The Bible says that “The poor is hated even of his own neighbour” (Proverbs 14:20). In fact, his wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard (Ecclesiastes 9:16). His friends go far from him, and his brethren hate him (Proverbs 19:7). But this should not be the case amongst believers. Instead, believers should defend the poor (Psalm 82:3). They should open their ears to the cries of the poor (Proverbs 21:13) and deliver them in time of trouble (Psalm 41:1). Believers must realize that their treatment of the poor is directly related to their relationship with the Lord (Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 17:5). Even in the New Testament, Paul was admonished to “remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10).
Sobriety is much more than simply a way of thinking; it is the scriptural approach to Christian living. The grace of God, through the Holy Ghost (John 16:13), teaches the believer the proper approach to living the Christian life. Grace teaches separation by stating that believers should deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts.” Yet, grace does not stop there. It also teaches a threefold approach to living life: “soberly, righteously, and godly.” Not only must a believer have a sober mind, he must also approach every aspect of his life with sobriety. He should pray with sobriety. He should read the scriptures with sobriety. He should witness with sobriety. Any contrary thing will cause the believer to suffer great loss.
Christians sometimes focus most upon the benefits believers will enjoy after this life is over, yet the benefits of salvation enjoyed in this present life are just as grand as those yet in the future. Perhaps the lack of focus on present benefits has caused some individuals to put off their salvation. Thus it is important to emphasize that salvation changes a person’s present circumstances just as much as it will his future. Salvation does not change a man’s surroundings; it changes the man. When it does, it brings things like love, joy, and peace to the individual. The very things that the average lost person expresses as his greatest needs can only be found through a present, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
The word of God makes things perfectly clear that God does not need anything from man. Yet, we see that God finds great delight in receiving those sacrifices from His creation. The apostle Paul plainly declared this truth to the Philippian believers when he said that their sacrifice was “an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18). He rehearsed the same truth to Hebrew believers when he said, “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). The sacrifices of men demonstrate a will that chooses to give something to God. Why? Because love constrains them to do so.
Even the best of homes experience times when trouble arises. Unfortunately, few homes seem to possess the willingness to endure those difficulties which arise. Though divorce is often viewed as a solution to resolve marital and family problems, it generally further complicates an already unstable situation. It is the Devil and not God who convinces couples that divorce could solve the problems created by sin or life’s inherent difficulties. Every home faces troublous times, but those homes built upon a love for the Lord seek to work through the trouble with their ultimate objective of glorifying the Lord. Rarely today do couples determine to endure the difficulties presented in the early years of marriage in order to find the joys of growing old together. These relationships lack the character to patiently wait as beauties of old age arise from the battles of youth.
Like other callings upon a person’s life, God prepares men and women for marriage. Obviously, God prepares the heart, but He also prepares other areas in order to provide for a strong home. When God created Adam, He could have immediately created Eve, but He chose to allow Adam to experience the sense of being alone. Perhaps there are other reasons, but God may have thought it wise to prepare Adam for marriage. He needed to experience life without Eve. Adam needed to come to the place where he desired companionship. He needed to be alone before he could truly appreciate a wife. In addition to the preparation of Adam’s heart, the Lord gave him a job, a means by which he could provide for Eve (Genesis 2:8-9, 15). All of these preparations were necessary for a strong marriage relationship.
Modern Christianity has terribly corrupted both the meaning and beauty of liberality. Giving has turned into a show designed to bring honour and praise to those doing the giving. God never intended giving to be so perverted. For this reason, the apostle Paul declared that the bountiful giving of the saints caused thanks to be given to God (2 Corinthians 9:11). The more they gave, the more thanks God would receive (2 Corinthians 9:12). The Corinthians recognized that man should not receive personal glory for giving especially when considering the fact that one’s ability to give does not exist apart from God’s enabling. This is not to say that an individual who obeys God should not be appreciated for his obedience to God. Yet, all praise and thanks belong to God. Men should give abundantly in hopes that the Lord would receive the glory and receive many thanks.
Time is short! The time of Christ’s return is approaching quickly (Romans 13:11-12). There is no time for petty strife amongst believers. This is not the time to stir up the troops one against another, but rather the time to rally them under the same banner admonishing them to adorn the same armour (Romans 13:12). This is the time for believers to walk honestly (Romans 13:13). The battle has been raging for some time, and this battle leaves no time for participation in the rioting and drunkenness found in society (Romans 13:13). There is far too much at stake. The believers who choose to participate in strife and envy may feel as though they are winning the battle, but they fail to realize how they are losing the war. It is time for believers to crucify the flesh and serve Christ (Romans 13:14).
One of the more difficult things any individual faces in this life involves watching loved ones suffer. Yet, this life is filled with suffering and death. David witnessed just such a tragedy when his child became ill and eventually died. While the child was alive, David implored the Lord for the child’s recovery. No doubt, he was asking God to heal the child and restore health. In addition to praying for the child, David fasted and wept for the life of his newborn. In the end, the Lord decided to take the child. David understood that he could not bring the child back but would one day go to where the child already was. As soon as the child passed, David refocused upon living. He ceased praying for the child and began to comfort his grieving wife.
Prayer serves as the greatest remedy for worry and fears. In Philippians 4:6, God’s word tells us to “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” This truth is reaffirmed in 1 Peter 5:7 where the Bible says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” A man can expend time and strength caring for the things of this world including the necessities of life, or he can make a conscious decision to obediently cast those same cares upon the Lord. This allows the Lord to show Himself strong toward the individual by caring for His child. According to Philippians 4:7, by choosing to pray, the cares and worries of man are replaced with “the peace of God.” The Bible describes this peace as one that keeps the believer’s heart and mind through Christ Jesus and even passes one’s ability to comprehend its depths and riches.
