The business of this life

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

As Jesus watched the people of his day criss-crossing the pathways of Palestine, and possibly thinking also of all those coming in the future, he said: “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with ... the cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares” (Luke 21:34).

 The business of this life is not adding business to business and land to land, or diploma to diploma, or dollar note to dollar note. The business of this life is a personal preparation for the coming of the Lord and the ensuing fellowship with him throughout eternity. The hope of eternity with Christ ought to be as real to every businessman as his balance sheet. It should be as real to every worker as his pay packet, but unfortunately, it is not so. The crumbling, material things that are seen are given more attention than the indestructible things that as yet are not seen.

 Above the din of the market, the buzz of social gossip, the stamping and mirth of the pleasure spots, booms the unmistakable voice of Jesus Christ with a steadying question: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” How foolish to grasp out after possessions far and wide and in doing so pass up the most priceless treasure closest at hand - one’s own soul. Some may think this question applies only to would-be world dictators, tycoons, and top-flight entertainers. But no; it sounds into everyone’s world. The busy housewife can lose her own soul among the shopping, the baking, the washing, the social round, if she lets life slip by without seeking after God. Of what value then is all her busyness? The daughter of fashion can lose hers among the style books, the fabric counters, the dress shops, if she does not stop to pin her faith securely on the hope of a garment of righteousness obtainable only from Jesus Christ. 

There is plenty in a man’s world too, to make him lose his own soul if he will not take time to search Christ out, even though such searching be done at night as was the case with Nicodemus when he had his heart to heart talk with Christ. Then what shall it profit?

  This question contains many words used frequently today. “Profit,” “gain,” “loss” - these words escape from the lips of businessmen every second. The far-reaching deal, the sure contract, the safe investment, the “what’s-in-this-for-me” attitude, are like the taxes - for ever with us. “Steady, steady,” sounds the voice of Jesus. “See, that eternity with me is the most far-reaching deal, the surest contract, the safest investment. There is everything in it for you that could possibly be desired. I cannot reveal it to you in perfect detail now, but I must ask you to trust me. I have failed no one yet.” In times of anxiety his voice speaks again: “Steady now, I am with you.”

When we long to retaliate for wrongs done to us, again that calming voice penetrates our hurt and our angry frustration? “Vengeance is mine. Don’t you take the law into your own hands, for I will repay” (see Rom. 12:19). Anger is a great bungler, and it has well been said that we get at odds when we try to get even.

  “Steady, steady,” says the Word of God in times of financial adversity. “The silver is mine and the gold is mine. I can supply your need. I don’t let the righteous beg for bread. David will tell you that.”

  In every age God has used His faithful ministers to halt the headlong rush of His people. Haggai, the great minister of rebuke, called in loud tones to the people of his day: “Consider your ways, consider your ways. See how unprofitable all your selfish striving is. Your wages are going into bags with holes in them. Your grab-all-policy is a lose-all-policy, if only you would wake up and realize it. You are working yourself to death for nothing. There is no lasting gain for you while you let the work of God languish, and there is no satisfaction for you while you give Him no satisfaction by your conduct.”

  Paul, the fearless apostle to the Gentiles, commanded the church members at Corinth to, “Examine yourselves whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves.” Quite likely there were a number of those who heard this who felt hurt at the thought that their minister doubted them. Some would be indignant, but Paul knew what they needed, and though he did not want to upset them, he wanted to stir them to see that their nominal profession of Christianity would not save them. Their faith must be nurtured, and guarded.

  May God bless all the faithful ministers who sound just such a steady warning to the people under their care. And may God give us all the grace to listen to them and to accept their counsel in the spirit in which it is given.

