Posts Tagged ‘theology’

Spiritual Training 26 November 2012

Posted: November 29, 2012 in 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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Under Gods Command

Romans 1:28-32 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done, they have become filed with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.  They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.  They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. 

How were these people aware of God’s death penalty?  Human beings, created in God’s image, have a basis moral nature and conscience.  This truth is understood beyond religious circles.  Psychologists, for example, say that the rare person who has no conscience has a serious personality disorder that is extremely difficult to treat.  Most people instinctively know when they do wrong-but they may not care.  Some people will even risk an early death for the freedom to indulge their desires now.  “I know it’s wrong, but I really want it,” they say; or, “I know it’s dangerous, but it’s’ worth the risk.” For such people, part of the “fun” is going against God’s law, the community’s moral standards, common sense, or their own sense of right and wrong.  But deep down inside they know that sin deserves the punishment of death (6:23).

Lets Bring it Home:  In which way do we play with fire?  Let’s asks ourselves, do we fit into any of these areas?  How do we handle our sinful desires, verses deep down inside knowing that sin deserves the punishment of death? No ifs, ands or buts about it.  Does God really hand us over to our foolish ways after numerous attempts to get our attention? Why is there so much hell in my life we say?

 

Spiritual Training 20 November 2012

Posted: November 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Part 4

Homosexuality was a widespread in Paul’s day as it is in ours.  Many pagan practices encouraged it.  God is willing to receive anyone who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept others no matter what their background.  Yet, homosexuality is strictly forbidden in Scripture (Leviticus 18:22).  Homosexuality is considered an acceptable practice by many in our world today-even by some churches.  But society does not set the standard for God’s law.  Many homosexuals believe that their desires are normal and that they have a right to express them.  But God does not obligate nor encourage us to fulfill all our desires (even normal ones).  Those desires that violate his laws must be controlled.

Lets Bring it Home: If you have these desires, you can and must resist acting upon them.  Consciously avoid places or activities you know will kindle temptations of this kind.  Don’t underestimate the power of Satan to tempt you, nor the potential for serious harm if you yield to these temptations.  Remember, God can and will forgive sexual sins just as he forgives other sins.  Surrender yourself to the grace and mercy of God, asking him to show you the way out of sin and into the light of his freedom and his love.  Prayer, Bible study, and strong support in a Christian church can help you to gain strength to resist these powerful temptations.  If you are already deeply involved in homosexual behavior, seek help from a trustworthy, professional, pastoral counselor.

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans: 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised.  Amen.   

Romans 1:26-27 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 

 

Spiritual Training

Posted: November 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Part 3

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans: 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised.  Amen.   

Romans 1:26-27 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 

God’s plan for natural sexual relationships is his ideal for his  creation.  Unfortunately, sin distorts the natural use of God’s gifts.  Sin often means not only denying God, but also denying the way we are made.  When people say that any sex act is acceptable as long as nobody gets hurt they are fooling themselves.  In the long run (and often in the short run).  sin hurts people-individuals, families, whole societies.  Because sex is such a powerful and essential part of what it means to be human, it must be treated with great respect.  Sexual desires are of such importance that the Bible gives them special attention and counsels more carful restraint and self-control than with any other desire.  One of the clearest indicators of a society or person in rebellion against God is the refection of God’s guidelines for the use of sex.

Lets Bring it Home: Natural sex is not just between men and women.  Natural sex is between Husband and Wife.  If you’re not married and having sex, pray for self control.  I know it’s hard.  So make up your mind to either marry the person, or drop it likes it hot.  Nothing is worth burning in hell for the rest of your life.

Proverbs 16:27 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 16, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 16:27 A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. 

Many today love to find others’ failures. They then must share the gossip with yet others. But God and Solomon declare that such people are ungodly. Are you one of them?

If your goal is to be noble and virtuous, hate the thought of digging up evil in someone else’s life, and also hate the common desire to spread these findings. Such perverse persons are far from wisdom and success. God and good men hate these talebearers.

