Truth Magazine

By Earl E. Robertson

The Bible is replete with instruction, both positive and negative, for the behavioral patterns of acceptable living for all men. This is a most difficult lesson for men to learn, even some professing Christianity. We all must recognize that there are no alternatives when God speaks. He blesses the obedient, and condemns the disobedient. This lesson God has stressed from Eden to the present. His word continues to say the same, but men like Adam of old, continue to find what they conceive to be an acceptable alternative to obedience (see 1 Sam. 15:19-25).

The pressures of life, witnessed in all relationships of human endeavor, have a tendency to cause man to move from complete honesty with God and man that he becomes nothing more than a “man pleaser.” The giving in to these various pressures do not justify our actions; it is never right to do wrong (Rom. 3:8). To not do the right thing is to do the wrong (cf. James 4:I7). Paul says, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col. 3:22, 23). The same is stated in Ephesians 6:5-7. These are the only times this word is used in the New Testament and is herein used in the nominative plural. The basic idea of the word is: “studying to please men, courting the favor of men!”

It seems rather strange that a man would make more effort to please men than he would to please God. God says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25), but men will do this purely out of desire to please some human being! One who makes no effort to do the will of God in this matter, but rather justifies his doings as a “man pleaser” has no right to the fellowship of God or His people. Some Christians (?) have visitors or they go visiting on the Lord’s day, but to be pleasing to all concerned (but the Lord), they just visit and forget all about the Lord! The basic, underlying sin in this behavior is “men pleaser.” There is no love and reverence for God in this, all efforts are to please men. Such, as Christians, need to publicly repent that God and His people may forgive and the sinner be restored. Too many people take this matter lightly and it is eternally dangerous!

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 6, p. 209
April 7, 1983

By Thomas L. Andrews

Our imagination can be very useful when it is channeled toward spiritual evaluation. One often wonders what it would be like to live in another time or if you had actually been someone else. There might be profit in this if we will be objective in answering appropriate questions. Choose a time similar to ours. For instance, what if you had been Noah? That is, if Noah had your characteristics, would the Bible story have to be changed? We know the story of Noah as recorded in Genesis 6-7; you know it yourself, so let’s consider them together.

The story of the flood and a man “perfect in his generations” is a very familiar one. God was disgusted with the continually sinful lives of the people of that time. Finding Noah to be a righteous man, God gave a very unique command. Build an ark to save yourself! Is the world so different today? Peter’s cry on Pentecost is still appropriate today: “Save yourselves.” Put yourself in Noah’s place. What would you have done when God gave you the command?

If you had been Noah, would you have found favor in the eyes of God? The matter is of initial importance. What kind of a life is yours? How often do you inventory your spiritual qualities? This is a matter that is too serious to simply take for granted. Is your life or character fit for spiritual work? At times, our hands are dirty, consequently we can’t do a particular job until we wash them. So, our lives might be stained with sin or unprepared.

Preparation is essential for one to be useful in God’s kingdom. First, there must be the remission of sins by becoming a Christian. Our preparation is just beginning. We must study. By diligently applying ourselves to God’s word we may be an approved workman (2 Tim. 2:15). Readiness is a factor that sometimes is overlooked. Properly prepared Christians are ready and willing to take up some spiritual work. Would you have found favor in the sight of God?

If you had been Noah, would you have built the ark? Would you have taken the responsibility? Building the ark was a major construction job. Undoubtedly, no such structure had been built before and there was little evidence for its need of usefulness. A boat 450 feet long is gigantic even by today’s standards, much less in Noah’s time. A common reaction is “I don’t want to take on so much responsibility.”

There is responsibility in being a Christian. One cannot evade this and have any hope of heaven. The idea of not taking any responsibility as a member of the church is absurd. Yet men and women are frequently guilty of this. When some work is mentioned as needing to be done it is easy to say, “Let someone else do it” or “I’ll help but I won’t be responsible for it.” Such reasoning hinders all Christians in serving the Lord and reaching their potential as servants of God. We can’t bury our “talents” in earth and expect to be rewarded (Mt. 25:14-30). The early disciples took the Lord’s cause to heart as they “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). When we refuse to teach others or fail to do our part in the church, we demonstrate that we would not have built the ark.

