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.
SHARING
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.
SHARINGModesty
“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
SHARINGThree Costly Mistakes
“…Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” Luke 12:20
It is certainly true that God’s rain falls on the just and the unjust. In the story of Luke 12, a man’s crops brought forth abundantly; so much so that he would not have room to store them at harvest time. He ignored the goodness of God and gave himself all the credit while he began to make big plans. In so doing, this man made three costly mistakes.
First, he placed himself ahead of God. Instead of acknowledging that God was the source of the bumper crops and that all he had actually came from God, the man selfishly took the credit and began to make plans to make himself bigger. In the verses of Luke 12:15-21, the personal pronouns “I” and “my” are found throughout. Friend, you ought to make sure that God is first in all you do and that He gets the credit for the good in your life. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.” Psalm 53:1
Second, he took thought for his body instead of his soul. The man chose to work to be comfortable in this life. He worked on the physical and not the spiritual. The wise person will seek to take care of spiritual things and work for eternity, letting God take care of the physical for him.
Third, he mistook time for eternity. He said to himself that he was set for many years and could just eat, drink, and be merry. The truth is that time for you and me could end in the next five minutes. This man lost his soul because he did not prepare for eternity. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, but eternity is sure. Do not gamble your eternity on the altar of time spent in physical (and material) gratification.
–Pastor Sam Owen
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
SHARINGNehushtan
“He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.” 2 Kings 18:4
Hezekiah never broke the brazen serpent because it in and of itself was an evil thing, but because of the way it was being used. God authored its making for a needful purpose, Numbers 21:8-9, but years later, when it was used for idolatry, it needed to be destroyed.
We are now living in an age of incredible technology. God given intelligence has enabled its development. It can be used for marvelous causes, or like other things, become counter productive.
There are some who reject the use of technology on the grounds it can lead to evil. But this may be shortsighted; as it is what is in the heart, not the hand, that produces evil deeds. I remember a time when some preachers condemned owning a TV, only to purchase one later. “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12
We miss the point if we become either pro or anti-technology. The point is to make proper use of it rather than be brought under its power.
Technology opens many new doors. But as with every open door, the possibility of added temptations come into play. Things that people would never put forth or say in face to face dealings, technology affords a bunker from which to launch bold barrages.
Technology can become another dimension that one can enter away from the reality of what is really important. Other opportunities, privileges, and even responsibilities can become out of sight, out of mind. This can lead to isolation, which creates loneliness, unto seeking more from technology to fill the void, only to increase the problem. This addiction and distraction leads to alienation, even from the real wonders of God and His work. We must not let the incredible become the insidious, by allowing it to take first place in our hearts and lives–first place belongs unto God.
“The most extravagant expense is the waste of time.”
SHARING