Wicked people love the sins of others. They look for them; they listen for them; they dig for them. They are drawn to them like sharks or hyenas to blood. They rejoice when someone falls. They hunt for sins; they eavesdrop on conversations; they snoop. They recall ancient sins. They spread the failures by backbiting, talebearing, and whispering.

Today’s investigative reporting hunts the sins of as many as possible, especially those in authority. They dig up evil, buy betrayals, and extort witnesses. They pervert facts, twist motives, stalk victims, and reward tattlers. They rape reputations and race to publish lies. Why? To feed the insatiable appetite of a generation of self-righteous leeches! They have picked their niche to make a buck – to publish faults of the famous for lustful readers.

Many publications today spread as much muck about others, pictorial or verbal, as they can find. Think paparazzi. Think England. Think Princess Diana. Any fault, failure, or sin she or any other person has is between God and herself and her family. It is not your business or anyone else’s. But the wicked are always dredging, looking for any filth they can sensationalize and spread for a dollar. These media whores should make you sick.

But what about America? Who cares if Thomas Jefferson had a slave-mistress, If he did, it is between God and Thomas Jefferson. How does that affect his learned opinion against central banks? What if Bill Clinton smoked marijuana at Oxford? What if Nancy Reagan resorted to astrology at times? What if George W. Bush drank too much during and after his Yale years? This list could be multiplied indefinitely.

The political vetting process, if limited to public conduct in public office, may have some value for evaluating a candidate and estimating future performance. But what he or she did privately in high school or college years is quite irrelevant, especially with decades of mature conduct following those youthful years when foolishness is bound in the heart (Pr 22:15). What could be dredged from your youthful past to be published to discredit you?

A fire burns in the lips of these ungodly wretches: they must spread the sins they discover (Ps 39:1-3). The desire to backbite, tattle, whisper, and slander overwhelms them. They love to expose others’ failures. They have no conscience. They enjoy destroying peace and reputations. They are brute beasts with twisted hearts. The blackness of their souls is matched only by the blackness of their eternity (II Pet 2:17; Jude 1:13; Rev 21:8,27).

Envy, self-righteousness, and cruelty control these persons. They live in constant envy, for they resent the superiority of others. They are losers, and they can only justify their existence by destroying the reputations of others. They think themselves righteous, when they can reveal the secret sins of another, though their hearts have more wickedness than any of their victims. They are cruel without regard for the pain and damage they cause.

Solomon warned often about wicked talkers (Pr 6:12-19; 12:18; 16:28; 17:9; 18:8; 26:20-22). So did other Bible writers (Ps 52:2-4; 57:4; Rom 1:29-30; II Cor 12:20; I Tim 6:3-5). God’s repetition and emphasis tells you it is a common and serious sin. Isaiah ripped those that make a man an offender for a word or for a minor fault (Is 29:20-21). James called the tongue a world of iniquity set on fire of hell (Jas 3:6). Are you one of them?

These perverse persons see David’s adultery and ignore his 60 years of astute wisdom, noble character, and great passion for God. Saints have loved David for 3000 years in spite of his sins, because they were exceptions. Jesus was even named after David.

These brute beasts see Peter’s denial of Jesus in His hour of need and ignore the Lord’s forgiveness of Peter and His promotion of Peter among the apostles (Luke 22:32; Jn 21:15-19; Acts 1:15-26). How many of them have their name on two books of the Bible?

Two lessons can be taken from this proverb. First, you should scrupulously avoid ever sharing negative information about another person unless it is absolutely necessary, as in a court case where you are sworn to reveal to proper authorities a person’s actions. Any sharing beyond this should be carefully examined as to motive and consequences, so that you will not be guilty of damaging another’s reputation or hardening your conscience.

Second, if you observe or hear someone spreading faults about another person, you have found an ungodly man. Shut his mouth with righteous anger, as Solomon taught you (Pr 25:23). Reject him from your company, as David would (Ps 101:1-8). God hates these scoundrels, and so should you (Pr 6:12-19; Ps 15:1-5; 139:19-22). Make sure you diligently try to protect the reputations and souls of others at all times. God bless you.

