An Enticing Prospect

My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
--Proverbs 1:10

The ‘sinners’ in this verse are described more fully in the next four verses:

If they say, "Come with us,
   Let us lie in wait for blood,
   Let us ambush the innocent without cause;
Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
   Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;
We shall find all kinds of precious wealth,
   We shall fill our houses with spoil;
Throw in your lot with us,
   We shall all have one purse...."

The ‘sinners’ appear to be violent. For many of us, it is quite difficult to think of ourselves or our friends as people of violence. In most areas in our country we enjoy relatively peaceful surroundings. ‘Sinners’ we are exposed to are more likely to be people who gossip, lie, become drunk, cheat on their taxes, etc.

Let's take a closer look.
They say, "Let us ambush the innocent without cause." The idea is that there is no reason for doing what they are doing. Other translations bring this out in a more descriptive way:

• Let's ambush...for no reason at all. (ISV)*
• Let's ambush...just for fun. (CSB, NLT)**

That's a lie! The sinners are masking their real purpose. They seem to be acting aimlessly and to some degree they probably don't have a well thought out plan. Yet, they have a purpose, and that is to take advantage of those who have possessions and take those possessions by force to get rich!

Could the ‘sinners’ in this teaching also apply to those who through clever manipulation of circumstances ‘force’ others to give up their possessions? Would the following list also fit this description of ‘sinners’: 

• Embezzlers?
• Dishonest salesmen?
• Those who defraud others through insurance scams?
• Doctors who knowingly make false diagnoses or knowingly prescribe unnecessary medications?
• Those who lie about services needed (mechanic, handyman, plumber, electrician, heating/AC repairman, etc.)?
• Those who use their position to obtain favors or take unfair advantage of those under their authority?

Be wary of questionable schemes to make quick money. The get-rich-quick fantasy will generally lead to disappointment, and often, evil. Be wary of questionable schemes that manipulate others or use force to gain a benefit. How can we 'love our neighbor as we love ourselves' if we are taking unfair advantage of them???

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked though he be rich.
--Proverbs 28:6 (NASB95)

Shortcuts are often enticements of Satan in disguise.

Be wise.

Mark Stinnett

October 25, 2020

  *ISV - International Standard Version

**CSB - Christian Standard Bible

    NLT - New Living Translation

The Forgiveness Loophole

I first heard the word ‘loophole’ when my dad and a friend were talking about taxes. They were frustrated that some taxpayers took advantage of the lack of clarity in the wording of some in tax laws (a loophole). It seemed unfair. Sometimes people use the same kind of loophole-thinking with the Bible.

Here’s an example:
When teaching about the relationship between anger and murder, Jesus said that anyone angry enough to say, “You fool,” would be deserving of hell (Matthew 5:22). He described an escalation of anger that devalued another human:

• Anger—”You are worth less than me.”
• ‘Raca’ (literally: empty-headed) - “You are worth very little.”
• ‘You Fool’—”You are worthless.”

An angry person thinks he is free from guilt. He thinks he has found a loophole in the Law of Moses. He thinks something like, “You can’t tell me I’m not righteous. I might have been angry, but I obeyed the Law; I didn’t murder anyone.”

However, that was the point Jesus was making. Just because you do not commit the act of murder does not make you righteous in God’s eyes. In fact, anger is the first step leading to murder which is an aggressive act that comes from a heart that regards another person as worthless.

Jesus made His listeners responsible in reading and understanding the Law of Moses. It was not enough to obey the letter of the law while finding legal loopholes that seemingly sidestepped ungodly attitudes and behaviors.

What about forgiveness; What are the rules??

This question betrays the heart of the person who is looking for loopholes. They are interested in the limitations of forgiveness; the extent of forgiveness; the point at which they can stop.

Do you remember Peter’s similar question?

Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? 

