Archive for September, 2009
September 30, 2009 at 5:49 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #179: God says to Parents: Instruct and Correct Your Children
Don’t speak to a fool, for he will despise the insight of your words. Don’t move an ancient property line, and don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong, and He will take up their case against you. Apply yourself to instruction and listen to words of knowledge. Don’t withhold correction from a youth; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. Strike him with a rod, and you will rescue his life from Sheol. My son, if your heart is wise, my heart will indeed rejoice. My innermost being will cheer when your lips say what is right. Don’t be jealous of sinners; instead, always fear the Lord. For then you will have a future, and your hope will never fade. Prov 23:9-18 (HCSB)
Parents, the churches and schools are not responsible for training up your children. They are not responsible for instructing and correcting your children as a parent should. Churches and schools are places to learn how to be more effective in living the life you desire for them, but they should expect your children will understand “right and wrong”, and how to be respectful, responsible, and how to be relational with others.
When we examine what is wrong in America today with our school system, the fundamental problem is found in the homes. Parents are not parenting; they are either trying to live their lives vicariously through their children, and thus being a “buddy” rather than a parent, or worse, they are not there for their kids and offer nothing in the form of guidance. Parents are either too involved in their kids’ lives or too far removed from their lives. As a result our children are being dumped into the schools and even into the church programs not getting the proper support at home. They are lacking the right instruction and correction regarding the choices they have to make as young people in this world. The result is the children are not performing as they should in school. They tend to cut every corner, or in other word – cheating on others and themselves because they have no motivation or encouragement to do things the right ways.
A lot of society misunderstands this passage about the “rod” and the parent’s responsibility to utilize it upon their kids. The Bible does not advocate violent punishment against our children, in fact it says love them as the Lord loves them.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise—that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. And fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Eph 6:1-4 (HCSB)
The “rod” in the days of the writing of the proverbs was a sign of “authority” – for the shepherd it was a weapon against predators attacking the sheep. He did not use it on the sheep. He may use it to prod the wayward sheep back to the flock, but never beat it with it. Thus, I would contend that the parent should be vigilant in their responsibility to exercise their God-given responsibility to raise their children under proper instruction and correction as necessary, so that the child will likewise learn to walk according to God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word, just like you. When a child is raised by obedient, loving, God-fearing parents, the children prosper in school and enjoy the benefits of church programs. The parents are involved in their lives, but without vacating their God-given role as parents. Parents must be visible in their children’s lives, and take an interest in what they are doing; knowing who they are associating with and what they are seeing and doing in their busy days. Because only then will they understand and experience the joy of “always fear(ing) the Lord… and, then (they) will have a future, and (their) hope will never fade.”
When parents take back their rightful responsibility, then the schools and churches can do their responsibilities to the delight of all concerned and our children will benefit as God intended. God will then smile upon the parents and their children for a job well done.
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
“Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:16-17 (HCSB)
September 29, 2009 at 5:13 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #178: Focus on Wealth and Lose Your Health
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you, and stick a knife in your throat if you have a big appetite; don’t desire his choice food, for that food is deceptive. Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; stop giving your attention to it. As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky. Don’t eat a stingy person’s bread, and don’t desire his choice food, for as he thinks within himself, so he is. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit the little you’ve eaten and waste your pleasant words. Prov 23:1-8 (HCSB)
Too many young people begin life in the pursuit of wealth to determine their mark of success and happiness for their life. However, as we get older and the wisdom of years prevails, the pursuit of wealth was but a dream that had no finish line. After relationships have been damaged and lives damaged in the perilous pursuit, the truly wise have realized the pursuit was like chasing a phantom in the night: wealth is hard to define clearly and never able to fully grasp onto. Wealth is a fleeting vision that can cause a person to sacrifice their spiritual and physical health in its pursuit. Cautions are placed throughout God’s Word about the matter, and the Lord spoke more about the wicked pursuit of money as an evil that causes us to stumble before God, than anything else.
Does that mean wealth cannot happen for a Godly person? No, but it is a gift from God and what is one man’s wealth is another man’s poverty. Wealth is a fleeting term and thus to pursue it is an impossible journey that will bring a terrible consequence upon those who live their lives upon that quest. However, wealth, like success, comes upon those as a reward for those who focus their lives upon making right choices. When we live in the light of God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word our reward is contentment in the condition we find ourselves, which results in being satisfied with our wealth. We receive the satisfaction of realizing what we did not pursue, and we discover that wealth is not about money, but being content in life with what we have, and finding the value of relationships and the love of family and friends.
