Stay Out of the Way of Trouble

Proverbs 22:3 (ESV)
The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.

This is a lesson I am constantly learning over and over. Recently it has been with activity on an online community (which this will be posted to). With many of the online communities come quizzes, lists, games and such. And like many, though I began to get in contact with people from school and churches from my past, I started doing the “farming” and the “20 bizarre things about me” applications. All in fun – but at a cost.

First of all, I find some of the games to be time-consuming. And I know that I need to be a good steward of my time because if I don’t I could be spending it foolishly:

Ephesians 5:15-21 (HCSB)
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk -not as unwise people but as wise- [16] making the most of the time, because the days are evil. [17] So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. [18] And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit:
[19] speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music to the Lord in your heart, [20] giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, [21] submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

Am I saying that growing virtual asparagus is wrong? No. I’m saying that the pursuit of a virtual conquest for me can become consuming if not intoxicating (Eph 5:18). So, I had to eliminate such diversions.

Why won’t I do the “20 Things that I Like to Soak My Feet In” lists anymore? Because I found that by not including somebody in this list I could possibly hurt them. We do these things all for a couple of chuckles, but we have to remember that any form of “partiality” can be hurtful to some. I don’t want to take that chance anymore. (James 3:17)

And why would I stay away from the “Which ‘Mork & Mindy’ Character Are You?” quiz? It’s just for fun. I don’t think there is anything “wrong” with these. I have received comments on these that could be considered hurtful. So once again, I don’t want to put something up (that could have easily been avoided) that will cause sin or the appearance of sin.

Personally, I can see some “danger” in all these diversions. Why did I sign up for an online community? It wasn’t for these diversions - it was so I can see what’s going on in the lives of friends and families; to see pictures of their kids graduating or their trips to Orlando. So please, don’t see me as being legalistic or a stick in the mud, I just want to put aside anything that hinders (danger) and have a little part of the lives of my friends and family. (Hebrews 12:1)

Where Are You?

2 Corinthians 5:8-9 (KJV)
[8] We are confident, I say , and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. [9] Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

2 Corinthians 5:8-9 (HCSB)
[8] yet we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. [9] Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.

While speaking with someone this week about the Lord’s return I was asked if I was ready. Funny thing is, I didn’t find this a strange question to ask a Christian. This is one of those deep, self-probing questions. Are you ready to let go of this world?

Let me throw out a few personal questions that are more specific: Are you ready to let go of graduating? Are you ready to let go of getting married? Are you ready to let go of bringing a child into the world? Are you ready to let go of that dream vacation or house you have been saving up for? Are you ready to let go of seeing the renovations on your house come to a completion? Are you ready to let go of seeing your child graduate college or getting married? Are you ready to let go of being a grandparent?

I don’t know what you have on your “life accomplishment” list; I know that I would to see my kids get married and have grandchildren. I would love to see them surrender to the ministry. I’m anxious to see where God takes Betty and myself when we have an empty nest. But am I ready to give this up?

The answer is “yes.” But, where I am today I can say it is a “yes” with a 110% guarantee. Not a “yes” because that is what I’m supposed to say. Not a “yes” with reservations because there are still things I want to experience (1 John 2:15-16). It is a “yes” with an anxiousness (Titus 2:13) to see my Lord in all His Glory.

I’m taking on the attitude of 2 Corinthians 5:8-9: though I’m looking forward to being with the Lord, I know I have this moment to labor, try my best, to be pleasing to Him. That starts with digging in His word daily and then practicing what He tells me. I know that I must serve my wife and family whole-heartedly and not use “church” as an excuse not to spend time with the family. I strive to become more involved with my neighbors and love them because they may not know the Lord and His love – this is a stretch for me, because by nature I’m an introverted hermit (Proverbs 18:1). I strive to love those in the body of believers, especially the ones who may be abrasive to me (either by aggression or just personality); and that means trying to empathize with their hurts and hang-ups (I truly believe that no believer would want to maliciously attack another believer – for they both have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). It comes down to “what actions are pleasing to God?” Love God and love others; share the Gospel to a lost world; bring lost folks into a family of believers; and train them in the previous four areas through God’s word (Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 22:37-40).

As the verse says, while I’m here I will strive to make whatever I do pleasing to God (1 Corinthians 10:31), but knowing that whatever I do now will never compare to my being present with the Lord.

Blessings in Training

Galatians 5:13 (KJV)
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

You are probably wondering what these two verses have with training, so I need to explain a little. Part of my morning routine is to review memory verses. Paul alluded that disciplines of godliness are similar to an athlete training to compete (1 Timothy 4:7-8; 1 Corinthians 9:25). But sometimes memory verse review can become “just routine” so I strive to meditate (go over and over) and put into practice the memory verses.

Psalm 119:11 (KJV)
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:15-16 (HCSB)
I will meditate on Your precepts and think about Your ways.
[16] I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.

Psalm 119:27 (HCSB)
Help me understand the meaning of Your precepts so that I can meditate on Your wonders.

So during my review session, two of verses really stuck out concerning a very busy season I’m going through right now – Galatians 5:13 and 1 Corinthians 10:31. My life is no busier than anybody else’s life, it is just becoming grueling: taking care of a homeowner’s issue that takes persistence and daily work; installing a new floor in the dining room; taking care of children out of school (more laundry and more meals); study; and my full workload at church. I don’t even think I’ve had a date with my wife (even a little one) since July 26th. It’s just busy for me. I’m not complaining – it’s good to have a full schedule. It just can get overwhelming.

