Lessons On Living

[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 31:1

The Eyes Have It

Job 31:1

"I have made a covenant with my eyes; why then should I look upon a young woman?"

The Eyes Have It

Millie Dienert worked with the Billy Graham evangelistic team for 40 years. She commented, "I have always appreciated from a moral point of view how the men have been in their attitude toward the secretaries. The doors are always left open. They have always kept everything above reproach. When you are working on a long-term basis with the same person, constantly in hotels where the wife is not there and the secretary is, that is a highly explosive situation. You have to take precautions. I have always respected the way they have handled that."

Job also desired to live a chaste life. Even though he was a married man, he knew how easy it would be to slip. And it all begins with a look. Perhaps at first it is nothing more than just a casual glance, but then comes a lingering stare. Before long the look becomes something more. Therefore, Job made a covenant with his eyes, where it all begins. He knew that if nothing was started, he wouldn’t have to worry about where it would go.

Christians need to remember that immorality begins with the eyes. Where people look, how long they look and what they allow to be communicated through their eyes are all factors that can bring about a fall. What we allow to come in through the eye-gate makes or breaks our Christian testimony. If we set up a roadblock at the source of our temptation, we can insure that our witness for the Lord will remain untainted.

Begin with the eyes. You can’t help the first look, but you are definitely responsible for every look thereafter. Close that gate as soon as you can. Make a covenant with yourself and the Lord that you will not allow your eyes to be your downfall. Guard your eyes, and the rest of your behavior will be easier to control.

Wrong looks lead to wrong behavior.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 31:24-28

Trusting in Your Treasures

Job 31:24–25, 28

"If I have made gold my hope, or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence’; if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much; . . . this also would be an iniquity worthy of judgment, for I would have denied God who is above."

Trusting in Your Treasures

Dr. Howard Hendricks, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, shared how he and his wife, Jeanne, dined with a very rich man from a blue-blooded Boston family. During the course of the dinner, Dr. Hendricks asked him, "How in the world did you grow up in the midst of such wealth and not be consumed by materialism?" The man replied, "My parents taught us that everything in our home was either an idol or a tool."

Before the Sabeans raided his oxen and donkeys, the Chaldeans stole his camels and fire from heaven burned up his sheep, Job had been a very wealthy man, but he was also wise enough to know that these were not the things in which he should place his trust. In fact, had he done so, he would have been worthy of all the affliction he experienced. It would have made him guilty of denying God the most important place in his life.

Wealth is not wrong, but how we view our possessions can be very wrong. Christians must realize that everything we have is a gift from the Lord. When what we have received becomes more important than the One who gave it, we have fallen into the trap of idolatry. We are putting possessions ahead of the Lord. Our security then rests not in whom we belong to but in what belongs to us.

You may not consider yourself wealthy. Most people don’t. But whether you have a lot or a little, your attitude toward what you do possess may be causing you to stumble. Examine your heart. Are your possessions a tool to be used for God’s glory or an idol in which you trust?

Honor the Giver more than the gift.

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[sincereheart]

"My parents taught us that everything in our home was either an idol or a tool."

Wow!  That's one thought I'll try and pass on to my kids!

[nChrist]

"My parents taught us that everything in our home was either an idol or a tool."

Wow!  :o That's one thought I'll try and pass on to my kids!

Hello SincereHeart,

Sister, I know that statement is very blunt, BUT it really is TRUE. We all need to think about THINGS getting in the way of serving GOD. I'll say that I am thinking about me first.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Philippians 3:8-9 NASB  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Romans 8:28 Job 32:9

No Guarantees

Job 32:9

"Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice."

No Guarantees

When we buy a product, especially an expensive item such as an automobile or a computer, we want to know what guarantees come with it. What does the company that made the item promise to do for the one who bought it? If it ceases to function six months after we purchase it, will the manufacturer guarantee to replace it at no cost to the buyer? What if we’re simply not satisfied with the way it works? Can it be returned? Next to the price, the guarantees that come with a product can be the most influential selling point.