Why try to run a race that cannot be won, and has no finish line? Do not waste your physical and spiritual health in the pursuit of wealth, and you will discover what real wealth is! It is a gift that God will give you for keeping your priorities right. Focus upon what really matters and everything else will be taken care of by a loving and caring Lord who defines what an abundant life should be.
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
“Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness—how deep is that darkness!
“No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money… But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6: 19-24, 33-34 (HCSB)
September 28, 2009 at 5:43 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #177: Don’t Write a Check Your Life Cannot Cash!
Don’t rob a poor man because he is poor, and don’t crush the oppressed at the gate, for the Lord will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them. Don’t make friends with an angry man, and don’t be a companion of a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Don’t be one of those who enter agreements, who put up security for loans. If you have no money to pay, even your bed will be taken from under you. Don’t move an ancient property line that your fathers set up. Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand in the presence of kings. He will not stand in the presence of unknown men. Prov 22:22-29 (HCSB)
Why is it we take up relationships that are bad for our health and wealth? We know we are asked by the Lord to care for, not take advantage of, those who cannot take care of themselves, but many still feel they are an easy mark. Why should we risk the wrath of the Lord who stands in the gap for those who need Him the most? Yet, there are some who for the sake of their egos will tear down the helpless to make themselves appear better than they really are. The same people are the ones who are seeking companionship with anyone who will listen and they share their anger and frustration with others just like them. These people hang out together and gossip and murmur about everything, and never have solutions…but always offer a lot of complaints! Ever know any one who argued just for the sake of arguing? The contentious just exist for stirring the emotions of others to make themselves feel better when everyone else is as miserable as they are. Should you get wrapped up in their ways? Beware, you too may learn to stir up contention on your own, and become what you originally hated – a person always angry and miserable about life.
Consider also the person who desires to be needed so bad that he or she agrees to get involved in a financial venture with someone who cannot possibly be successful but believes their venture is worth the risk anyway. Why would you risk what you do not have or afford to lose? By definition that is as foolish as the fool who asked you to get involved in the venture in the first place. Encourage and advise a friend, but never offer collateral for a venture that you cannot afford to lose. The same advice goes for other investments in your life. Never invest money where there is risk of losing involved that you cannot live without. But even more so, never agree to be a co-signer of a loan that exceeds your ability to pay as well. A friendship is crushed when the venture goes bad and the loan is called in. You are on the hook to the same extent as the friend, who likely is no longer a friend when you discover the extent of the loss you cannot cover. Never write a check that you cannot possibly cover in life! The cost always exceeds the original amount we thought.
Be honest with yourself and with others about who you are and what you have and don’t have. Work earnestly and honestly, and respect will be earned. It is respect that is the real profit from earnest and skilled work. The road may seem longer, but the reward is greater. This is the life that the Lord is pleased to see and to encourage. Commit yourself to be what the Lord has created you to be. Be diligent and seek to be the best you can be, and do it honestly and fairly. Do not risk what you have worked so hard to receive. Trust in the Lord when challenges comes, but do not complain. Seek God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word as your path to success and you will succeed. Then you will never worry about writing a check that you cannot cash, because the Lord will make certain you are abundantly rewarded and your needs supplied in life.
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
“ I assure you: I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens] because he is a hired man and doesn’t care about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.” John 10:7-18 (HCSB)
September 26, 2009 at 7:21 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #176: Why Seek Wisdom When You Don’t Listen?
Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge. For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips. I have instructed you today—even you—so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Haven’t I written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge, in order to teach you true and reliable words, so that you may give a dependable report to those who sent you? Prov 22:17-21 (HCSB)
Can you imagine what it must be like to be in God’s position everyday as He contends with all the prayers and petitions from us? So many times, over and over, God hears something like, “Lord, please help me to understand,” or “Lord, please give me the wisdom and words to handle this situation or this relationship issue.” Then God says okay and shares His wisdom to us only to have us reject the response because it does not suit our needs as we want it. Then when we experience the same problems or even a worsening of the problem we blame God for not solving the problem for us or not answering our prayer request. Then God slumps down upon His throne and scratches His head and smiles, and then He whispers to His Son and Spirit: “When will they ever learn to listen?”