Galatians 5:13 reminded me that I don’t “HAVE TO” do any of these things. The liberty I have in Christ has freed me up from all of the “HAVE TO’s” in my life. I CHOOSE to take on a full load to show love and serve. This was a reminder and an encouragement to press on.

1 Corinthians 10:31 lets me know that everything I do can and should be to the glory of God. Serving and loving my family (home and church) is a great way to give glory to God.

The blessing in the training? I have a home to take care of – that’s a blessing. I have a family to serve and love – that’s a blessing. I serve full-time in the ministry – that’s a blessing. I have time to spend with the Lord in His Word and in prayer – that’s a wonderful blessing!

1 John 5:1-5 (HCSB)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent also loves his child. [2] This is how we know that we love God's children when we love God and obey His commands. [3] For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden, [4] because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. [5] And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Great Commandment and the Scribe

Mark 12:28-34 (HCSB)
[28] One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”
[29] “This is the most important,” Jesus answered:
Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, The Lord is One. [30] Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
[31] “The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
[32] Then the scribe said to Him, “You are right, Teacher! You have correctly said that He is One, and there is no one else except Him. [33] And to love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
[34] When Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question Him any longer.

This is a great discourse between a scribe (scribe(s) - A professional group in Judaism that copied the law of Moses and interpreted it, especially in legal cases. HCSB Back Matter) and Jesus. Most of the accounts of scribes in the Gospels have them trying to entrap Jesus in some point of the law. I believe because of this the modern reader just groups all scribes with all Pharisees and all Sadducees – Jesus’ enemies. We forget that not all men from all these groups followed the mob mentality.

This one scribe is mentioned; he took his job seriously and sought to interpret the Scriptures. In verse 33 the scribe adds “is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” This does not sound like a man trying to trip up Jesus, but one who studied the law and applied King David’s & the Prophet Hosea’s writings to it:

Psalms 51:16-17 (HCSB)
[16] You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it;
You are not pleased with a burnt offering .
[17] The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.
God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

Hosea 6:6 (HCSB)
[6] For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings .

It takes an understanding that God is fully in control (i.e. “a broken spirit”) to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And it takes true humility to love your neighbor as yourself.

All this to make one point: don’t be so quick to judge an individual with the group, because Jesus would give hope to an individual within a group He wasn’t pleased with (Mark 12:28-30).

Concentrate on the Job at Hand

Proverbs 14:4 (ESV)
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

I’ve always like this verse. Today it reminds me that our desire for perfect little packages (the perfect church, the perfect pastor, the perfect congregation) may get in the way of great growth.

That’s right, if there is no animals in the barn there is no poop to clean up. But a farmer, before John Deere, needed his animals to bring in his crops. So if you wanted abundant crops you had to accept the fact there was going to be some poop to clean up.

Matthew 9:37-38 (HCSB)
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. [38] Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (HCSB)
Brothers, consider your calling: not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. [27] Instead, God has chosen the world's foolish things to shame the wise, and God has chosen the world's weak things to shame the strong. [28] God has chosen the world's insignificant and despised things — the things viewed as nothing—so He might bring to nothing the things that are viewed as something, [29] so that no one can boast in His presence. [30] But from Him you are in Christ Jesus, who for us became wisdom from God, as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, [31] in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.

We are the oxen and we are needed to bring the abundant crops in. We will never be the perfect little packages that the world wants. And how dare we judge our churches, pastors and congregations on the world standards? God chose us, who have sickness, weaknesses and flaws, to work through us and do the impossible so that He gets the praise. Let God do His job (will) through us and we will see incredible things happen and we can (and will) boast in Him!

Call Me Foolish (or Stupid)

Proverbs 12:15-16 (ESV)
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
[16] The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

(another translation of the words we get “fool” and “foolish” from is “stupid”)

So many of us are like this in both areas: our way of doing things is always right (even when we are wrong) and we are easily offended. I know that I fail in both areas often, but I pray that the Lord continues to work on me.

Two scriptures come to mind right now as I look at this Proverb: Psalm 139:23-24 & James 3:17.

In my opinion, Psalm 139:23-24 should always be applied when we approach God’s word:

Psalms 139:23-24 (KJV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
[24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Do you value your own opinion too highly? Is it your way or the highway? Do you judge others by standards God has not set on them (tradition above scripture)? Are you so righteous that there is no room for correction?

Do you get offended easily? Do lost people acting like their “father” really irk you? How do you react when someone purposely hurts you or excludes you? Or how about when they do so without even knowing it?

This Proverb addresses the right paths in both instances (“…but the wise man” and “…but the prudent”). Which brings me to James 3:17. Why? Because “wise man” and “prudent” both refer to wisdom. What’s the best wisdom? The wisdom from above:

James 3:17 (KJV)
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated (open to reason), full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality (impartial), and without hypocrisy (sincere).
(ESV translation of phrases in parentheses)

Obviously we are going to have issues to deal with – are you willing to apply James 3:17 when tackling issues? When someone offers a different way of doing things (or advice), can you be open to reason? When someone hurts you can you be pure, peaceful, gentle and merciful when you address the issue? This is the wisdom you have been given. You have been empowered to use it. So can you take "offenses" and "hurts" and turn them into a chance to restore, grow and love? The scriptures say you can and you've got the God of heaven and earth backing you - go for it!

Who Is the Wicked One?

Who Is the Wicked One?
Proverbs 11:11-13 (ESV)
[11] By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
[12] Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.
[13] Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Sometimes we get bent out of shape by the actions of a neighbor (brother). Instead of addressing it properly we end up as the one behaving wickedly by belittling and slandering. The result: our city (home/church/family) is overthrown.