Human Reactions

“Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off thou shalt see it.” Psalm 37:34

Perhaps the most difficult task facing Christians, is to wait upon the Lord. Technically, it should be the easiest part of Christianity, i.e., “let the Lord handle it”. But in reality, man is driven by his own feelings and frustrations, to the point where the hardest thing we face many times, is to keep ourselves from taking matters into our own hands.

Why did man invent religious conventions, associations, and other organizations not found in the scriptures? Because man just cannot wait upon God. He thinks he has to do it in a bigger and better way than God’s will and way allows. People get so pumped up in themselves and that which is of man that they equate it to be by spiritual revelation and power, even though it is unscriptural.

Many a servant of God has sidestepped his or her calling simply because they could not wait upon God! They just had to do something about their situation themselves. I have taken things into my own hands before, because I was so stirred up by the situation at hand, that I felt I had to do something or bust!

Serving the Lord is not an easy thing. It involves continuing on when everything says quit. It demands enthusiasm in spite of only discouraging results. It requires doing it again even though the last time we did it, all seemed to no avail. It requires the continued investment of our time and talent into that which appears only to be unsuccessful.

Sometimes our human energies and driving forces work so hard within us that we despair of waiting upon the Lord and start reacting on our own. I believe this to be the tap root of much of the “religious zeal” we see expressing itself today.

A person can become so repressed in spirit by the difficulty of waiting upon God, that they have a reaction unto becoming a self-proclaimed zealot. They denounce the Lord’s church as it is, and blame it for the condition of society. They vigorously proclaim their brand of spiritualism as being the idealistic “fire power” of Christianity. They use a strong, dominant personality to draw followers, who find approval by being a donor and supporter of the cause of their superiors. They intimidate those who do not rally behind them and support their recommendations.

Rather than have reactions to the frustrations involved in doing God’s work God’s way, we need to seek greater humility and self-denial to keep on keeping on, God’s way. Rather than fault the Lord’s work, we need to wait on God in doing His work, His way.

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Where Are God’s Answers Found?

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Should Paul’s mindset had been only for having this thing removed according to his own expectation, he would not have recognized God’s answer. God’s answer was not found in what Paul wanted to see happen, but in God’s provision, which was far greater. By God extending His grace to Paul, which was sufficient for this problem, Paul found God’s grace to be sufficient for all His problems. Had God just removed the problem instead of supplying grace greater than the problem, Paul would not have gained the grace that was sufficient for every problem.

Though God didn’t do what Paul originally desired, what God did do proved to be far greater. God’s answers do not short change us. They do not limit us. They do not deprive us. Rather, they open up to us that which otherwise would never be available.

God answered Paul by means of His grace, which Paul had no grounds upon which to bargain for such benefits. Our problems are due to the imperfections of our sinful world and sinful self. If God answered us according to that which we deserved, it would be the awful recompense for our sinful imperfection, instead of the provision for deliverance from the effects of our imperfect state.

Rather than God just get us out of the jams we get ourselves into due to walking according to our own ways, God’s answer is to provide for us to walk on the higher road of doing His will, where our steps will be established: “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely”, Proverbs 10:9; “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” Psalm 37:23.

The Psalmist testified that the answers he needed were found in giving the reigns of his life completely into the hands of the Lord: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth by soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:1-3 Rather than God’s answers being able to deliver us from the messes of our will and way, God’s answers are experienced in having Him watch over us and work all things together for our good as we observe and follow His will and way.

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Avoiding Disappointment

“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.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Generally speaking, it is our expectations, not our needs, that disappoint us. We have a way of thinking that we are somehow entitled to what we want, no matter how far beyond our needs it may be.

“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (verse 8). We are to set the bar of expectation at the level of having food and raiment, and become satisfied with that. And having that, we are to settle in our minds that we have no room for complaint.

Being content with food and raiment will allow for joy and thanksgiving with anything beyond that. But if we are only satisfied when all things meet our own expectations, we will be miserable with just having food and raiment. If we expect little, but receive much, there is cause for great joy. But if we expect much and only get little, we are then cast down, due to our expectation.

Where have you set your level of expectation? To set it higher than God tells us to, may very well just create our own disappointment.

We must not fail to take into consideration: “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” Everyone should live responsibly. We should not only take care of present needs, but take into consideration what is involved if God blesses us with ripe old age. We err if we set our own timetable as to when we think the Lord will come. It could be a recipe for disaster to expect the Rapture to relieve us of the responsibilities of old age. Just as we must not expect to take worldly possessions with us to heaven, we must not expect heaven to relieve us of the responsibilities of living in this world.

Wisdom is profitable to direct. To keep ourselves in proper balance, we need godliness with contentment. Contentment comes by hearkening unto God’s counsel concerning the affairs of our lives.

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Modesty

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:9-10

MODEST=having or showing a moderate or humble opinion of one’s own value, abilities, achievements, etc., unassuming, not forward; rather shy and reserved. Behaving according to a standard of what is proper or decorous; decent; pure; now, especially not displaying one’s body.

The scripture emphasizes: “that women adorn themselves with modest apparel.” This is everyone’s responsibility, not church dogma. It is God’s ageless standard, God’s command to and for all women, not just those who attend Faith Baptist Church. Thus God will judge all women for and to His standard for women.

This is to be one’s own personal conviction and faith: “with shamefacedness and sobriety.” This means that the person themselves would be embarrassed to be seen any other way. It is not a matter of doing it for church, or parents, or preacher, but for one’s own heart, self-respect, and conscience. It is a matter of following God because of being reconciled with God. It is a matter of trusting in God’s wisdom in all things. It is also a matter of recognizing human nature for what it is, knowing immodest dress will open the door for lust and improper conduct. Modesty is a safeguard for good morals, like a lock on a door discourages and inhibits crime.

Too many times, the church is resented for teaching modesty, because of having been represented as a teaching of that particular church, rather than as everyone’s responsibility to God and their fellow man. The same Bible that teaches modesty also teaches honesty. But seldom will you find people resenting a church for teaching honesty. WHY? Because honesty is presented as being everyone’s responsibility, rather than as a teaching peculiar to some strict church. Just as honesty is not to be considered some church’s dogma, neither should modesty be. Immodesty should be looked upon, frowned upon, and dealt with the same as dishonesty or any other transgression.

If we lose our sense of responsibility to God and God’s Word, then the salt has lost its savor. To be comfortable and indifferent towards what the Bible teaches to be wrong, is to grieve and quench the Holy Spirit. To have no reproof for that which is contrary to the Bible, is to have no valid testimony as a believer of its precepts. “He that is not with me is against me.” Matthew 12:30 “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:128 “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me.” Exodus 32:26

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 1 Peter 4:17-18

Paul’s witness to Felix was to reason with him of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, (Acts 24:25). John the Baptist lost his head for having reproved Herod for having his brother Philip’s wife, (Matthew 14). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” 2 Corinthians 5:10-11a

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