Archive for the ‘Bible Study’ Category

Proverbs 5:21 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 5, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 05, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command 

Proverbs 5:21 For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.

God’s eyes are everywhere, beholding all actions (Pr 15:3; Ps 11:4; 139:1-12). Every thought, word, and deed is naked and exposed to the all-seeing eyes of the omniscient God. He sees and considers all your doings, so you should fear Him and hate sin. You should order your life, both in private and public, to please Him in all ways, at all times.

But the warning is considerably more pointed – you should fear God seeing your sexual sins. Here the wise father Solomon warned his son about the strange woman and taught the cure for her. She is bitter, painful, and takes men down to death and hell (Pr 5:4-5); she destroys lives (Pr 5:9-11); she brings bondage (Pr 5:22-23). Inspired safety is to be totally in love with your wife and content with her body and lovemaking (Pr 5:15-19).

Sexual sins are done in secret. Adulterers meet in private or dark places (Pr 7:9; Job 24:15). Pornography addicts hide materials or media and make excuses for being alone (Ezek 16:17; 23:14-16). The fantasizing person believes thoughts, imaginations, and desires are totally hidden from everyone (Pr 24:9; Ps 10:11; Ezek 8:12). The defrauding wife thinks she is justified and safe avoiding sex with her husband (I Cor 7:3-5).

But the Lord God sees and knows all such deeds and thoughts. Nothing is hid from His eyes. Darkness is as noonday to Him. He fills heaven and earth; where will you hide? He discerns the very thoughts and intents of your heart. He knows and considers it all. And He hates and judges sexual sins (Ex 20:14; Lev 18:6-25; 20:10-21; Matt 5:28; Heb 13:4). It means nothing at all to Him that you have hid your sexual crimes from other men.

The father asked his son, “Why love or touch a strange woman?” (Pr 5:20). She brings terrible pain and destruction (Pr 5:4-11); she causes bondage and death (Pr 5:22-23). But he especially wanted his son to know that God sees every sexual activity and thought, and He considers and weighs them all. The Lord of heaven will give blessings to the sexually pure and faithful; He will send painful, punishing judgment upon the filthy and foolish.

People go to great lengths hiding sexual sins from others for guilt, fear, and shame, but the only Judge they should fear clearly sees every deed and the thoughts behind them. Why fear others knowing your sexual sins, when the holy God is a much greater Judge? This proves the deceitfulness and insanity of the depraved and willful human heart, using fig leaves to cover nakedness, when only the blood of an innocent life can truly protect.

The LORD sees and knows your sexual secrets, and you had better keep your sexual life pure and holy, for this is the will of God (I Thess 4:1-8). He watches all your sexual activities, thoughts, and words. He will surely bless the righteous and judge the wicked. You cannot hide or escape His penetrating view, and you cannot avoid the consequences.

The Lord Jesus Christ was tempted in all points as you are, but He remained faithful to His God, even better than Joseph! Single, followed by many devoted women, and more desirable and affectionate than any man, He lived with absolute fidelity and purity to God His Father. Confess and repudiate your sexual sins already committed to Him, and then follow His holy example today. He will give you increasing strength as you obey Him.

Proverbs 4:10 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 3, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 04, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 4:10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.

Would you like a long life? Many are obsessed with life extension, as shown by the money and time spent on vitamins, medication, surgery, and diet and exercise programs. This proverb offers a long life, but few will be interested, because it requires humility and obedience. Most people would rather pay for placebos and continue in sin and pride.

David taught Solomon to crave and value wisdom (Pr 4:3-9), and Solomon taught his son the same (Pr 4:1-2). By the emphasis of two generations – an exceptional father and grandfather – the importance of wisdom was made clear. Solomon then appealed to his son to hear and receive the fatherly advice he himself had been taught for a long life.

Solomon said, “Hear, O my son.” Men have trouble hearing advice, because their own feelings, thoughts, ideas, opinions, preferences, and goals race loudly through their foolish minds. Others are too busy chasing vanity and do not have the time to listen. Only a few have the wisdom to make the time and shut down their own ignorant thinking to learn knowledge from another, whom God has appointed as a teacher (Pr 18:1-2).

Solomon said, “Receive my sayings.” Men resent correction, instruction, and reproof, because their pride will not admit they are wrong. The bondage of arrogance and conceit dooms most men to a life of ignorance and failure (Pr 26:12,16). They cannot learn, because they will not reject their ideas to admit another is wiser. Only a few have wisdom to admit ignorance and learn from others (I Kgs 3:7; Ps 131:1-3; Jer 1:6; Matt 18:3-4).

