Of What Sort It Is, Part 3

Today we conclude our series of meditations on 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Recall that the passage deals with how God’s ministers build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Of what sort are their works? Are their works gold, silver, and precious stones that will abide the trial of fire? Or are they works of wood, hay, and stubble that will be burned?

Recall from the first meditation that we established that God is concerned with what sort or kind of work His ministers are building rather than with how much they are building. Now it is very interesting to notice that Paul describes the works by comparing them to substances like gold, silver, and precious stone, which abide the fire; and wood, hay, stubble, which do not abide the fire. However, there is something else very striking about this description. Wood, hay, and stubble are far more plentiful in nature than gold, silver, and precious stones. This would indicate, therefore, that there is a lot more of the wrong kind of building being done upon the foundation of Jesus Christ than of the right kind of building. Indeed, there are many works going on that claim to be founded upon Jesus Christ. And yet those works have no authorization from Jesus Christ in His word. Doesn’t it strike you as inconsistent to profess that a work is based on Jesus Christ that has no commandment from Jesus Christ to support it? As we showed last time, these works are wood, hay, and stubble. Again, there are many such works. In fact, there are more of these kinds of works than the works that are gold, silver, and precious stones. So we must not judge the value of a religious work by how much of it there is. As you consider the works being built by ministers upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, bear in mind that there is more of the wrong stuff being built than of the right stuff. And if you want your service to Jesus Christ to be of enduring value, be sure you have the authority of Jesus Christ for it. Make sure that you are doing His work, His way, for His reasons!

Lastly, note that the works that a minister builds upon the foundation of Jesus Christ have no bearing on his eternal salvation. If his works are burned up, “he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” But although he will himself be saved, his works will be destroyed and he shall suffer loss. Now if a minister truly loves the Lord Jesus Christ as he ought, he does not want his works in Christ’s name to be good for nothing but to be burned. He wants the things he does in service to Christ to be of lasting value. He wants his service to have an impact on generations to come, to be serviceable in the furtherance of God’s kingdom in this earth. He wants to hear the Lord say to him at the last, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” And if you, believer, desire your works to count, then be sure to check out your minister’s teaching and example by the word of God. Otherwise, you, too, shall suffer loss.

Today’s meditation is a short one. But, then, it is not how much I write that is of chief importance. Rather, it is of what sort it is.

Of What Sort It Is, Part 2

We continue our meditation on 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. This passage deals with the work of those who preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. It describes the work of the ministry as building on the foundation of Jesus Christ. The works that can be built on this foundation are described as gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble. Every man’s work will be tried by fire to determine of what sort it is. Those whose works abide the fire will receive a reward. Those whose works are destroyed by the fire shall suffer loss. Obviously, it is works that bear the character of gold, silver, and precious stones that abide the fire. The works that bear the character of wood, hay, and stubble shall be burned. We left off last time with this question: How can we know what kind of works are gold, silver, and precious stones, and what kind of works are wood, hay, and stubble?

In answering this question it is important to bear in mind that the foundation that gospel ministers lay is Jesus Christ. All true gospel ministry begins with setting forth the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind. This is laying the foundation. As we pointed out in our last meditation, this is how Paul began his ministry at Corinth. Now everything that is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ should agree with Jesus Christ. The foundation and the building upon it should all be of one kind. No work should be built upon Jesus Christ that does not have His authorization. After all, the building rests upon Him. Therefore, any work a minister builds upon Christ needs the authority and approval of Christ.

An examination of the Great Commission given by Christ to His ministers will shed light on this.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The initial teaching that ministers are commissioned to do is to preach the gospel, the glad tidings of the person and work of Jesus Christ in the salvation of sinners.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

The first work to be built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ is believer’s baptism, according to the pattern given in the New Testament for a proper baptism. Then after believers are baptized, they are to be taught “to observe all things whatsoever” Christ has commanded. And, of course, those commandments are recorded for us in His written word. If the works built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ are such works as He has commanded, then they are gold, silver, and precious stones. If the works built upon the foundation are such as proceed from the blind zeal and fancies of men without the authority of Christ, they are only so much wood, hay, and stubble.

When speaking of good works, The Philadelphia Confession of Faith said it well:

Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy word, and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men, out of blind zeal or upon any pretence of good intentions.

Commenting on our passage, Matthew Henry wrote this:

Others build wood, hay, and stubble, on this foundation; that is, though they adhere to the foundation, they depart from the mind of Christ in many particulars, substitute their own fancies and inventions in the room of his doctrines and institutions, and build upon the good foundation what will not abide the test when the day of trial shall come and the fire must make it manifest, as wood, hay, and stubble, will not bear the trial by fire, but must be consumed in it.

Think of all the many programs and activities that ministers are teaching their congregations to observe, so many so-called ministries that have not an ounce of Scriptural authority for them. Indeed, building is going on. One can see a structure rising up from the foundation. But it is a building of wood, hay, and stubble. It is so much time and energy lost on something to be burned at last. For example, at this time of the year churches have a round of activities to celebrate the birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ, something He never commanded us to observe. He told His ministers to teach His disciples to “observe all things whatsoever” He commanded them to do. Nowhere did He command any celebration of His birth in the manner we see at this time of year. When I was a Methodist, our church held a service at Christmas time in which all the participants held a small candle. There was a candle burning on the altar. Someone lit a candle off of the candle on the altar and then lit his neighbour’s candle with his candle and so on from person to person until everybody was holding a lighted candle. Now this was supposed to symbolize the sharing of the light of Christ. Oh, it looked and felt so lovely, so warm and fuzzy as we stood there in a dark room lighted by so many candles and sang Silent Night. But as I recall this my soul cries out: BOOK, CHAPTER, AND VERSE!!! Where was ever such a thing authorized by the Son of God for a church to observe? I rather think a more fitting symbol for this service (?) would be that this work we were doing was like the candles we held in our hand, just so much stuff to be consumed by the fire! And on and on we could go with example after example, but I trust you get the point.