  We must daily seek the Lord with the request that He will prepare us to be sounding boards for the “steady” warning.” Often friends look to us for advice when they feel that they are too close to a situation to sum it up properly. Other times they fail to see that they need some guidance, and this is when we need Divine tact to point it out to them. We are told that we should not give advice unless asked, but that doesn’t always hold good. “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” and “faithful are the wounds of a friend.”   A young girl once said how grateful she was for the timely counsel of an older friend. She had enjoyed a long acquaintance with a young man, but now he was beginning to show trends of conduct that did not fit into acceptable Christian living. The conflict in her mind was sharp. How could she marry him, and yet how could she break it all up? She hesitated, hoping things would change. Came one morning and her friend with it. They talked things over. Finally the friend said: “Remember, while you are single we can do everything to help you, but if you marry him, we can do nothing.” Then she went away. The warning penetrated her confused thinking and settled a decision in her mind. Her friend’s wise departure at that point emphasized the on-your-own-if-you-marry-him part of her message. >From that morning on the young girl determined she would marry a Christian, a true-blue one, or no one at all.

  May God help us all to be faithful and tactful friends. We need to ask the Lord to help us to speak to the point, and not to “let our train of thought be wrecked by a flood of emotion,” when we have to counsel those near and dear to us. Brief, meaningful sentences, full of logic and understanding, penetrate and motivate, whereas an emotional, verbose talk bordering on a long drawn-out speech only produces negative responses.

  In home life, in social life, in business life, and most of all in decisions for eternity, let us heed the Word of God, and the words of our ministers, parents, teachers, and friends.

- John Aldersley

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Activiteiten in dit leven nagaan
For related articles in Dutch: raad, wraak, berispen, eeuwigheid, leven, bedoeling, frustratie, woede, voorganger, vriend

Paulus to Philemon

Philemon

1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Yahushua the Messiah, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the assembly in thy house:

1:3 Favour to you, and peace, from YHWH our Father and the Master Yahushua the Messiah.

1:4 I thank my Elohim, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Master Yahushua , and toward all saints;

1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in the Messiah Yahushua.

1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

1:8 Wherefore, though I might have much boldness in the Messiah to command you what is fitting,

1:9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Yahushua the Messiah.

1:10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

1:11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

1:12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

1:13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the evangel:

1:14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

1:15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

1:16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Master?

1:17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

1:18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

1:19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

1:20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in YHWH: refresh my tender affections in YHWH.

1:21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

1:22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

1:23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in the Messiah Yahushua;

1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

1:25 The favour of our Master Yahushua the Messiah be with your spirit. . .

From The Restored Name King James Version
Note: The Restored Name King James Version, also has YHWH several times in the John's letters. 1John, 2John, 3John

Doest thou well to be Angry?

"Human nature has not changed since the fall of Adam and Eve. No one likes to be wrong. When someone shows us we are wrong, the natural reaction is to become angry at our teacher. It has ever been thus. It happened even when God was directly involved.

When Cain's sacrifice was rejected by God we are told that "Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." In this case the LORD held a conversation with Cain and asked him, "Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?" Of course God knew the answer, but He was giving Cain an opportunity to answer for himself. Either Cain refused to answer God or else his answer is not recorded. The LORD continued speaking kindly to Cain and said, "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." God was giving Cain an opportunity to change. But we do not like to change. Cain did not want to change. We would think that if the LORD spoke to us that surely we would change, but Cain did not.

One of the characteristics of being wrong is being angry. Cain did not want to change. His defense was to be angry. Jonah was angry. God asked Jonah "Doest thou well to be angry? Jonah replied quite boldly to God, "I do well to be angry, even unto death." We might add that Jonah's anger was more deep seated than merely the loss of shade from the gourd. Paul was angry. He was "not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which Stephen spake." Rather than follow the wise teachings of Stephen, Paul was so angry that he cast his vote to kill Stephen, and by his own admission, later said concerning the Christians, that "he was exceedingly mad against them."

Human nature has not changed. These examples were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. When we find that we disagree with someone and we feel anger welling up within us, it should tell us to stop and examine ourselves. Do we do well to be angry? We usually can convince ourselves like Jonah did that "we do well to be angry" but we might be surprised to find that we are wrong to be so angry. If we are in the right, there is no need to be angry. Instead of being angry, we should feel pity and compassion for our opponent who is wrong. Since we are in the right and they are wrong, they need our help, not our anger. If it should turn out that we are in the wrong, how foolish to have been both angry and wrong!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if people really listened and changed? Wouldn't it be grand if all followed the request of the Lord when he said, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Here God is asking us to sit down and to be reasonable when we are wrong, and certainly we should be this way when we are correct. This is why Paul exhorts us saying, "The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient in meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves."

