True Success—Ecclesiastes 2; 12; 1 Timothy 6

How do you measure success? Houses? Cars? Influence? Power? A full bank account? Normally mankind judges success by what brings pleasure. We buy stuff because we think it will make us happy and make us look better to others around us.

Solomon was king of Israel during one of it’s richest periods in history. He was also the wisest man who lived. According to man’s criteria, Solomon should have considered himself über-successful. During his life, he discarded his relationship with God to serve other gods and find “real pleasure.”

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?” -Ecclesiastes 2:1-2

What was his opinion of the pleasures that should have declared his success? Folly and madness. His reasoning was simple yet profound. All the pleasures and the work required to obtain them amounted to nothing because the stuff did not last.

When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge and skill, then he gives his legacy to one who has not labored with them. This too is vanity and a great evil. For what does a man get in all his labor and in his striving with which he labors under the sun? Because all his days his task is painful and grievous; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is vanity.

-Ecclesiastes 2:21-23

As we have seen on Sunday mornings, the Israelites rightly believed that true wisdom came from God with the ultimate goal of a right relationship with Him. Outside of a relationship with God, success and contentment in life is akin to taming the wind, pointless and impossible. Solomon appears to finally remember this.

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

-Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

True success is rooted in the Creator. This fact has not changed in the near 3,000 years since Solomon ran his famous test. The reason is the same as well. Enduring success will stand after our physical lives are over. The only success that lasts is our relationship with our Creator because it will last eternally. The Apostle Paul reiterated godly success when he wrote to Timothy.

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. -1 Timothy 6:6-8

Everything else is merely trying to tame the wind. 

Confrontations for Unity and Purity—Matthew 5 and 18

Relationships matter to God. Our relationships with one another effect not only our relationship with but also our worship of our Creator. Unity and purity must be preserved and unreconciled differences and sin are a ticking time bomb.

Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. -Matthew 5:23-24

In context, being angry with your brother can have both legal and eternal consequences. Jesus urges His hearers to fix the issues before they are beyond repair. Later in Matthew, He gives this command specifically regarding sin with a two-fold aim: unity and purity.

If your brother sins [against you], go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. -Matthew 18:15-17

The offense is not allowed to go ignored if it is garnering hurt feelings or ill-will especially if sin is the issue.  The goal of the sought after reconciliation is unity within the Body. After all, contention has the potential to breed further widespread discord which can splinter groups into factions. Jesus’ process for preservation begins with a 1-on-1 confrontation in private. There is no need to air dirty laundry. Only after the offender refuses to listen are others brought in for aid beginning with only 1 or 2 then finally escalating to the church’s intercession. If the person is unwilling to respond to all of these attempts, they simply do not want to be reconciled.

However unity is not the only goal Jesus has in mind. The other aim, and possibly the primary one, concerns the purity of the Body of Christ. If a person witnesses someone sinning and says nothing, they are condoning the sin. This will eventually infect the church. We see an example of this in 1 Corinthians 5. The whole Corinthian church seemed to know about the man’s inappropriate relationship with his father’s wife. Yet Paul indicated that none of them did anything about this sin. Paul asks them, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?” (5:6)

Jesus deals with two types of confrontation-your brother having something against you and witnessing your brother sinning-the basis of both is love. We want reconciliation and unity with our fellow Christians because we love God’s Family. We want purity within every Christian’s life because we love them. Therefore we want our brother or sister to stop sinning so they will be pleasing to God.

Unity and purity are extremely important. The way we treat one another matters. Unreconciled differences and especially sin cannot be allowed to get in the way. The price Jesus paid was too steep to permit the church to splinter because of unchecked dissension.

Wisdom Shown in Behavior—James 1 & 3

Wisdom and its rewards are invaluable. Solomon makes this clear in the first three chapters of Proverbs. How do we get the wisdom we need? How do we know when we have become wiser? James addresses these questions.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. -James 1:2-8

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Wisdom is seen in how a person handles difficult times. Our struggles in faith produces the endurance to keep pushing through, much like a runner’s training increases his ability to go further distances without tiring. A person does not successfully run a marathon without building up good endurance. James mentions God being the source for any wisdom lacking to deal with difficult times. The caveat is the person asking must believe that God can give them what they need—the wisdom to handle whatever circumstances come their way properly. How do we know when God has granted us this great blessing?

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. -James 3:13-16

This section of James’ letter is sandwiched between a section on controlling the tongue (3:1-12) and one about quarrels stemming from greed (4:1-12). A runner that is gasping for breath is a runner whose conditioning is not where it should be. Likewise jealousy, arrogance and selfish ambition show a lack of training in godly wisdom.

According to James, wisdom (or it’s lack) is shown by the fruit produced in someone’s life. True wisdom comes from God, not man. A person of true wisdom shows God’s transforming fingerprints all over the,. As we ask, believing, we will see noticeable changes in our behaviors.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

-James 3:17-18

By asking for and receiving wisdom, we become what He wants us to be—wise like Christ.  

