04: Being and Doing – Thought Starters
[Thought Questions for Being and Doing October 21, 2014]
Image © Standard Publishing from GoodSalt.com
1. It’s not enough to be able to see and hear. Do you think it would be harder to follow Jesus if you were deaf? or blind? Didn’t have much intellectual understanding? Does a thorough knowledge of God and His plan of salvation earn you a place in His eternal kingdom? What did the apostle James say that Christians need to do to give them a firm and lasting relationship with God?
2. Your enemy. How much time do you spend every day in front of the mirror? What does James think of people who see themselves in the mirror and take no measures to correct what is wrong? Is there a spiritual mirror in your life to help you recognize your faults and your soul’s deepest needs? Both Peter and the rich young man looked at themselves in their own spiritual mirror. Why did Peter benefit from what he saw while, as far as we know, the rich man didn’t?
3. Be a doer. If your Christian experience consists of spending two or three hours in church every week, how would James sum up your spiritual development? (James 1:22). Is it possible to be a Christian without works? Isn’t attending church and following basic principles of Bible truth good enough? Starting with acts of service, think of some of the hundreds of tasks Christians shoulder with joy as they serve God in deed as well as word.
4. The law of freedom. What is the perfect law of liberty that James refers to in James 1:25? What is perfect about it? In what way is it free? What happens when we try to keep God’s law of love on our own? How does the rule of love affect our choice to work for God in this sin-depressed world? Can a person’s zeal to help others turn into an unfortunate grasp for recognition or success? How? How can this scenario be avoided?
5. Useful or useless? Are some people in this world useless? What about the millions of children dying of starvation? What contribution are they making to the world? What return on our investment would we receive if we spent millions of dollars on these children? Would they be able to repay the funds we invested in them? Should that matter? Why or why not? What does James think of people who care little but talk a lot? (James 1:26) How does James say we should spend our time?
6. Unlike the world. James earnestly wants all believers to keep themselves “unspotted” by the world (James 1:27). Does that mean moving to more isolated areas where the influence of the “world” is less? Or can a servant of God live “unspotted” in a major city? By our works on behalf of others in need can we demonstrate what Jesus is like? Do we spend as much energy as we should in this endeavor?
I would like to address the last thought question.
In light of the counsel God has given Seventh-day Adventists, it appears to me that when we have a desire to live unspotted from the world, we will want to live in a more secluded setting. If we find our mission to be in the city at times we may be unspotted in the city by the Grace of God if we walk in His Spirit.
But if we allow convenience and the desire for city life to motivate us to live in the city, it may be that spots will get on us because of our desire to be involved in such an environment.
If we are seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, we are spending just the right amount of time in the city work.