12/31/12

The human condition



Click on the above link to view

Perhaps he is a tad optimistic... However, if you do not try, you do not succeed!!!  having said that, click on the link.  Those kids had all sorts of things happen to them: falling over, getting hit with something, tripping,etc... We must all acknowledge we fail sometimes.  We pick ourselves up and try again, but sometimes we need help.  If you are trying to live the Christian life, you WILL NEED HELP!!!  I like what Paul has to say in the last chapter of Galatians...

Galatians, Chapter 6
 1 Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.  2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  3 For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  4 But let each man test his own work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in his neighbor.  5 For each man will bear his own burden.  6 But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.  7 Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.  10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith. 

Great Christians are not born that way; they are the result of a lifetime of disciple, prayer and a great amount of help from God and their fellow Christians.  I don't know if that young man in the picture will ever pick up the barbell, but, maybe after 20 or so years... anything is possible!!!!  So, if you start off the new year with problems in your spiritual life- keep trying, God isn't finished with you yet!!!

Bible Reading, Dec. 31


Mal 1:1 An oracle: the word of Yahweh to Israel by Malachi.
Mal 1:2 "I have loved you," says Yahweh. Yet you say, "How have you loved us?" "Wasn't Esau Jacob's brother?" says Yahweh, "Yet I loved Jacob;
Mal 1:3 but Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness."
Mal 1:4 Whereas Edom says, "We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places;" thus says Yahweh of Armies, "They shall build, but I will throw down; and men will call them 'The Wicked Land,' even the people against whom Yahweh shows wrath forever."
Mal 1:5 Your eyes will see, and you will say, "Yahweh is great--even beyond the border of Israel!"
Mal 1:6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says Yahweh of Armies to you, priests, who despise my name. You say, 'How have we despised your name?'
Mal 1:7 You offer polluted bread on my altar. You say, 'How have we polluted you?' In that you say, 'Yahweh's table contemptible.'
Mal 1:8 When you offer the blind for sacrifice, isn't that evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, isn't that evil? Present it now to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Or will he accept your person?" says Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 1:9 "Now, please entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With this, will he accept any of you?" says Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 1:10 "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you," says Yahweh of Armies, "neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
Mal 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same, my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering: for my name is great among the nations," says Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 1:12 "But you profane it, in that you say, 'Yahweh's table is polluted, and its fruit, even its food, is contemptible.'
Mal 1:13 You say also, 'Behold, what a weariness it is!' and you have sniffed at it," says Yahweh of Armies; "and you have brought that which was taken by violence, the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering. Should I accept this at your hand?" says Yahweh.
Mal 1:14 "But the deceiver is cursed, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King," says Yahweh of Armies, "and my name is awesome among the nations."
Mal 2:1 "Now, you priests, this commandment is for you.
Mal 2:2 If you will not listen, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name," says Yahweh of Armies, "then will I send the curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart.
Mal 2:3 Behold, I will rebuke your seed, and will spread dung on your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it.
Mal 2:4 You will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that my covenant may be with Levi," says Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 2:5 "My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him who he might be reverent toward me; and he was reverent toward me, and stood in awe of my name.
Mal 2:6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity.
Mal 2:7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 2:8 But you have turned aside out of the way. You have caused many to stumble in the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi," says Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 2:9 "Therefore I have also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according to the way you have not kept my ways, but have had respect for persons in the law.
Mal 2:10 Don't we all have one father? Hasn't one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Mal 2:11 Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of Yahweh which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.
Mal 2:12 Yahweh will cut off, to the man who does this, him who wakes and him who answers, out of the tents of Jacob, and him who offers an offering to Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 2:13 This again you do: you cover the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, because he doesn't regard the offering any more, neither receives it with good will at your hand.
Mal 2:14 Yet you say, 'Why?' Because Yahweh has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion, and the wife of your covenant.
Mal 2:15 Did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
Mal 2:16 For I hate divorce," says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with violence!" says Yahweh of Armies. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you don't deal treacherously.
Mal 2:17 You have wearied Yahweh with your words. Yet you say, 'How have we wearied him?' In that you say, 'Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of Yahweh, and he delights in them;' or 'Where is the God of justice?'
Mal 3:1 "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!" says Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 3:2 "But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like launderer's soap;
Mal 3:3 and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.
Mal 3:4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to Yahweh, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.
Mal 3:5 I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who deprive the foreigner of justice, and don't fear me," says Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 3:6 "For I, Yahweh, don't change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Mal 3:7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says Yahweh of Armies. "But you say, 'How shall we return?'
Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, 'How have we robbed you?' In tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:9 You are cursed with the curse; for you rob me, even this whole nation.
Mal 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this," says Yahweh of Armies, "if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for.
Mal 3:11 I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before its time in the field," says Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 3:12 "All nations shall call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 3:13 "Your words have been stout against me," says Yahweh. "Yet you say, 'What have we spoken against you?'
Mal 3:14 You have said, 'It is vain to serve God;' and 'What profit is it that we have followed his instructions, and that we have walked mournfully before Yahweh of Armies?
Mal 3:15 Now we call the proud happy; yes, those who work wickedness are built up; yes, they tempt God, and escape.'
Mal 3:16 Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared Yahweh, and who honored his name.
Mal 3:17 They shall be mine," says Yahweh of Armies, "my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.
Mal 3:18 Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn't serve him.
Mal 4:1 "For, behold, the day comes, it burns as a furnace; and all the proud, and all who work wickedness, will be stubble; and the day that comes will burn them up," says Yahweh of Armies, "that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2 But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out, and leap like calves of the stall.
Mal 4:3 You shall tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make," says Yahweh of Armies.
Mal 4:4 "Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances.
Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes.
Mal 4:6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
 
