Lessons From Want And Luxury, Their Vanity And Giving And The Gospel

This post is much like a modern example of the book of Ecclesiastes.

I have observed in this life that those who have more material wealth in this world and those who have less are most often neither living a better life or a worse life than the other. Those who have more tend to worry more about what they have. Those who have physical comfort often dull their mind. Those who have luxury have distraction and greater temptations. In no way does the ownership of material goods make one live a better life, as long as their basic needs are met.

That being said it is best, for wisdom’s sake at least, to experience both want and excess – and to choose to live with less even when more could easily be had. It is best to experience all that you can to show as an example to the world that you reject luxury with full knowledge (Isaiah 7:15). It’s best to surround yourself with convenience and temptation – and turn away from its overuse (of convenience) and fleeting satisfaction (of giving into temptation). Why? Because if you can learn to say "no" to temptations everyday when they are before you, then you have no need to fear the avoidance of situations that may tempt you. But this is not meant to misconstrued and used as an excuse for worldly living. 

We should enjoy the money or compensation we receive from labor. It is the gift of God to a man. But we should also be willing to give generously and live without addiction or dependence on anything which God has given to us. To love and enjoy the gifts of God – while willing at a moment’s notice to give them up for the sake of Christ, is the best position and only Christian attitude we should allow ourselves to hold. Anything contrary to such a posture is idolatry.

Our flesh will deceive us sometimes and trick us into believing that we can give anything up at any time for the sake of Christ and his gospel. Let us not deceive ourselves. Sometimes we must sacrifice just to be sure we are of a pure intent. If we put ourselves through the fire we can perhaps spare entering it later on. To clarify, if we test our desires, affections, and beliefs – if we test ourselves we may avoid Hell by removing our own dependence on deceptions we may have falsely, unknowingly, imperceptibly, or subconsciously embraced. Let this message not be misunderstood. I'm not saying that we are saving ourselves from anything. I'm saying that by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us and test us we can be refined and made more fruitful for the sake of Christ and the Good News of his message. (2 Corinthians 13:5, Mark 8:35, Romans 12:2)  

Where do we find balance between giving to others and enjoying what we have been given? I’ve observed that for the most part it is all vanity and makes no difference. In other ways it can be life and death or day and night. In conclusion what matters is our attitude toward God, mankind and ourselves. (Ecclesiastes 12:13) It is best to give to others in a meaningful and purposeful way. Giving to the poor can be synonymous with throwing your money away – it can be foolish and meaningless to help the poor sometimes*. (Matthew 26:6-13)

Money (material value) doesn't necessarily make the gift good, and neither do words without money or sacrifice convey meaning. If your gift to an individual (every gift is eventually a gift to an individual) does not come across as meaningful or directed in the right way you might very well be paying to enlarge Hell itself. 

How you ask? 

*By funding addiction and dependence. Sometimes people seek their own destruction. Sometimes people need pain in this life to prevent Hell in the next. God has many tools and means by which he calls men unto himself. Again, do not misunderstand. I am not saying we in any sense "earn" heaven by suffering now. Nor is it the case that only because of the suffering that our heart is changed to accept Christ. Merely and simply the fact is that God uses different tools and experiences to teach us lessons and direct the chosen unto himself. Those whom God has chosen will receive him, and they will follow him. (John 15:16,19, Ephesians 1:3-19, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14)

Other times if you relieve their pain you can take them to heaven (by being a witness, and “Saviour” who points them to THE SAVIOUR). Again, let me not be misunderstood. We in ourselves can do no good thing, much less save anyone. But by doing the will of God, it is Him working in us that accomplishes good works yielding fruits for his Kingdom .... Both in the salvation of men and in their edification. 

But never can you afford to destroy your witness by withholding help you can easily or even perhaps not so easily give.

Giving by many should be more carefully done in a way that maximizes meaning and the witnessing of the gospel. For example,,,there are many charities that do not even truly help people...and there are many charities that help people but do not impart a message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us seek to both help the needy....and to change their life for the sake of Christ and the Glory of God.

We must seek the will of the Lord continually (1 Chronicles 16:11) so that we neither flounder our money casting pearls before swine nor miss the opportune time to be a witness as the gracious unselfish Gospel proclaiming giver God desires and requires us to be. 

Amen.

To Behold The Beauty Of The LORD...

The Day For Atheists: "Fool's Day"

A Day For Atheists?