There is a specific purpose for God’s written Word because it allows us to receive God’s wisdom in small, digestible bites as we have need. God’s Word allows us to carefully and prayerfully seek answers to life’s problems and challenges by examining not only specific wisdom about the matter, but also many examples and testimonies from God’s chosen people recorded in His Word. However, though we can read the words and see the meaning of the text before our eyes, often our heart wants to declare certain parts of His Word non-applicable to our situation. We declare our matter is unique! We think to ourselves, “I cannot do that, not in my situation.” However, if it is God’s wisdom that you seek, why can’t you realize that God’s wisdom is right before your eyes, and the answer to your problem and situation begins by trusting what He is sharing with you in black and white (sometimes red, when it is Jesus’ own words), even though it seems wrong in your eyes.
When we begin trusting our understanding above God’s wisdom on matters, we are walking in ways that are not God’s ways. When our will seems to deny God’s will, we are not trusting in the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe but our own frail and certainly imperfect desires over His desire for us. When we justify our understanding is not satisfied with His wisdom and guidance on a matter, we just told God, the One who knows all the stars by name and made you and has known you since before conception, that He does not understand and does have the right answers.
Read the passage above once again and understand God is saying to your heart: stop and listen carefully to all He has to say to you. It is for your own good, and is the solution to your issues and problems in life. And, that God is interested in fairness and graciousness to all His creation, even those seemingly awful people that are making your life miserable. God will not give you release from the burden of the problem until you accept His wisdom and counsel on the matter. Only then will you learn the blessings that come from honoring God’s wisdom as the light upon your path in this life. Only then will peace come into your heart!
On matters of the heart: When we seek healing of relationships, only in God’s wisdom can you find not only the power to forgive, but also the ability to forget wrong-doings, including the guilt you may have when you look into your own mirror. When God heals the heart, no scars remain to remind us of the pain and hurt. So what are you waiting for? End the blame game and the name calling, or casting blame everywhere but where it truly belongs – within you. God is waiting for you to not only ask Him for wisdom and counsel, but also to listen and heed what He has to say about the matter, so that He can be the Lord that you desire Him to be for you.
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4:4-9 (HCSB)
September 25, 2009 at 5:48 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #175: Choices Come With Consequences
The slacker says, “There’s a lion outside! I’ll be killed in the streets!” The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit; a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it. Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline will drive it away from him. Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.
Prov 22:13-16 (HCSB)
God’s Word clearly offers each of us with a clear understanding that our life is a long journey full of daily, life-changing choices to be made. And, that each of those life-changing choices comes with consequences that many people try to ignore or refuse to believe will actually happen to them. However, the testimony of so many lives is clear: our choices come with consequences that certainly do alter our lives in some way. Relationships are developed, broken, or somehow altered by our choices. Our finances are impacted in some way by our choices and the consequences that follow. Our future itself is determined by the present choices we make in life! When we realize the reality of our choice making that occurs throughout our life, would it not be in our best interest to walk wiser when we have these life-changing choices to make? Would it not make sense to seek the wisdom to make the right choices to benefit from the right consequences? Why would we continue to make the choices we do when the consequences clearly indicate we are making the wrong decisions, which is evident we do not have the benefit of the wisdom we need to be successful in life as God intended for us?
For some of us we become paranoid and fear rules our life like the man who sees lions in the streets and fears going outside to face life each day. For some they run to the wrong type of companionship that only brings loneliness and broken relationships into our lives. Some of us try to go through life as a fool avoiding instruction and guidance from loving parents and sincere friends. Some selfishly fight through life at the expense of others only to discover they are the real one who they have taken advantage of! Our lifestyle choices produce clear consequences, yet so many think those consequences only happen to fools and ignorant people, but sadly they discover the fool and ignorant person who suffers from their decisions is found in the mirror.
The hope for all of us is the same. No one can walk through life on her or his own. We all need to realize that to live the abundant life that God intended, we need to invest in learning and adopting into our lives God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word! As we walk in life with God as our guide, our choices are right choices and as a result we realize that the consequences we will face will be right and beneficial consequences. Relationships flourish with right choices. Finances are more than sufficient when we make right choices. Our future is more secure and fruitful with the making of right choices. When we have God as our guide, we realize that our choices have consequences that we do not fear but enjoy making each day.
If what you are doing is not working, what choice might you make to change the consequences in your life? Think about it!