The fourth friend of Job, Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, made a valid observation. The youngest of those seeking to help Job during his time of trouble, he declared that there are no guarantees in life. As he considered the advice given by his more esteemed colleagues, it was obvious to him that they were off base. He realized that their reputed greatness didn’t guarantee their wisdom, nor did the fact that they were older than he mean that they understood justice. Nothing about life is guaranteed.

Yet for those who have placed their faith in Christ, life is not that gloomy. It is still true that following certain practices will not guarantee a particular result. Godly parents have raised prodigal children. Committed Christians have contracted incurable diseases. Devout believers have lost all their possessions. But God does make this guarantee—eventually everything will turn out all right. He promises, "All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28). That’s the best guarantee of all.

Face it—you have no guarantees in life. But God is able to massage your life and make it fit into His guarantee. Whatever happens to you, God guarantees He will use it for your good.

What life lacks, God supplies.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: James 1:17 Job 34:10

Don't Blame God

Job 34:10

"Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to commit iniquity."

Don’t Blame God

A man was handing out business cards that read, "Federman and Coe, Merchants." When asked about his partner the man admitted there was no such person. "Then why do you have the name on your card?" someone wanted to know. "Well, you see," the man replied, "if something goes wrong I just blame it on Coe. That way I get out of trouble easily."

Three of Job’s friends were suggesting the same. As they saw it, God was responsible for all the evil that had befallen Job. Even though they suspected some hidden sin in Job’s life, his troubles still came down to a smear on God’s character. But Elihu, Job’s fourth friend, objected to such a charge. God does not commit wickedness, even if some might consider it justified. Admittedly, we have the benefit of seeing behind the scenes and knowing that it was Satan who committed these acts of iniquity. But Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar could have realized the same if they had truly understood God’s nature.

Christians are good at blaming God when things go wrong. If a child dies, it’s God’s fault. If the house burns down, it’s God’s fault. Such accusations cannot be true. God permits bad things to happen, but He doesn’t cause them. Sometimes things happen because of our own carelessness or sinfulness. Other times they happen because of the forces of evil in the world. But God is not to blame. James says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17). We may not understand much about God, but there is one thing we can know for certain: There is no "dark side" to God.

Don’t blame the Lord for your troubles. They come as a result of sin in this world. Confess to God any anger or bitterness you might feel for what you’ve experienced in life. Then ask Jesus to heal your wounds and make you whole.

God permits, but He never commits.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Job 34:21-22

No Place to Hide

Job 34:21–22

"For His eyes are on the ways of man, and He sees all his steps. There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves."

No Place to Hide

Have you noticed that when people try to hide from trouble they rarely succeed? A true story relates that a retired couple was alarmed by the threat of nuclear war, so they undertook a serious study of all the inhabited places on the globe. Their goal was to determine what geographical location would be least likely affected by a nuclear war. They studied books and traveled the world and finally found the place. That Christmas they sent their pastor a card from their new home on the Falkland Islands. Shortly afterwards, however, their "paradise" was turned into a war zone by Great Britain and Argentina. Even though they had tried to hide from trouble, trouble had found them.

Elihu, Job’s youngest friend, made this same observation about God. No one can hide from Him. His all-seeing eyes observe man’s every step. Although Elihu was wrong in his assumption that Job had some hidden sin in his life, he was right to claim that nothing could be concealed from God’s sight. Had Job truly been a worker of iniquity, God would have known it.

Sometimes we feel frustrated because many evildoers are able to cover their wickedness so cleverly that they never can be brought to trial. Other times they simply disappear with their ill-gotten gains and no one can find them. But no one escapes the watchful eye of God. He knows what they’ve done and where they can be found. When the time is right, God will make sure justice is done.

If you are the victim of a miscarriage of justice or know some guilty person who has disguised his wrongdoing, be encouraged. No one can hide from the Lord. The most clever criminal can never conceal his deeds or himself from the watchful eyes of God. God observes all that we do, and He is a just Judge.

