The emphasis on this book is to show Jesus’ humanity. Jesus, the Son of God, is also the Son of Man. Luke was a physician, historian and a man of great detail. Luke stresses Jesus’ relationships with people; emphasizes prayer, miracles, and angels and gives prominent place to women.
The opening of this book begins with a miracle and answered prayer. Zechariah prayed for a son and the coming Messiah. His wife Elizabeth was older in years to bear children. While burning incense on the altar and praying, Zechariah’s prayer was answered with a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah, John the Baptist. God answers prayer in his own way and his own time. God often works in “impossible” situations demonstrating that only he makes the impossible, possible. If we want our prayers to be answered, we must be open to what God can do in impossible situations and we must WAIT for God to work in his way and in his time. Often, this is the most difficult season for us. Waiting can be frustrating and it’s often easy to fall into the temptation of impatience and lack of faith feeling forgotten or denied. God will never forsake us and many times is working behind the scenes on things we can’t even imagine or comprehend to fulfill his promises to us. From Zechariah’s story, we learn that physical limitations do not limit God and that his will is accomplished sometimes in very unexpected ways. God is a God of “suddenly”. Have you ever found yourself feeling hopeless and lost in doubt or confusion and then “suddenly” an event, moment, person or change of circumstance happens and you are left wondering how or where it came from? “That came out of ‘nowhere’…” we may say; like the wind. That is how incredibly inconceivable the blessings our Father has for us. We must exercise more patience. “For nothing is impossible with God.”(Luke 1:37)
“And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”(Luke 1:17) John would do “heart transplants”, taking stony hearts and exchange them for hearts that were soft, pliable, trusting and open to change. Are you as open as you’d like to be? Sometimes hearts harden over time and without attention and care, they remain too hardened to transform in the only ways it can receive healing: God Himself.
Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth is a great example of deep spirituality and trust. She did not doubt God’s plan for her although physically barren. Not only was she given a son in John the Baptist who would make the way for her savior Jesus, but she was also the first woman besides Mary to hear of the coming Savior. “But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”(Luke 1:43-45) Elizabeth speaks of faith and trust in our God. These are cornerstones of our relationship with God and others. She also chooses to focus her thoughts and attention to humble gratitude when she asks ‘why’ she is so favored. Often times, we tend to focus on all we don’t have instead of ALL WE DO HAVE.
When Jesus was 12 years old, he was considered almost an adult and he didn’t spend as much time with his parents during the feast of Passover. “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men.”(Luke 2:52) Mary had to let go of her child and let him become a man, God’s Son. It is hard to let go of people or projects we have nurtured. It is bittersweet to see our children as adults and our followers as leaders, but when the time comes to step back and let go, we must do so in spite of the hurt. Then our protégés can exercise their wings, take flight, and soar to the heights that God intended. Motherhood is a painful privilege and Mary saw Jesus arrive as her son and die as her savior. Mary was available to God and we learn from her that God’s best servants are often ordinary people available to him. A person’s character is revealed by his or her response to the unexpected. Jesus grew physically and mentally, he related to other people and he was loved by God. It should be as important to us to regard a healthy BALANCED life as Jesus did: to develop fully and harmoniously in the key areas: physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.
Have you ever wondered why some “religious” people show little to no evidence of a life guided by the Holy Spirit? What motivates your faith- fear of the future, or a desire to be a better person in a better world? John said to the crowds, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”(Luke 3”7-9) Some people wanted to be baptized so they could escape eternal punishment, but they didn’t turn to God for salvation. John knew that God values reformation above ritual. Is YOUR faith motivated by a desire for a changed and new life or is it more of an insurance policy? “Faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:14-26) Jesus’ harshest words were towards religious leaders who lacked the desire for real change. Their lives were unproductive because they wanted authority and praise for being a religious leader, rather than acting in ways that demonstrated changed hearts and minds. Johns message demanded at least three responses 1) share what you have with those who need it, 2) whatever your job is, do it well and with fairness, 3) being content. He was calling people to right living. Too often, respectability is confused with right living. They are different. Respectability can hinder right living if it keeps us from seeing our need for God. If you had to choose, would you protect your character or your reputation?
Our society values youthfulness over wisdom. In our fast paced culture, have you ever been impatient to your purpose in life feeling like time was passing and you didn’t accomplish all that society placed on your shoulders by age 25? Jesus worked in a small town carpenter’s shop until he was 30 years old. It seems incredible that Jesus would have been content to remain in Nazareth all that time, but he patiently trusted the Father’s timing. 30 was the prescribed age for priests to begin their ministry (Numbers 4:3). Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving the king of Egypt, and David was 30 years old when he began to reign on Judah. Age 30 then, was a good time to begin an important task. Like Jesus, we need to resist the temptation to jump ahead before receiving the Spirit’s direction. Are you waiting and wondering what your next step should be? Don’t jump ahead; trust God’s timing.
When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”(Luke 4:3) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.”(Luke 4:4) Though we may feel that when the Holy Spirit leads us, it will be “beside quiet waters”(Psalm 23:2), but that is not necessarily true. He led Jesus into the desert for a long and difficult time of testing and he may also lead us into difficult situations. When facing trials, first make sure you haven’t brought them on yourself through sin or unwise choices. Be careful to follow faithfully wherever the Holy Spirit leads. Temptation will often come after a high point in our spiritual lives or ministries. Satan chooses the times for his attacks, so we need to be on our guard in times of victory just as much as in times of discouragement. Knowing and obeying God’s word is an effective weapon against temptation. To use it effectively, you must have faith in God’s promises, because Satan also knows scripture and is adept at twisting it to suit his purposes. It was necessary for Jesus to be tempted because temptation is part of the human experience. Jesus had to undo Adam’s work and instead of giving in to temptation, Jesus had to resist Satan. If you are dealing with doubt, realize that you are especially vulnerable to temptation. Even as you search for answers, protect yourself by meditating on the unshakable truths of God’s word. Sometimes WHAT we are tempted to do isn’t wrong in itself. The devil was trying to get Jesus to take a shortcut; to seek comfort at the sacrifice of his discipline. Satan often persuades us to take action, even right action, for the wrong reason or at the wrong time. The fact that something is not wrong in itself does not mean that it is good for you at a given time. Many people sin by attempting to fulfill legitimate desires outside of God’s will or ahead of his timetable. First ask yourself, “Is the Holy Spirit leading me to do this? Or is Satan trying to get me off track? Jesus’ authority is much greater than Satan’s and where Jesus is present, demons cannot stay for long. Demons are fallen angels who have joined Satan in rebellion against God. Evil permeates our world, and of course people are fearful. But by recognizing Jesus’ authority and power who overcame Satan himself, we can rest assure that we’ve been given authority over Satan’s attacks by the Holy Spirit within us.
“When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God! But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.”(Luke 4:40) Jesus was going to show himself to be the suffering servant before he became the great King. To reveal his identity as King too soon would stir up the crowds with the wrong expectations of what he had come to do.
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”(Luke 5:16) Take time to withdraw to a quiet and deserted place to pray. Strength comes from God, and we can only be strengthened by spending time with him. Before every important event in Jesus’ life, he took time to go off by himself and pray. Make sure that all our important decisions are grounded in prayer. God is not a magician; he is the Master. Prayer is not a way for us to control God; it is a way for us to put ourselves under his control.
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick and I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”(Luke 5:31) The Pharisees wrapped their sin in respectability. They made themselves appear good by publicly doing good deeds and pointing at the sins of others. Jesus chose to spend time not with these proud, self-righteous, religious leaders, but with people who sensed their won sin and knew that they were not good enough for God. Christianity required new approaches, new traditions, and new structures. Our church programs and ministries should not be so structured that they have no room for a fresh touch of the Spirit, a new method or a new idea. We, too, must be careful that our hearts don’t become too rigid that they prevent us from accepting the new way of thinking that Christ brings. Our hearts should remain pliable so we can accept Jesus’ life-changing message.
“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”(Luke 6:35-36)LOVE MEANS ACTION. One way to put love to work is to take the initiative in meeting specific needs. Give as though you were giving to God. If we are critical rather than compassionate, we will also receive criticism. If we treat others generously, graciously, and compassionately, however, these qualities come back to us in full measure. We are to love others and not judge them. Jesus doesn’t tell us to ignore wrongdoing, but we should not be so worried about others’ sins that we overlook our own. We often rationalize our sins by pointing out the same mistakes in others. Remember your own pitfalls when you feel like criticizing, and you may find that you have less to say. A person who tries to do right but often fails is not a hypocrite. Neither are those who fulfill their duty even when they don’t feel like doing it- it is often necessary and good to set aside our desires in order to do what needs doing. It is not hypocrisy to be weak in faith. A HYPOCRITE is a person who puts on religious behavior in order to gain attention, approval, acceptance, or admiration from others.
Jesus teaches about Fruit in People’s lives. “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”(Luke 6:43-45) Our speech and actions reveal the true underlying beliefs, attitudes and motivations. The good impressions we try to make cannot last if our hearts are deceptive. What is in your heart WILL come out in your speech and behavior. Take steps in partnership with God to allow Him to transform your heart by taking the steps to guard your words and in time, you’ll see your heart will follow and be healed of wickedness and pain.
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.”(Luke 6:46) Building your relationship with God requires a foundation of faith, trust, hope and love. Loving God means obeying Him and since our greatest commandment is to Love the Lord God, and Loving Him is obeying him, then our greatest commandment is to obey him. Without this strong foundation in obedience, we are shortsighted and will be sorry when our foundation is tested. If you find yourself listening but not obeying, what are the reasons and are they in line with God’s word?
“His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ “(Luke 8:9) Jesus often spoke spiritual truth through parables and short stories because by linking the known with the hidden, he forced the listeners to think. Parables can point to spiritual truths. A parable compels listeners to discover the truth for themselves and it conceals the truth from those too lazy or dull to understand it. Applying God’s word helps us grow. This is a principle of growth in physical, mental and spiritual life. Like muscles in the body, if we are not growing stronger, we are growing weaker; it is impossible to stand still. Jesus’ true family are those who hear and obey his words. When God gives us a course of action, we must move steadily toward our destination, no matter what the potential hazards await us there. True discipleship requires instant action. Jesus wants total dedication from us, not half-hearted commitment. This same principle can be taken forward to a marriage relationship. We can’t pick and choose among Jesus’ ideas and follow him selectively, in the same way, we cannot accept a partial mate; it’s all or nothing. We have to accept the cross (sacrifice) with the crown (rewards). We should allow nothing to distract us from the manner of living that God calls good and true. “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”(Luke 9:62)
Jesus healed a woman who bled for 12 years. “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”(Luke 8:48) It is only faith that releases God’s healing power. Are you just curious about God, or do you reach out to him in faith, knowing that his mercy will bring healing to your body, soul and spirit?
Jesus sends out the 12 Disciples. “When Jesus calls the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”(Luke 9:1) Jesus as a leader EMPOWERED his disciples, giving them specific instructions so they knew what to do, told them how to deal with tough times and held them accountable. Which of these skills do we need to sharpen in order to lead others?
“A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘this is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’ When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.”(Luke 9:35) Jesus has God’s power and authority; thus his words should be our final authority. If a person’s teaching is true, it will agree with Jesus’ teaching. Test everything you hear against Jesus’ words, and you will not be led astray. Don’t be hasty to seek advice and guidance from merely human sources and thereby neglect Christ’s message.
“For he who is least among you all; he is the greatest.”(Luke 9:48) Our care for others is a measure of our greatness. How much concern do you show for others? How have you expressed your care for others lately, especially the helpless, needy and poor; those who cannot return your love and concern?