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also. But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved! He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in [His] kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation—created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. Eph 2:1-10 (HCSB)
September 24, 2009 at 5:41 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #174: Yes, You Reap What You Sow!
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender. The one who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed. A generous person will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Drive out a mocker, and conflict goes too; then lawsuits and dishonor will cease. The one who loves a pure heart and gracious lips—the king is his friend. The Lord’s eyes keep watch over knowledge, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous. Prov 22:7-12 (HCSB)
Those who invest in taking advantage of others for the pursuit of personal gain will in his or her due season realize that what they perceive as profit is actually a loss! The one who steps over, around, and many times upon others to get ahead may feel empowered by the gains they have made at the expense of others, but the price they pay for such self-centered, self-serving, and self-interested ways is ultimately a lonely self-only existence. Sooner or later, they have misused even their last friend and sacrificed their family to serve their personal goals, and to what aim did it serve? For many of these people their egos are writing checks that their lives cannot cash!
For many others in this world, God’s Word clearly guides them to live a more secure life by never becoming a borrower. Our life should seek to give freely to those in need, never with profit as our motive. When we owe no one, we become free to help others. Likewise, they avoid those in life that freely gossip, murmur, and generally just enjoy mocking others to make themselves feel better. If you are one of those, with these self-serving people out of your life, you will be less tempted to engage in harming others by your words or attitudes as well. Remember, you can do more harm with what you say than what you can actually do.
Therefore, seek out others who like you desire to have a pure heart and seek to please God by seeking God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word. When this is your focus and goal in life, you discover you share a common friend, and His name is Lord Jesus! Only the friends of God seek His face and know the joy of God’s favor and blessings. However, the treacherous and self-seeking are walking away from God to serve their own interests and miss out the abundant life God has available for all who seek Him. They find their life is empty and fleeting, and they can never feel settled or satisfied by what they describe for themselves as success.
Which path do you desire for your life! Walking on your own away from God, or run the race toward and seeking God’s warm embrace? Which offers the best investment for your life?
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he is deceiving himself. But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. For each person will have to carry his own load. The one who is taught the message must share his goods with the teacher. Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Gal 6:2-9 (HCSB)
September 23, 2009 at 5:49 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #173: Is Humility, Honor and Health Found in Your Name?
A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold. The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord made them both. A sensible person sees danger and takes cover, but the inexperienced keep going and are punished. The result of humility is fear of the Lord, along with wealth, honor, and life. There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked; the one who guards himself stays far from them. Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Prov 22:1-6 (HCSB)
How will you be remembered? Take a walk through a cemetery and read the headstones. I believe this little walk will be enlightening, because as you read the epitaphs written about those who were buried, you will learn a little about what people thought about others just like you. Sometimes, more interestingly, what is not said shouts louder than the actual words etched into the stones. But the one common item on every tombstone is the person’s name. While they were alive their name had some kind of value, good or bad, famous or infamous. We all have our name, and as time passes, how people get to know us is reflected in how people know our name. How would people talk about you? Do people desire to be associated with your name?
The Bible makes a big thing about calling upon the name of the Lord, and for some people today that seems to mean the Lord’s name offers some supernatural incantation that miraculously hides all our wickedness and makes us something special! However, that is not what the people in the context of the times when the Bible was written believed. To them, and in many Middle Eastern countries still today, one’s name is very valuable. It is important to them because their name’s reputation honors their family’s reputation that they inherited when they were born into this world. It is important to them to live in a manner that would please all their forefathers. Their name is more valuable than wealth or property. So, in that light, when one calls upon the name of someone else, they are claiming that name as if they desire to be adopted under that honorable name, and they commit to living in manner that honors that family’s name, as well. So in the Bible when it says that the Lord’s name is above all other names on earth or in heaven, it is a name that is the most honorable and influential name, thus it is the most valuable name to commit yourself. To call upon the name of the Lord should not be taken lightly as His name should cause us to tremble in ultimate respect and reverence because of who is represented behind that name. To claim His name and commit to honor it by the way we live our life is an awesome decision, but also an awesome responsibility. However, the Lord enjoys us claiming His name, even works in our life so that we have that opportunity, and when we make that decision for the right reason, He offers us His Spirit as His seal of our adoption into His family.
