How closely must we follow the Bible?

"Details Matter"

Edward Gamson and his companion were relaxing, enjoying their flight from London to Granada, Spain. Their relaxation ended when they noticed on the monitor above that the plane was headed west. To reach Spain from England, one would have to go east.

A check with the flight attendant confirmed their fears: The plane was not headed to Spain. Instead of going to Granada, they were headed to the Caribbean Island of Grenada, due to a ticket agent's spelling error. It's only a letter's difference on paper, but try telling that to the angry travelers from the District of Columbia!

A story on Boston.com on March 29, 2014 tells of a similar situation. A man in Georgia deposited $31,000 into his account. The bank teller credited the amount to another man with the same name. By the time the error was spotted, the other man - a teenager - had withdrawn more than $25,000 of that amount. (We're not sure how that story has unfolded in the time since.)

In each of the above cases, the mistakes were understandable. But in each large consequences followed. In the business world spelling and math are valuable skills.

But with God none of that matters, does it? God is just happy that we occasionally think of Him. He wouldn't get too upset over garbled details - would He?

Nadab and Abihu were priests for the nation of Israel; their father, Aaron, was the high priest who had been appointed by God Himself. In serving at the altar of incense one day, they didn't pay attention to a detail. They "each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane ("unauthorized", ESV) fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord" (Leviticus 10:1,2).

Do details matter with God? Here's what the Lord told Moses after the two priests died: "By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified" (Leviticus 10:3). A casual "Who cares?" attitude should never be brought before the Lord.

Paul gives advice on how to make sure we please God: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). The word for "be diligent" is spoudadzo, a word which means to give it everything one has - our very best effort.

There is nothing more important in life than pleasing the Lord who placed us here. Until we hear differently from Him, we should act as if the details matter.

Timothy D. Hall

What does baptism do?

 The Battle Over Baptism! by Dan Gulley, Smithville, TN

 The religious world is awash in theories about baptism. Its role and place in God's plan for mankind has divided believers for centuries. Some say it is necessary for salvation, but many say it is not. Some say you should baptize babies while others say you should only baptize believers. Some argue baptism is the point where sinners are saved and some claim that baptism is to be administered only after a person is "saved." Some insist baptism can only be by immersion in water, but others aver baptism is a matter of personal choice between immersion, sprinkling, or pouring. And then there are those who teach that baptism must be in the Spirit, not in water. And so the battle over baptism continues.

 There was no battle over baptism among the inspired apostles of Christ. Those men were guided by the God's Holy Spirit of truth to say precisely what Jesus had taught them to say and to teach everything Jesus wanted them to teach (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). Just before ascending to Heaven, Jesus taught them to do this: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15-16; see also Matthew 28:18-20). So what did they teach about baptism? The following sample of passages provides insight: Acts 2:38 - "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" Close study reveals these words were spoken to people who were already believers in Jesus.

Acts 8:12 - After Philip preached the gospel in the city of Samaria we read, "But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized."

Acts 8:35-38 - "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? . . . So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him."

 Acts 18:8 - As the apostle Paul preached at Corinth, "Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized."

Acts 22:16 (see also Acts 9:1-11) - Ananias told the penitent Saul of Tarsus (a.k.a the apostle Paul) who had been fasting and praying for three days, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Debates about baptism continue among believers in Christ, but there is no debate in the Bible. God help His church continue to preach the word and speak the truth in love on this vital Bible doctrine.

"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11a)

How to understand the Bible

THE BIBLE ON ONE PAGE

An overview of the Bible can be summarized on a single page of paper.  Fifteen historical periods make up the Bible.  With a knowledge of these 15 periods a person can turn to any book of the Bible and have a general knowledge of what it is about.  These 15 periods are listed below, along with the approximate dates for the beginning of each period (as best as can be determined, recognizing that different Bible scholars use chronologies that vary slightly).  The scriptures given in ALL CAPITALS provide the continuing story line of the Bible, while the scriptures in lower case cover corollary matters occurring during that period.