God, parents, and pastors teach wisdom. He wrote the Bible, a divine library of 66 books filled with wisdom in various literary forms. God gives parents to children from their first moments to help them avoid the troubles of life. And Jesus Christ ordained true pastors to feed His people with knowledge and understanding (Jer 3:15). It is your duty to humble yourself and tremble before these ordained teachers (Is 66:2; Eph 6:1-3; I Thess 5:20).

Learning wisdom will extend your life, and it will enhance your life. There is safety in wisdom that secures you from life’s dangers and the judgment of God and men (Pr 2:18; 3:2,16; 5:5; 7:27; 8:36; 9:11,18; 10:2; 11:4,19; 12:28; 13:14; 14:12,27; 16:14,25; 18:21; 21:6). And there is a reward in wisdom that brings glory and honor (Pr 3:16; 4:8-9; 22:4). Do you fully appreciate the value in hearing and receiving the sayings of your teachers?

Wisdom will extend your life naturally, especially the sayings of this book of Proverbs. Here are warnings against life-shortening consequences of accidents, adultery, anger, bitterness, a broken heart, capital punishment, crime, depression, disease, divorce, drunkenness, envy, fear, gluttony, grief, guilt, hatred, marital dysfunction, murder, STDs, stress, strife, violence. It is wisdom to consider these sinful causes of premature death.

If you do not think the above things shorten physical life, you need to think again. Some will kill you directly; some will kill you indirectly. Consider just for starters the enormous power of psychosomatic illnesses – bodily breakdown from mental or spiritual problems (Pr 15:13; 17:22; 18:14). Modern medicine confirms that a content and happy person in a monogamous marriage will outlive a single whoremonger of either sex.

Wisdom will extend your life supernaturally by securing God’s blessings and/or avoiding His justice and judgment. The blessed God will cut off the lives of the wicked (Ps 55:23; Eccl 7:17), but He will extend the lives of the righteous (Pr 10:27; Ps 34:11-16; 91:14-16; 128:6; I Tim 4:8; I Pet 3:8-12). Remember the reward of long life for obeying parents (Eph 6:1-3). When God is on your side by obedience to His word and teachers, you have done more for your future health and longevity than any exercise or nutrition program.

Consider the shortened lives of the world’s inhabitants (Gen 7:21-24), Sodom’s fine citizens (Gen 19:24-25), Er and Onan (Gen 38:7-10), Eli’s sons (I Sam 2:25), Nabal (I Sam 25:38), Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11), Herod (Acts 12:23), and many church members at Corinth (I Cor 11:30). This is no laughing matter, for you see it throughout the Old Testament; and you see it even among church members of the New Testament.

Solomon wrote elsewhere, “Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?” (Eccl 7:17.) It is a known fact that hard living – a sinful lifestyle – shortens life expectancy. What will you do with the sayings of the teachers in your life? Will you hear and receive them and live? Or reject them and die?

Son, do you hear and receive your father’s sayings? Do you gladly listen to your father and appreciate his correction, instruction, and warnings? Or do you resent him for ignoring your great experience and wisdom? Do you ignore him because he is out of touch with your foolish and vain world? Humble yourself, or die young (Eph 6:1-3).

Father, do you say wise things to your son regularly? Or do you just bring home the bacon, vegetate with the television, and become a couch potato. You must teach him the wisdom of God (Ps 34:11; Eph 6:4; Joel 1:3). Do it, or you will cost him years of his life! Why did you have him in the first place, if you are not going to teach him to be wise?

The God of heaven has spoken by His word. Will you hear and receive the sayings? He has sent pastors to feed His people from that word. Will you hear and receive their sayings? Natural and supernatural blessings depend on your choice. What will it be? Will you live a long and abundant life? Or will you be cut off early after living miserably?

Spiritual Training 04 June 2014

Posted: June 3, 2014 in 1 Corinthians, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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PAUL ADDRESSES CHURCH PROBLEMS (1:1-6:20)

1 Corinthians Chapter 6:1-8 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints. Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another-and this in front of unbelievers!

Paul teaches how the congregation should handle smaller problems between believers. Society has set up a legal system where disagreements can be resolved in courts. But Paul declares that disagreeing Christians should not have to go to a secular court to resolve their differences. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ, so why should we turn to those who lack God’s wisdom? Because of all that we have been given as believers, and because of the authority that we will have in the future to judge the world and the angels, we should be able to deal with disputes among ourselves. The saints are believers.