So I would return to the admonition I gave you last time. Examine the ministry that you follow, the work that you are taught to do. Of what sort is it? Does it have the authority of Him Who is the foundation of all true gospel ministry, even our Lord Jesus Christ? Or it is so much stuff to be burned in the end?

Of What Sort It Is, Part 1

In my daily Bible reading today I read 1 Corinthians 3. I was struck again by the words I have highlighted in the following passage from that chapter.

1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

In the larger context of this passage, Paul is dealing with the work of gospel ministers. He had referred to himself and Apollos. With respect to the church at Corinth, Paul had planted and Apollos had watered, and both Paul and Apollos would each receive “his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Corinthians 3:6-8). Then Paul describes himself as a wise masterbuilder who laid the foundation and that foundation was Jesus Christ. In the next chapter Paul informs us that these things of planting, watering, and building are a figure he is transferring to himself and Apollos.

1 Corinthians 4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

So Paul is dealing with ministers and their work in this passage.

When Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, our Lord responded by saying that “upon this rock I will build by church” (Matthew 16:18). This faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, is the foundation of the church. There is no other foundation for Christian ministry as Paul says in our passage: “Other foundation can no man lay.” As a wise masterbuilder, Paul laid this foundation at Corinth, when he first began to minister there.

Acts 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;….

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

6 And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.

Paul’s message was Jesus Christ. He first presented it to the Jews. When they rejected it, he took it to the Gentiles, who believed it. Writing to these Corinthians regarding his initial ministry among them, Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Therefore, Paul had laid the foundation of Jesus Christ. And upon that foundation the church at Corinth was built. After Paul laid that foundation at Corinth, Apollos came to them and continued to build upon that foundation (Acts 18:24-28). And this gave occasion for this instruction as to how men build upon that foundation.

Paul warns in this passage that every man’s work is going to be tried by fire to reveal “of what sort it is.” The word sort means kind. Observe that God is looking for what kind of work ministers build upon the foundation of His Son. He is far more concerned with what kind of work they do than with how much work they do. They can build never so many works upon Christ, but if those works are not the right kind of works, they will all be burned up.

Paul describes the kinds of work that can be built upon this foundation as gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble. Gold, silver, and precious stones can withstand the fire. But wood, hay, and stubble are destroyed by the fire. Now the question is this: are the works that a minister builds works that will withstand the trial of fire or are they works that will be destroyed? Of what sort is his work? God cares about how ministers serve Him, about what kind of work they do. That is why Paul gave the admonition: “Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

Now this text should give pause to all of you, who follow the teaching of a professed Christian minister. You say you have been baptized upon confession of your faith in Jesus Christ. But of what sort is your baptism? Is the baptism that minister gave you a baptism of gold that will withstand the fire? Or is it a baptism of wood that will be burned and thus be proved to have been no baptism at all? You serve in a local church under the leadership of a pastor. Are the works that pastor teaches you to do works of silver that can withstand the fire? Or are they works of hay that will be burned? Alas, many ministers are going to find out that their works are worth nothing, that they are just so much lost effort. So doesn’t it make sense, believer, to be careful whose ministry you attend to and follow? Many professing Christians are wasting their time and effort in works, programs, and so-called Christian ministries that are only so much wood, hay, and stubble to be burned.

Now the question arises, how can we know what kind of works are gold, silver, and precious stones, and what kind of works are wood, hay, and stubble? God willing, we shall address that question in the next meditation.

The Power of "No"

I was struck today by a profound statement made by Bishop Fulton Sheen in an article he wrote detailing the ills of the so-called “Sexual Revolution.” Here is the statement:

It is the tremendous power of the word “no” which gives so much thrill to the word “yes.”

If one never says “no” to sex, then much of the thrill of sex will be lost. This is not only true with respect to sex. It is true of life in general. The more we are denied something, the more thrilling it is when we are permitted to enjoy it.

I experienced this firsthand with one of my daughters, when she was still living at home with us. My daughter wanted to have her ears pierced. Each year around her birthday she would ask if she could have her ears pierced. And year after year I would say “no.” Then one year she asked again and I said “yes.” You should have seen the look on her face. She was shocked and, of course, quite thrilled. You see, the many times I said “no” imparted thrill to that “yes.”

As I thought on this statement by Bishop Sheen, I thought of how many times God says “no” to things. Just consider the Ten Commandments. With the exception of one, the commandment to honour father and mother, every commandment is expressed as a negative. We are being told not to do something. We are commanded not to have other gods, not to make graven images to worship, not to take the Lord’s name in vain, not to work on the seventh day, not to kill, not to commit adultery, not to steal, not to bear false witness against our neighbour, and not to covet. And this is just a sampling of the things to which our God says “no.” The Bible is full of such negatives. It might seem as if God is a killjoy. But the exact opposite is the case.

In the light of Bishop Sheen’s statement, God says “no” to so many things not to deny us pleasure, but rather to enhance our pleasure. Take the pleasure of sex as an example. The only form of sex with another person that God allows is sex within marriage between a man and a woman. But in this area where God says “yes,” He grants to the married couple liberty to enjoy that experience in any way that they find mutually satisfying so long as it is between them without the involvement of others. In the Song of Solomon, which sets forth pure marital love in terms of oriental imagery, this charge is given to the married couple:

Song of Songs 5:1 …eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.

The married couple is invited to enjoy their sexual pleasure abundantly. One cannot read the Song of Solomon attentively without sensing the thrill this couple experienced in their relationship. But take this experience of sex outside of marriage, and it becomes marred with guilt, the pain of betrayal, the risk of detection, or the risk of venereal disease. Although the pleasure of the moment may be intense, in the end it yields a bitter fruit.

It is sad to see children today so inundated with toys and entertainment. I once saw two of my grandsons get so many presents for their birthday that the thrill of receiving them diminished as they continued to open one present after another. Parents spoil the fun of life for their children when they always say “yes” to their demands. You will increase the thrill of “yes” by learning to say “no” more often.

