The Fellowship of Contentment and Humility

Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest boxers of all time. There might have been legitimate reasons for his boasting. However, to many people it was distasteful pride.

I think that, in general, people do not enjoy hearing the boasts of the strong, the powerful, the rich, the privileged. Most often it comes across as a superior attitude. It is as if the one boasting is telling everyone, "I'm better than everyone else; I'm better than YOU."

We prefer the sport star who excels yet gives credit to his teammates and coaching staff; not the one who soaks in the praise of others and then announces with pride, "Yeah, I'm all that. I'm the best. I did it." We prefer a measure of humility that makes the star seem a little more accessible to the rest of us. Whether it is a sport star, successful businessman, accomplished musician, or applauded intellectual, we appreciate those who are content to allow others to place them on a pedestal.

What about YOU? Are you content to wait on others to lift you up? Or do you run to climb up on a pedestal to announce your accomplishments? What if no one applauds your victory or your achievement? What if no one tells you, "That was a job well done" or "That was a great effort"?

Listen to the words of Solomon:

Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, 

And do not stand in the place of great men;
For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here,"

Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, 

Whom your eyes have seen.
--Proverbs 25:6-7

When you exalt yourself you place yourself at risk of being humiliated. Yet, when you present yourself humbly, you may be exalted. Solomon reflected on this principle as it applied to life. The Apostle Peter wrote about the same principle as it applies to spiritual life.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.
--1 Peter 5:6

In this life we are unsure whether anyone will applaud our success. However, with God there is certainty.

Be content in your humility.
Be humble in your contentment.

Let God place you on a pedestal of His design.

Mark Stinnett

September 27, 2020

Which Bible Should I Read?

Who wouldn’t want a copy of ‘The Pastor’s Bible’? Surely it would unlock the mysteries of scripture in an unparalleled way. Instead of your ‘pastor’ being the only one with a depth of understand of God’s word, YOU too would have rich insight.

Yes, that was sarcastic. The ESV Pastor’s Bible boasts “practical help for a pastoral life….” It comes with over 40 articles “specifically written to encourage those in ministry.” I don’t own a copy so I cannot be critical; its special features might be useful. Yet it is just one of many themed Bibles on the market today. My book store catalog has eleven full pages of Bibles listed for sale.

It IS important for you to have a Bible translation you trust with readable print, formatting you like and a durable cover. Yet, the myriad of choices can be mind-numbing.

One Bible will help you to “access your inner artist” and “rejuvenate your devotional time.” It does this by including “over 600 elegant line drawings, filigree designs and Scripture quotations to color.” It is a Bible with coloring pages.

The “Metal Bible” boasts a “trendy license plate design” on the cover that is “sure to appeal to teens!” I guess the idea is that someone has to make the Bible more appealing to our young people; by itself, it is not appealing enough.

Another exciting Bible for kids is called the “Following Jesus Bible.” (And I thought that was the expectation of every Bible, not just a specialty Bible.)

There are also Bibles with special materials for women, men, teens; for military families, globally-minded people; for those wanting ‘a deeper prayer life,’ wanting to ‘discover God’s heart,’ and wanting to ‘focus on God’s justice.’

Don’t be discouraged, it is all marketing. God’s word was originally recorded for men and women and teens; for those in the military and those who are not; for those who are globally-minded and those who want a deeper prayer life and want to discover God’s heart and want to focus on God’s justice. It’s all been there all along.

Is the Bible difficult to understand? Yes and No.

There are difficult concepts and difficult passages. Yet the overall message of the Bible is quite accessible to the common man. 

So, what is the best translation? Do I need a ’Study Bible’?

Recognize that many study Bibles are slanted to a specific theme or are biased by one man’s understanding. I recommend a study Bible that focuses on the biblical languages, archaeology, and ancient history and culture. However, expect a study Bible to abbreviate information easily accessible in a good Bible dictionary.

And what is the best translation?

Let me answer with an illustration:

He who watches the wind will not sow and
He who looks at the clouds will not reap.
—Ecclesiastes 11:4

The farmer cannot wait for perfect conditions; nor should we wait for the perfect translation. The farmer must plant in order to harvest. Our spiritual harvest will be rewarding, but only if we devote ourselves to reading and studying the copy of God’s word that we have in our hands. Then remember the words of Jesus:

Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.
—John 8:51

Mark Stinnett

September 20, 2020

How Important Is Truth To You?

Have you ever had anyone lie to you?

I’m not thinking about practical jokes or being silly. I’m not thinking about bluffing or withholding information, strategies used in some games. I am thinking about someone telling you a lie and expecting you to believe the lie as if it were the truth. Then, you discover the lie! 

What was that like?
How did it make you feel?
How did you feel about the other person?

Lies frustrate us; lies anger us. Lies cost us time, money and effort. Lies weaken relationships.

