Historical Posts
Final Words
Take to heart the final words of Paul.
Several years ago a young lady tried to cross a water covered road in her automobile and was swept away. As the force of the water carried her car further and further down stream, she reached for her cell phone and called her husband to express her love for him and the children one last time. Shortly thereafter she was dead. When I heard that story my heart ached. How sad, and yet, how wonderful! Her final words were of love and devotion for those dearest to her.
It is generally believed that Paul’s second letter to Timothy was the last from his pen, his final words, and probably written sometime in A.D. 66-67 from a prison cell in Rome. From the language it is clear that Paul believed death was near. Though we cannot be certain, it appears that Paul was released from his first Roman imprisonment (Acts 28), made his way to Spain (Romans 15:24, 28), returned to Rome, where he was arrested a second time, and ultimately executed.
His final words are words of warning and of hope. Here is what he wrote. “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to be, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:1-8 NASB).
Paul gave Timothy a solemn charge to live with a view to judgment and to faithfully preach the word. With his final words he offered a sober warning about the dangers of false teachers and urged Timothy to stand fast. And, he wrote of a secure future in the face of death, not only for himself, but for all God’s children. We would all do well to take to heart his final words.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Chasing The Wind
Does life have meaning? Can we find hope and happiness? Are we just chasing the wind?
The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the most interesting in the Old Testament.
Some think it offers a somewhat skeptical and pessimistic view of life, but, in fact, it gives a poignant refutation of materialism.
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Wealth, wisdom, power, pleasure and fame are all fleeting. Solomon, generally thought to be the author, observed: “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11).
Ecclesiastes offers the attitude of one looking at life from a purely materialistic point of view.
It portrays the hopelessness of those who trust in wealth, power, pleasure and knowledge. They are chasing the wind. Experience teaches that rich or poor, wise or foolish, great or small, all must die. That being true, Solomon lamented: “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 2:17-18).
Maybe you’ve felt the same sense of futility the author of Ecclesiastes experienced.
If you have, don’t despair! There is hope. Having tried it all, Solomon concluded that man’s whole duty was “to fear God and keep his commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Wisdom, knowledge and happiness come to those who put Him first, but to those who don’t life remains meaningless, an exercise of chasing the wind (Ecclesiastes 2:25-26). A man may chase the wind, but he will never capture it.
Is there meaning to life? Is there hope? Can man find happiness?
Yes! But not in material pursuits! There is no lasting satisfaction or joy in a life apart from God. The struggle is futile until He comes into the picture. You may be rich, powerful and famous, but if you leave God out of your life it will all have been for nothing. You will have spent your life chasing the wind!
Would you like to experience the joy and peace of being in Christ?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Where Is Your Faith?
Where is your faith when you face the storms of life and your world comes crashing down?
“…as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy” (Luke 8:23).
Sudden storms on the Sea of Galilee were not uncommon. The disciples knew the fury of the sea. At least four had made their living as fishermen. As they crossed the lake a placid calm settled over the water. Jesus slept. Suddenly, terror struck as a fierce storm swept over them. It must have appeared that shipwreck was imminent. They rushed to Jesus, who was still asleep, crying, “Master, master, we perish!” Jesus stood, spoke, and there was calm. Then he turned his attention to the twelve and asked, “Where is your faith?” In the anxiety of the moment they had forgotten who Jesus was. He had cleansed a leper, healed a soldier’s servant, and raised a widow’s son. The storm was no threat to him.
Illness, an accident, the death of a loved one, and our world comes crashing down around us. Fear sweeps the soul. Our ship is about to sink! But, there is no need for fear. Where is your faith? Jesus still calms the storms of life. He reassures, “Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1).
The hope and confidence that Christ gives to our lives is illustrated in the beautiful Psalm 23. David wrote, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Faith overcomes fear. It was a lesson the disciples had forgotten on the sea that day. They let their fear overcome their faith. But, there is nothing to fear when Jesus walks at our side. Is He your Lord and Savior? Where is your faith?
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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A Salute to Graduates
Graduation time is a very important milestone in a young person’s life. Our congratulations to each of our graduates on this milestone in their lives. On the one hand, it spells the end of many long, arduous years of study. But, on the other hand, it marks the beginning of a new phase of life. Our graduates begin a new journey into adulthood with all its incumbent responsibilities. Because of the importance of the occasion, it seems appropriate to offer some suggestions.
First, it is important to dream. We all need a vision for life, but remember, dreams don’t always come true. Be realistic. If things don’t go exactly as you plan, make the most of what does come along. Life is uncertain, but that is not cause for despair. It is cause for trust (James 4:13-16).
Second, take responsibility for your life. Life is what we make of it. Success depends, not on luck, but on hard work. Determine what you want to do with your life, and then give it your best shot. Don’t let others discourage you. And, don’t interpret a momentary loss as permanent defeat. It often takes a lifetime to reach our destination. Stay on the right road. Keep moving forward (Philippians 3:13-16).
Third, whatever you do, give it your best shot. Anything worth doing is worth doing right. Commit to excellence. Be the best you can be. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).
Fourth, put others first. The key to a meaningful and happy life is found in service. The real joys in life come from giving, not getting (Acts 20:35).
Fifth, develop character. Society cries out for men and women of character. Let honesty, integrity and truth guide your steps. A wise teacher use to tell her students on examination day, “I’m giving you two tests today, one in trigonometry and one in honesty. If you can pass only one, make sure it is the test in honesty. There are a lot of good men who know no trigonometry, but there are no good men who are not honest.” Be honest in all you do (Romans 12:17).
