NO COST RELIGION

After David had been told by God to build an altar and worship God on the threshing floor of Araunah, this Jebusite offered the king the threshing floor and everything necessary to worship God. David refused the offer with these words: “Nay, but I will verily buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah my God which cost me nothing” (II Samuel 24:24).

Would that all Christians had the attitude of David. Instead, they often show the very opposite disposition. David realized that an offering which cost him nothing was worth exactly that to him—nothing. God has always demanded the best that each person has—not what somebody else has (Leviticus 22:21).

All we have has been given to us by God to use for His glory and in His service. We are but stewards of these things (1 Pet. 4:10). The Lord expects us to be good stewards, but giving what comes without cost to us is not practicing faithful stewardship. The measure of our devotion, reverence, and love for God is in direct proportion to how much we are willing to commit to the service of God, or how much we are willing to sacrifice (John 12:3ff). Those who take the easiest, cheapest way to serve God are, in reality, servants of self, not God.

There is to be nothing cheap about our religion. It is to be the best we have—the same attitude that characterized David. “I will not offer... unto Jehovah my God [that] which cost me nothing.”

Al Brown

With My Whole Heart…

“I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart…” (Psalm 9:1).

Is there any part of man that should be withheld from Him with Whom we have to do? How can we serve Him partially? What should we do to ensure that we are serving Him with our whole heart? These three questions, while they may appear blasé to some, may well determine the destiny of the person sitting nearest you as you read these lines…and they may well determine the destiny of the person sitting nearest them as well. Let us spend a few minutes considering each question in the light of the passage we have selected as our text.

I. Is There Any Part Of Man That Should Be Withheld From Him With Whom We Have To Do?

On the very face of it the answer to this question is pretty simple: no. We might even begin before this question and ask why anyone would wish to withhold anything from Him with Whom we have to do. Without Him we would not be. And not being we certainly would not know the beauty of a mountain sunrise or summer breeze or a quiet sunset. Not being we would never see the look of love on our children’s faces or hear them call our name anytime some little thing frightened them or perhaps when they have fallen and scraped a knee. Now, since He has given us life and all things in it what on earth would move us to want to withhold anything from Him for which He might ask? It flies in the face of logic! Having given us so much, even if He did ask of us that we give Him our very lives it would be no large price to pay. If we have drawn a breath it is His. So what if He wants it back? Is it not Him to want back? Should He turn from us this very minute and withhold from us all blessings henceforth we would cease to exist. We would simply not be. Anything, therefore, that He desires of us we ought to give Him. He is worthy! He alone is worthy! 

 II. How Can We Serve Him Partially? Is it possible to serve Him partially?

I suppose, after a sort, it is. Inasmuch as we can perform some of the tasks commanded by Him and leave others undone we can serve Him partially. That is not, of course, to say that He will acknowledge such, not by any means. But how can we do such a thing? We have noted already that He has given us all, is there any right or just way that we can give back to Him less than He has given to us? Of course, if we give Him our all we still have not given Him as much as He has given us. But in His grace He will accept our all if we give it. I often think of those who “do” many right things only to fall short in so many other areas. Think of the denominations with their charitable endeavors, or the Catholics with their active interest in health care or the many individuals who are so nice and profess so great a love for the Lord. They do many right things, but not enough. “If we keep the whole law and offend in one point…” How sad! But then, whose duty is it to know whether a man is serving fully? Is it not the duty of each man to determine as much from the Word? That being true, it is sad, not because of the consequences to the partially obedient, but sad that they would set an example of partial service — partial obedience -- which is, in essence, but full disobedience!

