the same things the pagans do for accolades, wealth, and benefits that cost them everything.
When Jesus comes to Jericho much later there is “good news.” A man named Zacchaeus had given up relationships to become wealthy. This Israelite tax collector for the occupying Romans, famously repented, had Jesus stay at his house, and also returned the money (4 fold) to the people he had gouged while collecting taxes. When Jesus turned his life around, it restored his relationship to God and the people he had hurt. A real relationship with God reorders our priorities and helps us act like our “Jesus-self,” valuing God and others over fame, prosperity and worldly gains.
Hang in there people. God is glad to be with us. I’m praying for us all.