Finally, make a place for God in your life. When life ends, and it does for all of us, there will be no consolation in the successes of this life, if God has been left out. Neither money, power, nor fame can provide peace when the end is near. Only a personal relationship with God through Christ can make that possible (Acts 4:12).
Again, congratulations!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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The Righteous Suffer Too!
If bad things only happened to bad people, suffering would not pose so great a dilemma for us. But, we all know that bad things happen to good people. Theologians and philosophers have wrestled with this issue for centuries. The example of Job from the Old Testament is a classic one. This man was among the finest men of his day, yet trouble filled his life. He lost his family, then his wealth, and finally his health. The only thing he didn’t lose was his faith. We can’t afford to forget his example. He showed us how to conduct ourselves in the face of suffering.
I am sure that some who are reading this today are carrying heavy loads. You may feel a close affinity with Job. And, you may be asking, “How can I go on? Why has God let this happen to me?” The questions are understandable. The answers are elusive. Let me make a few suggestions.
We should not expect good fortune to be with us all the time. Ours is not only a world of beautiful stars and lovely sunsets, of lush valleys and fertile plains, but also a world of tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and forest fires. The good, the bad, and the ugly are all a part of life. It is unreasonable to expect our lives to be filled with only the good and the beautiful. The devil will not allow that to happen.
Life isn’t fair, and there is nothing that says that it is. Some people have more than their share of heartache while others seem to go through life almost unscathed. We don’t know why one airplane crashes and a thousand others fly trouble free. We can’t explain why a tornado levels one town while a hundred others are untouched, or why one person has multiple medical problems and another seems never to have a cold. Again, life isn’t fair.
I don’t have answers to all the questions. I wish I did. But, I do know this. God will not give us more than we can handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). Some of the most important lessons of life are learned in the face of adversity. Good things can come from bad experiences (Romans 8:28).
It is the adversity we encounter here that makes us long for heaven. If there were no burdens to bear, if there were no obstacles to hurdle, if there were no crosses to carry, I suspect heaven would not hold the attraction it does to the believer. God does have something better prepared for us.
It was with that thought in mind that Paul wrote: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory… For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 4:17; 5:1). It is that knowledge which gives us the courage and faith to continue on. The burdens of this life may be great, but the rewards of faithfulness are eternal.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Sorrow Turned to Joy
It was a cold slab of granite.
The name and date carved into the hard surface were beginning to fade. The years had taken their toll on the monument, and on the elderly woman who stood before it. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she remembered. Years earlier she had stood on the same spot as her only child had been laid to rest. Time had not lessened the loss. He was gone. She could not bring him back. She stood there thinking of what might have been.
God also lost a Son.
He was placed in the heart of the earth, buried in a borrowed tomb. But, the grave could not hold Him. Her spirits lifted. The grave would not hold her son either. They would meet again. God had given them fifteen joyous years before the accident. Now, by the grace of God, she looked beyond this life and her sorrow turned to joy as she contemplated what was yet to be.
Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).
Do you have the hope of heaven?
Can you see beyond this vale of tears to the sunshine of God’s eternal city where all tears will be wiped away? Through Him we can live forever!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Hereafter – audio
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“The Hereafter”
Do you believe in the ‘hereafter?’ One lady does. Every time she goes into the kitchen, she wonders what she’s here after! In fact, we all need to believe in it.
The wise man wrote, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off (Proverbs 23:17-18).” The NKJV uses the word ‘hereafter,’ where the RV and ASV use ‘reward.’ The ESV says ‘future,’ and the KJV ‘end.’
There are three important things to remember regarding the hereafter as the wise man says.
1. Do not let your heart envy sinners.
Do we tend to lose our focus on what God gives us, and turn our attention to the things others have?
Sometimes they obtain it by unethical and ungodly means. The Psalmist wrote, “Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 37:1-3).
The wise man also explained, “Do not be envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them; for their heart devises violence, and their lips talk of troublemaking. Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked; for there will be no prospect for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out (Proverbs 24:1-2,19-20).”
2. Be zealous for the LORD.
Since we know there is a hereafter, we should be preparing ourselves for what is to come. The wise man later wrote, “Happy is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity (Proverbs 28:14).”
3. Your hope will not be cut off.
Recently we studied about the hope that we have through Christ, and now we are assured of them by God’s plans. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).”
To have a hope of peace, we must do God’s will. The Psalmist also wrote, “Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace (Psalm 37:37).”
Because we are assured of a hereafter, we do not need to pattern our lives after sinners. Instead, we need to have a zeal for the LORD so our hope will not be cut off. A wonderful example of one who has learned how to do this is found in Psalm 73:1-28.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Colossians 1:3-6 – Hope Laid Up In Heaven – audio
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Text: Colossians 1:3-6
Introduction
A Christian has something to look forward to that anyone living as the world does not. If we remain faithful till death, we will receive a crown of life (Revelation 2:10). Paul commended the Colossians for their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for all saints (Colossians 1:4).
If there was no life after death, nothing would be lost. However, if there is life after death, then there is everything to gain. That is what we hope for!
Body
I. Christ has begotten us to a living hope.
Peter tells Christians exactly where that hope comes from: the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-4).
