From Ben Fronczek... James (Part 10) A Good Way To Live

James (Part 10) A Good Way To Live   

By Ben Fronczek

Text: James 3:13-4:10

My daughter works at a grocery store and this past she told me about one of her customers. A gentleman came up to her and asked if she could do him a favor. He explained that he wanted her to go to the flower department and buy another customer he had seen in the store the nicest and biggest bunch of flowers available and give them to the lady. He told her that he was a pharmacist an he knew that this particular lady was very sick and thought she could use a little encouragement. He also asked her not to divulge who gave her the flowers and then gave her money to pay for them. She went and picked out the nicest bunch of flowers and found the lady who looked very pale and gave them to her explaining that someone had seen her and thought that she needed a little bright spot in her day. Well lady broke out in tears of gratitude wanting to know who the generous person was that sent her the flowers because she wanted to say thank you. Not knowing that the gentleman was not very far away checking out, my daughter let her know that he knew. Another time she has saw this particular man at the checkout counter behind a family with a large cart full of groceries and he paid for their order.

As I heard about this gentleman I though, wouldn’t the world be so much better if there were more people like this man.

I would like to share with you a good thought, some good news  found in Galatians 6:9 where the apostle Paul states, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

I like this verse because I believe God is telling us to just hang in there, and not to get so weary, so burned out as you keep doing one good thing after another when no one seems to care, and you just feel like giving up and throwing the towel and live like everyone else. I believe that Paul wants us to know that just at the right time, when God sees fit, He is going to bless you for not giving up. That’s a promise for you and me from God.

If you know anything about farming you know that this is simply the law of the harvest. You don’t reap a harvest the same day that you sow a seed. It will take a while before your reap a reward usually after plowing, fertilizing, sowing, and cultivating that crop and waiting for it to mature.

And likewise Paul is encouraging Christians not to grow weary and give up doing what is right and good to soon. Why, because your efforts will not go unrewarded.

But what kind of good are we talking about here? In James chapter 3 and 4 James talks about not only the best way to live, he also talks about a foolish ways to live as a Christian. One is called ‘wisdom that comes from Heaven’ and the other is called ‘earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.’  (Read James 3:13-4:10)

I would like to think that if James learned these principles from anyone, I would like to believe that he learned it from his brother Jesus as he was growing up. I don’t believe anyone ever lived the good life and emulated these good traits, and revealed the evil and hypocrisy like Jesus.

So first of all let’s look at what James has to say about living in a good and wise manner.  First of all he says in verse 13 that if we are wise in this kind of understanding we should show it by how we live, or as he says, “Show it by a good life, deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

The NLT put it this way, “¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.”

So if we are a wise Christian we will prove it by how we live, by living a good and honorable life. We should be doing good deeds or good works, (not as a showoff, but rather done with a humble heart honoring the Father and Jesus).

James goes into a little more detail a few verses down starting in verse 17 where he says, “The wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all:

- Pure.  Is your heart pure? Do you have the right intention when you help someone? Or do you have ulterior motives?  Pure is pure. You want to do something because it is simply the right thing to do. Someone may need help, encouragement, or financial help and you help them because in your heart you know it’s what God would want you to do, so you do it with no strings attached.

James goes on to say that Wisdom from Heaven is also …

- Peace-loving. Some people may reject what you are doing. Others may criticize you for trying to do good, and like Jesus some may even persecute you for trying to do good. Like Jesus we should not plot to retaliate or get even. It takes two to fight. So if one is slow to speak, silent, and starts praying about the situation, a confrontation is less likely to erupt into a fight. In the Sermon on the Mt. Jesus said,  “Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called sons of God” (MT. 5:9) In Verse 18 James writes, “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest off righteousness.”

Like Paul said in Galatians,  “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  If you sow peace you will raise a harvest of righteousness.”

James also informs us that wisdom that comes from Heaven is also…

- Considerate or will to yield to others. It’s knowing that everything is not all about you. Sometimes it’s about letting others go first, or letting others have more. It’s about showing honor and respect, and having manners. I think being considerate is about just being nice in all situations.

Next James says wisdom from Heaven is…

- Full of Mercy.  This is how we react when someone messes up or does something either to us or someone  we know or care about.

How do you react? Do you have a forgiving spirit or one that is critical? Sometimes some of us can be downright mean, hard or even nasty to others when they cross us. Want an example? I have learned not to get angry with other drivers who do stupid things around me when I am driving. What to know why? Because I have done my share of stupid things.

I am not a perfect driver. I have made mistakes and cut off people or have done other things so I don’t think I have any right to get upset when other drivers do stupid things. I have learned to just blow those things off almost immediately.   But with others, there is no mercy when they get cut off by another. Curses are spoken. Fists are shaken and the one cut off gets all worked up and hostile. Are you like that? James said that wisdom that comes from heaven shows mercy…. Not only in the car but at all times, by forgiving, by being generous to those in need and helping those who need help. It’s all about the the condition of our heart.