1. The Creation & Early Civilization (n. d.)  (GENESIS 1-5)



2. Noah & the Flood (n. d.)  (GENESIS 6-11)



3. Lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, & Job (2165 B.C.) (GENESIS 12-50; Job)



4. Israelites in Egypt & the Wilderness (1876 B.C.)  (EXODUS thru DEUTERONOMY)

         

5. Israelites Enter Canaan (1406 B.C.)  (JOSHUA)



6. Israelites Ruled by Judges (1376 B.C.)  (JUDGES; Ruth; 1 SAMUEL 1-8)



7. Israelites Ruled by Saul, David, & Solomon (1050 B.C.)   (1 SAMUEL 9 – 2 SAMUEL 24; 1 KINGS 1 – 11; 1 Chronicles 1 –  2 Chronicles 9



(The books of Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon belong to Period # 7.)



 8. Israelites Divide into Two Kingdoms (930 B.C.)  (1 KINGS 12  –  2 KINGS 25; 2 Chronicles 10 - 36

    * Israel (10 tribes)—Capital: Samaria

    *Judah (2 tribes)—Capital: Jerusalem



(Elijah and Elisha prophesied during the above period.  The following books of prophecy [in the probable order of the prophets] belong to Period # 8: Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Micah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, Jeremiah's Lamentations.)



9. Israelites in Captivity:  Israel into Assyrian Captivity in 722 B.C.; Judah into Babylonian Captivity beginning in 606 B.C.  (EZEKIEL   and DANIEL)

   

10. Israelites (Judah) Return to Canaan (536 B.C.)  (EZRA, NEHEMIAH, and Esther)

                  

(The following books of prophecy belong to Period # 10: Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.  It is important to note that Old Testament history ends with the career of Nehemiah, and that every book in the Old Testament after the book of Nehemiah can be placed some-where between Genesis and Nehemiah, as we have attempted to do above).



11. The 430 Years Between the Old and New Testaments (434 B.C.)



12. The Earthly Life of Christ (4 B.C.)  (MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, JOHN)



13. Beginning & Growth of the Church (30 A.D.)  (ACTS OF APOSTLES)                                     



14. Christianity Applied: Personally & Congregationally (50 A.D., for the approximate beginning of the writing of the following New Testament books) (ROMANS through JUDE)

         

15. The Ultimate Victory of the Church (90 A.D., for the approximate date for the writing of the following book) (REVELATION)



The earnest student of the Bible should reduce these 15 periods of Bible history to a single page of paper and attach it to the inside of his/her Bible as a quick reference to the Bible's contents.


Hugh Fulford

Judge not, that ye be not judged (Matt. 7:1)

                                                     

 

In our nation’s capital, Washington DC, exists a department known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or simplified to NIST.  Within that organization is the Office of Weights and Measures.  Maintained in that office are the “standards” by which all of our weights and measures are compared so we can know that whatever measure is laid alongside, if it matches up, it’s true and righteous.  If it doesn’t meet the standard by which it’s measured, it’s rejected.  It’s not a true measure.

 

There are, in my humble opinion, many verses in the Bible that are misunderstood or misapplied but none probably more so than the one cited above from Matt. 7:1.   It’s also my opinion that the reason for most of the misunderstood and misapplied passages from the Bible is directly due to a lack of knowledge of that Book which directly relates to a lack of study of it. 

 

This is a major problem in the “religious” world today.  Actually, it’s been a major problem for a few thousand years and I know this because the Prophet Hosea warned the “religious” people of his day about it when he said “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge....(Hos. 4:6).   The word “for” in that warning means “because of.”  It doesn’t appear that things have changed very much since then either.

 

Why I classify this as a “major” problem is simply because a lot of well-meaning yet misinformed “religious” people today will preach something falsely to others that will just breed more ignorance of God’s Word.  Such is the case with the above verse.  They cite that verse to try and tell others that we “can’t be judgmental.”  Or, the Bible says “we’re not to judge others” and base their teaching on that one verse.   Let’s take a few moments here today and dispel that false belief.

 

If one reads Mark 4:24 there is a statement recorded there that says for us to “take heed...what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you.”  What that’s referring to is our standard of measurement.  I’ve observed, and probably you have also, that many people judge the actions (or non-actions) of others by the wrong standards, to wit: themselves.  In other words, they’re using themselves, or maybe even other persons, as the standard of measurement as to what’s right or wrong.  This is not a scriptural standard for comparison for Christians to use.

