Friday, December 12, 2008

Take Two: 1 Thessalonians 4, Proverbs 12

Two basic themes emerge in this chapter: sanctification (or holy living) and the return (second coming) of Christ. These themes, are not disconnected from one another...since the return of Christ is in the backdrop of the motivation for the sanctification. In other words...the Lordship of Christ and the accountability to come in light of that Lordship are significant concepts here. Further, the motivation to keep going (perseverance) is the hope in the return of Christ who set all things right and rewards the faithful.

1 Thess 4:1-2 emphasizes that the church continue to live (walk) according to the commands given by Christ through the Apostle. Sanctified living was a normal expectation within the Christian community. I know that "some" might choose to emphasize "being" or "connecting" which are good...but incomplete without "doing." What Paul knew was that the world looked in on the people claiming to be with Christ...and decided what Christ was like based on what they saw from the people (1 Thess 4:12).

1 Thess 4:3-8 gets a bit more specific and lists sexual immorality as a focal point. Imagine that. Way back then...people needed to be reminded to avoid sexual immorality. And we thought we cornered the market on it. Modern philosophers and anthropologists say that the sexual immorality in our generation/culture/society is the product of something inside of us. They say that we are simply acting according to a design within...following our "animal" instincts. We should stop (they say) subverting our instinctive actions and simply recognize that we are as we are. This is not so...especially for the Christian.

God gives clear instruction on how to conduct our lives. Yes. God still cares about how we live. He expects us to live according to his design...under the Lordship of Christ...and not according to our flesh/human nature. We are not "only human" as believers...we are wholly owned possessions of God and vessels of righteousness. We are called to conduct our lives as such. To reject this admonition in our lives...that it, to live according to our own desires and not God's design...is to reject God (1 Thess 4:7-8). Read these verses again: (1 Thess 4:7-8), to reject the teaching of the Scripture (the pastor)...is not to reject some ancient code or to reject man...but to reject God.

In 1 Thess 4:10-12, Paul said to make it your aim to EXCEL in practicing holiness. That is...to continue to grow and yield areas of your life to God's control. No one has yet arrived and is wholly sanctified. To remain "static" is to miss the will of God. Make it your aim/ambition to lead a quiet life, mind your own business, and work hard. Doing this...will provide for you so that you will meet your obligations to outsiders and not go in want. This is a "touchy" subject...but one we need to be aware of.

God did not call Christians to be political pundits who sit about commenting on everything that is wrong. We are not called to be the ideologues. We are to be "salt" and "light" in the world. This goes further than offering an opinion. One of the ways we demonstrate God's sufficiency is by working hard and meeting our obligations. As a pastor, I learned that I was one of the top three of credit risks. (Pastors, Plumbers, and Policemen). Categorically...among many small business owners... these three are traditional non-pay or late pay accounts. I have met wait staff at restaurants who say that Christians leave the smallest tips and are the most critical of service. I know of bankers who see Christans weekly to pick up their bad checks. WHAT? This is the antithesis of holiness! If you cannot leave a tip...you cannot go out to eat. If you do not have money in the account...you cannot afford the ink to write the check. If you cannot afford to pay on time...you cannot afford it. PAUL's THRUST here is to say...do what it takes to provide for your family and meet your obligations. Doing so...will gain you a proper reputation among outsiders.

Still preaching...so hold on: You may say, well times are hard on me. I don't make enough. I need a president who will give something to the "little man." Hey...if you are counting on someone "giving" you something...you are missing the big picture of the verse. If you don't make enough money...get a different job or a second job...or cut your expenses. Sell one of your cars, shut off your cable, turn in your cell phone.... YES the world ran fine before these things became popular. This is the honorable thing to do in light of holiness.

1 Thess 4:13-18 addresses the reality of the second coming. 1 Thess 4:16 states as a fact that Christ will come from heaven and the "dead in Christ" will rise first and we (saints) who are alive will join them. In an instant...at the second coming of Christ...all saints will leave this world and be united with Christ forever. Those who are not saints (the unsaved, unredeemed) will not be with Christ. They will be left behind. This is not a matter of religious superstition. If you believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God...then this is a coming reality. It will occur. What we do not know is when. It could be today, tomorrow, or in a hundred years. The key is...when it occurs...it is in an instant...and there is no re-run. You must be rightly related to God in Christ at the instant...or you will never be rightly related to God.

Is this intended to scare someone? NO! It is a word of comfort to the church (1 Thess 4:18). Knowing that soon (whenever that is)...Christ is coming to set everything right and call up His church should have us excited and anticipating. We should be fully prepared...and fully expecting. Christ is coming.

Proverbs 12:26 is the takeaway today. Our neighbors look at our lives and make decisions for their own. Are we guiding them toward righteousness or leading them toward evil? The answer can be found in how closely we align our lives with His!

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