Archive for the ‘Contentment’ Category
Generosity, Greed, Money, Money-management, Wealth
In Advice, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Contentment, Decision Making, Generosity, Greed, Money, Money-management, Proverbs, Responsibility, Uncategorized, Wealth on May 16, 2023 at 5:39 pm
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
Greed’s Reward
We are ensnared by our own desires. If we have a converted righteous heart, we desire what is good and pleasing to God. If we have a heart that has not been handed over to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction, we expect the worse and most likely should (v.23).
When you seek to do good favor comes upon you (v.27). However, if you seek to do wrong you shall have wrong done to you many times over (v.27).
When you look at the meaning of the word “expectation” in the Hebrew language, you find that the wicked are actually bond to wrath by cords that will drag them there, as they give themselves to wicked deeds (v.23). They know wrath is coming. Sadly, you will see it is what they hope for, live for, and long for, which is horribly sad, and to me, very hard to believe.
Here is the definition from the Hebrew for the word “expectation” in this verse:
8615. תִּקְוָה tiqvâh, tik-vaw’; from 6960; lit. a cord (as an attachment [comp. 6961]); fig. expectancy:— expectation ([-ted]), hope, live, thing that I long for.
6960. קָוָה qâvâh, kaw-vaw’; a prim. root; to bind together (perh. by twisting), i.e. collect; (fig.) to expect:— gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).
The more we hold on to, the less we will have (v.24). Greed will cause loss in life. Greed is tricky because it might appear to be working for a season and then boom, it all blows up and what a person had is gone, usually all gone. We have seen this play out in the media time and time again by those who had great wealth coupled with great greed. If a person is trusting in their money to protect them, they are going to one day find themselves without….(v.28) for ultimately money will fail you, and you will fall in some manner (this word “fall” in v.28 has many applications.)
On the other hand, we have also seen those who acquire great wealth, are extremely generous, and tend to hold on to their wealth. That is because those people who give liberally, who share and are generous, are rewarded by God (v.25). In the Hebrew language the word “liberal” in verse twenty-five in part means “by implication prosperity” – give and it shall be given to you (Luke 6:28).
People hate greedy people. They tend to be a source of much distain (v.26). Yet, the person who is generous is a person who is looked upon favorably (v.26). Scripture makes it clear in verse twenty-six, and in many different areas, that generous giving people are a blessed people.
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Throughout this study, if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Change, Christ, Christian Lifestyle, Coronavirus, Coronavirus/COVID-19, COVID-19, Easter, God, God’s Voice, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Marriage, Parenting, PERSONAL GROWTH, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, RELATIONSHIPS, Renewal, Repentance, Suffering, Truth, Unity
In Adultery, Agape Love, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Contentment, Coronavirus, Coronavirus/COVID-19, Couples, COVID-19, Disunity, Divorce, Godliness, Learning, Lifestyle, Love, Marriage, Renewal, Repentance, Revival, Righteous Living, Righteousness, Uncategorized, Unity, Wisdom on April 2, 2021 at 8:33 am
Over the last few posts we have taken a look at the GOD growth in individuals and families during the pandemic. Today we take on the matter of growth in the couple relationship. I use the term GOD growth because God wants to bring about change in people that draws them closer to Him and that causes them to implement His Principles regardless of whether or not they have come to trust in Him for their salvation as of yet or not. God is about seeing His Will and His Principles come about in our society, in our homes, and in us personally before and after we enter that personal relationship with Him.
Questions to ponder. Why do people find it easier to bad mouth their significant other or spouse rather than express openly to other people what they like about the person? Why are their negative traits a more interesting topic of discussion than their positive traits? Society presents the idea that to complain about your spouse is funny and entertaining, but is it really? Why does society want to perpetuate the idea that loving relationships are rare and so hard to come by?
Locked down, locked up, with your spouse during COVID-19; now this will make or break a marriage. When there is only the two of you, no children, no other distractions, you find out really quick whether or not you are just two ships passing in the night or two hovercrafts rotating around each other but never really coming in contact, not true contact. I believe if you went through this last year together primarily in lockdown and you still actually want to be together you might actually have a pretty solid relationship.