--Matthew 18:21 (NASB95)

Peter might have thought that he was being generous. (The Jews limited forgiveness to three offenses.) Jesus blasted past his seven to an exaggerated value of seventy times seven. In other words, put your database away; there is no point in keeping records. Forgiveness is not limited by the number of offenses.

However, shouldn’t a person repent before I forgive them? After all, Jesus said…

And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times saying, “I repent,” forgive him. 

--Luke 17:4 (NASB95)

This is more loophole-thinking due to a misunderstanding of the concept of repentance. For centuries people have been taught that repentance is a change in behavior. It is true that repentance will result in changed behavior, but repentance is literally a mind change or change in perception. Jesus said that as soon as the person ‘expresses’ a change of heart, forgive him. You do not wait for a visible change of behavior.

God is teaching His people to think like Him. There is no limit to His forgiveness; he desires salvation for all. If we are to be like God, we must not look for forgiveness loopholes. Rather, we must adopt the heart of God toward sinners by forgiving even when we are hurt. Whether you forgive or not will not affect the salvation of another person. So, if you mistakenly forgive someone undeserving, God will sort it out. Yet, if you refuse to forgive, it will cost you your soul. (Matthew 6:14-15 & 18:35.)

Mark Stinnett

October 18, 2020

Listening to a Thankful Heart

He sat gazing into the distance and thoughtfully remarked, “I’ve been thinking about a lot of things.” The previous day Uncle James had blessed me with wise words that ‘I’ needed. His mind was sharp, but working more slowly than usual. I waited for more wisdom; he continued, “I am so thankful for the way God has blessed me with family and so many loving friends...” another pause, “...and biscuits and gravy.” (We both laughed!)

My uncle’s 83-year-old body was worn out. No one knew how much time he had left, so family members and friends visited. He had been an elder of the church for 42 years and even though it was a time in life that he needed to be served he was serving others...and I listened.

Leadership and service: 

Our young people need to know the importance of serving and leading in the Lord’s church. Preachers and elders need to encourage our people to be responsible and take initiative and serve. Young men need to be encouraged to plan to be teachers and preachers and deacons and elders in the future. They need to learn what God expects and then reach for that as a goal. Serving God’s people is noble.

Companionship: 

God made man and He knows what is good for man. God created man with the expectation of having a companion. When He said that it is not good for man to be alone, He meant for man to find a good wife.

God’s Word: 

God made man and He knows what is good for man. God’s word is not against man, it is for man. God wants us to be happy and to enjoy all that He created. He wants us to enjoy each other. His word is not there to hurt us, but help us. Some people fight against God’s word. They try to make it accommodate them and their choices. But if we do what God has instructed, we will be so much happier.

Listening and Obeying: 

We need to read God’s word. We need to study God’s word. We need to learn God’s word. But that is not all; it’s not good to go around with all that knowledge of God’s word only in your mind. We need to do what God has said. We need to be active. God expects us to act according to His word.

People: 

Uncle James never once mentioned his career, awards, or achievements. He didn’t talk about places he’d been or things he’d done. People; he talked about people. His life was full of places and events and accomplishments and career, but even then, it was about people. He said that the Lord knew what He was talking about when He gave us the Second Great Command: Love your neighbor as yourself. God knows that we really know how to love self. That is natural; the way He created us. So, He wanted us to think about what we love so much (self) and turn that love outward toward others.

Thankfulness: 

He said little ‘about’ thankfulness. Yet, everything he said came from a thankful heart. Family, friends, his church family, the men with whom he served as an elder, his first wife (who met an untimely death), his second wife, the joy of his sons, grandkids, a ‘second’ family. (A family photo hangs on the wall. It is your typical family photo except that it was mostly people I didn’t know; the family he inherited with his second marriage...and he sat front and center beaming with joy.) Over and over and over he spoke of the way that God had blessed him...and he was thankful. He was thankful for the great blessings of life, but also the little things...so many little things...even a plate of biscuits and gravy.

This wisdom he learned from his heavenly Father. I was listening; I hope you are too.

Mark Stinnett

October 11, 2020