Spiritual Training 16 November 2012

Posted: November 16, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

 Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans: 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised.  Amen.   

When Paul says that men exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of birds, animals, and reptiles, he seems to deliberately state man’s wickedness in the terms used in the Genesis narrative of Adam’s fall (Genesis 1:20-26).

People tend to believe lies that reinforce their own selfish, personal beliefs.  Today, more than ever, we need to be carful about the input we allow to form our beliefs.  With TV, music, movies, and the rest of the media often presenting sinful lifestyles and unwholesome values, we find ourselves constantly bombarded by attitudes and beliefs that are totally opposed to the Bible.

Lets Bring it Home: When we worship the creature instead of the Creator, we lose sight of our own identity as those who are higher than the animals-made in the image of God.  Be carful about what you allow to form your opinions.  The Bible is the only standard of truth.  Evaluate all other opinions in light of its teachings.

Spiritual Training 15 November 2012

Posted: November 15, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 

How could intelligent people turn to idolatry?  Idolatry begins when people reject what they know about God.  Instead of looking to him as the Creator and sustainer of life, they see themselves as the center of the universe.  They soon invent “gods “that are convenient projections of their own selfish plans and decrees, these gods may be wooden figures, but they may also be goals or things we pursue such as money, power, or comfort.  They may even be misrepresentations of God himself-making God in our image, instead of the reverse.  The common denominator is this-idolaters worship the things God made rather than God himself.

Lets Bring it Home: Is there anything you feel you can’t live without? Is there any priority greater than God? Do you have a dream you would sacrifice everything to realize? Does God take first place?  Do you worship God or idols of your own making?

Proverbs 15:09 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 15, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 15:9 The LORD detest the way of the wicked but he loves those who pursue righteousness. 

Is your lifestyle an abomination to God? Or does He love you and your righteous living? You can see the two kinds of men, and your daily choices determine which one you are. If God hates your life, you are in trouble. If He loves you, then you are greatly favored. God liked David, and what a difference that made in His life (I Chr 28:4; Ps 18:19-26).

Most cannot imagine that God hates anything, for they have been nursed since birth on the heresy that God loves them unconditionally no matter how they might live. They have never read Solomon’s inspired warnings (Pr 6:16-19; 3:32; 11:20; 12:22; 15:8; 16:5; 17:15; 28:9). They reason, God may hate the devil, but He loves me no matter what.

Here is a priceless warning from a rich and wise king. He wrote for your prosperity and success, both of which are impossible if God is against you. When God loves a person, a boy sold into slavery can take the nation’s throne, or an orphan girl can become queen, or a neutered captive can become the king’s chief advisor. Think Joseph, Esther, and Daniel.

Examine your life. Does it please or offend God? The Bible is the only standard that counts. God does not care what you think, your parents think, your pastor thinks, or what is politically correct. Popular trends and evolving social values make Him sick. He is holy and righteous, and He will never approve of fools or their wicked lifestyles, ever.

It is your duty and privilege to confess your sins to God, for He will forgive and prosper you (Pr 28:13). You must learn to hate every thought that is contrary to His word, as David did (Ps 119:128). The world does not have a clue about right or wrong, especially in this generation (Is 8:20; I Tim 6:3-5). The choice is yours – and God sees everything!

Most say, “God hates the sin, but loves the sinner.” But it is not from the Bible! Men invented this jingle to tickle the ears of fools, who want a God that will accept them no matter what. It is no truer than a tooth fairy. When this proverb is understood, it confirms the truth that God abhors and loathes wicked persons, their prayers, and their lifestyle.

Consider perverse thinking today. Sodomy is no longer an abomination to the LORD; it is gay! Adultery is no longer an abomination to the LORD; it is a love affair! Rebellious children are no longer an abomination to the LORD; they are hyperactive! But wise men accept all of God’s precepts and hate every contrary opinion (Ps 119:97-104,113,128).

