Sustaining Relationships–Part 2 of 2

1 Corinthians 13:1-7 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.  (4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  (5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  (6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;  (7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

If you did not read part one, get it here now. In this post, we will cover the last two areas of our life that love needs to be greater than.

LOVE IS GREATER THAN OUR

WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – 13:3

We are commanded to help others when it is within our ability – and sometimes even giving and helping above our abilities. But when we do, it must be with a pure motive of love. If you help someone, only to hold it over their head the rest of their lives – than you really didn’t help them. If you help someone, only to look down on them as you do – then you really didn’t help them.

When we give to others, we cannot forget to give that which is most important – love. People need food, but that runs out. People need money, but that is spent and gone. But what people need the most is someone to love them without reservation, without hesitation, and without complications.

What a shame to give your life to be completely consumed for the Lord – but to hold back your heart! Many Christians serve God with their hands, their feet, and their head, but forget about their heart.

LOVE IS GREATER THAN

WHATEVER COMES OUR WAY – 13:4-7

Notice that this is one complete sentence. The key to love is in the first part of the sentence in vs. 4 – Charity suffereth long. This simply means that love is patient.

The prayer of a typical Christian – God, give me patience - and hurry up with it! Whatever comes your way, patiently wait on the Lord and Hew will renew your strength. When we are unwilling to wait on the Lord, it reveals a lack of love in our heart for our God and our Saviour.

Paul does not stop there in describing love. He also tells us that love is kind. It saddens me to see so much unkindness practiced by Christians today. Sarcasm can sometimes be a mask for an unkind and unloving Christian. When someone comes to church for the first time in a long time and we “jokingly” say something sarcastic about it. You’re not funny or friendly or fun-loving – YOU ARE MEAN-SPIRITED AND UNLOVING!

The remaining parts of the sentence could be summarized by this word – conceit. Conceited people are selfish, prideful, and misbehaven. If you are always looking out for “#1” – then you do not posses or practice love.

In summarizing the topic of love and our relationships, I am reminded of something written by J. Allen Peterson, in The Myth of the Greener Grass:

Newspaper columnist and minister George Crane tells of a wife who came into his office full of hatred toward her husband. “I do not only want to get rid of him; I want to get even. Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has hurt me.”

Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan. “Go home and act as if you really love your husband. Tell him how much he means to you. Praise him for every decent trait. Go out of your way to be as kind, considerate, and generous as possible. Spare no efforts to please him, to enjoy him. Make him believe you love him. After you’ve convinced him of your undying love and that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb. Tell him that you’re getting a divorce. That will really hurt him.”

With revenge in her eyes, she smiled and exclaimed, “Beautiful, beautiful. Will he ever be surprised!”

And she did it with enthusiasm. Acting “as if.” For two months she showed love, kindness, listening, giving, reinforcing, and sharing. When she didn’t return, Crane called. “Are you ready now to go through with the divorce?” “Divorce!” she exclaimed. “Never! I discovered I really do love him.” Her actions had changed her feelings. Motion resulted in emotion. The ability to love is established not so much by fervent promise as often as repeated deeds. (750 Engaging Illus., pg. 320-321)

The question today is this – how are you sustaining your relationships? Without love – you are not!

Sustaining Relationships–Part 1 of 2

1 Corinthians 13:1-7 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.  (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.  (4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  (5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  (6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;  (7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

As we continue studying and receiving advice for our Christian walk, we come to the subject of our relationships and charity, or love.

Strong’s defines Charity as love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast. Here, Paul is showing us that people can do a lot of things, a lot of good things, and yet not have a motivation of love in doing so.

The fact of the matter is we all have a tendency to overrate things.

“That is the BEST meal I EVER had…PRETTIEST baby I have EVER seen…”

We have a tendency to overstate things.

A fellow said to a man who was given to exaggeration, “Friend, you exaggerate. Everything you say is bigger, better, more by the thousands or millions. You need to stop that.” The exaggerator answered, “I’m really concerned about that myself. In fact, I have shed barrels and barrels of tears over it.” (Don’t Look Now, But Your Religion Is Showing, Barber, pg 89)

But there is no possible way for us to overrate or overstate the impact of charity, or love. A poet once said:

Love is a funny thing; it is just like a lizard.

It crawls around your heart and jumps into your gizzard.

Another poet said it this way:

Love is like an onion, You taste it with delight.

And when you’re through, You wonder whatever made you bite. (Barber, pg 89)

Love is just something that you and I cannot fully explain; it must be experienced. And there is no greater example of this truth than the love of God. If our finite brains could explain the Love of God, it wouldn’t be much! As we talk about relationships, the most important relationship you have is with God. Can you say today that you love God as much or more than the day you were saved? You may not feel it is possible, but don’t overstate or overrate your love of God. The church of Ephesus did – Revelation 2:1-4.