Justice is blind, but God isn’t.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: James 2:1-4 Job 36:18-19 Job 37:23-24

No Partiality

Job 37:23–24

"As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress. Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart."

No Partiality

Gandhi says in his autobiography that in his student days he was truly interested in the Bible. Deeply touched by reading the Gospels, he seriously considered becoming a convert, since Christianity seemed to offer the real solution to the caste system that was dividing the people of India. One Sunday he went to a nearby church. He decided to see the minister and ask for instruction in the way of salvation and enlightenment on other doctrines. But when he entered the sanctuary, the ushers refused to give him a seat and suggested that he go worship with his own people. Gandhi left and never came back. If Christians have caste differences also, he said to himself, I might as well remain a Hindu. The partiality showed by those Christians had a devastating effect on India and the world.

Elihu implied that Job may have set himself apart as something special because of his wealth, perhaps even thinking he could buy his way out of affliction (Job 36:18–19). While this was not a correct assessment of Job’s character, Elihu made a valid point: God shows no partiality. God doesn’t care about a person’s wealth, social status or skin color, but only about his heart. God accepts all those who are "wise in heart."

Christians have fallen into the trap of partiality almost from the beginning. James warned his readers about showing favoritism to the wealthy (James 2:1–4). Other Christians have shown partiality based on language, nationality or ethnicity. None of these things, however, are important to God. He looks beneath such surface issues and considers what a person is on the inside.

If you find yourself hung up on a person’s economic status or skin color, ask God to help you see past these superficial matters. Seek to know others as God does—by their heart.

Have no part in partiality.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: 100:78 Job 42:3 Job 38:1

Out of the Whirlwind

Job 38:1

"Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind."

Out of the Whirlwind

Violent storms are one of the most destructive forces that nature can unleash upon mankind. Living in Nebraska, I’ve noticed that there is rarely a spring night during which some part of the state isn’t pounded by tornadoes or torrential rainfalls. Unfortunately, these outbreaks of nature are usually accompanied by a great deal of property damage, sometimes even loss of life. Whirlwinds are definitely forces to be reckoned with.

But the whirlwind that Job encountered was more than a product of nature. It was a divine messenger from the Lord. God used one of nature’s most awesome expressions of power to confront Job with his own frailty and weakness. The whirlwind brought Job face to face with his lack of understanding of God. Obviously his friends had misunderstood the nature of God as well, but Job was not entirely innocent either. After he experienced the violence of this whirling windstorm, he was brought to a fresh realization that God was far greater than he could comprehend. With his ignorance revealed, Job confessed, "I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know" (Job 42:3).

In the midst of our distress, it is common to find fault with God. We think, Surely God must have made a mistake for this to be happening to me. But such thinking is foolishness. With our limited understanding of what is truly happening both on earth and in heaven, we are arrogant to think that we are in a position to judge God’s actions. We are dealing with issues that are far beyond our understanding. In fact, even if God were to explain them, we wouldn’t be able to fully grasp them.

God is not committed to give you answers, but He is committed to bring you comfort. Avail yourself of what God offers—His presence in the midst of tribulation—and leave the rest up to someone far wiser than yourself.

Answers don’t always comfort, but God does.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Luke 19:10 Job 42:5-6

Seeing is Believing

Job 42:5–6

"I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

Seeing Is Believing

All of his life, John Wesley had been very pious. He got up at 4 A.M. and prayed for two hours. He would then read the Bible for an hour before going to the jails and hospitals to minister to all kinds of people. He would teach, pray for and help others until late at night. A turning point for Wesley came, however, when he found his way to a chapel on Aldersgate Street in London. He heard a man reading a sermon that described a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Wesley suddenly realized that he was trusting his good works. That night he wrote in his journal: "About a quarter before nine, while he described the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

Job also had been a pious man. Even God pointed him out as an extraordinarily righteous individual. But apparently something was lacking. He had heard about God and had been obedient to the degree that he knew how. But when he met God in the whirlwind, a new dimension was added to his life. God was no longer simply what he had heard about; He was now someone Job had personally experienced.