In the home lies are a cause for strong discipline. Lies create distance between husbands and wives; between children and parents.

A government official who lies can no longer be trusted. A teacher who lies can no longer be trusted. A writer/journalist who lies can no longer be trusted. Betrayed trust causes the liar to become ineffective in his/her work.

I cannot think of anyone who would disagree with the things I’ve just written. Would YOU!?

Let me change the tone and ask: “Is there ever a time when a person is justified in lying?” And just to keep things personal: “In what cases would you want someone to lie to YOU?

• When your blood work comes back indicating you have diabetes or cancer?
• When your bank account is overdrawn?
• When your child is injured at school?
• When your employer makes a major policy change affecting your position?
• When a friend hears a rumor about you?

I have heard people defend situations in which it was OK to lie. Yet, when asked, “When is it OK for someone to lie to YOU?” I have never known anyone to produce a list.

An acquaintance of my dad asked him to speak at the funeral of a relative. Dad agreed, but struggled. What could he say? The deceased had been a mean and selfish man. Dad addressed the small crowd that had gathered by first acknowledging that the man had been ‘mean and selfish’ to everyone. Dad recalled seeing the tense audience relax. With a measure of tact, dad had told the truth, and the people were understanding and even appreciative.

People love the truth; people expect the truth. Lies offend, disappoint, confuse and destroy.

One thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light is that people choose what they believe. Truth exists, though often difficult to discover. Yet, people ultimately choose what they wish to believe, even if it is a lie.

When it comes to the Bible, truth is revealed. Yet, people still choose what they ‘wish’ to believe, even if it is a lie. Some have been deceived by the intellects of our day. Some love the things of this world and desire to pursue them more than pursuing God. Some do not want to admit that their behaviors and attitudes are sinful. Some are indifferent. And for some, getting to the truth is...just...too...difficult.

People hate lies. People love truth. Yet, too often, people choose to believe what they want, even if it is a lie.

Read the following two verses from the Bible. What do these reveal about truth? God? Jesus? Salvation?

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
—Romans 1:18  (NASB95)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” 

—John 14:6 (NASB95)

Now, take yourself out of the picture and simply ask yourself, “How important is truth?”


Mark Stinnett

September 13, 2020

How Is Your 'God-Wise Planning' Going?

My unconventional title is expressive of a Hebrew term used by Solomon in Proverbs 2. 

The wise king pleaded with his son:

Receive my sayings;
Treasure my commandments;
Make your ear attentive to wisdom;
Incline your heart to understanding;
Cry for discernment;
Lift your voice for understanding
Seek her (wisdom) as silver;
Search for her as for a hidden treasure.

And the expectation (v. 10):

For wisdom will enter your heart, 

And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

With wisdom in one’s heart, Solomon then boldly assured: 

Discretion will guard you, 

Understanding will watch over you. 

—Proverbs 2:11 (NASB95)

Discretion is given the human attribute of guarding. So, how does discretion guard you? Before asking that, What exactly is ‘discretion’?

When ’discretion’ was first used in the English language it carried the sense of making a separation or distinction. That meaning is a good fit for the word it translates from the Hebrew text.

The Hebrew term is one of a family of words that deal with planning, plotting or devising. These words are used in both a positive and negative sense. The word ‘discretion’ capitalizes on one aspect of planning, that of making distinctions between things.

When a person plots a course or devises a plan he must distinguish between choices and make decisions to insure a successful plan. Of course, there is more to planning than simply ‘distinguishing’ between things.

Instead of the word discretion The New Living Translation (1996) has a fitting translation: Wise planning. 

Of course, Solomon's ‘wise planning’ is not defined by man’s wisdom, but God’s wisdom. (Perhaps you now better understand the title.)

The man Job is a beautiful example of this proverb. Job asserts: 

I have made a covenant with my eyes;

How then could I gaze at a virgin?

—Job 31:1 (NASB95)

Job did a little ‘God-wise planning.’ Observe:

• First, Job valued his relationship with God.
• Second, he recognized right and wrong according to God. It was wrong for him to lust for another woman.
• Third, Job knew his human weakness and recognized the need to make a plan before being tempted.
• Fourth, he acted. He ‘made a covenant with his eyes.’ That means that he made a binding agreement with his eyes, and it was evidently to look away before temptation entered his mind.

So, Job made a careful plan based on God's word to deal with temptation. It was God-wise planning.

Solomon said that ‘God-wise planning’ will guard you. And how does that work?

Consider your weaknesses. When you are not being tempted listen to God’s instruction and consciously make a plan on how to follow it. Then, in the moment of temptation, follow the plan. Your ’God-wise planning’ will guard you from evil; from empty ‘benefits’ and from painful consequences; results which you already recognize.

Be wise. Think. Put a plan together...today.

Mark Stinnett

September 6, 2020