Shoulder To Shoulder #1281 -- 3/7/22 ---- "Facing The Future With Fortitude (part Seven -- Live With Consistency, and not Contradiction" B)
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER is a weekly letter of encouragement Bob has written since 1997, covering many topics selected to
motivate people to be strong students of the Word and courageous witnesses of Jesus Christ. It is a personal letter of
encouragement to you, written solely to help "lift up hands that hang down".
"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything." -- Albert Einstein
“There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have -- a cheap Christianity which offends nobody,
and requires no sacrifice, which costs nothing, -- and is worth nothing.” – J. C. Ryle
Shoulder To Shoulder #1281 -- 3/7/22
Title: "Facing The Future With Fortitude (part Seven -- Live With Consistency, and not Contradiction" B)
My Dear Friend and Fellow Kingdom Seeker:
Since Putin invaded Ukraine, our days have been bombarded with distractions, interruptions, and priority shifting. For that reason, my letter today is still later than normal. But, the topic is important enough that I found the delay necessary in order to hopefully do it justice. Today, without any further delay, we will look at the final three of five areas in which we must train ourselves to live consistently in light of the urgency of the day and the ever-nearing return of Christ.
For most of us, Matthew 6:33 may be a more appropriate command from Christ in these days in which we live. Unfortunately, it doesn't always have the impact on our lives that we desire because we tend to quote it out of context, not considering its setting:
"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
"And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -- Matthew 6:26-34
Even though we live today in that amazing kingdom, we long for the day when that kingdom becomes a reality on earth, as Jesus told us to pray, and that the King Himself will come to reign and rule in absolute righteousness and justice. The chaos that the COVID pandemic brought to us is now being compacted by the heinous attack by a mad man on the nation of Ukraine.
Needless to say, Jo Ann and I know many people in Ukraine who are being radically impacted by Putin's massive invasion of destruction and death. That's where our hearts really are, and have been for the past three weeks -- particularly the past two as we have received reports from both Ukrainian friends, expats, and missionary colleagues either still in the country or attempting to serve from outside. I find it hard to check my emails, Facebook account, and other social media sources because, in spite of the chaos and tragedy going on there, many of our friends seem to be oblivious to the war and continue occupying themselves with silly things that have no eternal value.
These may make people have "fuzzy feel-goods" and create sentimental thoughts and pride-filled self accomplishments, but they do little to life the burdens in our hearts for those we love and care about. And, they do little to storm heaven's gates with much-needed prayer for the people on both sides of the war who are in such desperate need of salvation, hope, and strength. For example, not long ago, I received this note from a Ukrainian man, who fights for Ukraine: --
"I want to inspire those who pray for us with the words of our soldiers and ordinary people from different parts of Ukraine, where the battle takes place. Soldiers of Ukraine testify, 'We feel your prayerful support. Sometimes something really incomprehensible happens, as if someone's invisible hand is actually making bullets fly past us. We win in very difficult situations, as if someone is helping us. We are invisible to the enemy, while we ourselves become able to see in the dark, and we know what to do and how to do it. It inspires us and gives us strength. We believe that the Jesus Christ Himself is for Ukraine. We ask you not to stop, support us and continue to pray. We really need you'."
This past Sunday was a "Music Sunday" at Chapel de Oro. Our people love to sing, so every year we set aside on Sunday just for music. This time the day was also the time for our monthly observance of the Lord's Supper. Just before the beginning of the service one of our ladies proposed that the entire offering be sent to help people in Ukraine. After consulting our Ministry Leadership Team who unanimously agreed, I announced that at the beginning of the service. In that our season is ending in just three weeks and the attendance is beginning to drop, the 88 people attending spontaneously gave more than $2,200. It will be sent to some of the key people in Ukraine who will use it to meet the needs of people there.
As we began the service, I was impressed to encourage people to envision a Ukrainian believer standing beside them. I suggested that they put their arms around that Ukrainian and worship the Lord together as we sang. I asked them to sing and worship in behalf of Ukrainians they didn't know and couldn't see. It was a profound hour and one-half with many people weeping as they pictured that supportive connection with unknown faceless Ukrainians. Next week Jo Ann and I intend to show a PowerPoint presentation of some of the people from our past ministry there.
I have been torn again this week between reporting stories from many of those people and returning to our current series. I think the solution is that we will return to the current series in this letter, and then I will send an extra "Shoulder To Shoulder" letter this week filled with personal stories of some of our friends and how they are faring during this horrible war.
So, we'll return today to the series. But, first, take a look at . . .
