Truth Magazine

 

‘Tis sweet to grow old in the fear of the Lord,

When we cease our tasks one by one;

When His strong right hand helps us stand,

Till the last day’s labor is done.

‘Tis sweet to grow old in the fear of the Lord;

To live ‘neath His loving restraints;

‘Tis sweet to grow old in the fear of the Lord;

As life’s shadows longer creep;

Till our steps grow slow, and our sun swings low,

He gives beloved sleep!

(Faith in the Future, copied from The Vegas Dive Messenger, January 7, 1966.)

Old Age is a privilege.

You cannot buy it.

You cannot sell it.

You cannot earn it.

You cannot inherit it.

You cannot merit it.

So if you are fortunate enough to have it, for heaven’s sake enjoy it: and don’t complain about it. Remember, if you were not old – you would be dead!

(Edna Long. The Visitor, copied from The Vegas Drive Messenger, January 7, 1966.)

Guardian of Truth XL: 9 p. 4
May 2, 1996

By Jeff DeVaney

It seems that, as time passes, people are becoming lazy. Most tend to seek the easy way out in the things they do. This is due perhaps to the technological advances that we have around us today. Most of the things we have are in-tended to make life easier. There is nothing wrong with having the modern conveniences of life. But often these cause us to become lazy in our effort. No longer do we have to put forth hard, diligent labor; we become idle and slothful. Of course, some become more lazy than others.

Those who work in factories often see this very thing. It seems that some who are employed tend to take the easy way out and allow others to do the work for them. They have the idea that they will do the least that they can to get by. This is something that most of us learn at an early age. As children we usually did just enough to make mom happy so that we could go out and play. When we were in school, we did only what we had to do to receive the grade we wanted. We learned to do the least that we could and get by.

Sadly, this mind set is making its way into the church. There are many Christians who want to serve Jesus but at the same time, they only want to do the least that they can. We have so many conveniences in our everyday lives that we want the easy way out in serving Christ. We desire salvation, but we do not want to put forth any diligent effort to receive it. In Matthew 19:16-22, we can read about one who had this idea. The rich young ruler came to Jesus and asked what commandments he needed to keep. Notice what he was doing. The ruler wanted to know what was the least that he could do and have eternal life. We commend the young man for his desire to receive eternal life, but he leaves the impression that he wanted the easy way out. This man went away in sorrow because Jesus told him to do more than he wanted. This man wanted to do the least that he could and please God. Since this tends to be the mind set of a majority of Christians, I believe that we need to understand what is the least that we can do and please him.

So what is the least that we can do? Jesus tells us in Luke 17:7-10: “And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, `Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, `Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, `We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.- Jesus shows us that the least that we can do is “. . . all those things which we are commanded!” He says that the least we can do is the most we can do! Read that again. The least that we can do is the most that we can do! God requires us to do all that he has commanded to the best of our abilities.

God is not pleased when we give him our least. He expects more from us than that! Consider the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. We can see that five virgins did as much as they could do to be ready for the marriage; while the other five did what we could classify as their least. We know that the five who entered the marriage were those who made adequate preparations. Those who did the most that they could! Jesus tells us to do more than our least in Matthew 5:38-42. He says, “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.” Jesus expects us to go that second mile in our efforts. He demands that we put forth our best effort! Jesus blessed the poor widow in Mark 12:41-44, not because of the amount she put into the treasury, but because she did the most that she could! This is what God desires and demands of us!

When we think of the least that we can do in serving God, it’s simple. We need to do all that God has given us to do. This is exactly what God expects of us. God has given us commands to follow and he is pleased only when we obey those commands. John wrote in 1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” There is nothing hard or difficult about obeying God and keeping His will. His commands are not a burden for us to bear. Now, there will at times, be commands that seem difficult, but we can keep them because God does not require us to do that which we cannot do. God bases our accountability to him, in part, to our ability! As Jesus taught, we are to do all that he commands, because we are able!

Too many Christians desire the easy way out. They want to allow others to do the work while they do as little as possible. Often this causes them to become lukewarm. And we remember the Lord’s warning to those who were lukewarm in Revelation 3:14-22. Often, we teach that God does not accept half-hearted service. God wants us to put forth our best effort in all that we do. Paul stated, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Cor. 8:12).

We would all do well to remember Paul’s admonition in 2 Corinthians 9:6. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” We must be sowing bountifully and doing all that we can to the best of our ability! This is how we please God and become accepted by him. The least that we can do for God is the most we can do! So, let us deter-mine to all that we can; it is, after all, our duty!