 III. What should we do to ensure that we are serving Him with our whole heart?

In essence, this question deals with ensuring that we are not guilty of full disobedience by rendering only partial service. Every man will stand and answer before the judgment seat of the Lord for himself. Therefore every man has the duty of preparing for that accounting. How can I make such preparations as to be ready to give account? I would suggest to you first of all that we must study the Bible for ourselves. Never be content to believe “what we have always believed” on any subject. Learn the meaning of words you do not understand. Know that you know that you know what that passage really means. Meditate on the things you study. Mull them over. Consider them from every perspective. Be sure. Having done that, implement into your life what God requires of you. Leave nothing undone. If it means losing sleep, lose sleep. If it means making major changes in every aspect of your life, make major changes in every aspect of your life. Do whatever you must do to comply in every particular with the Word. Then, having studied and obeyed, never quit. You will never reach the age of retirement from Christianity. Retirement from your secular employment may come, but there is no retirement age from being a Christian! When you die nothing more will be required of you. Remain steadfast in all matters at all times and continue to study and to obey and never grow complacent The Lord will reward you accordingly.

Do you see how the answer to these three questions may well determine the destiny awaiting you? Rather, can you see a way wherein the answer to these three questions will not determine your destiny? May God bless you as you study and obey His word.

Tim Smith

Not Wasted

A young woman, who was a great lover of flowers, had set out a rare vine at the base of a stone wall. It grew vigorously, but did not bloom. Day after day she cultivated it and watered it and tried in every way to coax it into bloom. One morning, as she stood disappointedly before it, her invalid neighbor, whose back lot adjoined her own, called over and said, “You can’t imagine how much I have been enjoying the blooms of that vine you planted.” The owner looked and on the other side of the wall was a mass of blooms. The vine had crept through the crevices and flowered luxuriantly on the other side.

So often we think our efforts are thrown away because we do not see their fruits. We need to learn that in God’s service, our prayers, our toils, our crosses are never in vain! Somewhere they bear fruit and hearts will receive blessings and joy.

Author Unknown

Worship Versus Service and the Object of Worship

The first reference Jesus made to worship is found in the course of the temptations in the wilderness immediately after His baptism by John. Our attention is focused on the third of these temptations. Satan took Jesus to "an exceeding high mountain" and showed Him "all the kingdoms of the world" (Matthew 4:8). Jesus was then told that He could have all of these kingdoms if He would simply fall down and worship Satan. The subject of the proper object of worship is involved in this temptation. There are certainly other things which are also involved. For example, the possibility of Jesus' obtaining the kingdoms of the world without going to the cross is part of the "snare" of this temptation. Now carefully notice the response of Jesus. He said, "for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10).

First, it is worthy of notice that there is an obvious difference between worship and service in this Scriptural response (a reference to Deuteronomy 6:13). There are some brethren today who make the mistake of equating these terms and conclude that all of life is worship. All of life is to be given in service to God, but all of life is not worship. Service is a broader term than worship. Some confuse worship and service. Worship is service to God, and it is right to say that we go to worship services, but all service is not worship: plowing, guitar playing, eating hamburgers, etc. Some apparently have been misled by some new translations that have removed the word "service" from Romans 12:1, and have inserted the word "worship" (RSV, NASV, NIV). It is true that in certain contexts the Greek word in Romans 12:1 (latreuo) is properly rendered as worship (as in Romans 9:4). But in itself the word only means serve, whether the service is toward God or men (cf. Latris, a hired servant; latron, hire, pay). Sometimes the word refers to a lifetime of service to God (Acts 24:14; Heb. 12:28), and the context of Romans 12:1 shows one's offering his body as a living sacrifice is a lifetime of service, not of meditation (which is what worship is).

 All worship is, therefore, service; but not all service is worship. We should notice here that worship does not occur accidentally without the realization of the participant, and that worship is not continuous:

Abraham climbed a mountain to worship on its summit, and then, after worship, returned to his base camp at the foot of the mountain (Genesis 22:1-5). When David learned that his baby had died, he bathed, changed clothes, and went into the house of Jehovah, "and worshiped" (II Samuel 12:20). When he had worshiped, he returned home and ate a meal. Worship is not all that one does. It is punctuated by stop and go. The Ethiopian had been to Jerusalem to worship (Acts 8); worship was not then nor is it now all of life.

