It was minted from 1913 to 1938 and was worth five cents. It is also known as the Buffalo Nickel or Bison Nickel.
On one side was a profile of an American Indian Chief, and on the other side was the profile of the American Buffalo. By 1950 or 1960, most were removed from circulation. Today, there might be one in 25,000 in circulation, and they’re worth from 35 cents to $1,200 depending on the coin.
Looking at that coin reminded me of something in the Bible.
Just as there are two sides to that coin, Christians can go through life two different ways, and it all depends on our attitude or response.
We can be unhappy or dissatisfied with everything. It is called murmuring. It can be toward God, and some examples are in: Exodus 16:8 And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”
Psalm 78:17-21 Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?” Therefore, when the Lord heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel,...
Proverbs 19:3 When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.
It can be against spiritual leaders or pastors or preachers: Exodus 16:2-3 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Numbers 16:2-3 And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, wellknown men. They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” Numbers 16:41 But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the Lord.”
How about circumstances or just having our way?
Romans 9:19-20 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” It can be against others in Church: Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”
James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
It can even be against Jesus Christ himself: John 6:41-43 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.
These things, God is not pleased with. God is pleased when we are thankful or can give thanks just as Jesus did.
John 11:41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
We should try to find a way to give thanks always and in everything.
Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,...
1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
See you in Church next Sunday.