Week 36/2024
“A WORD FITLY SPOKEN IS LIKE APPLES OF GOLD IN A SETTING OF SILVER” PROVERBS 25v11
As we move from a Biblical world view to a humanistic world view, morals and attitudes are being increasingly influenced by TV, movies, celebrities, the internet and social media. What was previously taboo is now mainstream and Christians are not immune to the tsunami of the new morality so that even if our actions conflict with Biblical teaching, we justify them ‘because God wants me to be happy’. But the reality is that this mind-setreaps not only negative consequences for us, but also brings unhappiness to others who are affected by our behaviour. Always when we are tempted to modify or ignore Biblical teaching because of our feelings and desires, we step outside boundaries God has ordained for our good. Read Deuteronomy 10v12-13.
We need to resist ungodly behaviour, which the Apostle John explained:
- Lust of the flesh – “Flee from sexual immorality” 1st Corinthians 6v18. What starts with a harmless LOOK becomes dangerous when it LINGERS. Soon this is followed by LUST and then there is LOSS of self-control.
- Lust of the eyes – “Flee from these things (love of money), you man of God and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” 1st Timothy 6v11. Materialism is the god of our age, but it only satisfies for a short time before we want more – “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1st Timothy 6v1.
- Pride of life – “Flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.” 2nd Timothy 2v22.
Immature people are often driven by pride and as Proverbs 16v18 says: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall”.
Common to all these temptations is the call to FLEE – it is not cowardice, but bravery to stand out from the crowd and to avoid an adversary who only seeks to destroy our happiness and contentment. In Nehemiah 13v19, Nehemiah himself was faced by an onslaught on the well-being of the people of Jerusalem by outside godless influences, so he did the SENSIBLE thing and commanded that the gates of the city should be shut. Similarly, we need to be sensible and avoid temptation by closing the magazine or book, exiting the web site or switching off the TV channel when necessary. When we find ourselves in a compromising situation, we must do the STRONG thing and leave. Then we must do the SPIRITUAL thing and pray for protection and find wise Christian mentors to whom we can be accountable.
From the former writings of our late Graeme Greenwood