This year more than ever before I have sought to examine my life to see if it is aligned with the Bible. I am ashamed to say that when I looked in the Bible as a mirror for my life, I didn’t like who was looking back at me. I knew the Bible verses, but I wasn’t living them out in my everyday life. I was easily angered, anxious and would often worry. All things the Bible said not to do.
Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does. James 1:21-25
I do not want to forget the Word of God that I hear or read, but instead I want to make sure that I apply it to my life. If I don’t do this, then I will be enslaved to sin. Too many people like to think of big sin and little sin, but the fact is sin is sin. And, if we are not following the Word of God we are sinning and as a result we will face the consequences. Unfortunately, the consequences may be felt by many persons for a long time. For example, an easily angered abusive parent could have a negative effect on generations after.
Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth; who keeps faithfulness for thousands, who forgives wrongdoing, violation of His Law, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, inflicting the punishment of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:6-7
Even Christians will use a little white lie to progress in their lives, not realizing its impact. The truth is a little white lie is still a lie in God’s eyes. And He also judges the motive of the heart. What is considered insignificant could affect the soul in a big way. When someone gets used to telling what he or she considers a little lie then it is so easy to get into “bigger” lies. Whether little or big the soul of that person is affected and corrupted. Afterall, it is the little foxes that ruin the vineyard. (See Song of Solomon 2:15).
God’s idea of success versus worldly success can be quite different from each other. Wealth, influence and a good job may be some things that define worldly success. But living by His Word is how God defines His success, which includes bearing the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23), not being easily angered, forgiving those who hurt us and praying for those who persecute us. It may not be a glamourous life, but it is the holy life which God expects of us.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success. Joshua 1:8
Now, don’t get me wrong, God does give worldly wealth to some of those who follow His Word. However, it is important for those who have worldly wealth not to focus on it, but rather focus on God and let Him guide them how to use it for His glory. They should not make it a priority to store up riches on earth, or to seek out titles and status, but rather to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness while storing up treasures in heaven.
Do not weary yourself to gain wealth; Stop dwelling on it. When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens. Proverbs 23:4-5
The Word of God itself is wealth to the one who loves it. Although, those of us who desire to live by the Word of God may be persecuted we will not stop loving it and living by it. It becomes our food, and we hunger to be filled with the Word more and more. And we will always rejoice in it.
Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words. I rejoice at Your word, like one who finds great plunder. I hate and loathe falsehood, but I love Your Law. Psalm 119:162-163
Are you living according to the Bible or are you in fear of living out the Word of God in a culture which goes against it? It is definitely not easy to accept Jesus and live the Word of God in a society which hates its truth and wants to change it. However, we should not put temporary comfort above our eternal salvation.
Comments