Those who grow up in the church often spend their early years hearing about God. Based on what they hear, they may lead a moral life and feel they know Jesus Christ. Yet they have had no personal encounter with Him. He is the God of their heads but not their hearts.

Make sure that your faith is not based merely on what you’ve heard. Seek a personal encounter with Jesus Christ through His Word. Allow God to become a real person in your life, not just someone you’ve heard about. Jesus came seeking you (Luke 19:10); now it’s your turn to seek Him.

Hearing is no substitute for experiencing.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Matthew 10:30 Jeremiah 1:4-5

Known By God

Jeremiah 1:4-5

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

Known by God

Those who know their geography well might know that the longest place name still in use is Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapiki-
maungahoronukupokaiwenuakitanatahu, a New Zealand hill. Or they might be aware that the full name of Los Angeles is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula, which can be abbreviated to 3.63 percent of its size by simply calling it L.A. But no one can know a subject as well as God knows us.

When God revealed Himself to Jeremiah, it was with the assurance that He was acquainted with this Old Testament prophet more intimately than anyone else ever could be. God knew Jeremiah before he was formed in his mother's womb. Even before he was born, God had set him aside to fulfill the role of a prophet to the nations. He knew Jeremiah as a person and He knew what He had in store for him. In fact, there was nothing about Jeremiah and his situation that God didn't know.

We also can believe with assurance that there is nothing about us or our lives that is beyond the knowledge of God. He even knows the exact number of hairs on our heads (Matt. 10:30). He has mapped out a blueprint for our lives that may hold surprises for us, but not for Him. Like a master craftsman, He is shaping and molding us to fit His plans. You need not be fearful about your future. God knows you intimately. He knows exactly the things to bring into your life and leave out of your life that will prepare you for the things He has prepared for you.

The God who knows you best knows the best for you.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living from Job
Scripture: Matthew 5:44 Job 42:10 Job 42:7

Boomerang Prayer

Job 42:10

And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Boomerang Prayer

In my office in Lincoln, Nebraska, I have on my desk two boomerangs from Australia. One is the genuine article, the other is a tourist version, but they both do what boomerangs are suppose to do. If you hold them the right way and throw them with that special flick of the wrist, they will fly out from your hand, circle back around and return to you. With a boomerang, what you send out also comes back.

Job experienced the same thing with prayer. Job’s three friends found themselves in deep trouble with God. The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right" (Job 42:7). Having been on the receiving end of these misguided barbs, Job might have been tempted to rejoice that God was setting these men straight. But instead, at God’s request, he prayed for them. And as he prayed for their forgiveness and restoration, God turned these prayers for blessing back onto Job and restored twice as much as Job had before.

When people have hurt and offended us, we often pray that God will help them see the error of their ways. And should God choose to extract a bit of vengeance, we wouldn’t be opposed to that either. But the real joy comes if we can put our pain behind us and pray for God’s blessing on them. Jesus says, "Do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). We are to pray for their good, not for their harm.

If you have been the object of someone’s misunderstanding, pray for that person. Ask God to richly bless him. You will be surprised to find that the blessings may boomerang back to you as well.

Praying for others is the best thing we can do for ourselves.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Jeremiah 3:2 Jeremiah 3:4

A Guide From Our Youth

Jeremiah 3:4

"Will you not from this time cry to Me, 'My father, You are the guide of my youth?'"

A Guide From Our Youth

The life of Edgar Allen Poe is one of the most tragic of all American writers. Raised by foster parents who loved him deeply, he was provided with an education that matched his genius. But then Poe lost his young bride through tuberculosis. By that time alcohol and drug abuse, along with involvement in the occult and Satanism, worked to destroy him. Depression and insanity plagued his short life, eventually leaving him unconscious in the gutter of a street in Baltimore. Four days later he died, never regaining consciousness. Poe began his life with money and brilliance, but in his latter years he became a ragged, penniless bum.