We need to remember this when we are trying to teach the truth to those who have held wrong doctrine all their lives. People do not change easily or quickly. Some never change. Whether they change or not, we must be gentle, patient and meek. When we are trying to teach someone that their soul is mortal, we need to be patient for they have always believed otherwise and do not unlearn wrong things quickly or easily. We need to keep on trying to teach them even though they oppose themselves We keep hoping "Peradventure God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth."

If we adopt this principle with those who are outside the household of faith, then certainly we should be this way with those that are inside. We need to be extra loving, extra patient with those for whom Christ died. There is no room for anger here. If they are wrong we pray that God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. If they refuse to change then we pray that God will be merciful to them and forgive them. It is certain that we also are going to need the mercy of God or we are lost. Who is to say that their wrong is worse than some sin we have committed. We are not without sin.

Have we ever thought that there is a limit to God's mercy? We sometimes talk about how unlimited His mercy is. We often quote the Psalm "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." While this is true, nevertheless the mercy of God is definitely limited. What is the limit of God's mercy? Jesus tells us. He says, "Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." This means we are going to receive mercy only if we have been merciful; we are going to be forgiven only if we have forgiven, so each one of us is placing a limit on the mercy God is going to give us by the mercy we give to others."

"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."

-------
Brother Robert Lloyd
Minute Meditations

Let us become nothing, and Christ everything

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

Have you ever observed who Jesus said had chosen the “better part”? - Mary, the woman who sat at his feet. When we are willing to spend time sitting at the feet of Jesus we will be the humble, holy Christians our Lord desires us to be. Let us observe two important steps in gaining a clearer understanding of the true relationship between humility and holiness.

 When the apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian believers, he was writing with two main purposes in mind: first, to thank them for their generosity to the poorer saints, and second, because he had learned that dissension had arisen that threatened the very usefulness of the church at Philippi. Apparently this church had been divided and the believers had taken sides. A fairly quick survey of the book will indicate how Paul dealt with the problem. He refused to recognize the two factions and did not criticize the women who were at fault. Instead he tried to fill their minds with our Lord’s lowliness, humility, and longsuffering. The apostle had learned that the secret of the unity of the believers lay not in looking at the disease, but rather in fixing their eyes upon the physician.

 The second chapter of Philippians contains perhaps the clearest account of the self-emptying of Christ. For Paul, all spiritual life centres in Christ, and when he wishes to direct the believers’ minds to the great graces of meekness and humility, he can think of no better way than to present a broad outline of the story of our Master’s redemptive work as portrayed in his life and death on the Cross. So he writes, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not think to snatch at equality with God, but made himself nothing, assuming the nature of a slave, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” Philippians 2:3-9.

  Our Lord has given us an example by his earthly life that all can safely follow: Paul tells us that Christ “made himself nothing,” he “took the nature of a slave,” he was “made in the likeness of men,” “he was fashioned as a man,” he “humbled himself,” or as it could be better rendered, he abased and made himself low. Then he adds that Christ became “obedient,” showing that the supreme act of self-humiliation consisted in Christ’s voluntary submission to the final act of suffering death. In laying down his life Christ certainly humbled himself and showed the extent to which he was willing to go to save sinful, selfish man. We all need to wear the yoke of Christ and we should practice his humility. The great teacher says, “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” He might have said, “Learn of me, for I can perform miracles which nobody else has ever performed.” He might have said, “Learn of me, for I am the most advanced thinker of the age.” But no: the reason he gave was because “I am meek and lowly in heart.” Mattew 11:29.

  We read in Scripture of three men whose faces shone - Jesus, Moses, and Stephen - and all are noted for their meekness and humility. We are told that on the Mount of Transfiguration the face of Christ shone. Moses after forty days of personal communion with God came down Mount Sinai with his face shining. And on the last day of Stephen’s life when he was being questioned before the Sanhedrin we read that his face was illuminated as the face of an angel. If our faces are to shine like this, then we must go down into the valley of humility, because it is this valley which will lead us to the Mount of Transfiguration.

