So I Write

Never Say "Never"

2010-01-02T08:45:00.008-05:00

Keep your life free from love of money,
and be content with what you have,
for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5

You may have heard the saying, “Never is a long time.” That’s true. It’s very easy to say “always” and “never,” but it’s a lot harder to keep a promise that long. I remember an old maxim from my school days : “If a true or false question says ’never’ or ’always,’ it’s always false.” That doesn’t always work, but it does make my point: it’s hard for humans to keep a promise forever.

Maybe you’ve been “BFF’s” with someone. Maybe you don’t even talk to that “BFF” anymore. Maybe when you were little you thought you would always like to do some activity, and as you’ve grown up, you find it boring. Maybe you were sure you would never like some kind of food and now it’s one of your favorites! We should be careful with words like “always” and “never.’
Unlike humans, when God says “never,” that’s exactly what he means. In Hebrews 13, the author tells persecuted Christians they can trust God because he will take care of them. They don’t need to stockpile money, because money can’t protect anyone. Instead, they should be content. Contentment is a tough thing—it isn’t just ignoring the difficulties around us and pretending they don’t exist. Rather, contentment is a quiet confidence that God is in control and everything that happens is part of His good plan.
But how can we know that God is really working in our best interests? He has made a promise to us, which the writer of Hebrews quotes from Deuteronomy 31:6, 8: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” What an amazing promise! To know that God is with us, that he is on our side, that he is protecting, defending, and strengthening us in every difficulty—amazing! And to know that His promise is good forever—priceless. He will never leave or forsake us.

The Christlikeness of God

2008-06-11T18:39:00.001-04:00

“No man hath seen God at any time;
the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father,
He hath declared Him.”
John 1:18

Ever wonder what God looks like? No one has ever seen God, and indeed, since He is Spirit, we cannot see Him. However, John says that God has revealed Himself fully and completely in the person of Jesus Christ. This man, Jesus of Nazareth, is eternally and completely God. He created the world and gave life to every human being, all of whom rejected Him. If they wanted to know God, they could have looked at Jesus Christ. As Jesus Himself said, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). If we want to know what God looks like, John tells us: He looks like Jesus Christ. If you ever wonder how God acts, observe the works of Jesus. If you wonder how God speaks, hear the words of Jesus. Jesus is God.
Second, John says that the ministry of Jesus was essentially one of revealing God. Jesus Himself said, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). Jesus did not come to be a superstar or make a name for Himself; He came to reveal God. And He has explained the Father in a way that no one else could, because He is God.
If anyone knows God, it would be God’s only Son, Jesus. Jesus enjoys a special place of eternal fellowship with the Father (cf. 1:1). He has always been with God and has always been God. He is God’s special and unique Son. Any religion or belief that denies the deity of Jesus Christ has also denied God the Father. Again John’s words ring out clearly, “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also” (1 John 2:23). We must believe in Jesus Christ.

A Gracious Ministry

2008-06-04T19:18:00.002-04:00

“And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
John 1:16–17

Jesus of Nazareth is eternal God who has always existed as God. Although He created the world and gave life to every human being., he was rejected when He came to that world bringing life. However, God will make those who believe in His Son His children. This gift of God to all who believe in Jesus is a most gracious gift. In fact, the entire ministry of Jesus was one of grace.
Grace is a gift, something we do not deserve. Sinful human beings who have rebelled against their Creator do not have any right to enjoy a relationship with that Creator. But John says that God will graciously bestow that privilege on all who believe in Jesus. That’s grace! The work of Jesus Christ was one of undeserved kindness to us. God’s Son left heaven and humbled himself and lived with us as a poor man—that’s grace! He demonstrated kindness, love, and compassion on people around Him, most of whom rejected Him—that’s grace! He was abused, insulted, and ultimately killed by people He created—that’s grace! Jesus’ ministry was one gracious act after another: grace upon grace.
That graciousness culminated in His death and resurrection, which fulfilled and brought to an end the Mosaic Law. In the words of Galatians, “When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Gal 4:4–5). Jesus’ ministry of grace made us God’s children, freeing us from the bondage of the Law to obey and please God. The life Jesus brings is one of grace and truth.

Younger Yet Older

2008-05-21T19:13:00.000-04:00

“John bare witness of him, and cried, saying,
‘This was He of whom I spake,
He that cometh after me is preferred before me:
for He was before me.’”
John 1:15

The apostle John has started his gospel about Jesus of Nazareth by making the claim that He is eternal God. When God the Father sent His eternal Son into the world, He sent a witness ahead of Him: John the Baptist. John the Baptist was not the Messiah, but he came as a witness to the True Light, Jesus Christ.
This is exactly what John the Baptist told people. Actually, his message was arresting because it went against what most people thought. Quite the opposite of our culture where youth is the ideal, Ancient Near Eastern cultures (and Eastern cultures today) venerate the elderly. The older one is, the more respect he has and influence he carries. John the Baptist was older than his cousin, Jesus, by six months or so, but John said that Jesus was actually greater! Even though Jesus “came after” John, He was of greater rank and importance. How could someone younger be greater?
John the Baptist’s answer to that question goes back to what John wrote earlier in this chapter. Jesus, although “younger,” was greater because He existed before John the Baptist. This is because Jesus Christ has always existed. He did not begin to exist at His conception in Mary’s womb—He has existed with God from eternity past.
John spends so much time dealing with the person of Jesus Christ because He is not just a man. He is the God-man, come to earth to deal finally and completely with sin. As God, He came to reveal God to the people He had created. As a man, He came to die for sinners. Apart from Him, man has no hope of salvation.

The Word Became Flesh

2008-05-14T19:26:00.001-04:00

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14

John has been very clear about who Jesus of Nazareth is: He is eternal God. He has always existed as God. He created the world and gave life to every human being. He came to that world to give life, but he was rejected by the people He had made. However, God will make those who believe in His Son His children. But Jesus of Nazareth was a man, observed by eyewitnesses and recorded in history. How could this man claim to be God?
In this verse, John describes the incarnation, which means “the process of becoming flesh.” John says that the Eternal Son of God, the Word, “was made flesh.” Without sacrificing His divine nature, Jesus took on a human nature. This one person was both fully God and fully man. In this way, John says, the Eternal Word took on human flesh and lived with us.
But Jesus was not just a man. John takes pains to say that although He took on flesh, those who saw Him and knew Him realized He was not just a man. No, they saw His glory. They observed His surpassing excellency and greatness, the glory that proved He was God’s unique and beloved Son.
Jesus’ life and actions proved He was who He claimed to be: God’s Son. His life demonstrated a perfect example of “grace and truth.” In His dealings with sinful men (the majority of whom rejected Him), He displayed the love and mercy of God. In His teaching, He displayed absolute truth, total conformity to the nature of God in all things. Jesus was God come in the flesh.

Becoming a Part of God’s Family

2008-05-07T19:23:00.001-04:00

“Which were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:13

Let’s review: Jesus, who is and always has been God, created the world and everything in it. That world rebelled against God and fell into sin. Jesus came to his world to redeem it and bring His life-giving light into it, but the world rejected Him. However, those who put their faith in Jesus and receive Him can be right with God. In fact, God will make them part of His family. Verse thirteen talks about how a person becomes a child of God.
Becoming part of your physical family was automatic: your physical birth made you a part of the family. However, being born into God’s family requires a spiritual re-birth. A person is not a child of God simply because of his parents or his ancestry. The kind of birth that brings us into God’s family is not “of blood” or a physical birth.
Furthermore, John says, this spiritual birth is not even initiated or actualized by man. Because of his sin, he is spiritually dead. He does not respond to God. He is completely unable (and unwilling!) to do so. Spiritual re-birth into the family of God does not take place because man wills it to happen. Man does not simply require extra spiritual strength or even spiritual healing. He needs spiritual life.
John says that becoming a part of God’s family happens by the will of God. It is God who energizes this spiritual birth. He initiates the process of giving life to spiritually dead men and women and giving them the right to be His sons and daughters.
This brings us full circle: the same God who created us and gave us the life we enjoy each day also offers us spiritual life and the right to be His children because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.

The Right to Be God’s Child

2008-04-30T19:33:00.000-04:00

“But as many as received Him,
to them gave He power to become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on His name.”
John 1:12

Up to this point, John has stated who Jesus is (the God who created the world and everyone in it) and how the world treated Jesus when he came (they rejected Him). But this verse is a turning point: it shows how we can be accepted as God’s children. This fits right in with John’s point in this book: Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, God’s Son, and we must believe on Him (cf. John 20:31).
What does it mean to “receive Jesus”? This is especially striking since John has just said that the world that Jesus created did not receive him. However, for those who do “receive Jesus,” God will adopt them as His children. At the end of the verse we learn that those who receive Jesus are those who “believe on His name.”
Believing on Jesus Christ means accepting the truth about who he is (He is God come to earth) and what he has done (He came to earth to save sinful man by dying on the cross). It doesn’t mean simply believing that Jesus existed; everybody in John’s time knew that He was a historical figure. It involves putting your trust for your eternal salvation solely in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
For those who received Jesus Christ by believing in Him, John says that God will make them His children. He grants that right to become His children. You cannot become someone’s child unless they adopt you. John says that God, because of who Jesus is and what He has done, will adopt those who believe in Jesus as His very own children. This is the answer to man’s biggest problem ever since the Garden of Eden: how can we be right with God? The answer is straightforward: put your faith in Jesus Christ.

A Stranger in His Own Place

2008-04-09T18:53:00.001-04:00

“He was in the world, and the world was made by Him,
and the world knew Him not.
He came unto His own, and his own received Him not.”
John 1:10–11

There is probably nothing worse in this world than the feeling of being rejected. The very worst kind of rejection is when friends and family who should love you most, turn on you and despise you. That is exactly how John describes Jesus’ time on this earth.
John has already told us that Jesus, who is 100% God, created the universe, and was sent by the Father to earth to bring life the world. We might expect that the world would be awaiting its Creator and Redeemer with open arms, but the exact opposite was true. The men and women whom Jesus created rejected him. The irony could not be more striking: His very creation turned its back on Him. He came to his creation, to his people to whom he had given life, and they refused him. They treated him as an outcast. They didn’t recognize him as their Creator; they acted like he was just one more reject.
Two things in these verses are particularly noteworthy. First, Jesus did not come to earth to vacation or party—his incarnation was a humbling descent from the glory he eternally enjoyed with His Father in heaven. And when he came to earth, he did not come as royalty or a celebrity; rather, he came in the lowliest of circumstances and suffered the full gamut of human hardship. Second, we need to keep in mind that we, in our natural state before salvation, also rejected Christ. We may think that since we were not profane and outspoken before we were saved, we were not really that bad. But just “living life” without regard to Jesus Christ who gave us that life is rebellion of the first order. We were once part of the world, although created by Him, that refused to acknowledge Him.

The Light of the World

2008-04-02T18:59:00.003-04:00

“That was the true Light,
which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
John 1:9

This verse encapsulates John’s point in his entire gospel account. Jesus of Nazareth is more than a good man, a teacher, or a dynamic leader. He is the Messiah, God’s Son, and we must believe on Him (cf. John 20:31). Jesus always existed as God, created the universe, and was sent by the Father to earth. God sent John the Baptist ahead, not as the Messiah, but to prepare the way for Jesus.
Now John gets to his point: Jesus is the True Light of the World. He brings light to every human being in the world. John already said that Jesus is the “Light of Life” who, as Creator, gives and maintains the life of every human (John 1:4). But this is more than just being the Creator of Life—John says that Jesus came as the Redeemer of Life.
God created Adam and Eve without sin, but they chose to disobey God, rebelling and plunging the entire human race into sin. Every human being since Adam was born a sinner, with the result that he committed sinful acts, attitudes, and thoughts. While he enjoyed physical life as a gift from God, he was separated from God—spiritually dead. But God sent His own Son to earth (the Son who created every living thing!) to bring spiritual life to His creation. Jesus came into the world to redeem fallen man and give him spiritual life.
This is what John means when he says that Jesus is the True Light. The light comes into the world to dispel the darkness of sin and death. Jesus came not to be praised and acclaimed and followed, but to do battle against the darkness of sin and death. He was the Light of the World, making it possible for man to enjoy spiritual life, rightly related with his Creator once more.

Testifying About the Light

2008-03-26T18:46:00.000-04:00

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light,
that all men through him might believe.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.”
John 1:6–8

John is showing that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, God’s Son, and we must believe on Him (John 20:31). Jesus is God, has always existed, and has created the universe. God the Father sent Him to earth as the true Light of Life, but no one even noticed.
God also sent another man, John, ahead of Jesus to testify about the coming of God’s Light. We usually call this man “John the Baptist,” or better, “John the Baptizer.” He was distinguished from many others with the same name because his ministry was one of baptizing people as a sign of repentance (Mark 1:4).
Our verses say that John was not the Messiah, although he was asked about this several times (John 1:19–25). Rather, he was a forerunner, in the words Mark uses from Malachi, “Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee” (Mark 1:2). He came to testify about the Light of the World. He came proclaiming that Someone greater was coming (1:26–27). He called on those who heard him to believe on Jesus (John 1:29). He sent his disciples to Jesus (Luke 7:19–23). God sent John the Baptist to testify about the Light of Life, Jesus of Nazareth. John’s mission was to prepare the way for Jesus, and to show that He was the Messiah.
This is the gospel writer’s goal, too: to prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, so that his readers will believe in Him. God sent His Son into the world to give life, and we must believe in Him.

They Didn’t Even Know

2008-03-19T19:42:00.002-04:00

“In Him was life; and the life was the Light of men. And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
John 1:4–5

Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, God’s Son, and we must believe on Him (John 20:31). Jesus, “the Word,” has always existed as God, even before He created the universe. As Creator, He is the Source of Life. Every spark of life, whether plant, animal, or human being, finds its source in the Word.
But God’s special creation of life, mankind, was formed to have fellowship with God. Human beings are spiritual beings, designed to commune with the God who created them, and therefore the Source of Life is also the Light of Men. Every human being was created by God to respond to that spiritual Light which comes from God. This is man’s highest goal and his purpose in life.
However, as John goes on to say, human beings have without exception refused and ignored the Light of Life. God’s Light, in the person of Jesus Christ, goes on shining brightly, beaming out into the darkness of man’s sin and ignorance, and man keeps on choosing darkness over God’s Light.
Man uses the intelligence God has given him to invent ways to sin, he takes the wonderful body God has created and abuses it for his own pleasure, and he implements the talents God has given him to sinful and selfish ends. Man enjoys the life God has bestowed on him, but refuses to acknowledge the Light of God, Jesus Christ. He continues stumbling and groping through the darkness as if it didn’t even exist. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, came to men as God’s Word, communicating God’s life and light to men, but they continued on in the darkness—they didn’t even stop to look.

Who Else Can Say That?

2008-03-12T18:55:00.000-04:00

“The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by Him;
and without Him was not any thing made that was made.”
John 1:2–3

John wants to make a point: he wants to demonstrate that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, God’s Son, and we must believe on Him (John 20:31). He begins his gospel by stating that Jesus (“the Word”) has always existed as God.

Furthermore, as he tells us in verses two and three, Jesus created the universe. Not only is Jesus God, but He created all things. Everything we see and know in the universe around us came from Jesus’ creative power. He spoke the word and the world came into being.

We might wonder, “But I thought it was God who created the universe; is John saying that Jesus is God?” John’s reply would be, “My point exactly.” When God called light and darkness into being on the first day of creation, Jesus was there. Jesus always was with God—He did not come into existence that night in Bethlehem.
Not only does John claim that Jesus is God and that He created the universe, he goes one step further: everything in the universe owes its very existence to Jesus Christ. You and I do not have the option of ignoring this Man Jesus of Nazareth, because each one of us was created by Him! Our very existence is proof of His deity!
What person in all the world could make the claim that he created all things? That would be ridiculous! The only way a person could have created the universe would be if He existed before the world began. And that is exactly what John says (and Jesus, too!). Jesus of Nazareth is not just a good man or a prophet—He is God’s Son, who eternally existed as God and created the entire universe.

Starting at the Beginning

2008-03-05T19:03:00.001-05:00

“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.”
John 1:1

The gospel of John describes what Jesus of Nazareth did and said during his ministry on earth. John’s purpose in telling these things it to make a point: Jesus is the Messiah, God’s Son, and we must believe on Him (John 20:31).
All records of Jesus Christ have to start somewhere. Mark’s gospel starts with the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when He was baptized by John the Baptist (Mark 1:9). Matthew goes back to the birth of Jesus (Matt 1:18). Luke goes back even further, to the events preceding the birth of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist (Luke 1:5). But as John begins his gospel, he starts at the very beginning. “In the beginning,” he says, and he means before the birth of John, before David, Moses, Abraham, Noah, or even Adam. In fact, he is talking about before the beginning of time and the creation of the universe. Before anything else existed, the Word was.
John calls Jesus “the Word,” a name which highlights the fact that Jesus reveals God to us. Just like the words on this page are (hopefully!) communicating thoughts from my mind to yours, so Jesus Christ, the Word, communicated and revealed God the Father to mankind.
And there, before the dawn of the universe, the Word, Jesus Christ, existed. He was with God and always had been. And in fact, Jesus Christ is God. He was not a lesser being created earlier by God, nor was he a “secondary god.” He was equal with God. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who has always existed with God and as God. This is where John starts: the very beginning.

God Will Take Care of You

2008-02-27T19:16:00.002-05:00

“The hay appeareth,
and the tender grass sheweth itself,
and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
The lambs are for thy clothing,
and the goats are the price of the field.
And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food,
for the food of thy household,
and for the maintenance for thy maidens” (Prov 27:25–27).