I love a large bowl of buttered popcorn every Friday night. It thrills me to eat that bowl of popcorn. I look forward to it throughout the week. But a lot of that thrill would be lost if I had it every night. You will increase the thrill in your own life if you say “no” to yourself more often. Then when you finally do say “yes,” how sweet it will be! So do you want me to write more today? The answer is “no.” Enjoy!

Endurance, Part 6

Today we will conclude our series of meditations on the subject of endurance. This will be the last one that you will have to endure on this subject. We have seen that endurance is the ability to undergo hardship without giving way. In the context of Christianity, it is the ability to undergo hardship without giving up one’s faith and hope. Connected with endurance is patience, which is the enduring of pain, difficulty, or hardship with calmness and composure; it is abiding the issue of time without rage or discontent. It is the ability to hang in there when the going gets rough and not allowing the difficulty to reduce you to complaining and bitterness. It is continuing to believe God and His promise although you wait long for the reward. We have considered two examples of endurance set forth for us to follow, the example of Abraham and the example of our Lord Jesus Christ. And last time, we saw that those who do not endure lack root in themselves. Their faith is superficial. For them, faith is more a matter of emotion than of a well thought-out commitment.

Now our Lord speaks of a time and condition when many will not endure.

Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

To wax cold is to become cold. Now what is meant here by the word cold?

Cold - Void of ardour, warmth, or intensity of feeling; lacking enthusiasm, heartiness, or zeal; indifferent, apathetic. Of persons, their affections, and actions.

Indifferent, apathetic people who lack heart and zeal are not prone to endure. Love is the very incentive to endure. Paul wrote that charity (love) “endureth all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). Therefore, when love waxes cold, then the motive to endure is gone.

It is amazing how much people will endure for someone or something they love. Love is a very tenacious thing. Solomon spoke of the strength and toughness of love in the following passage:

Song of Songs 8:6 …love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

Death, the grave, and a vehement flame are all very tenacious. Solomon said that the grave and fire are never satisfied (Proverbs 30:15-16). They never say, “It is enough.” Death endures until it finally brings down its victim. The grave endures until it swallows its prey. And just consider the giant fires recently occurring in California to get an idea of something that doesn’t give way easily. Love is so tenacious, so persistent that floods cannot drown it. All that a man might give for love is of no consequence. Considering Solomon’s description of the power of love, we can easily understand why Paul says love endures.

This brings to mind the story of Jacob, who had to labour seven years to get Rachel for his wife. We are told that those seven years “seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her” (Genesis 29:20). Jacob could well endure those seven years because he had so much love for the woman he was labouring for. Love eases the pain of endurance and helps one better cope with the passage of time. The more we love the Lord, the better we will be able to endure whatever He sends us to endure. When we truly love someone, then we delight in pleasing that person. If we know that enduring our tribulations patiently is pleasing to God, then we will have a reason to endure them because we love God and want to please Him. People can generally endure anything better if their endurance has meaning and purpose.

Now our Lord said that it is abounding iniquity that causes love to wax cold. If we live in a time of abounding iniquity, we will be surrounded with more temptations to sin. And as more and more of those around us succumb to the iniquity of the times, godly people will stand out all the more. This in turn will bring the pressure of persecution, the pressure to capitulate and go with the flow of the times. It is no wonder that in such times, “the love of many will wax cold.”

In contrast to the many whose love will wax cold, our Lord speaks of those who “endure to the end.” Their love will not wax cold, even though iniquity abounds. They are like Noah, who preached righteousness in a world turned so wicked that God would bear it no longer. They are like Elijah standing faithful to God against the wicked court of Ahab and Jezebel, and the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:22). They are like the faithful few in the end times who will not worship the beast, nor his image, nor receive his mark, when the whole world wonders after that monster of iniquity (REV 13; 20:4). It is to such souls as these that our Lord utters the promise: “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.”

Oh, blessed promise! Whatever we endure will end. This agrees with the often heard saying: “This too shall pass.” It may seem like your hardship will last forever, but it will end. God’s word assures it. And at that end the expected deliverance will come.

Proverbs 23:18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

So, no matter the struggle, hold fast your faith and the practice of that faith. Do not give up and draw back. Forge ahead with endurance.

Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Keep your sights on the end, on the saving of the soul. At the end of your struggle you will experience everlasting deliverance, eternal rest, and unmingled joy and peace as you gaze on the radiant face of God. Expect it. Wait for it. Endure until you receive it. I close with these beautiful verses describing what believers can expect in the end.

Revelation 7:14 …These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall see his face.

Endurance, Part 5

I still have more I want to convey about the subject of endurance. Today I want to address why it is that people give up, why they fail to endure. Our Lord states a reason in the parable of the sower.

Mark 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

Recall that in the parable of the sower our Lord describes four different types of ground on which seed falls. He draws a comparison from this to four types of hearers of the word of God. He likens a certain class of hearers to stony ground, which receives the seed so that the seed immediately springs up. But because the seed does not have much soil in which to grow, it does not take root. It lacks depth. So when the heat of the sun lights upon it, it becomes scorched and withers away. Our Lord then compares this to people who hear the word of God and immediately receive it with joy. But they lack depth. The word does not take root. So when afflictions or persecutions arise because of the word of God, they become offended and give up their faith. They “endure but for a time.” And why do they cease to endure? Because they lack depth! They are not rooted in the faith. This explains why Paul gives us the following instruction:

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

The person who walks in Christ as he has received Him, will be rooted in Christ and “stablished in the faith,” so as not to be moved from it. It is a matter of staying with your original faith and commitment, holding it fast and firm. It is as John put it:

1 John 2:24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

It is good to constantly remind yourself of why you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ to begin with. The faith you placed in Jesus Christ is a reasonable faith. The gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is not a myth, it is an historical account. These events occurred in time and space as much as any other event of history and these events meet all the tests for valid history. These things really happened! The once dead and buried Jesus is now alive. It helps to constantly be reminded of this. Remember how you were convinced that you were a great sinner and remember how you found in Christ a great Saviour with great grace, greater than all your sin. Remember the joy that came when you realized that there was hope for such as you, hope for forgiveness of your sins and hope of eternal life? Committing your life to this Redeemer was the most reasonable choice you ever made. Don’t ever forget that. If you let what you heard in the beginning abide in you, you will stay with it, even when it costs you comfort, companionship, or convenience. You will realize that what you receive from the Lord Jesus Christ is worth far more than anything this perishing world can offer. In short, you will endure. I know this works for me when I am tempted to give up.

