A Simple Comparison

HATING LIFE

Ecclesiastes 2:17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit

According to Ecclesiastes 2:17, Solomon was a man who hated life.   Which is an amazing thing when you consider the fact that Solomon had everything that people think will make their lives wonderful.  He had wealth; he had wisdom; he had women.  He had power; he had fortune; he had fame.  He had peace; he had comfort; he had success.  Solomon had more than we could ever dream of having.  He built more than we could ever dream of building.  He accomplished more than we could ever hope to accomplish. 

But it left him empty.  He said it was vanity.  He hated life. 

If any of us had the chance to trade places with Solomon – to have all that he had; to experience all that he’d experienced; to know all that he knew – we’d jump at the chance.  But if you’re saved and love the Lord and obey the scripture, then Solomon would jump at the chance to trade places with you!

Why?  As good and as perfect and as attractive as his life might seem to the modern American, he hated it.  He was angry, miserable, depressed. 

But if you’re saved, love God, and obey the scripture, here’s what the Bible says about you…

LOVING LIFE

1 Peter 3:10-11 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 

Is God always right?  Is the Bible completely true?  Is there anything in God’s word that’s a lie?  Does God know what He’s talking about?  If we really believe those things, then it could not get any more clear:

If you want to end up hating life, then go after everything you come across that you think might make you happy.  And if you want to love life, then make your life about loving God and serving God and pleasing God and ministering to others. 

It’s as simple as that…if you believe the Bible.  We all just have to come to the point where we really believe that it’s true.  Enough to go ahead and try it out.  Hope that you will.

Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

The Wise Man's Eyes

The past two weeks were spent taking our annual boys’ and girls’ trips (which I’m now using as my excuse for the lack of posts).  We had a great time spending 3 days with each group over on the west coast of Florida.  Our days were full of activity, enjoying God’s creation and enjoying one another’s company.  At the end of the day we would gather as a group to talk about the day, lay out our plans for the next day, and spend some time in the Bible. 

These devotions were profitable times, so I wanted to pass along some notes on the things we discussed.

This first word of instruction was actually given to the guys before we even got started with our first activity of the trip – collecting shark’s teeth at Venice Beach, the shark tooth capital of the world.  (Which was great, except for the fact that we decided to store our finds in an empty, plastic water bottle.  It is not hard to imagine what happened to that bottle before the end of the trip.)

Though the spot where we were on Venice Beach was nice and fairly secluded, we do live in modern-day America.  In Florida, no less.  So regardless of whether we go to Venice Beach or any beach (or the “coast” for all us Independent Baptists), just going out in any public place requires an ability to deal with seeing things that we’d be better off not seeing.  

The scripture says in Lamentations 3:51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.  And in Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

We have to be careful about what we allow to enter into our eyes, because it is impossible to keep what enters into our eyes from affecting our hearts, and it is impossible to keep what enters our hearts from affecting the very issues of our lives.  (Think hard on that before you take your next dose of Hollywood.  Learn to practice some remote CONTROL.)

This battle is one that is faced by the entire fallen human race, but it seems to be a difficult and important battle for the male gender in particular.  So here are two ways from the Bible that I gave to our young men on how to deal with living in a society that would fill our eyes and seek to fill our hearts with things that shouldn’t be there. 

1.  LEARN TO CONTROL WHAT YOU LOOK AT

Sometimes you can't help what you see.  But you can always help what you look at.  A young man who wants to guard his heart and keep his thoughts pure must learn to choose not look at some things that he sees. 

The Bible says we live in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (Philippians 2:15).  There are certain things we can avoid (insert long list here), but there are certain things we can’t.  A person can’t drive down the highway without seeing things you shouldn’t see.  A person can’t go through a check-out line at the grocery store without seeing plenty he’d be better off not seeing. 

But a person can choose to divert his gaze.  A young man can choose to focus his attention elsewhere.  A young man must learn not to look at the things that he sees.

The Bible puts it this way in Ecclesiastes 2:14 The wise man's eyes are in his head...

Remember David?  And the sin he committed with Bathsheeba?  Adultery? That led to murder?  There is a very definite progression in the events of 2 Samuel 11.  