Since last August, we have been slowly working our way through Proverbs 27. This is the final installment of that chapter. In these three verses, we see a promise of blessing. In Solomon’s day, people practiced subsistence farming; that is, they raised crops, not to sell, but to feed themselves. The same was true with livestock: they raised animals to drink their milk, to use their wool or hides for clothing, to eat their eggs, and eventually to slaughter and eat them.
In these verses, we find a promise of provision. What is interesting is that nowhere does it say that God will provide for our needs. However, the means by which the needs are met imply that God is the one who provides. The proverb says that there will be hay, grass, and herbs to feed the livestock. Who is able to produce hay? Can you make hay grow? Ultimately, God is one who provides the sun, the rain, and the nutrients to make grasses grow.
The hay and grass feed the animals, which in turn, provide food and clothing for man. These provisions make possible the hiring of servants to continue to produce food and clothing from the animals. But where does this process start?
It begins with God’s providential care. When we speak of God’s providential care, we mean that God provides for our needs through ordinary or non-miraculous means. Could God not perform a miracle of nature so that our clothes never wear out? Of course he could—and in fact, he did that for children of Israel (Deut 29:5)! Could God not speak the word and make food fall from heaven? Of course he could—and he did that for Israel as well (Exod 16:14–21)!
God can perform miracles to provide for us, but he generally chooses to work through normal, everyday means. For example, God takes care of your needs through your parents. Your parents have jobs and make money. They use that money to take care of your needs. But does not that provision come from God? Where did your parents get the skills, intelligence, health, and strength to do those jobs? God has providentially blessed you and taken care of your needs.
Could not God make money miraculously appear in our wallets or purses? Of course he could—he created the entire universe out of nothing, so he could certainly do that. But remember the time when Jesus and Peter needed money to pay their annual temple tax (Matt 17:24–27)? Jesus told Peter to go and catch a fish, look in its mouth, and there would be exactly the money they needed to pay their tax. How did the coin get into that fish’s mouth? Somebody probably dropped it and it rolled into the water, where a fish swallowed it and swam around until Peter caught him. But God sovereignly orchestrated all of these seemingly “normal” events to provide in a special way for Peter.
Could God “zap” you one night and make you smart enough to pass all your classes at school? I’m sure he could, but the way he will help you get through school is by you studying the material and using the mind and intellect he has given you. Could God have somebody show up and write you a huge check to get through college? He certainly could, and some people give testimony to this very thing. But we shouldn’t wait around, twiddling our thumbs until the big check arrives in the mail. Rather, we should get a job, save our money, and consider that God will providentially provide for our needs.
God always takes care of us. Sometimes he gives us what we need in a way that is mind-boggling. Other times he helps us realize we don’t really need all that we thought we did. Still other times he takes care of us in normal, “boring” ways—but it is still God’s provision and care for us.

What About the Future?

2008-02-20T18:56:00.002-05:00

“For riches are not forever:
and doth the crown endure to every generation?” (Prov 27:24).

Last week our proverb talked about priorities, and the importance of making sure that we put first things first. This week’s proverb is a continuation of that thought. We ought to take care of what is really important because we cannot guarantee our future.
Just as the book of James tells us that our lives are like a vapor (Jas 4:14), so this proverb reminds us that wealth is not a guarantee of future success and prosperity. Just because you have a lot of money does not ensure that you will always be prosperous. Money and possessions can be lost very quickly. The biblical character Job lost all his wealth in one short day. Many others in our time have gone from millionaires to beggars very rapidly. Money is no guarantee that you will always be successful or comfortable.
Furthermore, even positions of power are not guaranteed. Someone may hold an influential position and people may listen to everything he says. Just as quickly, the tide of public opinion may turn, leaving that person with nothing. Even a king can lose his throne. In Solomon’s day, kings who were defeated in battle were routinely disposed, their heirs slaughtered, and replaced with a new king. Within a few days, a king, who previously enjoyed absolute power over his kingdom, was reduced to nothing. Power and position are not guarantees for the future.
So what about the future? The proverb leaves unsaid what we already know to be true: the only thing we can trust for the future is an omniscient and sovereign God, who not only knows what will happen, but is in control of all things that will take place. He is the one we can trust in for the future.

First Things First

2008-02-13T18:57:00.000-05:00

“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks,
and look well to thy herds” (Prov 27:23).

Priorities are important, because they help us determine what we will do. There are literally millions of things we could do, but there are only twenty-four hours in the day. We have to decide every day what we will do: those are our priorities.
This proverb talks about priorities. The writer says a man should be well-apprised about his own flocks and herds. In Bible times, a man’s cattle was his wealth—the more he had, the wealthier he was (think about Job). Before he worried about getting more or expanding his holdings, he should make sure he took care of what he was already responsible for.
The same is true for you and me. We must take care of business at home before we go out to conquer the world. You are getting to the age when you are beginning to think about the future, but don’t ever forget about your priorities. While school and friends are important, even more important is your personal relationship with the Lord, your responsibilities toward your parents, and your relationship with your siblings. Don’t ever become so eager to “get out” that you ignore the people who love you most.
Before you can please God “out there” you need to demonstrate obedience at home and in your own personal life. Jesus told his disciples, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10). If you want to know how you will handle big, adult-sized responsibilities, just take a look at how you handle smaller ones right now. Before you head out into the world, make sure you are taking care of your own “flocks and herds.” Put first things first and remember your priorities.

Not Soon Parted

2008-02-06T19:20:00.000-05:00

“Though thou shouldest bray a fool
in a mortar among wheat with a pestle,
yet will not his foolishness depart from him” (Prov 27:22).

We have a saying that you have probably heard before: “A fool and his money are soon parted.” In other words, unwise people make unwise choices with their money and quickly waste it. In this proverb we find that a fool and his foolishness are not soon parted.
The first part of the proverb talks about “braying” a fool. That is not a word I think I’ve ever used before, but it means to crush something or to grind it into a fine powder. In Bible times, people didn’t go to the store and grab a five-pound bag of flour off the shelf; they produced flour “from scratch.” They grew the wheat, harvested it, threshed it (removed the chaff), and then pounded it in a mortar with a pestle until it was crushed. Then they sifted it and crushed the larger parts again until it was uniformly fine. The picture of beating those kernels of wheat with a pestle into a fine flour in a mortar is used to describe just how ingrained foolishness is for a fool.
The writer says you could pound a fool and grind him into powder, but he would still cling to his folly. Foolishness simply flows from him. It is not a matter of just breaking a few bad habits, putting on some clean clothes, or trying to be a little nicer. It is part of his nature.
We have said many times that foolishness in the Bible is not stupidity, but ungodliness. An ungodly person cannot simply “clean up” his act and stop being ungodly. It is engrained in him. The only way for an ungodly person to become godly is through the work of God’s Holy Spirit. You may try to be a “good kid,” but unless you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, you are wasting your time. You cannot separate a fool from his foolishness.

Testing Character

2008-01-30T19:20:00.000-05:00

“As the fining pot for silver,
and the furnace for gold;
so is a man to his praise” (Prov 27:21).

Your character is what you really are. It is not what your parents make you do, or how you want to look to your friends, or even what you someday hope to be. It is what you are in your heart. Your character is exposed by your actions. When you are put in a difficult situation, it shows your character—who you really are. When you are alone or with people you feel comfortable, then your character comes to the surface.
This proverb describes something else that tests or displays your character: praise or fame. There are two examples that are similar to a third thing. First, a “fining pot” is for silver. Silver is purified by heating it into a liquid and removing the dross, or impurities. Second, a furnace is for gold. Gold is refined by smelting, a process that involves heat and a carbon reducing agent. The two examples are similar: they undergo a refining process that shows how pure and valuable they really are.
In the same way, people undergo a refining process: fame and praise. When somebody becomes famous, he may become very proud, refusing to associate with “lower” people. He may become very selfish and greedy, trying to gain financially from his fame. He may use his fame to try to advance causes or interests he thinks are important. But it is not so much that the fame “changes” him, but that it “reveals” his true character.
How about you? If you are praised by a teacher or parent, do you demonstrate a heart of pride? If you become more popular with classmates at school, does it show an unkind and unloving spirit? What does praise reveal about your character?

Never Full!

2008-01-23T18:48:00.000-05:00

“Hell and destruction are never full;
so the eyes of man are never satisfied” (Prov 27:20).

Some of you can eat an awful lot of food, which is fine, because you’re growing boys and girls. Your parents may think you never get enough to eat. It may seem that way, but sooner or later, you get full (although it may take several pizzas or burritos). This proverb compares things that are never full. Each part of the proverb personifies an inanimate object: death and our eyes.
The first part of the comparison says that hell and destruction are never full. The grave, or death, never has enough. There is never a time when Death says, “Enough people have died.” People are always dying—it’s one of the certitudes of life. Benjamin Franklin is famous for saying, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Just as death is never satisfied, so the eyes of man are never satisfied. Man’s desire to have things is never satisfied: he sees something, he wants it, and he tries to get it. When he finally gets it, he makes a disappointing discovery: it doesn’t satisfy. Have you ever been let down after waiting a long time for something? After days or weeks or months of excitement and buildup, finally realizing the goal can’t live up to the anticipation.
What our sinful hearts think will make us happy never satisfies. People suppose that the pleasure of a vacation, alcohol, food, music, or pornography, will make them happy. But as soon as they get back from vacation or sober up, they crave something more. It does not satisfy. Some people think that getting a possession or more money will fulfill them. It does not. Others think that if they can get in the right crowd, with cool friends, or some position of power, that will satisfy. All of these people learn the truth of this proverb the hard way: the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall. . . .

2008-01-16T19:42:00.000-05:00

“As in water face answereth to face,
so the heart of man to man” (Prov 27:19).

We all use the mirror every day (or at least I hope you do!). We look in the mirror, which is basically something shiny that reflects our image back to us. By looking in the mirror, we can see ourselves (actually, we see a reflection of ourselves). In Bible times, they didn’t have mirrors on the wall or hand mirrors to use, but smooth water always makes a great reflecting surface. You can look in the water and see yourself looking down. This reflection forms the basis for this proverb.
Just as you can look into smooth water or a mirror and see a reflection of your face, so your heart attitudes reflect who you really are. When we talk about the heart, we aren’t referring to the organ that pumps blood, but the seat of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. What you think and feel reveals who you really are.
It’s easy to hide your true thoughts and feelings. You may say nice things to others but inwardly be filled with malice and hatred toward them. You may look nice and dress appropriately, but still be rebellious and disobedient in your heart. You may keep your body pure but allow your mind and heart to be corrupted with lust and filthiness. You may always do the right thing but do it simply to make others like you. You may say the right things with your mouth but be thinking vile and unkind things in your heart. It’s actually quite easy to hide who you really are.
But deep down, what is your heart like? You may convince yourself that you are a good person because you are a teacher’s pet, friends like you, and your parents brag about you. Don’t be fooled: “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov 23:7). Address heart issues in your life, not just outward appearances.

Patience Is a Virtue

2008-01-09T18:55:00.000-05:00

“Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof:
so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored” (Prov 27:18).

I struggle with patience. When I work on something, I want it to be done right away. When I order something, I want it right now! Consequently, I’m not a very good gardener. I just have a hard time waiting for the plants to grow and bloom and blossom. I have an even harder time with trees. Who has ten or fifteen years to wait for a sapling to grow up into a tree that has fruit?
This proverb teaches that patience is indeed a virtue. While it may take years, the person who carefully grows, tends, prunes, and fertilizes a fruit tree will eventually be able to enjoy its fruit. The fruit does not come immediately; it takes time. However, patiently caring for the tree for years and years pays off when the fruit comes.
In a similar way, you should not expect to start out at the top. This is how life is: you must prove yourself first. You don’t get a job and immediately begin as the president of the company or the manager of the store. You start at the “bottom of the totem pole,” doing the jobs that nobody else wants. Generally speaking, if you work hard and do a good job at those little tasks, you will advance up through the system, but it takes time and patience.
Our world does not value patiently serving and working and waiting for God’s timing. It wants everything right now! Buy now, pay later! Pay nothing for a full year! Get rich quick! Nothing that is truly worthwhile comes quickly. Learn to be a patient young person. Expect to begin at the bottom and work your way up. Don’t be frustrated or angry when people don’t assume you are wonderful—use that time as an opportunity to prove your ability to serve others and learn the lessons you need to learn. Be patient in school and don’t be in a hurry to get to the next level. Patience is a virtue.

Making Sparks Fly

2008-01-02T19:52:00.000-05:00

“Iron sharpeneth iron;
so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Prov 27:17).

You should see the sparks fly when a knife is sharpened on an electric bench grinder! When the knife touches the grinder, there is an ear-splitting sound of scraping metal and sparks shower from the knife. Why would anybody do something that sounds so awful and looks so frightening? A hardened steel knife must go through a pretty traumatic process to become sharper and more useful.
In this proverb the writer likens sharpening a knife to a person sharpening the countenance of his friend. Have you ever noticed the effect your friends’ attitudes have on you? If they are happy, it’s not long before you start feeling more cheerful yourself. If they’re in a bad mood, pretty soon you are both grumpy.
We have a great influence on our friends, and they on us too. We must be especially careful about how we influence our friends: are we making them better? Are we encouraging them and building them up? That doesn’t necessarily mean we always say the things they want to hear. Sometimes it may mean we have to tell them hard things they don’t really want to hear. We may have to confront them. Sparks may fly. But if what we want is our friend’s best, then that is okay.
We may be fun people to hang around, but we may not sharpen our friends at all. We may dull them. We may simply waste their time. Maybe you have friends like that: you probably should get rid of them. You need to have and to be a friend who sharpens those around them, who builds them up, and who helps them to be more pleasing to Jesus Christ. Are you a good friend? How do you “sharpen” your friends?

An Exercise in Futility

2007-12-26T19:37:00.000-05:00

“Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind,
and the ointment of his right hand,
which bewrayeth itself” (Prov 27:16).

This proverb continues where last week’s left off. The woman who nags, complains, and wears people down to get what she wants is impossible to live with. In fact, trying to restrain her (that is the idea behind the words “hideth her”) is an exercise in futility. Anybody who tries to restrain her is in for a real headache. The writer of this proverb says that trying to restrain this kind of woman is like trying to hold back the wind. How are you going to hold back the wind? Can you build a wall big enough to stop it? Can you make a sail big enough to catch it all? Restraining the wind is impossible! So is trying to restrain a woman who always has to have her own way and will whine, cajole, and nag until she gets it.
The proverb says it’s also like trying to grab oil in your hand. Oil is greasy and slippery, like a deceitful person (that’s where we get the word “bewrayeth” or “betrayeth”). You can’t get a good grip on it. Have you ever put lotion or something on your hand and then you couldn’t turn a doorknob because your hand was so slippery? That’s how it is for the unfortunate person who has to live with this selfish, complaining, nagging woman. Whether it is this girl’s father or husband, her selfishness and stubbornness makes his life miserable.
Girls, are you a woman who is impossible to restrain? Are you proud of the fact that you can get whatever you want from your parents? Are you pleased that nobody can tell you “no”? I hope not! I hope instead that you are a godly and submissive young woman, the kind described in 1 Peter 3:4. “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

Drip, Drip, Drip, Drip!

2007-12-19T19:55:00.000-05:00

“A continual dropping in a very rainy day
and a contentious woman are alike” (Prov 27:15).

Rain is nice, and plants and flowers need rain to grow, but sometimes rain gets old! When it just rains day after day, it can really get obnoxious. Besides being unpleasant, it can also be destructive. Rain dripping off buildings or trees can wear away just about anything over time: dirt, wood, or even stone.
The writer of this proverb uses dripping rainwater wearing things down and becoming a burden as an illustration of a quarrelsome woman. Nobody wants to hear a woman nag and complain—especially her husband! She may wear him down with her arguing and bickering and get what she wants, but she does not please God or help her husband.
Of course, none of you girls are married, but someday you may be. You should already be on guard against that kind of complaining spirit in yourself. If you see it, you ought to confess your sin to God immediately! This nagging and complaining spirit is disobedient to God (think about Philippians 2:14, “do all things without murmurings and disputings”). Furthermore, this kind of argumentative attitude will not be submissive to your husband (cf. Eph 5:22–23). While you may get what you want if you complain loudly or nag long enough, it will not please God and it will drive others (even your future husband) away from you. Become a godly woman who is content, kind, and submissive.
Guys, hopefully you are not picking out a wife just yet, but don’t be fooled by a pretty face that hides a nagging, complaining spirit. Pay attention to how a girl responds to her parents—especially when she doesn’t get her way. Her response should be very enlightening to you and even help you avoid a long, rainy marriage.

A Little Too Friendly

2007-12-12T19:20:00.000-05:00

“He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice,
rising early in the morning,
it shall be counted a curse to him” (Prov 27:14).

Ever know anybody who was just a little too friendly? You know what I’m talking about: they just tried too hard to be your friend. In fact, they tried so hard to be your friend that they ended up annoying you instead of making you like them. This proverb describes such a situation and teaches us a very useful character trait. Here we have a person who is trying to do a good thing for his friend. He is blessing him, saying good things about him, and trying to do good things for him. The only problem is that he is doing all this great stuff early in the morning.
Can you imagine this scenario? It’s four o’clock in the morning, and Mr. Too Friendly is in front of his friend’s house. He’s beating on the door and yelling, “Hey, are you in there? C’mon out and let’s do something together! I love hanging out with you! You are the best friend in the whole world! Nobody is a better friend than you! Get up, and let’s go do something together!” As nice as those things are for him to say, it just isn’t nice to say them at four o’clock in the morning! This guy may be friendly, but he’s not thoughtful. He is not thinking of the other person and so he’s actually being unfriendly.
Part of growing up and becoming more mature is becoming more aware of other people. It’s learning to view things from the perspective of others. Little kids don’t even realize that other people exist. They may be scrambling to get some candy or toy and they may just step on somebody else to get it. Unfortunately, teens are often very self-focused. We need to learn to be thoughtful of others so that when we try to do something good, it won’t end up being bad.

Learning the Hard Way

2007-12-05T19:23:00.000-05:00

"Take his garment that is surety for a stranger,
and take a pledge of him for a strange woman" (Prov 27:13).