 

Now I grant you that there are a lot of fine, upstanding and righteous people that we can look towards as role models such as the example set by Paul when he said in 1Cor. 11:1 “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (ESV)   He’s saying that you can follow his example as long as he is following Christ.  So then, who is the real, or ultimate, example Paul’s saying for us to follow?  Jesus Christ.

 

 

Again let me refer you to something said by the apostle Paul that speaks directly to someone “measuring” others or themselves by the wrong standards.  In 2Cor. 10:12 he writes: “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

 

We too have, parabolically-speaking, an office of “weights and measures” located in our Christian “capital”   A “standard” by which we can compare, or judge, ourselves.   Heb. 12:2 reads “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God.”  Our “standard” our “measure” - Jesus in heaven at “the right hand of God.”

 

As to the “measuring” of ourselves in the church, in our Christian duties, we can turn again to some more inspired words of Paul seen in Eph. 4:13: “Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

 

Yes, there are many Christians that we can look to as examples of followers of Christ, but we cannot compare ourselves to them as “standards.”  The only “standard” which a Christian can compare themselves to as a “measuring” device is the one given us in the above verse: “the measure of the fullness of Christ.”

 

You know, it bothers me when I hear someone in the church say that “so and so” is not doing as much as they should be doing.  That’s making a judgment call usually based upon the comparison with the actions (non-actions) of other members.  That is probably true only because that same judgment applies to each and every one of us.  I simply can’t imagine a Christian doing too much “for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”  (Eph. 4:12) 

 

No, when you hear such statements made you can be sure of two things: (1) they are using the wrong “measuring stick” and (2) they probably do not have all the information with which to even make a comparison.  None of us knows what the circumstances are in another person’s life that may determine what they are capable of either doing or not doing.   There is a well-known phrase that applies if I, or anyone else, is guilty of making these uninformed “measurings.”   What we’re doing is “jumping to conclusions.”

 

But, going back and addressing my original point that many misunderstand the meaning of Matt. 7:1, let me emphasize that it does not preclude us from making judgments of other people.  We cannot judge them as God judges them simply because we don’t have that authority.  But, we can judge their actions and thereby know whether we ought to associate with them.  Whether our association would be detrimental to the cause of Christ or not.

 

If we were to believe that Matt. 7:1 is telling us that we are not to “judge others” then why would we read in John 7:24: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”  And, with the thought that whatever “measuring stick” we choose, to us it will be that by which we’ll be “measured.”

 

Ron Covey

The Flim Flam Man Movie

Flim Flam Men
by Tom Wacaster

Hollywood has produced a number of movies that focus on the shenanigans of con artists. One such move was actually titled, "The Flim Flam Man," and starred George C. Scott. Paper Moon was another, but I would caution someone watching this one to obtain a filter device of some kind. One of my favorite, however, was a 1956 production of The Rainmaker (not to be confused with the 1996 movie with the same name with Dustin Hoffman, which I never saw and really have no interest in watching). The 1956 Rainmaker was produced when movies were entertaining, decent, and capable of being watched without a clear-play DVD player, TV-guardian, or other such devices that "filter out" the bad language, sex scenes, and "adult situations." The Rainmaker is a fantasy about a con-man in the mid-west, a snake oil salesmen, going from town to town selling his miracles (whatever you need - tornado protection, drought relief through rain, anything) until he's seen to be the charlatan he is and is run out of town, or arrested. Starbuck (the con-man) eventually meets up with Lizzie (played by Katherine Hepburn) who has dreams of love and marriage but at this stage in her life she has almost given up on that hope. The enduring quality of the movie is its emphasis upon the possibilities for those who have a dream and refuse to allow life's circumstances to quench those dreams. The movie is really a paradox because as the story develops it is actually the con artist who is the hero, and whose flamboyant character eventually leads the heroine to believe in her dreams and, as we are left to believe, to accomplish those dreams. Such, of course, is only "in the movies," and reality is often quite different. Let me explain.

The Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is filled with stories of con-artists, flim-flam characters, and charlatans who prey on the unsuspecting. The serpent was the first, but he certainly was not the last. His deception was carefully planned and craftily carried out. With only one word he changed God's promise to a lie, and the impossible became possible, if only in the mind of the woman: "You shall be as God, knowing good and evil" (Gen. 3:5). But we know from the sacred record that the devil lied; he was the original flim-flam con-artist.

