LETTING GOD GUIDE YOUR CONSCIENCE

Yesterday, I persuaded our kids to avoid adopting philosophies about life that are solely based upon feeling. Almost daily, through various channels, we are exposed to thinking that tell us that we are to, “Do what feels right”, “Follow our heart”, and “Let our conscience be our guide.” Scripture teaches, however, that we should not let our conscience be our guide unless God guides our conscience. According to R.C. Sproul, "Conscience can be misinformed, or conditioned to regard evil as good, or become seared and dull through repeated sin...The conscience must be educated to judge scripturally."

The Israelites repeatedly make this mistake in the Old Testament. Throughout the book of Judges the reader is told that “The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” The source of their error is revealed in Judges 17:6, which states, “In those days…Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Believers must understand that although one may think they know what is best, if they do not consult God with how they are to act, they will displease Him. Doing what comes natural offends God because ones nature is sinful. Scripture teaches, “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:7).

There are also consequences for the unregenerate who never repent from this manner of thinking. Proverbs 14:12 affirms, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end is the way of death.” The same book, however, also gives an alternative; calling for individuals to trust in the Lord and not lean on human understanding, but acknowledge God in everyway and allow Him to make ones path straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 paraphrase).

Sproul, R.C. Conscience and the Law. The Reformation Study Bible. Orlando, Florida: Ligonier Ministries, 415.

"Quote" of the Week

"When Scripture calls God, or individual Persons of the Godhead, 'holy', the word signifies everything about God that sets Him apart from us and makes Him an object of awe, adoration, and dread to us. It covers all aspects of His transcendent greatness and moral perfection, and is characteristic of all His attributes, pointing to the 'Godness' of God at every point. The core of this truth, however, is God's purity that cannot tolerate any form of sin, and calls sinners to constant self-abasement in His presence." -R.C. Sproul on the holiness of God

REPRESENTING GOD THROUGH GIVING

One thing our society lacks is a feeling of contentment. The song, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," by the Rolling Stones is considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time and accurately reflects the attitude of western culture. If we were truly satisfied, then there would not be this desire in us to accumulate the latest and greatest things. The way we spend our time and our money demonstrates our lack of fulfillment. When believers behave in this way we misrepresent our Lord who is sufficient. John Piper asserted, "If Christ is an all-satisfying treasure and promises to provide all our needs, even through famine and nakedness, then to live as though we had all the same values as the world would betray him.”

Last night, in Youth, we discussed that the Bible never says it is wrong to be wealthy. The problem is when a love for money precedes a love for God. I reminded our young people that loving anything more than God is idolatry. A practical way to measure whether ones love for money is too strong is to examine the checkbook to see how money is being spent.

In an attempt to avoid the temptations that accompany wealth, some believers have chosen to take a vow of poverty as an extreme act of devotion toward God. Although this act is glorifying to God, it is not, however, the only alternative. Piper suggests that money can be used to “make people glad in God.” In order for this to occur, he asserts, “Our lives must look as if God, not possessions, is our joy.” According to Piper, “Using our possessions in a way that makes the most needy glad in God would save us in more ways than one. It would confirm that Christ is our Treasure, and thus keep us on the path to heaven. And it would transform our society, which is driven by the suicidal craving to satisfy itself with no joy in Christ and no love for the needy.”

Piper, John. Don't Waste Your Life. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 107-114.

"Quote" of the Week

"Because God is self-existent, His love had no beginning; because He is eternal, His love can have no end; because He is infinite, it has no limit; because He is holy, it is the quintessence of all spotless purity; because He is immense, His love is an incomprehensibly vast, bottomless, shoreless sea before which we kneel in joyful silence and from which the loftiest eloquence retreats confused and abashed." -A.W. Tozer on God's love

WHY IT IS GOOD TO GIVE YOUR BEST TO GOD

“Giving your best to God” sounds cliché, but is a reoccurring theme throughout Scripture. Several examples include, Abraham offering his son Isaac (Genesis 22), David dancing before the Lord with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14), the widow who placed two small copper coins into the offering box (Luke 21:1-4), and Mary of Bethany who anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive ointment (John 12:3).

When these events occur in Scripture, those who give are sometimes questioned and/or criticized by onlookers, but blessed by God. Author Warren Wiersbe affirmed, “When you give your best to the Lord, it’s not unusual to be criticized by people who ought to encourage you.” He, however, also asserted that these acts are, “…commended by the Lord.” An example of this is Christ’s response to the widow’s offering in Luke 21:3-4. He says, “This poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Yesterday I told the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1. She made a promise to God that if He would give her a son, she would give her son back to God all the days of her sons life. It is difficult to read this story and not question Hannah’s promise. If she greatly wants a child, why would she turn around and give the child up? The answer is given in next chapter. After Hannah gives her son to the Lord she does not go off to be by herself and sulk, but offers a song of thanksgiving. Why? Because giving God ones best brings great joy.

I told our kids that you can always entrust God with your most prized possession. This is easier to do when one realizes that all things belong to Him and that giving them to God brings joy. Many have criticized people for making sacrifices because they have failed to grasp the estimate of God’s worth. When one realizes this, they will consider nothing too costly to give to God. 1 Samuel 2 validates Hannah's understanding of God’s worth. She does not hesitate to give her son back to God because she knows her son is left in the care of the one true God who is holy and sovereign and who faithfully cares for His own (2:9).

Another reason there is great joy in giving ones prized possession to God is the fact that he can use anyone or anything for His glory. As one reads about the rest of Samuel’s ministry, they discover that he was not only cared for, but played an important part in God’s redemptive story. He is remembered as a great leader of Israel. He worked as a judge, prophet, and priest. During King Saul’s wicked reign, Samuel also anointed David who was Jesus’ ancestor and became one of Israel’s greatest rulers.

Wiersbe, Warren. 1 Samuel. The Exposition Commentary. Colorado Springs: Cook Communication Ministries, 209.

"Quote" of the Week

"Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to bestow benefits upon the undeserving. It is a self-existent principle inherent in the divine nature and appears to us as a self-caused proponent to pity the wretched, spare the guilty, welcome the outcast, and bring into favor those who were before under just disapprobation. Its use to us sinful men is to save us and make us sit together in heavenly places to demonstrate to the ages the exceeding riches of God's kindness to us in Christ Jesus." -A.W. Tozer