At first glance, this proverb might seem a little weird. What in the world is this verse talking about? To “become surety” for a person was basically to co-sign for someone, to guarantee their debts. Putting your assets up as collateral for another person is a fairly risky move, but doing so for a “stranger” is downright foolish.
Maybe you have made some foolish promises in your life that ended up coming back to hurt you. Perhaps, instead of bailing you out, your parents have made you absorb the cost of your foolishness. That’s exactly what this verse is saying. Someone who made a foolish promise to guarantee another’s debts is now having to pay the price. He has lost his money and the creditor is going to take the clothes off his back (“garment”) as payment for the debts of the stranger. The writer of this proverb is actually recommending no leniency for the unwise man who made this commitment.
The idea is this: just as we see many other places in the Bible, if we are unwilling or unable to fulfill a promise or commitment, we ought not to make it. You should use care in what you promise to do for others. If you have no intention of keeping your promise, or even if you think you might not be able to keep it, it is not “kind” to tell people what you think they want to hear. Better to be honest and not make a promise than make a commitment you will not keep. You need to think ahead (see last week) and consider the consequences of your promise before you make it. As Jesus told his disciples, our “yes” should mean “yes” and our “no” should mean “no” (Matt 5:37). Christians should be people of their word. When you make a promise, make sure you keep it. If you can’t or won’t, don’t make the promise!

Thinking Ahead

2007-11-28T19:30:00.000-05:00

"A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself;
but the simple pass on, and are punished" (Prov 27:12).

Foresight. Planning. Thinking ahead. Teenagers are not usually known for these things. I would imagine that many times, when you have gotten yourself into a sticky situation, you respond, “I guess I just wasn’t thinking!” Perhaps you tend to be always rushing around at the last minute or late for everything because you don’t plan ahead to get the things done that you need to. Perhaps you end up being involved in activities with friends that you would rather not because you didn’t look ahead.
The ability to look ahead and see the results of your decisions is a big part of maturity. It’s when distinguishes a mature adult from an immature young person. It also demonstrates spiritual discernment when a wise (godly) young person can look ahead and see the results and ramifications of his actions and make wise choices.
This proverb encourages us to be wise and avoid compromising or sinful situations. You know which friends are going to get in trouble—don’t hang out with them! You know what kinds of activities are going to end up being sinful—don’t even start them! You know which television shows and movies are going to end up polluting your mind and eyes—don't watch them!
Many times young people end up destroying their lives or testimonies because they did not look ahead or think about the future. They simply acted on the spur of the moment and made foolish choices that led to sinful actions. A wise young person thinks ahead and exercises spiritual discernment. A foolish young person doesn’t, and he pays dearly for it. Be a wise and godly teen: think ahead.

How Happy Are Your Parents?

2007-11-14T19:39:00.000-05:00

"My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
that I may answer him that reproacheth me" (Prov 27:11).

When you are a wise young person, that doesn’t just mean you are smart, it means you are godly. A wise child is one who makes his parents’ hearts happy. That doesn’t just mean he makes them laugh or always does the right thing so they don’t have to be embarrassed. Christian parents are most happy when their children are obeying God.
In fact, we could find out just how wise you are by asking your parents how happy they are. Are your parents happy about your spiritual growth, your obedience, the way you treat your brothers and sisters, and your attitude around the house? How do they feel about the way you talk around the house? Do they enjoy having you around, or is it a relief when you are away? Would they say that your obedience makes their hearts glad? Or are you a burden and grief to them?
We said several weeks ago that Christian young people should obey their parents as they would the Lord (Eph 6:1). You cannot obey God and disobey your parents. Along the same lines, if you are pleasing God, you will be pleasing your parents.
I hope that you are wise sons and daughters. I hope you are wise in how you use your time (Eph 5:15–16). I hope you are wise in the way you work at whatever you are given to do (Col 3:17, 23). I hope you are wise in what you say (Eph 4:29). I hope you are wise in the way you dress and carry yourself (Phil 2:15). I hope you are wise in your thoughts and attitudes (1 Tim 4:12). Being wise isn’t just being smart; it is being godly and pleasing God. When you are wise, your parents can be happy with you, and your youth leaders will be too!

Who Needs Friends?

2007-11-07T19:06:00.000-05:00

“Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not;
neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity:
for better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off"
(Prov 27:10).

Some times people don’t want to be “bothered” with other people. “People annoy me,” they claim. They may move out into the woods and live in a cabin so they can avoid human contact. They may just be very sullen and rude so that others don’t want to have anything to do with them.
However, while they may not be “bothered” with the annoyances or problems of others, they have no one to help them when they have problems. They have no one to whom they can turn. They don’t have anybody to give them advice, help them out of a jam, or even someone to whom they can pour out their troubles. They are left all alone—ironically so, because that is just the way they wanted it.
This proverb addresses a person who is tempted to selfishly exclude others from his life. He may be looking around and saying, “These people who are called my friends take up too much of my time!” He may be upset because they end up costing him money. Whatever the reason, he is thinking about just getting rid of friends and “going it alone.”
The writer of the proverb warns him not to do that, because friendship is a give and take relationship. Yes, having a friend demands time, effort, sometimes even money, but the payoff is great. Just as you are there for your friends when times are hard, so they will be there for you. The next time you think that helping your friends is a bother, just remember: what goes around comes around. Be a good friend to others, and enjoy the benefits of friendship when you are on the receiving end.

Mmmmmmm, Smell That!

2007-10-31T19:39:00.000-04:00

"Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart:
so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel"
(Prov 27:9).

Do you like to smell good? Maybe when you get really dressed up, you have a favorite cologne or perfume that you like to splash on (or bathe in). Then again, your idea of getting really dressed up may just mean wearing deodorant! Either way, it’s nice to smell good. We would much rather have people say, “Mmmmm, you smell good!” than say, “You stink— is that your feet that smell?”
Maybe you can even recognize the scents of certain people. Perhaps your mom wears a certain perfume that always smells like home to you. Maybe your dad wears an aftershave that makes you think of him immediately. Maybe there’s a special someone at school who wears a certain perfume and when you smell it, your heart starts beating faster and your palms get sweaty.
Just like a nice perfume or cologne is a great addition to an outfit, kind and wise words can have the same effect. What we say affects our friends. We can discourage and cut them down with mean, thoughtless words or we can build them up and encourage them. Has a friend ever brightened your whole day just by talking to you?
It isn’t enough just to say nice things to make people feel better. Sometimes we may need to say hard things that our friends need to hear. We may need to confront them about something they are doing wrong. The verse talks about “hearty counsel” or “heartfelt advice.” We can brighten someone’s day by taking time and talk with them.
Your words can be like sweet perfume or stinky garbage. They can make your friend’s day or ruin it. Which of the two describes your words? Does the “smell” of your words make your friends happy?

Birds, Nests, and Responsibility

2007-10-24T18:43:00.000-04:00

"As a bird that wandereth from her nest,
so is a man that wandereth from his place" (Prov 27:8).

Have you ever watched a bird in her nest? Birds are devoted to protecting the eggs, feeding the baby birds, and eventually teaching them to fly and watching them leave the nest. You don’t have to watch a bird for long before you realize that her nest is an important place. Everything she does revolves around her nest.
In this proverb, Solomon compares a bird who strays away from her nest to a person who strays away from his home. Can you imagine a mother bird who lays eggs in her nest and then never comes back to take care of them? Or a mother bird who leaves her helpless babies in the nest and never feeds them? That would spell disaster for the babies! In the same way, a person who abandons his God-given responsibilities causes disaster and trouble for those around him. In no place is this more obvious than in his home.
A Christian father is responsible to his wife and his children. He is to love his wife and protect, discipline, and love his children (Eph 5:25; 6:4; Col 3:19, 21). That is his place. A Christian mother is responsible to her husband and children. She must submit to her husband and raise her children in a God-fearing way (Eph 5:22; Col 3:18; Titus 2:4–5). That is her place. A Christian young person is responsible to his family. He must obey and honor his parents and be kind and loving to his siblings (Eph 6:1–3; 4:32). That is his place.
Many people today (even Christians!) want to avoid the responsibilities God has given them. They want to get away from the place God has put them. A godly person sees these responsibilities not as chores to complete, but opportunities to glorify God. Do you bring glory to God by fulfilling your responsibilities at home?

So Hungry I Could Eat a Horse!

2007-10-17T18:48:00.000-04:00

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

Have you ever been so hungry you could eat anything? Maybe you’ve even said, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!” Think about the flip side of that: have you ever eaten at a restaurant and been super full? Then you almost laughed when the server asked if you wanted dessert! Normally, you would jump at the chance for a piece of pie or cake, but you were so full after the meal just thinking about eating more made your stomach hurt!
You know exactly what this proverb is talking about. When you are full, you can’t stand the thought of eating anything, even your most favorite food of all! When you’re hungry, almost anything sounds good.
This proverb points out a common sin of mankind: ingratitude. When we don’t have something, whether it be food, friends, a job, or possessions, it seems like that is all we can think about. We crave what we do not have. We want it so badly that we become obsessed with it. When we finally obtain it, we don’t care about it. We aren’t grateful. We aren’t satisfied; we simply want more. We move on to bigger and better things. Ingratitude is part of sinful human nature.
How about you? Are you so “full” with the blessings God has given you that you fail to appreciate them? Are you so “stuffed” with God’s goodness to you that you start to think you deserve it? Are you looking down on things that God has sent into your life, thinking they aren’t good enough? Perhaps you are just “full” of God’s blessings and you need to thank him for what he has given you. Maybe you’re on the other side of this equation: all you can think about is what you don’t have and what you want to get. Is your heart grateful or always craving more?

Painfully Honest

2007-10-10T19:25:00.000-04:00

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Prov 27:6).

I’m not a big fan of pain. A classmate in high school thought it was great fun to stick pins under the skin of his hands and fingers. I thought he was pretty dumb to do that. I just don’t really care to hurt myself. I guess I really would rather avoid pain.
The Bible says that some kinds of pain are actually good. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” So there you have it: it is better to be “hurt” by a friend than to be flattered by an enemy. That’s usually the opposite of the way we see it. If somebody, friend or foe, says hard things to us, we don’t like them and consider them our enemy. Those who say nice things to us are our “friends.”
The Bible says it is more important to hear the truth than to hear what sounds good to us. A real friend will be honest and rebuke us or call us down when that’s what we need to hear. Imagine if you had a booger on your lip or your fly was down. Would you want your friend to tell you about that? Of course you would! What if you went around all day like that and then found out and your friend said, “Hey, I didn’t want you to get upset at me for telling you so I didn’t say anything”? Those who really love you and care about you will tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear.
The same is true in youth group: you may want to come and just hear nice, positive things, but your youth group leaders care about you far too much to do that. We want you to see yourselves as God sees you, and if that means you need to change some things, then it may hurt, but we want to be your true friends and tell you. It is better to be “wounded” by those who love you than be flatter by those who do not care for you.

What’s Better Than a Secret Admirer?

2007-10-03T19:48:00.000-04:00

"Open rebuke is better than secret love" (Prov 27:5).

This proverb says that it’s better to have a friend who will rebuke you in public, if necessary than a secret admirer. Think about it: what good is a secret admirer? It might make you feel kinda special to know that somebody “likes” you, but how does that help you? If you don’t even know who your “friend” is, how can you build a relationship with that person? How can you help one another?
How do you know if somebody is really your friend? Is it that they compliment you and make you feel good about yourself? Is it that you have lots in common? Is it that you make each other laugh? A real friend is a person who is willing to stand up to you and tell you when you’re wrong. That isn’t usually what we think of first when we think of friends, but a true friend is one who will tell you when you’re wrong and try to steer you in the right direction.
The lesson here is quite simple: if you are going to be a good friend, you must be involved in your friend’s life. If you are going through a hard time, do you want your friends to leave you alone? Does it help if they just watch you from a distance and think about how much they care about you? Of course not! You need them to come and be with you and listen to you and give you advice. That’s a real friend. A true friend is there for you.
What if you are about to make a big mistake? Does it do any good to have friends who are watching you and thinking, “Oh man, my friend is about to do the wrong thing”? Of course not! You need them to step in and tell you what you really need to hear. You need them to rebuke you and show you where you’re wrong. Open rebuke is better than secret love. A good friend is one who is involved in the lives of others.

Covert Operations

2007-09-19T19:44:00.000-04:00

“Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous;
but who is able to stand before envy?” (Prov 27:4).

It’s one thing to fight a battle when the enemy is in front of you. It’s strength against strength, you know where the enemy will attack and you’re ready for him. It’s quite another thing when the enemy wages guerilla warfare, attacking in secret and disappearing again. It’s like fighting an enemy you can’t see. You almost wish they would attack you face to face!
This proverb says a similar thing about anger and unkindness. It hurts when people blow up at you, yell at you, and say mean things to you. You feel awful when a friend tells you they don’t want to spend time with you anymore. It hurts when a person hates you with every fiber of their being and can’t say a single nice thing about you. That kind of anger and hatred is cruel and hurtful. Even worse, though, is the person who is nice to your face but jealous, bitter, and spiteful behind your back. The person who pretends to be your friend but says cruel things when you aren’t around causes almost unbearable hurt.
You can probably think about times when former friends have wronged you like that, but can you think of times when you have hurt your friends? One of the signs of our self-centeredness is we can always see people hurting us, but we are blind to how we hurt others. Think about your friends and how you treat them. Do you love them with a genuine, godly love? Or do you just use them to get what you want? Are you kind and loyal? Or do you make fun of them behind their back to get others to laugh? Are you a good friend? Or are you a scheming, selfish, unkind person? Nothing hurts more than a friend who wrongs you. Don’t be that kind of friend.

A Fool and His Anger

2007-09-12T19:54:00.000-04:00

“A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty;
but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both” (Prov 27:3).

Have you ever shoveled gravel or sand? That’s hard work! When you first start, you can make big scoops of rocks and dirt fly, but it’s not long until you’re huffing and puffing! It just wears you out!
This proverb compares “a fool’s wrath,” or when a foolish person gets angry with you, to something heavy and burdensome. (A “fool” in the Bible isn’t someone who is mentally deficient; it is a person who lives life without God.) Even a Christian can act “foolishly” or in a sinful way. Foolish anger is one way that many Christians act like unbelievers and not like Jesus Christ.
We get angry about things we care about. We get mad when things don’t go our way, demonstrating our selfishness. We get angry over things that shouldn’t be important, demonstrating wrong priorities. When we get angry, we often do or say things we regret later. This kind of anger is not pleasing to God.
A fool gets angry fast and it doesn’t take much to make him mad. Proverbs 12:16 says, “The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.” Are you a hothead or have a quick temper? That is not a godly characteristic, but a sign of foolish anger. When a fool gets angry, the scene is not a pretty one. Harsh words are hurled, people are hurt, and many times property is damaged. Proverbs 17:12 says, “Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.” In other words, when a fool gets mad, get out of the way!
What about you? Do you demonstrate foolish anger that is hard for people to put up with? Or do you demonstrate a patience and gentleness that comes from the work of Jesus Christ in your life? Do you act like a follower of Jesus Christ or a fool?

That’s a Job for. . . Someone Else!

2007-09-05T19:13:00.000-04:00

“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth;
a stranger, and not thine own lips.” (Prov 27:2).

It’s hard to think of anything more annoying than a person who constantly talks about himself. Maybe you know somebody who has done everything (at least twice!), been everywhere, seen everything, and is never shy about telling everybody. If somebody starts telling about something they’ve done, he butts in with, “I’ve done that too.” We do not want that kind of person for a friend.
This kind of selfishness and self-centeredness in conversation betrays that same self-centeredness in life. Think about it: if we think highly of a sports team, a brand of clothing, or a favorite activity, our speech will be peppered with references to that thing. What we talk about and who we praise demonstrates what is important to us and foremost in our thinking. If you are constantly talking yourself up and telling others how great you are, it’s a sure sign that you are living a self-centered life.
This self-centered thinking and talking is the opposite of a Christ-centered life. Last week we talked about how Jesus Christ died for us, so that we would not live for ourselves anymore, but for Him. A Christian desires to bring glory to Jesus Christ, not to himself. Instead of shamelessly promoting ourselves and telling other people how great we are, we should be looking for ways to build others up.
If you do great things, keep quiet. Let somebody else praise you, and then “deflect” the glory to God. Finally, if you think nobody will notice the good things you are doing, don’t worry: God sees all things and He will reward you. “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Cor 4:5).

Tomorrow? Are you sure?

2007-08-29T19:28:00.000-04:00

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow;
for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Prov 27:1).

If I were to ask you, “What are you doing tomorrow?” you would probably be quick to tell me about school, maybe games, maybe a family activity, or something else that you’re planning on doing. And I’m pretty sure you would say, “Tomorrow I will do. . . .”
We ought not boast about tomorrow, because we are simply not in control of tomorrow’s events! If we think for just a few minutes about all the things that could go wrong (or right!) between now and tomorrow, we have to say there is simply no way for us to say for sure that we know what will happen in 24 hours. The reality (that we would surely all admit) is we don’t know if we will even be alive tomorrow, much less in any shape to do those things! We sometimes fall unwittingly into a self-centered pride that thinks we will be able to do what we want, how we want, and whenever we want to do it. Think about it: when we say, “This is what I will do,” we are setting ourselves above God. Instead of this kind of pride, we ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (Jas 4:15). This reminds us that God is in charge of every aspect of our lives—not us. When we are continually acknowledging that God is sovereign, we are also admitting that we are his subjects.
When you were little, everything you did had to be checked by your parents. Can I go upstairs and play? Can I go outside and play? Can I wear this or that? We were not in control of life! Now, just a few years later, we think that because we can pick out our friends and choose our the color of our notebook we are in control of life. This is pride, plain and simple. Humble yourself before God and acknowledge his sovereign control of all things.

Who's #1?

2007-08-22T19:51:00.000-04:00

Oftentimes, we claim that our team is “number one.” It’s the best team, and we plan to come in first place! But who is really #1 in your life? Well, for many young people, friends are number one. How so? Well, if everything you do has to be checked with them to make sure it’s okay, or your day is ruined if your friend doesn’t like you, maybe your friends are #1. Perhaps you are your own #1. In other words, it’s all about you. If things don’t go your way, your family and friends know to watch out! If you’re not the center of attention, then you don’t want to have anything to do with it. If that’s you, then you are #1 in your life.
Jesus, summarizing all of God’s laws in the Old Testament, said that God should be #1 for us. He said, “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). According to Jesus, putting God first should consume our passion, life, thoughts, and strength. Every single thing we do should be done in obedience to God and for his glory (1 Cor 10:31).
This fall we are going to study the topic, “Living a Christ-Centered Life in a Self-Centered World.” All of us are selfish people. We love ourselves and desire to be first in everything we do. We want other people to like us. We want to do what we like to do. We want to feel good and be comfortable. But Jesus said that we must put God first in all things. He ought to be #1 in our lives. He should be the One we are most concerned with pleasing. He should be what we put our time and energy into.
As we get back into the TAC mindset this fall, think about this question: who or what is #1 in your life? What is most important? What could you simply not live without? Is God #1 in your life?

