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Who
or What Controls You? By
Tommy Thornhill Questions
are not always asked for information, sometimes they are asked to stimulate
thought, to cause one to reevaluate self, or something done, or about to be
done. Such is the question above. Do you let the things around you control your
life, or do you take control of the things around you. In other words, what
causes you to do the things you do. In
service to God, does the environment in which
you live control your faithfulness to God? Some have suggested that
they would be faithful if they lived under a better environment. But, is this
so? Does
a good environment control one’s behavior?
Most people agree that the prodigal son of Lk.15
had what many might consider a good environment. He was living in a good home
under the best of circumstances. He had a loving father, money and servants.
Yet, this “good home” did not keep him faithful and away from sin (Lk.15:11-13). What
about riches?
If you had more of this world’s good, would you be more faithful? One of the
most materially blessed men in the OT was King Solomon. He had great wisdom,
immense power and enormous riches. He took in 666 talents of gold in tribute
each year (today’s monetary standards over 3 billion dollars) (1.Kgs.10:14).
But all of the things he possessed did not make him faithful to God (1
Kings 11:4-10). Some
long for the Garden of Eden?
What better situation could one hope to live under? Surely, such a perfect place
with the presence of God, the tree of life and every necessity provided for
would keep one faithful. Yet, this beautiful Garden did not prevent man from
becoming unfaithful to God. Maybe
the environment of heaven and the presence of God
might be the place that would keep one faithful. Yet in spite of such an
environment, we learn there were angels who sinned and were cast out of heaven
as a result (2 Pet.2:4; Jude 6). From
these examples, we learn that a “good environment” is not the solution to
keeping one faithful to God. Under the best of circumstances, both men and
angels sinned. The best of surroundings is no guarantee of faithfulness. When
one becomes dissatisfied one allows temptation and sin to control the situations
of life and they become unfaithful. Does
a bad environment cause one to be unfaithful?
Just as we have seen that a good environment does not guarantee faithfulness, we
can also learn that bad circumstances does not make one be unfaithful and sin
against God. Adverse conditions can influence a person, but they cannot control
a person’s behavior. The Bible gives examples of some who under the worst of
situations remained faithful to God. Would
slavery cause one to be unfaithful?
Joseph, living as his father’s favorite son had his life suddenly turned
upside down at the age of 17 when his jealous brothers sold him into slavery
(Gen.37:18-28). In the years that followed, he faced tremendous
burdens and temptations. He was falsely accused of rape and thrown into prison
for 7 years (Gen.39:11-20). Yet
under all circumstances, he remained faithful to God. He controlled the
environment under which he lived. He was in control of his actions during the
various situations that came to him, rather than letting them control him. Maybe
the loss of everything would cause unfaithfulness.
But a study of Job shows this doesn’t have to be the case. He had everything
one might desire, a big family, wealth, fame, wisdom and good health. But he
suddenly lost everything including his health (Job
1 and 2). Yet Job did not sin in this, lose faith or blame God (Job
1:22; 2:10). Suppose
you are persecuted? Would
that not excuse you from being faithful? No! One
can still be faithful in spite of such suffering. The apostle Paul is a monument
to us that beatings, stonings and imprisonment are not enough to cause one to
lost faith (Acts 14:19; 2.Cor.11:23-33).
Living with such circumstances did not cause Paul to sin and lose faith 2.Tim.2:12;
3:12. Paul could not control his circumstances but he could control
himself and how he acted during such trying times (Phil.4:11-13;
2.Tim.1:12). No,
bad circumstances do not cause one to sin. Neither do good circumstances keep
one from sinning. Don’t use a good or bad environment as an excuse to sin
against God and be unfaithful to Him. The above examples show us that something
else is involved. What
makes the difference?
It is not the situation in which one lives that produces faithfulness of
unfaithfulness. Rather, it is the attitude of heart. The controlling factor in
both types of situations is not outward circumstances but the inward state of
heart. Unfaithfulness
is caused by rebellion.
Those who are defiant and rebellious against God will sin, regardless of the
environment. The Jews are good examples. They were God’s chosen people, yet
they refused to be faithful to God. Jeremiah wrote “But
this people have a defiant and rebellious heart. They have revolted and
departed” (Jer.5:32). On
the other hand those who trust in God will rise above any situation in which
they find themselves and be obedient to Him
in spite of circumstances (Rom.6:17;
Dan.3:17-18). They will be steadfast
in resolve and not let circumstances control their behavior. They put
their trust in God completely, fully
confident He will stand with His people and do just as He promises.
They then are able to say “What shall we
say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” “Yet in all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”
(Rom.8:31, 37). (Read also Prov.
3:5, 6; Heb. 13:5-6.) &
The
Role of the
By
Tim Haile Many
people fail to appreciate the importance of the local church assembly. Some
don't associate with churches or attend church services because they simply have
no interest in religion. Some are religious, but have had bad experiences with
certain churches. Others have adopted an anti-organized-religion policy and
believe that salvation can be acquired apart from any church. The
Bible student knows however, that "church" must be important, for the
church was established by Jesus Christ
(Matthew 16:18,19). Christ shed His blood
for that church (Acts 20:28). We are told that the church was God's eternal
purpose and that God is glorified
in the church (Ephesians 3:11,21). To say that the church is
unimportant is to say that Christ is unimportant, for the
church is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22,23). These passages
refer to the church in its universal
sense, but what about local
churches? Are they any less important? Can we be saved apart from a local
church? Some say yes, but what does the Bible say? Some
wish to believe that they can be saved in the universal
church without affiliating with any local church. They reduce salvation to a
mere personal feeling and believe there is no necessary connection with other
saints in any capacity. While such folks may rightly understand the difference
between the universal church and the local church, they obviously fail to
understand the connection between the two. To be added to the universal church
one must receive God's word and obey its instructions (Acts 2:38,41,47; 5:14).
But these instructions do not end with faith, repentance and baptism -- we are
required to do other things, some of which involve interaction with fellow
saints. The Bible teaches that it is sinful to "forsake
the assembling of ourselves together" (Hebrews 10:25,26).
Christians are commanded to commemorate Christ's death by the observance of the
Lord's Supper. This is to be done upon the first day of the week (Acts 20:7),
and it is to be done together (1
Cor. 11:20,33). Giving is also to
be done upon the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1,2). The members of the early
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