The proverb has two contrasted clauses that provide the full meaning. God hates the way of the wicked, and God loves the man pursuing righteousness. By comparing “the way of the wicked” with “him that follow after righteousness,” we learn that God hates both the sinner and his lifestyle and loves both the righteous man and his lifestyle. Note the change from sin to sinner in Solomon’s list of seven things God hates (Pr 6:16-19).

Consider the context. The previous proverb is similar and helps reveal the hatred God has for sinful lifestyles. “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight” (Pr 15:8). God even hates the religious worship of wicked persons. But He loves the prayers of upright people. When a man chooses to sin against Him, God despises and loathes his worship (Pr 21:27; 28:9; Is 1:10-15).

The difference is great! Either God abominates your life, or He loves it. Either you follow the way of wickedness, or you follow the way of righteousness. How can you grasp the difference between God’s hatred and His love? It is very great! You cannot avoid God either despising you or favoring you. Most do not care anymore, because they have been seduced into carnal living by false teaching of God’s unconditional love for them.

Of course, the fairy tale, “God hates the sin, but loves the sinner,” is comforting. But you should prove that saying or any other before you believe it (Pr 14:15; Acts 17:11; I Thess 5:21). Let God be true, but every man a liar (Rom 3:4). The effeminate teachers that suggest such nonsense do not have a clue about the God of the Bible nor His righteous judgment of sinners. They flatter sinners to build their crowds and pad their pockets.

Are those in hell singing, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so”? Did Noah wire a neon smiley face outside the ark that read, “Smile! God loves you!”? What will Jesus Christ mean, when He says to the wicked on the Day of Judgment, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt 7:23). Do you suppose He loves Satan as well, who is much more glorious than any man?

What else does the Bible say about the wicked? David wrote, “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.” (Ps 5:4-6). Surprised? If you are a typical Christian today, the only psalm you may know at all is Psalm 23.

David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, also wrote, “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The LORD tried the righteous: but the wicked and him that loves violence his soul hated. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loves righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright” (Ps 11:4-6).

The God of heaven is holy before He is love. He cannot look approvingly on any sin (Hab 1:13). He cannot acquit the wicked (Nah 1:3). He cannot clear the guilty (Ex 34:7). He loves righteousness, and He hates iniquity (Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9). He drowned the world with a flood. He burned up the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. He annihilated the seven nations of Canaan. He is angry at the wicked every day (Ps 7:11). This is the true God.

This part of God’s nature is ignored today, because men want a sugar daddy in the sky that will smile and hand them cotton candy when they sin. But consider David, who was the man after God’s own heart. He hated the enemies of God with a perfect hatred (Ps 139:21-22; 26:5; 31:6; II Sam 5:8). When his son Jehoshaphat tried to befriend a wicked man, God became angry at him for this perversion of righteousness (II Chron 19:2).

How can God love anyone, since all are sinners (Ps 14:1-3; Rom 3:23)? He chose some in Christ Jesus before the world began that they should be holy and blameless before Him in love (Eph 1:3-4)! Because of that choice in Christ, He views them as perfectly holy in His sight! He predestinated them to become His sons by gracious adoption, because He had chosen by His own will to make them acceptable in Christ the Beloved (Eph 1:5-6)!

God’s love is a choice, and He chooses to love some (Rom 9:14-18). It is for this very important reason that the Bible speaks of Jesus Christ loving the church (Eph 5:25), of nothing interrupting the love of God for His people (Rom 8:29-39), Jesus confirming that He would not lose a single one that God had given Him to save (John 6:38-39; 10:26-29; 17:2), and that He only lovingly chastens His children, not the bastards (Heb 12:6-8).

Of course, this doctrine is despised and hated. Men come into this world as fools, and most remain fools. Only those born again by the Spirit of God to tremble before God and His Word can see and believe the truth (John 3:3; 8:47). It is only they who can understand the things of God (I Cor 2:14; II Cor 4:3-4; II Thess 2:9-14). It is only they who will examine their lives, repent of known sins, and choose the path of righteousness.