What is the Church?

2007-03-28T19:53:00.000-04:00

This evening, we are beginning a new study in the book of Acts. The first two chapters of Acts tell about the birth of the Church. Sometimes it is easy to get confused about what the church actually is. We call the building we meet in a “church,” and sometimes we speak of worship services as “church.” But what is the church?
Biblically speaking, the church is the whole spiritual body of true Christian believers in heaven and on earth who are saved between the Day of Pentecost and the Rapture. Notice several things: first, it is a group of people; namely, it is saved people. Second, it is not limited to one place or geographic location because it includes believers both in heaven and on earth, those who are alive and those who have died and gone to heaven. It is a spiritual body— it is not an assembly that meets in one place or at one time. Third, it involves a specific time period. It includes those who have been saved since the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and those who will be saved until the Rapture, when Christ comes in the air and takes the Church to heaven with him (1 Thess 4:13–18).
The church includes two aspects: the Body of Christ, sometimes called the “universal church” or the “invisible church” and involving all the people saved (both living on earth and in heaven) since Pentecost and until the Rapture. The other aspect is the local church, which is a subset of the Body of Christ in a specific place and time (for example, saved people who meet together in Westerville, Ohio in 2007).
A local church is composed of true believers (Acts 2:47), who are organized with officers: elders and deacons (Phil 1:1). The church meets together regularly to fellowship around a common faith (Jude 3), to observe the ordinances of baptism and communion (Acts 2:41–42), and to carry out the work of the Great Commission: teaching and making disciples (Matt 28:18–20).

In the Beginning

2007-03-14T19:08:00.000-04:00

What’s the first Bible verse you ever learned? John 3:16? Maybe Genesis 1:1? “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” As simple and straightforward as this verse is, I think there are implications here that go far beyond what meets the eye.
Notice some of the assumptions the verse takes for granted. First, the verse begins, “In the beginning, God. . . .” The Bible simply, quietly, yet powerfully, assumes the existence of God. It does not try to prove God’s existence with logical “proofs.” It does not argue stridently or quasi-intellectually. Rather, it states that God exists and existed in the beginning even before our universe existed.
Second, the verse clearly states that “God created the heavens and the earth.” Without even mentioning any debate raging over human origin (much less the origin of the universe), the Bible simply affirms that God created everything. The phrase “the heavens and the earth” sums up the entire universe, from vast galaxies to miniscule microscopic particles. Everything— in heaven and earth— finds its origin in the pre-existent God.
Every unbeliever without exception denies these two assumptions because they scream accountability. While he knows in his heart that God exists because of God’s powerful and wonderful creation (cf. Rom 1:18–24), he chooses to ignore that truth and deny God’s existence in the off chance that perhaps he might not have to stand in judgment before this God. This denial of God’s existence and creation forms the foundation for his lifestyle.
On the other hand, a Christian’s affirmation of these truths ought to serve as the basis for his godly living. Because God exists and has created all things, I must live in a way that glorifies and honors him. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev 4:11).

Premeditated Purity

2007-03-07T18:52:00.000-05:00

I’m no law guru, but we all know that the punishment for murder is much more severe if that act was premeditated, or decided on beforehand. We make a distinction between a person who, caught up in the passion of the moment, commits a crime and one who plans every detail months in advance (cf. Num 35:10–24).
I believe that the Bible commends, and even commands, that our purity be premeditated. We all know it is important to be pure, and we never know when we might be caught in that one situation, that one moment of temptation where we might lose our purity forever. Scripture commands us to carefully, meticulously, and deliberately plan ahead of time to be pure. Consider 1 Peter 1:13–16: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Notice the beginning: “gird up the loins of your mind.” We are familiar with the Ancient Near Eastern custom of “girding up the loins.” It meant to tuck the long folds of one’s robe up into the belt so they were ready for action. Here we are to prepare our minds for action and be serious about living as obedient children of God. We are not to live like unsaved people do (and we once did!) in lust and impurity, but we are to live in holiness, just as the God who saved us is completely pure from sin.
I want to focus on the idea of preparing to be pure. Don’t wait until you are in the middle of temptation to decide that you will be pure and holy. Decide now. Avoid places where temptation is likely. Stay away from people who you know are not interested in pleasing God or being pure. Practice premeditated purity in your life.

A Look In the Mirror

2007-02-28T19:31:00.000-05:00

Mirrors are great! Think of how bad we would all look if it weren’t for mirrors! If you want to know what you look like, you look in the mirror. That’s what mirrors are for.
The Bible tells us another way to know what we look like: look at our friends. Our friends, in many ways, mirror what we are like. Consider this verse: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor 15:33).
Granted, the wording of this verse tends to obscure its meaning. Let me rephrase it for you in a little more understandable way. “Do not be deceived: evil companions corrupt good morals.”
Perhaps you have good morals: you don’t talk dirty, you don’t listen to worldly music, you go to church, you sing in the choir, and you do what you’re supposed to do all the time. You may be quite proud of these things, because you’re a “good kid.”
Even though you’re a good kid, you may enjoy the company and attention of the “cooler crowd,” other kids that you know do not hold the same values and standards that you do. Maybe you can be a good influence on them by hanging around with them.
This verse warns of the foolishness of that kind of thinking, because just the opposite is true. Despite your good intentions and your wholesome lifestyle, sinful friends will corrupt you. They will wear away at your resistance to sin and ungodliness. It will happen slowly, like rust eating away at the underside of your car. It won’t happen overnight, but it will eventually harm your testimony, your values, and the way you think. Your friends will affect you.
If you want to see what you look like, take a look in the mirror— the mirror of your friends. Their patterns of life will change you a little at a time, and if you do not choose wise and godly friends, your evil companions will eventually corrupt your good morals.

Prayer: Jesus' Example

2007-02-21T19:32:00.000-05:00

I’ll be honest: one of the hardest things for me to do is to get up early. I hate getting up early in the morning! I would much rather stay up late and sleep in late. Another thing that is hard for me to do is spend significant time in prayer. Jesus, our perfect Lord and Example did both: “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35).
Often I don’t want to get up early or pray because I think, “I just have too much to do and I need my rest!” It’s easy to feel like we’re just too busy to pray. But Jesus, even though he was busy teaching and healing the people (see verses 34 and 39), still took time out to spend in prayer to his Father.
Other times, I think, “I’m just too tired to spend quality time in prayer.” Jesus was fully human and I know he got tired. I’m sure being with people all day long was exhausting to Jesus. He had spent the entire previous day ministering to the people, and it was a late night too— verse 32 says that even after the sun went down people were coming to him! Jesus was tired, to be sure. Yet after just a few hours of sleep, he got up and made time to pray.
I think the important point that we should take away from this anecdote from the life of Jesus Christ is that serious time spent in prayer is important. If Jesus, God’s eternal Son felt it was important enough to get up early when he was very busy and tired, then certainly we ought to place a high priority on prayer as well. Do we relegate prayer to a place of unimportance in our lives? Do we treat it as good, but unnecessary? Prayer, our communication with our Heavenly Father is not only profitable, but absolutely important. It is worth getting up early for.

Above and Beyond

2007-02-07T19:47:00.000-05:00

There’s a saying that goes, “He would give you the shirt right off his back.” We say that about someone who is very generous. Maybe you know somebody like that, who would do anything to help you.
In the book of 2 Corinthians, Paul is encouraging the church at Corinth to give to fellow believers in Jerusalem who were constantly being persecuted by the Jewish leaders. As if that wasn’t enough, because of a recent famine, many were literally starving to death! As he traveled, Paul told other Christians about these dear believers and the response of these Christians was to give— generously.
The churches in Macedonia (such as the Philippians and Thessalonians) were especially generous. Look at what Paul says about them: “For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God” (2 Cor 8:3–5).
These believers gave as much as they were able, and even more than they were able, says Paul. They really wanted to be involved in the ministry of giving to these fellow believers! They wanted to share (that’s what the word fellowship means) their money with their fellow believers in and around Jerusalem.
Why did they do this? Their giving to fellow believers was not just because they were nice folks. Rather, their generosity flowed from the fact that they had first given themselves to God. They affirmed, “God, we belong to you, and everything we have is really yours. We want to use it to serve you and your people.”
How about you? Does God have all of you? Do you willingly admit that everything you are and have belongs to him?

Babies, Milk, and the Bible

2007-01-31T19:15:00.000-05:00

Ever seen a baby drink a bottle? Don’t get between a baby and his bottle! Babies love their milk. They are totally into that bottle. I guess babies don’t do a whole lot more than drink milk and sleep anyway, right?
The apostle Peter uses the idea of a baby and milk to illustrate how we ought to desire the Word of God. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet 2:2). The command here is to desire the Word of God like a baby desires milk. We should be as hungry to hear what God says to us in the Bible as a baby is for his next bottle!
Why should we desire God’s Word so much? The reason is given in the verse: so that we can grow. Why do babies want their bottle? Because they’re hungry! God made them hungry so they would drink their milk and grow up. In the same way, God has given each Christian a desire for His Word so that we won’t be baby Christians forever. As we long for and feed on the Bible, we will grow in our Christian lives. We will learn more about God, we will understand our responsibilities as Christians, and (hopefully) we will become more obedient to God!
Practically speaking, how can we desire God’s Word like a baby desires its bottle? Well, for starters, we can jealously guard our daily time in God’s Word each day. The time you spend each day reading the Bible should be a time that you refuse to give to anything else. It should be a priority— as important to you as eating! You should give your time in the Word your best hour of the day, whether that is in the morning or whenever. You should read with an alert mind and hungry heart. When you hear God’s Word explained at church, in Sunday school, in family devotions, your heart should be open and ready— just like a baby ready for his bottle!

The End of the Matter (Ecc 12:9–14)

2007-01-24T19:38:00.000-05:00

Solomon, the Preacher, has been talking about the frustrating and confusing mysteries of life for twelve chapters. The book of Ecclesiastes takes a long, hard look at some of life’s enigmas that cause us to scratch our head and wonder. But Solomon, the wisest man this world has ever known, addressed these hard questions. Solomon, as we know, was famous for his proverbs, many of which are found in our Bibles (12:9). These are carefully stated truisms of life, which Solomon observed and captured in short proverbs (12:10).
Wise words are like goads, or pointed sticks used to herd animals (12:11). When an animal starts to go the wrong way, a herdsman might poke it until it turned back to the right way. In this way, Solomon’s proverbial sayings (which include the book of Ecclesiastes) are like little points in our minds and lives that stimulate our thinking. They help us think right, they make us uncomfortable when we are wrong, and they encourage us to think about many important areas of our lives. These are not questions that have never been asked before; rather, many men for thousands of years have asked and debated these ideas (12:12). You could wear yourself out trying to read what all these people have said.
The conclusion, according to Solomon, is this: Fear God, and keep his commandments (12:13). This is your responsibility as a human being. Because God made you, you are accountable to him (12:14). You may not understand everything about life. You may not always think things are “fair.” You may be confused at times. But you, as God’s creation, must submit to God as Creator. You must obey him. You must reverence him. You will stand before him as Judge one day. Fear God. Obey his commands.

Remember Now (Ecc 12:1–8)

2007-01-17T18:59:00.000-05:00

Life is short. Life is uncertain. We aren’t guaranteed a tomorrow. One of the frustrating and confusing mysteries of life is that we have the most energy and enthusiasm when we are young. As we grow older, we grow wiser, but we find we no longer have the strength or ability to do the things we need to do. It’s almost not fair: the young have energy, and the old have wisdom, and both need what the other has!
Solomon’s answer is this: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (12:1). While you still have ability and energy, give heed to this gem of wisdom: put God first in your life. Don’t wait until you are older and no longer have the strength to serve God. Don’t put off living a godly life. Do it now, while you’re still young.
Why now? Because you aren’t getting any younger. The older you get, the more your strength and energy will fail you. One day your eyesight won’t be as sharp or as keen as it is now (12:2). Some day your hands will tremble, your back will be bent over, and your teeth will fall out (12:3). Your hearing will begin to fade (12:4), and many new difficulties and fears will beset you (12:5). Your hair will turn white, your legs will be unsteady.
Life is short. You won’t live forever. The time will come when even you will grow old and eventually die (12:6). Your body will be buried, decompose, and eventually return to dust, and your God-given soul will live forever in heaven or hell (12:7). Life is short. This is one of life’s mysteries: you won’t live forever (12:8).
The Preacher’s conclusion is this: serve the Lord while you have the opportunity. Don’t put off godly living. Don’t mistakenly assume that you have many years to do right. Put God first in your life right now while you still have strength and energy. Do what is right now while you are still young. Remember your Creator now.

Known and Unknown (Ecc 11:1–10)

2007-01-10T19:17:00.000-05:00

In the frustrating and confusing mysteries of life, we find that there are many things that are unknown. If you ever think you have amassed great wisdom, look around and think about all the things you don’t know. You will be amazed. The immensity of the unknown dwarfs even the collective knowledge of all mankind. There are many things we simply don’t know.
In the midst of life, which is often frustrating and puzzling, the Preacher advises us to be generous in our dealings, because we simply do not know if or how that might come back to us (11:1–2). Generally speaking, people who are generous find that others are generous to them as well. Since we do not know the future, we should live accordingly.
Weather patterns are fairly predictable, but sometimes even the meteorologists are surprised. Can you guarantee which way a tree will fall? We just don’t know (11:3). If you spend your whole life worrying about all of life’s uncertainties, you will be paralyzed with fear and never do a single thing (11:4)!
Nobody has ever seen an unborn child receive an eternal human spirit, and nobody knows everything that God does or why he does what he does (11:5). We simply don’t know. You don’t know which seeds that you plant will grow and thrive or which will be trampled or die of disease, so plant and work and trust the Lord for the rest (11:6). You just don’t know, so be faithful in what you should be. Enjoy life, but remember this: you don’t live forever (11:7–8).
As you live and pick your way through life’s unknowns, there is one thing that we do know and that should remain in the front of our minds: we are accountable to God for our actions (11:9). Use your youth wisely, for God’s glory, and not in a way that will cause you to look back some day with regret (11:10).

Wise Words for Living (Ecc 10:1–20)

2007-01-03T19:27:00.000-05:00

In the frustrating and confusing mysteries of life, we find wise words for living in God’s Word. Ecclesiastes 10 is a collection of proverbs (similar to the book of Proverbs) that give various examples of wise living, truisms, and other observations about life. I encourage you to read this chapter along with my short synopses of each proverb.
While wise living takes years of hard work, it can all be ruined in a few moments of sinful folly (10:1). The heart of a man is the source of his actions, a truth that our society today would do well to learn (10:2). Foolish and sinful thinking affects every area of life (10:3). Remaining calm can diffuse a tense situation, while reacting in kind escalates an already sticky situation (10:4).
Foolish living is not limited to poor, underprivileged people; rather, it can be found throughout all strata of life (10:5–7). However, those who are unscrupulous in their dealings usually end up becoming a victim of their own cruelty (10:8–9).

Oftentimes brute force does the job, but skillful application of that force multiplies its effectiveness (10:10–11). The speech of a man reveals his character, often determines his course in life, and demonstrates whether he is wise or a fool (10:12–15). A country is happy when its leaders are wise and prudent in their dealings (10:16–17). Hard work is the answer for those who complain about being poor. Even a modest home can be well-repaired (10:18). The good things of life, God’s gifts, should be enjoyed as we go through life (10:19). Do not slander people because it will be your ruin (10:20).
As you read these proverbs, some seem a little random, but the underlying theme is that we have a responsibility in life: obeying God and living in a way that pleases him. There are many things about life that we cannot control, but we are responsible for our choices, actions, words, and thoughts before God.

Life Is Short (Ecc 9:1–10)

2006-12-27T19:04:00.000-05:00

One of the frustrating and confusing mysteries of life is death. All men are in God’s hand (9:1), and every one experiences death (9:2). It does not matter if they are good or bad, religious or irreligious, honest or dishonest: every one faces death (9:3). This fear of death unites man: the writer says it is better to be poor and weak and still alive, then powerful and rich and dead (9:4). We often say that we value “life over limb.” Once someone is dead, they cannot come back and change their life; their future is sealed (9:5–6).
Because of the certainty of death, the Preacher encourages us to find enjoyment and fulfillment in what we do have in this life: enjoying the small delights of every day life (9:7). We shouldn’t cower before our impending demise, but enjoy the time we have now (9:8). If you are married, you should enjoy your spouse, and the pleasure of their companionship (9:9). Wherever God has planted you, you should bloom and grow for his glory in the time on this earth that he has given you (9:10).
Life is uncertain. Sometimes the strong, the powerful, those who have great physical endurance die young (9:11). We do not know how many years (or maybe just days!) we have left in our lives (9:12). Therefore, it is better to be wise in the time God gives us than simply to be powerful or rich (9:16). For example, imagine a powerful army coming to crush a small, weak city. However, one poor but wise man devises a plan to thwart the army, and their plans are foiled. No one remembers the name of that poor, wise man, they just remember that the great army failed and was turned back. But, as the Preacher said, it’s better to be wise and alive than rich and dead. The pointlessness of power and wealth is made even more clear when we see how temporary it is: you can’t take it with you! Life is short; enjoy what God has given for his glory!