  Perhaps one of the meekest characters in all history, apart from our Lord, was John the Baptist. John was the centre of attraction in Jerusalem and Judea. Thousands were streaming out into the desert to hear this great and powerful preacher. Hundreds had already been baptized by him. One day there came out from Jerusalem a very influential group, appointed by the chief priests to ask the wilderness preacher his identity. Was he Elias, or the Messiah, or this prophet, or that prophet? What a wonderful opportunity he had to pass himself off as the Messiah! But no! He could have said, “Haven’t you heard of me, I am the world’s greatest preacher.” But not John. Just notice what he did say. “Tell them I am Mr. Nobody. I am a voice to be heard and not to be seen, a mere signpost pointing to ‘The Way.’ In fact, I am here to proclaim the coming of him whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”

  David had learned the lesson of humility. In all of David’s psalms there is not a reference to the fact that he slew Goliath. Man’s tendency is to make himself bigger and bigger, but John’s attitude was: “I am just the signpost pointing out the way. The morning star fades away as the sun rises. He must increase, but I must decrease. Actually, he is the Bridegroom, I am just the Bridegroom’s friend.” Instead of elevating himself, he humbled himself. What a difference it would make if we could each gain this spirit and get behind the cross and be just a mere signpost pointing out “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” John the Baptist was very little in his own estimation, but before his birth the angel had stated he would be “great in the sight of the Lord.” And this was his greatness when he cried, “Behold the Lamb of God! I am nothing, he is all and in all.”

 The Arabs have a saying which goes something like this: “As the wheat and tares grow together it is very easy to see which the Lord has blest. The ears that have received the blessing bow their heads as the weight of the grain bends them over. But the tares with no fruit to bear, keep their heads high and erect above everything else.” Those who have the blessing of God and thus have the fruits of the Spirit as recorded in Galatians 5:22, “Love, Joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” will never be able to keep their heads high and erect in a boastful way.

 The showers, as they fall upon the mountain peaks, often leave them desolate and barren because the water rushes down into the fertile valleys below. If a man is proud and lifted up with vanity, rivers of God’s grace may flow over him, and yet leave him as dry and desolate, and unfruitful as the mountain peaks. Yet once the grace of Christ takes hold of a man, what a transformation takes place! Consider those ignorant, self-centred disciples before Jesus called them. In fact, right up until the night that the Lord’s Supper was instituted, they were striving among themselves as to who would be the greatest. But when the Holy Spirit came, there was a transformation. When Matthew writes, he keeps himself right out of sight. He reports the deeds of the other disciples, but when he refers to himself it is Matthew, “the publican.” Mark’s Gospel, which most commentators agree is really Peter’s version of our Lord’s ministry, contains only damaging statements about Peter, while the things to his credit are not referred to. Luke, although a doctor, keeps his name right out of sight, and John only refers to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” The poet summed it up this way:-

“All of self and none of Thee, Some of self and some of Thee,

Less of self and more of Thee, None of self and all of Thee.

  A Dr. Bonar once remarked that he could tell whether a Christian was growing or not. In proportion to his growth he would elevate his Master, and talk less of himself, and of his own importance. Can we not also consecrate ourselves and put the world and self beneath our feet, allow Christ to become all and in all? Let us become nothing, and Christ everything. May we nail self to the cross, and adopt as our motto - “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

 - John Aldersley

Baptised sister not of higher status before God then an unbaptised young male?

Robin Hughes from New Zealand wrote in a Facebook topic:

When an unbaptised young male is allowed to speak is not the baptised sister not of higher status before God?
One of the issues involved is that of usurping authority. If she is not usurping authority then that eliminates that as an issue in that particular situation.

The issue of Disorder in the meeting is not valid if its building harmony.
Don't get legal on this. Its not a matter of God having made this rule and so everyone must do this or that there is not such a rule and so therefore we can do whatever we like. We have freedom in Christ and yet Love constrains us.

What are the issues the apostles were looking at? Is it really about sisters being weak or is it really about brothers being weak?

Adam failed to Lead the woman in the beginning. The woman failed to follow. So it appears we are each condemned to do what we are weakest at. That which we need to learn and do.

We know that Jesus's view of woman was much better then that of the Jews. Jesus brang the woman forward out of the Womans part of the synagogue to the mens part so that he might heal her.