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Ecclesiastes, The Preacher's Observations part 2, Mark Copeland

                       "THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES"

              The Preacher's Observations - II (5:1-6:12)

INTRODUCTION

1. The Preacher has been explaining WHY he reached his conclusion that
   life "under the sun" is vanity...
   a. Based upon his personal experience - 1:1-2:26
   b. Based upon his personal observations - 3:1-6:12

2. In chapters 3 and 4, we saw where he discussed...
   a. The inexplicable purpose of God
   b. The injustice and oppression of men
   c. The vanity of skillful and selfish work

3. Even so, he offered wisdom for living "under the sun"...
   a. It is best to rejoice, do good, and enjoy the good of one's 
      labor, realizing that such is a gift of God to those who please
      Him - 3:12-13
   b. To appreciate the value of friends who can help us in time of
      work and need - 4:9-10

[In chapters 5 and 6, he offers more wisdom as he continues to share
his wisdom for living "under the sun".  Notice his...]

I. COUNSEL REGARDING WORSHIP

   A. WHY PROPER WORSHIP IS IMPORTANT...
      1. Remember, the ability to enjoy the good of one's labor is a
         gift from God - 2:24-26; 3:12-14; 6:19
      2. It is imperative that we please Him in our worship
         a. There is "vain worship", you know - cf. Mt 15:7-9
         b. Therefore not all worship is acceptable to God

   B. HOW TO WORSHIP GOD...
      1. Walk prudently - 5:1a
         a. Both the NIV and NASB say "Guard your steps"
         b. When one worships...
            1) They should give thought to what they will do
            2) They should be careful what they will do
      2. Draw near to hear - 5:1b
         a. We should be concerned with learning what God has revealed
         b. Our attitude should be like that of...
            1) Young Samuel ("Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.")
               - 1Sa 3:9-10
            2) The Bereans ("they received the word with all 
               readiness") - Ac 17:11
      3. Do not offer the sacrifice of fools - 5:1c
         a. Again, not all worship is acceptable
         b. There is that kind of worship...
            1) That is an abomination to God - Pr 28:9
            2) That the Lord will not accept - cf. Lk 6:46
      4. Don't be rash with your vows (promises) - 5:2-3
         a. Be careful what you say; remember...
            1) Jephthah's foolish vow - Judg 11:30-35
            2) Herod's foolish promise - Mk 6:23-26
         b. Give thought to what you say in prayer and song
            1) Do you consider the vows of commitment that are often
               made?
            2) Do you intend to keep them?
      5. Keep the vows you make - 5:4-7
         a. God has no pleasure in fools
            1) Such as those who make vows and do not fulfill them
            2) Therefore it is better not to vow, then to vow and not
               pay
         b. Don't let your mouth cause you to sin
            1) Why make God angry, and destroy the work of your hands?
            2) Many words lead to vanity, and sin - cf. Pr 10:19;
               Mt 12:36-37