In these verses from 1 Corinthians, we see different areas that love is greater than. We will look at the first two in this post.

LOVE IS GREATER THAN THE

WORDS WE SAY – 13:1

Paul lived in what is commonly called the Greco-Roman world. It was from this same region that some of the world’s greatest philosophers came – Socrates, Plato, and others. Think about some of the great Greek cities during Paul’s days – Acts 17:15-23, 32-34. Here in Athens at Mar’s Hill, Paul stands in the midst of all of this so-called knowledge and higher learning and preaches the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This area of the world was known for having great men of speech, or oratory ability. Many could move crowds and governments with their speech. But Paul reminds the readers that it does not matter how intelligent sounding their speech is; without love it is empty. As a Christian, you can say the right things, but if it is not bathed in love, it is empty – no one will hear.

How many of your words have fallen on deaf ears because to the hearer, it only sounded like a noisy gong (brass) or clanging (tinkling) cymbal? How bothersome is it to hear someone just steadily bang on an instrument?  How bothersome are our words to our hearers when there is no love in what we say?

LOVE IS GREATER THAN THE

WISDOM WE POSSESS – 13:2

Paul gives 3 forms of wisdom here. The first is Prophecy. In the Old Testament, the prophet spoke for God, and only spoke what God had revealed to him. Paul and the Corinthians were familiar with the Old Testament prophets. The new believers in Corinth could now go back and read those great prophets and now fully understand what those Israelites who denied Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Saviour missed – that God had provided the way of salvation through His only begotten Son. And it is through the lens of love that the Old Testament prophets spoke their messages of warning and coming judgment. One of the prophets, Jeremiah, is known as the “weeping prophet” because of his love and broken heart for wayward Israel. The judgment of God must be declared, but it must be done so with a heart of love.

The second form of wisdom Paul mentions is Knowledge. Paul is saying that it does not matter how much we understand, and how much knowledge we have if we do not posses love. This does not mean that we should not seek for knowledge and wisdom from God and His Word. What it shows is that our gathering of this knowledge should not only fill our minds with wisdom, but it should also fill our hearts with a greater love for God and people.

The third form of wisdom is Faith. As much as the Bible speaks about faith, we see here that it is hollow without love. So, in essence, we can say that love and faith go hand in hand. If you don’t have faith, then you don’t have love. And if you don’t have love, then you do not have faith.

Do you show love in your words and wisdom with others around you?

SIMPLE STEWARDSHIP

1 Corinthians 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

According to the Associated Press, in 1996, a man by the name of Joe from the state of Wisconsin was to receive a check from the Social Security Administration for $40,000. Now, Joe was not supposed to receive the check directly because mentally handicap he had, with the addition of a gambling problem. But they messed up and mailed it directly to him and he went on to blow it all in a casino in just a few weeks. The government will not be giving any more money directly to Joe. They are on record as to say, “Those who can’t manage money cannot expect to be given even more. “

The same principle applies to us today. God entrust what is valuable to those who prove their ability to manage it. God expects us to be faithful stewards of His blessings. How faithful are you in your stewardship. Let’s quickly look at three areas we are to be faithful stewards of.

GIFTS OF GOD

There are three gifts that I want to focus on for just a moment. The first one is our Talent. The Bible tells us in I Corinthians 4:1-2, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.  (2)  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” God has given each believer abilities. We should strive to use them for God & not the world. Whether it is singing…teaching…being a friend…building…technology…or any other talent, use it for God’s glory.

The second on is our Time. We are told in Ephesians 5:16 that we are to be, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”  Time is the one commodity that everyone has the same amount of, and we can not get it back when it’s spent. No one will stand before God and say, “I gave you too much time.”

I recently read that the average 77 year old man spends 24 years sleeping; 14 years working; 8 years with amusement; 6 years at the dinner table; 5 years in transportation; 4 years in conversation; 3 years accumulating education; and 2 years reading. His other 4 years in miscellaneous pursuits. If he went to church every Sunday morning & prayed 5 minutes every day, that would only be 5 MONTHS over 77 years. Even if he attended every service available at the average church (Sunday School, 11am & 6pm Worship service, and a Mid-Weed prayer and Bible Study), that would still only equal 1 year 9 months. How much time have you really given to God?

The third one is our Treasure. God doesn’t need your finances, but He doesn’t need to bless you with them either. If the paying of your mortgage was a sporadic as the average Christian’s tithes and offerings, they would be evicted already! When we don’t want to give, it shows a heart problem.

GOSPEL OF GOD

1 Corinthians 4:1  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

We are to be faithful stewards of the Gospel through Soul-winning. The phrase, “Ministers of Christ”  is a reference to the believer being Christ like. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, and we are His ministers today to continue that work. One great way for us to do so is through the giving out of Gospel tracts. This allows every believer is a preacher! Whether we realize it or not, every Christians IS a preacher, either for good or bad. God has entrusted you to spread the Gospel – is He pleased?