QUOTES FOR THE WEEK:
> "The Christian needs to walk in peace so no matter what happens they will be able to bear witness to a watching world." -- Henry Blackaby
> "It is better to walk with God that to walk with a crowd going the wrong way." -- Christian Worship
> "We who valued above all things the acquisition of wealth and possessions now bring what we have into a common treasury and share with everyone in need; we who hated and destroyed one another, and on account of their different manners, would not live with men of a different tribe, now, since the coming of Christ, [lit. "share the same hearth"] with them, pray for our enemies, and try to persuade those who hate us unjustly to live conformably to the good precepts of Christ, to the end that they may become partakers with us of the same joyful hope of a reward from God the ruler of all." -- Justin Martyr, (c. 150 AD, First Apology 14)
> "A true disciple of Jesus is not possessed by their possessions." -- Pastor Mensa Otabil
> "Christians … are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all." -- Letter to Diognetus (80 AD - 200 AD)
> "When it comes to 'time, talent, and treasure', the Christian must remember that he may possess them, either or all, and in little or in much, but he does not own any of them -- none of them. Whether at his very best or at his lowest, he is never more than a steward -- a 'house distributor' responsible only to manage the affairs and possessions of the true owner. He is to manage God's affairs according to God's purposes, not for his own pleasures or preferences. No Christian should ever be guilty of pilfering God's treasure chest. He must never be guilty of spiritual embezzlement." -- T. Allen Robburts
> "God will supply us with the opportunity, but it is up to us to do something with it." -- Unknown
> "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." -- John Wesley
IN REVIEW:
This series began way back on January 10th letter (#1273) when we examined "The Shaking" the writer of Hebrews described in chapter 12 in which we saw that God was shaking -- and would intensify shaking --
1) Every Society resting on godless values,
2) Every System set toward godless purposes, and
3) Every Structure depending on godless resources.
At the conclusion of that study, we began considering five specific things we must do in order to both endure and thrive during the shaking:
1) Live With Conviction, not Convenience (#1274)
2) See With Clarity, Not Confusion (#1276)
3) Act With Courage, Not Cowardice (#1277 & #1278)
4) Live With Consistency, Not Compromise (#1279)
At that point we looked at two areas in which our lives needed to show enduring and uncompromising consistency -- in our work, and in our words. And, today I want to consider three remaining areas, after which we will look at the final thing necessary in the midst of the shaking. So, picking up the series again, be sure to . . .
III. Be Consistent in Your Walk: -- “… by faith, not sight”
You've heard the old adage, "What you do speaks so loudly that I can't hear what you say." No statement speaks more clearly to how we live our lives as believers than the way in which we walk in this kingdom while citizens of another higher kingdom. I've already referenced Mahatma Ghandi's rejection of Christ as his Savior as the result of how he saw some Christians live and heard them speak. One thing is certain -- your lifestyle never lies; it shows who you are and what you value most.
Not only are we to "let our yes be yes, and our no be no", but we are to be sure we walk consistently and without moral or spiritual lameness. Paul mentions eight different factors regarding our walk as Christians. He twice mentions how we used to walk, and by doing so implies we are to never return to that type of walk. He then gives clear admonition (that's somewhere between a demand and an urgent encouragement!
😁) in several ways we are to walk as believers.1. Eph 4:1 -- “. . . walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, . . .” In other words, the way you walk out your life of faith should be lived out "in a godly sort" comparable to the great value and cost God invested in His calling you out of sin and condemnation into an entirely new life, having transplanted ("jerked out") you out the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His Son (See Col 1:13).
2. Eph 2:10 -- "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." In other words, don't walk in bad works doing bad things; don't even walk in mere "works", but walk in "good works". What are "good works"? The Greek word is "agathos", meaning, "actions and works that are effective, fruitful, beneficial".
You can do all kinds of works -- even works that are good. But, . . . BUT, . . . are the of any effect and benefit to the spread of the Gospel, the salvation of the lost, and the growth of the Kingdom??? That's the big question. There are many good things that need to be done, but for the Christian, it is always about the message of the Gospel and the work of the Kingdom. And, THAT was the kind of good works that God planned for you and me to be engaged in -- even before we were born, that is "beforehand".
3. Eph 4:17 -- "So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, . . ." Paul doesn't identify any specific ways in which Gentiles, that is, unbelievers, walk, but simply summarizes them all by stating that such a lifestyle is futile. In their thinking they think it will get them to heaven, but both their efforts and their confidence in their efforts are absolutely useless -- futile. Paul simply reminds us to learn the lesson from the unbelievers, and don't make the same stupid and useless mistake.
