They were new missionaries – still wrestling with language, culture, missing family and friends, struggling to develop new relationships in a vastly different setting. Their pastor arranged for a live skype chat with the congregation.
During the call the pastor cheerfully asked, “Are you thriving?”
The stumbling response went something like this, “Well, I’m not sure we’re thriving, but . . . er … um … uh . . . we’re doing fine.”
Hmmm. Must be something wrong. He’s not thriving. We know the Bible says: “We were made for so much more than ordinary lives
… more than just survive, we were made to thrive.”Continue reading →
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
_________________
We had a pretty good idea of what the word meant but as we were reading together my wife asked me to define “malice”. I found it hard to give a specific definition and decided to look it up. I was reading 1 Peter 2 and was glad she asked and glad I took time to look it up.
Acts 15:28-29 [the church in Jerusalem is telling the new Gentile converts that they do not have to obey the entire law of Moses but here were some things they should not do.] “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well.
_________________ Wow, it sure was easy to be a Christian back then, wasn’t it? Just four things to avoid and “you will do well”. In 2000 years we have added a lot to that list. But, though these are called “essentials”, Paul later changes some of these requirements based upon the situation. Can something be right for one person but wrong for another person? Are there only two choices? Here is a summary of what the Word says.
Idols really are nothing but wood or stone. But some people who used to worship idols may have a hard time feeling right about eating meat offered to idols. If that is the case, even though there is nothing intrinsically wrong with eating it, it would be wrong for them to violate their conscience. Furthermore, even though I realize there is nothing wrong with eating meat offered to idols, if I am in a situation where it will cause one to stumble or be tempted to violate their own conscience by following my lead, then I will choose to not eat meat offered to idols or any meat for that matter. My brother’s conscience is so much more important than food. [See 1 Corinthians 8 & Romans 4]
Based upon the situation, the condition of your heart and dictates of your conscience, what another person may be able to do may be wrong for you to do. Contrariwise, what another might feel is wrong may be OK for you. [Obviously we are not talking about anything in direct violation of Scriptural teaching but rather matters of conscience.] How can this be so?
God understands the weak areas of my soul, areas that might tempt me where another might not have a problem. For example, there is no Biblical command against using “a little wine for thy stomach’s sake” (1 Timothy 5:23) but because I know my biological father was often drunk, likely an alcoholic, for me it would be a violation of conscience to become a casual or social drinker. There may be propensities toward evil in our soul that we are not aware of that God wants to protect us from by telling us “No, don’t go there” when He allows others to participate freely. It is so important we listen to that inner voice and obey, even if it does not make sense or even if others, even Christians, freely participate. Additionally it is also important we not decide what is right and wrong for everyone else. (Again, we are not referring to actions the Scripture clearly calls sin.)
____________________________ Romans 14:4
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Matthew 13:45, 46
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
__________________________
I’ve been told Jesus is the “pearl of great price” in this parable but that cannot be because Christ cannot be “bought” even if we, the merchant, sold everything we had. Instead, Jesus is the merchant in this story.
In the previous parable, God the Father finds the Jewish people, his treasure, then hides them in the field (the world) just as the Jews are today scattered across the world “hidden” among the nations. He then pays the price to buy back the entire field (makes salvation available to all the world) so that one day He can come back to call together and claim his treasure – “all Israel” from among the nations.
The pearl however, represents Christ and the church. He is the merchant who finds his pearl, the church, and gives His all to purchase her. Diamonds are nearly valueless until cut but a pearl, like the church, is only of value when it is whole, complete, without division or breaks. A pearl is the only jewel formed through the suffering of a living organism, just like the church came into being through the agony of Christ. A pearl finds its source in what the Jews call unclean, an oyster, much as the church is primarily comprised of unclean Gentiles. Interestingly, though a pearl has an “unclean” source, it can legally be worn as adornment by a Jew. So, the church, taken out of the unclean world, is an adornment that beautifies Christ by displaying His grace, mercy and kindness.
Are you part of this pearl of great price?
_______________________ 1 Timothy 1:16
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
1 Corinthians 7:7
I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
__________
It appears Paul is opposed to marriage. Actually he was combating a common thought of his day (and ours) that being single is a second class status. He is saying that each person needs to live according to the “gift” they have received. Marriage is honorable (Hebrews 13:4) but singles have more liberty to give themselves fully to the Lord. “So then, he who marries … does right, but he who does not marry … does even better.” (1 Corinthians 7:38)
A bit of trivia today, there is reason to believe the apostle Paul was married but a widower when he wrote this. First of all, it fits well into the context here as he specifically addresses widows suggesting they “stay unmarried, as I am” (7:8). Secondly, there are indications Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, because in Acts 26:10 he says he cast his vote for the death of the believers. If he is not speaking figuratively and he was a member of the Sanhedrin, he was married as that was a requirement for membership.
Also, in 1 Corinthians 9:5 he mentions that he and Barnabas should have the “right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles”. Of course, he could just be speaking in defense of Barnabas.
Finally, in his book, “Ecclesiastical History”, written around the year 300AD, Eusebius claims Paul was married based on Philippians 4 where Paul mentions, but does not name, a “yokemate”. The Greek word, “syzygos”, can refer to a person with whom one shares a common burden or to a spouse.
All are rather wispy evidence but there is at least a possibility that Paul was married and his wife died leaving him free to remarry. But he decided in his case and calling it was better for him to stay single.
_______________ Matthew 19:10-12
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. … The one who can accept this should accept it.”
1 Timothy 4:2-4
Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, …
Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. [12] I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
———————–
Paul says contentment is something he learned. It is not our natural tendency to be content. We always want more, bigger, better, the new and improved – thinking that will bring us contentment. I could be happy if I ….. had a nicer car, was married, lived in a different place, had different parents, had a better job, on and on it goes. The eye of man is never satisfied (Proverbs 27:20).
Paul says what he learned is a secret but he then gives a clue to the secret. If he can be content in all circumstances obviously contentment does not come from outside us, the circumstances that surround us. He then reveals the source of his contentment – learning to draw his strength from the Lord.
His ability to be content does not come from his own strength, from positive confessions or from a positive mental attitude rather his strength, ability to remain content even in hunger and want, is a gift from the Lord. The Lord could have given him food but chose instead to give him strength to be content without food. The Lord could have provided all he needed but chose instead to give Paul strength to learn contentment even in need. Apparently God saw greater value in learning contentment than in having a full belly, accumulating character rather than accumulating stuff.
If you are going through a time when it seems God has turned a deaf ear to your prayers – you seem to always come up short, in need, perhaps a little hungry – God has not abandoned you. Rather He is doing a greater work, giving you what He considers a more precious gift, building character and virtue in you.
Embrace Him. Draw from His strength. Learn the secret He shared with Paul and is now letting you in on also. Every great man or woman of God has gone through exactly what you are going though – “the dark night of the soul”. It is part of the potter’s process to conform you to His image.
——————- 1 Timothy 6:5-8 (NIV)
… men of corrupt mind think … that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain.
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They were new missionaries – still wrestling with language, culture, missing family and friends, struggling to develop new relationships in a vastly different setting. Their pastor arranged for a live skype chat with the congregation.
Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)