The problem with the stony ground hearer is that he has only had a superficial experience with the facts of the gospel. The gospel sounds good, so he receives it. But the influence of the gospel does not deepen in his life. He does not give it the place in his life that it ought to hold. His experience is more a matter of shallow emotions over something that sounds good. So whenever the pressures of following Christ exert themselves, he abandons his faith.

Over against the stony ground hearer, who does not endure, is the hearer who received the seed on good ground. Hear what Christ says of these hearers:

Luke 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

For them, receiving the word is a matter of a well-considered commitment of faith to something that they have verified as truth, truth worthy of the full commitment of one’s life. They receive the word in an honest heart. An honest heart desires more than just a pleasurable feeling. An honest heart wants only what is good and right and truth, and it will not commit to something until it has verified that it meets these criteria. The noble Bereans are an example of good ground hearers.

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

The Bereans believed after having verified by careful searching that what they heard was so, that is was indeed the truth. Such hearers “keep” the word and “bring forth fruit with patience.” And as we have seen already in these meditations, patience is the enduring (of pain, trouble, or evil) with calmness and composure. In other words, good ground hearers endure.

How deep does the word of God go down into you? How deep is your commitment to Christ? How you endure affliction and persecution will tell.

Endurance, Part 4

Last week we considered Abraham as an example of endurance. This week I wish to turn your attention to the supreme example of endurance, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

We are called here to run with patience the race that is set before us. Remember that patience is the quality of enduring with calmness and composure. That we have to run a race suggests a great expenditure of effort on our part. If you have ever run for any length of time, you know that there are points when you feel like you just can’t run one step farther. It is as though everything in you wants to quit. Being an avid exerciser, I know whereof I speak. What you need at this point of weakness is endurance, which is the ability to sustain the continued hardship without giving way. Therefore, we are called upon to run with patience the race. It takes patience to keep on keeping on when you want to give up. If you run the race with patience, you will endure to the finish.

In order to encourage us to run our race with patience, we are told to run “looking unto Jesus…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” And then we are told to “consider him (Jesus) that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.” Jesus is set before us as an example of enduring hardship. We are told to look to this example and consider it. Now consider the definition of consider.

Consider - To contemplate mentally; fix the mind upon; to think over, meditate or reflect on, bestow attentive thought upon, give heed to, take note of.

When I tell you to “consider the definition of consider,” I am doing more than just making a play on words. I really want to you bestow attentive thought on this definition. Do you consider the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you fix your mind on Him? Do you meditate on Him? How much of your mental attention does He really command? What I am writing here is so extremely important because it is the key to enduring hardship! One reason people give up is that they have misplaced their attention. Rather than looking to Jesus, they look to their hardship. They consider how difficult their pain or trouble is to bear rather than considering Jesus. If they would bestow attentive thought upon Jesus Christ and what He endured for them, it would put their present hardship into perspective and make it more bearable.

Have you ever given serious consideration to the life of Christ? His life was so full of grief that He is described as “a man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3). Consider how often sinners contradicted Him when He spoke. He endured that throughout His ministry. His words were constantly being misinterpreted and argued against, sometimes even by His own disciples. In fact, it was because sinners took issue with the things He said that He was ultimately delivered up to be crucified. So much contradiction of sinners, day in and day out. And yet He endured to the end. And when it was time for Him to go to the cross, He did not give up and run away. He endured it! And where would we be if He hadn’t? It you have ever taken time to reflect on the sufferings of Christ on that cross, then you know that nothing that you have to endure even begins to compare with the pain He had to sustain on all levels, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual. He understands any pain you are sustaining. He has been there. He knows what it is to endure.

But we are also told that Christ endured all this “for the joy that was set before Him.” As He faced His sufferings and death, He looked beyond what He would have to endure to the joy on the other side at the right hand of God. He focused on the victory He and His people would enjoy e HGon the other side of the apparent defeat of the cross and the tomb. Here are our Lord’s words spoken in prophecy:

Psalms 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Is not this exactly what I have been instructing you to do as you endure hardship? Remember that at the end of enduring hardship is the crown of life (James 1:12). This is the incentive to calmly abide the issue of time as you endure the tribulation. Keep your sights set on the outcome. Set the Lord Jehovah always before you as did Jesus. This is also what Moses did and it enabled him to endure his hardships.

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Moses looked beyond the difficulties he could see to the God that he could not see. Moses believed God was there. He believed God’s commandments and acted on them. In that faith he endured all the difficulties that came with a life of obedience to God. And if you know the history of Moses, you know he faced plenty of frustrating circumstances that would make any one want to quit.

The fascinating thing in all of this is that as you take your attention off of the pain you are enduring and bestow it upon the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be better able to endure the pain. I have found this true in aerobic exercise like running or cycling. If I think about the strenuous activity, and the pain, and how much longer I have to go, I begin to grow weak and the urge to give up increases. But if I am thinking about something else, I find I can keep going. I have found this especially true when I get caught up listening to some lively music. I can just go and go, because my attention is distracted from the exercise to something more uplifting. As so it shall be when you keep your attention fixed on Jesus. In fact, notice that our text instructs us to consider Him “lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." When you become weary, your patience and energy becomes exhausted. When you faint, you are at the point of giving up. The antidote to reaching this point of giving up is considering Him, keeping your attention focused on the Lord Jesus Christ.

