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Every month
an article from the pastor's desk will be published here. A
link to previous months articles will be maintained as we go
forward. It is our prayer that a blessing will be received by
all reading the monthly articles from The Pastor's Pen.
February 13, 2009
Looking Out For # 1
We've all heard
it said many times before, "You better look out for number one
because no one else will". Maybe you've even heard it said
this way, "this is a dog-eat-dog world and you better look out
for yourself". It seems to me that as I look at this world,
these are the phrases that have now permeated each area of our
society. I think this is the main mindset of most people that
we now meet.
In the area of
finances this mindset has now taken over. We see the CEO's
not caring about anyone but themselves as they rob the company
of all the money they can get and then the company folds under
financial bankruptcy. Recently we've heard of a man who has
allegedly taken fifteen million dollars from his company the
day before the government moved in to shut him down.
In the area of
marriage. I see most problems in marriage come from this
mindset also. Most individuals are looking for someone to
fulfill some desire or need that they have, and not for
someone with needs that they can meet or just someone to love
unconditionally. Now the divorce rate is higher than ever and
even Christians have bought into this mindset as we watch the
divorce rate in the church rise as high as in the unchurched.
What about the
home? It seems our children are left to raise themselves. As
more and more parents are bothered by their children taking up
their time and the parents are not able to do what they want
because they are tied down with children. Single mothers are
still wanting to party and seem angry at the children. Single
men, and I use the term men very loosely, have children all
over town but have no responsibility toward raising them nor
supporting them in any way. Recently a mother was accused of
murdering her own daughter. Someone has said she chloroformed
the child at home so she could go out and party with her
friends. Children are being abused by boyfriends as the
mother watches, because she is afraid of losing her
boyfriend. Unbelievable!
I could go on
and on as I see people living for themselves and also living
for the now. Never really caring about the future and the
circumstances that will surely follow our actions.
All of this is
the exact opposite of how Christ has told us to live. It is
also the exact opposite of the circumstances He wants us to
receive.
If I may only
give a few examples in Scripture. Jesus said in Luke 6:38,
"give and it shall be given unto you...", he also states in
the next verse that with the same measure you give, it will be
given unto you. He also reminds us that we will receive even
more than we can imagine in return. I believe this principle
to be true to anyone, not just a Christian and it applies to
anything we do, not just church finances. At one time this
was a principle that made our country great. An employer
believed that if he treated his employees fairly, they would
work hard for him and he, the employer, would benefit in the
end.
Christ has
also taught us about relationships. The husband is told in
Ephesians 5:25 that he is to "love his wife, even as Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it". In Ephesians
5:33 the wife is told to "reverence her husband", after being
told in verse 22 to submit herself to him. Notice that she is
given to him and he is to give himself to her. In this kind
of relationship Christ promises that true love will prevail
and God will bless this type of home.
What about
the children? In general the bible teaches a simple phrase in
I Timothy 5:8, that "if any provide not for his own, and
specially for those of his own house, He hath denied the faith
and is worse than an infidel". These are strong words from
God about his feelings on leaving the children to raise
themselves. This is not only talking about financial
responsibility, but the needs and welfare of our homes.
So is our
country and our personal lives better since we have left God's
way. I would say definitely not! We are in much trouble in
both areas, not even counting the consequences of God that
are not in full force yet. The word repentance comes to mind
at this time. To repent means to turn from our own way. To
make a 180 degree turn in the opposite direction. I would
encourage us all to take inventory of our lives. Are we
living our way are God's way? Let's take the plumb of God's
Word, see where we stand, and then begin to let Him make the
changes in us through the power of His Holy Spirit.
Preacher
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