And finally James says Wisdom that comes from Heaven is…

- Full of good deeds impartial and sincere.. Earlier Jesus said you will know a tree by the fruit it bears. If you are good, you will just naturally bear good fruit.

And then in this section James talks a lot about the “earthly, unspiritual and demonic” ways to live.  How does he describe these worldly demonic traits?

- First of all in vs. 14 when harboring bitter envy. When we’re sickened by the fact that others have something we do not. Instead of being happy for them we actually are upset or even get angry that we don’t have what they have. Or when we aren’t loved or appreciated like someone else we just become bitter. I believe this no more than a self induced pity party.

 Another ungodly trait he mentions here is this text is:

- Selfish ambition. You know when it’s not about helping others, rather it’s all about me and what I can get out of it in the end; a complement, a blessing, a reward, the self gratification, an advancement. In the end it all about serving our self. James said that this is downright demonic. Yet how many of us do good things for this reason?  I believe we all do…. That is until we learn Heaven’s way, God’s way, Jesus’ way… and then as we become wiser and we slowly begin to do things to help others for God’s glory, not our own.

I believe that these two, envy and selfishness are  behind much of the grief and evil in this world.  My old friend Larry Deason use to say that he thought the very best definition of sin is selfishness.  In vs.16 James says “where you have evil and selfishness you will find disorder and evil of every kind. (NLT)

James goes on to elaborate on this in Chapter 4. “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? ² You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.

Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. ³ And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”

He’s saying you are jealous and envious of what others have so you fight and argue and brood over it because you are selfish. Wars have been fought and people have been kill and are being killed for this very reason; because people jealous, envious, and selfish. And even if they ask God for something they are asking for the wrong reason. Even in their prayers they are self centered and selfish. In verse 3 he said all these people want to do is spend what they get from God on their own pleasures.

James said that mentality is not from heaven; rather it’s a earthly, worldly, and a demon-like mentality.

And James goes on to let us know that God is hurt like a jealous lover when we chase after things of the world just to please our self. In vss. 4-5 he writes, “You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. ⁵ What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?”

Yes this verse says that God is filled with envy, but it is not for His sake, it’s for ours. Like someone who wants his loved one to return home from chasing after another, or like a parent who yearns for his child to return home from carousing (like the Prodigal son) God what’s people to return to Him after chasing after the things of this world.

And then in 4:7 James begins to give wise instruction on how to get back on the right path to God.  First of all he says that we need to submit to God. Humbly turn back to Him and choose Him and His way.

Next James tells us that we have to do our best to resist the devil and he will flee.  Sad to say, too many don’t even try to resist. The devil tempts and because of our own selfish desires, and because we don’t know or care what God wants for us we just lunge after that which will satisfy our own desire.

James wrote resist the devil, come near to God and he will come near to you. Actually I don’t think God has gone anywhere. We are the one who walk away from Him.

James goes on to say, “Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. ⁹ Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”  NLT

Close: So God wants us to keep on hanging in there doing good things. Not that you earn your salvation by doing good works, rather putting away envy, jealousy and selfishness and doing good should be the goal of those who are saved.

May challenge for you is this week to make it your goal to put on the wisdom of Heaven and seek to be  pure; peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

 

 And last of all, do some good deeds this week to God’s glory

From Mark Copeland... That Your Progress May Be Evident (1 Timothy 4:13-16)

                     "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

              That Your Progress May Be Evident (4:13-16)

INTRODUCTION

1. In 1Ti 4:13-16, we find Paul telling Timothy things to do...
   a. Until Paul was able to come to him
   b. That would make Timothy's progress evident to all
   c. That would save himself and those who heard him
   -- These instructions were related to Timothy's work as an evangelist

2. Yet are there not applications that all Christians can take from this
   passage...?
   a. As we await the coming of our Lord?
   b. That would make our own progress evident to all?
   c. That would save ourselves and those near us?
   -- Indeed, these instructions are worthy of our careful consideration
      as Christians!

[With this in mind, what can be gleaned from Paul's charge in this
passage so "That Your Progress May Be Evident"...?]

I. GIVE YOUR ATTENTION

   A. TO READING...
      1. In Timothy's case
         a. It may refer to public reading of Scripture, a custom in the
            synagogue that was continued in the church-Lk 4:16-20; Ac 13:15; 15:21; 1Th 5:27; Col 4:16; Re 1:3
         b. It may also include private reading, for the benefit of
            personal growth - Josh 1:8
      2. In our case
         a. We should certainly give attention to daily Bible reading
            for spiritual growth - Ps 1:1-3
         b. We might also read other books to encourage our walk with
            God - Php 4:8
      -- At the very least, reading God's Word is essential to our
         spiritual progress!