So look to the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider Him. Consider where He was in His hardship and where He is now in His glory. Hang in there. The reward at the end is well worth the struggle.

Endurance, Part 3

I still have more to write about the subject of endurance. I trust you can endure reading more about it. Last week we showed that the endurance that pleases God is endurance with patience. Godly endurance is more than just simply bearing hardship. It is bearing hardship with calmness and composure; it is being able to hold fast our faith and hope without rage or discontent. Those who endure with patience hang on in expectation of God keeping His promises. They endure even when their present circumstances bear down upon them with such pressure that they are tempted to throw away their faith and hope and to just look out for themselves. And while they are hanging on, they do not let the hardness of their present situation make them angry or bitter.

Now the Scripture gives us an excellent example of patient endurance in our father Abraham.

Hebrews 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Hebrews 6:14 is a quotation of Genesis 22:17, where God promised with an oath to multiply Abraham’s seed after Abraham had offered up Isaac on the mount. The seed that God was speaking of was the seed that would come through Isaac, Abraham’s promised son. Although Abraham had other children, the promises God made in Genesis 22 were realized in Isaac, who was called Abraham’s “only son” (Genesis 22:2; Hebrews 11:17). But this was not the first time that God had promised to multiply Abraham’s seed. God had promised to make Abraham’s seed as numerous “as the dust of the earth” back in Genesis 13:16, just after Abraham parted ways with his nephew Lot. This promise was made to Abraham before he even had a child. Now in Genesis 22:17 God repeats the promise, but this time He confirms it with an oath.

Consider what God promised to Abraham when He promised to multiply his seed.

Multiply – To cause to become much, many, or more; to make many or manifold; to augment the number, amount or quantity of.

God promised to increase the number of Abraham’s seed. God promised Abraham more than one offspring, which is all Abraham had when God made this promise in Genesis 22:17.

At the time when Abraham offered up Isaac, Isaac had no children. Isaac was not even married at this time. Isaac did not marry until he was 40 years old (Genesis 25:20). In fact, when Abraham offered up Isaac, Isaac was still a lad (Genesis 22:5, 12). A lad is a boy or a youth. Isaac was not yet a fully matured man when he was offered up. The Hebrew word rendered lad in Genesis 22 is applied to boys from the age of infancy to adolescence. Adolescence was originally considered as the time of youth from age 14 to 25 in males. So Abraham had not yet seen his seed multiplied, when God made this promise to Him in Genesis 22:17.

Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. When Isaac had his sons, Jacob and Esau, Isaac was 60 years old (Genesis 25:26), which would have made Abraham 160 years old when he had these grandsons. It was at this time that Abraham saw his seed being multiplied. Consider! God promised with an oath to multiply Abraham’s seed when Isaac was but a lad. Now Isaac was 60 years old when he had his twin sons. It was at least 35 years or more that Abraham had to wait before he saw the fulfillment of God’s sworn promise to multiply his seed. So it was after Abraham patiently endured that he obtained the promise. And add to this that God had promised to multiply Abraham’s seed long before Isaac was even born. It was well in excess of 60 years that Abraham had to hold out waiting for God to fulfill His promise. All this time Abraham believed that God would keep that promise. It must have been hard for Abraham to keep believing and hoping during this long time because the Scripture says he endured. Recall that to endure is to bear continuous hardship without giving up. Abraham’s example matches the definition of patience that we saw last week, which is the calm abiding of the issue of time.

Now Paul instructs believers to be followers of this example of faith and patience that we see in Abraham. I have encountered people who will whine about having to endure a hardship for a few months. Some cannot even endure a difficulty for a few weeks. How pitiful! The example we are called to follow is of a man who waited over 60 years for something God had promised him.

Paul instructs us to be “followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Paul commended the Thessalonians for their “patience and faith” in all the persecutions and tribulations they endured. Observe that faith is linked with patience. They go together. The key to greater patience and thus to greater endurance is faith. The more we believe what God tells us, the more we will be able to calmly abide the issue of time. If we are confident that God will do as He has promised, we will be better able to endure whatever hardness comes upon us. Knowing that God will come through for us in the final issue will sustain us through the hardness. Faith was what enabled Abraham to patiently endure.

Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

And so if you are having a problem patiently enduring hardness, check your faith. Follow the example of the apostles of our Lord and pray the same simple prayer that they prayed.

Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

And then attend faithfully to the reading, meditation, and hearing of the word of God. God has ordained His word as the means for the increase of faith. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). And Paul stated that his ministry was “for your furtherance and joy of faith” (Philippians 1:25). So when you are reading Paul’s epistles or hearing them expounded, you are doing something designed to further your faith. The more your faith is furthered or advanced, the more patience you will have. You will develop a greater ability to endure hardness with calmness and composure. It is amazing how much a Bible passage can calm you down and enable you to endure when you believe that passage. With greater faith, you will be better able to calmly abide the issue of time. I conclude this week’s meditation with this exhortation:

Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Endurance, Part 2

I wish to continue with the subject of endurance. Let’s recall what it means to endure.

Endure – To last; to suffer continuously. To undergo, bear, sustain (continuous pain, opposition, hardship, or annoyance); properly, to undergo without succumbing or giving way.

Last week we saw that we must endure hardness, if we are to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Now enduring hardness is no fun. If it were, we would not be enduring hardness. The fact that we are enduring hardness suggests that the hardness is continuous; it is not letting up as quickly as we might wish. Now this can certainly be wearisome and leave us feeling like we are getting nowhere, because the situation just won’t let up. But, interestingly enough, Scripture has some wonderful things to say about those who endure, those who just keep hanging in there in spite of the difficulty.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Observe that the verse says “blessed is the man.” That little verb is, is in the present tense. If you are enduring a difficulty that is constantly pounding you, you are, right now, a blessed man. It should greatly help you to endure, if you consider that you are blessed for doing so. Your endurance reveals the quality and strength of your character as a Christian. And God assures you - you who endure temptation - that in the end, a crown of life awaits you. Now how is that for an incentive to endure? You see, those who endure gain something. It is not simply an effort in futility. So when you are going through something that is hard and you keep holding fast your faith in God without giving up, just say to yourself, “I am blessed.” Don’t whine and complain, “I am miserable.” Rather affirm, “I am blessed,” because God says you are. And then think about the crown that awaits you.

