Bible Thoughts

April 21, 2002

The scribes and Pharisees were very meticulous in their tithing. They made sure they tithed the smallest of herbs and seasonings. Such was not wrong, but in their zeal to make sure they were being strict in certain religious practices, they neglected "justice and mercy and faithfulness." Please note that tithing was an outward act, but justice, mercy, and faithfulness comes from within. When a person is truly practicing God's way, the inward dedication will provoke fulfilling the external.

The Lord used an hyperbole(big word!) as he pointed out how those he addressed strained out a gnat while swallowing a camel. Their values were all mixed up. They would be careful about tithing the seeds, but overlooked the need for standing firm for the Law in that day and instructing people in how they should treat each other. They were outwardly righteous, but inwardly "full from extortion and excess."

The folks whom the Lord addressed had their values entirely out of proportion. What they esteemed in their hearts and actions caused them to be neglectful of what truly mattered. Their choices placed them in a position of failing to proper consider their obligations to God and to other men. Their approach was an elevation of the minor and a neglect of the major. You have heard of people who majored in minors? Sure you have: it occurs all of the time.

Do not misunderstand: they were not to neglect their tithing: it was a command of God. However, their fervor in seeing they paid the proper tithe influenced them to be neglectful of their responsibility to God and to others. They could(and should) tithe. They could(and should) practice mercy, kindness, concern, and justice, while being faithful to the Lord. Their zeal for tithing should have provoked them to be zealous in these named matters. The Lord did not excuse them from any of their responsibilities, but they needed to practice what they should have preached: obey all of the Lord's commands, not just those that please them.

Have you ever thought that it is easier to hand someone a few dollars than it is to tell them about the Lord? Or, to offer a word of cheer to the unfortunate without following through in action? Or, to be just righteous enough to be accepted by the brethren, but not as zealous as you should be for the souls of men?

We tend to major in minors. We are very adamant when it comes to certain procedures in our assemblies while not recognizing the need for our full dedication to the worship and service of God. We concern ourselves with how melodious is the singing while not fully comprehending the words of the song. The melody takes precedence over the content and people will say,",,,oh, what a beautiful song." It is the content that makes it beautiful in God's sight.

The serving of the Lord's Supper becomes a ritual that satisfies the appeal to the sight, making sure that "decency and in order" prevails and everything is meticulously carried out. However, do we not remember that it is a memorial feast in which we reflect in our hearts as we partake of the supper that Christ died for us?

When it comes to speaking the word of God in the assembly, do we sometimes so emphasize the manner and grace of the speaker that we fail to hear the content? Are we more impressed(or not impressed) by the grammar of the speaker than the content? Many a Christian has not been schooled in the correct way to use the oratorical skill of some, but knows the message of Christ and says it in such plainness that all can understand the will of the Lord. Give us preachers and teachers who understand the importance of communicating the truth to all.

As we pray to God, our thoughts should be directed from the heart in words that express to the Almighty our needs and the needs of others. It does not take great discourses with flowing speech to address the Lord. We can emphasize the phraseology to such an extent that we lose the meaning. What one prays with the sincerity of the heart is the weightier matter. "God, be merciful to me a sinner" is an example of a powerful prayer!

Let each of us take note of our own attitudes and practices. Are you as diligent as we should be in following the Lord in all of our service to him? Of, do we over-emphasize some commands while neglecting to follow, as we should, other commands that do not, to us, seem to be of importance. God never gave any instructions to His people that were not to be respected and followed. When due honor is given to all of the teaching of the New Testament, we will deal with the weightier matters as well as those that may seem not as important from a human standpoint.

The world has difficulty in deciding what is right and what is wrong. Their standards(?) seem to change each day. What was wrong a few years ago is OK now. They are guided by the pressures of social acceptance to approve sins such as homosexuality, casual divorce, cursing(even in public and on the air), gambling, drinking, and a host of others. The masses become conditioned to such transgressions and accept it as right. What society accepts and approves does not make it right! Community standards are not necessarily God's standards.

What is right is not decided by the local church, the elders, the preacher, or any of the members. It is decided by the Word of God, specifically, the New Testament.

What is right is not decided by the fact that it has been done for years. The church may have practiced and taught a position for so long as one remembers. Only an appeal to the New Testament can determine if the church is faithful.

What is right is not decided by the great appeal that such has to brethren(and others). While it may appear to be good and worthwhile, only the standards of Jesus Christ can be used by Christians to determine whether right or not.

What is right is not decided by personal feelings. Human feelings are subject to error. The very nature of such becomes a stumbling block in far too many cases. Feelings are always to be guided by the truth of God's book.

Only God's word makes it right, whatever we do! Human standards are just exactly that: human standards. Stick with the book; search its pages; accept its message. This is the way that is right.