When we are alone with someone day in and day out, with them and with no one else, we see everything about them that we perhaps did not notice or that at other times are they were better able to hide. Especially during a crisis like the pandemic, we see their fears emerge, we see their insecurities at large, we see their compassion or lack thereof on display, we see their generosity and love or their selfishness and hatefulness. We talk to them more; we find out more about what makes them tick. We explore with them their hopes and dreams because when you are in a situation like we are in during this pandemic, locked down at home primarily, you cannot endlessly ignore the only other person in your spear, in your world for that matter for the most part, and you cannot talk about nothing nonsense forever. So eventually you dig down to what really matters, and that is when you begin to draw close to one another.
In this time of couple reflection many were able to find out how loved and cared for they made their spouse feel and the ways in which they did that. Also, they might have found out the ways in which they do not make their spouse feel loved and cared for and what they could do about it to change the negative impact on the relationship. For many it was a time of realigning the relationship and finding once again common goals and dreams.
A marriage is a covenant relationship. When someone badmouths their spouse for fun and the entertainment of people, they are betraying that covenant. What you speak about your spouse affect how you feel about your spouse. Your spoken words have a powerful effect on you and other people. People should rarely if ever hear from you what you believe to be “wrong” with your spouse or so my parents who believed in absolute loyalty taught me, just as the Bible teaching not to speak negative or harsh words (curses) against people. I have never found it entertaining to hear people teardown their spouse, and from what I have heard from other people they too think it terrible to listen to someone else do so, thinking badly of the person who is badmouthing their spouse, even if they themselves have been guilty of likewise at times.
I believe the select few in society who are not willing to do the work needed for a loving caring relationship like to perpetuate the idea that loving caring relationships are so terribly difficult to come by, in order to make themselves feel better about their own lack. Let them live in their isolation and loneliness, do not get sucked in, value the relationship you have and act like you do.
I want to close each of this series of postings with a quote from the original post, “COVID-19 – God and Man at Work.”
“Blessings from God are not just material or financial, more often the greater ones (blessings) are intangible such as growth and change.”
Change, Christ, Christian Lifestyle, Coronavirus, Coronavirus/COVID-19, COVID-19, Easter, God, God’s Voice, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Marriage, Parenting, PERSONAL GROWTH, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, RELATIONSHIPS, Renewal, Repentance, Suffering, Truth, Unity
In Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Contentment, Coronavirus, Coronavirus/COVID-19, COVID-19, Disunity, Divorce, God's Voice, Godliness, Learning, Lifestyle, Love, Marriage, Parenting, Repentance, Revival, Righteous Living, Righteousness, Uncategorized, Unity, Wisdom on March 18, 2021 at 10:30 am
In the last post we took a look at the GOD growth in individuals during the pandemic. Family growth is the topic of this post. I use the term GOD growth because God wants to bring about change in people that draws them closer to Him and that causes them to implement His Principles regardless of whether or not they have come to trust in Him for their salvation as of yet or not. God is about seeing His Will and His Principles come about in our society, in our homes, and in us personally before and after we enter that personal relationship with Him.
Questions to ponder. Why do people find it easier to talk about the dysfunction of their and other people’s families than they are able to find the courage to talk about the positive loving things within their family? Has society’s distorted view of family made people where they feel almost ashamed of loving, caring, normalcy?
Boy has the family dynamic changed over the last year amidst the COVID-19 lockdowns. With children out of school. Some parents unfortunately unemployed, and most of the other parents working from home, family has taken center stage.
We have all seen the news reports, where the anchor is attempting to do a new story via Zoom from home and the child is in the background doing all they can to get that parents attention, making the parents task almost impossible. Sometimes it is so cute you just cannot help but laugh. Other times it seems that the child is driving the parent to distraction. And on any given day it might be a little of both. Nevertheless, during the pandemic families have been forced to be together.
Just as with the private individuals, of course there are incidents where families crammed together had a negative impact for the family members. However in those situations there were most likely deep deep problems prior to the family finding themselves in lockdown together.
For many people, the endless hours of family togetherness have resulted in finding new ways to spend that time together. Finding out more about each other. A realization that all of the busy activities that both the parents and the children were involved in were robbing them of what was precious time together. It no doubt unearthed cracks in the foundation of the family that needed some repair. It helped fathers to realize what they are made out of as a father. It helped mothers to come to terms with just how much nurturing of their children they were doing and willing to do. For the children, it just may have created a new found respect for their mothers and their fathers and a greater understanding of them as real people.