4. Eph 5:8 -- ". . . for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light." In reminding us that you and I once walked in darkness, he admonishes us to rather walk in a way that proves Light -- THE Light -- is illuminating our way. When you walk in darkness, you stumble, you bump into stuff, you observe nothing, you walk in ignorance, and you fall down. None of that is beneficial in any way -- other than to show you that you're doing just that . . . walking blind and in darkness.
Remember when you tried to pin the tail on the donkey? Or hit that stupid pinata? Even if you hit the pinata, by the time you ripped the blindfold off, most of the candy on the ground was already gone. Why did you miss the donkey's behind and stick the tail on the sun? Why did you keep missing the pinata? Because you were blindfolded -- you were walking darkness. The god of this age has blinded the eyes of the unbelieving (see II Cor 4:4). Don't let him do the same with you! Walk as children of light, not children of the darkness!
5. Eph 5:17 -- "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, . . ." We could discuss "wisdom" all day and not exhaust the topic. Simply put, Paul exhorts us to walk as wise people, and to be wise when and how we walk. The word in Greek is "sophos" -- as opposed to unwise "asophos" -- and means "skilled, smart, insightful, alert, intelligently, cultivated, learned".
It is from the Greek word, "asophos", that we get the word "sophomore". It means a "sophisticated moron". Ha!!! Remember your sophomore days in high school? I do mine! With considerable amusement over how I tried to look more intelligent than I was. This is what Paul tells us to ignore -- don't be "foolish!" Don't be a "fool"! Rather be wise -- intelligent, insightful, mature, skilled. There's no room for living foolishly in the life of a Christian.
6. Eph 5:18; Gal 5:16,25 – “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. . . . If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. The way we avoid living and looking like a moron -- "asophos" -- is to walk by the control, power, and direction of the Holy Spirit. And this opens up an entirely new area of study -- the person and work of the Holy Spirit. We have to leave that for another time, but let me challenge you to examine all the ways the Holy Spirit has impacted your life -- and will impact your life. His role in our lives is massive -- from convicting us and bringing us to salvation to sealing us to empowering us to guiding us, to preparing us for heaven.
That is how we should walk -- as opposed to walking and living by our fleshly desires. Now, don't make the mistake of reversing that verse. It does NOT say, "Don't carry out the desires of the flesh, and you will walk by the Spirit!" NO! NO! It is just the opposite -- IF we will allow the Holy Spirit to do in and for us all He desires, then the end result is that we'll have interest in or desire for the works of the flesh, those carnal appetites. Make sure you get the sequence right!
7. Eph 5:15 – “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” "Circumspectly" is the word used in the KJV, and that's the way I learned the verse as a boy. The Greek word is, "akribōs", and literally means to "walk accurately, exactly, thoroughly, fully, all encompassing".
The root word for this is the same one from which we get the word, "circumference" -- all-encompassing. When you measure the circumference of an object, you measure the whole thing -- not just part of it. In doing so, you take into account the circumference itself, but everything inside it. In other words, you and I must walk in such a way that virtually everything that makes up our world of thoughts, words, attitudes, possessions, plans, and actions are to built on the principle of biblical wisdom -- a wisdom (See #5 above) that keeps us from looking moronic and "acting stupidly".
8. Eph 5:2 -- ". . . and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." The word is a most familiar one -- "Agape" in the Greek text. You've probably heard this many times before, but there are several words in the NT for "love". One is "eros" which is love based on "all take" -- what you get, but not what you give. Then there is "phileo", based on a mutual give and take of love.
"Agape", on the other hand is love that is all give, with no expectation of any benefit in return. This is the kind of love in which we are to live, because this is the kind of love God expressed toward us. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:8). This is the exact nature of love in which we are to walk.
Solomon told us, "Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.” -- (Prov 4:26) This is one of numerous "walk" commands that is accompanied by a promise. If you watch where, how, and when you walk as a believer, God will be faithful to establish your ways -- Hebrew "deh'-rek", meaning "a course of life or mode of living, or pathway, lifelong journey, or manner of living".
What an encouraging promise that is! Imagine what life will be like when we simply attention to where, how, and when we follow the Lord, knowing then that the end result is that such a lifestyle will be "established" (Hebrew "kûn") -- that is our way of life will be "appointed, shaped, made erect, upright, certain, carried out". I can't think of anything that should bring more satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment and contentment than to know that one's personal journey of faith was rock-solid in keeping with God's Word, focused on Christ's message, and led and directed by the Holy Spirit. At the end of the journey, however long it might be, you will hear that cherished affirmation from Christ -- "Well done! You've been a good and faithful servant!" (Matt 25:21,23).
