THREE THINGS EVERY MAN SEEKS

Man has certain needs and wants. Here are three things that most every one seeks after in life.

1. Success – Every man wants to be successful in life. Not only in his business and work, but also in his home. To be able to achieve and accomplish certain goals in life is what gives us ambition.

2. Security – Every man seeks for security in this life. Having a nice comfortable house and material things give us a sense of security. Having a savings account with a “cushion” and a retirement plan is something we are told is necessary by financial advisors. This gives us and our families comfort knowing we are prepared for tomorrow.

3. Satisfaction – Every man knows what it feels like to do a good days work. Knowing you have done your best on the job and accomplished your task gives you that feeling of complete satisfaction. Then as we achieve our long range goals such as receiving a promotion, becoming the boss, attaining a significant raise, we feel good about ourselves.

These three things are important in life. However, the Bible teaches us these things must be kept in proper perspective. Besides that, the spiritual fulfillment of each of these is far more important than what we can acquire in this life.

1. Success – There is nothing inherently wrong with being successful in things that pertain to this life. “Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor” (Eccl.2:24).  The rich fool in Jesus’ parable (Luke 12:16-21) was not condemned because he had to “pull down his barns and build greater”. Neither was he condemned because he wanted “to eat, drink and be merry.” God gives us these things to enjoy (Eccl.3:13). But  this  man  was  called  a  “fool”  because  he

failed to recognize God as the source of his riches and failed to put spiritual things first.  Jesus said, “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (vs.21). Real success of a man is measured not by what he has of a material nature, but what he is doing spiritually.

2. Security – The parable of the rich fool teaches us that the material riches he had, even though abundant, could not give him security in death. “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” (Lk. 12:20). Only a right relationship with God can give us real peace, comfort and security. This is an inward sense of security that relies upon our faith and hope in God. Heb.6:19

3. Satisfaction – This again, is a good thing to enjoy (Eccl. 5:19). That we can look back on the day or even a lifetime and have a sense of satisfaction in what we have earned, achieved, or accomplished. But real joy and satisfaction can only come in eternity in heaven, when we free from all the toils and hardships of this life we can enjoy that heavenly rest. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on….that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them” (Rev. 14:13).

Let us learn there is no real success, security, or satisfaction in this life or the things of the world. The wise man in Ecclesiates summed it up by saying, “all is vanity and grasping for the wind” (Eccl.1:14). He concluded that the only thing that really counts in this life is to “Fear God and keep His commandments. For this is man’s all” (Eccl. 12:13). To hear the Lord say at the judgment, “Well done   “  will be the most rewarding and successful words a man could ever hear. This will give a man eternal security and complete satisfaction. 

—- Jim Bell

TWO WAYS TO KEEP MEMBERS FAITHFUL

There are two ways to keep members of the church “faithful.” The first way is to be sure everyone is involved. Have a project for each member, and make sure that he feels important in his role. Praise him for the good job he is doing. Make him feel needed; make him feel that the well-being of the whole congregation rests firmly on his shoulders. That will keep him “faithful.”

There are two problems with this method. In the first place, it encourages the creation of projects that are not remotely related to the work of the local church. One member plays on the church ball team; another leads the Boy Scout troop; another is an active member of the “Dorcas Society”; another plans the program for the men’s luncheon. Everybody is busy all right, but in activities that are not authorized in the New Testament. 

In the second place, members are often given roles for which they are not qualified. A lady is chosen to teach a class, not because she is qualified, but because she needs to be involved. A man is appointed a deacon to help him to be “faithful.” Another man is appointed to serve the Lord’s Supper for a month in order to en-courage him to be present each Sunday that month. This method thus places “the cart before the horse,” for no one should ever be assigned any work in the Lord’s service who is not already faithful and qualified for the work to be done
(2 Timothy 2:2). 

The second way to keep people faithful is to develop within them a genuine love for the Lord. When people love the Lord, they will be faithful, and it won’t take some kind of “special” project to keep them faithful. They will also be involved: in worship, in study, in prayer, in godly living, in sharing the gospel with a friend, in helping the needy. I have known literally hundreds of Christians who have never in their lives been appointed to any special work, but whose love for the Lord alone keeps them faithful. There is no superficial faithfulness on the part of these; theirs is a faithfulness that is real. 

Special responsibilities are fine for those who are qualified, but the man who requires some special duty to be faithful has never learned what true faithfulness is.

— Bill Hall

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FAMILY TIME TOGETHER IS ESSENTIAL

Children In creating a strong family life centered on God, there must be shared time together. Moses commanded Israel: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deut 6:5-8).       

Moses’ timeless advice is the foundation for Biblical spirituality in the home. Time together is the bonding mortar that brings us together before God in love. You never know when you are making a memory.

For God to be first in our lives, His will must be regularly discussed and applied in our daily home life. With this, we must spend time together. The daily “family hour” needs to be kept in homes. Family traditions and shared activities need to be instituted and kept. Working at such togetherness can be memorable and enjoyable! “When you lie down” refers to bedtime. Kiss your children goodnight. Read to them or listen to them read from the Bible or a Bible devotional. Ask them, “How did things go today?” “When you rise up” is beginning the day with God. Besides giving thanks at breakfast, give your child a Bible verse for the day, like from Proverbs: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov 9:10).

The family meal time is a good way to be together “when you sit in your house.” We thank God for our blessings (1 Tim 4:4-5). We pray for our needs and cares (Phil 4:6). By family prayer, it affirms that God is most important in our lives and central to our family’s purpose.