Life As We Know It (Ecc 8:1–17)

2006-12-20T19:42:00.000-05:00

As we live out the days of our sometimes frustrating and confusing existence on this earth, the Preacher gives us a few pointers. First, we must obey the authorities that God has set up. Wisdom (godliness) makes a difference in daily life (8:1), and the wise person submits to God’s authority as well as the earthly authority figures He has set up (8:2–4; cf. Rom 13:1). The best way to avoid trouble in this life is to obey authority (8:5). Many things in life we cannot control, but one thing we can do is submit to authority (8:6–9).
Second, we ought to fear God. Since man is not always punished immediately for his wrongdoing, he assumes that he has gotten away with his sin (8:10–11). However, the truly wise (godly) person realizes that life consists of more than just the few short years of our physical existence (8:12). While the wicked person may get along fine here, he must answer one day to God for his deeds (8:13). A wise person fears, reverences, and obeys God.
Third, we ought to remember that God is God. Again, as we look around, we see that not only do the wicked sometimes go unpunished, sometimes they even seem to be rewarded (8:14)! That might cause us to try to get what we can in this life (8:15). However, the Preacher realized life is more than what we can see (8:16). God is in sovereign control of all things, and we as human beings will never know all that God does or why he does it (8:17). We must let God be God and remember that He is the Creator and we are the creation.
Since God is Sovereign of the universe and knows all things, we ought to treat him as such. Therefore, we must fear him, obeying the things that he has commanded us to do. Furthermore, we ought to obey and submit to the authorities he has set over us in this life. This is a wise and godly way to go through life as we know it.

Do Right Because It’s Right (Ecc 7:15–29)

2006-12-13T19:37:00.000-05:00

One of the frustrating and confusing mysteries of life is why those who do wrong sometimes seem to prosper, while those who do good sometimes suffer hardship (7:15). The Preacher’s answer is that fearing God is never a foolish choice (7:16–18). God will punish sin, even if he does not do it immediately. Wise and godly living is a benefit to any person (7:19). Despite our best intentions, each of us is a sinner and in no way perfect (7:20). We are easily offended by what others say of us, but we have often wronged others with our words (7:21–22). Perfection eludes all of us because we are sinful (7:23–24).
Even when we try to do what is right and pursue God in our lives, others may lay traps and try to lure us into evil (7:25–26). It is rare to find a person who is committed to obeying God and pleasing him in all things, and it is even more rare for a person to avoid the snares and temptations around him (7:27–28). God created us to obey him, but we have desired “our own way,” trying to be our own little “gods” (7:29; cf Isa 53:6).
In your life, it may seem difficult or even impossible to do what is right. Others may be trying to trap you or lure you into sin, and you feel like you are constantly beleaguered by temptation. Your own sinful desires rise up and want to disobey God. Your personal failures in the past discourage you and cause you to want to give up. But godly living is not something we pursue for immediate gratification, personal satisfaction, or physical pleasure. Rather, a life lived to God’s glory is a tribute to the longevity of eternity, doing what is right because it’s right.
If you look around and wonder what the benefit here on earth of obeying God is, you may become frustrated and discouraged. We must keep our eyes on our Creator, who commands us to live wisely, and do what is right because it’s right.

Wisdom is Better than Folly (Ecc 7:1–14)

2006-11-15T19:33:00.000-05:00

In life’s frustrating and confusing mystery, it may seem worthless to live a godly life. However, Solomon lays out in a beautiful poem the superiority of godly living.
A good reputation gained by godly living is better than material wealth earned apart from it. A life well lived is better than unrealized and uncertain potential (7:1). A funeral is better than a party, because it helps us think about the seriousness of life (7:2). Solemn thought is more profitable than comedy, because true happiness is deeper than a quick laugh (7:3). The wise person is characterized by serious and grave thinking, while the foolish, ungodly person is interested only in fun and laughter (7:4). The rebuke of a wise man is of greater worth than the empty jokes and songs of fools (7:5–6). Extortion or dishonest gain perverts an otherwise good man and corrupts his heart (7:7).
It is better to finish a project than to start another one, because patient endurance is better than boastful pride (7:8). Forbearance and patience are better than the quick temper of a fool (7:9). Constant reflection and yearning for “the good ol’ days” is a waste of time (7:10); rather, one should live wisely today in order to leave an inheritance of wisdom to one’s children (7:11). Money offers financial security but the reward of godly living is eternal life (7:12).
A godly person realizes that God alone is Sovereign, and that he, as a human being, is subject to God (7:13). God sends blessing and God also sends difficulty— both are from him (7:14).
As young people, it is easy for you not to think about eternity or serious things, but the Bible says we would do well to think about the end of our lives, and not just the here and now. What value will what you are involved in now be in a year? What kind of “fruit” will it bear in a year? In five years? In ten years? Twenty?

The Futility of Possessions (Ecc 5:8–6:12)

2006-11-08T19:51:00.000-05:00

Another of life’s frustrating and confusing mysteries is the futility of gaining possessions. Oftentimes the poor are oppressed by the wealthy, but God sees all and repays accordingly (5:8–9). However, greater possessions are not the answer, because possessions never satisfy (5:10). With greater income, there are more problems and greater expenses (5:11). Think about your favorite ball player making millions a year: he has to worry about all his houses, cars, taxes, properties, investments, retirement funds, plus all the people who want to get their hands on his money. Almost makes you want to be poor! Solomon (who was not a beggar) gives this conclusion: it is better to work hard and go to bed tired, then to be pampered and not be able to sleep (5:12).
The Preacher gives an example of the futility of possessions: a man saves up and amasses a huge wealth of possessions, only to lose them all in one catastrophic event or bad business deal (5:13–14). Now he has nothing to leave to his children and nothing to live on, and he dies a pauper (5:15). There is no advantage to gaining possessions (5:16–17). The best way seems to be to work hard and enjoy the blessings that God gives (5:18–19), thanking God for the present rather than dwelling on the past (5:20).
Another disadvantage is one that Solomon has brought up earlier: oftentimes people cannot enjoy their possessions at all because they are left to another person (6:1–2). To live an unfulfilled life is worse than never living at all (6:3–5), and death is the “great equalizer,” because it happens to rich and poor alike (6:6). How much of our hard work is “eaten up,” literally or figuratively (6:7–9)? Life is short, and man is not in control of his fate or destiny (6:10). Man must trust in One greater than himself to do what is right and best in his life (6:11–12). To try to control one’s life by gathering possessions is a fruitless and worthless endeavor.

The Importance of Reverence (Ecc 5:1–7)

2006-11-01T19:28:00.000-05:00

Because life is often frustrating and confusing, it can be easy to become cynical and flippant toward God. Solomon takes time now to warn the reader about this danger and emphasize the importance of fearing and revering God. He calls on the reader to use care and caution when approaching God in worship (5:1). He is not advising against worship, but against irreverent worship.
He warns us to be careful in our words (and thoughts) to and about God (5:2). God is not merely another person; he is the God of heaven, the Sovereign of the Universe. It is better to be guarded in one’s words than to speak ill-advisedly. Many people think of God as just another “buddy” and forget who God really is. The more you talk, the more opportunities for evil you have (Prov 10:19). It is difficult to talk a lot and still remain a wise (godly) person (cf. Jas 3:1). Just as too much activity brings restless dreams, so too much talking renders one a fool (5:3).
Along the same lines, one should not make promises to God lightly. The Old Testament believers made vows to God in prayer, and when God answered, they were to “pay their vows” by offering the appropriate sacrifices they had promised to God. The Preacher encourages the readers to fulfill their vows and bring the promised sacrifices, because God deserves to be revered and honored (5:4). If you cannot or will not pay your vow, it would be better not to have promised it (5:5). Again, a wise person is very careful about what he says because he realizes that he is accountable to God (5:6).
We must not treat God lightly, but fear and reverence him (5:7). He is not another human being, but he is the completely holy God. He should be treated as such, and our speech ought to reflect the fact that we acknowledge God’s existence and his right to judge us for our actions.

The Blessing of Companionship (Ecc 4:5–16)

2006-10-25T19:51:00.000-04:00

In the midst of the frustratingly confusing mysteries of life, God has blessed us. He has given us the responsibilities of life to bring us fulfillment, but only an understanding of eternity and death enables us to enjoy the gifts that God has given us in this life. The foolish, godless man destroys his own life because of his refusal to acknowledge God (4:5).
One of the blessings God has given us is companionship: sharing our lives with others. How fruitless and unfulfilling life is when one has no other person with which to share it (4:7–8)! A life is truly lonely without any companion. What point is there in stockpiling goods and accumulating wealth if you have no one to leave it to? Therefore, the Preacher concludes, two people are better than one person alone, because they find fulfillment in one another (4:9). In addition, when one person falls, his companion can help him up again, while someone who is alone has nobody to help him (4:10). Two people can keep each other warm (4:11), and there is always safety in numbers (4:12). The Preacher uses a braided rope as an example of something that is made stronger by additional strands.
Life teaches many lessons, but if one does not learn these lessons, old age is not a blessing, but a curse (4:13). A foolish old man is even worse than an inexperienced young man, because the older man can do more harm, since others will follow him (4:14–15). However, history will show the error of his ways (4:16).
Perhaps we think of our families and friends as nuisances or things that get in the way, but God has provided companionship to make our lives fulfilling. God has given you parents who care about you, many of you have brothers and sisters, and you have friends who can encourage you. What kind of a companion are you? One who is a blessing, or one who is foolish and a curse to others?

From Dust to Dust (Ecc 3:16–4:4)

2006-10-18T19:58:00.000-04:00

Although our infinite God has given us the responsibilities of life to bring us fulfillment, as we look around, people are not fulfilled. The Preacher saw that wickedness abounded in the earth (3:16). This did not bother him, because he knew that God would judge it in his time (3:17). The sobering reality is that wicked or not, man or beast, everything in this fallen universe exists under the curse of death (3:18–19). Man was created by God from the dirt and after death, he will decompose and return to dust. In fact, the Preacher coins the famous phrase "from dust to dust" (3:20). An understanding of eternity and death drives us to enjoy the gifts that God has given us in this life (3:22).
Furthermore, life is full of difficulty and oppression. It seems that the weak are oppressed by the powerful, and nobody can seem to stop them (4:1). Sometimes it seems as if death is the only way to get away from this kind of oppression (4:2). The Preacher, however, says that even better off are those who have not yet been born and have not seen the evil in the world (4:3). His conclusion is that mankind’s envy, not God, is the source of all this oppression and conflict (4:4). The difficulties of life are caused by man’s self-centeredness and his desire to put himself first.
Perhaps you feel like life is unfair and that you are constantly being pushed around and never able to meet your goals and dreams. Perhaps you are bitter at God because of things you have not been able to do. Proverbs 13:10 says, "Only by pride cometh contention." In other words, our pride is the cause of interpersonal conflict, arguments, and strife. When you feel like everywhere you go there is conflict and difficulty, you should check your own heart for pride. When we insist on doing things our way, when we want to do them, it always causes conflict. This too is a futile "striving after wind."

One Way to Fulfillment (Ecc 3:9–15)

2006-10-11T19:25:00.000-04:00

Although life often seems frustrating and futile, God has appointed each of the seasons of life (3:1–8). People may blame God for difficulties and hardship, but these come from his all-knowing and gracious hand. Likewise, the good things of life are gifts from a loving God. How can we experience fulfillment in our lives?
Each one of us has tasks in front of us. These include school, jobs, responsibilities at home or church, sports teams, music lessons, and a host of other things. What is the profit in doing these things (3:9)? The Preacher’s answer is that these responsibilities are given by God (3:10), and he makes everything beautiful in its time (3:11). Each of the different tasks in life are carefully directed by God, and he will cause them to flourish in his perfect timing.
Being made in the image of God, mankind has an innate desire for something beyond this temporary life. He has an eternal longing that cannot be satisfied with the physical and earthly (3:11). We must realize that the eternal and infinite God has ordained these tasks for us (3:12). The work and responsibilities and opportunities that God has set before us are his gift to us (3:13). God is infinite and eternal; he knows what is best and lasting joy and satisfaction can only come from him (3:14–15).
You and I may look at the work before us at school, upcoming responsibilities or obligations, and be discouraged. How can we ever get through all this work? Or we may look ahead and say, “There is no end to the demands of life— I just want to give up.” We must realize that our infinite God has given us these jobs to satisfy us and fulfill us. We must submit to his direction and plan because trying to find fulfillment in ourselves is futile. God’s gift to you is the work before you. Do it for his honor and glory (Col 3:23; 1 Cor 10:31). Realize that God will reward us for obeying him, even if we never receive any reward on this earth (Col 3:24).

A Time for Everything (Ecc 3:1–8)

2006-10-04T19:09:00.001-04:00

Life to the Preacher seems frustrating and futile. Although they have been given by God (2:24–26), knowledge, enjoyment, and hard work are unsatisfying. How does this work? In chapter three, King Solomon writes a beautiful passage that contrasts the varied times and seasons of life, appointed and directed by God (3:1).
Life involves both birth and death, times of growth and times of decline (3:2). Times of pain and hurt as well as healing and recuperation are part of life (3:3). Life brings joyful times and sorrowful times (3:4), stages that involve accumulating possessions as well as getting rid of things. There are times of close friendship and times of loneliness (3:5). Gain and loss, saving and spending (3:6), tearing and mending, are all part of life. There are times when it is best to be silent, and there are times when one must speak up (3:7). Life involves periods of friendship and intimacy, as well as times of animosity and personal conflict (3:8). All of these contrasting things are part of life as God has given it to those whom He has created in His image.
Many times you and I are discouraged or disappointed when life doesn’t seem as wonderful as we had hoped or dreamed. Life is not a fairy tale or story book where everybody always lives “happily ever after.” When we encounter difficulties in our daily lives, both small and large, we can get upset, frustrated, confused, or even angry with God.
However, we must remember that everything in our lives (even difficulties and sadness) come from the sovereign hand of our God. Nothing escapes his control and nothing is outside of his goodness. As we read in the New Testament, everything that happens in our lives is for our benefit— it helps make us more like Jesus Christ (Rom 8:28–29).

The Futility of Hard Work (Ecc 2:18–26)

2006-09-20T19:39:00.000-04:00

When King Solomon looks at life, it seems frustrating and futile. As he has examined things that promise fulfillment, he has found that education is too limited in scope (1:12–18), legitimate pleasures were unsatisfying (2:1–11), and that death comes to all men, regardless of their lives (2:12–17). Perhaps the answer is simply to grit one’s teeth, dig deep, work hard, and make the best of life.
What about hard work, or “labor” as the Preacher calls it (2:18)? The disappointment of hard work is that you can’t take it with you. When you die, someone else will inherit everything you have worked so hard to do. And who knows if that person will continue to keep it or not even appreciate it (2:19–23)?
The man who lived in our house before my wife and I moved in was a world-class gardener who spent his time puttering in the flower beds. He built a fish pond, put in brick walkways, and many different kinds of flowers and shrubs. After he died and his wife sold the house to us, we enjoyed all of his work. However, I am not a very good gardener and I don’t have the time to keep up the flower beds. Little by little, they have grown less manicured because we just don’t have time to keep them up. This is what Solomon is talking about: this man gave his life to his garden, and now, just a few years later, all his work is coming to nothing.
The King gives his first conclusion at the end of this chapter (2:24–26): Even though our work sometimes seems frustrating, it is a gift from God to be enjoyed. Many things in life seem very confusing and mysterious, but God has given us work and wisdom to fulfill our lives here on earth. Remember that in the perfect garden of Eden, God created man and gave him work to do. Of course, our work should never lose sight of eternity, but God created work for our benefit and enjoyment.

The Futility of Wise Living (Ecc 2:12–17)

2006-09-13T19:35:00.000-04:00

King Solomon’s assessment of life as he sees it is that it is futile. So far, he has been examining things in life that promise fulfillment. Knowledge and education are too limited in scope (1:12–18), and the pleasures of life were also unsatisfying (2:1–11). What could he do that would last and have some sense of permanence to it?
The Preacher turns to the issue of living wisely or living foolishly (2:12). Just as in the book of Proverbs, wisdom does not mean being smart or intelligent, but godly; that is, one who lives according to God’s wisdom. As Solomon looked at the pros and cons of living according to God’s law and living based on man’s thinking, he acknowledges that there is a benefit to living wisely (2:13). The wise person who lives according to God’s Word avoids many difficulties and struggles in their life. It is like walking through life with one’s eyes open instead of closed (2:14).
However, no matter how one lives, all men face the same future: death (2:15). This is a frustrating puzzle: some men live sinfully and foolishly, and others in a godly and holy way, but all men die. And sooner or later, the wise man and the foolish man are both forgotten (2:16). This also seemed frustrating and unsatisfying to King Solomon (2:17). What was the point of living wisely?
That is a pretty striking question: Why should we bother trying to do what is right? We will all live our lives and someday die, and that will be that, right? Of course, we haven’t reached the Preacher’s conclusion yet, but this is a question we certainly have all asked. An important answer to this question is faith. Faith is believing something we cannot see. If we live based on what we see and how things seem to us, we cannot help but be discouraged as we look at life. Instead, we must live life based on the truth of God’s Word. By faith we know that reality is what God says it is.

The Futility of Pleasure (Ecc 2:1–11)

2006-09-06T19:01:00.000-04:00

The Preacher, King Solomon, is examining things in life that promise fulfillment. He has concluded that knowledge and education are too limited in scope (1:12–18). Now he turns to pleasure. He decides to see if pleasure can provide meaning and fulfillment to life, but his conclusion is that this too is futile (2:1–2).
Now when we think of pleasure, we might immediately think of sinful or lustful pleasure, but Solomon says that even in his quest for pleasure his heart was “acquainted with wisdom,” or better, guided by wisdom (2:3, 9). Therefore, he was not exploring illicit or sinful hedonism, but the pleasures of life. He was going to see if he could buy happiness. Remember, he was a king and the richest man around, so if anybody could do it, it would have been him!
He built lavish palaces and elaborate gardens (2:4–6), he hired slaves to serve him hand and foot, and he had huge flocks and goats and sheep, an indicator of wealth in those days (2:7). He amassed a huge treasure of silver and gold, and he enjoyed the arts, singing, and music (2:8). In short, he was successful! He had more of the good things that life offers than anybody around (2:9). Nothing was beyond his reach: he could do anything or have anything he wanted (2:10).
Even then, the Preacher says that this pursuit of “good living” was empty and unsatisfying. He says, “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun” (2:11). Even having and doing everything he wanted wasn’t good enough. The same is true today: what matters to our age won’t last five years, let alone five hundred. It looks like fun and appears to bring satisfaction, but the Preacher says that this is emptiness and futility as well.