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your strength and will all your mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself…Do this and you will live.”(Luke 10:27) Lessons of loving our neighbor is revealed in the parable of the Good Samaritan 1)lack of love is often easy to justify, even though it is never right,2) our neighbor is anyone of any race, creed, or social background who is in need and 3)love means acting to meet the person’s need. All of the commandments are summed up in these two.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Matthew 1-10
Enter God’s Kingdom through Faith…
Matthew was a tax collector and chosen by Jesus Christ as one of the 12 disciples. He left his profitable and corrupt business to follow Jesus. His book begins by showing that Jesus Christ was a descendant of King David. As the first book of the New Testament, it is not surprising why showing that Jesus Christ was the descendant of David is important as a link and fulfillment of the Old Testament. Matthew shows that God did not send Jesus as an earthly King, but rather a heavenly King. The kingdom of Jesus’ reign would be much greater than David’s, as it is eternal. This book speaks of the messages and ministry of Jesus. To be great in God’s kingdom means living by God’s standards NOW. Jesus came to show us how to live as faithful servants in His kingdom through characteristics like forgiveness, peace and selflessness. Jesus gave directions for right living and told many parables to discern the teachings for those who are ready to receive it and do something with it versus those that are not. This book also goes into the death and resurrection of Christ showing that although rejected, accused, arrested and crucified; the power through Jesus in overcoming the grave gives us the evidence we need to serve Him as our Lord and savior.
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit…She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins….The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means, God with us.” (Matthew 1:18-23) Both Mary and Joseph were direct descendants of David. Christ being born a virgin is significant because God’s son had to be free from the sinful nature passed on to all other human beings by Adam. Because Jesus was born through a woman, he was a human being; but as the son of God, Jesus was born without any trace of human sin. Thus, Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. Jesus lived as a man and thus fully understands our experiences and struggles. Jesus is also God means that he has the power and authority to deliver us from sin. Not only has Jesus experienced all that we experience, he has the ability to help. The unlimited God took on the limitations of humanity so he could live and die for our salvation. Jesus means “the Lord Saves”. We cannot save ourselves from sin and its consequences. He came to be our Savior from the power and penalty of sin.
Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father had many qualities for which to learn from. His decision to marry Mary was bold during those times, since she was with child prior to their coming together. It was disgraceful by society’s standards; however, Joseph was more concerned with the message sent to him by an angel of God and being obedient to God than pleasing society. His actions showed 1) righteousness, 2) discretion and sensitivity, 3) responsiveness to God and 4) self-discipline. Joseph was torn prior to having the dream where the angel of God spoke to him. He could have divorced Mary quietly. God’s option was to marry her anyway. Given the circumstances, this option had not occurred to Joseph originally. This is a great example of how our plans fall short to the will of God and that if we listen; God may reveal an option we had not thought of. Although Joseph seemed to be doing the right thing by breaking the engagements; only God’s guidance helped him make the best decision. When our decisions affect the lives of others, we must always seek God’s wisdom. Joseph’s choices show us that the strength of what we believe is measured by how much we are willing to suffer for those beliefs. Joseph was prepared to not only to what was right, but also the right way. Lessons from Joseph’s life show that God honors integrity and that being obedient to the guidance we receive from God leads to more guidance from Him.
“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ “ (Matthew 3:1-3) Repentance means to do a 180 degree turn from the kind of self-centeredness that leads to wrong actions such as lying, cheating, stealing, gossiping, taking revenge, abusing, and indulging in sexual immorality. A person who repents stops rebelling and begins following God’s way of living. The first step is to admit your sin. Then God will receive you and help you live the way He wants. God doesn’t expect us to clean up our lives before we come to him, for He is the only one who can remove our sin. John preached and lived out what he preached. Do you practice what you preach? Could people discover your beliefs merely by observing the way you live? God looks beyond our words and “religious” activities to see if our conduct supports what we say. Do your actions match your words?
God’s message in the New Testament is consistent with the Old Testament: People will be judged for their unproductive lives. God calls us to be ACTIVE in our obedience. To be productive for God, we must obey his teachings, resist temptation, actively serve and help others, and share our faith. Are you productive for God?
John the Baptist baptized Jesus because 1)he was confessing sin on behalf of the nation, as Nehemiah, Ezra, Moses and Daniel had done, 2) he was showing support for what John was doing, 3) he was inaugurating his public ministry, 4) he was identifying with the penitent people of God, not with the critical Pharisees who were only watching.
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”(Matthew 4:1-4) The time when Satan tempts Jesus in the desert shows that Jesus really was the Son of God; able to overcome the devil and his temptations. A person shows true obedience when they have the opportunity to disobey and do not. We are all tested on a regular basis. Our convictions are only strong if they hold up under pressure!
Satan is a fallen angel and very real. He is constantly fighting against those who follow and obey God. Satan’s temptations are real and he is always trying to deceive us into living his way or our own way rather than God’s way. If Jesus would have given in to temptation, then his mission on earth-to die for our sins and give us the opportunity to have eternal life-would have been lost. The next time you sense a strong pull or an especially strong temptation, and you consider giving in and rationalizing to get what you want, consider whether Satan may be trying to block God’s purposes for YOUR life or for SOMEONE ELSE’S life! Be on guard of this. We are involved in spiritual battles everyday and God can equip you to overcome the evil force against you when you receive Him in your heart. It’s also important to consider where Jesus was tempted. He was tempted in the desert where he was hungry, tired, alone and most VULNERABLE. The devil often tempts us when we are vulnerable: under physical or emotional stress, lonely, tired, weighing big decisions, or faced with uncertainty. The devil also likes to tempt us through our strengths, where we are most susceptible to pride. For Jesus, the devil tempted Him in 3 main areas 1) physical needs and desires 2) possessions and power 3) pride. Jesus did not give in. We are tempted in these very same ways all the time and therefore, we can trust that since Jesus has been through it; He understands it and can therefore give us the strength to overcome.
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus answered, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”(Matthew 4:5-7) You may be tempted to ask God to prove his existence or his love to you. Jesus taught a parable that people who don’t believe what is written in the Bible won’t believe even if someone were to come back from the dead to warn them (Luke 16:31) God wants us to live by faith, not by magic or sight. Don’t try to manipulate God by asking for signs rather than trusting Him to reveal His plan in His time. Satan was trying to distort Jesus’ perspective by making him focus on worldly power and not God’s plans through his temptations in the desert.
The three main aspect of Jesus’ ministry was teaching, preaching and healing. Teaching shows Jesus’ concern for UNDERSTANDING, preaching shows his concern for COMMITMENT, and healing shows his concern for WHOLENESS. Christ can heal us, not just of physical sickness, but of spiritual sickness as well. Jesus’ words offered freedom, hope, peace of heart, and eternal life with God. The Good News or Gospel is that the kingdom of heaven has come and that God is with us and loves us.
The Sermon on the Mount is where Jesus gave the Beatitudes. Jesus proclaimed his attitude toward the law. Position, authority, and money are not important in his kingdom- what matters is faithful obedience from the heart. The Sermon on the Mount challenged the proud and legalistic religious leaders of the day. It called them back to the message of the Old Testament about heartfelt obedience being more important than legalistic observance. His words seem to contradict each other; however, God’s way of living usually contradicts the worlds. To live for God, you must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse. By giving up your own rights in order to serve others, you will one day receive everything God has for you!
In understanding the Beatitudes(Matthew 5:3-12), they are a code of ethics, they contrast the kingdom values with worldly values, they contrast the superficial “faith” of the Pharisees with the real faith that Christ wants, and they show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the new kingdom. To Jesus, “blessed” means the experience of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”(Matthew 5:11, 12) Persecution can be good because 1) it takes our eyes off earthly rewards 2) it strips away superficial belief 3) it strengthens the faith of those who endure and 4) our attitude through it serves as an example to others who follow. God’s greatest prophets were persecuted.
“You are the light of the world.”(Matthew 5:14) We hide our light by 1) being quiet when we should speak 2) going along with the crowd 3) denying the light 4) letting sin dim our light 5) not explaining our light to others 6) ignoring the needs of others.
Jesus teaches about anger: “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment…Settle matters quickly with your adversary.”(Matthew 5:22, 25) A seething, brooding bitterness against someone is a dangerous emotion. Broken relationships can hinder our relationship with God. If we have a problem or grievance with a friend, we should resolve the problem as soon as possible. We are hypocrites if we claim to love God while we hate others. Our attitudes toward others reflect our relationship with God.
Jesus teaches about Lust. “I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. “(Matthew 5:28) Jesus said that the desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse is mental adultery and thus sin. Jesus emphasized that if the act is wrong, then so is the intention. Acting out sinful desires is harmful in several ways: 1) it causes people to excuse sin rather than to stop sinning; 2) it destroys marriages; 3) it is deliberate rebellion against God’s Word; 4) it always hurts someone else in addition to the sinner. Sinful action is more dangerous than sinful desire, and that is why desires should not be acted out.
“I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. Divorce is as hurtful today as it was in Jesus’ day. God intends marriage as a lifelong commitment. People should never consider divorce an option when entering into a marriage. Those who discover that their partner has been unfaithful should first make every effort to forgive, reconcile and restore their relationship. We are always to look for reasons to restore the marriage relationship rather than for excuses to leave it. Keeping oaths and promises is important; it builds trust and makes committed human relationships possible.
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your father in heaven…be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:44, 48) How can we be perfect? 1) In character; we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible. 2) In holiness; we are to separate ourselves from the world’s sinful values. We are to be devoted to God’s desires rather than our own, and carry his love and mercy in to the world. 3) In maturity; we can grow toward maturity and wholeness; God expects different behavior from us depending on our stage of spiritual development. 4) In love; we can seek to love others as completely as God loves us. We can be perfect if our behavior is appropriate for our maturity level, perfect yet with much room to grow.
Jesus teaches about prayer. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”(Matthew 6:6-8) Jesus encourages persistent prayer. When we pray, “your will be done”, we are not resigning ourselves to fate, but praying that God’s perfect purpose will be accomplished in this world as well as in the next.
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”(Matthew 6:14) Jesus gives a warning about forgiveness, for how can we pray and ask for forgiveness and turn around and deny our brother the very grace we enjoy every day? If we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us.
Jesus teaches about money. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…The eye is the lamp of the body.”(Matthew 6:19-22) Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about. Don’t fall into the materialistic trap because the love of money is the root of a lot of evil. Take a look at your spending habits and that will be a good gauge of where your heart is. “No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24)
Jesus teaches about worry. “Do not worry about your life…who of you by worrying can add a single day hour to his life? Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”(Matthew 6:25, 27, 34) Worry can 1) damage your health;2) cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts, 3) disrupt your productivity, 4) negatively affect the way you treat others, and 5) reduce your ability to trust in God. Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern- worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action. Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps and schedules and trusting in God’s guidance. Planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God.
Jesus teaches about criticism. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged…How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. “(Matthew 1-5) Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others. The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we dislike in ourselves. It is important to judge yourself first and then LOVINGLY forgive and help your neighbor. It is hypocritical to judge others and that attitude tears others down in order to build oneself up. There is a call to be discerning rather than negative. Jesus said to expose false teachers and Paul said to exercise church discipline, but to trust God to be the judge.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who o in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”(Matthew 7:7-12) Knowing God takes faith, focus and follow-through. Don’t give up in your efforts to seek God. He will give you the patience, wisdom, love and understanding.
When Jesus healed the Blind and the mute, he healed them according to their faith. He didn’t respond immediately to the blind men; he waited to see if they had faith. Not everyone who says he wants help really God can help him. When you think that God is slow in answering your prayers, consider that he might be testing you as he did the blind men. Do you really want his help? “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”(Matthew 10:30) God knew us before we were born and loves us; He wants us to prove our love for him through our faith and trust in him.