Reader! The evidence that you are one of God’s elect and beloved in heaven is your pursuit of righteous living (II Pet 1:5-11; I Thess 1:2-4; Matt 7:21-23)! Turn from the wicked ways of this world and follow the strait and narrow way He has defined for you in His Word (Matt 7:13-14). You will be blessed and prospered in this world and the next.

Spiritual Training 14 November 2012

Posted: November 14, 2012 in 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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Under Gods Command

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 

What kind of God does nature reveal?  Nature shows us a God of might, intelligence, and intricate detail; a God of order and beauty; a God who controls powerful forces.  That is general revelation.  Through special revelation (the Bible and the coming of Jesus), we learn about God’s love and forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life.  God has graciously given us both sources that we might fully believe in him.

Lets Bring it Home: What kind of excuse do we give when we see the order and beauty, and still don’t fully believe in the God who controls powerful forces, and the promise of eternal life?  Why do people still lean towards their own understanding before fully believing in Him.  Are you one of those people who learns about God’s love and forgiveness, but still walk and think in the flesh on issues, before turning them over to God?

Proverbs 14:30 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 14, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Are you in good health? Thriving with robust energy and strength? You have a physical and a spiritual side to your life. You could have a strong physical heart but rot to death from envious emotions in your spirit. King Solomon wrote to protect you from the horrible consequences of envy in your life. Will you let him examine your heart today?

Envy is deadly. It will destroy your soul, body, and life. And it will take you to hell for eternity. But before it takes you to the lake of fire, it will pervert your thinking, torture your mind, ruin your health, consume your body, wreck your reputation, and destroy your life. Hate envy! Do not play with it! Reject any idea that you can allow envy and survive.

Psychosomatic illnesses, those bodily ailments caused by emotional issues, have been formally identified slowly. But Solomon knew about them by inspiration of God 3000 years ago. They are physical maladies caused by mental, emotional, or psychological factors. Of course, an enlightened Christian can easily improve the definition – sin, a spiritual problem of the heart, can affect the body and destroy it from the inside out.

The proverb contrasts life of the flesh to rottenness of bones. Is it dealing with physical health, overall life success with God and men, or a combination of both? Remembering David’s observation that God’s commandments are exceeding broad (Ps 119:96), the proverb teaches a variety of consequences for sin and spiritual problems. A loving heart will make you stronger physically and spiritually, and envy will do the opposite.

A strong physical heart is the life of the flesh, for it pumps a sufficient supply of blood with oxygen and nutrients to every part of the body and efficiently flushes all waste and poisons out as well. As the Bible states, the life of the flesh is in the blood (Lev 17:11). A strong spiritual heart is physically healthful as well, for by love and mercy toward others it soothes the soul and reduces various stresses and chemical releases that harm the body.

Envy and related emotions stress your body by tensing muscles and calling for chemicals from the brain. Your heart rate accelerates, blood pressure climbs, breathing increases, and additional hormones may be secreted. You may become totally focused on the threat – which is only your wicked imagination! You have compromised your physical health. The constant resentment, stressing your mind and body even at night, hardens your spirit.

Consider sin and various kinds of death. Sin brought instant death to Adam and Eve’s affection for God, and it perverted their perfect marriage as well (Gen 2:17; 3:7-8). It also brought physical death to them a few years later (Gen 5:5). And they will suffer forever in the lake of fire, which is the second death, unless Jesus Christ intervenes (Rev 20:11-15). Sin, with envy being one kind, is horribly destructive at several levels. Grasp it!

Envy is horrible. “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” (Pr 27:4). It is jealous resentment of others, which is devilish and hellish (Jas 3:14-16). It is pride and selfishness gone to seed. It cannot stand the praise or success of others; it rejoices when others fall; it despises their virtues; it labors day and night to put others in an evil light. You cannot escape this terrible master and monster, even in bed!

