A Minute With The Bible Aired during November, 1999
“What
doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not
works? can that faith save him?”(James 2:14). This question by James has an implied
answer. A faith without works is unprofitable in God’s sight. Such a
faith has no saving quality about it because it lacks a basic
element. That element is the willingness to carry out the commands of
God. There has never been a time when God approved of “faith without
works.” Noah, Abraham, and all the worthies of the Old Testament had
working faiths. The apostles and early Christians had faith that
works. There is no way under heaven that one can be saved who
professes faith but does not act on that faith by obeying what God
commands. Any faith that is acceptable to God is the result of
conforming to the instructions in the New Testament. Do not be
deceived by those who advocate “faith only” as the way to salvation.
Such contradicts the plain message of James.
“Thou believest that God is one; thou
doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder”(James 2:19). To take the position that one can be
saved by only believing means, according to this passage, that the
demons will be saved. Any faith that works with God must be a working
faith from man. The point of belief starts one on the road to being
acceptable. It is the beginning; not the finish. After believing in
Jesus Christ, the alien is in a position to complete his faith
through following what God has commanded of one to become a
Christian. When one follows through in his initial obedience to the
gospel, his faith motivates the Christian to live a righteous life.
His moral conduct will be regulated by the teachings of the one in
whom he believed. This trust will lead to spiritual devotion in
living the life of a disciple. The distinguishing factor between one
who pleases God and does not please God is the willingness to do what
God commands.
“Who is wise and understanding among
you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of
wisdom”(James 3:13). God wants all
men to be wise and understanding. Such wisdom and understanding is
shown by the type of life lived by a person. He is aware of his
wisdom, yet it is displayed in meekness(the willingness to keep the
commands of God). There are many of our day who speak about the “good
life.” But it is feared that few really know about the truly “good
life.” Too often, the world and some who claim to follow Christ seek
their own version of what is a “good life.” Immoral conduct,
selfishness, misdirected ambitions, and a host of other barriers to
righteousness are confused with the truly “good life.” Peter quoted
the Psalmist for all generations that follow: “He that would love
life, and see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And
his lips that they speak no guile”(I Peter 4:10). It takes faith plus
a good(righteous) life to be saved in eternity.
“Be subject therefore unto God; but
resist the devil and he will flee from you”(James 4:7). The expectations that God had for men
was that they serve God. Adam and Eve were created as free moral
agents who could choose whom they desired to serve. They were not
robots; they were reasonable human beings who could decide whether to
follow the Lord or to disobey the Lord. Anyone familiar with the
Bible knows what they decided. As a result of not remaining subject
to God, they were cast forth from that earthly paradise. So it has
happened to any human who rejects the commands of Jesus Christ. Adam
and Eve had an adversary that tempted them and induced this couple to
commit sin. That same adversary exists today. In order to avoid his
clutches one must resist his efforts. When a person resists Satan, he
is able to draw nigh to God and God draws nigh to him. How is your
resistance today?
“What is your life? For ye are a
vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth
away”(James 4:14). The longest life
that one may live is but short indeed. The years pass by so fast that
the future becomes the past in such a short time. A wise man once
said, “Once I was young; now am old.” And it did not take long for
that to happen. The sum total of one’s life is what a person does
during that short period. Profitable or unprofitable, it will come to
an end. Each person listening to this message needs to take a look at
his/her life. What have I done so far? What am I doing now? What will
I do in the future? It is YOUR life, you need to think about it. As
James said, “It is vapor.” Before you realize it, the days, month,
and years will be gone forever. What do you plan to do with what is
left? Will you take the time to obey the God that made you and
prepare to face him in judgment? Just what is YOUR life?
"A good name is better than precious
oil; and the day of death than the day of one's
birth"(Ecclesiastes 7:1). The values
of men are not the values of God; nor the values of those who want to
be pleasing to God. There are some things that are of greater value
than riches. As Solomon is saying, a good name is to be esteemed and
respected. In this verse, he also points out something that is
contrary to the thinking of the majority: The day of one's death is
better than the day of one's birth. In this illustration also,
Solomon's wisdom conflicts with the thinking of most people. We
rejoice at a birth; we mourn at a death. For the person who is
pleasing to God, one who has lived a good life, held proper values
and served as an example to others, a worthy life has been lived. The
reward for such a righteous life on earth is a home with God in
eternity. Hence, one who has lived a life that glorifies God will
have an eternal life at death.
"It is better to go to the house of
mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of
all men; and the living will lay it to his heart"(Ecclesiastes 7:2). How different is reality from the
thinking of mortals. One does not enjoy attending a funeral. It is a
place of mourning in the presence of death. What most humans enjoy is
going to a party(feast). The feasting appeals to the flesh and
satisfies the humanity. Not many lessons are learned at a party.
However, "in the house of mourning" one can realize the mortality of
man. It becomes apparent that men die, and, someday, all must face
that end. One becomes sober in the presence of death. When a person
meditates in the presence of death, the realization becomes apparent:
someday I am going to die. The wise man who realizes that death is
inevitable will make preparations for that day when the last breath
is taken. Have you, my friend, learned that lesson?