Matthew had a clear idea of how much it would cost to follow Jesus, yet he didn’t hesitate. For Matthew, there was no backup plan; no turning back. When Matthew decided to follow Jesus, first, God gave him a new and fulfilling life that he had not known as a tax collector and second, new purpose for his skills. From the beginning, God made him a record keeper, as a tax collector and then to author Jesus’ account. Jesus’ call allowed him to put his skills to their finest work. Much of what God has for us he gives long before we are able to consciously respond to him. He trusts us with skills and abilities ahead of schedule. Have you ever wondered how you can have a natural ability at something that is a mystery to others? The first clue is that it’s not YOU that created that skill; but the work of God. God has made us each capable of being his servant. When we trust him with what he has given us, we begin a life of real adventure. Lessons we learn from Matthew’s life are that Jesus consistently accepted people from every level of society.
Matthew was a tax collector and chosen by Jesus Christ as one of the 12 disciples. He left his profitable and corrupt business to follow Jesus. His book begins by showing that Jesus Christ was a descendant of King David. As the first book of the New Testament, it is not surprising why showing that Jesus Christ was the descendant of David is important as a link and fulfillment of the Old Testament. Matthew shows that God did not send Jesus as an earthly King, but rather a heavenly King. The kingdom of Jesus’ reign would be much greater than David’s, as it is eternal. This book speaks of the messages and ministry of Jesus. To be great in God’s kingdom means living by God’s standards NOW. Jesus came to show us how to live as faithful servants in His kingdom through characteristics like forgiveness, peace and selflessness. Jesus gave directions for right living and told many parables to discern the teachings for those who are ready to receive it and do something with it versus those that are not. This book also goes into the death and resurrection of Christ showing that although rejected, accused, arrested and crucified; the power through Jesus in overcoming the grave gives us the evidence we need to serve Him as our Lord and savior.
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit…She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins….The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means, God with us.” (Matthew 1:18-23) Both Mary and Joseph were direct descendants of David. Christ being born a virgin is significant because God’s son had to be free from the sinful nature passed on to all other human beings by Adam. Because Jesus was born through a woman, he was a human being; but as the son of God, Jesus was born without any trace of human sin. Thus, Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. Jesus lived as a man and thus fully understands our experiences and struggles. Jesus is also God means that he has the power and authority to deliver us from sin. Not only has Jesus experienced all that we experience, he has the ability to help. The unlimited God took on the limitations of humanity so he could live and die for our salvation. Jesus means “the Lord Saves”. We cannot save ourselves from sin and its consequences. He came to be our Savior from the power and penalty of sin.
Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father had many qualities for which to learn from. His decision to marry Mary was bold during those times, since she was with child prior to their coming together. It was disgraceful by society’s standards; however, Joseph was more concerned with the message sent to him by an angel of God and being obedient to God than pleasing society. His actions showed 1) righteousness, 2) discretion and sensitivity, 3) responsiveness to God and 4) self-discipline. Joseph was torn prior to having the dream where the angel of God spoke to him. He could have divorced Mary quietly. God’s option was to marry her anyway. Given the circumstances, this option had not occurred to Joseph originally. This is a great example of how our plans fall short to the will of God and that if we listen; God may reveal an option we had not thought of. Although Joseph seemed to be doing the right thing by breaking the engagements; only God’s guidance helped him make the best decision. When our decisions affect the lives of others, we must always seek God’s wisdom. Joseph’s choices show us that the strength of what we believe is measured by how much we are willing to suffer for those beliefs. Joseph was prepared to not only to what was right, but also the right way. Lessons from Joseph’s life show that God honors integrity and that being obedient to the guidance we receive from God leads to more guidance from Him.
“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ “ (Matthew 3:1-3) Repentance means to do a 180 degree turn from the kind of self-centeredness that leads to wrong actions such as lying, cheating, stealing, gossiping, taking revenge, abusing, and indulging in sexual immorality. A person who repents stops rebelling and begins following God’s way of living. The first step is to admit your sin. Then God will receive you and help you live the way He wants. God doesn’t expect us to clean up our lives before we come to him, for He is the only one who can remove our sin. John preached and lived out what he preached. Do you practice what you preach? Could people discover your beliefs merely by observing the way you live? God looks beyond our words and “religious” activities to see if our conduct supports what we say. Do your actions match your words?
God’s message in the New Testament is consistent with the Old Testament: People will be judged for their unproductive lives. God calls us to be ACTIVE in our obedience. To be productive for God, we must obey his teachings, resist temptation, actively serve and help others, and share our faith. Are you productive for God?
John the Baptist baptized Jesus because 1)he was confessing sin on behalf of the nation, as Nehemiah, Ezra, Moses and Daniel had done, 2) he was showing support for what John was doing, 3) he was inaugurating his public ministry, 4) he was identifying with the penitent people of God, not with the critical Pharisees who were only watching.
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”(Matthew 4:1-4) The time when Satan tempts Jesus in the desert shows that Jesus really was the Son of God; able to overcome the devil and his temptations. A person shows true obedience when they have the opportunity to disobey and do not. We are all tested on a regular basis. Our convictions are only strong if they hold up under pressure!
Satan is a fallen angel and very real. He is constantly fighting against those who follow and obey God. Satan’s temptations are real and he is always trying to deceive us into living his way or our own way rather than God’s way. If Jesus would have given in to temptation, then his mission on earth-to die for our sins and give us the opportunity to have eternal life-would have been lost. The next time you sense a strong pull or an especially strong temptation, and you consider giving in and rationalizing to get what you want, consider whether Satan may be trying to block God’s purposes for YOUR life or for SOMEONE ELSE’S life! Be on guard of this. We are involved in spiritual battles everyday and God can equip you to overcome the evil force against you when you receive Him in your heart. It’s also important to consider where Jesus was tempted. He was tempted in the desert where he was hungry, tired, alone and most VULNERABLE. The devil often tempts us when we are vulnerable: under physical or emotional stress, lonely, tired, weighing big decisions, or faced with uncertainty. The devil also likes to tempt us through our strengths, where we are most susceptible to pride. For Jesus, the devil tempted Him in 3 main areas 1) physical needs and desires 2) possessions and power 3) pride. Jesus did not give in. We are tempted in these very same ways all the time and therefore, we can trust that since Jesus has been through it; He understands it and can therefore give us the strength to overcome.
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Jesus answered, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”(Matthew 4:5-7) You may be tempted to ask God to prove his existence or his love to you. Jesus taught a parable that people who don’t believe what is written in the Bible won’t believe even if someone were to come back from the dead to warn them (Luke 16:31) God wants us to live by faith, not by magic or sight. Don’t try to manipulate God by asking for signs rather than trusting Him to reveal His plan in His time. Satan was trying to distort Jesus’ perspective by making him focus on worldly power and not God’s plans through his temptations in the desert.
The three main aspect of Jesus’ ministry was teaching, preaching and healing. Teaching shows Jesus’ concern for UNDERSTANDING, preaching shows his concern for COMMITMENT, and healing shows his concern for WHOLENESS. Christ can heal us, not just of physical sickness, but of spiritual sickness as well. Jesus’ words offered freedom, hope, peace of heart, and eternal life with God. The Good News or Gospel is that the kingdom of heaven has come and that God is with us and loves us.
The Sermon on the Mount is where Jesus gave the Beatitudes. Jesus proclaimed his attitude toward the law. Position, authority, and money are not important in his kingdom- what matters is faithful obedience from the heart. The Sermon on the Mount challenged the proud and legalistic religious leaders of the day. It called them back to the message of the Old Testament about heartfelt obedience being more important than legalistic observance. His words seem to contradict each other; however, God’s way of living usually contradicts the worlds. To live for God, you must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse. By giving up your own rights in order to serve others, you will one day receive everything God has for you!
In understanding the Beatitudes(Matthew 5:3-12), they are a code of ethics, they contrast the kingdom values with worldly values, they contrast the superficial “faith” of the Pharisees with the real faith that Christ wants, and they show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the new kingdom. To Jesus, “blessed” means the experience of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”(Matthew 5:11, 12) Persecution can be good because 1) it takes our eyes off earthly rewards 2) it strips away superficial belief 3) it strengthens the faith of those who endure and 4) our attitude through it serves as an example to others who follow. God’s greatest prophets were persecuted.
“You are the light of the world.”(Matthew 5:14) We hide our light by 1) being quiet when we should speak 2) going along with the crowd 3) denying the light 4) letting sin dim our light 5) not explaining our light to others 6) ignoring the needs of others.
Jesus teaches about anger: “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment…Settle matters quickly with your adversary.”(Matthew 5:22, 25) A seething, brooding bitterness against someone is a dangerous emotion. Broken relationships can hinder our relationship with God. If we have a problem or grievance with a friend, we should resolve the problem as soon as possible. We are hypocrites if we claim to love God while we hate others. Our attitudes toward others reflect our relationship with God.
Jesus teaches about Lust. “I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. “(Matthew 5:28) Jesus said that the desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse is mental adultery and thus sin. Jesus emphasized that if the act is wrong, then so is the intention. Acting out sinful desires is harmful in several ways: 1) it causes people to excuse sin rather than to stop sinning; 2) it destroys marriages; 3) it is deliberate rebellion against God’s Word; 4) it always hurts someone else in addition to the sinner. Sinful action is more dangerous than sinful desire, and that is why desires should not be acted out.
“I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery. Divorce is as hurtful today as it was in Jesus’ day. God intends marriage as a lifelong commitment. People should never consider divorce an option when entering into a marriage. Those who discover that their partner has been unfaithful should first make every effort to forgive, reconcile and restore their relationship. We are always to look for reasons to restore the marriage relationship rather than for excuses to leave it. Keeping oaths and promises is important; it builds trust and makes committed human relationships possible.
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your father in heaven…be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:44, 48) How can we be perfect? 1) In character; we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible. 2) In holiness; we are to separate ourselves from the world’s sinful values. We are to be devoted to God’s desires rather than our own, and carry his love and mercy in to the world. 3) In maturity; we can grow toward maturity and wholeness; God expects different behavior from us depending on our stage of spiritual development. 4) In love; we can seek to love others as completely as God loves us. We can be perfect if our behavior is appropriate for our maturity level, perfect yet with much room to grow.
Jesus teaches about prayer. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”(Matthew 6:6-8) Jesus encourages persistent prayer. When we pray, “your will be done”, we are not resigning ourselves to fate, but praying that God’s perfect purpose will be accomplished in this world as well as in the next.
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”(Matthew 6:14) Jesus gives a warning about forgiveness, for how can we pray and ask for forgiveness and turn around and deny our brother the very grace we enjoy every day? If we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us.
Jesus teaches about money. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…The eye is the lamp of the body.”(Matthew 6:19-22) Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about. Don’t fall into the materialistic trap because the love of money is the root of a lot of evil. Take a look at your spending habits and that will be a good gauge of where your heart is. “No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24)
Jesus teaches about worry. “Do not worry about your life…who of you by worrying can add a single day hour to his life? Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”(Matthew 6:25, 27, 34) Worry can 1) damage your health;2) cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts, 3) disrupt your productivity, 4) negatively affect the way you treat others, and 5) reduce your ability to trust in God. Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern- worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action. Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps and schedules and trusting in God’s guidance. Planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God.
Jesus teaches about criticism. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged…How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. “(Matthew 1-5) Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others. The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we dislike in ourselves. It is important to judge yourself first and then LOVINGLY forgive and help your neighbor. It is hypocritical to judge others and that attitude tears others down in order to build oneself up. There is a call to be discerning rather than negative. Jesus said to expose false teachers and Paul said to exercise church discipline, but to trust God to be the judge.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who o in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”(Matthew 7:7-12) Knowing God takes faith, focus and follow-through. Don’t give up in your efforts to seek God. He will give you the patience, wisdom, love and understanding.
When Jesus healed the Blind and the mute, he healed them according to their faith. He didn’t respond immediately to the blind men; he waited to see if they had faith. Not everyone who says he wants help really God can help him. When you think that God is slow in answering your prayers, consider that he might be testing you as he did the blind men. Do you really want his help? “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”(Matthew 10:30) God knew us before we were born and loves us; He wants us to prove our love for him through our faith and trust in him.