   B. TO EXHORTATION...
      1. In Timothy's case
         a. It likely refers to public teaching or preaching, in which
            one exhorts others - Ro 12:8
         b. It may also include private exhortation, as one encourages
            another - 1Th 5:11
      2. In our case
         a. We exhort one another by our frequent assembling - He 10:
            24-25
         b. We can also exhort one another daily - He 3:13
      -- Exhorting another person not only blesses them, but ourselves
         as well!

   C. TO DOCTRINE...
      1. In Timothy's case
         a. This refers to the teaching or instruction he would do as a
            minister - 1Ti 4:6
         b. It was a charge that was especially given to him - 1Ti 4:11
      2. In our case
         a. We may teach in various ways, in public or private, in
            example or word, but teach we must - He 5:12
         b. We may be limited where we may teach, but teach we must
            - 1Ti 2:12; Tit 2:3-4
      -- Those who teach, benefit greatly through the preparation
         required to teach!

   D. TO YOUR GIFT...
      1. In Timothy's case
         a. It referred to a gift given through the laying on of hands
            - 1Ti 4:14
         b. He had a gift imparted by the laying on of Paul's hands,
            that required some reminding; likely a miraculous gift
            - 2Ti 1:6
      2. In our case
         a. There are gifts given related to our function in the body of
            Christ - Ro 12:3-8
         b. It is important that we administer our gift in service to
            our brethren - 1Pe 4:10-11
      -- Certainly as one exercises their gift, their progress will be
         evident to others!

[Paul's instructions to Timothy can easily be applied to ourselves,
can't they?  Let's now endeavor to apply his remaining charges to
Timothy, which can be summarized by the phrase...]

II. GIVE YOURSELF ENTIRELY

   A. MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS...
      1. Dwell upon the things commanded in this passage
      2. Are you reading that which will build you up?
      3. Do you exhort your brethren, are you teaching them in ways that
         benefit them?
      4. Are you utilizing your God-given abilities and opportunities,
         or are you burying them?
      -- Perhaps the parable of the talents will help in your meditation
         - Mt 25:14-30

   B. TAKE HEED TO YOURSELF...
      1. Do not neglect your own spiritual development (which is why you
         should read)
      2. Do not neglect your own brethren (which is why you should
         exhort them)
      3. Do not neglect your own opportunities (which is why you should
         teach them)
      4. Do not neglect your own gift (which is why you should develop
         and utilize it)
      -- We can be so busy, that we neglect ourselves and not be
         prepared - cf. Lk 21:34

   C. TAKE HEED TO THE DOCTRINE...
      1. We must be true to the Word of God
      2. We must avoid being misled by false teachings
      3. We must be sure that what we teach others is true
      -- Fellowship with God and brethren are affected by doctrinal
         faithfulness - 2Jn 9-10

   D. CONTINUE IN THEM...
      1. These exhortations are not to be soon forgotten
      2. These duties require perseverance
      -- Eternal life comes to those who patiently continue to do that
         which is good - Ro 2:7

CONCLUSION

1. What benefit could Timothy expect by heeding these admonitions...?
   a. He would save himself! - 1Ti 4:16
   b. He would save those who heard him! - 1Ti 4:16

2. Is that not a goal worthy of...
   a. Giving attention to these things?
   b. Giving ourselves entirely to them?

So if we desire to have progress evident to all, and in the process save
ourselves and others, then apply these admonitions as though they were
written to us...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan... Obedience and reconciliation

Obedience and reconciliation

Our first relationship with God is with a Holy Father who produced children. It is not that of a Creator, it is that of a Holy Father who is our creator. The children he fathered are the offspring of holy love. It is his holiness that makes his love true love and it is his love that makes holiness truly holy. We can easily imagine love and holiness to be distinct in humans but that isn't possible in God. We can imagine a parent loving her child but not nurturing in her child deeper level holiness. We can imagine a dedicated worshiper of God who has become hard and loveless, someone who has lost her heart in her holiness. This isn't possible with God. His holiness is gentled by love and his love is kept upright by his holiness. His children are the offspring of holy love. The relationship is not limited to our biological and social makeup, it is first and foremost a moral and spiritual relationship--our father is the Holy Father.

That kind of relationship is required not by conditions arbitrarily imposed but by who and what God is--our Holy Father. We don't determine the nature of the relationship, by how we feel about it or view it. We may renounce it, say we don't like it, refuse to live in light of it but we can't alter the truth of it; we exist as the offspring of our Holy Father. We have estranged ourselves by our restructuring the relationship and by refusing to accept the true nature of it but God has never changed his view about it and seeks to bring us back into that relationship as it is seen by him. The restructuring is the result of sin so the work of restoration calls for atonement for sin--that is, the satisfactory dealing with sin which has deformed the relationship. However, precisely, that sin of rejecting the Holy Father is dealt with we call it "making atonement" for sin. The sin must be dealt with if reconciliation is to be accomplished.