If there was a day specifically for Atheists what should that day be called? It should be called “Fool’s Day.” This is evident seeing that the *prophet David wrote; “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1) It is true that all atheists are fools (by biblical definition) but not all fools are professed atheists.

The atheist's say they "evolved" from the smallest of organisms just as is described in the verse in Jeremiah below. Though that still does not explain how the "something" they evolved from came into being. See Dr. Kent Hovind.

who say to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. - Jeremiah 2:27

So what are some other characteristics of fools?

The fool does not receive commandments (Proverbs 10:8). A fool slanders and “hideth hatred with lying lips” (Proverbs 10:18). A fool is right in his own eyes and does not seek advice (Proverbs 12:15). A fool despises instruction (Proverbs 15:5). Fools do not learn much from punishment (Proverbs 17:10). Fools in their folly are very undesirable to meet (Proverbs 17:12). Mother’s of fools are sorrowful and Father’s of fools have no joy (Proverbs 17:21). A fool has no delight in understanding (Proverbs 18:2). A fool’s mouth brings about contention and his own destruction (Proverbs 18:6-7). A fool returns to his folly (Proverbs 26:11). A fool trusteth in his own heart (Proverbs 28:26). Also see Proverbs 26:3-5 and Proverbs 29:11.

Eternal Perspective?

“For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.” - Ecclesiastes 2:16

The Danger of Pride

“Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” - Proverbs 26:12

Flee the Wisdom of the World

"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." - 1 Corinthians 3:18-19 (also see Job 5:13)

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 2:1-16



*King David was a prophet; perhaps the most obvious support of this is Acts 2:25-32. The content of the many psalms he wrote attest to this fact.

Two Kinds of Fear: The Fear Of The Lord Casts Out Fear

There are two kinds of fear. We can see that with the fear of the Lord comes life, confidence, salvation, deliverance, plenty, the perfecting of holiness, the protection of us by angles, wisdom, and doubtlessly that is not all. (See the verses at the end)

We are commanded not to be fearful of those who can harm the body, but rather to fear God. (Matthew 10:28, 1 Peter 2:17, Revelation 21:8)

This idea of fearing the Lord is misunderstood by many. The only way to understand it is to read what the Holy Scriptures have to say about it.

It appears that the more we know of God and his attributes such as his Holiness, Omniscience, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Immutability, Sovereignty, Justice, Mercy, Faithfulness and so on the more we fear him. Fearing God also leads to humility (because we see ourselves for who we are), and Love toward God, because we see how much he has done for us despite our foolishness, stubbornness, and evil desires (our depravity). Both the fear and love of God lead us to obey him. Is not this also what 1 John 2:4 is saying, that as we know God we obey him? Knowing him leads us to both fear and love him which leads us to obey him.

Part of this fear is an awe of how great and marvelous God is. It is a result of understanding a mere shadow of his mighty power, of getting a small glimpse of how his ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:9, Psalm 33:8)

And yet in all his greatness he is not so far removed from us that he does not care for us, but rather he even cares much for the birds as we can see in Deuteronomy 22:6. If he cares this much for the birds imagine how much more he cares for us. After all he sent his only begotten Son to die for us that we may be saved! His Only Son to be the propitiation for our sins! (1 John 4:10) And as Jesus himself said in Matthew 6:26, “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”

In John 14:15 Jesus says “If you Love me, keep my commandments.” This is followed later in verse 21 with “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” This is also similar to that said in 1 John 5:3, 1 John 2:5 and 1 Corinthians 8:3.

In order to know, fear, love and obey God we must acquaint ourselves with him. How do we do that? In Job 22:21-23 we see that we are to lay up his words in our heart. If we lay up his words in our heart goodness shall come to us, and iniquity shall be far from us.

Acquaint thyself with the Almighty!


“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." - Proverbs 14:26-27

“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.” - Psalm 34:4-9

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” - 2 Corinthians 7:1

“So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” - Hebrews 13:6

“In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” - Psalm 56:4

“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” - Job 28:28

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:4

“Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” - Revelation 15:4

For more on fear see Romans 3:15-18, Psalm 33:18-22, Psalm 103:11, Psalm 86:11, Psalm 96:9, Psalm 27:1, Luke 12:4-5, Leviticus 19:14, Leviticus 25:17, Proverbs 1:7, Ephesians 5:21, and etcetera.

See the Hymn "Amazing Grace"