IV. Be Consistent in Your Wealth: -- "A Steward, not a Stockpiler"
The Bible has much to say about wealth, the use of money, and stewardship in general. But three things people often overlook ---- 1) we are responsible for ALL of our material resources, not just money; 2) we are responsible for all of our money, not just what we give to church; and 3) none of what we have actually belongs to us -- we are stewards, not shareholders and not stockpilers. Because we often overlook those three biblical facts, we end up squandering much of the resources we have, usually on ourselves.
Think about this: ---- the average American family has three computers, two or more cars, and three TV's that are actively being used. And this is while people in our own country and others around the world are starving to death, living homeless out on the streets, and millions are not hearing the Gospel -- often simply because we see ourselves as owners and not as stewards.
"Wealth" is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary and others as being, "An abundance of valuable material possessions or resources; riches.The state of being rich; affluence.Goods and resources having value in terms of exchange or use."
I love how the listenmoneymatters.com website defines wealth: ---- "What is wealth? The definition of wealth is personal. What it really means to be wealthy is entirely up to you. To some people, wealth is always going to mean money, but we can't all be wealthy in that way. There are so many other ways to be wealthy because there are so many definitions of wealth."
I have captioned this part as being consistent in your "wealth" expressly for the reason noted in that statement. Some of us -- most of us, in fact -- are not particularly wealthy when it comes to money. But in other things such as time, heirlooms, property, abilities, influence, etc., we are extraordinarily wealthy. But still we tend to identify wealth with being monetarily rich. Either way, the Bible identifies us NOT as the real owners, but merely stewards.
We need to see ourselves that way. We say that we agree that God owns it all, but live as we do. We make decisions as to how we will use our material assets sometimes as if God doesn't exist -- and as if hardship, need, and poverty don't exist. The first thing we must get through our heads to our hearts is what I mentioned above -- we are stewards who are both responsible and accountable to God for 100% of what we consider to be ours -- our time, our talents, our treasures.
Now, we can talk about tithing and giving above and beyond the tithe at a later time. For now, let's focus on the ideas of responsibility and accountability. To give you something to ponder, let me add two words to those first two. Let's say, "Generous responsibility" and "obedient accountability". Why? Because if you're going to be responsible with your material resources, God expects you to be generous -- particularly toward others. And, if you're actually accountable to God -- which you are -- then that accountability revolves around how obedient you were in accumulating, saving, managing, and distributing that money.
There are literally thousands of scriptures dealing with wealth, stewardship, money, generosity, and the like. For time and space' sake, here are just a few:
1. Pro 13:11 – “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” This speaks strongly to what we normally call, "Get rich quick schemes", but also indicates that we should never put ourselves as Christ followers in the position of "making a fast buck", but should be diligent, patient, purposeful in both acquiring and distributing what God has given us. This requires serious prayer and listening to God when making decisions about our material possessions. Just this evening Jo Ann and I had to sit down and discuss our best options available in getting money to some of our contact people in Europe to help the suffering people of Ukraine.
2. I Tim 6:9 – “. . . those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Tragically there is an entire sector of the Church that believes God wants everybody to be rich and successful, -- and that if you're not, it's either because you have sin in your life, or you don't have enough faith. Both of these are, frankly, lies from the pit of hell, and they strike against just about every biblical principle of the use of money and other possessions. All you need to do is look around at those ministries, particularly those on television, and you discover downfall after downfall, failure after failure, and scandal after scandal.
Now, do I think it's a sin to be rich? Certainly not! I'd love to be, quite frankly. But the danger of wanting to be rich -- and trying to become rich -- is exactly as that scripture indicates. If you are obsessed with wanting to be rich, you are a prime target to fall into temptation and become entrapped and have your mind filled with those harmful desires. And, just as the passage says, the end result is ruin and destruction. How many times do we have to read stories about people like Robert Tilton, Jimmy Swaggart, and others before we see the profound truth of Paul's admonition to Timothy?
3. Mt 8:36 -- "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” Sometimes we Christians gather all the material things we can in order to be sure we can not only survive but also live comfortably -- or luxuriously, forgetting that we live by faith and not by sight. Sadly, some Christians live like the old guy who said, "I'm gonna git all I can, can all I git, sit on the lid, and poizin the rest." If a Christian is spending all his energy trying to accumulate as much as possible, he is not only violating scripture (Mt 6:19-24,33), but he is also manifesting his misplaced priorities and values.