Dathan, Korah and Abiram were con-men who worked together in an attempt to get Israel to turn their backs on Moses (and God), and allow them (Dathan, Korah, and Abiram) to lead Israel back into Egypt where they would find true freedom as servants of Pharaoh. Preying upon the unsuspecting, these three men gained a following who rose up against Moses. Their rebellion was their own demise, and along with the con-artists who sought to seize authority from Moses, were swallowed up by the earth.

The list of Old Testament con-artists would include Nadab and Abihu, Absalom, King Saul, the false prophets of both Israel and Judah. The list seems almost endless. The thing all of these men have in common is their ability to deceive innocent souls into believing their bogus promises; men and woman who were chasing a dream, but looked in all the wrong places. Peter reminds us, " But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction" (2 Peter 2:1). Jesus warned of false teachers (Matt. 7:15) who certainly fit the description of flim-flam men. The bottom line is they are not what they appear to be on the outside. They are "wolves in sheep's clothing." Jude describes them as "hidden rocks in your love feast" and "shepherds that without fear feed themselves" (Jude 12). Like the victims of so many con-artists, those who imbibe the false doctrine from these spiritual flim-flam men will find themselves on the loosing end. When the blind lead the blind, they both fall into the ditch of destruction (Matt. 15:14). Therein is the tragedy. The con-artist will work his deception to rob his victims of their material possessions, the spiritual flim-flam man will rob his victim of something far more valuable-his soul.

Sometime back I came across the following tactics of a con-artist. They are extroverted, talk fast and want to move quickly. They have a lot of charm, magnetism and charisma. They present themselves as heroes with high morals and philosophy. They tend to be great experts on any topic being discussed. They are master wordsmiths, even expert storytellers and poets. They invent bizarre tales, say and do grandiose things and blatantly re-write history. They deliver intriguing and hypnotic monologues that deceive and fool their victims. They can create stories on the spur of the moment that are impossible to confirm or deny. They rely on claims that cannot be proven or validated to create a false sense of authority. They seem to possess a high degree of "spirituality" or "special" knowledge. Finally, they take risks others wouldn't and then use their risk-taking to intimidate and outsmart their victim. Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Mary Baker Eddie all fit into this group, as well as our modern day "tele-evangelists" who prey on the poor, unsuspecting and ignorant souls.

The apostle Paul captured all of these traits in one single passage regarding false teachers: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent" (Roman 16:17-18).

Beloved, do not fall prey to those who rob you of your inheritance. Study God's word, remain vigilant, and beware of spiritual flim flam men.

Free Father's Day Sermons

Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 2:5-12 June 16, 2013

Fathers Leading the Charge:

God's Call for Leadership

I. Introduction

A. The observance of Father's Day dates back to June 10, 1920, when Mrs. Bruce Dodd of Spokane, Washington, suggested to a ministerial association there that a day be set aside to honor the fathers of America. In 1936, a national Father's Day Committee was formed with headquarters in New York City. Both Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon signed proclamations in 1966 and 1974 to establish the third Sunday of June as Father's Day.

B. Thinking about the relationship between a father and son, I am reminded of Harry Chapin's song "Cats in the Cradle" (read the lyrics and see the shift in focus from the father to son).

C. In Deuteronomy 6:1-15, God gives Moses a solemn charge to teach the commandments, statutes, and judgments given to him on Mount Sinai so that future generations ("your son and your grandson") might fear the Lord all the days of their life and that their days may be prolonged. They were to teach them diligently day in and day out wherever they went and whatever they did. Why? You do not forget the Lord who brought them out of Egypt lest you decide to follow the gods of the peoples surrounding you. The Lord is a jealous God and his anger may be kindled against you if you forsake Him and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.

D. Unfortunately, that is what happened after the death of Joshua as recounted in Judges 2:6-15. While the Lord did not wipe them off the face of the earth, His hand was against them for evil, but He raised up judges to bring deliverance from their suffering and distress caused by the oppressive enemies. After the judge died, the people would return to their evil practices and stubborn ways in a more corrupt manner than their fathers. This love/"hate" relationship continues through the book of Judges. Despite Israel's perpetual rebellion against God, He never forsook His covenant with His adopted children that he made with Abraham in the ceremony described in Genesis 15:12-21.