Matthew had a clear idea of how much it would cost to follow Jesus, yet he didn’t hesitate. For Matthew, there was no backup plan; no turning back. When Matthew decided to follow Jesus, first, God gave him a new and fulfilling life that he had not known as a tax collector and second, new purpose for his skills. From the beginning, God made him a record keeper, as a tax collector and then to author Jesus’ account. Jesus’ call allowed him to put his skills to their finest work. Much of what God has for us he gives long before we are able to consciously respond to him. He trusts us with skills and abilities ahead of schedule. Have you ever wondered how you can have a natural ability at something that is a mystery to others? The first clue is that it’s not YOU that created that skill; but the work of God. God has made us each capable of being his servant. When we trust him with what he has given us, we begin a life of real adventure. Lessons we learn from Matthew’s life are that Jesus consistently accepted people from every level of society.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Hosea
God often required extraordinary obedience from his prophets who were facing extraordinary times. Trust He knows everything has a special purpose for his request. Can you accept that the pain involved in obedience may benefit those I serve and not myself? God asks us to do our part and He is not limited to human effort. God often chooses to work through people, but only because it’s good for them; for He can accomplish all his purposes without any help from us if he chooses. We are very important to God; on our own, we have neither the ability to fulfill nor the power to disrupt God’s plans. Despite unfaithfulness, God was still faithful and merciful. He would continue to hold his arms our to his people; even to the point of placing obstacles in their wayward path to turn them back to him. “Therefore I will block her path with thorn bushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. ‘I will go back to my husband (for me that’s Jesus) as at first, for then I was better off than now.’ No one will take her out of my hands. I will stop all her celebrations; her yearly festivals…Therefore I am now going to allure her into the desert and speak tenderly to her…There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the troubles a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth” (Hosea 2:6-15)
“In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ (Hosea 2:16) Have you ever felt like taking your fear of being alone and by the strength of God; punching it in the face? When you choose Jesus as your husband first; second to none; He fills the gap in your heart that once feared. “I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.”(Hosea 2:19-20) Before we can be prepared for the partner that God may bless us with; we first must choose to invite Him into our hearts fully and have a relationship with Him that is so abundant that it alone is more than enough. Once our cups are overflowed, then we are better positioned for the Lord to entrust us with the next step of His will. God’s wedding gift is His COMPASSION. God forgives us and makes us right with Him. There is no way for us by our own efforts to reach God’s high standard for moral and spiritual life, but he graciously accepts us, forgives us, and draws us into a relationship with himself. In that relationship we have personal and intimate communion with him.
Spiritual Unfaithfulness:
Both spiritual and physical adultery begin with disappointment and dissatisfaction-either real or imagined-with an already existing relationship. The feeling that God disappoints can lead you away from him. Feelings of disappointment and dissatisfaction are normal and, when endured, will pass. Both spiritual and physical adultery begin with diverting affection from one object of devotion to another. The diverting of our affection is the first step in the blinding process that leads to sin. Both spiritual and physical adultery involve a process of deterioration; it is not usually an impulsive decision. The process is dangerous because you don’t always realize it is happening until it is too late. Both spiritual and physical adultery involve the creation of a fantasy about what a new object of love can do for you. Such fantasy creates unrealistic expectations of what a new relationship can do and only leads to disappointment in all existing and future relationships.
“But let no man bring a charge, let no man accuse another…Because you have rejected my knowledge, I also reject you…They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness. And it will be: Like people, like priests, I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.”(Hosea 4:4-9) Have you ever been falsely accused? Betrayed, rejected, judged and denied by your friends? The devil is our accuser and when man attacks another man, it leads to chaos which is Satan’s playground. Our battles are not against flesh; we are involved in spiritual battles everyday and each carry our own sin and brokenness. When we do not live in appreciation for the forgiveness, grace and mercy that we ourselves receive from God; it becomes easier to transfer our judgments and control onto other people. When you find yourself judging others; do you take a step back and recognize your own sin and immediately pray for forgiveness and restoration from the only one who can give it; Christ Himself? To assume to know the whole story or truth of another person’s heart and life is arrogant. Humility comes before honor; pride comes before a fall. Many find it easy and comfortable to maintain the appearance of being committed without deep and sincere loyalty. If you profess loyalty to God, back it up with your actions. Do you repent easily without seriously considering what changes need to take place in your life?
Obedience is far better than sacrifice. God doesn’t want sacrifices; he wants our loving loyalty. He doesn’t want offerings; he wants us to acknowledge him. God hates pretense and hypocrisy; he wants to see justice roll on like a river. God is not satisfied with offerings; he wants us to be fair and just and merciful, and to walk humbly with him. He wants us to be merciful as he is to us.
When we spend a lot of time with people, we can easily pick up their attitudes and begin to imitate their actions. When you work, live, or play with people that choose to deny God’s sovereignty; beware of the influence they may have on you. Instead of drifting into bad habits, see if you can have a positive influence and point these people to God.
It is easy to listen to a sermon and think of all the people we know who should be listening, or to read the Bible and think of those who should do what the passage teaches. The Israelites did this constantly, applying God’s laws to others but not to themselves. This is just another way to deflect God’s will and avoid making needed changes. As you think of others who need to apply what you are hearing or reading, check to see if the same application could fit you. Apply the lessons to your own life first because often our own faults are the very first ones we see in others.
Israel’s leaders vacillated between alliances with Egypt and Assyria and Hosea was saying that both were wrong. Breaking an alliance with untrustworthy Assyria and fleeing for help to the equally untrustworthy Egypt would not forestall Israel’s destruction. Their only hope was God. Have you ever vacillated between two choices or people when both were untrustworthy? Is it not better to choose your faithful God for guidance rather than the lesser of two evils? So many people settle in their choices out of fear of the unknown. Choosing to listen to God’s way is the safest choice in all situations.
We all listen and read selectively-focusing on what seems to support our present life-style, ignoring what demands a radical reordering of our priorities. In doing this, we are likely to miss the warnings we need most. Listen to people who think your approach is all wrong. Read articles that present viewpoints you would be unlikely to take. Ask yourself, “Is God speaking to me through these speakers and writers? Is there something I need to change?”
God was angry with the people of Israel for their insincere promises. Because the people did not keep their word, there were many lawsuits. People break their promises, but God always keeps his. Are you remaining true to your promises, both to other people and to God? If not, ask God for forgiveness and help to get back on track. Then be careful about the promises you make.
Never make a promise unless you are sure you can keep it.
“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord.”(Hosea 10:12) Here Hosea envisions a plowed field, earth that is ready to receive seeds. It is no longer hard; it has been carefully prepared and is available. Is your life ready for God to work in it? Break up the unplowed ground in your heart by admitting to God your mistakes and ask Him for forgiveness. He is waiting for you to take accountability and surrender to the greatest love that awaits you.
The Israelites trusted lies and people today believe the lies. Those who want to lead others astray often follow these rules for effective lying: make it big, keep it simple; repeat it often. You can avoid falling for lies by asking: 1) am I believing this because there is personal gain in it for me? 2) Am I discounting important facts? 3) Does this conflict with a direct command of Scripture? 4) Are there any Biblical parallels to the situation I’m facing that would help me know what to believe?
“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man-the Holy One among you. “(Hosea 11:8-9) God has always loved his children as a parent loves his stubborn children and that is why he would not release them from the consequences of their behavior. God consistently provides for us, but they refused to see what he had done, and they showed no interest in thanking him. Ungratefulness is a common human fault. Many of the benefits and privileges we enjoy are the result of loving actins done long ago. Look for hidden acts of nurturing, and thank those who make the world better through their love. God’s discipline always loves, and its object is always the well-being of the beloved. When you are called to discipline others, do not be rigid. Vary your approach according to the goals you are seeking to accomplish. In each case, ask yourself, “Does this person need guidance, or to be nurtured?”(Hosea 11:4) This is important to remember especially in friendships. When you don’t agree with friends’ decisions, do you judge them harshly and interfere in an attempt to control their life or do you see that they are struggling and decide to nurture them and allow God change their behavior? “Don’t forget your humble beginnings. What you have is not a result of your own efforts, but it is yours because God has been gracious to you.”
“In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’ (Hosea 2:16) Have you ever felt like taking your fear of being alone and by the strength of God; punching it in the face? When you choose Jesus as your husband first; second to none; He fills the gap in your heart that once feared. “I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.”(Hosea 2:19-20) Before we can be prepared for the partner that God may bless us with; we first must choose to invite Him into our hearts fully and have a relationship with Him that is so abundant that it alone is more than enough. Once our cups are overflowed, then we are better positioned for the Lord to entrust us with the next step of His will. God’s wedding gift is His COMPASSION. God forgives us and makes us right with Him. There is no way for us by our own efforts to reach God’s high standard for moral and spiritual life, but he graciously accepts us, forgives us, and draws us into a relationship with himself. In that relationship we have personal and intimate communion with him.
Spiritual Unfaithfulness:
Both spiritual and physical adultery begin with disappointment and dissatisfaction-either real or imagined-with an already existing relationship. The feeling that God disappoints can lead you away from him. Feelings of disappointment and dissatisfaction are normal and, when endured, will pass. Both spiritual and physical adultery begin with diverting affection from one object of devotion to another. The diverting of our affection is the first step in the blinding process that leads to sin. Both spiritual and physical adultery involve a process of deterioration; it is not usually an impulsive decision. The process is dangerous because you don’t always realize it is happening until it is too late. Both spiritual and physical adultery involve the creation of a fantasy about what a new object of love can do for you. Such fantasy creates unrealistic expectations of what a new relationship can do and only leads to disappointment in all existing and future relationships.
“But let no man bring a charge, let no man accuse another…Because you have rejected my knowledge, I also reject you…They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness. And it will be: Like people, like priests, I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.”(Hosea 4:4-9) Have you ever been falsely accused? Betrayed, rejected, judged and denied by your friends? The devil is our accuser and when man attacks another man, it leads to chaos which is Satan’s playground. Our battles are not against flesh; we are involved in spiritual battles everyday and each carry our own sin and brokenness. When we do not live in appreciation for the forgiveness, grace and mercy that we ourselves receive from God; it becomes easier to transfer our judgments and control onto other people. When you find yourself judging others; do you take a step back and recognize your own sin and immediately pray for forgiveness and restoration from the only one who can give it; Christ Himself? To assume to know the whole story or truth of another person’s heart and life is arrogant. Humility comes before honor; pride comes before a fall. Many find it easy and comfortable to maintain the appearance of being committed without deep and sincere loyalty. If you profess loyalty to God, back it up with your actions. Do you repent easily without seriously considering what changes need to take place in your life?
Obedience is far better than sacrifice. God doesn’t want sacrifices; he wants our loving loyalty. He doesn’t want offerings; he wants us to acknowledge him. God hates pretense and hypocrisy; he wants to see justice roll on like a river. God is not satisfied with offerings; he wants us to be fair and just and merciful, and to walk humbly with him. He wants us to be merciful as he is to us.
When we spend a lot of time with people, we can easily pick up their attitudes and begin to imitate their actions. When you work, live, or play with people that choose to deny God’s sovereignty; beware of the influence they may have on you. Instead of drifting into bad habits, see if you can have a positive influence and point these people to God.
It is easy to listen to a sermon and think of all the people we know who should be listening, or to read the Bible and think of those who should do what the passage teaches. The Israelites did this constantly, applying God’s laws to others but not to themselves. This is just another way to deflect God’s will and avoid making needed changes. As you think of others who need to apply what you are hearing or reading, check to see if the same application could fit you. Apply the lessons to your own life first because often our own faults are the very first ones we see in others.