A second way we are to be faithful stewards of the Gospel is through the Scriptures.  The phrase “stewards of the mysteries of God,” refers to something that was hidden but now revealed; something that cannot be understood by natural man. The mystery here is the Gospel. We are expected to:

1. Preserve the Scriptures
2. Propagate the Scriptures

GOOD NAME

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Finally, we are expected to be a steward of the good name we have been given. Unfortunately, many people’s name brings up images of anger, gossip, and hard-heartedness.  Our family name will only become and remain a good name when we raise and teach our children the truths of God’s Word and the expectations of faith. The same holds true for the church. What kind of family name – church name – are we leaving for the next generation?

Are you a faithful steward of what God has given you?

Book Review: Time With God For Fathers

Book Description

A Scripture-led devotion to encourage time between fathers and the Lord.

Time with God for Fathers contains ninety devotions that encourage fathers to spend time on their relationship with the Lord in prayer, thanksgiving, and praise. Devotions are topical and include: forgiveness, wisdom, comfort, guidance, and strength. A Quick Scripture Reference Guide is included to help fathers in their day-to-day walk with God and fatherhood. Subjects consist of "Father's Prayers", "God's Promises for Fathers", "God's Blessings for Fathers", "Responsibilities for Fathers", and "God's Dynamic Examples of Fathers".

I was interested in receiving and reviewing this book because I am a fan of small, daily devotional books to end my day with. This one was not bad, but not great either. Maybe it is because my standard for comparison is My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers, and that is probably not fair to any other writer of devotional material. But this was not bad, and a very easy read. It does not get too “meaty,” so it would probably do all right for a newer Christian. A few entries seemed “forced",” but others were very insightful. One really cool aspect of the book was the binding/packaging. It was a nice, small, hard cover, which makes it very durable for a book that I would read and keep on my nightstand. But the most unique, and maybe best feature, was the black elastic band that you see on the picture above, very much like a Moleskin. A really cool feature that I used as a book mark and wished more books would do so. All in all, a good, but not great, devotional book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

SWEEPING STORMS, SOLID STONE, & SINKING SAND–Part 3 of 3

Matthew 7:24-27  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  (26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  (27)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

SINKING SAND – 7:26-27

In this post, we will look at the foundation that faltered. There are three truths that we notice about those who build on sinking sand.

First, foolishness is seen in the BLUNDERING of the fool. One of the definitions of the word “Blundering” is, “deaf".” We see here in these two verses that those who build in sinking sand are spiritually deaf – they hear, but they don’t listen. Hearing is merely the ability of the ear to sense sounds around one. But listening is more of a conscious effort to interpret the sounds, requiring concentration of mind.Simply put: Hearing is the sensing of sounds; Listening is understanding the meaning of sensed sound. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_hearing_and_listening#ixzz1EQRwykW9

We notice that they received the same warning but ignored it. We can think about it in this sense - Just because you brought someone to church, or that they even grew up in church, does not mean that they listened. You can hear what is said, and even regurgitate what is said, but that does not mean that you listened. Listening leads to application, and when there is no fruit of application, it points to a lack of listening.

Secondly, foolishness is seen in the BUILDING of the fool. No one truly in their right mind would build a house on sinking sand. One of the first things you do is inspect the foundation of a building. Since house was built without any problem, he assumed everything was good. But just because you don’t see many problems in your life right now, that does not mean that you have the right foundation. Faith is tested in the trials of storms – and if you are not in a storm now, it will be coming soon.

Finally, foolishness is seen in the BROKEN PIECES of the fool. The Bible tells us in Matthew 21:44, “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” What a shame to live a full life – only to lose it all in the end. Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? The house did not fall because of a faulty roof, bad siding, or leaky windows – but because of a weak and improper foundation. Everyone sees the building, but God sees the foundation.

As we wrap up these three post, understand that just because you are going through a storm, that does not necessarily mean you are living in sin. Everyone goes through storms at some point in your life. They key is to have the right type of foundation that will stand the test of the storms.Which type of foundation do you have? If your salvation is not built upon repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ, it is sinking sand that will not stand the test of eternity.

SWEEPING STORMS, SOLID STONE, & SINKING SAND–Part 2 of 3

Matthew 7:24-27  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  (26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  (27)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

SOLID STONE – 7:24-25

The last post we looked at “Severe Storms.” Today we begin to look at the foundation that withstood the severe storm. Ephesians 2:19-20 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone, the solid rock that our lives as born-again believers are built upon. He is the foundation of our life – and the higher the building, the deeper the foundation.