E. In like fashion, Paul expresses his unwavering commitment to the Thessalonians in his ministry among them as a father and mother cares for their children. Based on Paul's example in this passage, God calls fathers to lead the charge in the areas of attitude, character, and reputation for the sake of his children.

II. Body

A. The attitude of devoutness carried the idea of a deep reverence for God based on His presence and His promises which engenders an abiding love for Him as between a parent and child.

Simeon in Luke 2:25-35 is described as a devout and righteous man looking for the consolation of Israel through the promised Messiah as prophesied in the Old Testament Scriptures.

Eli and Samuel are negative reminders that reverence for God is not blindly passed onto the next generation. (see I Samuel 2:12-17; 8:1-5)

God calls on fathers to revere Him first and foremost which provides a solid and firm foundation for all other relationships: especially his wife and children. (cf. I Peter 3:7; Ephesians 6:4)

B. The character of righteousness carried the idea of a never- ending pursuit for the ways of God in all aspects of life which promotes healthy and wholesome behavior.

Lot was characterized as a righteous man who provided hospitality to the Lord's messengers despite the city's insistence to perform lawless deeds with them. His soul was tormented day after day by their immoral, ungodly behavior while living among them. The description of Lot in II Peter 2:7-8 reveals a man deeply troubled and disturbed by rampant sin in society; are we likewise affected by our surroundings?

God calls fathers to pursue, promote, and practice diligently the ways of God before his family each day. I am reminded of the blessed man in Psalm 1 who delights and mediates on God's law day and night. (cf. also Jeremiah 17:7-8)

C. The reputation of blamelessness carries the idea of a baseless accusation brought by opponents in a trial setting. The opposition is unable to prove their case because the evidence shows forth no basis for merit.

Job is described as blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil despite the rationalizations by his friends concerning his suffering. Job was not "perfect" as without sin, but he put his unwavering trust in God for redemption and faithfully lived a God-honoring life in spite of Satan's schemes to deter him from God.

God calls upon fathers to manage their households with godly instruction, discipline, and training so that outsiders will be put to shame. (cf. I Peter 2:11-12; 3:13- 17; Colossians 4:5-6) An elder in God's church must have a good reputation with those outside the church so that he will not fall into reproach and snare of the devil. (cf. Philippians 2:14-18)

III. Conclusion

A. Fathers are a vital asset in God's kingdom to perpetuate, promulgate, and proliferate the seed of God's Word in the world. Fathers can accomplish this mission by being providers and protectors of God's family in a devout, righteous, and blameless manner of attitude and conduct. Satan is out there with his darts and devices to thwart the progress of God's kingdom on earth. He even disguises himself as an angel of light to deceive unsuspecting, undisciplined individuals whose conscience has been dulled and seared to the teaching and discipline of the Lord as described in I Timothy 4:1-5. The nerves of the conscience have been scarred and destroyed so that the pain of sin is no longer felt by the individual (becomes numb to the effects of sin).

B. Paul describes his relationship to the Corinthians in I Corinthians 4:14-21 as their father through the gospel so that they may become imitators of him. Fathers are not to be manipulators, dictators, or intimidators of God's people. (cf. I Thessalonians 2:9-12)

C. Satan's most powerful avenue to harm the church body of God and Jesus Christ is through the family structure. I want to end with Paul's exhortation to all family members in Colossians 3:18-21.

D. If you wish to present your request or need before the church family today, come forward as we stand and sing the invitation song.

--Keith E. Book, Caribou, Maine

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Tim. 6:6)

Many years ago, when Bro. Foy Smith was the preacher here at Highland, he used to present lessons based upon a word found in the Bible.  I liked that method of lesson development then and still do today.  So, having said that, I’m going to use Foy’s method for our lesson today only I’m going to go him one better.  However, instead of looking at one word, I’m going to use two of them for you to consider.

        “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”   (1 Tim. 6:6)

Our first word to be studied today is “contentment.”   In essence, it will also be a lesson on “priorities” which I think will come out as we look at some thoughts on “contentment.”  I’ll start this effort off by opining that not many people today, percentage-wise, are content.  I say that because it seems to me that too many people are overly concerned with the obtaining or amassing of the worlds “goodies” to the extent that, no matter how much they accumulate, they’re not content with what they have.  They’ve gotta have more. 