Spiritual Training 03 June 2014

Posted: June 3, 2014 in 1 Corinthians, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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PAUL ADDRESSES CHURCH PROBLEMS (1:1-6:20)

1 Corinthians Chapter 5

1-5: It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan so that the sinful nature may be destroyed, and his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

6-8: Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast
 leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9-11: I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

12: What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

The church must discipline flagrant sin among its members—such sins, left unchecked, can polarize and paralyze a church. The correction, however, should never be vengeful. Instead, it should be given to help bring about a cure. There was a specific sin in the church, but the Corinthian believers had refused to deal with it. In this case, a man was having an affair with his mother (or stepmother), and the church members were trying to ignore the situation. Paul was telling the church that it had a responsibility to maintain the standards of morality found in God’s commandments. God tells us not to judge others. But he also tells us not to tolerate flagrant sin because leaving that sin undisciplined will have a dangerous influence on other believers

To “hand this man over to Satan” means to exclude him from the fellowship of believers. Without the spiritual support of Christians, this man would be left alone with his sin and Satan, and perhaps this emptiness would drive him to repentance. “For the destruction of the flesh” states the hope that the experience would bring him to God to destroy his sinful nature through repentance. Flesh could mean his body. This alternative translation would imply that Satan would afflict him physically and thus bring him to God. Putting someone out of the church should be a last resort in disciplinary action. It should not be done out of vengeance, but out of love, just as parents punish children to correct and restore them. The church’s role should be to help, not hurt, offenders, motivating them to repent of their sins and to return to the fellowship of the church.

Paul was writing to those who wanted to ignore this church problem. They didn’t realize that allowing public sin to exist in the church affects all its members. Paul does not expect anyone to be sinless—all believers struggle with sin daily. Instead, he is speaking against those who deliberately sin, feel no guilt, and refuse to repent. This kind of sin cannot be tolerated in the church because it affects others. We have a responsibility to other believers. Yeast makes bread dough rise. A little bit affects the whole batch.

As the Hebrews prepared for their exodus from slavery in Egypt, they were commanded to prepare bread without yeast because they didn’t have time to wait for it to rise. And because yeast also was a symbol of sin, they were commanded to sweep all of it out of the house (Exodus 12:15; 13:7). Christ is our Passover lamb, the perfect sacrifice for our sin. Because he has delivered us from the slavery of sin, we should have nothing to do with the sins of the past (“old yeast”).

Paul makes it clear that we should not disassociate ourselves from unbelievers—otherwise, we could not carry out Christ’s command to tell them about salvation (Matthew 28:18–20). But we are to distance ourselves from the person who claims to be a Christian, yet indulges in sins explicitly forbidden in Scripture and then rationalizes his or her actions. By rationalizing sin, a person harms others for whom Christ died and dims the image of God in himself or herself. A church that includes such people is hardly fit to be the light of the world. To do so would distort the picture of Christ it presents to the world. Church leaders must be ready to correct, in love, for the sake of spiritual unity.

The Bible consistently tells us not to criticize people by gossiping or making rash judgments. At the same time, however, we are to judge and deal with sin that can hurt others. Paul’s instructions should not be used to handle trivial matters or to take revenge; nor should they be applied to individual problems between believers. These verses are instructions for dealing with open sin in the church, with a person who claims to be a Christian and yet who sins without remorse. The church is to confront and discipline such a person in love.

Lets Bring it Home: Blatant sins, left uncorrected, confuse and divide the congregation. While believers should encourage, pray for, and build up one another, they must also be intolerant of sin that jeopardizes the spiritual health of the church. The church is to confront and discipline such a person in love.

Proverbs 03:32 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 3, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 03, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 3:32 for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

Good guys finish first! Measure their end, not their beginning, for there are no exceptions to the rule. God will fight against every wicked person, because He abhors each one. But He will personally bless the righteous with His presence and goodness, because He loves each of them. Do not be misled by the world, which exalts the wicked and despises the righteous. It is their last arrogant gasp at self-delusion before their final destruction.

Because the world glamorizes wicked men in its rebellion against God and truth, men often envy oppressors (Pr 3:31; 23:17; 24:1,19; Ps 37:1,7). For a time it may seem that deceitful and violent men get ahead without consequences. But the inspired warning – “Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways,” – is based on the rule here (Pr 3:31). Apparent success is a temporary illusion. Hell will be paid! God guarantees it!