Israel’s leaders vacillated between alliances with Egypt and Assyria and Hosea was saying that both were wrong. Breaking an alliance with untrustworthy Assyria and fleeing for help to the equally untrustworthy Egypt would not forestall Israel’s destruction. Their only hope was God. Have you ever vacillated between two choices or people when both were untrustworthy? Is it not better to choose your faithful God for guidance rather than the lesser of two evils? So many people settle in their choices out of fear of the unknown. Choosing to listen to God’s way is the safest choice in all situations.
We all listen and read selectively-focusing on what seems to support our present life-style, ignoring what demands a radical reordering of our priorities. In doing this, we are likely to miss the warnings we need most. Listen to people who think your approach is all wrong. Read articles that present viewpoints you would be unlikely to take. Ask yourself, “Is God speaking to me through these speakers and writers? Is there something I need to change?”
God was angry with the people of Israel for their insincere promises. Because the people did not keep their word, there were many lawsuits. People break their promises, but God always keeps his. Are you remaining true to your promises, both to other people and to God? If not, ask God for forgiveness and help to get back on track. Then be careful about the promises you make.
Never make a promise unless you are sure you can keep it.
“Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord.”(Hosea 10:12) Here Hosea envisions a plowed field, earth that is ready to receive seeds. It is no longer hard; it has been carefully prepared and is available. Is your life ready for God to work in it? Break up the unplowed ground in your heart by admitting to God your mistakes and ask Him for forgiveness. He is waiting for you to take accountability and surrender to the greatest love that awaits you.
The Israelites trusted lies and people today believe the lies. Those who want to lead others astray often follow these rules for effective lying: make it big, keep it simple; repeat it often. You can avoid falling for lies by asking: 1) am I believing this because there is personal gain in it for me? 2) Am I discounting important facts? 3) Does this conflict with a direct command of Scripture? 4) Are there any Biblical parallels to the situation I’m facing that would help me know what to believe?
“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man-the Holy One among you. “(Hosea 11:8-9) God has always loved his children as a parent loves his stubborn children and that is why he would not release them from the consequences of their behavior. God consistently provides for us, but they refused to see what he had done, and they showed no interest in thanking him. Ungratefulness is a common human fault. Many of the benefits and privileges we enjoy are the result of loving actins done long ago. Look for hidden acts of nurturing, and thank those who make the world better through their love. God’s discipline always loves, and its object is always the well-being of the beloved. When you are called to discipline others, do not be rigid. Vary your approach according to the goals you are seeking to accomplish. In each case, ask yourself, “Does this person need guidance, or to be nurtured?”(Hosea 11:4) This is important to remember especially in friendships. When you don’t agree with friends’ decisions, do you judge them harshly and interfere in an attempt to control their life or do you see that they are struggling and decide to nurture them and allow God change their behavior? “Don’t forget your humble beginnings. What you have is not a result of your own efforts, but it is yours because God has been gracious to you.”
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Song of Songs 1-8
Song of Songs is a book of love, marriage and sex. This book was written by King Solomon as he writes of the intimacy between himself as the bridegroom and his bride. In our society, we have condoned the movement from love to lust; getting instead of giving; and a general lack of commitment, hence our high divorce rates. There are themes in this book that discuss sex, love, commitment, beauty and problems. Sex is God’s gift to creation. God wants sex to be motivated by love and commitment, not lust; for mutual pleasure, not self-gratification. Love is a powerful expression of feeling and commitment that should not be manipulative or prematurely encouraged in a relationship. The basis of true love is commitment; where there is genuine love, you won’t find fear of deceit, manipulation, or exploitation. Marriage is the celebration of daily commitment to each other. There is a misconception about beauty that plagues our society; physically attractive by superficial standards. Personality and moral purity are so often overlooked; a shame that lasting beauty is denied and transient beauty embraced. Sometimes problems arise in relationships; over time, feelings of indifference and loneliness entered into Solomon’s relationship with his wife. During those times, love grew cold and barriers were raised; as what happens in many relationships. Through careful communication, lovers can be reconciled, commitment can be renewed and romance refreshed. It is important to take care of problems while they are still small and not allow walls to come between you and your partner. Using languages of love is important for encouraging and appreciating the person you love. Telling your partner you love them is important as well as showing it. Lover says, “How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes are doves…Beloved says: ‘How handsome you are, my lover! Oh how charming!’”(1:15, 16)
“Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.”(2:7) Feelings of love overpower your reason because feelings are not enough for a lasting relationship. This verse encourages us not to force romance where the love grows faster than the commitment needed to make love last. It’s important to patiently wait for feelings of love and commitment to develop together.
“All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves...I looked for him and I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves.”(3:2) The woman searched in the middle of the night for her love. When you love someone, you will do whatever it takes to ensure their safety and care for their needs at any cost.
“You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.”(4:15) Solomon’s bride was refreshing like a fountain. Do you refresh your significant other or do you complain, or focus on negativity and problems? Partners should continually work at refreshing each other by an encouraging word, and unexpected gift, a change of pace, a surprise note, or even having attention to timing to respect the other person’s needs. The rest of the world is not so refreshing; so being a haven for your partner is a great gift and way to keep your relationship healthy and growing.
“His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my lover, this my friend.”(5:16) The bride calls Solomon her friend. Can you call your significant other your best friend? In a healthy marriage or relationship, the lovers are great friends. Taking the time to develop a deep friendship is important before allowing feelings of love and passion to drive you into marriage too early. Being friends involves listening, sharing, and showing understanding for the other’s likes and dislikes. Friendship takes time, but it makes a love relationship much deeper and far more satisfying.
“But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.”(8:12) Solomon’s bride willingly gave Solomon the fruit of her property. In a good marriage, there is no private property; there are no secrets. Everything should be shared between the partners. Devotion and commitment were the foundational components of this marriage and were the reasons that even through many trials; they honored each other. The faithfulness of our marital love should be a reflection of God’s perfect faithfulness to us.
“Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.”(2:7) Feelings of love overpower your reason because feelings are not enough for a lasting relationship. This verse encourages us not to force romance where the love grows faster than the commitment needed to make love last. It’s important to patiently wait for feelings of love and commitment to develop together.
“All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves...I looked for him and I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves.”(3:2) The woman searched in the middle of the night for her love. When you love someone, you will do whatever it takes to ensure their safety and care for their needs at any cost.
“You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.”(4:15) Solomon’s bride was refreshing like a fountain. Do you refresh your significant other or do you complain, or focus on negativity and problems? Partners should continually work at refreshing each other by an encouraging word, and unexpected gift, a change of pace, a surprise note, or even having attention to timing to respect the other person’s needs. The rest of the world is not so refreshing; so being a haven for your partner is a great gift and way to keep your relationship healthy and growing.
“His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely. This is my lover, this my friend.”(5:16) The bride calls Solomon her friend. Can you call your significant other your best friend? In a healthy marriage or relationship, the lovers are great friends. Taking the time to develop a deep friendship is important before allowing feelings of love and passion to drive you into marriage too early. Being friends involves listening, sharing, and showing understanding for the other’s likes and dislikes. Friendship takes time, but it makes a love relationship much deeper and far more satisfying.
“But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.”(8:12) Solomon’s bride willingly gave Solomon the fruit of her property. In a good marriage, there is no private property; there are no secrets. Everything should be shared between the partners. Devotion and commitment were the foundational components of this marriage and were the reasons that even through many trials; they honored each other. The faithfulness of our marital love should be a reflection of God’s perfect faithfulness to us.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Ecclesiastes 1-12
Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes to describe that life apart from God is meaningless. Solomon was the wisest man ever known; he studied, taught, judged, and wrote. Kings and leaders traveled from afar to learn from him. Solomon had Godly wisdom and insight on life, but he failed to take his own advice and began a downward spiral in his own life. Solomon looked back on his life with an attitude of humility and repentance. He was hoping to spare his readers the bitterness of learning through his personal experience that life without God is empty and meaningless. In this book, Solomon affirms the value of knowledge, relationships, work, and pleasure, but only in their proper place according to God’s will.
Isn’t it interesting the amount of searching we do? True happiness is not in our power to accumulate or attain because we always want more than we can have. People continue to search, yet the more they try to get, the more they realize how little they really have. Without God, satisfaction is a lost search. Human wisdom doesn’t have all the answers. Knowledge and education have their limits. To really understand life and purpose is to seek the wisdom only God can give you. In order to have God’s wisdom in our lives, we first need to get to know him and honor him.
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”(1:9) Many people feel dissatisfied and restless. People wonder and worry; If I am in God’s will, why am I so tired and unfulfilled? What is the meaning of life? Why do I feel burned out? What is to become of me? Solomon tests our faith challenging us to find true and lasting meaning in God alone.
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done, and what I toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”(2:10) Solomon highlights two kinds of wisdom; 1)Human knowledge, reasoning, or philosophy and 2) the wisdom that comes from God. Solomon summarizes that attempts at finding life’s meaning as “chasing after the wind”. In all our accomplishments, our good feelings are only temporary. Security and self-worth are not found in these accomplishments, and can easily feel like we are “chasing after the wind.” True enjoyment in life comes only as we follow God’s guidelines for living. Those who really know how to enjoy life are the ones who take life each day as a gift from God, being grateful and serving him.
“Again I saw something meaningless under the sun; there was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth….two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work...if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?”(4:8, 9, 11) Life is created for companionship; not isolation and for intimacy; not loneliness. We are not placed on this earth to serve ourselves; but to serve God and others. Beware of isolating yourself and going at life alone. Becoming a team player and having good companionship make our time here meaningful.
“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.”(5:10) Do you find yourself constantly wanting more than you have? Solomon observed that those who love money and seek it obsessively never find the happiness is falsely promises. Money in itself is not wrong; but loving money leads to all types of sin.
“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”(7:8) To finish what we start requires hard work, wise guidance, self-discipline, and patience. Anyone with vision can start a project; but vision without wisdom often results in unfinished projects and goals.
“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love…whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”(9:9) How sad it would be to be married and not appreciate the enjoyment and companionship God has given you.
“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”(11:4) Waiting for perfect circumstances will lead to inactivity. Have you had someone tell you that their life is on hold until this or that; or before making a decision, they are waiting to have a certain amount of money in their bank account? If we wait for the perfect time and place, we may never begin. Take steps to do something today. Don’t wait for conditions that may never exist and waste your life. It is important to approach your decisions from God’s perspective; approach life with an attitude that although our lives are short; we will live with God forever.
“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, whether it is good or evil.”(12:13) Our time on earth is so short, we should use the time to learn important truths that will affect this life and eternity. No matter the mysteries and contradictions of life, we must work toward the single purpose of knowing God. We should enjoy our lives as it is a gift from God and love him with all our hearts, minds and souls by following his commandments. In order to live properly, we must, recognize that human effort apart from God is futile; put God first now; receive everything that is good as a gift from God; realize that God will judge both evil and good; know that God will judge the quality of every person’s life. People strive for the very enjoyment that God gives for free, as a gift; isn’t that ironic?
Isn’t it interesting the amount of searching we do? True happiness is not in our power to accumulate or attain because we always want more than we can have. People continue to search, yet the more they try to get, the more they realize how little they really have. Without God, satisfaction is a lost search. Human wisdom doesn’t have all the answers. Knowledge and education have their limits. To really understand life and purpose is to seek the wisdom only God can give you. In order to have God’s wisdom in our lives, we first need to get to know him and honor him.
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”(1:9) Many people feel dissatisfied and restless. People wonder and worry; If I am in God’s will, why am I so tired and unfulfilled? What is the meaning of life? Why do I feel burned out? What is to become of me? Solomon tests our faith challenging us to find true and lasting meaning in God alone.
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done, and what I toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”(2:10) Solomon highlights two kinds of wisdom; 1)Human knowledge, reasoning, or philosophy and 2) the wisdom that comes from God. Solomon summarizes that attempts at finding life’s meaning as “chasing after the wind”. In all our accomplishments, our good feelings are only temporary. Security and self-worth are not found in these accomplishments, and can easily feel like we are “chasing after the wind.” True enjoyment in life comes only as we follow God’s guidelines for living. Those who really know how to enjoy life are the ones who take life each day as a gift from God, being grateful and serving him.
