“Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou dost not inquire wisely…” Ecclesiastes 7:10
The wrong questions will only produce the wrong answers. An elderly person won’t help themselves by asking the question, “Am I stronger than I was four years ago?” Rather, they need to consider, “What can I do best to compliment my remaining strength?”
Beware of making comparisons, rather than seeking to make personal accomplishments: “…but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12 Making comparisons will either produce self-righteous satisfaction, or debilitating dissatisfaction. Rather, “I count not myself to have apprehended…forgetting those things which are behind…reaching forth unto those things…before us” Philippians 3:12.
We must not worry about the outcome with men, but rather seek to be approved of by God: “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” 2 Corinthians 10:18 Thus, “the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.” “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4
The wrong questions can be total distractions. For example: “What am I getting out of church?’ instead of, “What am I putting forth for the church?” Or, “I wonder what I won’t like about the sermon today?” instead of, “Have I really prayed for the preaching?” And, “Why is this lesson so boring?” instead of, “Why didn’t I personally study the lesson to develop an interest in it?”
We must not substitute observations for considerations: Observation: “I wonder why we are not growing?” Consideration: “When was the last time I labored together with the Lord in the fields that are white unto harvest?” Observation: “Some people are quitting church.” Consideration: “Who changed, them or the church?” Observation: “I’m not feeling blessed here.” Consideration: “As ye sow, so shall ye reap”, and, “According to your faith, be it unto you”, and, “Not the hearer, but the doer shall be blessed in his deed.”
And before one jumps to the popular, feel-good religion–lean on ‘restrictions’–ask the question, Is it really God’s grace, if it is not teaching, “that denying ungodly, worldly lusts…live soberly, righteously, godly,…a separate, peculiar people…”? Titus 2:11-15
SHARING