Money cannot buy honor for our name! Money can get our name recognized, but not honored. I think of those few people who are extremely rich and who build huge monuments upon which they place their names, as if to say “I am great and powerful!” However, it is sad that one needs to erect their extravagant billboards to try and get their name honored, but the truth is, all a person can do with their money like that is get their name known, but never honored. Money cannot determine eternal destination, and sadly makes us believe that our name alone is sufficient and that we need not honor any other name.
With these thoughts in mind, how important is it that we teach our youth today the value of their own name and the respect and desire to be associated with the name above all other names, the Lord, Our Creator, Savior, and Master of all. The way to teach others is to live a life that seeks after God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word every step of every day, as we seek to honor the name we claim to be: Christian. How will you be remembered?
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. “ I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me. Matt 18:1-5 (HCSB)
September 22, 2009 at 5:33 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #172: Lies Only Fool Fools
The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable—how much more so when he brings it with ulterior motives! A lying witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak successfully. A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright man considers his way.
No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel [will prevail] against the Lord. A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the Lord. Prov 21:27-31 (HCSB)
Whether by words or deeds, our lies serve no purpose but to ease our own conscience about our shortcomings in life. We tend to try and mask over the truth to make us appear better than we really are before others. Even in the church, many put on a good show as they dress up in their best and appear to bring their generous offering, but they are really struggling inside about whom they are and who they really serve. These members of the church can be labeled the self-righteous because they challenge others to be as “holy” as them, and talk about those who are not. However, what the self-righteous are really doing is casting out lies to fool themselves about their life choices. In fact, they are not worshiping the Lord, but presenting themselves before others as their own lord.
Those who carefully consider their ways and the ways of others realize their need of seeking God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word. The truly righteous do not compare themselves to no one, but seek to live as the Lord leads. Whereas, the self-righteous live their entire life comparing others to themselves, and they seek no counsel from the Lord. Even when they appear to be reading God’s Word, they create their own convenient interpretation of it to fit their needs and self-serving purposes.
The self-righteous trust only their own resources, but the righteous understand the victory in this life comes solely from the Lord, and that we stand in the way of ourselves if we lose sight of the Lord as the sole source of our wisdom, understanding, and counsel.
The Lord Himself prayed for those who placed Him on the Cross, and thus we too should pray for those we recognize in our midst that do likewise everyday in their lives. Our words and actions serve no benefit in confronting them, but our prayers and ongoing lifestyle choices may help them to see the Lord working through us, and they may realize the lies they have been telling themselves all this time. In the final analysis: lies only fool the fool!
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided His clothes and cast lots. The people stood watching, and even the leaders kept scoffing: “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” Luke 23:34-35 (HCSB)
September 21, 2009 at 5:36 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #171: The Fool, the Proud, the Arrogant!
Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them. The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor. The wise conquer a city of warriors and bring down its mighty fortress. The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble. The proud and arrogant person, named “Mocker,” acts with excessive pride. A slacker’s craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work. He is filled with craving all day long, but the righteous give and don’t hold back. Prov 21:20-26 (HCSB)
“Mocker” is the ring leader of a gang that many like to hang out with. He is distasteful and dastardly in all he does. Yet, he never has a shortage of eager and willing gang members wanting to join his pride of hungry, ravenous lions. “Mocker” walks tall as long as he is surrounded by his posse of proud warriors, and there is nothing they will not do to take what they want when they want it, and to control others for their selfish and prideful purposes.
However, “Mocker” and his gang have a huge weakness: they can do nothing for themselves. They exist solely upon what others have, and never upon what they themselves are able to do, except what they can swindle or steal from others. They serve no value to others in society. They are a cancer that eats away like a parasite upon the living. They leave death wherever their path takes them. However, “Mocker” and his gang members are blinded by their selfish ambitions to believe shortcuts in life are better than hard work. They believe others exist for their purposes, and do not hesitate to humiliate and intimidate to get what they want. But, their pride, which blinds them to the truth, fails to offer them a clear vision of their destiny – a deadend! So when you run into this gang and become a victim their foolish pride and arrogance do not hold back! Give them what they seem to need, and let them continue on their path to destruction. Maybe say a prayer for those who blindly follow the gang in hopes some will see the error of their ways before it is too late.
