An "Enigma" means: "A puzzling mystery" according to my electronic dictionary & Thesaurus.
1. Why is it easy to see others' mistakes, but hard to see our own?
(Matthew 7:1-6) 1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judge, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3" Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. 6" Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. (NIV). Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. (KJV). The very passages often used to condemn judging actually demands judgment. Ex: "Do not give dogs that which is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs." (NIV). See also John 7:24; "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (KJV). And: (Romans 2:19-23) 19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
(James 2:8-13) 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
2. Why is it easy to solve our friend's problems, but hard to solve our own?
We all know advice is easier given than taken, but it is amazing how many answers we often think we have for the other fellow's problems, when if faced with identical ones, in all likelihood we would be unable to cope. We can train the other fellow's children exactly correctly. We can tell another man how to deal with his wife or husband as the case may be, but have our own problems when dealing properly with our own. We know how the other fellow should spend his money and how much he should give to the Lord, etc. and are often poor managers of our own resources. We can tell the other fellow how to enjoy good health, what to eat and what not to eat, etc. , but will not take our own medicine (advice often) We just have all of the answers to your problems, but few for our own. Following is what Peter said about meddling in other folks' matters: "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or as a busy body in other men's matters.." (1 Peter 4:14).
3. Why is it easy to "find the time" to attend ball games, parties, and other recreational activities, but hard to attend Bible studies, assembled worship services, and gospel meetings?
(Matthew 6:24-33): 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (KJV).
4. Why is it easy to spend several hours reading the newspaper and magazines, but hard to spend just a few minutes reading the Bible?
Paul admonished Timothy to "..give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine...Meditate upon these things: give thyself wholly to them that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Timothy 4:13,15-16). He also charged Timothy to teach others these same things so they could in turn teach them to others (2 Timothy 2:1-2). " Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (KJV). Paul said that the Ephesians would be able to understand when they "read these things" (Ephesians 3:4). " Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ." (KJV).
5. Why do Christians dress UP for weddings and funerals, but dress DOWN for worshipping God?
We are well aware of the fact that: "for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). We are well aware of James' statement showing that we should not look with more favor on the well dress ones than we do on those with "vile raiment" James 2:1-5; My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?(NIV).
Having said the above, however, we should still "give of your best to the Master..." and modesty demands neat and orderly as well as non revealing attire. (1 Timothy 2:9-10) " 9 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. " (NIV).
There is such a thing as the "harlots attire" spoken of in the Scriptures (See Proverbs 7:10) "And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart."
6. Why is it easy to encourage our children to work on their lessons for school (and punish them if they don't), but hard to motivate them to do their Bible lessons (and fail to discipline them when they don't)?
I suggest that often the parents come to class unprepared to participate and without having spent much time (if any) in preparing themselves for Bible study classes. It isn't any wonder then that the children come to classes unprepared now is it? This, like some points already made in this lesson is a sign that our priorities often aren't properly set. If we or our children "gain the whole world and lose our souls, what shall it profit?" Asked Jesus (Matthew 16:24)
7. Why is it easy to spend $30 at a fancy restaurant and see the latest movie at the newest theater in town, but hard to place the same amount in the collection plate to support the work of the local church?
(1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. ; 2 Corinthians 8:1-12 1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us [1]--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 10 And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. (NIV)
2 Corinthians 9: 6-13) 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. (NIV).
Yes, even our blessed Lord said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35b). First one should give one's self to the Lord in gospel submission in keeping with His great or worldwide commission and as the examples of conversion in the book of Acts give examples of conversion to Christ.(Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-49; John 3:3-5).
Hear
Believe
Repent
Confess Jesus
Be immersed for forgiveness of sins
Be faithful unto death.