"Sorrow is better than laughter: for
by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made
glad"(Ecclesiastes 7:3). The words
of Solomon seem to contradict the thinking of most humans. We live in
an age where entertainment is the gauge for happiness. The more
laughter; the more good times; the more amusement, the better is
life. Not so, according to the wise man. Little is learned when one
is given over to the satisfaction of the flesh. Suffering and sorrow
holds the greatest lessons. When one suffers, it is a recognition of
one's humanity. When one is sad, it provokes one to think and to
realize his/her own mortality. When one has been sorrowful; when one
has experienced sadness; the reality of being mortal is reinforced.
Sorrow and suffering teaches us to depend upon Jehovah and His word
for help and guidance. When one deals with the sadness and conquers
the sorrow, joy and happiness will follow.
"It is better to hear the rebuke of
the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools"(Ecclesiastes 7:5). No justice is done to a person
who has done wrong when one fails to point out the error of his way.
When fools praise an individual, it makes the one who listens and
enjoys the praise a fool as well. When a wise man rebukes a person,
the rebuked becomes wiser by heeding what is said. Not many people
enjoy being confronted when they sin. Yet, the wise man who sees
error or sin in another will not hesitate to point that out by the
word of God. The one who is receiving correction should welcome such
and be pleased that someone cared enough to correct one in error. One
does not learn much from fools(except to not be one). When men
praise, make sure the one doing the praising is a wise person; one
who respects truth and righteousness. You will never regret listening
to someone who knows what he/she is talking about.
"Better is the end of a thing than
the beginning thereof"(Ecclesiastes
7:8). There is something extremely satisfying about completing a
task. It gives one a good feeling that something has been
accomplished. Even in cases where a person has been reluctant to
tackle a job, once it is completed, a sense of victory envelopes the
individual. It is unfortunate that many things in this life are
started, but never completed. Every person has started something with
great enthusiasm, but did not finish the job. The remnants of many
undertakings lie rusting in the sands of time. It takes patience and
perseverance to reach the end of a task. Even Solomon would speak of
the "patient in spirit" in this same passage. The word "patient"
literally carries the idea of endurance, that is keeping on keeping
on. When we finish this life, what a better end than our
beginning--if we have pleased God.
"Then I looked on the works that my
hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and,
behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no
profit under the sun"(Ecclesiates
2:11). Men of this world work in order to gain wealth, respect, and
honor. And yet--after all has been done, what is the satisfaction?
Immediate gratification of one's ambitions may lift the spirits, at
least temporarily. Once a plateau has been reached and a mission
accomplished, there seems to be another challenge, another hurtle,
and another project that must be pursued. Men are never satisfied in
this life. A goal achieved never seems to be like the goal
visualized. Have you not, my friend, longed to accomplish something
only to find that the result was not what you wanted, and, in fact,
the labor was far more satisfying than the goal. Solomon realized
that such efforts did not satisfy the real needs of mankind. Only God
can offer satisfaction.
"For the wise man, even as of the
fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to
come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die
even as the fool"(Ecclesiastes
2:16). Mortals soon forget their heroes for it is not long until
another one takes his/her place. The heroes of one's youth are not
the heroes of one's mature years. Nor do many people remember the
heroes of yesteryear. Even with all of our technologies for storing
information, a few lines in a history book or a few scenes on a video
is all that remains. Perhaps mankind has benefited greatly from some
discovery or accomplishment of a person. It is not long until such is
discounted as someone else will become the new hero. Solomon, who was
wise and wealthy, would die as do other men. Such is the end of all
heroes. Only the word of God can make one everlasting.
"And I hated all my labor wherein I
labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that
shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a
fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored,
and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is
vanity"(Ecclesiastes 2:18-19). The
word vanity in this book of wisdom carries the idea of not satisfying
one's true needs. When a person spends all of his/her time in
acquiring earthly goods, there is a fear in many that someone will
waste what it took a lifetime to accumulate. Such was realized
thousands of years ago; it should be realized today. It is better to
leave an inheritance of trust, worthiness, kindness, and goodness as
well as a respect for the will of Jesus Christ. Such will not be
wasted, but will enable your heirs to walk a path of righteousness
and prepare for eternity.
"For what hath a man of all his
labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under
the sun? For all his days are but sorrows and his travail is grief;
yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is
vanity"(Ecclesiastes 2:22-23). Once
a person has accumulated more wealth than he can spend in this life,
what happens to him? Does he not spend much of his time trying to
protect(keep) what he has in his storehouse(bank)? Does he not spend
sleepless nights in the fear that he might lose what he has worked so
hard to acquire? Is there any peace(rest) for such a one? While there
are a few righteous men who put their wealth to use in God's service
and sleep the tranquil slumber of a pure conscience, there are others
who cannot enjoy a peaceful rest. Whatever your wealth, my friend,
make sure that it is wisely used for the good of mankind and the
promotion of righteousness. Otherwise, your have lived a life of
vanity(emptiness).
"For to the man that pleaseth him God
giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth
travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that
pleaseth God"(Ecclesiastes 2:26).