The Futility of Knowledge (Ecc 1:12–18)

2006-08-30T19:09:00.000-04:00

The Preacher, King Solomon, has made a statement that life is futile. He is looking for something that will last, something that will impact the future and leave his mark. He wants to fill the void in his life with something that promises fulfillment.
He turns first to knowledge and learning. As a king, he had access to the best teachers and all the learning that day had to offer. Imagine a full-ride scholarship to any university in the country! Anything that Solomon wanted to learn, he had only to give the word, and the best instructors in that discipline would come to teach him. So the Preacher “gave his heart to search out wisdom” (1:13). He studied everything available to him, but it did not satisfy.
His conclusion was that knowledge and education are “vanity and vexation of spirit” (1:14). Learning did not satisfy. Simply learning about man’s problems and being able to categorize and label them did not fix anything (1:15). Education accomplishes nothing by itself. Learning without application to life is entirely futile.
It was not that the Preacher wasn’t smart— he was! His knowledge superseded all who had gone before him (1:16). He was quite literally the smartest man in the world (cf. 1 Kgs 3:11–12). His conclusion was that learning is a never-ending endeavor: there is no end to knowledge. Education is a “vexation of spirit,” or better, striving after wind. Never in our lives will we attain to the vast storehouse of knowledge (1:17). Furthermore, the more we know, the more we see the problems of ourselves and others.
Education and knowledge was not the answer to the Preacher’s quest for life’s meaning. We, too, cannot solve the riddle of life’s purpose by learning more and more things. There must be a purpose to that learning, or else it is a futile endeavor.

What’s the Use? (Ecc 1:1–13)

2006-08-23T19:49:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered what the point of life is? Why are we here on earth? What purpose do we serve? These are serious questions that men have asked for centuries. The book of Ecclesiastes asks and answers these questions.
The book opens with the “words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (1:1). Although he does not give his name, we know David’s son, Solomon, was king after him in Jerusalem. He calls himself “the Preacher,” and in this book, he reflects back on his life and the meaning of life itself. He begins by saying, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (1:2). All of life is confusing, frustrating, even mysterious. It just doesn’t make sense. Perhaps you have felt this way about life, your friends, your family, or school. What’s the use?
Life goes on (1:3). Generations pass (1:4), days come and go, sun up to sundown (1:5). Clouds gather, rain falls, the water runs back to the oceans and the cycle starts all over (1:6–7). Life is like a giant wheel, going around and around, history repeating itself over and over (1:8–9). Nothing is really new; it is just a rehashing or repackaging of old things (1:10). We ignore history, and someday, those of the future will ignore and forget about us (1:11).
What a depressing picture! Do you ever feel like that? Maybe on a gloomy, gray day you feel like your life is very insignificant and pointless. The world around us is full of cynicism and hopelessness. Popular music sings of the futility of life. Perhaps some of your friends are obsessed with death, since there is no point in life. Others may turn to alcohol or drugs to fill the emptiness they feel.
The Preacher is going to explore a lot of options before he comes to his conclusion (at the end of the book), but he sets the scene: life seems pointless. What can give life meaning? The Preacher attempts to fill the void in his life with many different things. Next week we’ll begin looking at some things that promise fulfillment.

Be On Guard

2006-06-07T19:32:00.000-04:00

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
Proverbs 4:23

It's summer time! School is out, this is our last regular youth group meeting, and you will have three months to have fun, vacation, and take a break from the regular grind of school and homework. It's time to relax and to let your guard down a little, right?
That couldn't be more wrong.
The writer of Proverbs warns his son to guard his heart with great care and diligence. Of course, the idea of "our heart" doesn't mean just the organ that pumps blood through our body. Instead, it refers to our entire being: our thoughts, our desires, and our will. We must guard those things with the utmost caution.
Why must we guard our hearts? Because from our hearts come "the issues of life." Everything that we do, say, or think comes out of our hearts. Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 15:19–20. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man." Oftentimes, we think that if we clean up our act, we will be fine. Jesus said that our sinful actions and words come from inside of us. They come from sinful hearts.
If we do not guard our hearts, our entire lives will be defiled by sin. The heart is the gateway to our entire lives. This summer, you need to guard your heart. You must love God supremely. You must love and obey his Word unconditionally. You must hate sin absolutely. You must guard your heart with all diligence this summer— your entire life depends on it.

Never Full

2006-05-31T19:13:00.000-04:00

Some of you can eat an awful lot of food, which is fine, because you're growing boys and girls. Your parents may think you never get enough to eat. It may seem that way, but sooner or later, you get full (although it may take a few pizzas or burritos).
The Bible talks about a few things that are never full. Proverbs 27:20 says, "Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied." This verse is a comparison between two things. Each part personifies an inanimate object, death and our eyes.
The first part of the comparison says that hell and destruction are never full. The grave, or death, never has enough. There is never a time when Death says, "Well, enough people have died." People are always dying. It's one of the certitudes of life. Benjamin Franklin was famous for saying, "'In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
Just as death is never satisfied, so the eyes of man are never satisfied. Obviously, the writer is not talking about our physical eyeballs; rather, the proverb speaks of man's desire to have things. He sees something, he wants it, and he tries to get it. When he finally gets it, he makes a disappointing discovery: it doesn't satisfy. Have you ever been let down after waiting a long time for something? After days or weeks or months of excitement and buildup, when you finally get to do whatever or have that thing, it just can't live up to the anticipation.
What we see that our sinful hearts think will make us happy never satisfies. Some people think that if they can just pleasure themselves, maybe with a vacation, alcohol, food, music, or pornography, they will be happy. But as soon as they get back from vacation or sobered up, they crave something more. It does not satisfy. Some people think that getting a possession or more money will fulfill them. It does not. Others think that if they can get in the right crowd, with cool friends, or some position of power, that will satisfy. All of these people learn the truth of this proverb the hard way. The eyes of man are never satisfied.

Four Small Things

2006-05-24T19:59:00.000-04:00

In James 3:1–8, we find four examples of small things that have a big effect. James gives three examples that correspond to the fourth, with which James deals in this chapter. All four seem relatively minor and insignificant, but they can have a tremendous effect, good or disastrous.
In verse three, the example is a bit in a horse's mouth. "Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body." A horse is a huge animal. For example a Clydesdale can be up to six feet tall (not counting its head) and weigh between 1600 and 2400 pounds, or as much as a small car. That's a massive animal!
But this huge animal is controlled, turned, or stopped by a small piece of metal in its mouth: a bit. Compared to the size of the horse, the bit is hardly worth noting; however, that little bit makes a big difference! A little bit of metal controls a huge and powerful horse.
In verse four, the second example is the rudder on a ship. "Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth."
(This is a picture of the rudder of the USS Texas, a battleship from the first half of the twentieth century. This is an awfully big rudder, but the ship is 537 feet long!) A huge ship can be turned and guided by a relatively small piece of metal, the rudder. Compared to the size of the boat, the rudder is not that big, but it has a huge effect.
Now we might be tempted to think that these examples have to do with control: the bit controls the horse, and the rudder controls the ship, and so we should control our tongues. Indeed, James speaks of "bridling" one's entire body in verse two. However, he precludes the possibility of controlling our tongues in verses seven and eight: "For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame."
The "punch line" is found at the beginning of verse five: "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things." Just like the bit is small but affects a huge animal, and just like the rudder is small in comparison to a big boat, so the tongue is small and seems insignificant, but it can have a huge effect.
James has one more example: a raging fire. The second half of verse five says, "Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" Out west, massive forest fires destroy thousands of acres. Are these fires started by gigantic fireballs or flamethrowers or huge explosions? Rarely. Usually they begin from a discarded cigarette or a campfire that somebody forgot to put out. That little spark or burning fire seemed small, but it caused an enormous conflagration.
And, as James tells us in verse six, "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity." Our tongues and the words we say may seem insignificant, but they can have a huge effect. They can destroy people. They can feed the fires of jealousy, greed, and lust. We need to take our tongues seriously. They may be small, but they pack a big punch.

Godly Living: Forgiveness

2006-05-17T19:52:00.000-04:00

As we seek to model the characteristics that God commands, we see his example of forgiveness. Oftentimes, our idea of forgiveness is just "not being mad" at somebody anymore. We just kind of "get over it." But our forgiveness should be modeled after God's forgiveness.
First, God's forgiveness demanded a fulfillment of his own justice and holiness. Ephesians 4:32 says, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you." Notice the last part: God forgave us for Christ's sake. It was because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross that God could forgive us. It was because he took the penalty of sin (death) that we rightfully deserved. Forgiveness isn't just ignoring something bad or "getting over it."
Second, God's forgiveness is far greater than anything we could ever imagine. Remember Jesus' story in Matthew 18:23–35 about the man who was forgiven an enormous debt that he could not pay? He left that meeting and found another man who owed him a very small debt and refused to forgive him. When we read that story, we become indignant. How arrogant and foolish of that man!
In the same way, we have been forgiven of an infinite debt of sin (because we have sinned against an infinite God) because of Jesus Christ's infinite payment of his own life on the cross. How can we, who have been forgiven, refuse to forgive others? We should always stand ready and willing to forgive those who have wronged us, just as God forgave us because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice.

Godly Living: Love

2006-05-10T19:19:00.000-04:00

As we began to discuss several weeks ago, we as Christians are to be like God in our lives. Of course, there are many things about God that we cannot imitate, but there are other attributes in which we share to a much more limited degree. We talked about holiness and the fact that we are to be holy— as holy as God.
Anybody could tell you that Christians should be loving. They should put others ahead of themselves. But what does it mean to love others? And how loving should they be? We find the answer in the book of Ephesians. Paul says, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour" (Eph 5:1–2).
Paul says that we must be imitators ("followers") of God. We ought to be like God by living in a loving way ("walk in love"). An important aspect of godly living is love. The world and many Christians talk a lot about love. They say that love is important and that we should all love each other, but how do we know if we are really loving?
The verse continues with the ultimate example of love: Jesus Christ's sacrifice of himself for us. We ought to live in a loving way, just like Christ loved us and gave himself for us. He died in our place as a sin offering for our sin. He did not deserve to die— we did. He had not sinned— we had. But Jesus loved us and offered himself up as a sacrifice to propitiate God's righteous wrath.
Loving is giving ourselves for others. If Christ loved us and gave Himself for us, how much more we should be giving ourselves for one another! The standard for being loving is Jesus Christ; it is not "I'm more loving than most people" or "I'm loving most of the time" but "I need to be as loving as Jesus Christ."
How does this look in our daily life? We're all familiar with the previous verse to this passage, Ephesians 4:32: "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you." We must be imitators of God, and that means we must be loving one another, forgiving them when they have wronged us, just as God forgave us because of Christ's loving sacrifice.

King and Priest

2006-05-03T19:17:00.000-04:00

In Old Testament Israel, the tribe of Judah was the kingly tribe. It was from Judah that David, the quintessential Israelite king sprang. It was to David's descendents that the throne of Israel was promised forever (2 Sam 7:12–16). In that sense, the Northern Kingdom (the ten tribes of Israel whose capital was Samaria) never enjoyed a legitimate kingship.
On the other hand, the tribe of Levi was the priestly tribe, with the priesthood falling to Aaron and his sons (Num 3:5–10). God set up a division between the kingship and the priesthood, one that Saul violated (1 Sam 13:8–14). The Old Testament Law made no allowance for a king of Israel to minister as a priest.
In light of this, the writer of Hebrews, describing the high priestly work of Jesus Christ, goes back to a seemingly obscure narrative about the patriarch Abraham and a shadowy priest named Melchizedek. In Hebrews 5–7, the writer refers repeatedly to the incident of Abraham paying tithes to Melchizedek (cf. Gen 14:17–24), as well as quoting another line about Melchizedek from the Psalms three times (Ps 110:4).
The writer of Hebrews compares Jesus Christ and his high priestly ministry to the ministry of Melchizedek, rather than that of Aaron, the high priest of Israel. The comparison is two-fold.
First, and essential to the main message of the book of Hebrews, faith in Christ is superior to Judaism. In this case, the priesthood of Melchizedek was superior to the priesthood of Aaron, since Levi's great-grandfather (Abraham) paid tithes to and was blessed by Melchizedek. This is just one more argument for the superiority of faith in Jesus Christ over Judaism. Belief in Jesus Christ is setting aside the Mosaic Law, not simply adding to it (Heb 7:18–19). The writer continues to highlight in bold language the futility (and eternal danger) of turning back from faith in Jesus Christ to the Jewish religion of the Old Testament.
Second, this Melchizedek was both a king and the priest of God Most High (Gen 14:18). The writer of Hebrews makes mention of the fact that Melchizedek was the "king of righteousness" (the meaning of his name) and the "king of peace," making a play on the word "Salem" (Heb 7:2). This opens the way for Jesus, a descendant of David and part of the tribe of Judah, to minister as an eternal priest (Heb 7:14). Because of the resurrection and endless life of Jesus Christ, he is the ultimate high priest. In the words of the writer of Hebrews, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb 7:25).

Godly Living: Holiness

2006-04-19T19:41:00.000-04:00

God is completely different than we are. He is not a "super-human." He is not like us, just a little faster, a little stronger, and a little smarter. He is in a class all by himself. There are many attributes or characteristics of God that we cannot emulate at all. For example, God is omniscient; that is, he knows everything. We can never be omniscient, no matter how long we go to school!
However, there are some of God's attributes that we say are communicable. This means that they are shared to some degree between God and us. While we will never achieve infinite perfection in that attribute, we should (and we are commanded to) display these characteristics in our own lives.
One of those communicable attributes of God is his holiness. In God, holiness makes him separate from everything else. Because sin is totally foreign to God's character, he is completely separate from sin. He has nothing to do with it. He never commits sin, he never condones sin, and he never causes anyone to sin (Jas 1:13).
We should be holy and separate from sin as well. Peter says, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, 'Be ye holy; for I am holy'" (1 Pet 1:15–16). Christians should be separate from sin in every area of life. There is nowhere in our lives that it is "okay" to sin. We should be completely separate from sinfulness.
Notice just how holy we should be: we should be as holy as God is. That's the goal. Oftentimes we are content with just being better or more godly than our friends or people we know at school. God's standard is much higher: we should be holy like God is.
The reason we should be holy is because in salvation, God has called us to holiness (cf. 1 Thess 4:7). Peter quotes from Leviticus 20:7, where God commanded the Israelites to avoid the pagan idols of the nations around them. They were to be holy as their God was holy. In much the same way, Christians should be separated to God from the sin around them. We should be holy like God is holy.

My Lord and My God

2006-03-29T19:08:00.000-05:00

We all remember the story of "doubting Thomas." When Jesus first appeared to his disciples following his resurrection, Thomas wasn't there (John 20:24). He wanted to see Jesus' hands, to touch the marks of the wounds, and unless he could do that, he would not believe that Jesus had risen. The other disciples tried to convince him that they all had seen Jesus alive, but Thomas would not be persuaded (John 20:25).
A week following Jesus' resurrection, the disciples were again meeting together, but this time Thomas was with them. Even though they were in a room with the doors shut, Jesus miraculously appeared in the middle of them (John 20:26). Jesus was very gracious to Thomas, and called on him to examine his hands and feet, to touch the wounded side, and to feel the nail marks, to no longer be faithless or unbelieving, but to believe in Jesus Christ (John 20:27).
Thomas' response is amazing. He did not take Jesus up on his offer and touch the wounds. Thomas replied, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). His statement here is very interesting. He was not simply acknowledging Jesus as his master (although the word "lord" often means "master"); rather, he was saying that Jesus is the LORD of the Old Testament— Jehovah. He was saying that Jesus was God! He was calling the Man standing in front of him, Jesus of Nazareth, the Eternal God!
Jesus' response is equally interesting. In the book of Acts, God struck down King Herod immediately when people were shouting out that he was a god, and not a man. Because Herod did not give God the glory, God killed him on the spot (Acts 12:22–23). In Revelation 19:10, the apostle John fell down at the feet of an angel in worship, and the angel immediately rebuked him, instructing him to worship God instead.
If Jesus were not God, it would have been completely blasphemous for Jesus to accept Thomas' worship of him as God. It would have been dishonest of Jesus to accept it, if he were not God. But the Bible is clear that Jesus is God. As God, Jesus Christ is completely worthy to accept the worship of men. He told Thomas, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:29). This blessing from Jesus extends to us who put our faith in Jesus. We have not seen him in person, but with the eye of faith, "we see Jesus, who was made a little [while] lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man" (Heb 2:9).

Love = Putting Others First

2006-03-15T19:41:00.000-05:00

We have said several times that our goal in youth group is for each one of us to become more like Jesus Christ. Obviously, that means we all need to listen to God's Word and obey it. However, we have said before that our goal is for each one of us to become more like Jesus Christ. That introduces another dimension— we need to help each other toward that goal.
With that in mind, the Bible clearly teaches that we ought to love each other. If we love something, we will choose that over another. If we love each other, we will put others ahead of ourselves. We will be thinking of each other more than we think about ourselves and what we want. Romans 12:10 says, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." We are commanded to be kind and loving toward each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. In order to do this, we must "prefer one another" or "put others first."
Think about our youth group meetings: we only get together once a week for a little more than an hour. How do you view that time? Is it a chance for you to do what you want? If this is your attitude, you might complain if you think an activity is silly or, in your opinion, boring. If youth group is all about you, then you might spend the time talking to your friends instead of listening. How is that putting others first? How is that helping them be more like Jesus Christ?
Is youth group an opportunity to relax and catch a few winks? Perhaps you are tired after a long day at school. What is the loving thing to do? How could you put others first? Does it encourage others and help them be more like Jesus Christ if you sit with your arms folded, slouched down, and not say a word? One of the ways that we can encourage others is to participate in praises and prayer requests, to sing out, and to talk with each other afterwards. If we ignore members of our youth group, how are we helping them become more like Jesus Christ? Those of you who have been in youth group for a few years, you should take the initiative to talk to the younger ones, encourage them to be a part, and provide a good example for them to follow. These are just a few ways that we can demonstrate godly love for each other.

