Thursday, April 23, 2009

"Let That Marriage Work"




I would imagine that the vast majority enter marriage without serious thought. They certainly do not think in terms of "making a marriage successful." The continuing high divorce rate and many now simply " living together" suggests lack of serious thought.
Recognize God’s authority. God is the creator of man and woman (Gen. 2). He is also the author of marriage (Gen. 2 ; 3). Since God knows man and woman and is the author of marriage, He certainly has the right to tell us how to have a successful marriage. From the Genesis account learn that Eve was to be a "help meet," Adam was to leave mother and father and "cleave unto his wife," Adam was also to provide, and Eve was to be subjection to Adam (Gen. 2:18, 24, 3:17-19, 16). Other scriptures tell us more about marriage (Eph. 5: 22-6:4). Marriage, as ordained by God, is monogamous and permanent. (Matt. 19:4-10).
There must be denial of selfishness. One of the paramount cases for failure in marriages is selfishness. The "love" of Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33 is an unselfish love. This love actually has as its action the seeking of what is best for another. I Corinthians 7: 3-5 contains teaching which is illustrative of selfishness.
Recognize a spiritual partnership. Beloved, the ideal marriage is a marriage which is based on strong spiritual conviction and a spiritual foundation (1pet. 3:7; Matt. 7: 24-28). Both should be Christians – having the same beliefs, goals, and values.
Marriage is a beautiful institution. It is in this union that man and woman find their ultimate social, emotional, and biological fulfillment. Marriage, as established and ordered by God, is desirable and successful.
"Let that marriage work".



Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Opportunity!

Life consists of a number of elements and variables. In the case of the Christian, there is the matter of providence (I Pet. 3: 12). Chance and simple eventuality play a major role in our lives. "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong…but time and chance happeneth to them all," wrote the wise man (Eccl. 9: 11). Sometimes circumstances are such that they are conducive to success, this is what we call opportunity.
There can be opportunity sought for evil. Paul wrote of the wicked, "Their feet are swift to shed blood" (Rom. 3: 15). Such people seek occasion to perform their mischief. Perhaps the best known man of infamy is the betrayal of the sinless Son of God, Judas Iscariot. Regarding Judas we read, "And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him" (Matt. 26: 16).
Opportunity for doing good. The Greek words translated "opportunity" basically suggest a "fit season." Circumstances can often be such that one can be afforded a chance for doing a good deed. Hear Paul: "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6: 10). Paul realized that the prevailing circumstances might be such as to not be conducive. On the other hand, he is saying, the condition could be favorable.
As acknowledged, there are several factors in determining the shaping of life's situations. Desire and values, though, usually determine our decisions to act or not act relative to opportunity. For instance, the writer of Hebrews mentioned concerning certain faithful ones of old that, "If they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned" (Heb. 11: 15). Let us be ready to every good work (Tit. 3: 1).

Don't Procrastinate


Procrastination is a major cause of waste and failure. Procrastination is defined as, "to defer action, delay, to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost" (R. H. C. D., pg. 1056).
Examples of procrastination in the Bible. The Bible is replete with examples of people who failed to act when they should have. Luke 14: 15-24 contains the parable of God's invitation to man to partake of His blessings. However, the parable shows that many will not partake of God's feast. Some will defer because they have "bought a piece of ground" (Lk. 15: 18). Another said, "I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them" (vs. 19). A third said, "I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come" (vs. 20). They each deferred action and missed out on a wonderful opportunity, they procrastinated.
How to avoid procrastination. One way to avoid wasteful procrastination is by having the right value system. As seen in the parable of the Great Supper, each had their own priorities that kept them from accepting the invitation from God. "I do not have time to serve God" simply means people have priorities ahead of God. We must first seek matters pertaining to God (Matt. 6: 33). Successful people in the Bible were always people of immediacy, they did not defer (Acts 10: 33, 16: 33). It has been said that "tomorrow" is the busiest day of people's lives. This is because many people defer until tomorrow what they should do today. Hence, they never really address and perform these tasks.
The emphasis of the scriptures is on "today," not tomorrow (Heb. 3: 15). "For he saith," Paul wrote, "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6: 2). Beloved, opportunities are missed, lives are ruined, and souls are lost because of procrastination.
"A failures will always say tomorrow".


Sunday, April 19, 2009

Fate Of The Faithless Part One

All true faith must be based upon correct knowledge or it cannot produce the desired results. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and is more than belief, since true faith always moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action; it carries an assurance of the fulfillment of the things hoped for. A lack of faith leads one to despair, which comes because of iniquity.

Passion

passion is what differentiates two individuals doing the same thing.God is passionate