David’s first problem was that he wasn't where he was supposed to be or doing what he was supposed to be doing (v. 1).  Instead, he was at home at his palace, walking on the roof of his house, and there he saw a woman washing herself (v. 2).  Maybe Bathsheeba shouldn't have been washing herself where she was washing herself.  Maybe David shouldn't have been walking where he was walking.  The Bible’s not totally clear on that.  But whoever's fault it was, David saw this beautiful woman.  

But the story did not have to go on.  David could have stopped this whole thing right then and there.  He could have turned away.  He could have simply walked back inside. 

But that's not what he did.  The Bible says that he found Bathsheeba very beautiful to "look upon" (v. 2).  Seeing and looking are two different things.  David saw.  Then he decided to look at what he saw.  And before he took her (v. 4), the Bible says that he enquired after her (v. 3).  Which leads us to our next point…

2.  LEARN TO CONTROL WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT

A young man’s attempts to stay his mind on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, or good report, worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8) will be fought and opposed by the world, the flesh, and the devil every step of the way. 

We live in a dirty world.  We’re encumbered by this sinful flesh (Romans 7:18) and these hearts that are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).  

Even if it were possible to keep ourselves from every influence that would defile (impossible and outside the will of God – John 17:15; 1 Corinthians 5:10), we would still have to learn to do as scripture says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

David didn’t have to look at what he saw.  And he didn’t have to dwell on the wicked plan immediately devised by his wicked heart. 

At times, you might not be able to control what thoughts somehow enter your mind.  But you can always choose what you do with those thoughts.  Temptation cannot always be avoided.  But thoughts can always be controlled.  The flesh can always be refused.

The battle of temptation is fought and won in the mind.  That’s why it’s so important to fill your heart with the word of God and fill your home with the songs of God and fill your mouth with the praise of God (Psalm 119:11; Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19).  So when the moment of temptation comes, you’re better able to immediately divert your thoughts to what is good and what is right.  

Beholding Vanity

Have I ever mentioned that Psalm 119 is one of my favorite chapters (yes and yes)?  For any who might not be aware, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible.  Its theme?  The importance of the word of God.  Of its 176 verses, all but 2 make specific reference to God’s word, law, commandments, statutes, judgments, etc. 

Last time through, I noticed one of those verses that I just didn’t remember being there the last 25+ times I read it (only the Bible).  The Holy Spirit used the verse to point out an important truth to me and has been “bringing it to my remembrance” ever since (John 14:26).

The verse is Psalm 119:37.  Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

When I read that, my mind goes immediately to another important verse -- Psalm 101:3.  I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

But Psalm 119:37 takes Psalm 101:3 a step further.  It moves past removing from our vision that which is WICKED and challenges us to go ahead and get rid of that which is VAIN. 

My family does not own a TV.  There are a number of reasons for that.  In no particular order, (1) We can think of some much better ways to spend $100 a month than sending it to the cable company.  (2) Most -- as in as close to all as you can get without being all -- of the “programming” (think about that word) is WICKED and unfit to watch.  (3) It’s bad for kids’ brains.  (My wife can supply the details on that one.)  (4) Even if there were a few shows a week that we didn’t think fell under the condemnation of Psalm 101:3, we really couldn’t afford to waste the time it would take to watch them (Psalm 119:37).

I’m not saying that makes us more spiritual.  That’s just what we have chosen to do (or not do).  But in this modern age of technology, who needs a TV.  We have computers.  We have internet access.  Here’s where the Holy Spirit took a scalpel labeled Psalm 119:37 and did a little Hebrews 4:12 “piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and…discern[ing] of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

I may not waste my time and money on TV, but it’s not an infrequent occurrence for me to be studying my Bible or preparing a lesson or just trying to get something productive done when, for no apparent reason, I’m all of a sudden tempted to check the headlines…or check the scores…or check the weather…or read that email that just came in…or see who that text message was from…or (fill in the blank). 

It’s not that there’s anything necessarily wrong with those things.  It’s just that oftentimes, there’s not a lot of substance to them (VANITY).  In Psalm 119:37, David prayed what I have come to recognize as a very good, very needful prayer.  Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity…

Think about it.  How much time do you spend on Facebook?  Compare that to how much time you spend in God’s book.  Could you not be doing more of what’s needful if you weren’t so occupied with what often amounts to vanity?

How many tweets have you sent into the tweetosphere this week?  And how many prayers have you sent up to God’s throne this week?  Would the time spent doing one not have been more wisely invested doing the other? 