For many families it created a much-needed family reset, which in America we need greatly for the American families to function in a moral and godly manner. God wants us to lift up the wholesomeness of family, not the dysfunction. To find the courage to speak out about the loving manner in which families should function or do function. We cannot allow the distortions of a backwards society make us hide our light under a bushel, when it comes to lifting up the ideal of loving, caring, normalcy in the family unit.
I want to close each of this series of postings with a quote from the original post, “COVID-19 – God and Man at Work.”
“Blessings from God are not just material or financial, more often the greater ones (blessings) are intangible such as growth and change.”
Change, Christ, Christian Lifestyle, Coronavirus, Coronavirus/COVID-19, COVID-19, Easter, God, God’s Voice, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Marriage, Parenting, Prophecy, Prophet, Prophetess, RELATIONSHIPS, Renewal, Repentance, Suffering, Truth, Unity
In Agape Love, Attitude, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Church Growth, Contentment, Coronavirus, Coronavirus/COVID-19, COVID-19, Disunity, God's Voice, Godly Counsel, Holy Spirit, Love, Marriage, Repentance, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on February 28, 2021 at 9:25 am
During the whole of the pandemic we have heard so much about the negative affects that the isolation and the restrictive movement have had on people’s lives, or so we hear in our local media. However, I challenge the notion that it has been all bad.
What has God been doing in the lives of people as He kept children at home, dads at home, moms at home, couples at home together? What has God been doing during the time when He stripped away religious practice and worship truly was up to the private individual, in their own way, in their own home?
Has there been mental and emotional, and perhaps even spiritual problems due to the isolation and the restricted movements of the pandemic? Yes, of course there have been. There has been horrible abuse, horrible loneliness, and sin has existed. However, there has also been great growth for individuals, for families, and for couples. Growth we will explore in more depth in another post. There has also been more time for individuals to take a good look at themselves, to explore their own inner spiritual person, come to terms with and perhaps do something in response to what they discovered during the isolation that God has allowed in their life.
The pandemic has caused financial loss, but I dare to say that in a spiritual and relational level it has done more good for people than harm, and certainly more good than what was financially lost. Blessings from God are not just material or financial more often the greater ones are intangible such as growth and change.
Sometimes God has to get people’s attention, sometimes God has to get a country’s attention, but God always leaves people who are repentant better off than they were when He started a particular work in their life.
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In Biblical Principles, Christian Living, Confusion, Contentment, Decision Making, Devotional, Discretion, Godly Counsel, Knowledge, Proverbs, Prudence, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on February 27, 2020 at 2:15 pm
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew or Greek definition(s).
13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Foolish Man Foolish Woman Equals Hell
Ever wondered why men are so easily taken with silly, dumb, or dumb acting, women who hang on their very word? Because when it comes to women men are often led by their lust not by their intelligence, wisdom, or the Spirit of God. They are drawn to the seduction these women offer, “stolen waters” that they should be tampering with (v.14-17). However, man’s foolish response to a foolish woman leads them both to the “depths of hell” and rightfully so; why should foolishness be rewarded (v.18).
Now fair warning here, the descriptions from the Hebrew language of the “foolish woman” who is “clamorous” and “simple” is pretty harsh (v.13). There is no doubt many women or men for that matter will identify with what it is to be “foolish, clamorous, and simple” on some level and to some degree. However, if we recognize these things in ourselves, we need to pray for God to remove them, repent, and turn away from such behaviors.
To be “foolish” equals “silly, be foolish, probably fat, figuratively stupid” in the Hebrew. When I saw the definition it all made sense expect for one part, “probably to be fat” then the revelation; if one is fat there are acts of foolishness on that person’s part hat led to that condition and being fat show a lack of discipline and self-control over the body (with rare legitimate medical exceptions). Hard to write, hard to admit, but true in most cases.
To be “clamorous” in the Hebrew is defined as:
1993. הָמָה hâmâh, haw-maw’; a prim. root [comp. 1949]; to make a loud sound (like the English “hum”); by impl. to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor:— clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar.
1949. הוּם hûwm, hoom; a prim. root [comp. 2000]; to make an uproar, or agitate greatly:— destroy, move, make a noise, put, ring again.