4. Pro 11:25 – “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” I'll never forget a great lesson my farming uncle taught me when I was only eight or ten years old -- "You never get a harvest from grain you keep in the bin." One of the best ways to be materially blessed is to be generous in giving your material things to others.
I remember years ago reading Oral Roberts' book on "Seed Faith". Many people thought he was advocating the idea, "Give to Get", but that is actually not the case. He was sharing the principle that when we are obedient to the Lord in giving generously out of love, God returns more back to us. In other words, the thrust of his book was, "Give to get in order to give more."
This is illustrated in the idea of planting corn. My uncle showed me that from one kernel of corn, one corn stalk will grow. However, on that one corn stalk there will almost always be three ears of corn. Each ear of corn has a certain even number of rows of kernels that amount to 800 kernels of corn. So, three ears of corn with an average of sixteen rows producing 800 kernels each will equal 2,400 kernels of corn -- all coming out of one single kernel planted in the soil.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him." (John 12:24-26).
For over 63 years we have watched God meet our needs proportionately to the measure of our generosity. It would take days -- even weeks -- to tell even half the stories. Are we wealthy? (Laugh!!!) You've got to be kidding. No, far from it. But, we have enough -- and sometimes much and sometimes little left over to give generously to others. Even as I write I am stunned over what God has placed in our personal hands and the hands of our ministry (Life Unlimited Ministries) to be able to pass on to people in need due to the hideous war in Ukraine. We are in the process of doing that as I write. Solomon's wise counsel has held true for us and all others who have been generous in their "wealth" no matter how much or how little it may be.
5. Mt 6:19-21 – “Do not store up . . . treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up . . . treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I've been a "collector" of many things since my boyhood, -- stamps, coins, antique telephone insulators, medicine bottles, books, etc. -- but very few things have increased in value. In most cases, the longer I kept some of those collections, the more their values dropped. While certain things like precious metals and stones tend to appreciate in value over time, even they are like other things -- subject to circumstances beyond their control.
Jesus illustrated that principle in the parable of the rich man who decided to tear down his old barns and build new ones bigger than the originals. As he sat in his comfort and wealth in which he had placed his security, he lost his soul. (Lk 12:16-21). There's an interesting verse found in Jer 48:7 that provides a stern warning:
""For because of your trust in your own achievements and treasures, Even you yourself will be captured; . . ."
Solomon was consistent in his counsel about wealth. We should pay attention to the richest man in the world in his day. Based on today's market, Solomon during his reign accumulated about $1 Billion -- EVERY YEAR. He reigned for 40 years, meaning that his accumulated totaled somewhere between $40 billion ant $60 billion by the time he died. Yet, he said -- apparently from experience himself:
"He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like foliage."
6. Prov 3:9 – “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.” There's an interesting principle found in God's instruction to Israel while they were coming out of captivity. It's the principle of "first born" and "first fruits". He told Israel to always give Him the "first born" male lamb of their flocks every year, and give Him the "first fruits" of all their crops. Without going into detail, here's the principle I came to understand from Robert Morris' teachings on The Blessed Life.
The "first born" redeems the rest, and the "first fruits" bless the rest. If you are ever able to read his book -- or better yet, watch his video series by that title -- please do so.
The issue is not the amount, but the issue is when. It is what you give -- that which comes first. You don't wait to see how much you have, or what kind of adverse affects might come your way in the future. You express your absolute faith and confidence in God by giving to Him FIRST before you give or spend anything else. As your "crops" come in, give Him the first. The word "tithe" literally means, "the first tenth", so that tells us where to begin. When we are faithful in those "little things" as small as 1/10th, He will give us stewardship responsibilities and privileges over the rest -- and will multiply it as He so chooses.
7. Lk 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the mea-sure you use, it will be measured to you.” Our being able to accumulate for our own needs is proportionate to our willingness to give to others. When you read this command from Jesus, we see it does not include "getting" -- only "giving". When we do, we will receive back. Not only will we receive back what we gave, but it seems that we will receive more. We don't know how much more, but however much it is, it will be, "A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, . . ."
When I read that scripture, I always remember watching my paternal grandfather walk out of the grain bin to feed his chickens, carrying two five-gallon buckets of corn piled so high that the corn fell onto the ground with every step, and chickens came flocking to him to enjoy the overflow. That's how our lives should be -- our generosity should be a testimony of God's faithfulness, and not our own fears and apprehensions over our own security and future. The reason we can do that is because of this final verse: --
8. Mt 6:33 -- "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." In Jesus' concise statement, He reveals the secret to a happy and prosperous life. Put your focus on building Christ's kingdom, not yours. If you will concentrate on living in, enjoying, building, and advancing His kingdom, the end result is that God will take care of the rest for you. It will include the "these things" He mentions.