How many games do you need on your phone?  How many times do you have to win a game of solitaire in order to feel successful?  How many verses did you memorize last month?  What sins in your life have you waged war against in the recent future?

Do you really need to check the weather…7 times a day?  (Walking to the mailbox and taking a look at the clouds might be a better alternative.)  

Will the outcome of the game be any different because you watched the play-by-play tracker?  

What difference will it really make whether or not you’re up with what’s going on in the news?  (You might find yourself a bit less depressed on the blissfully unaware side of things.) 

Back to the TV thing.  Those hours you spent watching TV last month (try counting them) -- what did you get out of them?  Anything that brought you closer to the Lord?  Anything that strengthened your family?  Anything that made your life better in any way?  

So you got a bit of rest and relaxation.  Nobody can blame you for that.  But there are some other options on the far less wicked (Psalm 101:3) and vain (Psalm 119:37) side of things. 

I’m just saying that with a Bible to learn and a God to serve and family to raise and a church to build up and a world that’s lost and dying and going to hell, we’d do well to spend less of our time beholding vanity.  That is, if you want to press toward the mark (Philippians 3:14) and follow hard after God (Psalm 63:8). 

The verse was a help to me.  Hope it will be a blessing and help to you both now and in the days to come.

On Offending Others

In reading through the book of Matthew, there’s a certain word I keep noticing – “offended.” Offend, 7 times; offended, 8 times; offence, twice; offences, twice.  That’s 19 total mentions of the word.  And that’s more to cover than one post will allow for, but I would like to show you one comparison that I found instructive.

In Matthew 15, the scribes and Pharisees approach Jesus and ask him why his disciples transgress the tradition of the elders by eating with unwashen hands (vv. 1-2).  Jesus responds by asking, “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition” (v. 3).  He enlarges on that statement and gives some examples of how they do so in verses 4-11.  His language is strong and direct.  The point He makes is crystal clear.

In verse 12, “Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were OFFENDED, after they heard this saying?” 

Verses 13-14, “But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”

Basically, Jesus responded by saying that He was unconcerned about whether or not His WORDS offended the Pharisees.  Truth is truth.  And the truth must be spoken – in love (Ephesians 4:15).  But Jesus did not care who the TRUTH offended.

Fast-forward to Matthew 17.  Here some tax collectors approach Peter and ask him whether or not Jesus pays his taxes (v.24).  Peter answers in the affirmative.  When he gets to the house where Jesus is, Jesus “prevents” him – He brings it up first (v. 25).  How did he know about the conversation Peter had with those that receive the tribute money?  He was God, of course.  (Great proof for the Deity of Christ.) 

According to verse 26, it was Jesus’ political opinion that He did not owe any taxes.  Then why did he have Peter take the coin out of the fish’s mouth to pay both His and Peter’s tribute?  Jesus gives the answer in verse 27, “Notwithstanding, lest we should OFFEND them…”

So Jesus was unconcerned that His WORDS offended the Pharisees.  But He was concerned about His LIFE offending the tax collectors.  Jesus did not care who the TRUTH offended.  But He certainly cared who His TESTIMONY offended. 

The application for us?  I think that far too often we’re too careful about saying some things that need to be said because we’re afraid somebody might be offended.  And I think that far too often we’re not careful enough about doing some things that we do or don’t do, unmindful of others who will be offended (hurt) by our actions (see Matthew 16:23; 18:6). 

Let’s speak the truth, regardless of who might take offence.  And let’s live in such a way as to “give none offence” (1 Corinthians 10:32).  Amen.

Listen to a sermon entitled "The Danger of Disobedience" and learn what happened to a man who failed to obey God’s word because he was afraid of somebody getting hurt (1 Kings 20).

Some Gardeners God Noticed

Speaking of passages in the Bible that our feeble minds often can’t seem to grasp the reason for, what about that first section of 1 Chronicles?  About ten solid chapters of nothing more than names you and I can’t pronounce.  So and so was the son of so and so who was the son of so and so who was the son of so and so – and so on and so forth.  Really, there’s not much else.  Just a bunch of begats.  Hardly any comments on who the people were or what they did.  Not much of any explanation on why the names are there.

