Further Thought: Keeping the heart in heaven.
“Christians should be careful that they keep the heart with all diligence. They should cultivate a love for meditation, and cherish a spirit of devotion. Many seem to begrudge moments spent in meditation, and the searching of the Scriptures, and prayer, as though the time thus occupied was lost. I wish you could all view these things in the light God would have you; for you would then make the kingdom of heaven of the first importance.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
To keep your heart in heaven, will give vigor to all your graces, and put life into all your duties. To discipline the mind to dwell upon heavenly things, will put life and earnestness into all our endeavors. … We are dwarfs in spiritual attainments. … [Eph. 4:13.]”. – Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 1157.
Discussion Questions:
- Many Christians find a support group network helpful as they seek to “guard their hearts” against temptation. In what way might this augment prayer, Bible study, and reliance on the Holy Spirit? In some cases, why might it be a good idea to seek professional help if someone really struggles with temptations that do lead them into sin, and they seem unable to stop?
- As a class, read your answers aloud to Wednesday’s final question. Discuss the implications of your various answers. As with so many of the wonderful things that God has given us, how can laughter and humor be perverted and twisted into being something actually harmful?
- In contrast to Proverbs 31, what qualities does contemporary culture tend to exalt in women? How can we as individuals protect ourselves from partaking of that same degrading attitude?
- In general, what are some of the cultural attitudes about family life in your society that directly conflict with biblical principles of family life? On the other hand, are there some cultural attitudes that parallel biblical principles? If so, what are they, and how can they be used to strengthen our families?
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For those of us who have studied this week’s lesson, the irony is that most of this wisdom was collected together by a man not noted for his family life. It is hard to reconcile the words of wisdom we have read this week, with a man who had 700 wives and 300 concubines. In his old age, he admits to folly, so maybe he collected the proverbs together out of the depth of his experience. Which brings me to the point that I want to make. We all like to think we know how others should manage their family relationships. Whether it is bringing up kids, or holding a marriage together, we often like to express an opinion. That is one reason why my comments this week have been so liberally illustrated with personal experiences. We are in this family business together and have to deal with reality and not perfection.
I was on the train coming home from Sydney after a day of study at the university. There was a mother with 3 children in the same carriage and it was quite obvious that the family had been traveling for some time. The kids were “ratty”! You know; the sort of irritated tiredness that makes them cry often and fight with one another. The mother was at her wit's end, she had obviously had the 3 children to look after most of the day and was worn out. A woman came up to the mother and berated her for her poor parenthood and asked her what she thought she was doing bringing 3 kids on to public transport if she could not control them. Another woman from further down the carriage saw what was happening and came up to the confrontation. She had a “bit of presence” and told the other lady to go and sit down; which she did. Then she sat down next to the mother and picked up the noisiest child and started a conversation with the mother. As the conversation flowed, the noisy child settled down and finally went to sleep and the other children, no longer being irritated by their sibling found other things to do. For the rest of the journey, this woman chatted with the mother and empathized with her situation of traveling with 3 small children. Compassion wins over condemnation!
In our church environment, are we more concerned with pointing out where people are not up to standard; where they should have read more from “Adventist Home”, or “Counsels to Parents and Teachers”? Or do we take the time to bear one another’s burdens? Family life is not easy these days. As someone once said, “You cannot win, you cannot break even, you cannot quit the game!” None of us do family perfectly. And those that claim they do are lying through their back teeth. As in the train story, anyone can criticize, but it takes courage to step in and help unobtrusively and empathetically. The Church that provides a compassionate supporting community for family life is more effective than one that can prove that it has all the right doctrines.
Amen.
By this shall all men know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 5:35