Then consider this verse:

James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

The Greek word that is rendered happy in this verse is related to the word blessed that we saw above in James 1:12. To be happy is to be blessed. Please notice that the happy people are the ones who endure and not always the ones who escape! Now we consider “them happy which endure.” And, if you think about it, we do just this. Do you know people who have endured great difficulty and have come through it with their faith intact and even stronger as a result? Don’t you admire such people and aspire to be like them? If you do, then you are in fact counting “them happy (blessed) which endure.” Happiness does not come from escaping adversities. It comes from growing through adversities. A happy person is one who can look back on a difficult situation and realize he is the better for having gone through it. Such people are indeed overcomers. They are not defeated by the tragedies of life. They are made stronger by them.

In writing about endurance, James mentions the patience of Job. James connects endurance with patience. Now you know what comes next, right? It is the definition of patience.

Patience - The suffering or enduring (of pain, trouble, or evil) with calmness and composure; the quality or capacity of so suffering or enduring. The calm abiding of the issue of time, processes, etc.; quiet and self-possessed waiting for something; ‘the quality of expecting long without rage or discontent.’

Patience is enduring and doing so with calmness and composure, without rage or discontent. It is enduring without losing it. It is keeping the faith and continuing to hope for what God has promised when you feel like giving up. The endurance I am writing about is not simply bare grit, just bearing hardship with no reason or purpose, or bearing hardship just to prove you can take it. It is bearing hardship because God calls upon you to bear it and promises blessing to you for doing so. It is endurance with purpose and with a goal in sight that you are waiting to attain. God is looking for more than just your capacity to endure. He is looking to see how you endure. It is patient endurance that pleases God. This was the kind of endurance demonstrated by the church of the Thessalonians.

2 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

These words expressed the esteem that Paul, Silvanus, Timotheus, and the churches of God had for the church at Thessalonica. This church endured persecutions and tribulations with patience and faith. If you are enduring a hardship, something that is continuously bombarding you, and yet you are still holding fast your faith and hope in Christ without giving up, then this is a commendable accomplishment. This is an encouragement to others, yea, it is an occasion for others to glory in you. By so enduring you are giving others a boost. Until next time and even unto the end, hang in there and keep the faith. “Behold, we count them happy which endure.”

Endurance, Part 1

I am thinking today of the subject of endurance. Let’s begin by considering what it means to endure.

Endure – To last; to suffer continuously. To undergo, bear, sustain (continuous pain, opposition, hardship, or annoyance); properly, to undergo without succumbing or giving way.

Endurance is that ability to keep it together in the face of continued hardship, of whatever kind. Put in the context of one’s Christian experience, endurance is being able to be hammered by opposition day after day and yet still hold to one’s faith and maintain one’s obedience to God. It is trusting God even when everything seems to suggest that it is useless to do so.

The capacity to endure is necessary if we are going to be good soldiers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Good soldiers do not give up under pressure. They endure hardness. It is interesting to notice the definition of hardness.

Hardness- The quality or condition of being hard; difficulty of penetration, solution, apprehension, performance, endurance; inflexibility, rigidity, stiffness, harshness; rigour, severity, cruelty; obduracy, obstinacy, hardiness, etc.

Now we can all think of a lot of things we have dealt with that can be described by the words in that definition. It may be a problem that is difficult to understand or that defies a solution; or it may be a tough situation that just will not let up, that has no give in it; or it may be a severe illness; or it may be a stubborn child; or it may be a cruel regime under which we live. Anything we deal with that we describe as hard qualifies as hardness. If we are good soldiers of Christ, we will endure it and not give up because of it. Being a good soldier does not require that we dissolve the hardness or make it go away. Rather, being a good soldier requires that we endure the hardness.

I recall facing a situation in my ministry several years ago that was very difficult to get a handle on and it just would not go away. It had to be dealt with. At times the pressure was so great that I entertained the thought of just giving up my ministry. But I hung in there. Everything did not go as smoothly as I would have liked. It was messy at times. The direction was not always as clear as I wished. But the good Lord gave me just enough to get me through it. Almighty God saved my ministry and the church. One day while reflecting on what had happened, the Lord comforted me with the verse cited above. Even though the problem had been hard to bear, difficult to understand, and tough to solve, I had endured. I came out on the other side still holding my faith and pursuing the ministry that I have received of the Lord Jesus. So at least it could be said that I had endured and, therefore, had been a good soldier. This realization brought me profound peace.

As I deal with this subject, the main thing I want my readers to grasp is this: just enduring hardness is in itself a commendable accomplishment! Now I see this subject is growing into more. So you will have to endure until our next meditation.

Not Knowing

For this week’s meditation I direct your attention to Acts 20:22-24:

Acts 20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

As our beloved apostle Paul made his way to Jerusalem, he did so not knowing the things that would happen to him there. He knew that bonds and afflictions awaited him, but as to when, how, or how much those bonds and afflictions would be, he knew not. He did not let it bother him that he knew there would be some tough times ahead. Neither was he bothered by the fact that he did not know the details of the time, manner, and extent of these afflictions that would befall him. As he said: “None of these things move me.” Neither was he moved by the possibility that those afflictions could mean his death, for he did not count his life dear unto himself. People who do not count their life in this world dear to themselves don’t worry about things like people who do set so much on this life. People like Paul know that this life is just a transit to something better. They do not view this as the only life they will ever have. The thing that most concerned Paul was finishing his course with joy and the ministry that he received of the Lord Jesus. Paul was more concerned about doing God’s work than he was with what was going to happen to him. Whenever he came to the end of his life, he wanted to be able to look back and know that he had done all that the Lord had given him to do. And herein Paul set a wonderful example for us.

