“And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas,(which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles feet.”-Acts 4:36-37 About 100 years ago a preacher said, “This is the most corrupt age the world has ever seen.” That echoed what many others had said many years before and it has been repeated many times since. So, who is right? Perhaps they were all right. All had a good reason for feeling as they did, because “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse”(2 Tim. 3:13). The world is on a downhill slide! Regardless of the time in which a person lives, the world is wicked, days are difficult, and times are tough. That’s life– “of few days and full of trouble.”(Job 14:1).Our burdens are heavy and the battle is fierce. For many it is more shadow than sunshine, more winter than spring, and their hopes fade like the flowers after being touched by the frost. Many are driven to despair. So, how do we respond? As bad as life is, here’s the good news–we always have an opportunity to be an encourager. There is always someone whose difficulty is our door of opportunity. Their misery becomes our means of serving God, by ministering to their needs. Let us not add to the burdens of others by treating them unkindly, nor neglect them with calloused indifference, nor join them in their pity party, by constantly harping about the difficulties and unfairness of life. May we instead come to their side as encouragers and helpers, pouring courage into their soul and hope into their heart, showing them the difference that Christ can make in a person’s life. We have more than enough discouragers. We need more encouragers–people who care enough to get involved in the lives of others, people who are focused on ministry rather than misery. How about it–will you sign-up for service today? Someone needs you! Go, encourage them in Jesus name.
WHY WORRY?
Here’s some good advice. When you’re tempted to worry–don’t! Actually that is more than advice, it is a command from the Lord (Matt.6:34). Since it is a requirement it ought to be our rule. Regardless of how bad things get, and they will get bad, don’t break the rule. It might seem that the sky is falling, the earth is crumbling beneath your feet and the whole world is against you, but don’t worry.
Maybe you’re thinking the standard is too high–that surely there must be some exception to the rule, circumstances that justify worry, but there isn’t. Jesus could not be any clearer about it--“take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?—Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficent unto the day is the evil thereof.”(Matt.6:31,34). Paul says the same thing.”Be careful for nothing–“(Phil.4:6).
Why is it that we so often violate this command and then excuse ourselves when we do? For some reason we are intent on worrying, even when we know we are forbidden, and that we have many “exceeding great and precious promises” assuring us that our Father will supply our needs. Whatever the reason, we do ourselves a great dis-service when we worry. Worry takes the sparkle out of our eyes, the spring out of our step, the smile off our face, and the song out of our heart. It’s just not worth it.
Maybe it will help if we look at it like this. We can put everything in two categories: things we can control and things we can’t control. If we can control it there is no need to worry–just do what needs to be done. If it’s something we can’t control–why worry. You can’t do anything about it. Worrying never does any good, but it can do a lot of harm–don’t hurt yourself. Conquor these two areas and you’ve conquored all.
I know, some will be quick to argue for their right to worry and will point out all kinds of reasons trying to justify their sin; things such as disappointments, injustices, misunderstandings, losses, pain etc., but the scriptures make no exceptions.
So what do we do when we sense worry rising up within us? The answer is found in 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”I know, that sounds so simple that some will refuse to take it seriously, but that’s the answer, the one and only answer. Our burdens are much too heavy for us to carry them alone–cast them upon the One who has all power in heaven and on earth. Trust Him. He never fails!
A SINGLE SIN
“Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.”–Jeremiah 5:25 A single loose thread, if neglected, can result in the ruin of a garment. Even so, a single sin can bring about the downfall of the most devout Christian.F.B. Cobbe put it like this: A single sin, however apparently trifling, however hidden in some obscure corner of our consciousness,–a sin which we do not intend to renounce,–is enough to render real prayer impracticable. A course of action not wholly upright and honorable, feelings not entirely kind and loving, habits not spotlessly chaste and temperate,–any of these are impassable obstacles. If we know of a kind act which we might, but do not intend to, perform,–if we be aware that our moral health requires the abandonment of some pleasure which yet we do not intend to abandon, here is cause enough for the loss of all spiritual power.
To conquer sin you must confess it!
WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING
“Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.”-Proverbs 4:5
Good intentions aren’t enough. We need to know what we’re doing. Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:
A rookie police officer was assigned to ride with an experienced partner. A call came over the car’s radio telling them to disperse some people who were loitering. The officers drove to the street and noticed a small crowd standing on a corner. Convinced that this must be it, the rookie rolled down his window and said,”Let’s get off the corner.”
No one moved, so he barked out again, “Let’s get off the corner!” Intimidated, the group of people began to leave, casting puzzled glances in his direction. Proud of his first official act, the young policeman turned to his partner and asked, “Well, how did I do?”
“Pretty good”, replied the veteran,”especially since this was a bus stop.”
Even so,a lot of folks are doing an excellent job, but they are doing the wrong thing. Others are doing the right thing, but they going about it the wrong way. The remedy for both is wisdom and understanding. That is why Solomon gives us this wise counsel: “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”(Proverbs 4:7)
ENJOYING YOUR SALVATION
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Being a joyless Christian is an oxymoron. Yet so many Christians today find a way to be one!
And yes, I know there are plenty of reasons not to have joy. Bad things happen. People lose their jobs. People lose their health. People lose loved ones.
And please know that I’m not minimizing these things, because there are things in life that can and should make us feel sad. We wouldn’t be human if we weren’t affected in some way by our circumstances.
But that’s the thing. If you and I base our complete joy and contentment on our circumstances, we’re going to be disappointed and let down most of the time.
That’s why it’s so important that we don’t base our happiness on what’s going on around us. We have to look up to Jesus as our source of joy and strength. We have to! That’s the only way to keep our joy when the smile has left our face.
And not only that, but there’s something irresistible about someone who radiates joy, someone who can feel pain and sadness, but also someone who’s not utterly devastated when bad things happen to them.
So today, I want to give you an assignment, if you will. If you would agree that you’ve let life steal your joy, I want to encourage you to spend some time alone in God’s Word.
And maybe you’d say, “Pastor, I don’t even know where to look in the Bible for encouragement.” Well, start with today’s verse. If nothing else, thank Jesus for the joy that he is and that’s already just waiting to burst forth from inside of you.
Then, echo Nehemiah’s prayer when he said, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Ask God that you would allow his joy to be your strength and encouragement today-not in how much money you make or what kind of car you drive or what your reputation is or whatever the circumstance is that may be dictating your attitude.
Ask God for his joy to be your strength. And ask him today! (By Jack Graham)