Second, Jesus tells us clearly in this statement of Matthew 4:10 that the only one worthy of worship is God (the Godhead). Worship is to be offered to no other. Worship should not be offered to the pope, to Mary (the Lord's earthly mother), to special people who are highly regarded, etc. Worship is to be directed to the God of the universe, the Creator of man and of all the good things that are in the world in which we live.

Lester Kamp

For Faithful Christians

Too much of our writing, preaching and visiting is directed to the weak and unfaithful. We want to reverse that order here. This article is not addressed to you who have to be begged, petted and pampered before you will attend the services of the church, and still are absent as much as you are present.

This isn’t for those who grumble the most while doing the least! Those in that category can stop reading now, for this is not written to you. This is written to the faithful.

Our vocabulary is not large enough to tell YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE how much you are appreciated. It does not matter how many meetings we have each week, you will be present. Neither the weather nor company of any kind is able to keep you from your responsibilities.

Whatever attractions or detractions the world may offer, you will not forsake the Lord. You make whatever sacrifices are necessary. You have no more time than the unfaithful members do, but somehow you manage to find time to serve our Master with the finest and best of your time and talents.

Whatever good programs are put before the church, no one wonders what your response will be. You always support fully every good work. You will accept an assignment and when you do it, it is a foregone conclusion that you will successfully complete it.

You don’t flirt with sin and see how worldly you can become without completely apostatizing. You are appreciated and even more because you demand no special attention or praise for your service, and you do not consider regular and faithful attendance of each class and worship period in service to God as a grievous burden or a great feat of valor.

You are a good example to the youngest member and an inspiration to all. You make the work of each of us much lighter. Thank you for being what the Bible describes as a simple New Testament Christian.

Author unknown

Notes from II Timothy

In II Timothy 2:3-6 Paul gives three figures which suggest the hard service which is in Christ. The soldier, the athlete, and the husbandman. Paul gives the simile of comparing service to Christ to that of a soldier. The soldier has to go on duty and leave comforts, he must face the hardships of service, and the dangers of the battlefield. Paul points to his own example in saying, “Suffer hardship with me.” Paul did not ask Timothy to submit to that which he was unwilling to do; he suffered for his loyalty to Christ, and he asked Timothy to be willing to accept similar hardship. “No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier” (II Timothy 2:4). A soldier “on service” is one actually engaged in performing the obligations of a soldier. A soldier on duty must devote himself to the service of him who enrolled him. A soldier, to please his officers, must perform their orders without interference from his ties of home or business affairs. The comparison is that the Christian soldier, engaged in the service of the Lord, must keep himself free from the entangling affairs of the world which would hinder him in performing his duties.

"And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully” (II Timothy 2:5). In this verse the Christian is represented as an athlete. The reference is to an athlete in the ancient games which were so well-known in Greek history. Those who had a part in the games were required to conform to the rules of the game. They had to undergo much training to participate. Paul’s comparison is that Timothy must, therefore, conform to the laws of Christ, and not give up the discipline which would come through training.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible (I Corinthians 9:25).

“The husbandmen that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits” (II Timothy 2:6). Here the figure changes to that of a husbandman or farmer. The farmer should be the first to enjoy the fruit of his hands; but, he must first labor to have the fruit. One cannot receive the harvest of the fields if he does not work the crop. The comparison is that Timothy must recognize that for him to receive the fruit of Christian labor, he must engage in work in the Lord’s field.

“Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things” (II Timothy 2:7). Paul had used three illustrations to impress upon Timothy the necessity of concentration, endurance, and faithful toil to please the Lord as a preacher and a Christian. These points were drawn from the activity of soldiers, athletes, and farmers. Timothy was to consider these points carefully. If he properly considered these points, he would see that he was a Christian soldier fighting under Christ in a spiritual war with evil, that he was a Christian athlete running for the prize of eternal life, and a Christian farmer sowing the seed of the kingdom and looking to a bountiful harvest in the judgment.

J. Noel Meredith