So, what are those 'things" to which He refers? Well, just go back to see what He talked about -- food, clothing, giving, praying, decision making, the future, even life itself (Mt 6:1-32). In other words, get your priorities in the proper order, God (His nature, His character, His purpose, His kingdom, your righteous living) will take care of the rest. It's a matter of priorities -- what is most important to you. The Bible clearly states, . . .
"For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (I Tim 6:10).
There is no doubt that when we develop an appetite for greediness -- even if it is driven by a survivor mentality -- we open ourselves up to more temptations and traps than we can count. And, as Paul warned young Timothy, that mindset of simply "surviving instead of thriving" will destroy our faith; and if our faith is diminished, so will our obedience. One of the best ways I know to pile on griefs and sorrows in your life is to redirect your confidence away from God and onto material things. It is a sure recipe for hardship and failure.
I still remember not long after Jo Ann and I were married, I stupidly decided we couldn't afford to tithe. The first Sunday I failed to tithe, the fan and the muffler went out on our little 1952 Willy's sedan, and it cost me three times what my tithe would have been. I should have learned the lesson then, but years later when I gave less than what God had instructed me to give during a Bible conference in San Antonio, TX, I went out the next morning to find a leak in our car's gas tank. The repair cost was four times what God had told me to give, and then He commanded me to still give the original amount in the offering -- even after I had already given a portion of that amount in two previous lessons.
So, the bottom line is that if we are going to live consistently in all areas of life, it includes our "wealth", no matter how great or how small it may be.
Then finally, you need to . . .
V. Be Consistent in Your Watch: -- "Looking Out, Looking Up"
The idea of watching covers a vast array of applications. In that my letter is already far too long, I want to hit only a few high points -- Watch Out, Watch Over, and Watch For.
+ Watch OUT!
Our flesh is so unpredictable, the world is so enticing, and Satan is so deceptive that you and I must stay on constant alert for temptations that can trip us up or weigh us down. The writer of Hebrews warned us of those dangers, writing, . . .
". . . let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, . . ." (Heb 12:1)
There are many things for which we must watch out. We must constantly stand guard against the subtle wiles of the Devil. Just as examples, . . .
1. Ex 34:12 – “Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land. . .” This has to do with compromise and unholy alliances. A Christian that does so is described by James as being "double-minded" -- or two-faced -- having the temptation to compromise his allegiance to the world by claiming to be a follower of Christ while, at the same time, claiming to be a follower of Christ while maintaining appetites and infatuations toward the things of the world. This is akin to what John wrote in I John 2:15-17.
2. I Jn 2:15-17 -- "Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever."
Jesus addressed this Himself by calling out the cost of true discipleship and the ease with which people -- even good people -- even professing Christians -- can let other things stand in the way of total commitment to Him. Read Luke 14:25-33.
3. Deut 4:23 – “So watch yourselves, that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD. . .” To fully understand this, one needs to understand the concept of "Covenant". We can't develop this as I would like, but keep this in mind. There is a difference between a covenant and a contract. In a contract, both parties sign a document obligating themselves to be and do certain things named in the contract. If one person fails, the contract is void. A covenant, on the other hand, especially in the case of our relationship to Christ, is where the initiator of the covenant takes full responsibility for both parties and makes certain the covenant remains intact.
So, in a nutshell, we are to watch ourselves that we never forget that Jesus not only carried out His own responsibilities of redeeming us, but also took upon Himself the responsibility of keeping the covenant intact by satisfying our requirements as well. I wish I had more time and space to develop this further. For now, though, just never forget what Christ has done for you when He established the New Covenant that replaced the old covenant based on performance.
4. Deut 6:12 – “. . . then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you out. . .” It is important that we remind ourselves often of what it was like -- of what WE were like -- before Christ rescued us from the domain of darkness and transplanted us into His own Kingdom and made us not just residents, but citizens! Remember that He not only brought us out, but also brought us in. (See Col 1:13) --
"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,. . ."
+ Watch OVER!
5. Prov 4:23 – “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” You might call this, "soul care". You need to watch over your spiritual condition at all times, making certain you are being spiritually fed from God's Word, spiritually strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and spiritual protected by all the "guards" provided for you to shield you from Satan's traps and fiery missiles (See Eph 6:10-19). Stand Watch. In similar fashion, the writer of Hebrews warned us of the same, stating, . . .
