Proverbs 6:6-11 says, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man."
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary comments on this passage, "Diligence in business is every man's wisdom and duty; not so much that he may attain worldly wealth, as that he may not be a burden to others, or a scandal to the church. The ants are more diligent than slothful men. We may learn wisdom from the meanest insects, and be shamed by them. Habits of indolence and indulgence grow upon people. Thus life runs to waste; and poverty, though at first at a distance, gradually draws near, like a traveller; and when it arrives, is like an armed man, too strong to be resisted. All this may be applied to the concerns of our souls. How many love their sleep of sin, and their dreams of worldly happiness! Shall we not seek to awaken such? Shall we not give diligence to secure our own salvation? (Pr 6:12-19)"
This concept of the diligence of the ant came to light, once again, for me yesterday as I was reading this passage in Proverbs 6 (Most days I read the "Proverb of the Day", i.e. December 6th, I read Proverbs 6; Today, December 7th, I read Proverbs 7, etc.). May this little insect, the ant, be a challenge to our hearts - Be diligent in your relationship with the Lord of glory!
Friday, December 7, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
"In His Image" - Reflecting on Authority & Service Principles
There are two specific areas of focus that have helped me in ways that every Christian deals with - AUTHORITY in our lives and SERVICE to others...
My reason for focusing on these is because of the necessary reminder that we must be renewing our mind in Scripture concerning areas that affect our daily lives (& authority & service are ones that we all face daily!). Colossians 3:9-10 says, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."
Let's consider some principles from Scripture in these areas:
Authority...
I Corinthians 11:3, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."
Romans 13:1, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."
Proverbs 4:1, "Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding." (ESV, "Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight."
Ephesians 6:1-3, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
Service...
Galatians 5:13, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
Philippians 2:14, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings." (ESV says, "grumbling or questioning")
Ephesians 6:7, "With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men."
I Thessalonians 5:14, "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." (ESV says, "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.")
II Corinthians 10:5, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (ESV, "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.")
Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
These are several great Scriptural principles to challenge and encourage us in our response to authority in our lives and the ways we serve others. Glorifying God in both of these areas (I Corinthians 10:31) must be the ultimate goal by God's grace and strength (II Corinthians 12:9&10). What is one verse in each area that you can take and apply in your life today? Pray for the Lord to strengthen you by His grace to accomplish what you should in these areas TODAY!
I read a definition of selfishness that I thought was very helpful. Selfishness is "seeking to satisfy myself with the things of this world." Does this describe your life? Are you "selfish" (according to this specific definition of the word) in either areas of authority or service as you evaluate your life (Psalm 139:23-24)? May the Lord be glorified by our evaluating the need for growth and change in these areas by the power He gives us through the Holy Spirit (memorize Scripture!).
One final thought by JI Packer (as noted on the "GirlTalk" blog), "The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob. For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor--spending and being spent--to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others---and not just their own friends--in whatever way there seems need." Have a productive day in the Lord!
My reason for focusing on these is because of the necessary reminder that we must be renewing our mind in Scripture concerning areas that affect our daily lives (& authority & service are ones that we all face daily!). Colossians 3:9-10 says, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."
Let's consider some principles from Scripture in these areas:
Authority...
I Corinthians 11:3, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."
Romans 13:1, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."
Proverbs 4:1, "Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding." (ESV, "Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight."
Ephesians 6:1-3, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."
Service...
Galatians 5:13, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
Philippians 2:14, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings." (ESV says, "grumbling or questioning")
Ephesians 6:7, "With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men."
I Thessalonians 5:14, "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." (ESV says, "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.")
II Corinthians 10:5, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (ESV, "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.")
Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
These are several great Scriptural principles to challenge and encourage us in our response to authority in our lives and the ways we serve others. Glorifying God in both of these areas (I Corinthians 10:31) must be the ultimate goal by God's grace and strength (II Corinthians 12:9&10). What is one verse in each area that you can take and apply in your life today? Pray for the Lord to strengthen you by His grace to accomplish what you should in these areas TODAY!
I read a definition of selfishness that I thought was very helpful. Selfishness is "seeking to satisfy myself with the things of this world." Does this describe your life? Are you "selfish" (according to this specific definition of the word) in either areas of authority or service as you evaluate your life (Psalm 139:23-24)? May the Lord be glorified by our evaluating the need for growth and change in these areas by the power He gives us through the Holy Spirit (memorize Scripture!).
One final thought by JI Packer (as noted on the "GirlTalk" blog), "The Christmas spirit does not shine out in the Christian snob. For the Christmas spirit is the spirit of those who, like their Master, live their whole lives on the principle of making themselves poor--spending and being spent--to enrich their fellow humans, giving time, trouble, care and concern, to do good to others---and not just their own friends--in whatever way there seems need." Have a productive day in the Lord!
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