Because of what God’s only begotten Son did for us, we can inherit an eternal reservation in heaven by being His faithful children too.
II. Christ is getting our reservations ready in heaven.
Jesus had to go to heaven first (after his death, burial, and resurrection) so we can go after our death (unless the Lord returns first). Simon Peter did not understand this as Jesus explained that He was going somewhere we could not follow immediately (John 13:33,36; John 14:1-6).
Once there, Christ is getting ready for us.
III. We have the hope through the word of truth of the gospel.
Paul preached the gospel of Christ to give everyone the hope of salvation, for the power is in the gospel (Romans 1:13-16).
The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ that gives us hope to live again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
That gospel will be preached throughout the entire world to give hope to every individual (Matthew 24:14; 28:19; Mark 16:15; Romans 10:18).
Thus, the gospel is bringing forth fruit (Colossians 1:6; John 15:16) as Christ intended.
IV. There is only one hope, and it comes from obeying one gospel.
Paul taught the Galatians about that one gospel (Galatians 1:6-9), and the Ephesians about the one hope (Ephesians 4:4-6).
Timothy learned about that one hope that comes through that one gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 1:8-10).
Conclusion
We should strive to realize that hope! We should live every day as faithful to the Lord as we can so that we can enter into heaven (2 Peter 1:10-11).
When people see how we live, they will ask us about it. We must always be ready to give them a reason of the hope that is within us with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15).
Hopefully we can do that now.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Hebrews 06:17-20 Hope: The Anchor of the Soul – audio
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Text: Hebrews 6:17-20
Introduction
A. Hope is a much misunderstood topic today
B. Heavenly hope is lost in today’s mindset of materialism and sensualism – 1 Timothy 6:9-11
C. Even religious people have given it up for a hope of living on this earth with only 144,000 living in heaven – Revelation 7:4
D. The one hope is lost in unjustifiable confusion – Ephesians 4:4
E. Both the Old and the New Testaments give us the message of a heavenly hope for all who will obey
1. David had hope Psalm 119:81, 114, 116; 146:5
2. We are to rejoice in hope – Romans 5:2
Body
I. LET US NOTICE HOW HOPE IS USED IN THE BIBLE
A. People use it improperly:
1. People talk about hope as if it is something that is past: “I hope I got all the answers right on the test”
2. Or as if it is current: “I hope I am making the right decision”
B. How does the Bible use the word?
1. The Bible uses the word hope looking forward to the future, expectation – Romans 8:24
2. The Bible uses the word hope in the sense of trust – Philippians 2:23
C. We need to use Hope as it is used in the Bible
II. LET US NOTICE WHERE HOPE IS NOT FOUND
A Our hope is not found in Islam
1. The Quran does not have Jesus as God’s Son “The Jews say, ‘Ezar is the son of Allah, and the Christians say.” The Messiah is the Son of Allah. That is their saying from their mouth; they but imitate the saying of those who disbelieve (Before them): May Allah destroy them: how they are deluded?” Sura ix,30)
2. The Ethiopian Eunuch could not be baptized until he believed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God – Acts 8:37
B. Our hope is not found in Premillenialism
1. In Premillenialism the only hope that any of us have (Other than the 144,000) is to live on a rejuvenated earth – 2 Peter 3:10-11
2. Both Peter and Paul wrote of an incorruptible crown of righteousness in the life after this one – 2 Timothy 4:8
C. Any doctrine that goes in opposition to the Bible does not give hope and we cannot trust it – 2 John 1:9-11
III. LET US NOTICE WHERE HOPE IS CENTERED
A. Christ is both Priest and King – Zechariah 6:12-13
1. God speaks to us by his Son, so he is also a prophet – Hebrews 1:1-2
2. He is a Priest after the order of Melchisedec – Hebrews 5:10
3. He is a King – Revelation 19:16
B. Hope is emphasized in Hebrews for the following reasons:
1. For the same reason that Christ was emphasized, to stop their rapid exit from Christianity back into Judaism – Galatians 5:4
2. To let the Jews know that Christ was the center of hope, not Mosaic law – Hebrews 10:1-4
Conclusion
A. How the Bible Uses Hope
B. Where Hope Is Not Found
C. Where Hope Is Centered
D. May we always have true hope in Christ Jesus our Lord!!!
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 Peter 01:01-13 Fortifying the Focus of our Hope – audio
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Text: 1 Peter 1:1-13 (Reading by Andy Anderson)
Introduction
1. Up to this point in his epistle, Peter has summarized some of the blessings enjoyed by God’s pilgrims
a. Their election, sanctification, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus – 1 Peter 1:2
b. Their rebirth to a living hope – 1 Peter 1:3
c. Their incorruptible inheritance, reserved in heaven – 1 Peter 1:4
d. Their being kept by the power of God through faith for the salvation to come – 1 Peter 1:5
e. Their great joy, which is inexpressible and full of glory – 1 Peter 1:6-9
f. The honor of having been served by a distinguished group of individuals – 1 Peter 1:10-12
2. Starting with 1 Peter 1:13, we find a series of exhortations
a. These exhortations are based upon the wonderful blessings listed previously
b. These exhortations are found throughout much of the rest of the epistle
3. The first exhortation relates to the hope that we have as Christians – 1 Peter 1:13
a. In which we are charged to rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