Guardian of Truth XL: 8 p. 12-13
April 18, 1996

By James W. Adams

We would not bring you back again to us,

Brave Soldiers of Redemption’s bloody Cross,

But wish for yesterday, we often do

As we remember you and mourn our loss.

Churches which you served yet love, work, and live.

You would be proud of them if you were here.

The truth which you preached so powerfully,

To them, has been the answer to all fear.

We remember yet the lessons which you taught,

And how they filled our hearts with Heaven’s light.

We remember how they moved us to obey,

Firmly, to take our stand for truth and right.

Today, we reap rich fruit from seed you sowed:

True products of your brave and noble fight.

We remember the sacrifices which you made

That we might darkness flee and walk in light.

And so, by reason of your “work of faith,”

The “love” that made “your labor” true,

The “patient hope” that made you persevere.

We praise our Lord! as we remember you.

[Written in memory of the many great preachers of the “Ancient Gospel” whom I have known, heard, and loved. Based on Paul’s statements: “We give thanks to God al-ways for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God our Father” (1 Thess. 1:2, 3).]

Guardian of Truth XL: 8 p. 11
April 18, 1996

By Donnie V. Rader

Previously we have defined meekness and considered the passages that demand that we be meek as the Lord was meek. In this study we will list some areas wherein we need to apply meekness. Remember that meekness involves: (a) humility toward God and man, (b) submission to God’s will, (c) accepting the discipline we receive, (d) gentleness and mildness, and (e) self-control or inner mastery or strength.

Receive The Word With Meekness

James wrote, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (Jas. 1:21). This means that we will accept and do what the word says. We will not question and doubt. We will believe and do. None of us is wise enough to sit in judgment on God and question what his word says (Rom. 11:34). Therefore, with meekness (humility and submission) we accept what God says.

It is not uncommon to see people who pass what the word of God says through the process of human reasoning to see if they think it is acceptable or not. If it doesn’t fit their own wisdom, they reject it. That doesn’t just happen among the denominations either!

One who is meek is teachable. He is willing to listen and be taught. He has an open mind (Acts 17:11). One who is meek never resents being shown the truth.

Teach With Meekness

Paul instructed the young preacher Timothy saying, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God per–adventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:24-25, Emphasis mine DVR).

As we give our defense for our faith, we are to do so with meekness. Peter said, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Pet. 3:15).

One who seeks to teach others must himself submit to the message that is taught (1 Tim. 4:16). The Jews didn’t have much success in trying to change the Gentiles while they were guilty of the same sins they condemned (Rom. 2).

He must not be an arrogant, know-it-all as he seeks to instruct others. Rather, he must be open to learning himself. We must not confuse confidence as a teacher with arrogance. We must be confident of our ability as well as the message. But that is not necessarily arrogance.

Furthermore, as we teach we may have to endure some hardness as a soldier (2 Tim. 2:3). There will be times we will take a little heat for what we have taught. Learning to bear with that is part of meekness.

Correct Sin With Meekness

When a brother or sister is guilty of sin, those who are spiritual are instructed to “restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). As we go to our fellow Christian, we cannot approach them with a “better-than-thou” (self-righteous) attitude. We cannot afford to look down our noses at them as to say, “How dare you to be guilty of sin.”

Our approach will be more successful if we: (1) are humble, (2) realize it could happen to us, (3) don’t leave the impression that we think we are guiltless [1 John 1:8] and (4) show our love and compassion. This doesn’t suggest that we take a soft approach to sin. It just means that we deal with it and the sinner with a spirit of meekness.

Deal With Problems And

Disagreements With Meekness

In Ephesians, Paul urges all Christians to strive toward unity. In the fourth chapter he mentions some of the attitudes that will help promote unity. He writes, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:2-3).

Problems and disagreements can disrupt the unity that a local church enjoys. If we all had meekness in dealing with church problems and disagreements, few if any divisions would occur. With meekness the first question will always be “What does the Lord want?” or “What is right?” The question will not be, “What do I want?” With meekness we will control our tongues (Jas. 1:19, 26). The tongue causes many, if not most, of the problems and disagreements in local churches.

With meekness we will not insist on our “rights.” Rather, we will waive those rights for the sake of the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 9). With meekness we will not easily come to blows with those we disagree with.

Meekness As A Characteristic

Of Our Whole Life

Meekness is not merely a “tool” that we pull out when we are teaching or being taught, etc. It is a quality that should characterize our life. All Christians, not just some should be meek. The fruit of the spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Gal. 5:22-23). All Christians are instructed to “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering” (Col. 3:12).

In another article we will focus on temperance and see areas wherein we need to apply it.

Guardian of Truth XL: 8 p. 18-19
April 18, 1996