Solomon, many years before writing these words, had asked God to give
him an "understanding heart" that could discern(act wisely). The wise
man had learned that one can accumulate great wealth but such riches
could not and would not make him pleasing to God. All of the great
sacrifices that one of wealth(or those less wealthy) make in this
world will not bring one closer to God unless that one is willing to
follow the word of God. Only by following the commands of Jesus
Christ can one please God in this life and prepare for the next life.
Wealth cannot buy one a home in heaven. Only a life set apart to
God's service will gain such a home. Where are your treasures, my
friend?
"And if it seem evil unto you to
serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the
gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the
gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my
house, we will serve Jehovah"(Joshua
24:15). The challenge given by Joshua to the people of Israel is the
same challenge that is given to every person at present. A choice
must be made as to whom one will serve religiously. The people of
Israel could become idolaters or they could be faithful to the God
that created them. The choice, for the thinking person, is obvious.
An idol is nothing; Jehovah is the living God. Jehovah had led them
out of Egyptian bondage into a land that flowed with "milk and
honey." To the credit of that generation, they served the God that
brought them out of slavery. Whom do you serve?
"And Jehovah God commanded the man
saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:
for in the day that eatest thereof thou shalt surely
die"(Genesis 2:16-17). God made man
a free moral agent. He was given the power of choice. He could choose
to respect the instructions of God or he could refuse to follow what
God commanded. If he kept the Lord's word, he would be blessed and
continue to live in the garden of Eden. Should he choose not to
follow the instructions of the Almighty, he would pay the penalty of
death. Mankind made the wrong choice and violated the commands of
God. They did pay the penalty and suffered physical death. The choice
they made cost them eternal life in the garden. All men have the same
choice today: serve God and live eternally or serve Satan and die
eternally. What is your choice?
"For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of
Jehovah"(Proverbs 1:29). The Bible
teaches that man is a free moral agent. Mankind has the power of
making choices, whether good or evil. The writer is pointing out that
when one does not choose the right kind of knowledge, they fail to
choose to fear Jehovah. Choosing the ways of men, the commands of
men, and follies of men, would be foolish choices. None of these ways
will make one spiritually acceptable to God. Only the knowledge of
the Almighty, gained through a study of the word of God and the
applications of the word of God in one's life can produce the fear of
Jehovah. This fear is not "being scared" but rather a healthy respect
for the God that made each of us. It is the reverence that one
chooses because Jehovah is the supreme power and sustainer of life.
Does your knowledge include the fear of Jehovah?
"Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his
ways"(Proverbs 3:31). The history of
mankind has been filled with violence. Even in our age, with all of
man's knowledge in so many different disciplines, the news is filled
with violence. It is not confined to a few criminals, but surfaces in
every field. One never knows what to expect when the morning
newspaper is delivered. It is sad that we have those who imitate the
violent acts described in the news. It is unfortunate that some would
make heroes of people of violence. Others would try to justify their
actions. The Bible is plain: do not make heroes of those who are
violent. Further, do not imitate "his ways." When one chooses the
path of peace taught by the God of heaven, he/she learns to practice
self-control. Be thankful that most people are not violent and always
set an example of patience and forbearance to those you contact.
"I verily thought with myself that I
ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of
Nazareth"(Acts 26:9). Paul had
chosen early in life, because he was a Hebrew, to follow the ways of
Moses. He persecuted those who were Christians. But Paul made a
choice: to become a Christian. The future apostle heard the word of
God from Ananias, believed the truth of the gospel and that Jesus was
the Christ, repented on his behavior and sins of the past, confessed
Jesus as the Christ, and was buried in water(baptized) for the
remission of sins. At that point, Paul begin to live as a Christian.
He chose to leave the religion of his youth because it was no longer
God's way. The choice to become a Christian would cause persecution
and anguish for Paul. Yet, he would be able to say at the end of his
life, "I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith." Paul
made the right choice: what about you?
"So belief cometh of hearing, and
hearing by the word of God" (Romans
10:17). This is what the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at
Rome. The communication of the truth of the gospel to others is the
starting point to lead one to believe in the contents of the gospel.
When one hears the message from God, he will be taught the
expectations of God for all of mankind. While men may hear many
things, even in religion, the one message that all men must hear to
be saved is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord died that men might
have the opportunity to learn of this sacrifice so they could learn
what to do in order to be saved. One cannot accept Jesus as the
Christ until he hears the message that is contained in the word of
God, the gospel. One's faith is to be built upon that divine message
and not upon the messages of men.
"How then shall they call on him in
whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom
they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a
preacher?" (Romans 10:14). The basis
of belief is the message that was brought by the apostles and
inspired men in the New Testament. Those who would be acceptable to
God, after hearing the word of God, would accept, by faith the
message concerning Jesus Christ and salvation. That message is for
today as it was for that time. To only hear the gospel is not enough:
one must respond by believing the message. Faith is the foundation
upon which all other actions stand. In the absence of sincere and
honest belief, one cannot be acceptable to God. Faith is the
foundation; obedience is the structure. It takes both the belief in
Jesus Christ and His word and the proving of that faith by obeying
his commands.