Sunday: Righteousness Is Holistic
Read Proverbs 10:1–7. What various principles about life and faith are revealed here?
Image © Standard Publishing from GoodSalt.com
There is a story about a man in a boat who began to drill a hole under his feet where he sat. When people in the boat demanded that he stop, he responded: This is none of your business. This is my place!
This absurd response is often the excuse used by the sinner to justify his or her behavior. This is my life; it has nothing to do with you.
Of course, anything we do or don’t do has an impact on others, especially on those nearest to us. Who hasn’t felt, in a big way, the results of other people’s actions, either good or bad?
The principle of unity between the spiritual-moral life and the physical-material life is dealt with in Proverbs 10:3-5. The main idea is that wickedness or moral deficiency does not pay, even if one is rich; and, second, that righteousness is always rewarding, in one way or another, even if one is poor.
In Proverbs 10:6-7, we see here an earlier expression of what Jesus said about how lust is adultery, or hatred akin to murder. Hiding our hatred behind our words doesn’t always work, either. Wicked thoughts are often betrayed in our body language and the tone of our voice. The best possible starting point for good relations with others is You shall love your neighbor as yourself
(Lev. 19:18, NKJV; compare with Matt. 19:19, NKJV). As the texts also suggest, the impression you make for good can have a lasting influence on others. In the end we’re dealing with a certain amount of common sense: isn’t it better to have a good name than a bad one?
What important decision are you going to be making soon? If you haven’t already done so, consider carefully the impact that choice might have on others, for good or for evil.
(17)
Righteousness may not be compartmentalized, but is holistic. It covers the whole life, including diet, dress, music, entertainment, among other things, if only for the reason that the outward affects the inward. More than that the conduct of one person has an effect on others (1 Corinthians 8:9; Romans 14:21).
The trouble with the carnal mind is it finds some righteous things appealing, generally the softer things; but wishes to have some aspects of life remain unconsecrated. So limits are placed on receptiveness to counsel.
To the self-justifying sentiment, “This is my life; it has nothing to do with you.” is often added the refrain, “Don’t judge me!” when unbecoming behavior is confronted by Spirit directed counsel.
Such response to exhortation or correction may serve to put the preacher of righteousness on the defensive and insulate the conscience from rebuke. Presented with such an attitude believers who love their brethren and long to see them saved may have little recourse but to step back and continue to pray; for none may be forced into the kingdom of Heaven.
Yet this ‘do as I please’ posture which places self or a corrupt culture as the ultimate moral and social reference should not discourage the faithful from doing what God says, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
Like Noah end-time truth lovers must continue to look for even one who will listen. Love settles for nothing less, even though there is a risk of being hated (Proverbs 9:8; John 15:18). Someone may enter the ark of safety; and O that will be joyful.
The issue that I have with listening to the advice of others about diet, dress, entertainment, music etc is that I often get advice from well-meaning people that do not know me. As a young person, I used to do at least some of the rebellious things of growing up. I remember a loud-voiced "Mother of Israel" telling me off about the colour of my socks (fluorescent green! - if you remember those I know how old you are!) My attitude to her was that she should take a walk down the center of the highway. Actually the person I listened to the most in those rebellious days was the minister who took me under his wing and fostered my interest in photography. In the discussions we had while developing films and printing photographs in the darkroom he gently guided me into how to grow as a Christian.
As a result of this friendship I became a committed Christian - and I still enjoy photography.
If we want to change peoples lives then we need to become their friends first. And some of us do grow up and lose the urge to wear fluoro socks!
We often forget that we are one way or another connected. It may not always be the ones that are close to us that are affected by our actions but even those that are watching us. The way we act leaves an impact on bystanders whether the action be good or bad, especially to the young bystanders.
Indeed, righteousness is holistic and a gift that christians shouldn't be missing out on.But, how does it impact the physical and mental faculties of an individual?
This holistic gift...impacts every fiber of our being. Just as our senses and body parts work together because they are intimately connected...the gift therefore affects the whole...mental,social,physical and spirtual.
[Moderators Note: We do not usually include links but thought this one may be of interest.]
Our mental Christianity can have an effect on our physical bodies. Example some individuals are strict vegetarians and some are just simply meat eaters. The health and physical differences and marked health differences are too numerous to mention. I invite you to follow the link (if I can post it) that is a study of twins where one smoked and one did not. The principle is basically the same. Some people you look at and they are not magazine pretty, but they have a kind heart that shows through and makes them beautiful. Here is the study address. I hope you are able to see it. If not google smoking study with twins.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2480695/We-know-smoking-bad-health-pictures-PROVE-bad-looks-Compare-twin-smokes-doesnt-dont-believe-us.html
The Word of God talks about this in Prov 4:23-27. You pursue righteousness and it keeps you on level path and a firm way. It also leads to holiness which is we pursue will lead to God Himself. Heb 12:14 God bless brother.
we can be a righteous person, only if we make an effort to learn to reflect the character of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
During the last ten years or so medical science has been increasingly interested in the role that our mental and spiritual faculties play in healing. For instance, they have found that people who are religious and pray tend to heal better than those who do not.
I know from experience in my grandpa's death many years ago that there is a profound connection between the brain and the rest of the body. Every one of my uncles and aunts saw that he died primarily because of discouragement over family disagreements and fighting. At one point his symptoms completely reversed when he was encouraged by what appeared to be some hope of peace and that was something that completely surprised his doctor. Then the fighting started up again and he became despondent, the symptoms came back in full force and he died within a week. When Solomon says, "A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones" (Prov. 17:22 NKJV) he is stating a truth that I have personally seen to be true.
Too often we do things as if we are the only ones on the planet earth.Inasmuch as salvation is individual,we are in no wise to live self-centered lives.We are to correct our brethren through our lifestyle and by the teaching of the bible even if we are not doers of the right we know.Just because we have struggled with certain sins does not give as the right to be silent about it towards our brethren.We are to accept transformation of those sins so the we strengthen to only ourselves but those around us as well(1 Timothy 4:12).We should for the sake of our brothers live lives that will the reflect the sunlight of Christ's righteousness in word and in deed.
Two chapters by Paul: Romans 14 and 1 corinthians 8 dwells on how me as a person is related to the world around me.
It's clears the cloud of confusion about what I've been taught since I was young as biblically wrong: Meat and alcoholic drinks. Paul emphasizes that none of them is unclean, unless you aren't convinced in your own mind or if it makes a brother stumble. That's when they become unclean and a sin. But then he goes ahead and say stand up for what you believe is right (Romans 14:16).
My understanding is; Make your own personal decisions based on what you believe completely is right and just. But don't stop there, go ahead and analyse the effect your decision will have on the people around you. If it'll make anyone to stumble and sin, reconsider your decision.
Hello brothers and sisters, I\'ve really been struggling to see the \"earlier expression of what Jesus said about how lust is adultery, or hatred akin to murder.\" in Proverbs 10:6-7 (quoted below) as stated in the lesson. I\'ll deeply appreciate if any of you could help me.
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot. (NKJV)
we must be very careful of what we do because it does not affect only ourselves but others too.Do to others what you would like them to do for you.
Is it bad for a christian to joke?
Of course it is all right to joke, with the qualification that the joke is in good Christian taste. There are many occasions when good humour can be used effectively to communicate ideas when a serious discussion fails. Like all methods of communication, wisdom is required about when and how to use it. Jokes that are sexist, smutty, racist or demeaning to the listener have no place in the communication tools of a Christian.