b. Put another way, we are being charged to fortify the focus of our hope
Body
I. OUR DUTY TO FORTIFY THE FOCUS OF OUR HOPE
A. THAT IS THE PRIMARY EXHORTATION IN THIS PASSAGE
1. The words rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you is the main point of 1 Peter 1:13
2. The other exhortations which precede it are subsidiary and will be considered later
B. WHAT DOES IT MEANS TO REST YOUR HOPE FULLY?
1. It means to set your hope perfectly, unchangeably, without doubt and despondency
2. As the NASV puts it: fix your hope completely on the grace
3. Therefore Peter is exhorting us to make our hope one that is complete, strong, and not wavering
C. THE CULTIVATION OF A STRONG HOPE IS THEREFORE A CHRISTIAN DUTY
1. We have a duty to develop and fortify our hope
2. Just as we need to cultivate patience, self-control, etc, so we need to cultivate our hope
3. For without a hope that is strong
a. Our faith may waver
b. We are subject to fear, doubt, and depression
4. Yes, the cultivation (Or fortification) of our hope is essential to living joyful and victorious lives as Christians!
II. IDENTIFYING THE FOCUS OF OUR HOPE
A. AS DEFINED IN VERSE 13, OUR HOPE IS
1. The grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ
2. The unmerited favor that we will receive when Jesus comes again!
B. AS ALLUDED TO IN THE PRECEDING TWELVE VERSES, OUR HOPE IS:
1. The inheritance…reserved in heaven for you – 1 Peter 1:4
2. The salvation ready to be revealed in the last time – 1 Peter 1:5
3. The praise, honor, and glory we shall receive at the revelation of Jesus Christ – 1 Peter 1:7
4. The end of your faith–the salvation of your souls – 1 Peter 1:9
C. IN VIEW OF ALL THESE VERSES, THE FOCUS OF OUR HOPE IS TO BE:
1. The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the wonderful grace He will bring!
2. The wonderful praise, honor, and glory we shall receive when He comes!
3. The complete and final salvation of our souls from sin and its effects!
4. The receiving of our wonderful inheritance, the heavenly city, which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away!
III. WHAT IS NECESSARY TO FORTIFY THE FOCUS OUR HOPE
A. GIRD UP THE LOINS OF YOUR MIND
1. Gird up is an oriental expression
a. It refers to the act of gathering up around the waist the long, loose robes worn by those in the east
b. Such gathering up was necessary or one’s progress in running or some other act of exertion would be impeded
2. With the use of this metaphor, Peter is saying
a. We must put out of the mind all things that would impede the free action of the mind in connection with developing our hope – Romans 12:2
b. We must put out of the mind such things like worry, fear, or obsession with material possessions – Proverbs 23:7
3. In other words, remove anything and everything that is not conducive to having a strong hope in the coming of our Lord – Philippians 4:8
a. Such as carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life – Luke 21:34-35
b. Such things as these choke us and hinder our ability to bear fruit (Such as the fruit of a strong hope) – Luke 8:14
B. BE SOBER
1. The word sober means to be calm and collected in spirit
2. It is that state of mind in which the individual is self- controlled, able to see things without the distortion caused by worry or fear
3. To fortify the focus of our hope requires a CALM and SERIOUS attention to the task at hand – Luke 21:36
4. We cannot cultivate and fortify a strong hope if we are so weak-minded that we allow things to divert us away from our true calling!
Conclusion
1. And what is our calling? To travel this life as pilgrims, but with a hope that is resting fully upon the grace we will receive when Christ comes again!
2. The problem with many Christians today is NOT that they have no hope
a. But that their hope is weak and shallow
b. And that is because they are preoccupied with the affairs of this temporary life
3. To remain faithful to the Lord, we need to heed Peter’s exhortation to fortify the focus of our hope by:
a. Freeing our minds of those things which would hinder us
b. Being more serious about the kind of lives our Heavenly Father would have us live – Luke 12:35-40
4. Our next lesson will elaborate upon how God would have us live; but for now, are we living for God at all?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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What Can We Do? (Part 2)
(return to part 1)
The question really is, “How do we stem the tide of falling interest and declining numbers?”
The last decade saw the rise of the mega church movement. Some churches now boast Sunday morning attendance figures in the thousands. How are they doing it?
John F. MacArthur, Jr. has written an excellent book that really speaks to our question. The title is: Ashamed of the Gospel (When The Church Becomes Like The World). Obviously, I would not endorse everything in his book, but there is much of value in it. On its pages the author decries the trend toward pragmatism. That means that churches should pay far less attention to doctrine, and far more attention to what people want.
MacArthur writes: “Traditional methodology–most notably preaching–is being discarded or downplayed in favor of newer means, such as drama, dance, comedy, variety, side-show histrionics, pop-psychology, and other entertainment forms. The new methods supposedly are more “effective”–that is, they draw a bigger crowd. And since for many the chief criterion for gauging the success of a church has become attendance figures, whatever pulls in the most people is accepted without critical analysis as good. That is pragmatism” (pg. xiii).
Clearly affluence, numbers, money, or positive responses have never been the biblical measure of success in ministry. If these things were what was really important some of God’s greatest servants, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, would be judged abject failures, but God certainly did not see it that way.
Paul wrote to Timothy: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
As MacArthur correctly points out in his book, Timothy was commanded:
1) to be faithful in his preaching of biblical truth;
2) to be bold in exposing and refuting error;
3) to be an example of godliness to the flock;
4) to be diligent and work hard in the ministry;
5) to be willing to suffer hardship and persecution in his service for the Lord (pg. 27).