Again, please don’t take this wrong.  I’m not saying it’s not important.  I’m not saying it shouldn’t be in the Bible.  I’m not saying there’s no reason for it.  I’m just saying it’s usually hard for us to understand why God included it in scripture and/or to appreciate it like we should.

There are a couple of high points in chapter 4.  The most well-known is the prayer of a man named Jabez in verse 10: “Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!”  Seems that more people latch on to the enlarging my coasts part than the keep me from evil part, but at any rate, “God granted him that which he requested.”  And that’s a blessing.

There’s another little note inserted into the seemingly endless list of names a little later on in the chapter, and it caught my attention this last time through.  In 1 Chronicles 4:23 the Bible says, “These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.”

As bewildering as it is sometimes to try to figure out why God put all those names in the Bible, it’s equally, or perhaps more amazing that He decided to include this note – basically, “These guys were the king’s gardeners.”  When I read that, I’m tempted to think, “Yeah…great.  But so what?  What’s the big deal about planting plants and trimming bushes?  What’s so spiritual about landscaping?” 

Obviously, something about what these guys did got God’s attention.  Enough so that He decided to write it down in His Bible and have it on record for all eternity. 

Here’s the application.  There’s a passage in the NT that’s always amazed me.  Colossians 3:23-24 says, “And WHATSOEVER ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”  Did you notice how big that is?  Did you see how broad that is?  How open-ended that is? 

If you’re like me, then you often think that only the “spiritual stuff” counts with God.  But according to 1 Chronicles 4 and Colossians 3, he takes note when a family of gardeners does their gardening for the glory of the God of creation.  Apparently, what you and I do doesn’t have to be “spiritual” for God to notice it.  It doesn’t have to be “spiritual” for God to reward it.  And that’s good. Because, guess what – not all of life is spiritual.

A lot of life is duty.  A lot of life’s little tasks are of the tedious variety.  A lot of life is mundane.  School work.  House work.  Job work.  Laundry.  Meals.  House maintenance.  Vehicle maintenance.  Body maintenance.  Doctor’s visits.  Grocery shopping.  Reports.  Deadlines.  Ugh. 

It’d be great to read, study, preach, pray, sing, worship, witness round the clock.  But unfortunately, that’s just not reality. 

What’s encouraging to me is the fact that if we can learn to go about our normal, everyday lives with the right focus and the right approach and the right purpose – WHATSOEVER ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord (Colossians 3:23)…WHATSOEVER ye do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) – then God will notice that; God will reward us for that; God will get a blessing from that. 

We need to go to church.  We should worship God when we’re there.  We ought to read our Bibles.  We need to spend more time in prayer.  We should all be involved in evangelism and missions.  But let’s be careful not to over-compartmentalize our lives into the “spiritual” side of my life and the part that God doesn’t necessarily care about. 

You have some school work to do?  Do it for the Lord.  You have a test to take?  Take it for the Lord.  You have a house to clean?  Clean it for the Lord.  You have some kids to take care of?  Do it for the Lord.  You have a job to work?  Work it for the Lord.  You have a ministry to fill?  Do it for the Lord.

Name after name after name after name in the book of 1 Chronicles.  In the middle of all that, God decided to write something down about what these people did.  Not because it was spiritual.  Not because it was terribly important.  Not because it was all that impressive.  Must have been something about how they did it.  Must have been something about why they did it. 

What’s on your to-do list today?  Whatever it is, why not do it for the Lord.  Perhaps it will get His attention.  

Not So Vain Repetition

Ever read Numbers 7?  It’s one of those chapters where, whenever I read it, I find myself asking, “I wonder why God chose to put this in the Bible?”  (Not that I think He shouldn’t have; Isaiah 55:8-9.  These feeble minds just can’t help but wonder.) 

Here’s the setting.  Moses has just set up the tabernacle – the place where the nation of Israel will worship God.  The place where they will bring their offerings and their sacrifices to the Lord. 

In Exodus 35, the people made an offering that supplied the materials for the construction of the tabernacle.  In Numbers 7, the prince of each tribe made an offering that supplied the materials for the service of the tabernacle.  Most of the chapter (89 verses long) is simply a listing of the offering brought by the princes.  What’s curious is the fact that each of the 12 princes brought exactly the same offering – and the chapter repeats the details of the offering 12 times. 

