DETAILS

DETAILS

“A will is in force only when someone has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living” (Heb. 9:17).

In reading through the Bible it is easy to disregard details. What difference does it make about the dimensions of the tabernacle or temple? Why would anyone spend much time analyzing the endless genealogies in the first 9 chapters of 1 Chronicles? Hardly anyone is interested in “details” unless there is some self serving reasons for doing so. While hardly anyone is interested in the minute “details” of Scripture, almost everyone is interested in the minute “details” of someone’s will if it involves “us” and enough money. Here are a few examples of lots of people focusing on minute “details” because they involved lots of money.

m J. Howard Marshall amassed a fortune of approximately $1.6 billion. At the age of 89 he married Anna Nicole Smith who was 62 years younger. As a former Playboy Playmate and stripper it was easy to speculate that she had married him for his money. Marshall died 14 months later and you can bet the rent money that no detail in his will was too small to consider.

m™ Leona Helmsley died in 2007 and left an estate of 5 - 8 billion dollars. She disinherited two of her grandchildren and left $12 million to an 8 year old dog. That left billions on the table and relatives began debating the details.

m H.L. Hunt was at one time among the richest men in America. He died in 2008 and his first great-grandchild sued his father, sisters, aunts and nephew, claiming mismanagement of trust funds. Details about his vast fortune now were studied, not just by family members, but also by officers of the law.

m Jay Pritzker was involved in the Hyatt hotel chain and amassed a $15 billion fortune. He died in 1999 and family members immediately started studying details and hiring lawyers.

m John Seward Johnson of Johnson and Johnson fame died in 1983 and left the bulk of his fortune to his third wife and a former maid who was 42 years his junior. It is not hard to imagine that family members suddenly became diligent about details.

m James Brown, "the Godfather of Soul," died in 2006 leaving behind an estate of approximately $100 million. Brown’s will specified that failure to provide for any relatives was intentional and not an accident or mistake. This set the stage for disgruntled family members to challenge his will in court. You can be sure no detail was too small and insignificant to be considered.

DETAILS IN THE BIBLE

m Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek. This “detail” proved that the priesthood of Melchizedek was superior to that of Levi (Heb. 7:1 — 10).

m Moses was commanded to “speak” to a rock but he “struck” it instead. This little “detail” forbade him from entering into the Promised Land (Nu. 20:6-12)

m Daniel discovered by a careful reading of the Scriptures that the desolation of Jerusalem would last 70 years (Dan. 9:1-3). This “detail” saved many in Israel from deep despair.

m Jesus expected His disciples to understand “the abomination that causes desolation spoken of through the prophet Daniel” (Matt. 24:15). Obviously this “detail” was important.

m Jesus commanded a blind man to wash in the Pool of Siloam (Jn. 9:7). He paid attention to this “detail” and was healed.

m Paul reminded the Galatians that the promise of God to Abraham did not involve “seeds” plural, but “Seed” singular. This “detail” was extremely important for it focused on the promise of “one person who is Christ” (Gal. 3:16).

m@ Paul said it like this: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15 KJV).

m If our “study” of the Bible involves our “approval”, would we be “approved”?

PERHAPS IT IS TIME TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE “DETAILS” IN THE BIBLE!