Dale Jenkins said it quite well in a recent chapel talk at Freed-Hardeman. We advertise “the get without the give, the gain without the pain.” Real discipleship demands real sacrifice. We will never be the people God calls His church to be until we are more interested in how much we can give, and not how much we can get. Faithful Christians will not demand “serve us”, but they will consecrate their lives to service. We still believe in the sovereignty of God, the power of the gospel, the authority of Scripture, and the salvation (not entertainment) of souls.
–Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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1 Peter 1:3-5 Living Hope – audio
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Text: 1 Peter 1:3-5
Introduction
1. In our study of Peter’s epistle so far, we have noticed
a. That as far as the world is concerned, Christians are but pilgrims
b. But as far as God is concerned, we are His elect
2. As the elect (Chosen) of God, we are the recipients of many blessings that God offers to all who will obey and follow Christ
a. One of these blessings is described in 1 Peter 1:3-5
b. There we learn that God has caused us to be born again unto a living hope
3. An understanding of this living hope can help Christians who are pilgrims be more joyful during their sojourn in this life
4. Therefore, in this lesson we shall examine what Peter says about the Christian hope that makes it a living hope
Body
I. BECAUSE GOD IS MERCIFUL!
A. THE BASIS FOR OUR HOPE LIES NOT IN OUR OWN PERFECTION OR RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. It is a good thing that it does not, for all are sinners in God’s sight – Romans 3:23
2. Even as Christians we find ourselves guilty before God – 1 John 1:8, 10
B. THE BASIS FOR OUR HOPE LIES IN THE ABUNDANCE OF GOD’S MERCY
1. Mercy bestowed while we were yet sinners – Romans 5:6, 8
2. Mercy bestowed upon the conditions of faith, repentance, and baptism – Acts 2:36-38
3. Mercy bestowed continually upon Christians as they repent of and confess their sins – 1 John 1:9
II. BECAUSE JESUS IS ALIVE!
A. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS CRUCIAL TO OUR HOPE
1. If Christ is not risen, then the apostles were liars, and our faith is vain! – 1 Corinthians 15:14-15
2. If Christ is not risen, we are still held guilty for our sins, no forgiveness has occurred – 1 Corinthians 15:17
3. If Christ is not risen, those who have died as Christians have perished, they are lost – 1 Corinthians 15:18
4. If Christ has not risen, then we do not have a living hope, instead we are to be pitied by others! – 1 Corinthians 15:19
B. BUT THROUGH JESUS’ RESURRECTION, WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN TO A LIVING HOPE
1. Peter may have reference not just to the process of conversion, but to the renewed hope produced by the resurrection of Jesus
a. After Jesus’ death and prior to His resurrection, the disciples were despondent
b. But after the resurrection of Jesus, His disciples were born again in regards to their hope
2. Surely the fact that Jesus did rise gives us reason for a living hope
a. God would not raise a liar, so anything Jesus said about our hope is true – John 11:25
b. Since Jesus rose from the dead, we have a firm hope that we too will one day rise from the dead – 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
c. By the abundant mercy of God, and upon the basis of Jesus’ own resurrection, then, we have been born again to a living hope!
III. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR INHERITANCE!
A. THE DEGREE OF HOPE WE HAVE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE INHERITANCE WE HAVE
1. If our inheritance is a good one, our hope is strong, or living
2. If our inheritance is a poor one, then our hope is weak, or dead
B. AS DESCRIBED BY PETER, OUR INHERITANCE
1. IS INCORRUPTIBLE
a. The Greek word means not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable
b. Unlike this present heavens and earth in which now live, and which will one day be destroyed – 2 Peter 3:10-13
2. IS UNDEFILED
a. The Greek word means not defiled, unsoiled
b. It is unlike the earthly Canaan, which could be and was defiled by its inhabitants
c. Our hope pertains to that where the defiled are not allowed to enter – Revelation 21:27
3. DOES NOT FADE AWAY
a. The Greek word means unfading, perennial
b. Such is our heavenly reward: it will not rust, fade, or wither like so many things do here on earth
4. IT IS RESERVED IN HEAVEN
a. The word means to watch, to observe, to guard, protect, to reserve, set aside
b. Therefore, our inheritance is safely guarded in heaven itself!
c. No one, not even Satan himself, can steal it from you!
C. Since this is the nature of our inheritance upon which our hope rests, we can see why our hope is described as a living hope.
IV. BECAUSE WE ARE SAFELY GUARDED!
A. CHRISTIANS ARE KEPT FOR THE SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME
1. The word kept is a military term
2. It means to guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight
3. While our inheritance is being kept guarded in heaven under the watchful eye of God, we are being garrisoned about by God’s protecting care for it.
B. NOTE THAT BEING KEPT INVOLVES TWO THINGS
1. First, THE POWER OF GOD!
a. We have the help of God Himself, who knows how to help those in temptation
b. He knows how to deliver them out of temptation – 2 Peter 2:9
c. He knows how to enable them to bear with the temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13
d. He supplies the armor necessary to withstand in the evil day – Ephesians 6:10-13
2. Also, OUR FAITH!
a. To be safely guarded by God’s protective care requires faith on our part
b. The only way we can ever lose our inheritance reserved in heaven is to become unfaithful to the Lord! – Revelation 2:10
c. While the Bible teaches the security of the believer
1) It also teaches that a believer can become an unbeliever – Hebrews 3:12-13
2) And it teaches that unbelievers have no hope – Hebrews 3:14-4:3
d. As long as we remain faithful, then, we have the assurance of God’s protective care to guide us until we receive that inheritance reserved in heaven for us!