6. Psalm 5:3 – “In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.” (See Ps 59:9; Mic 7:7; etc.) We watch over our attitudes and actions by taking personal responsibility to spend time in God's presence every day -- from morning to evening. The best way to start every day is in the presence of the Lord.
One of my favorite hymns is "In The Garden". The beautiful description found in the verses makes it clear that the writer, Methodist hymnist C. Austin Miles, began by spending time with the Lord in the mornings, "while the dew is still on the roses". The next verse describes how his day was being spent, and the final verse describes how the dusk had fallen before he realized how long he had spent with the Lord -- "I'd stay in the garden alone tho' the night around me be falling."
There is no better way to watch over your life than to be in God's presence. The Psalmist understood this. Most scholars believe Moses wrote this Psalm, stating:
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, 'My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!' For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark." (Psalm 91:1-4)
7. Psalm 141:3 -- "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips." Since we've already covered this topic under being Consistent with your words, I'll only remind you of its importance. Paul urged us to never let any unwholesome word to come out of our mouths, saying, . . .
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Eph 4:29-30)
Finally, we need to . . .
+ Watch FOR!
8. Matt 24:42,44 -- ""Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. . . .
For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will." While we must never be so absorbed by our anticipation of Christ's return that we fail to minister, we must always be watchful, observing the indicators that His return is near. Nonetheless, we are commanded to watch continually for the coming of Christ. Perhaps when we least think about His return, He may do it just at that time. So, watch for Him.9. Matt 25:1-13 -- "But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps." The text is too long to include here, but you know the story -- all ten were "watching", but only five were "ready". By the time the other five "got ready", it was too late; the bridegroom had already come.
10. Rev 3:3 – “So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.” Watching for Christ's return requires Consistency in how we see the indicators around us. An that may require some changes in our understanding of what we've been taught about His return. We'll have to "repent" -- that is, "turn around".
11. Titus 2:13 – “. . looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus . . .” Paul admonished this young pastor in the context what we are to believe and how we are to live. In that sense, we can see that Paul is telling us how we are to live and serve in light of the coming of that "blessed hope" of our salvation and the "appearing of the glory" of Christ at His return. That should make you look forward to -- and look For -- that moment.
12 LK 21:28 – “. . .straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." What a wonderful exhortation! Cheer up! Straighten up! Sit up! Stand up! Look up! His return is closer today -- this very moment -- that it has ever been in all of human history.
In light of all these scriptures -- and dozens more -- it seems obvious that we need to be Consistent in our watch, as well as all the others.
This, however, raises an interesting question -- how in the world can you and I live with consistency paramount in our work, in our words, in our ways, in our wealth, and in our watch?
Frankly, it seems to be an impossible task. As I thought about what I could suggest to you that would help you live consistently, I knew there was no human resource truly capable of making us be consistent in all those areas. Then I remembered . . .
THE SECRET TO CONSISTENCY: (Rom 12:1-3)
Maybe I'm the only one who battles inconsistency. My emotions are often like a yo yo, up and down depending on the circumstances. My thoughts are inconsistent and sometimes all over the place as I think about people, about conditions, about politics, about our financial resources, about . . .
There is, however, a very simple and practical way taught in scripture that should help the both of us live consistent lives. It's found in Romans 12:1-3:
"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith."
The secret -- and I'll be very brief and trust you to dig deeper on your own -- is found in three simple words: ----
1. Presentation: -- “present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable. . . reasonable worship.”
2. Transformation: -- “. . . be transformed by the renewing of your mind . . .”
3. Revelation: -- “so that you may prove [test to know] what the will of the Lord is – good, acceptable, perfect.”
The starting point for consistent living is to each day -- preferably each morning -- present yourself afresh and anew to God as a living sacrifice. You're not promising to do better, be better, or try harder. You're simply saying, "Lord, here I am -- ready and available for anything and everything you have for me. I'm reporting for duty. My answer is "Yes!" What's Your question?"
When you give yourself over to God for His control and purposes, something unique begins to transpire -- you experience another measure of transformation. Paul told the Ephesian believers this rich truth. He wrote, . . .
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (Eph 3:8-10)
Salvation is a one-time experience, to be sure. However, it is also a lifetime process. Some have described it like this ---- Justification, Sanctification, Glorification. Paul told us, "He Who has begun a good work in you will continue it until the day of Christ." (Phil 1:6) The old times used to say, "I have been saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved."
As we present ourselves to God -- like placing ourselves on the potter's wheel -- He takes us (justification), shapes us (sanctification), and ultimately makes us (glorification) just like His Son by the time we get to heaven.