But who worries about envy today? It is a forgotten and ignored sin. When did you last hear a sermon against it? Does your employee handbook warn about it? Were you asked about it at your last doctor’s visit? Have you heard of a judge ruling against it? How often do attorneys use it as a convicting motive? Envy is a terrible sin, a horrible evil, and a destructive cancer; but few say anything about it or against it. Wise men despise it.

Parent, you must begin when children are young to cure this deadly disease. You must teach children to celebrate the successes of their siblings, praise their accomplishments, grieve over their failures, and pray for their blessings. You must quickly and severely punish any attitude or action that reveals a proud, selfish, or resentful spirit toward others. The second commandment is to love others as yourself, so emphasize this in your home.

Proverbs use many metaphors and figures of speech, which is why they are dark sayings (Pr 1:6; John 16:25). Solomon used body parts to represent other things, as lip and tongue for speech (Pr 12:19) and belly for soul and life (Pr 20:27,30). He made it clear that he could use rottenness of bones as a simple simile for grief and pain, without any direct or literal application to leukemia or other bone and marrow diseases (Pr 12:4).

Therefore, this broad proverb teaches several levels of trouble that are brought on by sin, particularly envy. First, it will ruin your overall success as a godly and wise man. This is the reason for keeping your heart with all diligence (Pr 4:23). Second, it will eat at your physical health, due to the corrupting effects of envy in the soul (Pr 17:22). And third, there is God’s promise to ruin your health for sinful living (Ex 15:26; Deut 28:27,35).

Sins of the soul and mind affect the body – psychosomatic illnesses. Amnon lusted so greatly after his half-sister Tamar that it made him physically sick (II Sam 13:2). Craving what he could not have so tormented his soul that he became ill. And envy, grinding the soul of a person day and night, drains vitality from him. If Amnon had feared God and rejected evil, it would have been health to his navel and marrow to his bones (Pr 3:7-8).

An excellent book for the details of psychosomatic illnesses caused by sin is None of These Diseases by Drs. S.I. McMillen and David E. Stern. These doctors explain in easy-to-read chapters the ravaging physical effects of a sinful lifestyle. It is confirming to faith that what the Creator inspired in the Bible is often superior to pills or treatment. How many in mental institutions and hospitals are there due to a spiritual problem – sin?

Consider a merry spirit. Recent studies have shown that people who laugh and enjoy life live longer than those who are morose and negative. But Solomon wrote long ago, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Pr 17:22). He wrote, “He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast” (Pr 15:15). Vitality comes from your spirit, not just your diet! And you cannot be merry while envying others!

You may hide your envy from other men – for a while; but backbiting, grudges, hatred, reviling, slander, or whispering will soon expose it. It may consume your health directly through a stress-filled and angry, bitter heart; or it may ruin your body by direct physical judgment from God. Exchange your envy for love (Pr 15:17)! Consider Joshua’s envy in contrast to Moses’ humility and godliness (Num 11:24-30). Which are you like?

You must examine yourself for envy, the horrible cause of problems in soul and body. Many examine their bodies for lumps, blood pressure, cholesterol readings, or other symptoms of deadly diseases, but why not examine your soul for the root cause of greater consequences? And the cause can be taken away easily by godly repentance and confessing your sins to God (Pr 28:13; Job 33:27-28; I John 1:9). You have been warned!

Proverbs 13:08 Wisdom for the Soul

Posted: November 13, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Proverbs 13:8 A man’s riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears not threat. 

What will you do for money? How much do you want to be rich? Will you hear a warning about the desire to be wealthy? Test your character and wisdom. Read on.

Here is one of the more difficult proverbs of Solomon. But you can find a wise lesson and warning, if you look carefully and diligently. Do you desire wisdom enough to take the time to read this proverb, consider it soberly, and grasp the following comments? The love of money is the root of all evil, and it destroys men’s lives, but the poor still crave it!

