Many times when we or a friend have a problem we will say “Just pray about it” or “Talk to God about it”. But many times friends are a representative of Christ. God works through people. That’s why it’s good for us to consistently spend time with God so that we have an answer to problems when they arise, God’s answer. God isn’t above practicality. When solving problems we have to rely on God’s Word or wise counsel. We need to know that God speaks and works through people most of the time. If we have a sickness, we don’t just pray but we see the doctor. If we can’t pay our bills, we go to a family member or friend and ask for a loan. That’s God touching a person’s heart to fulfill your needs. After all that’s what the church is. You can tell if counsel is wise if it relies on God’s Word. So often we like to read books or apply quotes to our life that aren’t all that biblical. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with reading self-help books, but we have to rely on God’s Word as Christians to solve our problems. We can see from the beginning of time where relying on our own wisdom can lead us to. Adam and Eve depended on their own wisdom to make them happy, and they ended up cursing all of humanity. If you’re having marital problems don’t listen to someone who tells you to get a divorce. God’s Word tells us that He’s against divorce. A wise friend would tell you to seek counseling or other means to restore unity. If a coworker wrongs you don’t listen to someone tell you to retaliate with harsh words or violence, because the Word tells us that a soft answer turns away wrath. We must always seek God’s solution.
We all should be ready to give a friend good advice, but that advice shouldn’t be our own. God has given us a solution to every problem that we’ll ever face in life. For the Word says there’s nothing new under the sun (Ecc. 1:9). Things may manifest themselves in new ways in today’s world, but every problem that we face was encountered thousands of years ago. We can find the solution to every problem in life that we may have. The Bible never goes out of date. So we don’t have to search for new ways to solve old problems. So when a friend asks what would you do in a particular situation, you should respond by thinking what would Jesus do? With the constant improvement in technology we feel like we have to improve ways to fix problems that only God’s Word can. Love is all we need, love for God’s Word. God didn’t leave out anything when he created you because he knew our trials and tribulations before you were even thought of. God cares for every area of your life. Any god-called pastor can’t take any of the credit for his sermons, because the words were inspired by God. They all point to Him. The Bible is the ultimate authority and should guide our actions for whatever we may need. God’s Word is tested and true. “The Bible calls for human counselors to be frank, loving, humble about their own failings, and change-oriented. They are to be servants of the Holy Spirit’s agenda, not autonomous professionals or gurus. The Bible’s way of counseling is radically dependent on the Holy Spirit to apply the Word of God to people’s lives: the promises encourage and empower, the commands convict and guide, and the stories make application.” God has always enabled wise pastors to approach their people with love and patience, and to open their Bibles to the right places to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.
Many times we only come to Jesus when we’re praying for something. And we want our problem answered in the way we want. You can't pray about something then do it your way. Faith without works is dead. So while we pray we should be spending more time in God's Word. So often we say God is telling us to do something, but most of the time it's what we wanted to do all along. Yes I believe God does speak to us through the Holy Spirit, but not as often as we think He does. If our actions are to do something contradictory to what the Bible says then we know for sure that God didn't speak to us, so going to scripture should be our first choice. But we fail to realize that God isn’t here to satisfy our every need, we’re put here to satisfy His. That's a realization that I had to come to recently. God created us for his use. Think about it. What is something that you created or own? Let's take your car for example. The car is yours and you use it to drive to school, work, church, leisure, etc. Everything that this car does is for your benefit, not just some things. You use the seat warmers, 4WD, navigation system, A/C all for your benefit. You receive the glory for everything this car does. Think back to us how we think that our spouse or job is only for God's benefit. But everything you do should be for God. The way you talk, food you eat, the places you go, extracurricular activities, etc. are all for God's glory. How often do you do something that the car demands you to do? It's the same way with God. We are primarily here to be used and controlled by our Creator. We satisfy Him by obedience to His Word and making sure that He’s glorified in all that we do. The servant is not greater than the master, so we should concern ourselves with always seeking to do His will. He’s the only source for living the Christian life.
I’m often confused about how people get married, uniting in a biblical institution, and try to run it in a worldly way. People debate on divorce, separation of finances, letting the woman lead the house, etc. Many marriages struggle in these areas and instead of turning to the creator of this institution, they turn to worldly advice. People raise children and are afraid to discipline them or don’t spend time teaching them anything. People don’t want to work or are disrespectful to their boss. I’m a strong proponent of counseling and I believe marriages should seek it, but counseling should give you the biblical solution. It breaks my heart to see so many people get and give bad advice on social media, on my job, and from their own family. People want to get and give advice that will satisfy the people involved, but not necessarily God. A person should be turning you to God, not what they read in a philosophy book, heard on a talk show, or what they did in a similar situation, if what they did isn’t what Christ commanded. Human wisdom doesn’t contain all the answers. Knowledge and education have their limits. To understand life, we need the wisdom that can only be found in God’s Word to us - the Bible. My wish is that people don’t see me as someone with all the answers, but they see me pointing them to Christ.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” ~ 1 John 4:1
As Christians we shouldn’t believe everything we hear just because someone says it’s a message inspired by God. There are many ways to test teachers to see if their message is truly from the Lord. One is to check to see if their words match what God says in the Bible. Other tests include their commitment to the body of believers, their lifestyle, and the fruit of their ministry. But the most important test of all says John, is what they believe about Christ. Do they teach that Jesus is fully God and fully man? Our world is filled with voices claiming to speak for God. Give them these tests to see if they’re indeed speaking God’s truth. Some people believe everything they read or hear. Unfortunately, many ideas printed and taught aren’t true. Christians should have faith, but they shouldn’t be gullible. Verify every message you hear, even if the person who brings it says it’s from God. If the message is truly from God, it will be consistent with Christ’s teachings.