What is a froward man? This older word means a man who goes counter to what is right; he is unreasonable, perverse, difficult to deal with, hard to please, refractory, and ungovernable. He is obnoxious and wicked. He is the oppressor from the previous proverb, who uses any means he can to harm others and take advantage of them. The warning is clear – do not choose his ways or choose to be with him. He is going down!

You have seen this man before. Have you envied him? He is brash and confident. He breaks the rules and seems to never get caught. In fact, he is often honored and rewarded, as if his cheating were the profitable thing to do. He has no regard for others, and he uses them for whatever he can get from them. He may become powerful and successful, and you wonder if there is any reward for living a holy and righteous life (Ps 73:1-14).

But God abominates such wicked men. He hates them with perfect hatred, and He will judge them in this world and the next. If you think God loves such men but hates their sin, then hear the word of the Lord, “The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity” (Ps 5:5). “The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth” (Ps 11:5). Pharaoh greatly oppressed the Hebrews, so God suffocated him in the Red Sea for his frowardness (Ex 14:17; Rom 9:15-18).

Who are the righteous? They are good men who live by God’s definition of what is right. They fear and love God, and they adjust their lives to match what is written in the Bible. They hate sin, and they love holiness. They are strangers and pilgrims in this world, for they know their real citizenship and everlasting inheritance is in another world – heaven. God rewards them in this life and the next, and Solomon described them over fifty times.

What is God’s secret, which He gives to the righteous? It is His personal presence and favors, which He grants to good men in ways the world cannot recognize. As men share intimate plans and rewards with their best friends, so the Lord shares His glory and blessings with holy men. He tells them through His Spirit of His love for them and of the unspeakable rewards He has waiting for them in heaven (Ps 25:14; I Cor 2:9; Gal 4:6-7).

Spiritual Training 02 June 2014

Posted: June 2, 2014 in 1 Corinthians, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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PAUL ADDRESSES CHURCH PROBLEMS (1:1-6:20)

1 Corinthians 4:18-20 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

Some people talk a lot about faith, but that’s all it is talk. They may know all the right words to say but their lives don’t reflect God’s power. Paul says that the kingdom of God is to be lived, not just discussed. There is a big difference between knowing the right words and living them out.

Lets Bring it Home: Don’t be just content to have the right answers about Christ. Let your life show that God’s power is really working in you.

Proverbs 2:14 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: June 2, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 02, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 2:14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil

The wicked enjoy sin. Their conscience is seldom grieved, and their soul is seldom vexed. They are excited about the opportunity to sin, and they count it great sport to see the perverse actions of other sinners. They do evil, and they take pleasure in others doing evil. This is the character of wicked men, and wise men will avoid them at all costs.

Solomon taught his son the benefits of wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding (Pr 2:10-11). These blessings would save him from wicked men and wicked women (Pr 2:12-19). They would lead him into the company of godly men and their blessings (Pr 2:20-21), and they would keep him from the judgment of the wicked (Pr 2:22).

The wicked never think about God: He is not in all their thoughts (Ps 10:4). They rush into life with thoughts only of pleasing themselves. They do not tremble at God’s warnings. They are excited about sin. Like Ahab, they sell themselves to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD (I Kgs 21:25-26). Their damnation is coming fast (II Pet 2:3)!

These wicked men are not like Lot, the righteous and just nephew of Abraham. His soul was vexed daily while he lived as a carnal Christian, compromising with sin in Sodom (II Pet 2:6-8). But the wicked are only vexed when they cannot sin (Pr 4:16; Micah 2:1)! They love sin. And they love watching others sin, even heinously. Think Hollywood!

The world is filled with such madmen. Paul described them as “being past feeling” and giving “themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Eph 4:17-19). The reason for this horrible condition is the vanity of their minds, their darkened understanding, and their blinded hearts. He warned against living like them.

Men rejected God’s truth in creation, so he blinded them (Rom 1:18-21). They foolishly created versions of gods to their own liking (Rom 1:22-23), so God blinded their minds further to do abusive and inconvenient things to themselves (Rom 1:24-31). Though they knew such sins deserved death, they sinned and enjoyed others sinning also (Rom 1:32).