“Again I saw something meaningless under the sun; there was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth….two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work...if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?”(4:8, 9, 11) Life is created for companionship; not isolation and for intimacy; not loneliness. We are not placed on this earth to serve ourselves; but to serve God and others. Beware of isolating yourself and going at life alone. Becoming a team player and having good companionship make our time here meaningful.
“Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.”(5:10) Do you find yourself constantly wanting more than you have? Solomon observed that those who love money and seek it obsessively never find the happiness is falsely promises. Money in itself is not wrong; but loving money leads to all types of sin.
“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”(7:8) To finish what we start requires hard work, wise guidance, self-discipline, and patience. Anyone with vision can start a project; but vision without wisdom often results in unfinished projects and goals.
“Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love…whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”(9:9) How sad it would be to be married and not appreciate the enjoyment and companionship God has given you.
“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”(11:4) Waiting for perfect circumstances will lead to inactivity. Have you had someone tell you that their life is on hold until this or that; or before making a decision, they are waiting to have a certain amount of money in their bank account? If we wait for the perfect time and place, we may never begin. Take steps to do something today. Don’t wait for conditions that may never exist and waste your life. It is important to approach your decisions from God’s perspective; approach life with an attitude that although our lives are short; we will live with God forever.
“Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, whether it is good or evil.”(12:13) Our time on earth is so short, we should use the time to learn important truths that will affect this life and eternity. No matter the mysteries and contradictions of life, we must work toward the single purpose of knowing God. We should enjoy our lives as it is a gift from God and love him with all our hearts, minds and souls by following his commandments. In order to live properly, we must, recognize that human effort apart from God is futile; put God first now; receive everything that is good as a gift from God; realize that God will judge both evil and good; know that God will judge the quality of every person’s life. People strive for the very enjoyment that God gives for free, as a gift; isn’t that ironic?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Proverbs 21-31
“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.”(Proverbs 23:11) Our culture would have us believe that riches lead to happiness. Of course not all, but most celebrities with fame and fortune are the unhappy of all and cause their own demise with the constant “chase”. Done spend your time chasing fleeting earthly treasures.
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor...Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding…Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine…In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.”(23:20, 23, 29, 32, 33) To some, alcohol is comforting or an excuse to drop inhibitions and behave according to animal instinct without rational thought. Real relief and comfort comes from dealing with the cause of the anguish and sorrow and turning to God for peace. You can lose yourself in alcohol; and you can find yourself in God. The Bible warns the dangers of wine. Wine dulls the senses; limits clear judgment; it lowers the capacity for control; it destroys a person’s efficiency. Wine is a means for self-indulgence, or as an escape from life. I have witnessed people in bars who were “respectable and of sound judgment” until they decided to indulge and become drunk. To watch a strong individual give in so easily to temptation and weakness is a sad sight. The people that claim they have the most fun when they are drinking leads me to wonder if they know what “fun” really means and if they ever uncover the buried painful emotions that they are desperately trying to run away from. Alcohol will never be a means to a healthy end. Beware of seeking numbness and hardening your heart so that in time; it becomes challenging to give and receive love.
“If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!”(24:10) Times of struggle and trouble can show you who you are; what type of character you’ve developed. Trouble can be a great thing. Difficulty helps you grow stronger. Complaining of your troubles only actualized your weakness in overcoming the trial to experience the joy. Instead, consider good times and bad times blessings because God is preparing you for situations He needs you to be strong for in the future. It’s like experiencing growing pains; sure when you were a child you wouldn’t wish those feelings on your worst enemy; but then again, how will you relate to your children or others who experience similar growing pains had you not gone through what you did. This is when it is always important to remember God’s good purposes for allowing circumstances in your life; when we remember this life “is not all about me” and realize that God equips us to help another in their circumstance; we begin to realize why things may have happened to us.
“An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”(24:26) One who gives an honest answer is a true friend; bending the truth to avoid hurt feelings will only hurt your friend more. Have you had a friend speak honestly and freely to you and you knew it was the truth even though you didn’t like hearing it? It doesn’t feel great when someone holds a mirror to your face and challenges you to evaluate your weaknesses; but this is part of true friendship. When you love someone; you encourage them to see the truth and make changes on their own accord when necessary. When people want the sugar coated version of the truth; it is usually because they aren’t ready to do something about the truth or ready to even hear it.
“Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.”(25:13) Trustworthy friends and coworkers are hard to come by in our world; fair-weathered acquaintances are much easier with the rise of easy communication through technology. A faithful messenger is punctual, responsible, honest, and hardworking.
“Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.”(25:18) False testimony or lying is vicious. Its affects can cut like a stab wound. When we are tempted to gossip about someone, we should imagine ourselves stabbing the person we care about with a sword because that is the way it feels when the gossip has been discovered.
God’s word is God’s gift to us. We know Him through His word and in studying the Bible, His word speaks to us. God can communicate in more ways than one and it is important to realize that His word is our guide; but in order to understand and apply His word, you’ll need the Holy Spirit to direct how the word is meaningful for you and in your particular situations. For instance, in Proverbs, there seems to be a contradiction in the word. “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.”(26:4) The very next line reads, “answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.”(26:5) Although seemingly contradictory, it is important to realize that this is precisely the reason you need the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read the word so that you’ll know which truth applies to you and at which time. You may use both truths with 2 different people; or both for the same person on two different days. It is impossible to apply God’s word without the Holy Spirit for times like this when you don’t know which path is the wiser of the two.
Here are four different tongues. The controlled tongue: those that think before speaking, know when silence is best, and give wise advice. The caring tongue: those who speak truthfully while seeking to encourage. The conniving tongue: filled with wrong motives, gossip, slander, and a desire to twist the truth. The careless tongue: patterns of speech filled with lies, curses, quick-tempered words that can lead to rebellion and destruction.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”(27:17) Meeting of the minds helps people see their ideas with new clarity to shape them into brilliant insights. To gain such mental sharpness is to place yourself in the presence of those who challenge you and stimulate thought. People who can free themselves of ego and immerse themselves in openly sharing in discussion; this occurs with people who learn how to argue the thought and not the thinker. Two people who selflessly bring together their ideas can help each other become sharper.
Diligence versus Laziness: The Diligent: Become rich, gather crops early will rule, prize their possessions, are fully satisfied, bring profit, have an easy path, stay awake and have food to spare, make careful plans, give without sparing, reap abundance through hard work. The lazy: are soon poor, sleep during harvest, are an annoyance, chase fantasies, will become slaves, waste good resources, want much but get little, experience poverty, have trouble all their life, love sleep and grow poor, love pleasure and become poor, desire things but refuse to work for them, sleep too much which leads to poverty, experience poverty because of laziness.
“If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.”(28:9) God will not listen to our prayers if we secretly intent to go back to our sin as soon as we get off our knees; we can’t keep secrets from an all-knowing God. It is not the depth of our sin that closes God’s ear to our prayer, but the intention to repeat the sin over and over again.
“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”(28:13) It is hard to admit we are wrong at times. Have you met someone where you can’t remember ever hearing them willingly admit to a wrongdoing? Have you been that person? It is easy to admire someone who openly and graciously admits their mistakes. These people have a strong self-image. They do not always have to be right to feel good about themselves. Be willing to reconsider and admit to being wrong. The first step toward forgiveness is confession.
Qualities of Good Leadership: diligence, trustworthy messengers, listen before answering, able to discern, listen to both sides of the story, stand up under adversity, able to stand up under praise. What happens without good leadership: honoring the wrong people backfires, a wicked ruler is dangerous, and people despair.
“A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.”(29:1) Making the same mistake over and over again is not only foolish and a waste of time, but also an invitation to disaster. People will face consequences when they refuse to learn the lessons from mistakes.
“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”(29:11) Have you ever seen someone you thought really had it together and then they lost their temper and gave in to looking ridiculous in their own anger? Did their credibility come down in your eyes? We are witnesses to those around us; God is always watching our behavior. It doesn’t matter how many great deeds you do; when we lose our tempers and give way to anger against another, deserving or not according to us, we lose all our credibility as a trustworthy and sound individual.
“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise; Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.”(30:24) Ants teach us about preparation; coneys about wise building; locusts about cooperation and order; and lizards about fearlessness.
The book of Proverbs ends with a picture of a woman of strong character, great wisdom, many skills, and great compassion. “The wife of Noble Character” is described in the Epilogue as an excellent wife and mother. She is a manufacturer, importer, manager, realtor, farmer, seamstress, upholsterer, and merchant. The results of her strength are described as achievements because of her reverence for God. Her attractiveness comes entirely from her character; not outside appearance. “A wife of noble character who can find? Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm. She works with eager hands. She provides food for her family…her arms are strong for her tasks. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. “(31:10-31) Her qualities are hard work, fear of God, respect for spouse, foresight, encouragement, care for others, concern for the poor, wisdom in handling money, successes, honor, and worth.
Proverbs show us how to become wise and live according to God’s wisdom. It helps us make decisions and live according to God’s ideal.
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor...Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding…Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine…In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things.”(23:20, 23, 29, 32, 33) To some, alcohol is comforting or an excuse to drop inhibitions and behave according to animal instinct without rational thought. Real relief and comfort comes from dealing with the cause of the anguish and sorrow and turning to God for peace. You can lose yourself in alcohol; and you can find yourself in God. The Bible warns the dangers of wine. Wine dulls the senses; limits clear judgment; it lowers the capacity for control; it destroys a person’s efficiency. Wine is a means for self-indulgence, or as an escape from life. I have witnessed people in bars who were “respectable and of sound judgment” until they decided to indulge and become drunk. To watch a strong individual give in so easily to temptation and weakness is a sad sight. The people that claim they have the most fun when they are drinking leads me to wonder if they know what “fun” really means and if they ever uncover the buried painful emotions that they are desperately trying to run away from. Alcohol will never be a means to a healthy end. Beware of seeking numbness and hardening your heart so that in time; it becomes challenging to give and receive love.
“If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!”(24:10) Times of struggle and trouble can show you who you are; what type of character you’ve developed. Trouble can be a great thing. Difficulty helps you grow stronger. Complaining of your troubles only actualized your weakness in overcoming the trial to experience the joy. Instead, consider good times and bad times blessings because God is preparing you for situations He needs you to be strong for in the future. It’s like experiencing growing pains; sure when you were a child you wouldn’t wish those feelings on your worst enemy; but then again, how will you relate to your children or others who experience similar growing pains had you not gone through what you did. This is when it is always important to remember God’s good purposes for allowing circumstances in your life; when we remember this life “is not all about me” and realize that God equips us to help another in their circumstance; we begin to realize why things may have happened to us.
“An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”(24:26) One who gives an honest answer is a true friend; bending the truth to avoid hurt feelings will only hurt your friend more. Have you had a friend speak honestly and freely to you and you knew it was the truth even though you didn’t like hearing it? It doesn’t feel great when someone holds a mirror to your face and challenges you to evaluate your weaknesses; but this is part of true friendship. When you love someone; you encourage them to see the truth and make changes on their own accord when necessary. When people want the sugar coated version of the truth; it is usually because they aren’t ready to do something about the truth or ready to even hear it.
“Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.”(25:13) Trustworthy friends and coworkers are hard to come by in our world; fair-weathered acquaintances are much easier with the rise of easy communication through technology. A faithful messenger is punctual, responsible, honest, and hardworking.
“Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.”(25:18) False testimony or lying is vicious. Its affects can cut like a stab wound. When we are tempted to gossip about someone, we should imagine ourselves stabbing the person we care about with a sword because that is the way it feels when the gossip has been discovered.