Like Paul, we know that “afflictions abide us.” The following verses assure us of this.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

But as for when, how, and how much these tribulations shall be, we do not know. We are in the same predicament as Paul and the Scriptures tell us as much.

Proverbs 27:1 ¶Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.

This much you can know: there are troublesome times ahead of us. My pastor friend Dr. Larry Lilly wrote the following in his daily letter of 29 September 2008:

The sum total of courageous living has to do with getting over past storms, living through current ones and continuing on in the knowledge that more storms will come. God enters this panorama of life in the storm, walks on the waters of the storms as it were, and we learn that He is there. Walking with the Lord teaches us to trust in the darkest hour, somehow singing though the tears that scald our cheeks.

You do not know the time, the manner, or the extent of your future troubles, but you know they are coming. Does that bother you? If so, why? Are the things that happen to you or may happen to you the things that concern you most? Or are you more concerned about fulfilling the will of God?

So the advice I would pass on to you from this lesson is to stay the course of keeping the commandments of God, which are the will of God for you. Let that be your chief focus as opposed to what may happen in the future. The word of God tells you that you do not know what shall be on the morrow. And the word of God does not instruct you to try to find out. If you hear a voice or see a vision of things coming in the future, rebuke it. Your Bible says you do not know. I would rather have Scriptural ignorance of the future than occult insights into it. You do not need to know the future to know God’s will. All you need to know is that tough times are ahead and that God will see you through them. Your chief concern should be to learn the commandments of God written in your Bible and do them. Like Paul, you can go forth not knowing what shall befall you. It is sufficient that you know the Lord Who knows and Who has promised to be with you as you do His work, which should ever be your chief concern.

Meekness, Part 7

In our last meditation we began dealing with the reward of meekness. I wish to conclude this series by considering the reward of meekness announced by our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Did you know this is also found in Psalm 37:11?

PSA 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

In Psalm 37 the meek are variously described as “those that wait upon the Lord” (v. 9), “the just” (v. 12), “the poor and needy” (v. 14), “the righteous” (v. 17), “the upright” (v. 18), “such as be blessed of him” (v. 22), “his saints” (v. 28), and “the perfect man” (v. 37). Now the inheritance of these godly souls is spoken of several times in Psalm 37. Putting these verses together will shed some light on the inheritance of the meek.

Psalms 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Psalms 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalms 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

Psalms 37:22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

Psalms 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

Psalms 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

It is said three times that these godly souls shall inherit the earth. Twice it is affirmed that they shall inherit the land. Then in verse 18 we are told that this “inheritance shall be forever” while in verse 29 it is said that they shall “dwell therein (the land they inherit) forever.”

Now we know that this present heavens and earth in which we dwell shall pass away.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Revelation 20:11 ¶And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Therefore, the meek will not inherit the present earth forever since it will not be forever. But there is an earth that the meek shall inherit forever. It is spoken of in the following verses.

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 21:1 ¶And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

A meek person can be described as one “that overcometh,” because he has overcome himself, which is the greatest obstacle of all. Now it is the overcoming meek who shall inherit this new earth. Unlike this present earth, which shall pass away, the new earth shall remain.

Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

Whatever of this earth that God’s humble, self-denying meek may have missed will be more than made up to them in the new earth which they will inherit forever. This is the land that the righteous shall dwell in forever. The meek can let go of this world with its charms because they have something so much better and durable awaiting them.

Hebrews 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

As far as this world is concerned, the meek are strangers and pilgrims.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

Consider the definitions of stranger and pilgrim.

Stranger – One who belongs to another country; a foreigner.

Pilgrim – One who travels from place to place; a person on a journey; a wayfarer; a traveler; a wanderer; a sojourner.

This present world is not the home of the meek. They do not belong here. They are just passing through this world to the country God has prepared for them. Life in this world for them is a journey to another place. Their sentiments are well expressed in the words of the old song: “This world is not my home; I’m just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.” The proud and self-serving of this earth may persecute the meek and scorn their humility and self-denial, but in the end it is the proud who shall be cut off whilst the meek shall inherit the earth.

And so I would say to the meek, do not be alarmed when you see your investments and property values in this world threatened as they are nowadays. These are not your everlasting inheritance. Sooner or later you must quit them. Your lasting inheritance is in “the land that is very afar off” (Isaiah 33:17). Remember the words spoken by our Lord:

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

And between now and your arrival in that blessed country, you have the following assurances given to the meek in that same Psalm 37:

Psalms 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Considering the great rewards of meekness, it makes sense to heed the call of this verse:

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

Meekness, Part 6

We are not yet done considering the subject of meekness. Recall that meekness is characterized by humility, lowliness, gentleness, and submissiveness to authority. A meek person is not proud. He is not occupied with self. Meekness is marked by the absence of self-assertion or self-exaltation. And, yet, meekness is not weakness. It certainly takes strength of character to bring the self and its passions into subjection. Solomon said it well:

Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

We think of those who conquer cities as mighty. A meek man who controls his passions is mightier. A meek man is not a weak man!

Today I wish to consider the reward of meekness. Although you might be tempted to think you are losing a lot by not being self-serving, in reality you gain far more being meek and lowly. The arrogant, self-loving men of this world will consider you foolish for your meekness. But God says that wisdom belongs to you, not to them.

PRO 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Although you may not gain the esteem of this world by being meek, you have the respect of God, the Most High.

PSA 138:6 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

Imagine! The Highest in power, wisdom, and goodness regards you, pays attention to you, and takes you and your little life into consideration, all of which is implied in that word respect. By contrast, the Lord knows the proud afar off. They are not near in His thoughts and consideration as you are. They may command the respect of this world, but not of God.