I read the book of Colossians which discussed this topic. Paul explained how the world’s teachings are totally empty when compared with God’s plan, and he challenged the Colossians to reject shallow answers and to live in union with Christ (1:24-2:23). In Christ we have everything we need for salvation and for living the Christian life. In Colossians, the church in Colosse had been infiltrated by religious relativism, with some believers attempting to combine elements of heathenism and secular philosophy with Christian doctrine. People were saying many things that contradicted the gospel. Paul confronts these false teachings and affirms the sufficiency of Christ. We shouldn’t let our hunger for a more fulfilling Christian experience cause us to trust in a teacher, a group, or a system of thought more than in Christ himself. Christ is our hope and our true source of wisdom. Some of the things that people believe and share may not be as egregious as what the people in Colosse believed, but if we’re not careful those small misleadings can turn into big things.
Colossians can be broken down into two sections. The first is what Christ has done (chapters 1-2) and the second is what Christians should do (3-4). Paul began this letter from prison by giving thanks to God. Paul commended the Colossians for their faith, love, and hope in God. He didn’t mention knowledge, which was a major part of the heresy of gnosticism. Gnostics believed that it took special knowledge to be accepted by God, but Paul responded in 2:2,18. Gnostics valued the accumulation of knowledge, but Paul pointed out that knowledge in itself is empty. To be worth anything, it must lead to a changed life and right living. His prayer for the Colossians was that they might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through wisdom and spiritual understanding, and they would be fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God. I encourage you to read this short book because there’s many important things that I will leave out to get to the main point. Gnosticism sounded attractive to many, and exposure to such teachings can easily seduce a church that doesn’t know Christian doctrine well. Similar teachings still pose significant problems for many in the church today. We combat heresy by becoming thoroughly acquainted with God’s Word through personal study and sound Bible teaching.
4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. 5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. 6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. ~ Colossians 2: 4-8
Paul writes against any philosophy of life based only on human ideas and experiences. Paul himself was a gifted philosopher, so he isn’t condemning philosophy. He’s condemning teaching that credits humanity, not Christ, with being the answer to life’s problems. That approach becomes a false religion. There are many man-made approaches to life’s problems that totally disregard God. To resist heresy you must use your mind, keep your eyes on Christ, and study God’s Word. In the second chapter verses 11-23, Paul speaks about legalism. This is where people thought they their salvation depended on outward signs such as circumcision, what they ate and drank, and having false humility. Before we were saved, we were slaves to sin; but now we are free to live for Christ. The “handwriting of requirements” refers to the Old Testament law. The law was very demanding to live by. Although we can’t be saved by merely keeping the Law, the moral truths and principles still teach and guide today. Following a long list of religious rules requires strong self-discipline and can make a person appear moral, but religious rules cannot change a person’s heart. Only the Holy Spirit can do that.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ~ Colossians 3: 5-10
I can recall watching a lot of talk shows and people giving out dating advice. People have all kind of rules when it comes to dating like the 90 Day Rule and things like that related to sex. I’m thinking to myself why is that even being talked about. Christians shouldn’t even be having those types of discussions. As Christians celibacy is supposed to be the only way, but people are debating on sex in dating. How is this sound advice? Another thing is when I see people get mad and begin to use foul language. There’s a better way to handle hostile situations than that. In those times you should be relying on Christ, not succumbing to your emotions. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ~ 2 Cor. 12:9
We listen to people tell us that having a lot of money is the key to life. Everyone needs to become a millionaire. I’ve never seen that promise in the Bible. People take certain verses out of context to make them say that sometimes. If everyone is wealthy, then what value will money have? How many people will actually be walking in purpose, or just chasing money? There’s nothing wrong with being wealthy, but don’t let it be your main goal because you’ll do anything to get it and greed will destroy you. Just ask Solomon (Ecclesiastes). How will God be receiving glory from your wealth? Will you be opening orphanages with your wealth? Will you give money to cancer research? Will you be offer aspiring high school students scholarships? Or will you just use it to buy everything that you ever wanted? God's glory or yours?
Why is it that we can only rely on Bible verses when we want something from God, but not when it’s to keep us from sinning? We can’t manipulate God into being what we want Him to be when we want Him to be it. Paul gives us a strategy to help us live for God day by day: imitate Christ’s compassionate forgiving attitude, let love guide your life, let the peace of God rule in your heart, always be thankful, keep God’s word in you at all times, and live as Jesus Christ’s representative. Doing “all in the name of the Lord Jesus” means bringing honor to Christ in every aspect and activity of daily living. As a Christian, you represent Christ at all times - wherever you go and whatever you say.
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. ~ Colossians 3:16-17
4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. 5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. ~ Colossians 4: 4-5
Paul wanted to proclaim the Good News about Christ clearly, and we can request prayer to do the same. No matter what approach to evangelism we use, whether emphasizing life-style and examples or whether building relationships, we should never obscure the message of the gospel. We should be wise in our contacts with non-Christians (“those who are outside”), making the most of our opportunities to tell them the Good News of salvation. What opportunities do you have? Even though we tell others about Christ, we have to be gracious in what we say. The gospel is truth and truth is often controversial. No matter how much sense the message makes, we lose our effectiveness if we aren’t courteous. Just as we like to be respected, we must respect others if we want them to listen to what we have to say. “Seasoned with salt” means that what we say should be “tasty” and should encourage deeper dialogue. God's Way or Your Way?
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