Coming to this passage in my Bible reading is like coming to Leviticus 13-14 or that first section of 1 Chronicles.  It makes me feel not-so-spiritual.  I know it’s God word, and I know it’s inspired, and I know it’s profitable, and I don’t skip over it.  It’s just not my favorite part of the Bible to read. 

So I usually have to make an extra effort to try extra hard to find something in the passage and take away some type of application.  Most of the time in Numbers 7 I try to figure out if maybe there’s some small, hidden difference in the offering brought by one of the princes.  (Haven’t found that yet.)

But I did have a thought this last time through.  Here’s the thought: God is very much unlike us; He obviously isn’t bothered by repetition. 

By human nature, we tend to get bored with “the same old thing.”  But I don’t think God does.  He chose to make an everlasting record – no, 12 everlasting records – of the offering brought by the princes of Israel the day the tabernacle was set up. 

What’s the application? Well, in Matthew 6:7, Jesus said, in reference to prayer, “…use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do…”  We tend to come away from that statement with the idea that repetition is bad, but it’s not the repetition that Jesus condemned.  It was the vanity of the repetition; the emptiness of the prayers being prayed.  (Jonathan Edwards said, “Many pray with their lips for that for which their hearts have no desire.”)

The fact that God took note of the offerings of Numbers 7, and chose to put it in the Bible 12 times, must mean that it was pleasing to Him.  Which in turn can only mean that it was the right thing done from the right heart.

What can we take from this?  Perhaps another reminder that we don’t need a new approach to prayer.  We don’t need a new approach to witnessing.  We don’t need a new approach to worship.  We don’t need a new approach to church.  We need the RIGHT approach to all those things.  And it’s OK to stick with “the same old thing” as long as “the same old thing” is the right thing, done from the right heart, for the Lord. 

God doesn’t get tired of hearing us pray the same prayers.  God doesn’t get tired of hearing us sing the same songs of praise.  God doesn’t get tired of watching us witness at the same time, at the same place, to the same people, in the same way. 

In no way am I condemning variety or “change” of any kind.  (One look at the natural creation is enough to convince that our God appreciates variety.)  It’s just clear from Numbers 7 that God is OK with repetition, and it’s clear from Matthew 6 that what He’s ultimately concerned with is the condition of our heart before Him.

How about making this a prayer you continually repeat?  “Lord, help me to do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason, with the right result.  Amen.”

Delighting in God

Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Beautiful statement.  Great promise.  Comforting words.  Frequently referenced.  Unfortunately, the verse is often misinterpreted and misapplied.  What we like to take away from that final portion – he shall give thee the desires of thine heart – is God giving us what we want, based on the condition that we delight ourselves in Him. 

By no means would I say that God doesn’t, at times, give us the things that we desire.  (And I’m sure we’re all thankful for whenever that happens.)  But nor would I say that’s necessarily the meaning of the verse.  Perhaps the promise is actually far better.

Here’s what we can all see and agree on: if I delight myself in the Lord, then He will give me desires.  Beyond that, the wording allows for two possibilities: (1) God will give me what I want (the common view), or (2) God will give me desires; that is, He will give me HIS desires and place those desires in my heart. 

Which is better, Christian friend?  Which more closely fits everything else we know from the Bible?  Obviously the second alternative.  The Bible says that my heart is deceitful and desparately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).  The Bible says I don’t know what I ought to pray for (Romans 8:26).  Sometimes what I want and what I need are two totally different things.  Sometimes what I ask for and what is best for me are two totally different things.

And God knows what we don’t.  I know what I want (most of the time).  God knows what I need (all the time).  So I’m far better off with God putting desires in my heart than God granting the desires that are there. 

But that’s not the purpose of this post.  (We’ve dealt with all that before: click here and here.)  The question I’ve long had is this:

What does it mean to delight in the Lord?  

Understanding what is being promised in Psalm 37:4, how do I go about obtaining it?

Came across a cross-reference recently that I think provides the answer.

Isaiah 58:13-14 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord…

How’s that?  If you want to delight yourself in the Lord, if you want God to put His desires in your heart, these verses lay it out quite simply.  Stop doing your own thing; stop seeking your own pleasure; stop speaking your own words.  In other words,

Romans 12:1-2 …present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God…that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  Isaiah 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself alos in the Lord…  Psalm 37:4 …and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.