The English “hum” would be something like a sigh that we do in America, a sound meant to express some form of displeasure.
Tumultuous means to lack restraint.
My only response to this definition, ouch!
The meaning of “simple” in the Hebrew as it relates to the woman is “silliness in a seductive way” which leads us back to my opening the “dumb blonde” act (v.13-15 )– absolutely no offense meant at all toward blonde women, but it is term people know and understand the cultural meaning of in America. As far as the word relates to men who respond to this type of women; to be “simple” on their part mean to be “silly, foolish, and deluded” (v.16).
Women would be far better off to not conduct themselves in clamorous ways and men would be far better off not to be taken in by seductive daisy who will only lead them to hell.
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Abominations, Abuse, Adultery, Advice, Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Principles, Blessing, Chastisement, Choices, Christian, Christian Lifestyle, Christian Living, Christianity, Compassion, Confusion, Contentment, Correction, Crime, Curses, Death, Decision Making, Desire, Devotional, Discipline, Discretion, Encouragement, Equality, Evil, Exhortation, Fairness, Favor, Fear, Flattery, Generosity, Godly Fear, Good, Grace, Growing, Guidance, Happiness, Hate, Hatred, Health, Heart, Ignorance, Illness, Information, Insomnia, Jealousy, Justice, King Solomon, Knowledge, Laziness, Learning, Life, Loans, Long Life, Longevity, Mercy, Money, Neighbors, Oppression, Parents, Peace, Poverty, Protection, Proverbs, Prudence, Renewal, Righteousness, Safety, Security, Seven Deadly Sins, Sexual Abuse, Shame, Sickness, Sin, Sovereignty, Spirituality, Stealing, Strength, Teachable, Trust, Truth, Wickedness, Wisdom
In Advice, Authority, Biblical Principles, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian Living, Contentment, Decision Making, Discernment, Discretion, Godly Counsel, Knowledge, Prudence, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on February 22, 2020 at 1:07 pm
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew definition(s).
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Security and Long Life
The starting point for wisdom is to have a proper fear of God. Without a proper fear of God you will most likely not be someone given to the use of godly wisdom. People who mock and scorn the things of God are people who usually act in very foolish prideful manners thinking they have life all figured out.
Fearing the LORD, Jehovah, has different aspects to its dynamics (v.10). Before I go into to those aspects let me provide you with the definition of this word “fear” found in verse ten from the Hebrew language.
“fear” in the Hebrew language means:
3374. יִרְאָה yir˒âh, yir-aw’; fem. of 3373; fear (also used as infin.); mor. reverence:— × dreadful, × exceedingly, fear (-fulness).
3373. יָרֵא yârê˒, yaw-ray’; from 3372; fearing; mor. reverent:— afraid, fear (-ful).
3372. יָרֵא yârê˒, yaw-ray’; a prim. root; to fear; mor. to revere; caus. to frighten:— affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence (-end), × see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).
When we fear the LORD, we have a moral reverence for Him, His Ways, His Purposes, His Will, and His Wisdom. We have a keen sense of the Almighty’s power and position in the universe and rightfully fear what that power is capable of if need be in the face of evil. God loves, but God is not a marshmallow man or a teddy bear He is the HOLY ALMIGHTY GOD and we should be afraid both for other people and ourselves should they or we fail to follow God’s wisdom. We can learn to fear God by learning about and understanding His character or we can learn to fear God through painful trial and error, it is our choice.
To have “knowledge” of the holy is, according to the Hebrew language, to have awareness of the holiness of God and the sacredness of the things of God (v.10). This is where getting to know God, His Ways, His Character, His Purposes, and His Word is important. There is truly no other way to come to a proper understanding of God. Having this type of “knowledge” about God’s and God’s holiness is “understanding” and according to the Hebrew language understanding is a form of “wisdom” (v.10).
The use of wisdom comes with a spiritual law and effect or what some might call a promise. It is more of a spiritual law than a promise. The use of wisdom will lead to a much greater chance of a longer life (v.11). If we do what God directs that is best for us, wise, live according to His Will not our own will or desires, we are likely to live much longer, and I dare say have a much better quality of life along the way.