God’s word is God’s gift to us. We know Him through His word and in studying the Bible, His word speaks to us. God can communicate in more ways than one and it is important to realize that His word is our guide; but in order to understand and apply His word, you’ll need the Holy Spirit to direct how the word is meaningful for you and in your particular situations. For instance, in Proverbs, there seems to be a contradiction in the word. “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.”(26:4) The very next line reads, “answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.”(26:5) Although seemingly contradictory, it is important to realize that this is precisely the reason you need the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read the word so that you’ll know which truth applies to you and at which time. You may use both truths with 2 different people; or both for the same person on two different days. It is impossible to apply God’s word without the Holy Spirit for times like this when you don’t know which path is the wiser of the two.
Here are four different tongues. The controlled tongue: those that think before speaking, know when silence is best, and give wise advice. The caring tongue: those who speak truthfully while seeking to encourage. The conniving tongue: filled with wrong motives, gossip, slander, and a desire to twist the truth. The careless tongue: patterns of speech filled with lies, curses, quick-tempered words that can lead to rebellion and destruction.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”(27:17) Meeting of the minds helps people see their ideas with new clarity to shape them into brilliant insights. To gain such mental sharpness is to place yourself in the presence of those who challenge you and stimulate thought. People who can free themselves of ego and immerse themselves in openly sharing in discussion; this occurs with people who learn how to argue the thought and not the thinker. Two people who selflessly bring together their ideas can help each other become sharper.
Diligence versus Laziness: The Diligent: Become rich, gather crops early will rule, prize their possessions, are fully satisfied, bring profit, have an easy path, stay awake and have food to spare, make careful plans, give without sparing, reap abundance through hard work. The lazy: are soon poor, sleep during harvest, are an annoyance, chase fantasies, will become slaves, waste good resources, want much but get little, experience poverty, have trouble all their life, love sleep and grow poor, love pleasure and become poor, desire things but refuse to work for them, sleep too much which leads to poverty, experience poverty because of laziness.
“If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.”(28:9) God will not listen to our prayers if we secretly intent to go back to our sin as soon as we get off our knees; we can’t keep secrets from an all-knowing God. It is not the depth of our sin that closes God’s ear to our prayer, but the intention to repeat the sin over and over again.
“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”(28:13) It is hard to admit we are wrong at times. Have you met someone where you can’t remember ever hearing them willingly admit to a wrongdoing? Have you been that person? It is easy to admire someone who openly and graciously admits their mistakes. These people have a strong self-image. They do not always have to be right to feel good about themselves. Be willing to reconsider and admit to being wrong. The first step toward forgiveness is confession.
Qualities of Good Leadership: diligence, trustworthy messengers, listen before answering, able to discern, listen to both sides of the story, stand up under adversity, able to stand up under praise. What happens without good leadership: honoring the wrong people backfires, a wicked ruler is dangerous, and people despair.
“A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.”(29:1) Making the same mistake over and over again is not only foolish and a waste of time, but also an invitation to disaster. People will face consequences when they refuse to learn the lessons from mistakes.
“A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”(29:11) Have you ever seen someone you thought really had it together and then they lost their temper and gave in to looking ridiculous in their own anger? Did their credibility come down in your eyes? We are witnesses to those around us; God is always watching our behavior. It doesn’t matter how many great deeds you do; when we lose our tempers and give way to anger against another, deserving or not according to us, we lose all our credibility as a trustworthy and sound individual.
“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise; Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.”(30:24) Ants teach us about preparation; coneys about wise building; locusts about cooperation and order; and lizards about fearlessness.
The book of Proverbs ends with a picture of a woman of strong character, great wisdom, many skills, and great compassion. “The wife of Noble Character” is described in the Epilogue as an excellent wife and mother. She is a manufacturer, importer, manager, realtor, farmer, seamstress, upholsterer, and merchant. The results of her strength are described as achievements because of her reverence for God. Her attractiveness comes entirely from her character; not outside appearance. “A wife of noble character who can find? Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm. She works with eager hands. She provides food for her family…her arms are strong for her tasks. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. “(31:10-31) Her qualities are hard work, fear of God, respect for spouse, foresight, encouragement, care for others, concern for the poor, wisdom in handling money, successes, honor, and worth.
Proverbs show us how to become wise and live according to God’s wisdom. It helps us make decisions and live according to God’s ideal.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Proverbs 11-20
People are funny about money. Here is God’s advice about money: Be generous in giving, place people’s needs ahead of profit, be cautious of countersigning for another, don’t accept bribes, help the poor, store up for the future, and be careful about borrowing.
“The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death.”(11:19) Righteous people attain life by living more fully each day. When you live right with proper diet, exercise, balance and rest; you will find that you will lead a more meaningful life. Taking care of ourselves physically is important; our bodies are our temples and we honor God when we honor our bodies. That means being cautious to what we put in our bodies. We must also develop our ability to think; God gave us a mind for a reason and like nourishment to our bodies; our minds require proper nourishment as well. This means avoiding subjecting your thoughts to things that cloud your mind, bring confusion, cause anger, arouse lust, generate greed and so forth. It’s always important to guard our hearts and our minds against evil.
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”(12:1) A wise person is a model of a meaningful life. Their sense of purpose attracts others who long for the same thing. Years of schooling are a waste of time for someone without desire to learn. If you embrace being taught; there is no end to what you are able to learn. Being willing to accept discipline and correction, learning from people’s mistakes and learning from the wisdom of others will allow you to apply wisdom. A person who declines constructive criticism has issues with pride usually and such a person is likely to learn little. The efforts of the wise stand against the test of time; real success comes to those who do what is right. Knowing how to do what is right comes from wisdom only God can give. “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”(12:15) Taking advice from trusted counsel and those who have God’s work embedded in their hearts are a great way to see the truth in a bed of lies. Reach out and seek such counsel when you notice your life taking a different turn; or a change in your attitude toward negativity. God may send someone in your path to speak His truth and help free you from bondage. Wise learners: quietly accept instruction and criticism, love discipline, listen to advice, accept parents’ discipline, profit from constructive rebuke; while foolish failures ignore instruction, hate correction, think they need no advice, and self-destruct by refusing rebuke.
“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”(13:3) The tongue is one of the smallest appendages in the body and the one that can cause the most damage. Do not take words lightly; words can bring ruin to yourself and everyone around you. You have not mastered self-control if you do not control what you say and how you say it. It is important to stop and think before you react or speak. When you learn to control the tongue, you learn to control the rest of your body. Have you had an argument with someone and said things you later regretted? We all have. Have you considered what you could have done differently to avoid that feeling of regret in the future? Holding your tongue is a good start. Saying nothing far outweighs saying something hurtful that bears no merit. If you must correct someone’s behavior; doing so with love, kindness, compassion and truth is what God calls us to do; not take out our own wrath to satisfy our own egos.
“Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”(13:10) When we make choices for good, those choices breed other opportunities for good; evil choices have the same pattern in the opposite direction. Obedience brings the greatest safety and security; the right choices reflect your integrity and bring you closer to God who will care for you better than you can care for yourself. Admitting we are wrong and seeking help through advice can be difficult for people, especially those immersed in their own egos and pride. Admitting to being wrong requires humility and leads to freedom. Humility heals and pride stirs up conflict. Be willing to admit to your mistakes and ask others to help you when you need it; we were not meant to live our lives alone and living in community requires both these actions to live well. God gives the best advice. The only way to know his advice is to study what he says by reading his word and seeking advice of those who know his word as well. Since God created us; he knows us and loves us better than we can do for ourselves and it only makes sense to listen to his instructions and do what he says since he is our manufacturer. Like operating a car, we will “run right” when we follow the owner’s manual; in this case it is God’s word. Proud people take little account of their weaknesses and do not anticipate road blocks. These people are easily tripped up when things don’t work out according to their plan. Proud people seldom realize that pride is their problem interesting enough; although most people around them would concur pride is the culprit. Ask someone you trust whether self-satisfaction has blinded you to obvious warning signs. That person may help you avoid a fall.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”(14:12) If someone tells you to take the path of least resistance, or “if it’s right, it will be easy”, or flow down the stream merrily for life is but a dream; beware of taking an easy route that leads to ruin. Not all choices will be hard, but easy choices should prompt us to take a second look; for it may be the greatest trick to trap us. One little easy decision can lead to lifelong consequence as we’ve all experienced and seen in others’ journeys. Is the solution attractive because it allows me to be lazy? Because it doesn’t challenge me to change my life-style? Because it requires no moral restraints? Many times, the right choice often requires hard work and self-sacrifice. Don’t be enticed by false shortcuts that seem right but end in death. This death is not just literal; it could be death of a marriage, friendship, job, joy, etc.
The wise: help others with good advice, enjoy wisdom, seek knowledge, value wisdom above riches, respond to correction, pursue wisdom, trust in wisdom, keep peace, and stay on straight paths. The foolish: lack judgment, are gullible, pursue illusive dreams, are proud and arrogant, repeat their mistakes, trust in themselves, unleash their anger, lash out when discovered in their mistakes, walk a troublesome path, and persist in their foolishness.
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed…he who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.”(15:22, 32) People with tunnel vision; those who are so close minded they couldn’t see the truth if it slapped them in the face are likely to miss the right road because they have closed their minds to any new options and insist their way is right. We need the help of those who can broaden our vision and perspective. Seeking out the advice of those who know you and have a wealth of experience is not a weakness but a strength. Building a network of advisors is encouraged. Being open to new ideas and being willing to weigh their suggestions carefully will lead to stronger plans that move toward success.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”(16:4) The final outcome of all our plans are ultimately in God’s hands. Does that mean we shouldn’t make plans? No. On the contrary, like any relationship, we are involved in equal partnership with a balance between our efforts and God’s control. He gave us minds to use, the humility to seek advice from others and the capability to plan for good reason. Use all the resources you have and entrust the final results to him. People fall short of doing this by giving excuses. People can rationalize anything and create ways for their own version of right and wrong. Before putting ANY plan into action, consider these questions: 1) Is this plan in harmony with God’s truth? 2) Will it work under real life conditions? 3) Is my attitude pleasing to God? Here is a good balance for being in an equal partnership with God in making plans: Trust God as if everything depended on him and work as if everything depending on you. Think of all your plans and then ask yourself; have you committed it to the Lord?
“Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.”(16:32) Self-control outweighs conquest. Success can be ruined by losing control of your temper. Most people can feel their anger rise toward explosion if it gets that far; in this very moment it is important to realize that if you proceed to losing control, you may forfeit the very thing you want the most. Don’t allow anger to get the best of you because something didn’t go your way. Through trials and hardship, God reveals our character to us and clears out anything that gets in the way of completely trusting him. Through tough times, see God’s desire to refine your faith and purify your heart. Be careful in your arguments with others when you feel anger. It is tempting, especially in an argument, to bring up all the mistakes the other person has ever made. Love, however, keeps its mouth shut. Bringing things into arguments that are unrelated to the topic being discussed are usually said to satisfy your own ego and pride and to prove yourself right. As we grow in our faith in God, we acquire God’s ability to forgive and forget the sins of the past.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”(17:22) Such people who come with words of encouragement, positive thinking and words, and enthusiasm are pain-relieving medicine. Healing of the body is influenced heavily by the weights on our minds and in our hearts. Wallowing in self-pity causes chronic diseases. There is a reason for this. God urges us to trust him, to be his servants and we cannot do these things when we live as victims in self-pity. I believe that is the reason there are physical consequences we suffer when we allow our negative, evil and poisonous thoughts and emotions to consume our thoughts and actions. We are not here on earth simply for ourselves; God wants us to get out of ourselves and help another. He may have allowed a painful circumstance to happen to you so that you may be a witness to warn another, or help heal another who has experienced the same pain. When we get out of ourselves and realize we are not here for us; it will inspire the cheerful heart in you to reach out to others. “A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”(18:14)
“A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.”(17:24) Having big dreams comes with a warning; chasing fantasies and having wandering eyes and not having gratitude for the blessings God has already provided to you can lead to destruction and sadness. If you don’t behave that you appreciate what God has already done for you, what if he assumes you don’t want it and takes it away? Who will you have to blame for not cherishing what you had but yourself? It is far better to align your goals with God’s to be the kind of person he wants you to be. Wisdom, honesty, patience and love are great goals to have and they determine your eternal future; your life here on earth is finite. Though we must exercise responsibility and obedience in our time here, ultimately what truly matters is how we prepare to walk with God for all eternity; which is much longer than our lifetime!
