Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) Mount
Baker
Beacon Volume 03, Number 17
04/28/2024 Published by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ Location:
1860 Mt. Baker HWY
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30821
Bellingham, WA 98228
(360) 752-2692 Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM
Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM
Web site: Mt. Baker church
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Editor......John Bass
| In this issue:
ESSENTIALS
John Humphries "Essentials" refer to things that are absolutely necessary and not optional.
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Lk. 10:38-42). This incident has an essential lesson for all of us. There are things that are important (preparing food and serving – yes, if we don’t eat, we will definitely eventually starve to death!). Usually, however, we have flexibility as to timing for taking food. But hearing and learning truth (that only Jesus could give) at that certain time may very well have impacted upon Mary’s soul and her relationship with God (Jno. 6:63). Jesus’ days upon the earth were limited, and every opportunity to hear Him was a precious, limited opportunity (Matt. 26:11b; Jno. 13:33; 14:19; 16:5, 28; 17:11). The spiritual food was, and is, more important than the physical meal (Matt. 4:4). Martha chose kitchen duty over sitting at the feet of Jesus (Lk. 10:41-42).
We believe that Jesus was teaching Martha (and all of us) that there are times when we need to place all things in their proper perspective. True, there are important matters that require our attention sooner or later. Taking food, maintaining a home, earning our upkeep, etc. are, for example, just a few matters that are needful (in their appropriate timing and limitations!) to maintain life "under the sun" (cf. Eccl. 9:6b). The problem is that "earning our upkeep" becomes the main focus in the lives of many. They develop a materialistic and covetous spirit that desires more and more things of this world while neglecting the spiritual (Lk. 8:14). In other words, it is absolutely essential to maintain a proper relationship with our Lord, but we have options concerning "earning our upkeep". People who are willing and able to work will usually find a job of some kind, to earn their upkeep, as there is a certain amount of flexibility in the job market. It is a matter of priority and focus. It is essential to remain faithful to the Lord, but a particular job should be rejected that would be a detriment to worship and serving the Lord. The kingdom of the Lord and His righteousness must always be first in our lives (Matt. 6:33). One can find a different job, but there is only one Lord who can save our souls (1 Cor. 8:6)! Jesus is telling Martha that the spiritual must take precedence over the material at all times.
There are many other things that are important and needful that we must deal with in life under the sun. Our health, family, work, community and civic responsibilities, etc. are matters that are important to maintaining good relations with others and a praiseworthy standing in the community. But in fulfilling our obligations in all of these, we must realize that we are to function and conduct ourselves first and foremost as a child of God at all times. Our proper relationship with God must always be a priority no matter how important these "under the sun" responsibilities may be. Whatever we think, say, or do must be in keeping with the authority of our Lord (Col. 3:17). Again, these are matters that are important to life under the sun but are not essential – i.e., there are flexibilities and choices as to timing, etc. in dealing with these. But we best choose wisely in view of eternity and never place the Lord in second place!
Jesus is not saying that home, hospitality, family, work, etc. are not important. He does teach us in the Scriptures that being fully committed to the Lord and His righteousness will make us better homemakers, family members, workers, citizens, etc. We can be inexperienced and ignorant in matters that are limited to life "under the sun," making mistakes in relationships and in the world at large. But it is essential that we make no mistake in choosing to always be faithful to the Lord in all that we do in word or deed. The essentials are to love, obey, trust, and serve our Lord with all our hearts, putting Him first in our lives. Top
SHUNNING THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD: OMITTING FEAR FROM OUR FAITH
John Hines Paul told the Ephesian elders, “I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). He had kept back nothing that was helpful (20). It can be tempting to leave things out. Protestantism’s faith-only does this. It began as Martin Luther’s reaction to Catholicism’s perceived works-only salvation (indulgences). Man may teach either side, but the Bible teaches that faith works together with our works (Jam. 2:22). We cannot shun one or the other and still be declaring God’s whole counsel. We cannot omit what God has not omitted.
The omissive often leave fear out of their teaching. Perhaps it comes from a misunderstanding of 1 John 4:18. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” It seems unlikely that the Holy Spirit is teaching us that fear in general has no part in our lives. The word here for fear (phobos), along with its derived words, appears in the New Testament nearly 150 times, both positively and negatively.
The 1st John passage is not speaking about all fear, but specifically fear with an expectation of torment. If we expect torment, it is because our heart condemns us (3:20). We have not purified ourselves and have no hope (3:3). In the Lord, we should not fear what others fear. As we confess (ch. 1), keep His commandments (ch. 2), turn from sin (ch. 3), refuse false teaching (ch. 4), and plead for forgiveness being born of God (ch. 5), we have fellowship (ch. 1), assurance (ch. 2), hope (ch. 3), love (ch. 4) and confidence in eternal life (ch. 5). Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, we have been released from our fear of death (Heb. 2:15).
It is as Jesus said. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body… but I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him” (Lk. 12:4,5). He would go on to say, in speaking of the sparrows, “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (7). So, should we fear, or not? Is Jesus speaking out both sides of His mouth? No. While we do not live in fear of torment, we must have reverence for Almighty God and we are thankful to be a part of His plan.
Those who are outside of Jesus, are outside due in part to a lack of fear of God (Rom. 3:18). Why do we reach out to them? “Knowing, therefore, the terror [fear] of the Lord, we persuade men…” (2 Cor. 5:11). When we are caught in sin, we must sorrow in a godly manner and one of the things it should produce is fear (2 Cor. 7:11). It is a part of “perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1).
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Php. 2:12). Those who do not consider the goodness and severity of God are shunning to declare His whole counsel, excluding fear (Rom. 11:17-22). Like Paul, we fear that Christians are being deceived as Eve was, denying the wages of sin (2 Cor. 11:3). “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it” (Heb. 4:1). We come short of it by disobediently relying on God’s grace.
Praise God for the grace that is found in Jesus. Let us contend earnestly for the faith and diligently seek Him. “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Eccl. 12:13,14). We can, and must, teach God’s whole counsel. God and the devil. Heaven and hell. What is right and wrong, and fear is not inherently wrong. Fear, godly fear, must be a part of our faith. Don’t forget it. Top
Created by John Bass, last updated. 05/04/2024 The Mount Baker Beacon is a weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA.
Send all questions, comments to the editor, John Bass at (360) 325-5149 or johnbass2468@gmail.com |
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