It isn't simply that we've sinned and the criminal acts must be punished. It's bigger than that. Punishment, which is an aspect of retributive justice, is only a part of the larger picture. God doesn't seek our punishment, he seeks our restoration. Where punishment for sins enters into that whole purpose then punishment is administered but it is a mistake to make that the complete picture.

Nor should we be satisfied with the objective aspect of the atonement (that is, how it affects God who is "outside" us). God is not simply maintaining his own holiness and proving that he isn't soft on sin. It's bigger than that because he isn't simply holy--he's the Holy Father and he doesn't want simply to satisfy himself. The Holy Father actually wants us back in fellowship with himself. But because of who and what he is, reconciliation with him must involve our realignment with him. The objective nature and character of God determines the nature of the atonement and it necessitates our subjective appropriation of the atonement.

That subjective appropriation involves our renewal. We must "be born again". The reign of God is the reign of a Holy Father and in order to see it or enter it we must be reborn. Our relationship with God must be reconfigured for us and we must be willing to receive it. However atonement is worked out, unless we want the Holy Father as our Holy Father there is no restoration. The prodigals father always loved the wayward son but he saw him "lost" and "dead" while the son maintained his choice to be cut off from the father. Essential to reconciliation between the prodigal and his father is the willing return to the father.

The willing return is not merely a response to reconciliation that is already accomplished, it is part of what reconciliation is and means and without it reconciliation doesn't exist!

What was done on the cross completed the grounding of reconciliation but the whole process of reconciliation includes the sinner's personal appropriation of that finished work. That's why Paul, on the basis of God's reconciling work in Christ, calls sinners to "get yourselves reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).

We talk of the "finished" work of Christ with good reason. There was something we couldn't do for ourselves and Christ stepped in and did it for us. Without our aid and in fact, in the face of our opposition he accomplished it. But while what Christ accomplished on the cross is the ground and creative dynamic for all else that relates to reconciliation, it is not the total picture. If it were, there would be no need for the message or ministry of reconciliation with which Paul and the church as a whole is commissioned. Without the cross there is no message of reconciliation. Without the message of reconciliation there is no hearing and without hearing there is no believing and without believing there is salvation by faith in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19-20; Romans 10:13-17).

It makes no sense to say the whole reconciling enterprise was completed at the cross when the scriptures forthrightly say otherwise. In the matter of atonement and reconciliation "all things are of God" (2 Corinthians 5:18) but part of the "all things" is the message by which people are reconciled to God and by which they are saved (1 Corinthians 1:21). To say, "We were saved the moment Christ died on the cross without anything further being done" makes no sense at all because it excludes the preached message of reconciliation. In our anxiety to deny self-salvation by good works or an obedience that somehow merits forgiveness we mustn't ignore plain biblical teaching. We don't make less of Christ's cross-work by insisting that the whole saving and reconciling work of God includes other truths and realities that rise out of that cross-work. When we insist on that we are simply allowing the scriptures to tell us the whole story.

Part of God's reconciling work is the proclamation of the message of reconciliation. Part of God's reconciling work is his way of bringing people to faith in Christ, by that message of reconciliation. Part of God's reconciling work is the obedience of faith itself, by which a person appropriates the cross-work of Christ. These realities and truths are related to each other as cause and effect but they are indispensable elements in God's reconciling and saving enterprise.

Our obedience of faith in Jesus Christ did not produce the cross--the reverse is true, and it would be a profound error to be mistaken at this point. But in God's saving and reconciling work one cannot exist without the other. This is not true because God laid the obedience of faith in Jesus Christ as an arbitrary condition on those who might wish to be reconciled with him and therefore saved. It's true because of who God is and who we are before him. The cross is there because of who God is and who we are before him. The obedience of faith in Jesus Christ is the embracing of the cross. The obedience of faith is not the embracing of the obedience of faith otherwise it would not be the obedience of faith in Jesus Christ.

To sever faith obedience from God's reconciling and saving enterprise is to sever from it precisely what God is after and precisely what the cross is designed to create. The cross is not simply to prove we are godless and God is gracious--it is to redeem us from our willing service to sin (see Romans 6:1-16; 2 Corinthians 5:15). It is to realign our hearts with God so that his work of reconciliation is experienced in our heart and lives as penitent faith obedience.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Gary... What we leave behind...

Today's post is somewhat shorter than usual. Why? Because life is too short NOT TO CONSIDER WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND!!!

Love those that are with you. When you leave this world, they will still be here. Consider this...

John, Chapter 16

19  Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?’   20  Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

And it was!!!!!