[The key thought in proper worship is to "fear God", that is, to
approach Him with the deepest respect and reverence.  Worship Him as He
directs, not as you might wish.  "Swift to hear, slow to speak" (Ja
1:19) should be our attitude in worship if we wish to please God!

In the next two verses of our text, we see a word of...]

II. COMFORT REGARDING OPPRESSION

   A. OPPRESSION DOES OCCUR...
      1. As the Preacher observed in 3:16
      2. And again in 4:1

   B. YET THE PREACHER SAYS DO NOT MARVEL...
      1. Even when there is oppression of the poor and perversion of
         justice - 5:8a
      2. For even high officials answer to someone else - 5:8b; cf.
         Ro 13:1
         a. Often in this life they are brought to justice
         b. But even if not, then there is the Day of Judgment!
      3. The profit taken in oppression usually comes back to all - 5:9
         a. Those who oppress others to gain much rarely consume it all
         b. What profit from the land they gain "trickles down" 
            eventually

[Of course, oppression of the poor and perversion of justice is often
motivated by the desire to be rich.  So we should not be surprised to
find the Preacher returning to the vanity of riches as he offers words
of...]

III. CAUTION REGARDING RICHES

   A. RICHES ARE VANITY...
      1. Because they are unable to truly satisfy - 5:10-12
         a. Lovers of silver and abundance will never be satiated
         b. As they increase, so their desire for more will increase
      2. Because those obsessed with riches are hurt by them - 5:13-17
         a. Riches can hurt those who possess them
            1) While a laboring man enjoys sweet sleep...
            2) ...the abundance of the rich provides too much turmoil
               for restful sleep!
         b. Through misfortune, or eventually through death, one loses
            their riches
         -- What value then are riches, if in the acquisition of them
            one must endure much sorrow, sickness, and anger? - cf. Pro
            15:16-17; 17:1

   B. THE PREACHER'S OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING RICHES...
      1. It is good to enjoy the good of one's labor - 5:18
      2. But it is God who give one the power to truly enjoy them 
         - 5:19-20
      3. A sad situation is where God gives one the ability to acquire
         riches, but not enjoy them! - 6:1-2
      4. It matters little if one lives long and has a hundred 
         children...
         a. Unless one is able to be satisfied (a gift which God 
            gives), he is worse off than a still-born child! - 6:3-5
         b. Even if he lives two thousand years! - 6:6
      5. Riches in of themselves cannot satisfy the soul - 6:7-9
         a. His body might be filled, but that is not what fills the
            soul
         b. It is better to be content with what you see, than to 
            wander after for what you desire
      6. Riches really can't change things - 6:10-11
         a. He is still "man", and cannot contend with God
         b. They are not the things that truly make man better, they
             only increase vanity
      7. The answers to life's questions can't be found in striving for
         riches - 6:12

CONCLUSION

1. In asking questions like...
   a. "For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his
      vain life which he passes like a shadow?" - 6:12a
   b. "Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun?" 
      - 6:12b
   ...the Preacher illustrates the vanity of looking to riches for the
   answers

2. Indeed, the answers are to be found by turning to God, not riches;
   which is why...
   a. One needs to be careful in their worship of God!
   b. We should draw near to hear what God has revealed through His 
      Word!

It is particularly through "The Word" (Jesus, Jn 1:1) that we learn the
ultimate answers to the questions that challenged the Preacher.  For
Jesus has "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel." (2Ti 1:10).

Ecclesiastes tells us that the answers to life are not found in the 
things of this life.  Are we willing to therefore heed Him who is the
Creator of life and is the light of men? - Jn 1:2-4