Conclusion
1. In this passage (1 Peter 1:3-5), then, are four reasons why the hope of the Christian is called a living hope:
a. Because God is merciful!
b. Because Jesus is alive!
c. Because of the nature of our inheritance!
d. Because we are safely guarded!
2. A living hope can be a source of great joy in the lives of Christians; it certainly was to the original recipients of Peter’s epistle: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials. – 1 Peter 1:6
3. Do you have this living hope?
a. You do if you have received God’s mercy offered in Christ, and are remaining faithful to the Lord
b. If you have not received this mercy, or have neglected it through unfaithfulness, why not come to the Lord according to His conditions found in His Holy Word? – Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:9
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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The World Our Children Will Inherit
When my wife and I adopted our son, I experienced the same epiphany that hits most first-time dads. I thought about all the trials and tribulations that I experienced in growing up. I thought about the fads and trends I had seen come and go in the world. I remembered how my parents had worried about how morality had declined in society; how music, movies and television were influencing the next generation. I realized that they were right. Morality had declined and was declining still. Music, movies, television and now the Internet were exerting a profound influence upon the next generation. I wondered what the world would be like, when my son was old enough to be as worried as I was.
Seventeen years later, I was reminded of that epiphany, as I watched the unfolding results of the recent election cycle. I was surprised, as one commentator observed, that in spite of the billions of dollars that had been spent in campaigning, we ended up with essentially the same government we had before the election. But I was not nearly as perturbed about that as I was about some of the other news I heard on election day.
First of all, the voters of the states of Maine and Maryland approved ballot issues that would pave the way for them to join Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, as states in which homosexuals may legally be joined together in marriage. What is remarkable about this news is that it was the first time that such a measure had ever been approved by a popular vote of the citizens of any state. States that already had such laws on the books had them because of legislators and judges who enacted them in spite of the will of the majority. The approval of these ballot issues has emboldened homosexual advocacy groups, which are now more resolved than ever to bring their quest to every state in the union.
In the second place, voters in Colorado and Washington approved ballot measures, which pave the way for the legalized regulation of the sale of marijuana for the recreational use of adults over 21 years of age. These laws still have many legal hurdles to clear, but with the federal judiciary becoming more liberal every year, supporters of this movement are confident that a legitimate marijuana industry shall one day “grow” and flourish in the United States. These two bits of election day news are what concern me the most.
It seems that the world my generation is going to leave behind is one in which the sin of homosexuality is going to be granted a special status. The stigma that once was attached to homosexual behavior no longer exists. The same is also true of heterosexuals who commit adultery and fornication. How long will it be, until society no longer frowns upon incest and pedophilia? Many question why Christians are opposed to homosexuals being granted the legal right to marry each other. The answer is that God created marriage and defined it as being a relationship between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:21-24). Jesus affirmed this definition, in Matthew 19:4-6, “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Marriage is an institution that is created and defined by God. Even if every state in the union legalizes homosexual marriage, God will never recognize it!
Also, it seems that the world my generation is going to leave behind is one in which dangerous drugs like marijuana will be sold alongside equally dangerous drugs like alcohol and tobacco. In the ancient world, alcohol was the only such drug that was in widespread use, and the Bible has many negative things to say about it. In Ephesians 5:18, the Scripture warns Christians against allowing themselves to be overcome by the excesses of this dangerous drug. In Romans 6:12 and 1 Corinthians 6:12, Christians are forbidden from allowing themselves to become addicted to sinful behavior, even if it is legal behavior. Even if laws are enacted to regulate the sale of opium and cocaine to the masses, it will never be something that God approves!
The world is a dangerous place for Christians. We are constantly being bombarded by influences, which are designed to tempt us to compromise our faith, in order to slake our lust. My generation grew up in a gauntlet of evil influence and temptation. My son’s generation has had to deal with the proliferation of evil influence and temptation, which have come at him in ways that were unimaginable to me. The expansion of evil influence and temptation that is on the horizon is terrifying to me. But my faith in God comforts me.
I am confident that Christians will be able to meet the challenges that lie ahead. In order to do so, we must strengthen our own personal faith and commitment to serve the cause of Christ. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Furthermore, we must educate the next generation about the dangers that lie ahead of them. “Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We must set a good example and use our influence to persuade others to follow the same path we are following. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Whenever the opportunity arises, we must raise our voices in protest against ungodliness in our society and we must go to the polls and vote in defense of a Biblical worldview.
The situation may seem hopeless, but the future is always full of hope, because it has the potential to be whatever we make of it. Let us apply ourselves to making the future the very best that it has the potential to be. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
Content by Russell Kline
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What Can We Do? (Part 1)
I have been blessed to be a part of this church (Sixth and Washington Street Church of Christ) for more than a quarter of a century. You have treated me and my family with love, respect, and the financial support that has made it possible for me to work in full-time ministry. For that I will be eternally grateful.
Throughout the years you have permitted me to be away a few weeks each year to conduct gospel meetings. My first year here I had ten meetings scheduled, and honored those commitments, but since then I have tried to limit that number to no more than four or five a year. Those times away afford not only opportunities for me to reach others with the gospel, but also provide time for me to write, to plan the sermons for the coming year, and to do some reading that I often don’t find the time to do when I am home. Because of your understanding and generosity I have had the opportunity to impact many more souls for Christ.
