Wednesday, January 14, 2009

God's Promises: Wednesday

Today's topics are on Children; Children's Duties; Marriage; Parent's Duties; Money; Lust; Jealousy; Sexual Sins; Gossip; and Laziness. These subjects don't all really go into one category, but with all the subjects, this was the best set up I could come up with. They basically all fit except a couple of them. The grouping is family. The scriptures are from the NKJV.

Children: Acts 16:31: "So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
In order for us to make sure our children are safe, we must be believers in Christ. When we are unforgiven sinners, the next three generations pay the price.

Children's Duties: Ephesians 6:1-3: "1Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise: 3'that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

Marriage: Ecclesiastes 9:9: "Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun."
One should take their vows seriously and be faithfully as it says in the vows "until death do us part, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse." You have made that vow in the eyes of our Father.

Parent's Duties: Genesis 18:19: "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."
We as parents/grandparents much lead righteous lives and set an example for the children. Children model their lives from what they see and are taught. It is a parents duty to make sure their children obey.

Money: Proverbs 23:4-5: "4Do not overwork to be rich: Because of your own understanding, cease! 5Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings: They fly away like an eagle toward heaven."
When overworking oneself to gain a fortune is greedy. One should do the work of the Lord, not what you want to do. Your riches you can not take to heaven with you.

Lust: James 4:1-4: "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Lusting for anything whether it be a person, money, worldly materials, idols, etc. is a sin. God provides for us, so we should be satisfied and not desire.

Jealousy: Deuteronomy 5:21: "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbors."
A show of jealousy is a show of weakness. It also opens you up to the enemy. Be happy with what you have. Thank Him for taking care of you. He will not give you too little nor too much.

Sexual Sins: 1 Corinthians 6:13: "Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."
Our bodies are the temple of the Lord. A temporary tent for our souls while living out our time here on earth. We must treat our bodies with respect. Not sell our bodies, not go from partner to partner, etc. We must avoid temptation. Adultery is to be avoided.

Gossip: Leviticus 19:16: "You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord."
Going around talking of others God does not like. We are to treat one another as we would want them to treat us. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." A sharp tongue brings trouble. Nothing good comes of gossipping. Gossiping can cause some great pain.

Laziness: 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12: "If that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. 12that you may walk properly toward those that you may lack nothing."
Laziness is unproductive. If you are a slug, you are not able to going to get the job done that God has put upon our hearts. If we can't do as we are told, how do we expect the Lord to take care of us?

2 comments:

Grace said...

Among these, Laziness catches my attention. I used to look at myself as lazy back when I was still in the Philippines. Lack of work commitment made me that. But God's word says if we are lazy, there will be nothing to eat in the future.
Now that I am here, too much things to do that sometimes I don't want to lie down to sleep.

Omah's Helping Hands said...

I hear you. Often times, hubby & I both ask where does the time go. We need more hours in the day! But then He doesn't want us to over do it either. So, where does one draw the line. ;) But yes, laziness can be habit forming. I'm guilty at times. I think I get to the point where I'm overly tired and just want a break. Hee hee