Caring for Family—1 Timothy 5 and Matthew 5

One of my clearest memories from childhood is watching my dad take care of my maternal grandparents. He would come home from a long day’s work and then help them with whatever they needed. When my grandpa died, dad stepped up his efforts even more and I also moved into the back room of my grandma’s trailer. I do not recall if this move was his idea or mine. I just did it because it seemed the right thing to do.

Honor widows who are widows indeed; but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God. -1 Timothy 5:3-4

Consciously or unconsciously, my dad was teaching me godliness. She was not even his mother, but she was part of the family. His tireless effort for my grandma until the day she died modeled the type of widow’s care Paul insisted on within the church. For a believer not to do such things would be unthinkable.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

-1 Timothy 5:8

Paul was definitely not being PC here with this comparison between believers and unbelievers! Insiders should be better morally than outsiders. Insiders are held to a higher standard because they belong to God. Jesus made a similar statement in the Sermon on the Mount.

You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. -Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus called His listeners to be different than the Gentiles, to be better. God’s people are called to a higher standard than the “outsiders.” The “outsiders” love their friends. There is nothing special or challenging about this. Followers are instructed to do the hard thing, love their enemies. Failure to do so is only living up to the standard of a Gentile…unthinkable! In 1 Timothy 5, Paul implies that caring for family, like loving our friends, is just something you do. Even those outside the church do that! Failure to do so would be unthinkable! Paul said a person who refuses to care for their family has “denied or rejected the faith.” In other words, an unbeliever is more acceptable to God than them!

Memorizing scripture is important. Learning to pray is important. However, learning to serve is equally necessary. As we raise our kids, let us set the right example for them concerning both their physical and spiritual families. Taking care of our own is one of the best lessons we can provide in how to be like Jesus.

Witnesses—Hebrews 12 and 1 Corinthians 4

Today (9/20/15) would have been my grandma’s 90th birthday. It is also my 27th spiritual birthday. When I looked at the calendar, I got to thinking. We all stand on the shoulders of those that came before us. We owe our faith to faithful men and women past and present. Hebrews 11 recognizes a few amazingly faithful Old Testament saints.  In the next chapter, the Hebrews writer encourages their readers with these words.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

-Hebrews 12:1-3

While these men and women were physically dead, they were still spiritually alive and encouraging the readers to keep running the race of faith. These serve as proof of God’s guidance and faithfulness. They illustrate how God accomplished His Will, blessing them through their obedience and perseverance. This “roll call of faith” was not the only source of encouragement for these 1st century Christians.

For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. -1 Corinthians 4:15-17

These ancient Christians had many teachers of the word, including Paul who exhorts them to follow his example. Questions could be written to Paul or asked of Timothy.  Along with the written word of God, modern Christians still have godly teachers in the church and hopefully in their families.The goal of the teachers and writers is simple: a race won!

For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. -2 Timothy 1:5

Hopefully our natural family is pulling for us to remain faithful to our Lord and Savior. Church a and families should serve the same purpose—encouraging us to keep going, helping us to fight off sin in our lives, and setting a Christ-like example. If we have both our natural and spiritual families aiding in this endeavor, we are doubly blessed.

Witnesses have always surrounded God’s people, encouraging them to continue in the faith. These people have set and continue to set a godly example for us to follow. Whether it was the saints of the Old Testament, the apostles, our own teachers, or our family and friends one goal remains…finish the race together.

Set an Example—1 Timothy 4

Timothy was a young evangelist given the daunting oversight of the growth and development of the Ephesian church. Though we are not told how young he was, Paul does recognize the fact that Timothy has some age-related challenges ahead and offers some invaluable mentoring. Paul’s advice is applicable both to him and the young people today.

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you. -1 Timothy 4:12-16

Paul tells his young coworker to set an example in “speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.” In other words, every aspect of his life. By doing this, those older critics would have little to criticize. Timothy would also gain their respect for his Christ-like manner. Today’s critics are silenced the same way. This can only be done by young Christians guarding their lives in every aspect so that Christ is clearly seen.

According to 1 Timothy 4:1-3,  the error being taught in Ephesus concerns Paul. He instructs his charge not to neglect reading the Scripture publicly. Turning directly to God’s Word eliminates much of the doubt about a speaker’s accuracy. It is hard to argue against a command of God when it is read directly from His word. Likewise, our younger Christians need to base their opinions and any teaching on God’s truths. The only way to do that is to stay in God’s Word daily.

Paul also tells Timothy to monitor himself. Likewise, young people must monitor their own lives. Learning God’s Word, obeying God’s Commands, eliminating sin, and growing up in the faith-Paul indicates by doing these, young Christians will stay on the narrow way as well as help others find it.

These words Paul writes to Timothy are valuable for Christians of all ages. While we can look at someone and guess at their physical age, it is impossible to tell how old they are spiritually merely by looking. It is dangerous to grant spiritual respect simply due to gray hair. Young people are not the only ones needing to focus on God’s Word. Everyone must go to God’s Word and accurately use it to teach and mentor. Examining ourselves is not something we only do when we are young.  Satan is sneaky and relentless. No matter our age, physically or spiritually, we must be seeking to grow in the “grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Learning God’s Word. Obeying God’s Commands. Eliminating sin. Growing up in the faith.