Almost everywhere I go these days, with rare exception, numbers are declining. I am asked repeatedly, “What can we do?” This is not a problem unique to us. Churches up and down the valley and beyond are experiencing the same thing. And, it is not just our fellowship. Rolls are declining among most religious bodies.
Now, according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, one in five adults have no religious affiliation. “The number of Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a rapid pace. One-fifth of the U.S. public – and a third of adults under 30 – are religiously unaffiliated today, the highest percentages ever in Pew Research Center polling.”
“Further, in the last five years alone, the unaffiliated have increased from just over 15% to just under 20% of all U.S. adults. Their ranks now include more than 13 million self-described atheists and agnostics (nearly 6% of the U.S. public), as well as nearly 33 million people who say they have no particular religious affiliation (14%).”
The world has changed dramatically from the 1950’s and early 1960’s when we were the fastest growing religious group in America. And even when we look back to that period in our history, though we were statistically the fastest growing church in America, other religious movements were also experiencing significant numerical growth. Today that is no longer the case.
Now, even among congregations where numbers are increasing, with rare exceptions, we are not seeing growth, but swelling (this is the phenomenon where people leave one congregation for another). Growth is not the result of souls being added to the kingdom, but the result of people switching churches. And, yes, there can be times when that is the right thing to do.
The situation is certainly not hopeless. We do, however, need a more realistic view of the world and what we are facing. There is a certain element of society that will never find the gospel appealing (1 Corinthians 1:26). And the masses will not choose to “walk the strait and narrow” (Matthew 7:13-14). But there are still honest hearts among us, and we must continue to sow the seed (Luke 8:11). If we plant and water, God will give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). We cannot surrender simply because the battle is difficult (2 Timothy 2:3).
–Roger
(continue to part 2)
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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No Cancellations
“And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
Approximately every twenty-two seconds someone in this country dies. In the time it will take you to read this brief article more than two hundred deaths will have occurred worldwide.
Death is one appointment we will all keep. There will be no cancellations.
We are going to die, and it could happen at any time. It could be soon, or it could be years from now, but one thing is sure, there will be no escape. Yet, most of us live as though death only happens to others.
Death is not just a possibility, it is a certainty.
Our preparation for it should be of the highest priority. As a matter of fact, there isn’t anything more important than our preparation for death. There is a sense in which we cannot really live and enjoy life until we are ready to die.
What the skeptics believe
However, the skeptics would have us believe that this life is all there is. Their philosophy of “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die” is followed by millions. They bow at the altar of evolution and worship the gods of humanism and modernism. They would have us believe that this is it. “You only live once, so you better grab all the gusto you can get!” Those who subscribe to this philosophy live for themselves and die without hope.
Jesus Christ came to offer something better.
He came that “we might have life” and that we “might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). He came to show us the way to God (John 14:6). He came to tell us that there is life after life, that God’s gift is eternal life through Him (Romans 6:23). He offers salvation to all them that obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). He gives us a reason to live, and hope in death. With Paul, we can say, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
Are you ready to die?
Death is certain, but so is eternal life for all who are prepared. Study God’s word! Believe it! Obey it! Live it! Death has no hold on those who are ready to die.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Hope – audio
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As Christians, for what do we hope?
Salvation
1 Thessalonians 5:8; Titus 3:7
Jesus’ Return
Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:2‐3
Resurrection
Acts 23:6
Door
Hosea 2:15; Joshua 6:20; Joshua 7:2-9; Joshua 7:10-11; Joshua 7:25-27; Joshua 8:24; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:13
Anchor
Hebrews 6:18-19; 1 John 3:2-3; Colossians 1:3-5; Titus 2:11-13; 2 Corinthians 3:12
Helmet
1 Thessalonians 5:8; Romans 8:23-25
As Christians, our hope is in Christ
1 Timothy 1:1; 1 Peter 1:3
Without Christ, there is no hope
Ephesians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13
Delivered on: July 29, 2012. Streetsboro.
Content by Ralph Price
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Comfort One Another With These Words
Comfort One Another With These Words – 1 Thessalonians 3:18
What hope is there for us, when last day comes?
People who don’t have a proper relationship with the Lord dread the coming of the end of the world, and rightfully so. But, those who are faithful members of the Lord’s church ought not to be afraid of the second coming of Christ. For them, the end of the world will mean the end of suffering and the beginning of eternal joy (Revelation 21: 1-4).
Our only hope is to obey gospel plan of salvation.
The Bible does warn that the outlook is grim for those who are not prepared to meet the Lord, on judgment day. In 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and 9, the Bible warns us that, when Jesus returns, He shall come “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.” People who know nothing about God, as well as people who know Him but will not obey Him shall be irretrievably lost on the day of judgment. Their only hope—our only hope—is to obey gospel plan of salvation, as it is revealed in God’s Holy Word.
Begin by opening up the Bible.
The process begins, when we open up our Bibles and read for ourselves what God’s will is for all of us (Romans 10:17). If we believe what we read, then faith will take root and grow in our hearts (Hebrews 11: 6). When our faith is strong enough, it will motivate us to repent of our sins (Luke 13: 3-5). Then we shall have the incentive we need to confess our faith in Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:32-33) and be baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38). At that point, the Lord shall add us to His church, and we shall be saved from our sins (Acts 2:47).