Faith and Works (Part 3)

2006-03-08T19:29:00.000-05:00

The last two weeks, we have looked at what James says about faith and works. He said in 2:14-17 that a professed "faith" that fails to produce good works is not a saving faith. In the next section (2:18-20), James says that a genuine faith will produce good works. In this final section (2:21-26), James gives two examples of faith producing good works.
His first example of good works produced by saving faith is Abraham. Abraham had put his faith in God back before God had given him his promised son. But God asked Abraham to do a very difficult thing: offer up his son Isaac to God. Abraham didn't understand how Isaac could be the promised son when God wanted him to be offered up, but he was willing to obey. He was willing to follow through to the very end. This action proved that Abraham's faith was a real faith, a genuine saving faith.
Abraham was saved by faith, and James points that out fact by quoting this verse from Genesis: "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness." Abraham was not saved by a faith that was "alone," or separate from good works; no, Abraham's saving faith demonstrated that it was real by obeying God. Rahab was another person who put her faith in God, and then demonstrated how real that faith was by risking her own life to protect the Israelite spies from the king of Jericho.
James' conclusion is similar to verses 20 and 17: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." If a person is not breathing, we might presume them to be dead. If somebody claims to be a believer (have faith), and their life does not demonstrate good works, we would presume their faith not to be genuine. A genuine saving faith will produce good works.

Faith and Works (Part 2)

2006-03-01T19:57:00.000-05:00

Last week, we discussed what James said about a so-called "faith" that fails to produce good works in the professor's life. In James 2:14-17, this kind of faith is called a dead faith that cannot save.
Perhaps someone might object to what James has said: "James, I thought that faith in Christ was all we needed for salvation. Are you saying that we must have good works in order to have faith?" James anticipates this objection and answers the person. James 2:18 says, "Yea, a man may say, 'Thou hast faith, and I have works'; 'Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."
If somebody has just faith, how can they prove they have faith? Do they have saving faith just because they say so? The way to demonstrate that someone has saving faith is by the good works that faith will produce. Nobody can know another person's heart, but someone who only claims to have faith and doesn't live it out is not giving any indication that they have true faith. The Bible never gives assurance of salvation to a person who is living in disobedience to God's Word.
It is simply not enough to repeat words and affirm the truth. Saving faith is much more than that. Verse nineteen says, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." Even the demons have "faith"--- they know that God exists and that he is all-powerful, but they haven't been saved! Genuine faith is much more than empty words.
James' conclusion in verse twenty is similar to his conclusion in verse 17: "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" The final sentence uses a play on words in the original: "a faith that does not work--- does not work!" In other words, a so-called "faith" that fails to produce good works does not accomplish salvation. It is not faith at all. Genuine faith will produce good works.

Faith and Works (Part 1)

2006-02-22T19:28:00.000-05:00

When we talk about salvation, we are very careful to affirm that salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone. We cannot be saved by our works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast." Salvation is by faith alone. How is a man justified? By faith alone.
However, James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ deals with another question in his epistle. He answers the question, "What kind of faith justifies?" Is it just enough to say, "I have faith"? Is it just a matter of professing faith? No, James says a faith that is exists in name only is not the kind of faith that saves. James 2:14 says, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?"
The Bible clearly says that a faith that does not produce good works is unprofitable. If someone says, "I have faith," but his life does not back up that claim, what is the profit in that? James says, "That kind of faith cannot save him, can it?"
He continues on with an illustration of how empty words that aren't backed up with action are. Verses fifteen and sixteen say, "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, 'Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled'; notwithstanding, ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?" Here a person gives a blessing that is empty because it is only words and no action. James says that is as worthless as a profession of faith that is only words and not backed up by one's life.
His conclusion in verse seventeen is straightforward: "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." A professed "faith" that does not change one's life and demonstrate obedience to God is a dead faith. It cannot save.

Where to Look for a Godly Person

2006-02-15T19:38:00.000-05:00

In Genesis 24, we read about Abraham sending his servant to the land of Haran to find a wife for his son Isaac. I suppose we might find it very strange for Abraham to send a servant to get a wife for his son: after all, Isaac wasn't a kid--- he was probably about fifty years old! But in that culture (and many others today), parents arrange marriages for their children. When Rebekah came back with the servant, Isaac married her (Gen 24:67). Don't feel too bad for Isaac--- the Bible tells us that Rebekah was a beautiful girl (Gen 24:16).
Can you imagine your parents picking out someone for you to marry? Or even worse, sending one of their employees to pick someone for you? Obviously, in our day and time, people pick out their own marriage partners. I want to focus on something else: let's look at where the servant went to find a wife for Isaac.
The most important thing that Abraham wanted for his son's wife was that she was not a pagan like the Canaanites who lived around him. He made the servant take an oath that the girl he brought back would not be from the heathen people around them (Gen 24:3). Perhaps there were some good girls in the surrounding nations; however, Abraham was a wise man. He knew that to find a godly person, you should look among other godly people.
When you go to look for someone to marry someday, or even for a friend now, keep that principle in mind. If you want a godly friend or spouse, look among other godly people. We are known by the company we keep. People look for friends that are like themselves. A person who hangs around ungodly people is probably not going to make a godly friend. A girl who is comfortable with ungodly guys will not be a godly wife.
The group of people you are comfortable with says a lot about who you are. Where you look for your friends (or someday, for your spouse) also says a lot about you, too.

Boiling Over With Enthusiasm

2006-02-08T19:21:00.000-05:00

Have you ever noticed that some people are excited about everything? I don't know about you, but I'm not always that easily excited. I do think that it is important, however, even if you're not bouncing off the walls, to be enthusiastic about what the Lord has done for you and your service to him.
This makes me think of a verse: "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" (Rom 12:11). As Christians, we are commanded not to be lazy in what we do. Whatever God has given us to do, whether school, or a job, or helping out around the house, we ought to do to the very best of our ability. We should work hard and not be lazy.
Second, we are to be "fervent in spirit." I think the best way we could say this would be enthusiastic. We should not be "wet blankets" and put a damper on the mood of everybody around us. Do you know people who just light up the room when they enter? They are the kind of people you like to talk to because they encourage you with their energy and excitement. Do you know the opposite kind of people? The ones who drag down any activity with their negativity and moodiness? The kind that can make any activity "boring"? Remember what Mr. Sam Brock says all the time at camp: "If you're bored, it's because you're a boring person." This verse tells us not to be boring people; we should be "boiling over" with enthusiasm.
Third, we are to be serving the Lord. If you have a magnetic personality and you can drum up excitement easily, but you are serving yourself or doing things that are wrong, that's no good. We should be excited about serving the Lord. After all that God has done for us, being able to serve him should be the most exciting thing in our lives. We should serve God enthusiastically, whether we help in the nursery, greet others and encourage them at church, or help with the music ministry. Wherever God has placed us, we should be enthusiastically serving God with diligence!

Done With School!

2006-02-01T07:43:00.000-05:00

How do you know when you are done with school? You may think you have had enough school already and you want to quit. Or maybe you think that when you finish high school, you will be done with school. Perhaps you plan to go to college, and when you graduate you will be done with school. Maybe you even think you might like to get a master's degree or a doctorate. Surely then you will be done with school.
We can know when we are done with school when we have become like our teachers. In Luke 6:40 Jesus said, "The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master." You may think initially that this verse doesn't say anything about school, but the word "disciple" really means "student" or "learner" and the old English word "master" means "teacher." So what this verse is saying is that the student is not above his teacher; on the contrary, every student when he is "perfect" (or fully trained) will become like his teacher.
In other words, you are ready to be done being trained when you can do the right thing on your own. If your teachers are constantly having to correct you and teach you the right thing to do, then you aren't ready to be out from under their instruction. If your parents can't trust you to do the right thing on your own, you still need their training. If you haven't learned the lessons you've been taught in school, at home, or at church, then you aren't quite ready to be done yet!
At the same time, we need to realize that who we learn from is important. We will become like our teachers. That's why our schooling and formal education is an important choice in our lives. As you get older and think about choosing a college, look at the teachers and think about this: Is this how I want to be in ten or twenty years? Is this how I want to think? Are they committed to the same values that I am? The teachers that we learn from, that we respect, that we listen to, will influence us. We will become like them.

Community and the Body of Christ

2006-01-07T09:25:00.000-05:00

In our world, genuine relationships are becoming more and more uncommon. We have classmates in school— until they move away or transfer to a different school. We have co-workers— until they quit or are reassigned to another area of the company. We have family— but oftentimes they live half a country away.
We live in our "fortresses," raising the garage door like a drawbridge, and entering our castles, never to see another person. The younger generation (that's you) is screaming out for genuine relationships with others. Where will they find people they can genuinely "connect" with?
The shallow relationships the world offers cannot be compared to the community of brothers and sisters in Christ. As John tells us, if we are God's children, then other believers are our brothers and sisters. If we love our Father, then we should love his children too. 1 John 5:1 says, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him."
This bond of Christian brotherhood is universal: it transcends language, geography, or social standing. In Galatians 3:28, Paul says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
This love for other believers is indicative of a person's love for God himself. If one does not love God, he will not love other believers. "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also" (1 John 4:20–21).
What about you? Are you interested in genuine relationships? Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ? While the world cries out for "community," God has given us the Body of Christ.

Eben-ezer

2006-01-04T19:16:00.000-05:00

In 1 Samuel 7:12, we read of a memorial ceremony performed by Samuel, God's prophet. "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, 'Till now the LORD has helped us.'" Following Israel's rout of the Philistines, Samuel took a rock and erected it as a sort of monument between Mizpeh and Shen. He called the rock "Ebenezer," which is two words in Hebrew meaning "helping stone." This rock memorial was to symbolize God's help in the victory over the Philistines.
Whenever they saw that stone, the people were to remember God's care and aid in the past. "To this point God has been our helper." The implication of course is that just as God had brought them to this point, so he would continue to help, guide, and care for them.
This is what the second stanza of the hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" is alluding to (unfortunately, our hymnal changes it to "sign of victory"). It says,
"Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home."
As we begin a new year, we look forward to what lies ahead: new friends, new experiences, new relationships, and new skills. Perhaps this will be the year that Jesus Christ will return to snatch his Church away to be with him. Perhaps we will go through incredible difficulty or trials. We thank God for his help and strength throughout the past year. We look back and say, "To this point God has helped us." At the same time, we look forward and say, "We know our faithful God will continue to help us."

Our Incarnate High Priest

2005-12-28T19:09:00.000-05:00

As I think about the incarnation of the Son of God, I am filled with wonder and awe at the gracious love of God to send his Son (1 John 4:9-10) along with the humility of the Son to obey (Phil 2:5-11). Because of the incarnation, we have a Savior who is 100% God and 100% man. It is absolutely essential that he is God and man. He must be God in order to satisfy completely God's righteous requirements and provide that right standing that we must have credited to our account. He must also be man, or else he could not die in our place.
In Hebrews 4:15, we find both of these blessings in one verse. "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." As the writer of Hebrews continues to extol the superiority of Christ, he shows that there is no contest--- Jesus Christ is infinitely better than the Levitical priests. While a human priest can "deal gently with the ignorant and wayward" (Heb 5:2) because he is made of the same flesh, our Great High Priest can also sympathize with our weaknesses--- because he became a man and "shared in our flesh and blood" (Heb 2:14).
However, there is a difference: Jesus Christ was tested like we are, but he had no sin. Of course, he never sinned, but he didn't have anything on which sin could lay hold, that sin nature with which we all struggle. He was free from sin in the act and the principle.
Because of the fact that he is a human, he knows our struggles and our difficulties. I remember reading a story (if I knew to whom I ought to give credit, I would) about a blind boy. This boy was walking alone, outside, when a low-hanging branch knocked him off his feet. As he sat on the ground, his head pounding, he cursed God for allowing him to be blind. God had no idea what it was like to be hit in the face without knowing it was coming. In a flash, his mind ran to Luke 22:63-64. "And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, 'Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?'" Jesus did know what it was like.
Because we have a sympathetic high priest, we can come to him with complete confidence.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16).

Dead and Raised With Christ

2005-12-14T19:22:00.000-05:00

In this busy season of the year, it's easy to get caught up in all the things around us. There are things we want to buy for family and friends and of course, there are things we hope to get as presents under the tree. Is it bad to get excited about gifts and giving?
It is most important that we remember the place of things in our lives as Christians. These things are temporary and far behind in importance when compared to the eternal riches we have in Christ.
Colossians 3:1-2 puts some of these things in focus for us. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." In this passage, Paul tells the believers at Colossae that they have died and been raised up with Christ (2:11-12).
Because of our identification with Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection, we are dead to this world. The world's materialism and fascination with things should have no allure to Christians. They are dead to all of this. They have died with Christ to this world.
Along with Christ, they have risen with him to a new life: a life of spiritual reality. Their thinking is taken up with thoughts of spiritual reality, not just physical and material things. Their desires and affections are consumed with thoughts of Christ and his glory. They desire the rewards that he will give them when he comes, rather than the things this world has to offer.
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem this year, let's remember the death of Jesus Christ as well. Because he died, the world's things have no hold over us. We are to live in light of spiritual reality. Our focus as Christians during this time of year should be on thanking God for the incarnation of his Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior.

Thanking God for Freedom

2005-11-30T20:02:00.000-05:00

As we recover from Thanksgiving, continue eating leftover turkey, and start to think about Christmas, I hope we are still maintaining an attitude of thankfulness. We should thank God for our country and the freedom we have to spread the Gospel. We can talk about God. We can worship as we please. We can gather together for fellowship without fear of the government breaking it up. We should thank God for our freedom.
But I'm thinking of an even more significant freedom which God has given us. In Romans 6:17, Paul says, "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you." We as believers ought to thank God for the freedom we have from the punishment and power of sin.
Before we were saved, we were the slaves ("servants") of sin. We did what it said when it said to do it. We had no choice. We were slaves! However, God's regenerating power broke the power of sin's domination.
Now, instead of mindlessly slaving away at sin's bidding, we obey God from the heart. The "doctrine which was delivered to us" (the Gospel which we have been taught) has set us free from the slavery of sin. While we used to be slaves to sin, now we joyfully, willingly, and thankfully serve God!
We should be thankful for the freedom we have in this country. But we should be even more thankful to God for the freedom we have from sin. We no longer have to obey sin. We can now present our bodies to God to do what is right. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom 12:1).

How to Pray for Unbelievers

2005-11-16T19:39:00.000-05:00

On our prayer sheet, we have a section for unsaved family and friends. There are several names of people we know who are unsaved. We want to see them come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. We want to see them become obedient to the Gospel. How should we pray for them?

First, we can pray that God will remove the blindness of their hearts. Ephesians 4:18 says that unbelievers' hearts are blinded. 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 pictures this blindness as a veil over their faces that must be removed by the Holy Spirit.
Second, we can pray that God will open their eyes to understand the Gospel. Jesus told Paul in Acts 26:18 that he was sending Paul "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
Third, we can pray that God will draw them to himself. In John 6:44, Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him."
We can also pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Jesus told his disciples that one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit would be to convict the world (John 16:8-11).
We can pray that God will grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth. Paul tells Timothy that God's servant should not be quarrelsome, but should be gentle, "in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (2 Tim 2:25).

This is a lot more significant than just praying "Help so-and-so to get saved" but it is also more biblical. We ought to be praying for the salvation of unbelievers.

Why Pray? (part 2)

2005-11-09T19:39:00.000-05:00

Last week, we explored the question of why Christians should pray. We said we should pray because God has commanded it. This week we will look at another reason we ought to pray.
We should pray because God has ordained prayer as the means to accomplish his will. God is sovereign; that is, he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants to do it. Nobody can stop him or question him. Daniel 4:35 says, "He [God] doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"
God will accomplish his will. He will complete his plan. But that's not all. It is not a matter of "God will get what he wants in the end." God is completely sovereign: he not only ordains the ends (the outcome), but he also ordains the means (the way it will happen).
Think about this: let's say you want a car. You don't care how you get it, what kind of car it is, or even if it runs (well, maybe you care about that), you just want a car. The car would be the end. Somebody could give it to you, sell it to you (for the right price), whatever. You are probably not in a place where you can determine the means. Someone with some money, however, could say, "I'm going to take $50,000 out of this bank account and go to this dealership and buy this model car." They (to a limited extent) can determine both the ends and the means.
This is a very limited analogy, but God determines both the ends and the means to accomplish his will. We can think of Bible stories where God delivered his people, but by amazing ways (think Moses and the Red Sea, Esther and Mordecai, Ruth and Boaz, Samson, etc.). God wasn't caught off guard, saying, "Boy, I would have never guessed that would have happened, but I'm sure glad it all worked out for the best!"
God has a plan for our lives, but he has ordained that he will accomplish that plan through prayer, for one thing. For example, James 5:15 says, "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." God says he will heal sick people (if it is his will), and he will do it in answer to prayers offered in faith. Paul asked for prayer regarding his situation in prison. "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:19). He wanted to be released (that's what the word salvation refers to in this verse), and he said God would do it through the prayers of the Philippian believers. In 1 Kings 17, God held back the rain for three and a half years because Elijah prayed. The book of James says that Elijah "prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months" (5:17).
God has ordained prayer as the means by which he will accomplish his plan. We should pray because prayer is the means by which God has chosen to do his sovereign will.

Why Pray?

2005-11-02T19:07:00.000-05:00

If you're anything like me, you've probably wondered why we pray. You probably don't ask that out loud, because it sounds irreverent. We pray because. . .well, we just do. Now, don't take this to mean that we shouldn't pray--- we should! But I want to ask and answer the question, "Why should we pray?"
The most simple (and most powerful, in my mind) answer is this: God commands us to pray. It's as simple as that. Why pray? Because God said so.
The Bible clearly commands Christians to pray. Philippians 4:6 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Instead of worrying about things (being "careful" or "anxious"), we are commanded to bring them to God in prayer.
The final item in the "Christian Armor" is prayer. "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Eph 6:18). The Christian soldier does all things with prayer, requesting God for strength. He perseveres (continues forward) in "supplication" (asking God in prayer) for other Christians.
In 1 Timothy 2:1, we are commanded to pray: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men." The reason that we should pray for everyone is found in verse three: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 is the shortest verse in the New Testament (in Greek), and it says simply (in English), "Pray without ceasing." The book of James says, "Is any among you afflicted? let him pray" (5:13). If you are "afflicted" (sick), you are commanded to pray.
God commands us to pray. He is pleased by our obedience when we pray. We will look at other reasons, but it should suffice to say, we pray because God has commanded it.