Turn the TV off! We can read the Bible together and discuss its meaning and application to our lives. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge Hear my son, your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching; Indeed, they are a graceful wreath to your head and ornaments about your neck” (Prov 1:7-9). Proverbs are pithy and memorable sound bits that children can remember.

Despite Americans’ hectic schedules, a recent article, “The Importance of Family Dinners,” reports: “The number of teens who have regular family dinners drops by 50 percent as their substance abuse risk increases sevenfold, according to a survey of 12 to 17 year olds released by Columbia University.

“The survey finds that the more often children have dinner with their parents, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use illegal drugs,” said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., President of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia. “It is a tragedy that family dinners decline as teens get older.” “It is vital that frequent family dinners become a permanent fixture for children, not only when they are young, but throughout their teenage years,” said Dr. Wade Horn, Assistant Secretary for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “The frequency of family dinners decreases significantly as children enter and go through high school- and that’s just when the benefits of family dinners may be needed most.”

A survey showed: Compared to teens that have family dinners twice a week or less, teens that have dinner with their families five or more nights a week are:
  32 percent are likelier never to have tried cigarettes.
 45 percent likelier never to have tried alcohol.
 24 percent likelier never to have smoked pot.

Parents will wisely invest time to be with their children to positively influence them. “Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways” (Prov 23:26). So, it is important for children to know that the family has to spend some time together. If they know this is required to enjoy other privileges, they can grow to accept it and even like it.

— W. Frank Walton

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“ISMS AMONG BRETHREN”

The Lord’s church s neither denominational nor sectarian.  It is simply the aggregate of God’s people — the “saved” (people) — the (people) called out of darkness by the gospel (Acts.2:47; 1Pet. 2:9; 2 Thess.2:14).

Baptism is not a “church ordinance” for it does not depend upon a church for its authority (Matt.28:18-f) nor for administration (Acts.8:35-38).  We are baptized into Christ (Gal .3:27) — not into a local church.  When one is “joined unto” Christ he becomes a member of Christ’s church (Eph 5:23-f), a part of that “body” joined unto the Lord.  This “universal” church is an organism, a relationship of individuals unto Christ, not a functional organization.   Christians are citizens in Christ’s kingdom in the same sense that they were once citizens in the kingdom of Satan (Col.1:13).

The scriptures do recognize an organizational structure among saints — the overseers and servants of a local church; (Phil 1:1) but God-approved organization “begins and ends” with a local church (Acts.14:23; 1 Pet 5:1).  Further, the “rule” and standard for the Lord’s church is of divine origin (2 Cor.10:12f).

It is not the traditions or “majority opinions” of the members.

Denominationalism and sectarianism arise when the principles of the past paragraph are ignored.  Single, independent congregations can never form a denomination.  With such an arrangement the “brotherhood” remains a hood of brethren — the units being individuals.  We open the door to denominationalism when we change “brother” to “church”-hood; and think of the body of Christ as consisting of “sister” churches.  Failure to emphasize this point has made “our” brethren ripe for denominational developments.

Sectarianism puts its foot in the door if we fail to “prove all things” by God’s word.  A peculiar characteristic of sectarianism is its ability to make folk think they have proved a matter if they have “always” done it that way, or if “big” preachers or papers approve it.  The sectarian spirit is manifested in an unwillingness to fairly examine one’s practices in the light of God’s word; with name calling and “marking” of any who dare to differ with us.  The sectarian thinks all who question his practices or leave his place of assembly have “left the church.” Poor fellow!!  

Today denominationalism and sectarianism run riot among many who claim to be followers of Christ and members of His church (Some even speak of themselves as “church-of-Christers” — and rightly so.  This is not the language of a simple New Testament Christian.).  These folk do not like “Plain Talk”   — they will likely fire this issue back at us, marked; “Refused!” or worse.  But they will not change their sectarian attitude; they will not hear our plea for fair open Bible study of all problems.

What can we do about denominationalism and sectarianism among brethren?  The same thing we do about it among those who have never known the truth!  We love them, teat them fairly, try to teach them the truth both by plain speech and Christ-like example.
—- Robert Turner (via Plain Talk)

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DETACHED MEMBERS

Perhaps the most quickly recognized illustration of a member of our body being detached is the retina, that part of the eye that receives the image and sends it through the optic nerve. When it becomes detached, that eye is unable to see.

Paul declared that we are all members of the body, if we are children of God, Christians (I Cor. 12:18-20). And he further taught that all of the members must work for the well-being of the whole body (Eph.  4:16).

But we cannot function if we become detached from the rest of the body. That part of the body that is cut off, or detached from the body, can be no benefit to the body. An arm severed from the body can do no work for the one who has lost that limb. But neither can the body continue to supply life to the part that is detached.

Even so, members of Christ can neither serve him nor can he be a blessing to them, if they become detached from Him. A close association with the Lord in the body is necessary for the grace of God to save and bless us. Those members who have detached themselves from the church or have so lived as to have the fellowship with God’s people broken will die as surely as a severed limb. Jesus said, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, so neither can you, except ye abide in me”  (John 15:4). We cannot miss meeting and working with other saints in the church and bear fruit for the Lord. We must stay attached to His body in all things to keep our fellowship with Him, for He is the head of the body. Are you well attached?

Let us keep well involved in worship, in teaching others, in study, in ministering to others’ needs to keep our lifelines connected securely.  Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. 
— Frank Smith