Israel also started well. As a young nation, the Jews looked to God for guidance. But as the years passed and God blessed her with prosperity, she strayed from His instructions. Israel prostituted herself with other gods (Jer. 3:2) and forgot her original commitment to the Lord. As a result, drought came upon the land—not simply as a punishment, but as God's way to get Israel to return to the guide of her youth. Only as she followed the One who had guided her in her younger years could Israel hope to be successful as a nation.

Too often those who grow up in the church, who attend Sunday school and youth group, who sit under the preaching of God's Word, forget the One who guided them in their youth. As they move out into the world, they often move away from the Lord, who led them through the difficult years of growing up. The consequences are frequently devastating.

If you have left the Guide of your youth, return to Him today. He waits for you. Call out to Him as your Heavenly Father and recommit yourself to His guidance. Let His showers of blessings end the drought in your life.

Let the Guide of your youth be the Guide of your life.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Romans 14:10 Jeremiah 5:31 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 Revelation 21:1 2 Corinthians 5:10

In the End

Jeremiah 5:31

The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?

In the End

Everything that begins also ends. Beautiful buildings are erected, but eventually they are torn down. Seeds sprout and grow into plants, but after their season they, too, come to an end. Even the universe, as we now know it, will some day be destroyed (Rev. 21:1). It is only reasonable, then, that as we begin something we must keep in mind that it eventually will come to an end—and then what?

That was God's warning to Israel. They were being misled by those who were responsible for their spiritual welfare. The prophets and priests were telling the people only what they wanted to hear, which was fine with them. They didn't want to be confronted with their sins. They loved the sugarcoated messages and the false assurances. But God inquired, "What will you do in the end?" What will you do when reality knocks on the door and you no longer can continue to deny the truth? Everything that begins has an end—and then what will you do?

As you live your life, don't forget that one day it, too, will end. And then what? God's Word indicates that all Christians must stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account of ourselves (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10). This is not to determine our salvation but the value of our works. All those things that are built upon the lies of the world are only wood, hay and straw, and they will be burned up (1 Cor. 3:12-15). In the end, only what you have done for Christ will last.

As you go through your day, evaluate what you do in light of the end you know is coming. When you stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, will the things you've given your life to really matter? Commit yourself to do that which is of eternal value.

The end is coming—and then what will you do?

____________________

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[nChrist]

Author: Woodrow Kroll
Source: Lessons on Living From Jeremiah
Scripture: Romans 5:1 Jeremiah 28:2 Jeremiah 6:14

Wishful Thinking

Jeremiah 6:14

"They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, 'Peace, Peace!' when there is no peace."

Wishful Thinking

On Wake Island in 1950, President Truman said to Gen. Douglas MacArthur, "I want only three words as my epitaph—'He Brought Peace.'" That was certainly a worthy and noble ambition, yet how elusive and disappointing the hope! Since the days of Truman, the United States has been involved in two major military actions, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, plus numerous smaller skirmishes. The desire for peace has been admirable, but so far it's only been wishful thinking.

The leaders of Israel also had high hopes of peace. The prophets and priests announced that God would keep them safe (Jer. 28:2). Israel would not be pulled into the conflict around them. They would not fall victim to the advancing Babylonian army. Yet it was all wishful thinking. By 605 B.C. Babylon occupied Judah, and in 586 B.C. the armies of Nebuchadnezzar besieged and overthrew Jerusalem (39:1-10). The majority of people were carried into captivity and their hopes for peace, fueled by the false claims of their leaders, turned out to be nothing more than wishful thinking.

God offers a peace that is more than wishful thinking—it's a reality. This is not a peace, however, between opposing armies. Instead, it's a peace treaty between ourselves and Him. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior, the hostility between God and us is put to rest. The apostle Paul says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1).

If you have that peace with God today, give thanks. No one can take it away from you. No matter what your circumstances are, your peace with Him will never change. If you don't have that peace through Christ, you can receive it by surrendering your life to Jesus and accepting the payment of His shed blood at Calvary to atone for your sins. And that's not just wishful thinking—that's reality!

Don't settle for wishful thinking; make peace in your heart a reality.

____________________

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