The Empire State Building is 1,453 feet 8 and 9/16th inches tall from street level to its highest point -- a lightning rod. This is on top of the foundation which rests 55 feet below ground. http://www.glasssteelandstone.com/BuildingDetail/433.php

So, the more we grow in our faith, the deeper our foundation must be. Many Christians have a shallow faith/foundation, and this is seen in the worldliness of their lifestyle. In studying this passage, I can’t help but think of that great hymn of our faith, “A Shelter in the Time of Storm” - The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide, A shelter in the time of storm.

Notice with me first that Jesus is the rock of our SCHOOLING. Jesus is the greatest teacher and preacher to ever walk this earth. He is our final authority. Too many Christians today allow everyone else to be their final authority. It is time they stop sitting in the classroom of the lost and begin to be school by Jesus and God’s Word. I once read where Dr. Barber said, “Never question the will of Jesus, the way of Jesus, or the wisdom of Jesus. He is the greatest Authority the world has ever known. Many think they are experts. I have learned a long time ago that a lot of people can talk a good religion, but when it comes down to serving, they do very little.” 

Jesus does not want His disciples to just be hearers of His commands and His Word, but doers and followers. You hear people say all the time, “Practice what you preach.” And while that is true, let me add, “Practice what WAS preached!” Don’t come to church with no intention to honestly and humbly listen to the Word of God preached and to respond accordingly. Let the Lord be the Rock of your Schooling.

Secondly, we notice that Jesus is the rock of our SALVATION. Any person who listens to the teachings and schoolings Jesus will learn very quickly that He is the only way of salvation. He is the rock, the foundation, upon which our salvation is built. Another great song I love to listen to is, “My Rock” -

My rock, my shield, My Jesus, He is real. I can feel deep within in my soul. One day He saved my soul,  And He made me free and whole. My Lord, He is real. I can feel Him in my soul.

One night I repented. And I got down on my bended knees. And I cried, "Lord have mercy, Won't You save my soul from sin." Now I'm walking, but not alone, Cause I'm headed straight for home. My Lord, He is real. I can feel Him in my soul.

Come to Jesus and repent, And get your feet on the Solid Rock.  He's the One who can help you, He will hear you when you cry. Yes it's Jesus, He's my Saviour. He's my friend and my faithful guide. My Lord, He is real,  And He will lead you to the other side.

Any plan of salvation that is built upon anything other than faith and repentance in Jesus Christ will not stand the test of eternity.

Finally, notice with me that Jesus is the rock of our SECURITY. The fact that the house was still standing to speaks to the eternal security we have through faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 10:25, “As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.” Faith in Jesus Christ is the only foundation that will last – even through the severest of storms.

Dr. Harry Ironside taught that salvation was like Noah inviting an unbeliever to trust God’s Word and board the ark. Some believe that salvation is like Noah putting a peg on the outside of the ark and saying, “If you just hang on through the storm, you’ll be saved.” God holds onto the Christian—not the other way around. http://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/god-keeps-the-christian

When the severe storms of life come, Jesus Christ is the Solid Stone foundation that will get you through.

Sweeping Storms, Solid Stone, & Sinking Sand–Part 1 of 3

Matthew 7:24-27  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  (25)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  (26)  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  (27)  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

As we see in our text, storms come into the lives of everyone. What matters most in the midst of the storm is not what kind of house you have built, but what kind of foundation have you laid. Do you have the kind of foundation that will stand the storms of life? By listening to the lesson Jesus gives on the two foundations, we will determine how solid ours is.

SEVERE STORMS

The first thing we notice is that everyone goes through the SAME storms. Many young Christians have this idea that once they come to Jesus, all of their troubles will go away. For some, that may be because the only reason they prayed their “sinner’s prayer” was not because they were under conviction about their sin, but wanted a way out of their storm.

But the storms of life happen to everyone. Matthew 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. When you think back to the history of the children of Israel, even they went through the first three plagues in Egypt. Everyone goes through storms.

This faulty logic is why so many Christians give up and give in when going through a storm that does not end up the way they think it should. Your faith does not excuse you from the storms of life; it empowers you to make it through them.

We also notice that everyone goes through SEVERE storms. From all indications, these two foundations did not go through two different storms – but the same storm. If we are not careful, we will assume that the house built on sinking sand was just some small, beat-up shack that was barely standing to begin with.

So, both houses were built some-what the same, and both went through the storm. And this was obviously a severe storm because it completely knocked down and destroyed the second house. There are some Christians who will agree that we all have to go through storms, but if they are honest, they would admit that they think their faith will excuse them from the real bad storms – or even make them easier to go through.

But notice what happened to the first house built on a firm foundation – .
Matthew 7:25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock Just because the first house made it through the storm did not automatically make it an easier storm to go through. In fact, Christians often go through some of the toughest storms of life. Think about men like Job, Moses, Stephen, and Paul. They were great men of faith who went though great storms. So, the first truth we recognize is that everyone goes through the same storms, and sometimes those storms can be severe.