You see, those who seek God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word know to walk right by “Mocker’s” recruiting station where he is looking for more young men and women who believe they have what it takes to be one who is “the fool”, “the proud” and “arrogant.” The righteous are wise to “mocker’s” attraction, and they know that he seeks death, they seek life; he seeks lies and deception, they seek truth; he seeks all the wrong ways, and they seek right ways! While “mocker” lives by his arrogant words, the righteous live by their wise choices that can tear down the false walls of pride that “mocker” and his gang try to build. The righteous can see through the façade they created, and can sense the choice is simple: accept their invitation that leads to death, or walk away and follow the path that leads to life. Wisdom is the one weapon that the “mocker” cannot overcome, and he will stand defeated as the wise pass him by.
Where are you today? Are you one of the wise, or one susceptible to temptation of the “mocker” and his gang? Do you listen to words of others for guidance, or do you have God as your guide and can stand among the wise in this world and discover life?
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
Now I implore you, brothers, watch out for those who cause dissensions and pitfalls contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Avoid them; for such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good, yet innocent about what is evil. Romans 16:17-19 (HCSB)
September 19, 2009 at 8:28 am · Filed under FCA, First Baptist Ocala
Words of Wisdom #170: Happy Husband’s Motto: Happy Wife is a Happy Life!
Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife. A wicked person desires evil; he has no consideration for his neighbor. When a mocker is punished, the inexperienced become wiser; when one teaches a wise man, he acquires knowledge. The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; He brings the wicked to ruin. The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered. A secret gift soothes anger, and a covert bribe, fierce rage. Justice executed is a joy to the righteous but a terror to those who practice iniquity. The man who strays from the way of wisdom will come to rest in the assembly of the departed spirits. The one who loves pleasure will become a poor man; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich. The wicked are a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous, for the upright. Better to live in a wilderness than with a nagging and hot-tempered wife. Prov 21:9-19 (HCSB)
A number of years ago I attended a Bill Gaither concert and walked out of there with a smile on my face because during the performance I heard wisdom expounded that was like gold nuggets revealed to a desperate prospector. During the night one of the performers was sharing with Bill Gaither about marriage and the performer (I apologize that I cannot remember his name) said to Bill Gaither what the secret of his long and successful marriage was: A Happy Wife is a Happy Life! When I first heard it, I was like so many who were in attendance who experienced a moment of silence until the light went on and all the smart men went – “I got it!” – And, we all roared together. We all had the opportunity to find the nuggets of gold that could impact our marriage for the rest of our life. And, ever since then whenever my wife and I had to make a decision about something, especially one of those moments that maybe I was not too keen on, these little words went off in my head, “happy wife, happy life.” The next words that would come out of mouth would be something like, “sweetie, okay, that’s fine with me.” A little sacrifice on my part brings joy and happiness into the relationship that more than makes the relationship I have had for 36 years an awesome, and continuing to grow, mutual love affair. And it is ironic, she has on more than one occasion rewarded me with a sacrifice on her part knowing what I would like to do and she would eagerly be willing to allow me to do what I may have wanted to do instead. Now whenever I am around younger married couples, I advise the husbands in a private moment what the secret is to their marriage happiness and I whisper: A Happy Wife is a Happy Life! And, I love it when their eyes light up and say, “I got it!”
Consider all the attitudes expressed in this passage that are boxed in my two passages related to marriage and the husband versus wife relationship. Avoid the hot-tempered, frustrated, nagging wife syndrome; because you (the husband) have the power to cure the problem, because lets face it, we usually are somehow the source of the problem by our selfish attitudes. We often stir up wrath by our words that mock, which can come from some resentment or grudge we hold that only bubbles up from our wicked thoughts. Yet, many do find a gift, or in some cases, a bribe to ease the anger we cause, such flowers, a dinner, chocolates, or, of course, a Hallmark moment to express sentiments we cannot utter ourselves. However, remember when we try to satisfy our selfish lusts, our way, we face the company of others lust like us: those who are separated emotionally, mentally, and sadly physically from those they love the most, and are paying a huge price for their infidelity. So consider wisely the ransom one has to pay to have his own way! You as the husband are responsible and accountable to God directly for learning how to build a marriage relationship in the light of God’s will, God’s ways, and God’s wisdom according to God’s Word. The fruit God promises us is through a happy wife in a happy life. Think on it! (And all the wives said, “Amen.” But, remember God’s direction to you as the wife of your husband: A Happy Wife leads to a Happy Life that is a Shared Life!)
Coach
www.coachbrown.org
To sum up (Ephesians 5:22-32), each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband. Eph 5:33 (HCSB)
Invest 5 minutes to look at the marriage guidebook: God’s Word!
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