Proud, self-absorbed sinners think that the path to happiness and greater joy is found in the pursuit of self-fulfillment. “It’s all about what you want, whatever makes you happy,” is their philosophy. On the other hand, meekness is the emptying of self in the service of God and of others. This is the true path to happiness and greater joy.

ISA 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD.

For Paul and the saints at Philippi, it was self-sacrifice and service that led to joy.

Philippians 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

If you would truly be happy, think of someone besides yourself and, most importantly, think of God and what pleases Him.

Then consider this promise:

PSA 147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

You may be down today. But if you are among the meek, you will not stay down. The wicked may be riding high today, but it will not last. They will be brought low while the lowly will be lifted up. So if today finds you in heaviness through manifold temptations, do not react by envying the men of this world who are prospering and getting ahead. Consider their end. Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand and He will lift you up in due time.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Lamentations 3:31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

The proud and self-serving of this earth are always trying to beautify themselves and their surroundings. They lay out huge sums of money to achieve beauty. Proud man is in love with himself. He makes himself beautiful so that he can admire himself more. We call a person like this a narcissist. Mike Pyatt has been quoted as saying: "A narcissist, once falling in love with self, would never find his equal." He will always see others as less than himself. A narcissist is definitely not meek. But, as we saw above in Psalm 147:6, these proud, self-serving, and self-loving souls will be “cast down to the ground.” Being thrown into the dirt is not exactly where a hunk or a beauty queen expects to end up. On the other hand, the meek can look forward to God beautifying them.

PSA 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

God’s work of salvation will make the meek beautiful. God compares His saved people to a crown (Isaiah 62:3) and to jewels (Malachi 3:7). He says they are as fair as the moon and as clear as the sun (Song of Solomon 6:10). In the end when their salvation is complete, they will be presented in glory “without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27).

Then there is this promise proclaimed by our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

I have several things to say about this reward of meekness. But you will have to meekly wait for it.

Meekness, Part 5

In this week’s meditation we continue considering the subject of meekness. Be reminded that meekness is characterized by humility, submissiveness to authority, and gentleness toward others. The meek person is not self-absorbed or self-assertive. Now on reading this, some may get the idea that the meek person is weak and passive, that he is one who just lies down and lets others trample over him, that he never stands up for what he believes is right. Such is far from the truth.

Our Lord Jesus Christ characterized Himself as “meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). And yet this same meek and lowly Jesus drove the moneychangers out of the temple with a scourge and overthrew their tables (John 2:13-17). The meek and lowly Jesus also issued a scathing denunciation of the folly and hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of His day (Matthew 23).

Or take another example. Of Moses it is said:

Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

This is that Moses who boldly confronted Pharaoh and demanded that he let Israel go. When Pharaoh refused, the very meek Moses called forth plagues upon Egypt. We also read of a time when Moses’ anger waxed hot against the idolatrous worshippers of the golden calf and he called for their execution (Exodus 32:19-29). This is anything but the picture of a passive weakling. This is rather a man who boldly stood up for truth and righteousness whether against the court of the most powerful nation on earth or against the majority of his own people.

The prophet Zephaniah gives the following call to the meek:

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

In this call Zephaniah describes the meek as those “which have wrought his (God’s) judgment.” Meek people do what God commands. If God calls upon them to execute judgment upon others, they meekly submit to God’s righteousness and execute that judgment. A meek parent will execute God’s judgment in disciplining a foolish child. A meek pastor will boldly denounce sin. A meek church will withdraw from those who walk disorderly. A meek judge will condemn to death those worthy of capital punishment. Meekness will never turn away from obeying the call of God even if it is unpopular or personally painful to do so, because a meek person is not governed by self-interest. His foremost goal is the glory of God, not the preservation and ease of himself. And when a meek person has done his duty toward God, he will not brag about his accomplishment; for a meek person is not proud. He is not prone to self-exaltation. He will rather humbly thank God for the favour of serving his Lord.

If one is meek, does that mean that he has to let people take unfair advantage of him? For example, if one has set a fair price for his product or service, is he being self-assertive if he does not allow someone to talk him out of his price? Does meekness require him to let a greedy man take unfair advantage of him? Remember that a meek person executes God’s judgment. Now God’s judgment calls for equity and fairness in economic transactions. God Himself is the Author of the judicial system in which men can plead their cause when they have been dealt with unfairly. One is not failing to be meek by insisting on that which is just. Note in the passage from Zephaniah quoted above, the meek are called upon to seek righteousness, that which is just. Now to be sure, a meek man will consider the needs of another in hardship. That is one thing. But to cater to someone’s greed is another.

However, our blessed Lord taught us that in the case of relatively minor inequities, it is best just to endure them.

Matthew 5:38 ¶Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

We have better things to do than to quibble over every little piece of injustice that comes our way. Let us save our energy for the big ones. And if we encounter injustice over which we have no control, then meekness would dictate that we humbly submit the matter to the righteous judgment of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

We cannot rid this world of every injustice. Only God can do that!

I would like to close this meditation with another quote from Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. This is taken from his book Walk With God. He had this to write about meekness:

The Greek word which is used in the Gospel, “praotes,” is not a gentleness which has its source in weakness, but rather a gentleness which has its source in strength. It is that of a giant who wrestles with a child without hurting him, or of a powerful monarch who uses only enough strength to put down opposition, or a God Incarnate Who could have smitten His enemies in the Temple who were buying and selling, but contented Himself to opening a few cages and driving the traders out with ropes. Meekness is disciplined strength, not cowardly weakness…. Meekness which belongs to the natural or psychological order is allied with timidity or insensibility, but this meekness which is born of the Spirit is a Divine product and requires great self-control. As Browning said: “The meek man is the one who knows well what it is to have a giant’s strength, but he also knows that it is tyrannous to use it as a giant.”

Bishop Sheen has captured a point well worth our consideration.