So, is this actually what Paul means when he describes us as God's "workmanship"? I believe it is, because the word for "workmanship" is "poiēma", from which we derive the word "poem". It's a reference to a "symphonic poem", but one that is still being written. It is present, but still incomplete. HOWEVER, the creator is not yet done with His writing. There is more to be written -- and when it is completed, it's going to be absolutely pristine perfect and and complete harmony.
As this process of transformation into that "New Creation" (II Cor 5:17) continues, we will systematically and progressively have revealed to us (Revelation) the will of God. We'll see it as being "Good", then "Acceptable", and ultimately as we mature, we'll see His will in our lives as being "absolutely perfect."
You see, my friend, there has to be some serious determination and discipline present in order to live consistently. It does NOT come naturally, -- but SUPERnaturally. It is impossible to live entirely consistently. However, by presenting ourselves afresh and anew to God each morning, the consistency will develop, mature, and become "consistently consistent".
That being the case, I urge and encourage you, . . .
I Cor 3:21 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Lk 16:13 – “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Heb 10:23 – “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
I Cor 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
FINALLY:
Even as I have written this letter and the ones just prior to it, I can't help but contrast how must of us live with we are to live. Tragically, most western Christians are prone to focus the Christian life on themselves and how it benefits them, forgetting that Jesus didn't call us to be blessed; He called us to follow Him. That was His first commandment to His first disciples on Galilee's shore, it is the explanation of His life on earth, and the summation of His final command before He ascended to Heaven. Perhaps John Wesley explained it best in the simplest of terms: . . .
"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
That pretty much says it all. So, I cannot help but conclude with this lengthy exhortation from Samuel Rutherford, that Scottish Presbyterian pastor, theologian and author, and one of the Scottish Commissioners to the Westminster Assembly whom I quoted in an earlier letter. He wrote, . . .
“If your Lord calls you to suffering, do not be dismayed, for He will provide a deeper portion of Christ in your suffering. The softest pillow will be placed under your head though you must set your bare feet among thorns. Do not be afraid at suffering for Christ, for He has a sweet peace for a sufferer.
"God has called you to Christ's side, and if the wind is now in His face, you cannot expect to rest on the sheltered side of the hill. You cannot be above your Master who received many an innocent stroke.
"The greatest temptation out of hell is to live without trials. A pool of standing water will turn stagnant. Faith grows more with the sharp winter storm in its face. Grace withers without adversity. You cannot sneak quietly into heaven without a cross. Crosses form us into His image. They cut away the pieces of our corruption.
"Lord cut, carve, wound; Lord do anything to perfect Your image in us and make us fit for glory! We need winnowing before we enter the kingdom of God. O what I owe to the file, hammer, and furnace! Why should I be surprised at the plough that makes such deep furrows in my soul?
"Whatever direction the wind blows, it will blow us to the Lord. His hand will direct us safely to the heavenly shore to find the weight of eternal glory. As we look back to our pains and suffering, we shall see that suffering is not worthy to be compared to our first night's welcome home in heaven. If we could smell of heaven and our country above, our crosses would not bite us.
"Lay all your loads by faith on Christ, ease yourself, and let Him bear all. He can, He does, and He will bear you. Whether God comes with a rod or a crown, He comes with Himself. 'Have courage, I am your salvation!' Welcome, welcome Jesus!”
With those words, I urge you -- yes, I implore you! -- commit yourself to living a life of absolute consistency in every area of life -- in your Work, in your Words, in your Walk, in your Wealth, and in your Watch. Not one area is free of significance. All matter. Each one matters.
And that leads us to our fifth and final thing we must do in light of all the shaking going on -- we must Minister with Compassion, not with Callousness. We'll look at that next time.
Bob Tolliver -- Romans 1:11
"Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness,
examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." -- Dr. Luke (Acts 17:11)
"A fire kept burning on the hearthstone of my heart, and I took up the burden of the day with fresh courage and hope." -- Charles F. McKoy
Life Unlimited Ministries
LUMglobal
[email protected]
Copyright March, 2022
"If Jesus had preached the same message that many ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified." -- Leonard Ravenhill
"The time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the Church will have clowns entertaining the goats." -- Charles H. Spurgeon
If this letter has blessed you, feel free to forward it or copy from it, with proper credits, to any and all you wish.
Please do NOT hit reply to this letter. This is an automated unmanned system.
If you want to write Bob, send directly to [email protected].
Replying to "Shoulder To Shoulder" mailer gets you nowhere.
--
To subscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]> To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: [email protected]