Here’s where we get into the realm of “priorities.”  If your main goal is the “getting of the goodies,” then your “priorities” are in the wrong place.   Now I want you to know that I’m not the first, or the only one, to have this opinion.  Notice something the apostle Paul said about “priorities”:  “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”  (1Tim. 6:9-10)

What Paul is saying there correlates to an old axiom with which we’re all familiar - “putting the cart before the horse.”  Why I can know that this is what he’s talking about is what he said just previous to his warning seen in the above paragraph.  In verse 6 he wrote:  “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 

The lesson thought is, if we have our “priorities” straight and we’re seeking to be pleasing to God first and material gain somewhere else afterward we’ll find ourselves befitting the words of Heb. 13:5 “But let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, not forsake thee.”  However, that doesn’t preclude the fact that, should we live our lives with the “priority” of worldly gain before “godliness,” we’ll not be “content” and we will have left God.

Not only did God, through the hand of Paul, write profitable things about “contentment” so did the German poet/philosopher Goethe when he penned these words: “There are nine requisites for contented living: HEALTH enough to make work a pleasure; WEALTH enough to support your needs; STRENGTH enough to confess your sins and overcome them; PATIENCE enough to toil until some good is accomplished; CHARITY enough to see some good in your neighbor; LOVE enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others; FAITH enough to make real the things of God; HOPE enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.” I just add my AMEN to that.

 

          “Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.”  (George W. Lyon)

Well, let’s go on to our second study word for today and that will be - “worry.”  When you think about it, isn’t that almost the antithesis of “contentment?”  What a burden “worry” is in our lives.  It can get to be like a “millstone” hanging around our necks, can’t it?   “Worry” can just break us down if we don’t get rid of it.

You know what I see as ironic about “worry?”  That at times we tend to “worry” about things that don’t amount to two hoots and a hollar.   That we “worry” about things that don’t amount to the proverbial “hill of beans.”   I’ve even known people who “worry” because things are going good for them.  It’s like they “worry” about not having something to “worry” about.  Figure that one out!

Do you know what we’re doing when we “worry” about things that we have no business worrying about?  We are just “borrowing trouble” and Jesus warned us not to do this when He told us to “...not be anxious (worry) about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  (Mt. 6:34 ESV) Tomorrow will have its own “worries.”  You don’t have to add them to today’s.

But don’t a lot of us do exactly that?  I mean, we haven’t even gotten through today and we’re already “worrying” about what’s going to happen tomorrow.  A preacher named Robert Jones Burdette once said some words fitting to this thought.  He said: “There are two days in the week about which and upon which I never worry.  Two carefree days, kept sacredly free from fear and apprehension.  One of those days is Yesterday....and the other day I do not worry about is Tomorrow.”

Another thing pertaining to “worry” that bugs me about us “human beans” is that many, many times we “worry” about things over which we have absolutely no control.   Think about it - if it was a situation over which you had control, then do something about it instead of worrying.  Here again, “worrying” about things over which we exercise no control is “borrowing trouble.”

Yes, there are times in life when we need to “worry” about something.  To be concerned about and will no doubt need attention paid to it.  I believe that if we take a moment, step back and really consider the situation and the effect that “worrying” has on us, many times we’ll come to the realization that our “worry” isn’t warranted.  That we’re just “borrowing trouble” and putting a lot of undue stress on ourselves in doing so.

In following the advice of Solomon (Prov. 17:22) I’m going to close with a couple of thoughts on “worry” presented in a “lighter vein.”  One humorist put it this way: “You need to start worrying about your health if you can’t sleep when it’s time to get up.”

Another one said: “We worry about all the people who can’t read or write in the underdeveloped nations, but it’s no comfort to know that the educated people got us into our present mess.”  I’m sorry, but I have to give a loud AMEN to that one too.   For my “real” closing today, let me leave you with some most beautiful and encouraging words from God’s Word. 

   “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  (Jesus to His disciples in John 14:27 ESV)

    “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”   (Phil. 4:6-7 ESV)

Ron Covey