This generation flatters wicked men. Sin is no longer a horrible thing with consequences. Sin is good material for comedies and jokes for entertainment. But only fools mock at sin (Pr 10:23; 14:9). Not only is sin destructive of men’s lives, it offends a holy and just God.

The value of wisdom is salvation from such wicked men (Pr 2:10-15). Young man, love and seek wisdom to be saved from their lifestyle and horrible judgment. Delight thyself in the Lord (Ps 37:4). Flee youthful lusts (II Tim 2:22). Pursue godliness instead (Tit 2:6).

Spiritual Training 30 May 2014

Posted: May 30, 2014 in 1 Corinthians, Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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PAUL ADDRESSES CHURCH PROBLEMS (1:1-6:20)

1 Corinthians 4:14-16 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

In Paul’s day, a guardian was a slave who was assigned as a special tutor and caretaker of a child. Paul was portraying his special affection for the Corinthians (greater than a slave) and his special role (more than a caretaker). In an attempt to unify the church, Paul appealed to his relationship with them. By father, he meant he was the church’s founder. Because he started the church, he could be trusted to have its best interests at heart. Paul’s tough words were motivated by love-like the love a good father has for his children.

Paul told the Corinthians to imitate him. He was able to make this statement because he walked close to God, spent time in God’s Word and in prayer, and was aware of God’s presence in his life at all times. God was Paul’s example; therefore, Paul’s life could be an example to other Christians. Paul wasn’t expecting others to imitate everything he did, but they should imitate those aspects of his beliefs and conduct that were modeling Christ’s way of living.

Lets Bring it Home: How do we live that people can see Christ’s way of living in us that can be imitated?

Proverbs 30:16 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 30, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs 30, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 30:16 the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

Discontentment is a horrible vice. It is the mark of a bloodsucker (Pr 30:15). Men who are never satisfied are compared here to four other things that are never satisfied. The grave, a barren womb, dry ground, and a raging fire illustrate the sin of discontentment.

Foolish man is never happy. He loves silver, and gets some; but he is not content, for he wants more (Ec 5:10). He marries a beautiful woman, but he lusts after others’ wives (Jer 5:8). Covetousness, a hideous sin, denies men contentment, peace, or satisfaction in life.

Men’s lusts continue to greedily crave and seek pleasure regardless of sinful indulgence. Their sinful fleshly lusts never reach satisfaction to turn to godliness or righteousness instead. They persist insatiably in their pursuit of vain fulfillment in the world’s pigpens.

The grave is never satisfied. No matter how many are buried today, cemeteries will take more tomorrow. It will have room for you when your turn. Do not worry about no room at this inn. Though death cuts men down by the thousands, there is room for more. The grave never says, “It is enough!” It has an insatiable desire for the bodies of men.

The barren womb is never satisfied. Today’s liberated women do not count – they are perverse. In Bible times, women craved children. Rachel said to her husband Jacob, “Give me children, or else I die” (Gen 30:1). The barren womb has an insatiable desire for children. God placed a longing need for children in women, and they crave them.

The earth that is not filled with water is never satisfied. Dry ground absorbs water applied to it and is still dry. The water disappears, and the ground demands more. Though much water is supplied, it yet wants more. The dry ground has an insatiable desire for water. Rain on such ground is quickly absorbed, and it needs much more. It is never filled.

The raging fire is never satisfied. As long as it can find combustible material, it will continue to burn. It never approaches a forest or house and stops due to lack of desire to burn. The raging fire has an insatiable desire to burn anything it can touch. It is not content with one acre of forest, for it will quickly burn another ten if not contained.

These four things – never satisfied and with insatiable desires – powerfully picture man’s sinful lusts. Some men are never content, though given much, for they always want more. They live frustrated and painful lives, with their eyes always looking for more (Pr 27:20).

Contentment leads to happiness, and it is easy to have, but few men find it. It has nothing to do with circumstances (Phil 4:12). It is a learned choice (Phil 4:11). To the hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet (Pr 27:7). Be content by making God your portion (Gen 15:1; Ps 73:25-26; Heb 13:5-6). Great gain is godliness with contentment (I Tim 6:6).

Are you content, reader? Or are you frustrated? Why? God has given you much, and promised you more. What else could you possibly want? You are like the grave, the barren womb, the dry ground, and a raging fire, if you do not choose contentment today.

 

Proverbs 29:19 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: May 29, 2014 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Proverbs 29, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Proverbs 29:19 A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond.