Flee, Follow, and Fight

2005-10-26T19:00:00.000-04:00

The world in which we live is full of things that want our attention. They tell us to "log on" to this web site, "don't miss" this TV show, and follow our favorite sports teams. Some of these things aren't too bad to follow, but it is impossible to follow everything. Some things are completely opposed to each other. For instance, it would be hard to be an Ohio State fan and be rooting for the University of Michigan all season long, especially when those two teams were playing each other.
1 Timothy 6:11-12 gives us a little guidance regarding what we should follow. "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."
First, to be a man (or woman) of God, we must flee certain things. Those "things" are found in the previous verses: the love of money (v. 10). A Christian's life is characterized by contentment with what God has given him, not a greedy coveteousness. This kind of attitude and thinking must be avoided; we must flee from it.
Second, with the same effort that we are fleeing from greed and the love of money, we should be pursuing these godly character traits: righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. If you were out in the woods at night and something or someone jumped out of the bushes, you would probably flee from that thing and run to your house or the nearest light or place of safety. We must avoid at all costs ungodliness, and in its place, we should pursue Christlikeness. This list is very similar to the manifestation of a life that is obedient to God's Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).
These character traits are what we to achieve in our lives; it doesn't matter how much money we can get. We want to do what is right, demonstrating our relationship with God, consistent and faithful in our walk, loving and selfless toward others, continuing with endurance and not giving up, and living in a gentle and kind way toward others.
Third, this life is not going to come easy: we must fight the good fight of faith. Maintaining our Christian walk and testimony will not be a walk in the park. Rather, it will be a battle, an intense war that may cost us dearly. But the prize is worth it: eternal life must be seized. This is the life to which God has called us. This is the fight we have pledged ourselves when we turned to God from our sin. We must flee, follow, and fight.

Never Too Young

2005-10-19T19:58:00.000-04:00

Ever play follow the leader? It's a great game, as long as the leader gets you headed in the right direction. Perhaps you have been out in the woods with friends at night and you can just barely see the person in front of you. You make sure you keep close enough to keep following.
We have talked enough about leadership and influence in the last couple of months that you probably will not be surprised when I say that people are following you. Others are watching your example. When I say that, you probably are thinking about younger brothers or sisters, kids at school, or other children at church. You want to be a good example to them, to show them how a Christian young person ought to talk and act.
That's great, but I think we can do even better. 1 Timothy 4:12 talks about being an example, but notice to whom we should be examples. "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in faith, in purity." Paul wrote these words to Timothy, who was by no means a kid (he was probably close to 40!), but they ring true for us today.
Your life shouldn't just be an example to younger kids; you ought to be a model Christian for every believer in our church. That's right! The college-aged kids ought to hear your speech and be challenged to speak only those things that are pleasing to God. The young couples in our church should be able to watch your lives and be encouraged that there are teens who want to live in a God-honoring way. Your parents should see your care and concern for each other and desire to demonstrate love to other believers as well. Your faithfulness in standing up for what is right, even when your friends don't always back you up, should be a big boost to our senior citizens, who need to keep pressing on. And of course, the entire church should be proud of the purity of our Christian young people, in spite of the filthy and sinful world in which we live.
In short, you ought to be an example, a model Christian, for our entire church. You are never too young to be an example to the believers. How do you rate? Make sure you don't sell yourself short-- be an example for all the believers.

Purity and Usefulness

2005-10-12T19:18:00.000-04:00

Perhaps your mom has some china teacups and saucers at home. They may be beautifully painted or have a gold rim. If they don't just sit on display all the time, she may actually use them to drink tea on special occasions. They are washed carefully by hand---not in the dishwasher. Oh, and you're never allowed to touch them.
In your house you also have another ceramic "bowl"--- yeah, that one. It is not pretty, but it is functional. Usually we keep it covered up or keep the door to its room closed because, while we all know what it's for, we don't talk about it. We aren't proud of it. We don't show it off when people come to our house (except I did when I had just installed a new one by myself). Oh, and you don't wash this one by hand; you use a long-handled brush so you can stand as far away as possible.
What makes the difference between these two ceramic containers? The big difference that affects their use is their purity. Our useableness as Christians also depends on our purity. 2 Timothy 2:20-22 says, "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."
Paul describes a situation we can identify with: there are many utensils and tools in the house. If we have a dishonorable or disgusting job to do, we use a dirty tool. We don't use the nice silverware to clean up after the dog; we use the dirty old shovel in the garage. Likewise, we don't put a garden trowel on the table to eat with!
If we want to put ourselves in a place where God can use us, we must be pure. We must "purge" or cleanse ourselves from impurity in our lives. We must be "sanctified" or holy, fleeing and avoiding youthful lusts. Instead, we should pursue right living, faithfulness, godly love, and peaceableness, all characteristics that demonstrate the Holy Spirit's control in our lives (Gal 5:22-23). This is the way to be a person that God can use, because usefulness depends on purity.

Holiness is God's Will for You

2005-10-05T19:44:00.000-04:00

Many times we want to know God's will for our lives. We want to know if a certain school is God's will. Maybe we desire to know if God would have us play a certain sport. Perhaps, as you look way into the future, you are hoping to someday marry the man or woman who is God's will for you.
Sometimes in our interest in God's will in these areas, we miss God's will where it is clearly spelled out. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 tells us what God's will for our life is. "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication." We could put the verse even more simply like this: "For God's will is that you be holy: you should avoid immorality."
God wants your life to be characterized by holiness. Holiness (or sanctification, they both come from the same root words) refers to being separated or different. We can separate our lives from many different things. For instance, I try to maintain a separation in my life from mushrooms. I don't think they look good, smell good, and certainly they do not taste good! If God's will for our lives is that we be holy and separate, what should we separate from?
The second part of the verse explains the first and gives the answer to that question. God's will is that we be separate from immorality. Immorality is any kind of sexual activity outside of marriage. God designed sexual activity for a husband and wife, and any misuse of these gifts outside of marriage is against God's will.
If we want to find God's will for our lives, this is a great place to start: keeping our lives pure. We need to guard our eyes, our minds, and keep our bodies pure for our spouse (or future spouse). This is God's will for you: be holy and avoid immorality!

The Fellowship of the Gospel

2005-09-21T20:02:00.000-04:00

Next week begins our church's annual Missionary Conference. We set aside part of the last week of September each year to focus on our responsibilities and commitments to global missions. Jesus Christ has commanded us to "go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15). Obviously, we as individuals cannot go into every part of the world to share the gospel. However, we still have the responsibility to be a part of that huge endeavor.
We can obey our Lord's command by partnering with those who are going to the ends of the earth. In Philippians 1:3-5, Paul thanks God for the Philippian church, and specifically for their "fellowship in the Gospel." He prays, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now."
The Philippians had partnered with Paul in the fellowship of the gospel. When we studied the book of 1 John, we discussed what the word fellowship means. It is a partnership, something we have in common. Paul and the Philippians shared a desire to see the gospel go out to those who had not heard it. Because the Philippian church wanted this to happen, they actually helped Paul financially in his missionary efforts (cf. Phil 4:14-18).
This is what it means to be a part of the "fellowship of the Gospel." Not only are we giving the Gospel to our friends at school, people in our neighborhoods, and relatives, we also are supporting others who are doing the same thing across the globe. We can support them by giving money, by encouraging them with letters, cards, or even our personal contact, or by helping them in many more ways.
When our missionary Stuart Waugh spoke here in May, he made this statement:

"To publish the Gospel, and to strengthen the publishers— that is our work in the fellowship of the Gospel."

This week we will have a special opportunity to strengthen those who have made it their life's work to publish the Gospel. You can have a part in that fellowship: you can be a part of the Faith Promise program, you can talk to and encourage the missionaries, and you can consider how God might use you in the future on a missions trip. You can be a partner in the work of the Gospel.

Influence and Leadership

2005-09-14T19:58:00.000-04:00

An English poet named John Donne once wrote, "No man is an island" (Meditation XVII). His poem expounds on the idea that each one of us affect one another. There is no one whose life does not influence other people.
Some Christians want to think that their life does not matter to anyone but themselves. They are not accountable to anybody else because "it's their life." They can do (or not do) whatever they want, because "it doesn't matter one way or the other."
However, Romans 14:7-8 gives a little different picture. "For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s." In the context of Romans 14, some Christians were arguing that it didn't matter what they did because it was just between them and God. Paul agrees that we are individually accountable to God (Rom 14:12), but that doesn't excuse us from the responsibility we have to others.
We do not live in a vacuum; our thoughts, attitudes, and actions affect those around us. Instead of living for ourselves and thinking that what we do doesn't affect others, we ought to live for the Lord. Our lives belong to him, and our goal should be to please him and affect others in a Christlike way.
You may be wondering what this has to do with you. When we talked about leadership in youth group a few weeks ago, we said that leadership was really influence. Each one of us influences those around us to do or say certain things. You may be thinking, "I'm not a leader because I'm not old enough, or popular enough, or outspoken enough." But you do exert influence on those around you. You either encourage others to do right by your example and words or you influence them to do wrong, but you are affecting others.

What Makes You Happy?

2005-09-07T19:26:00.000-04:00

What makes you happy? Is there something that you like to do so much, just thinking about it makes you feel happy? I love to eat, so when my wife tells me we are having one of my favorite meals, it picks up my whole day! Maybe there is a person who just makes you laugh, and whenever you think of them, a smile comes to your face. There are a lot of things that make us happy.
In Acts chapter five, we find the apostles very happy. However, to look at their situation, it doesn't seem there was much over which to get excited. They had just been arrested and imprisoned (v. 18) because the religious leaders of Jerusalem were a little put out with their teaching. However, an angel of the Lord miraculously released them from prison (v. 19) and commanded them to return to their preaching in the temple (v. 20). They probably thought it might have been more prudent to lie low for a few days until things cooled off, but they obeyed and went straight to the temple first thing in the morning (v. 21).
Imagine the looks on the faces of the religious leaders when the reports came in that the disciples of Jesus were once again preaching in the temple! They arrested the disciples once again (v. 26) and called them in, asking why they dared to disobey their command. Peter, speaking for the apostles, was frank: "We ought to obey God rather than men" (v. 29). He proceeded to once again affirm the deity of Jesus Christ, the guiltiness of the Jewish leaders in his death, and salvation through Christ alone.
After some deliberation, the religious leaders decided to beat them and then release them. In verse 41 we read, "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." Did you get that? They had just been arrested twice (in as many days), beaten (for doing nothing wrong), and then released and told not to preach about Jesus Christ anymore. And they left rejoicing!
They were rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to suffer. They were pleased that God had entrusted them with the privilege of suffering for him. Not only were they willing to suffer shame and physical mistreatment for Jesus Christ, they were pleased that God had considered them worthy to suffer.
I think our values are considerably skewed from those of the apostles. We feel like martyrs if somebody thinks we are weird because we go to church! These men were beaten and thankful that God allowed them to suffer for him. Would that make you happy?

So What Do You Really Have to Have?

2005-08-31T20:04:00.000-04:00

I have a lot of stuff. There's a lot more stuff I'd like to get. But I often wonder, "Just how much of this stuff do I actually need?" It's easy to think that if I didn't have all my stuff, I'd be miserable. Just imagine life without TV, DVD's, iPods, and XBox. Pretty primitive, huh? Stick with me.
Imagine your life without computers, cars, or airplanes. Wow! Now that's living in the sticks! Okay, imagine life without electricity, running water, or manufactured clothing. Ouch. That could get pretty boring, don't you think? Imagine life where everything you had you made with your own hands, and the only food you had to eat was what you had grown in your garden. I'd bet we would all be a lot skinnier!
The question is, what do we really have to have? 1 Timothy 6:6-8 gives us the answer. "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." It says that all we really need to be content is "food and raiment."
Those two things, "food and raiment," are basically food and covering. We need food to eat and water to drink in order to live. If we don't have those things, we will die. We don't necessarily need pizza or pop or steak or lasagna; we just need some sort of nourishment.
We also need covering. We need clothes to protect us from the weather: the sun, the rain, the cold. We don't need designer clothes or even comfortable clothes; we just need something to protect us from the elements. We also need some sort of covered place where we can sleep. We need some sort of protection from rain, wind, and snow. We don't have to have the nicest house in the city; we just need somewhere to sleep.
If we have those two things, food and covering, we should be content. Everything else is extra. When we were born, we came into the world naked and without a penny to our name. When we die, we won't take any of the stuff we've accumulated with us. If we have food and covering, we ought to be content and thank God for supplying our needs.

The Most Valuable Thing in the World

2005-08-24T19:21:00.000-04:00

Imagine if you woke up in the night to find your house on fire. In the din, you hear your parents yelling to you, telling you to get out as quickly as possible. In those few split seconds, a thought flashes across your mind: "I wonder if there's there time to grab my ________!"
You fill in the blank. What would be that thing in your room, house, or closet that you would risk life and limb to try to snag before you got out of the burning building?
Jesus put this same question to those who were following him in Mark 8:34-36. "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, 'Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?'"
Basically, he was saying that obeying Jesus Christ is the most important thing in the whole world. To support that, he asks the pointed question, "What earthly possession is more valuable than life itself?"
That's a pretty good question. What difference does it make if you have everything you want in this life and then die? Life is more valuable than any material possession. We instinctively know this: our emergency personnel cut a $25,000 car into little pieces to extricate someone trapped inside. Fire fighters may smash windows, doors, and walls in a burning house to gain entrance and search for survivors. Those who suffer from rare diseases may spend hundreds of thousands of dollars seeking treatment to either cure their sickness or extend their life.
But do we actually live that way day by day? Do we live like things are the most important thing in the world? Are we more interested in obeying God and pleasing him or getting more stuff? I hope we understand that the most valuable thing in the whole world is obeying Jesus Christ.

The School of Friends

2005-06-22T19:27:00.000-04:00

Finally! Out of school! You thought the day would never come! No more books, classes, teachers, lessons, learning— or is it?
Unfortunately (or not?), we are always learning. We often learn lessons in life, but a lot of things we learn in the school of friends. Your friends are teaching you every day and you are learning well. As you read this, you are probably thinking that I’ve lost it, but let me show you another verse about friends from Proverbs.
Proverbs 22:24-25 says, “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.” See? What did I tell you? You are learning from your friends every day!
The verse specifically talks about some bad lessons you could learn from your friends. If you hang out with angry people, those who have bad tempers, guess what? You will become a person who is characterized by anger. If your friends swear and use dirty language, it won’t be long before those words start coming out of your mouth. If your friends are into drugs, alcohol, or ungodly music, you probably will become a user before long.
If your friends are sinful influences on your life, it won’t be long before you “learn their ways.” They will teach you lessons that you shouldn’t learn. Those sinful ways they have taught you will be a “snare to your soul.” They will harm your relationship with God, your parents, and your church.
In that way, your friends are like mirrors of your life. They have taught you to become like them. If you want to know what you look like, take a good hard look at your friends. You’ve been to their “school” and you’ve been learning their ways. Even though you’re out of school, remember that you’re still learning— from your friends!

Some Things Money Can't Buy

2005-06-15T19:14:00.000-04:00

It’s getting a little old, but all those commercials that say “There are some things money can’t buy” actually do have a point. It’s true— and there are even some things you can’t buy with a credit card!
Although it may not seem to be true, you can never buy friends. Honest, even though you may look around and see that kids who have money are always popular and never lacking for friends.
The writer of the book of Proverbs noticed the same thing. In Proverbs 19:4, 6-7, he says, “Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbor. . . Many will entreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.” We read a similar statement in Proverbs 14:20. “The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the rich hath many friends.”
The writer is not saying that it is right to try to be friends only with people who have money; instead, he is saying that this is the case with many people. Because people are sinful and selfish, they do not look for a friend whom they can help, but instead they want a friend who will do things for them. Surely you have seen this at your school: the kids who are athletic, good-looking, popular, or rich never have any trouble making “friends.”
How about you? Do you look for a friend who will make you more popular, get you into a cooler crowd, give you things, or do you look for a friend who will help you be more like Jesus Christ? Do you try to bribe people into being your friend or are you looking to serve others? Jesus said to his disciples, “Whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all” (Mark 10:44).

How to be an "Un-Friend"

2005-06-01T19:29:00.000-04:00

We have been examining several proverbs that teach us how to be a good friend. Proverbs 17:9 shows us how to be a bad friend: “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.” (You may be like me and not know what “very friends” are; it means “close friends.”)
This verse tells us how to be an “un-friend” and break up a great friendship. If you want to ruin a friendship, here’s what you do: never forget. If somebody says something bad about you one time, remember it until your dying day. Even if they come to you and ask forgiveness, never let it go. Oh, and bring it up whenever you need some leverage. If you need a favor, dredge up that bad thing they did years ago and rub their nose in it. It’s foolproof: if you never forgive and forget, you will run off one good friend after another.
The opposite of this is to “cover a transgression.” Now this doesn’t mean to cover up sin or help a friend hide when they are doing wrong. It doesn’t mean to lie for friends to those who are in authority. What it does mean is that when a friend does something bad to you, you forget it.
Imagine a white wall. White walls always get nicks and scrapes on them. Every time your friend bumps the wall and puts a big black mark on it, you whip out your can of white paint and a brush and slap a thick, fresh coat of paint on it. Even if they come back and hit the same spot, you just cover it right up.
A good friendship can be destroyed by one person who cannot forgive and forget. If we are constantly “repeating” an offence or an insult, bringing up someone’s fault and rehashing it, we will destroy good friendship. On the other hand, if we want to love our friends like Christ has loved us, we must forgive others and deliberately forget the wrong we’ve suffered (Eph 4:32).