“He who answers before listening; that is his folly and his shame.”(18:13) Here are three basic principles for making sound decisions: 1) Get the facts before answering; 2) Be open to new ideas; 3) Make sure you hear both sides of the story before judging. The only alternative to seeking additional information prior to making sound decisions is prejudice; judging before obtaining the facts. Difficult as it may be, and a test to your patience, before jumping into a decision, seeking additional information is always the best choice.
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”(18:22) Contrary to popular belief that marriage is obsolete and “playing the field” leads to more happiness, this verse states the opposite. God created marriage and stated it was good. Today’s emphasis on individual freedom is misguided. People think that freedom comes from living a life alone and strictly for oneself; but freedom comes from a life of self-sacrifice and living in relationship that provides groundwork to apply what selfless and giving truly mean. Strong individuals are important and so are strong marriages. God pronounced marriage good and created it for our enjoyment as well as his metaphor for the relationship between Christ and his people. Marriage and being single are gifts from God so long as the current state is being used to serve God and not yourself. Loneliness plagues our society. Have you been in a crowd and felt more lonely than if you were physically alone? It is better to have one friend or partner that sticks by your side when the going gets tough, listens and supports you, cares and offers love to you that to be in isolation or surrounded by fair-weathered friends that don’t provide any of these things. Seek to become a true friend or partner instead of wishing you could find it in another person; take on that challenge and see what God does.
“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.”(19:2) Have you felt like you were rushing into the unknown? Many people marry without knowing what to expect of their partner or of married life. Don’t rush into the unknown. Be sure you understand what you’re getting into and where you want to go before you take the first step. If it still seems unknown, be sure you are following God. It is good to love yourself in ways that protect yourself; not self-serving ways; but ways that allow you to seek wisdom.
“The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death.”(11:19) Righteous people attain life by living more fully each day. When you live right with proper diet, exercise, balance and rest; you will find that you will lead a more meaningful life. Taking care of ourselves physically is important; our bodies are our temples and we honor God when we honor our bodies. That means being cautious to what we put in our bodies. We must also develop our ability to think; God gave us a mind for a reason and like nourishment to our bodies; our minds require proper nourishment as well. This means avoiding subjecting your thoughts to things that cloud your mind, bring confusion, cause anger, arouse lust, generate greed and so forth. It’s always important to guard our hearts and our minds against evil.
“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”(12:1) A wise person is a model of a meaningful life. Their sense of purpose attracts others who long for the same thing. Years of schooling are a waste of time for someone without desire to learn. If you embrace being taught; there is no end to what you are able to learn. Being willing to accept discipline and correction, learning from people’s mistakes and learning from the wisdom of others will allow you to apply wisdom. A person who declines constructive criticism has issues with pride usually and such a person is likely to learn little. The efforts of the wise stand against the test of time; real success comes to those who do what is right. Knowing how to do what is right comes from wisdom only God can give. “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”(12:15) Taking advice from trusted counsel and those who have God’s work embedded in their hearts are a great way to see the truth in a bed of lies. Reach out and seek such counsel when you notice your life taking a different turn; or a change in your attitude toward negativity. God may send someone in your path to speak His truth and help free you from bondage. Wise learners: quietly accept instruction and criticism, love discipline, listen to advice, accept parents’ discipline, profit from constructive rebuke; while foolish failures ignore instruction, hate correction, think they need no advice, and self-destruct by refusing rebuke.
“He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”(13:3) The tongue is one of the smallest appendages in the body and the one that can cause the most damage. Do not take words lightly; words can bring ruin to yourself and everyone around you. You have not mastered self-control if you do not control what you say and how you say it. It is important to stop and think before you react or speak. When you learn to control the tongue, you learn to control the rest of your body. Have you had an argument with someone and said things you later regretted? We all have. Have you considered what you could have done differently to avoid that feeling of regret in the future? Holding your tongue is a good start. Saying nothing far outweighs saying something hurtful that bears no merit. If you must correct someone’s behavior; doing so with love, kindness, compassion and truth is what God calls us to do; not take out our own wrath to satisfy our own egos.
“Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”(13:10) When we make choices for good, those choices breed other opportunities for good; evil choices have the same pattern in the opposite direction. Obedience brings the greatest safety and security; the right choices reflect your integrity and bring you closer to God who will care for you better than you can care for yourself. Admitting we are wrong and seeking help through advice can be difficult for people, especially those immersed in their own egos and pride. Admitting to being wrong requires humility and leads to freedom. Humility heals and pride stirs up conflict. Be willing to admit to your mistakes and ask others to help you when you need it; we were not meant to live our lives alone and living in community requires both these actions to live well. God gives the best advice. The only way to know his advice is to study what he says by reading his word and seeking advice of those who know his word as well. Since God created us; he knows us and loves us better than we can do for ourselves and it only makes sense to listen to his instructions and do what he says since he is our manufacturer. Like operating a car, we will “run right” when we follow the owner’s manual; in this case it is God’s word. Proud people take little account of their weaknesses and do not anticipate road blocks. These people are easily tripped up when things don’t work out according to their plan. Proud people seldom realize that pride is their problem interesting enough; although most people around them would concur pride is the culprit. Ask someone you trust whether self-satisfaction has blinded you to obvious warning signs. That person may help you avoid a fall.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”(14:12) If someone tells you to take the path of least resistance, or “if it’s right, it will be easy”, or flow down the stream merrily for life is but a dream; beware of taking an easy route that leads to ruin. Not all choices will be hard, but easy choices should prompt us to take a second look; for it may be the greatest trick to trap us. One little easy decision can lead to lifelong consequence as we’ve all experienced and seen in others’ journeys. Is the solution attractive because it allows me to be lazy? Because it doesn’t challenge me to change my life-style? Because it requires no moral restraints? Many times, the right choice often requires hard work and self-sacrifice. Don’t be enticed by false shortcuts that seem right but end in death. This death is not just literal; it could be death of a marriage, friendship, job, joy, etc.
The wise: help others with good advice, enjoy wisdom, seek knowledge, value wisdom above riches, respond to correction, pursue wisdom, trust in wisdom, keep peace, and stay on straight paths. The foolish: lack judgment, are gullible, pursue illusive dreams, are proud and arrogant, repeat their mistakes, trust in themselves, unleash their anger, lash out when discovered in their mistakes, walk a troublesome path, and persist in their foolishness.
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed…he who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.”(15:22, 32) People with tunnel vision; those who are so close minded they couldn’t see the truth if it slapped them in the face are likely to miss the right road because they have closed their minds to any new options and insist their way is right. We need the help of those who can broaden our vision and perspective. Seeking out the advice of those who know you and have a wealth of experience is not a weakness but a strength. Building a network of advisors is encouraged. Being open to new ideas and being willing to weigh their suggestions carefully will lead to stronger plans that move toward success.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”(16:4) The final outcome of all our plans are ultimately in God’s hands. Does that mean we shouldn’t make plans? No. On the contrary, like any relationship, we are involved in equal partnership with a balance between our efforts and God’s control. He gave us minds to use, the humility to seek advice from others and the capability to plan for good reason. Use all the resources you have and entrust the final results to him. People fall short of doing this by giving excuses. People can rationalize anything and create ways for their own version of right and wrong. Before putting ANY plan into action, consider these questions: 1) Is this plan in harmony with God’s truth? 2) Will it work under real life conditions? 3) Is my attitude pleasing to God? Here is a good balance for being in an equal partnership with God in making plans: Trust God as if everything depended on him and work as if everything depending on you. Think of all your plans and then ask yourself; have you committed it to the Lord?
“Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.”(16:32) Self-control outweighs conquest. Success can be ruined by losing control of your temper. Most people can feel their anger rise toward explosion if it gets that far; in this very moment it is important to realize that if you proceed to losing control, you may forfeit the very thing you want the most. Don’t allow anger to get the best of you because something didn’t go your way. Through trials and hardship, God reveals our character to us and clears out anything that gets in the way of completely trusting him. Through tough times, see God’s desire to refine your faith and purify your heart. Be careful in your arguments with others when you feel anger. It is tempting, especially in an argument, to bring up all the mistakes the other person has ever made. Love, however, keeps its mouth shut. Bringing things into arguments that are unrelated to the topic being discussed are usually said to satisfy your own ego and pride and to prove yourself right. As we grow in our faith in God, we acquire God’s ability to forgive and forget the sins of the past.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”(17:22) Such people who come with words of encouragement, positive thinking and words, and enthusiasm are pain-relieving medicine. Healing of the body is influenced heavily by the weights on our minds and in our hearts. Wallowing in self-pity causes chronic diseases. There is a reason for this. God urges us to trust him, to be his servants and we cannot do these things when we live as victims in self-pity. I believe that is the reason there are physical consequences we suffer when we allow our negative, evil and poisonous thoughts and emotions to consume our thoughts and actions. We are not here on earth simply for ourselves; God wants us to get out of ourselves and help another. He may have allowed a painful circumstance to happen to you so that you may be a witness to warn another, or help heal another who has experienced the same pain. When we get out of ourselves and realize we are not here for us; it will inspire the cheerful heart in you to reach out to others. “A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”(18:14)
“A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.”(17:24) Having big dreams comes with a warning; chasing fantasies and having wandering eyes and not having gratitude for the blessings God has already provided to you can lead to destruction and sadness. If you don’t behave that you appreciate what God has already done for you, what if he assumes you don’t want it and takes it away? Who will you have to blame for not cherishing what you had but yourself? It is far better to align your goals with God’s to be the kind of person he wants you to be. Wisdom, honesty, patience and love are great goals to have and they determine your eternal future; your life here on earth is finite. Though we must exercise responsibility and obedience in our time here, ultimately what truly matters is how we prepare to walk with God for all eternity; which is much longer than our lifetime!
“He who answers before listening; that is his folly and his shame.”(18:13) Here are three basic principles for making sound decisions: 1) Get the facts before answering; 2) Be open to new ideas; 3) Make sure you hear both sides of the story before judging. The only alternative to seeking additional information prior to making sound decisions is prejudice; judging before obtaining the facts. Difficult as it may be, and a test to your patience, before jumping into a decision, seeking additional information is always the best choice.
“He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”(18:22) Contrary to popular belief that marriage is obsolete and “playing the field” leads to more happiness, this verse states the opposite. God created marriage and stated it was good. Today’s emphasis on individual freedom is misguided. People think that freedom comes from living a life alone and strictly for oneself; but freedom comes from a life of self-sacrifice and living in relationship that provides groundwork to apply what selfless and giving truly mean. Strong individuals are important and so are strong marriages. God pronounced marriage good and created it for our enjoyment as well as his metaphor for the relationship between Christ and his people. Marriage and being single are gifts from God so long as the current state is being used to serve God and not yourself. Loneliness plagues our society. Have you been in a crowd and felt more lonely than if you were physically alone? It is better to have one friend or partner that sticks by your side when the going gets tough, listens and supports you, cares and offers love to you that to be in isolation or surrounded by fair-weathered friends that don’t provide any of these things. Seek to become a true friend or partner instead of wishing you could find it in another person; take on that challenge and see what God does.
“It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.”(19:2) Have you felt like you were rushing into the unknown? Many people marry without knowing what to expect of their partner or of married life. Don’t rush into the unknown. Be sure you understand what you’re getting into and where you want to go before you take the first step. If it still seems unknown, be sure you are following God. It is good to love yourself in ways that protect yourself; not self-serving ways; but ways that allow you to seek wisdom.
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