Pauls teachings although they may seem harsh on woman was actually liberating considering how they had been treated prior to this.

Through christ the woman had found Freedom at last. The issue of taking their head coverings off arose and Paul showed good reasoning for keeping the head covering on when praying and prophesying. Something he reminded them was demanded by Roman Law.

Paul had much concern for the disorder entering the Eclessia due to the new found Freedom in Christ. One of the long list referred to the speaking of the women some of which were uneducated. Asking Questions in the meeting that were very disruptive. So rather then this they should ask at home so that the meeting could proceed in order.

As for teaching the bible gives the children that is the unbaptised to be taught by her. This is largely due to the need for someone to take responsibility for their education and tuition. This is a priveledge and not something to be taken lightly. Under Jewish practice the Rabai probably did a lot of this teaching.
The woman having a lesser Role is a myth. Its just as important as the Male's who are expected to lead for their growth and development a very difficult thing for males who find it much easier to do what their wives tell them. The woman naturally finds it easy to lead and so it is to her to learn in quietness and meekness.

So this is my view. Everything that is in scripture is for our learning. Walk in Love. Err on the side of caution. Do not create a stumbling block for your brother/sister. If a woman is to read or speak it should be not usurping the brothers role, that is of authority, that if they ask her to read or speak and it be with the consent of those brothers present. Any situation when the unbaptised is allowed to read or speak the Sisters should definately be allowed to speak.

The responsibility of Love goes both ways. Whether you are strict or liberal to walk in love to act out of love and care for your brothers and sisters rather then out of Fleshly legalistic desires. For legal thinking is of the world and the thinking of Love and care comes from the spirit.

One of the things that God loves most Is unity
and One of the things he hates most is divisiveness.

Shouldn't we be taking these things into consideration when looking at issues. Whatever is not of Love is not of God.

Jesus's Teachings were Love. His doctrine is to Love God and one another. If you miss the basics of the truth when examining the details of walking in love. Then you have completely missed the point. When an issue arises I believe God is more concerned about how we behave then who is right.
Its more important to do what you believe then believe what is right. We know this from the scripture. We know that although Paul had Freedom in Christ that love constrained him that although sometimes we have the freedom to do things that doesn't mean its the right or most loving thing to do.

Preaching to an unbelieving world

We are preaching to an unbelieving world, fighting rapidly falling standards in our own community, trying to build up those scattered far and wide in the earth, caring for increasing numbers of elderly and incapacitated and those who are spiritually sick, and all the time trying to overcome our own innate personal weaknesses, problems and frustrations " So much effort, so little achieved. Sometimes it seems as if, in certain areas both at home and abroad, ecclesial life is falling apart, as it must have seemed to Paul in those early years of that ecclesia at Corinth.

... it is a day of small things.We do not have the power of the Spirit. God does not manifest Himself openly in the mighty acts of power. We have the Word of God which is quite sufficient to convince those of a right frame of mind. But these are very few in number, so few that sometimes it seems as if our preaching and our exhortation is ineffective, as if we are failing in some way. The few who do respond are those whom God has reserved, as He told Elijah. That was what God told Elijah, and Paul quotes God’s words to him in his Letter to the Romans to prove that there was in his day also a remnant according to the election of grace, and surely we trust that it is so in our own day. We believe that we are part of that remnant chosen by God by His grace, called by the gospel, responsive to that still small voice.
Yet the vast majority remains totally unmoved. Even within the community of the saints there will always be those who are not responsive. But we press on, struggling to remain part of the faithful remnant, and we are sure that in time, in God’s time, judgment will be poured out on the rebellious, the hard-hearted; not by men like Jehu, men who proved in the end to be no better than were those they destroyed, but judgment will be in the hands of One whom God raised up in righteousness.

We shall remember that this was how Paul comforted the believers in the first century who were suffering persecutions, “it is a righteous thing with God” he said, “to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
...
This is the day of small things, the day for faithful service, no matter how little we seem to achieve, the day for accepting whatever difficulties and frustrations come our way as a result of that service, the day for bearing whatever burdens an all wise God sees fit to place upon His servants.

 - Bro E. T. 1986

full text > Three faithfull men