Rebellion can be active or passive. Wicked servants will not respond to verbal correction, because their hearts are full of defiance. They fear enough to refrain from cursing, but they do not have the spirit of a virtuous servant. Though clearly or frequently corrected, and understanding the lesson and their needed improvement, they will not answer properly or amend their ways. Therefore, authority needs to be enforced painfully.

A scornful, sullen, surly servant will show his stubborn rebellion by ignoring verbal instruction and correction. If you explain things carefully and clearly, he will not agree or submit. Though you ask questions he understands, he will not answer. He uses silence to punish the authority he despises. He shows his wickedness quietly by rejecting your rule. Men may describe such a person as one that does not know how to say, “I am sorry.”

If you find yourself saying, “Say something!” you have encountered the rebellious problem Solomon here described to his son. Silence is no evidence of agreement or submission; it is often a loud statement of defiance. Measures beyond words must be used. This is not just any servant, for many servants are corrected by words (Matt 8:9).

Such rebellion must be crushed. Authority must be enforced to maintain order and peace. It was solved by two options under Moses’ law. You could beat the servant, if necessary, to within an inch of his life (Pr 19:29; 26:3; Ex 21:20-21). And if you were tired of beating him, you could sell him to a master with a bigger rod! Moses’ law warned against unnecessary rigor (Lev 25:43), but authority must be maintained (Pr 19:25; 21:11; 26:3).

Modern employment relationships do not have the provisions of Moses’ law, so wise masters fire belligerent losers. Keeping one bad apple will spoil the whole bunch. Allowing a defiant employee to stay, even if he rebels quietly, will cost your authority. When you find a scorner, and you cannot correct him, throw him out (Pr 22:10)!

Parent, do you know your children? Do you know when silence is rebellion? Do you observe sullenness? Do you understand that a withdrawn child is a problem child? Do you know their temperamental differences, and do you carefully watch the passive ones, who tend toward reserved responses? Their rebellion can grow while you snooze.

Rebellion can be active or passive, loud or silent, angry or sullen. It is your job to detect passive rebellion. Do not allow a child to avoid instruction, correction, or questions. They quickly learn delay tactics, knowing you will tire and forget them. Reject excuses, such as needing more time; children do not have any such rebellious luxury when facing you.

Remember how God hates mocking eyes (Pr 30:17). Watch and read the faces of your children. Correct any insolence, even in the facial expressions. Silence can be mocking. When you detect such a problem, quickly move toward more severe measures to rescue this child from their self-will. The rod will work wonders (Pr 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15).

Tears are also used in silent rebellion. Rather than telling you wickedly they will not do it, they simply let go with the tears, knowing that such a show of emotion got rid of you the last time. If the tears are genuine, they will accompany sincere words of apology and the correct action. Do not allow a child, especially daughters, to use tears as a cover.

Husband, manage your marriage. Watch your wife’s face and correct any marital problems while they are in the bud. Silent rebellion is very common. They will self-righteously justify themselves as submissive, all the while building up bitter rage inside. Spot this sinful rebellion by her silence, smoldering eyes, facial expressions, or body language. Do not let a confrontation end until she is fully at peace with God and you.

Wife, silence is not submission. If your husband must correct you, tell him quickly you are sorry. Tell him you understand the lesson; explain it back to him; promise better behavior in the future. Too much for your pride? Get down right now and confess your arrogance to God. Pride is a horrible sin, and it will destroy your life and home. Answering again is wrong, whether with words or with silence (Tit 2:9). Beware of it!

Christians should never be such blots on their Saviour. They should take correction with cheerfulness and contrition. They should reverently express a desire to make amends as quickly as possible. Then they should do what is expected. Silent rebellion is conduct totally contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ for servants (Eph 6:5-7; I Tim 6:1-2).

Christians should be the quickest to say they are sorry when shown their faults. The man unwilling to say he is sorry on earth will have eternity to consider his rebellion, for such willful stubbornness marks reprobates. Insubordinate servants, wives, and children are odious things that trouble the earth (Pr 30:21-23). Let Christians avoid such reputations.

Dear Christian reader, do you understand the great Lord you serve? You must give Him your sincere confession when you are convicted for sin. Feeling conviction and purposing in your heart to turn from your sin is not nearly enough. You must confess your sins, admit your folly, and turn to Him (Pr 28:13; Job 33:27; 34:31-32; I Jn 1:9). Your glorious Master will receive you, the angels will celebrate, and your fellowship will be restored.

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