If you had been Noah, would you have built the ark according to God’s pattern? Innovation has no place when it comes to doing God’s work. That is, where God’s will is specific we must act accordingly. This has been an acute problem for men through the ages. Learn this lesson. God had a definite idea about the plans for the building of the ark. That is why he specified the materials, dimensions, and design. Noah did not have the right to change anything that God had told him. All of the work had to be done according to God’s pattern.

The church has been plagued by institutional issues in recent times and the effect of modernism is easily seen. Some Christians will tow the line on the “issues” but fail to see or show little concern about the rest of God’s pattern. The home is very much a part of God’s plan. His way is right. What one wears, how one lives from day to day in relation to others are questions whose answers are to be found in God’s pattern. God has a plan for your life. Are you following it?

If you had been Noah, would you have been satisfied to save only those that God said should be? Read that again. This last question is very serious and quite appropriate for our times. Modernists are seeking to take away responsibility for one’s action. However, this principle has an eternal quality about it that we need to face up to. God has set forth the conditions of salvation. Disobedient people will be lost. In Noah’s day, God closed the door to the ark. No doubt, when the water began to rise there were several people that remembered the preaching of Noah and wanted to get in, but the door was closed.

Sympathy and efforts are misplaced today. Rather than trying to see how someone could be saved out of the church we ought to be trying to get them in the church. Instead of worrying whether God will have mercy on some good person we ought to be trying to teach them the truth.

Yes, people are going to be lost and the sooner we accept that fact, the sooner we will begin to work at saving some. Are you satisfied with God’s way? Then let’s act like it.

What if you had been Noah?

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 6, pp. 208-209
April 7, 1983

By Jimmy Tuten

When Martha complained to Jesus that her sister Mary had neglected the housework in order to listen to spiritual teaching, He answered, “Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful; for Mary hath chosen the good part which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42). How deeply these words should cut into the hearts of many Christians today who fail to choose the good part of life. Too many are “cumbered about much serving” and have no time to listen to the wonderful words of life.

But the men are guilty of this as well as the worldly minded “Martha’s.” Too often we get so involved in the little things that we overlook the things that really matter. We become “entangled in the affairs of this life” and thus fail to please our Lord (2 Tim. 2:2). We have to have the yard mowed and the house cleaned. We spend much time working out in the garden and washing the car, but what about the Lord? How concerned are we about the time we spend studying His Word and teaching it to others?

Christ did not rebuke Martha for doing her cooking and serving. But she was wrong for putting more emphasis on that than on spiritual matters.

Neither will we be in error by washing the car, mowing the grass, or cleaning the house. The question is, “Which comes first?” Which is more important? Let us not make the mistake Martha made by getting involved in unimportant things to the neglect of the things that really matter.

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 6, p. 208
April 7, 1983

By Luther Bolenbanker

There is no doubt that others rule our lives to a great extent. Other people make us happy or unhappy. Others cause us to feel good or frustrated, they produce feelings of resentment or kindness toward them and others.

An expression we sometimes use is, “You are a pain in the neck.” This is a fact, doctors tell us that others can cause headaches and pains in the neck, or ulcers or nerve problems, mental anguish and frustration. People can make us feel like a million bucks or two cents.

It is amazing the power that other people have over us. If someone says to us, “Don’t tell me you’re wearing that old blue suit again!”, it normally will cause us to vow to buy another suit or determine that we will never wear that suit again. If someone shouts at us we tend to shout back at them. If someone is angry with us it is extremely difficult to refrain from being angry with them.

The apostle Paul tells us, “Be ye imitators of me, even as 1 also am-of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). The strength of Christ’s character can be seen in that moment, when the shouting, jeering mob falsely accused Him, when the chief priest ridiculed Him, when the governor questioned Him, and when the Roman soldiers beat Him, yet, He remained silent, composed and in full command of His life and mission here upon the earth.

When we discover and learn that agonizing over the past, nursing bitterness over failures and missing out on relationships with others prevents us from joyfully living life now, then we will be in control of our lives, not someone else.

It is natural that we be influenced by other people, and that is not all bad. Both good and bad influences can come from those who are good or evil. Let us keep our lives in the proper balance and discern between good and evil. Why permit the venom of someone else’s sour attitude to poison our life.

Don’t let others influence you to the point that they cause us “a pain in the neck.” What type of influence do you provide and show to others?

Guardian of Truth XXVII: 6, p. 207
April 7, 1983