Commentators see two options. Either, a rich man can buy himself out of trouble, but the poor avoid most dangers by having nothing to attract enemies. Or, the wealth of a rich man attracts thefts and threats, while poverty protects the poor from such violence. In the first option, both riches and poverty are good; in the second option, riches are bad, and poverty is good. These interpretations are obscure; there is a clearer and simpler lesson.

A ransom is the price paid for freedom from captivity, to remove a penalty, or restore a previous condition (Pr 6:35; Ex 21:30; 30:12; Job 33:24; 36:18). Many men lose their souls by not giving up the pursuit of riches. Ambition and wealth become the ransom price of their lives. The desire to be rich and successful is the price, or cost, of their lives. When dying on their beds, men who have chased riches all their lives have an empty life!

They will not redeem their souls by choosing contentment over covetousness and greed. They sacrifice their lives for money, and then they go to the grave with nothing (Eccl 5:10-17). A rich man could enjoy life, naturally and spiritually, if he did not love money. He could be peaceful and quiet, but he chooses the obsession of acquiring yet more. This foolish and destructive fascination with riches is a common disease (Eccl 6:1-6).

Paul warned, “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. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have stumbled from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (I Tim 6:6-10).

The danger is clear – riches can destroy you. If a man loves money, he will sacrifice his soul and anything else to get it (Pr 15:27; 11:17,29; Hab 2:9-11). Riches are the ransom cost of his life. He could buy his freedom and peace, but he will not pay the price, which is giving up his pursuit of riches and being content with what he has. He remains a slave.

Jesus loved a rich, young ruler, who would not give up his riches to follow the Son of God. He would not ransom, or buy back, his life (Matt 19:16-22). Jesus knew the choice was as hard as a camel going through the eye of a needle (Matt 19:23-26), but He also taught that men should be willing to pay any price to save their own souls (Matt 16:26).

What about the poor? How does the second clause of the proverb relate to the first one? You know that it relates, or it would be a separate proverb. But you also see the disjunctive “but” connecting it. Therefore, there is a related contrast in the second phrase.

The poor live without many of the fears, worries, and burdens the rich endure – they even sleep better (Eccl 5:12). They watch the rich in their vain and troublesome pursuit of wealth (Ps 39:6), and they see the rich man die just like a low-class fool (Ps 49:6-13). But they will not learn from the object lesson, and they will not hear the wise testify that riches are vanity. They complain about their poverty and wish for the wealth of the rich.

How can you trust the interpretation given above, rather than the two popularized by commentators? The two clauses are related; the two clauses are disjunctive; rebuke is not the same as danger or trouble; and the poor refuse rebuke rather than never hearing any. And you can find related or similar instruction in other proverbs (Pr 10:15,22; 11:4,28; 13:7; 14:20; 15:27; 18:11; 19:1,4,7; 22:1,2; 23:4-5; 28:3,6,11,20,22; 30:7-9).

If you are rich, you are in great danger of missing the kingdom of God (Matt 19:23-26). The rich have generally been persecutors, rather than patrons, of Christians (Jas 2:6-7). It is your duty before God to resist trusting your riches, and it is your privilege before God to be willing to give your money away in order to lay hold on eternal life (I Tim 6:17-19).

If you are poor, be content with it (Jas 1:9-11; Jas 2:5; I Cor 1:26-29). Realize that godliness with contentment is truly great gain (I Tim 6:6; Heb 13:5). Remember and believe Solomon’s many rebukes of riches in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes (Pr 10:22; 15:16; 16:8; 28:6; Ps 37:16; Eccl 1:16 – 2:11). If you need more, pray wisely for a moderate increase, and make any godly changes the Bible approves (Pr 30:7-9; I Thess 4:11-12).

Riches are usually a curse. You arrived with nothing; you will leave with nothing; and God does not care how much you gathered during your life. Redeem your soul from this world’s mad worship of materialism and success, and hear the rebuke of wisdom instead. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, serve only one master, and lay up treasure in heaven (Matt 6:19-21,24,33). You will soon be glad you did.

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