The judgment of our Lord ought to be comforting to every member of the family of God.
Once we have obeyed the gospel, we shall not have to be afraid of the judgment of our Lord. As long as we are faithful to Him, we may look forward to the end of the world, as a day when we shall finally be united with the One whom we adore. According to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, the idea of resurrection from the dead and the judgment of our Lord ought to be a comforting thought to every member of the family of God.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first – 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16
Content by Russell Kline
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What Then…
The day of the Lord will come like a thief
Peter wrote: “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Peter 3:8-10).
Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842-1933), commenting on the words of Peter, observed: “With God one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day, which is to say that there is no calendar and no timepiece in the divine experience, no aging, no getting away from the beginning, nor approaching toward the end.” We, however, are time bound creatures. We are born. We age. We die. It is unavoidable, inescapable, absolutely certain. The time of our death is unknown, but the reality of it is undeniable (Hebrews 9:27).
Yes, God is eternal, but we are not
He has always been, and He will always be. We, on the other hand, are different. We had a beginning. We were born into this world, and we will someday be taken out of it. Yet, we are destined for an eternity of our choice. God’s desire is our salvation. He longs for us to be with Him, but He will not force Himself upon us. He yearns for all men to come to a knowledge of the truth that they might be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). The depth of His desire is demonstrated in the sacrifice of His Son (John 3:16).
Life is all about choosing
No clear thinking man would choose to be lost eternally, but we operate under the false premise that we will always have tomorrow to prepare. If the Bible teaches one thing with absolute certainty about life, it is the uncertainty of it all. Yesterday is gone forever, tomorrow may never come, today is all we have. If we fail to use it, we may never get another chance.
When it’s over, what then?
When it’s over, and that day is coming for all of us, what awaits on the other side. For Christians there is nothing frightening, foreboding, or final about the grave. “For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1). Do you have that hope, and if not, would you like to have it? Remember, the clock is ticking, time is running out, eternity is just around the corner. What then?
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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On Mother’s Passing
Sometime ago I read Roland H. Bainton’s book, Here I Stand, A Life of Martin Luther. In it Bainton recorded the following regarding Luther’s daughter Magdalena.
When Magdalena was fourteen years old, she lay upon her deathbed. Luther prayed, “Oh God, I love her so, but thy will be done.” And turning to her, “Magdalenchen, my little girl, you would like to stay with your father here and you would be glad to go to your Father in heaven?”
And she said, “Yes, dear father, as God wills.”
And Luther reproached himself because God had blessed him as no bishop had been blessed in a thousand years, and yet he could not find it in his heart to give God thanks. Katie (Luther’s wife) stood off, overcome by grief; and Luther held the child in his arms as she passed on. When she was laid away, he said, “Du liebes Lenichen, you will rise and shine like the stars and the sun. How strange it is to know that she is at peace and all is well, and yet to be so sorrowful!”
I have conducted hundreds of funerals, been at the bedside of many a dying person, and often sought to comfort grieving families. I’ve felt the pangs of sorrow as others wept for a loved one called home all too soon. But nothing has affected me like the passing of my own mother. Mom had a long and good life. She and dad were married for more than 62 years. Until the onset of Alzheimer’s, she had been blessed with good health. In recent months the effects of the disease had become more pronounced. Still, she was at worship and Bible study each week, and though she slept a lot, was happy in her waking hours. Dad, my brother, and especially my two sisters, were attentive to her every need. The past year had been notably difficult for them, but they made certain that mom’s every need was met.
As a family we were exceedingly blessed. It could have been so much worse. Now she is gone. The struggles are over. Her mind is clear again. As I have often said to others, for Christians death is not frightening, foreboding, or final. I know that to be true of mom. Yet, there is a sense of sadness at her passing which I have never experienced before. I find Luther’s words to be expressive of the sentiments of my own heart: “How strange it is to know that she is at peace and all is well, and yet to be so sorrowful.”
To each of you who called, sent a card, came to the funeral home, or kept us in your prayers, I extend our deepest appreciation. Mom left us with the greatest gift a mother can give her family, the knowledge that she died in the Lord.
When our time to go the way of all earth arrives, I pray those who are left behind will find the same comfort which we now find in Christ. Yes, we sorrow, but not as others which have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
–Roger
OCTOBER 30, 2011
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Trust in the Lord
Trust involves confidence and reliance
The motto on our money reads: “In God We Trust,” but do we? Trust involves confidence and reliance. Quite honestly, for many, the motto would be more accurate if it read, “In Thee (money) We Trust.”
Materialism is a roadblock
Materialism has been and continues to be one of the greatest roadblocks to spiritual growth and maturity. Jesus had more to say regarding this sin than any other. In the Sermon on the Mount He said: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:19-21, 24).
The love of money
The apostle Paul offered a similar warning: “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:6-10). Money is not inherently evil, but the love of money is!
Set your hopes on God
The apostle went on to say: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Money is not the true measure of a man
It never has been, and it never will be. Thus, Jesus warned: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).
Men are fallible, not always dependable
Men also have a tendency to place their confidence in other men, only to be greatly disappointed. Because men are fallible, they are not always dependable. God, on the other hand, will never let us down. This led the Psalmist to observe: “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in men. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes” (Psalm 118:8-9).
Trust Him
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7). We must put our trust in HIM, and HE will never let us down!
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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