There is security in the use of wisdom. If you use godly wisdom under God’s guidance following His directives and things “appear” to go wrong, I use the word appear because if you are following God’s Wisdom any difficulties you face have a godly purpose, thus God will be with you in the mist of the difficulty to guide you through and show you His Purpose for allowing the difficulty (v.12).
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Attitudes, God, Godliness, Gratitude, Heart, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving
In Attitude, Biblical Principles, Blessings, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian Living, Contentment, God, Godliness, Gratitude, Suffering, Thanksgiving, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized on November 25, 2019 at 4:32 am
Find out what a godly grateful heart actually is and reflects.
I am hosting a book discussion and a recent section of the book that was reviewed had to do with being thankful. Therefore, as a special Thanksgiving Posting here is an outtake from the book discussion.
Chapter 11: The Attitudes of a Godly Heart (Grateful Heart)
This chapter is broken down into sections that cover various aspects of what a godly heart looks like. I will cover one characteristic per posting.
It is such a God Thing that we are here just before Thanksgiving and this is the section of the book that I am currently on, a section that covers the topic of having a grateful heart. God is so good!
The author points out that people who are ungrateful in life grumble and complain about everything and everyone, for them nothing is ever good enough and this becomes a way of life for them. For the Christian the opposite should be true, they should be grateful to God in all things, good or bad circumstances.
Biblical Principles of a Grateful Heart:
1. To be grateful for God’s grace through Christ Jesus, (2 Corinthians 9:15).
2. Showing God gratitude is part of worshipping Him, (Psalm 100:1-5).
3. To be ungrateful to God is reflect the character of an unbeliever, (Romans 1:21).
4. It is a command to be grateful, (Colossians 3:15).
5. Be thankful for whatever GOD brings your way, (1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Job 1:21).
Practical Ways of Living Out A Life as a Person with a Grateful Heart:
1. Look for the grace of God in your trials.
2. Do not be bitter or angry with God when adversity comes your way.
3. Do not live in the land of sinful disappointment instead give your hopes, desires, and dreams to God then wait to see what He wants to do with them.
4. As a thankful person be a joy to be around, do not grumble and complain be cheerful.
5. Worship God with a thankful heart full of gratitude.
At the end of this section, the author makes quite a statement, a statement with which I agree. ‘We must have the right thoughts about God in order to truly be emotionally stable.’
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
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In Advice, Chrisitan Lifestyle, Christian Living, Contentment, Decision Making, Discernment, Godliness, Godly Counsel, Jealousy, Learning, Proverbs, Prudence, Repentance, Stealing, Trust, Truth, Uncategorized, Wisdom on July 21, 2019 at 3:06 pm
The Scripture passages are identified with bold upright font and the author’s notes are identified with italic regular font.
Note – All words or phrases found in quotation marks are actual parts of the Hebrew definition(s).
34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
Green-eyed Monster
Jealousy can create all types of evil. It can cause a person to steal, to cheat, to lie, and to kill. Verse thirty-four states that jealousy produces rage in a person. Men have an even tougher time with jealousy than women, but women have greater trouble with envy.
Verse thirty-four also states that it takes away a person’s ability to have empathy or sympathy for another person, it alters a person’s human feelings. The word “spare” in this verse means “to commiserate” with another person. Therefore, by the time jealousy reaches the point of vengeance the person has so nursed their inner rage to the point that it has altered their ability to understanding other people’s feelings, thus the jealousy cannot be appeased as verse thirty-five states.
Jealousy is dangerous in so many ways; relationally, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Jealousy can cause the death of relationships, other people, and yourself. Beware of and do not nurse jealousy, and never under any circumstances attempt to make another person jealous or give another person cause to be jealous.
Jealousy is a byproduct of a lack of contentment and a lack of trust in God. If one were content, they would not have want for what another person has. If a person trusted God, they would not believe that someone else has something they too should have and long for that which God has chosen for them not to have.
If you wish to defeat jealousy in your life replace it with by actively cultivating the traits of trust in God and contentment. Almost any character issue in life can be solves through the active cultivation of the positive polar opposite of the negative trait. Let the fruit of the Holy Spirit replace the fruit of the sinful carnal nature.
Throughout this study if you need the wisdom of God on a matter, and you wish to receive the counsel of another Believer in Christ, please use the “comments” link to send your question to me.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
God's Truth in Love 