Universal
Biblical Truths
Bible Principles
Acceptable by all Religions
Maria Seferou
Copyright © 2018 by Maria Seferou
Contents
Preface
Chapter
1: Love
Chapter 2: Peace
Chapter 3: Faith
Chapter
4: Worship
Chapter
5: Wisdom
Chapter
6: Fear
Chapter
7: Tongue
Chapter
8: The Commandments
Chapter
9: Wealth
Chapter
10: Judgment
Abbreviations
O.T., Old Testament N. T., New
Testament
Gen., Genesis
Matt., Matthew
Ex., Exodus
Rom., Romans
Lev., Leviticus Cor.,
Corinthians
Num., Numbers Gal.,
Galatians
Deut.,
Deuteronomy Eph., Ephesians
Jos.,
Joshua
Phil., Philippians
Judg., Judges
Col., Colossians
Sam., Samuel Thes., Thessalonians
Chr., Chronicles Tim.,
Timothy
Neh.,
Nehemiah Heb., Hebrews
Psa.,
Psalms Jam., James
Prov.,
Proverbs
Pet., Peter
Ecc.,
Ecclesiastes
Rev., Revelation
Isa.,
Isaiah
Jer.,
Jeremiah
Lam.,
Lamentations
Ez.,
Ezekiel
Dan., Daniel
Hos., Hosea
Mic., Micah
Hab.,
Habakkuk
Zech., Zechariah
Mal.,
Malachi
Preface
Slowly but steadily, from
the beginning of human presence on earth, man was gradually getting conscious
of the dynamics of his thoughts, words and deeds, and classified them according
to the impact they had on one’s life and the lives of others. Man called ‘good’ those thoughts, words or
deeds which had a positive psychological and physical impact on himself and
others, and ‘evil’ those
that brought misery.
Chapter
1: Love
The heart of Christian
teaching is LOVE. However, in spite of the popular belief, the exhortation to love one another wasn’t a New
Testament commandment that Jesus gave for the first time. We also find it in
the Old Testament, as the following verses testify.
“This
is what the Lord of hosts says: ‘Administer true justice, show mercy and
compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the
alien or the poor; and let none of you device evil against his brother in your
heart’.” (Zech. 7: 9-10)
Justice, mercy and compassion to one another must be qualities for which we are always to strive. No one should devise evil in his heart against another human being, for we are all brothers and sisters, made in the image of God.
This is the central Christian command that many attribute to Jesus. Yet we also find it in the O.T. book of Leviticus!
Apparently, the instruction “love your neighbor as yourself” was present in the Old Testament times! Even a grudge against a fellow human being was to be avoided, while taking vengeance was out of the question for a person on a spiritual path. It is amazing that the highest spiritual standards of love were put forward in times when the practice “eye for an eye” was prevalent!
“He (God) executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Love the stranger therefore; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deut. 10: 18-19)
God wants us to love the
strangers, those who have come to our land from another country. The Lord cares
for the alien, and hence we should also care for them. There is no room left for racism here, nor
any allowance for the exploitation of strangers.
“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.” (Prov.10: 12)
Love is the greatest of
virtues, and hence it covers all sins! In fact, if our heart is full of love we
cannot sin against our fellow human beings. And we cannot even sin against
ourselves, because we wouldn’t like to grieve those who love us.
“Better
a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.” (Prov. 15: 17)
Love is the source of
happiness, even amidst poverty. But where there is hatred, riches cannot bring
joy.
“Then
one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him and saying,
‘Master, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said unto him, ‘You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is
like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments
hang all the law and the prophets’.” (Matt. 22: 35-40)
Here comes Jesus to wrap up
the two greatest commandments. In fact, these commandments are three. Love of oneself,
love of God, and love of our neighbor. We cannot truly love only
one of them without loving the other two. True love starts from ourselves, who
are the image of God, and naturally spreads to God and our fellow human beings.
“But
I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, pray for those who ill treat you. If someone strikes you
on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not
withhold even your tunic. Give to every one who asks you, and if anyone takes
what belongs to you, do not demand it back. (…) If you love those who love you,
what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. (…) But
love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting anything
in return.” (Luke 6: 27-30, 32, 35a)
It is easy to love the good
people and those we like. But the difficult thing is to love the ugly, the
unlovable and those who have harmed us. Yet this is the real test to find out
if we have love in our hearts.
We should love even our
enemies! This seems difficult but it is necessary for our spiritual health. Any
trace of hatred and revengeful feelings against those who hate us harms our
spiritual health and poisons our soul. We are to do good to those who ill-treat
us. This is the best remedy to overcome bitterness and liberate our souls from
bondage.
“Owe
no man anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has
fulfilled the law.” (Rom. 13: 8)
Paul is very clear about
what we should owe to other people: only LOVE! There should be no room for
vindictiveness in our heart.
“Above
all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of
sins.” (1 Pet. 4: 8)
Peter repeats that love
covers multitude of sins. Therefore we should never fail to love one another.
“Now
the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” (1 Tim 1: 5)
Love is the end of the
commandment, the alpha and the omega of the law. The love of a pure heart is
the shortest path to godliness.
“If
I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy
gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and understand
all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove
mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I
deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love
is longsuffering, and is kind; love does not envy, is not impertinent, and it
does not boast; love is not rude, does not seek her own, is not irritable, and
does not think evil; love does not delight in injustice but rejoices in the
truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures
all things.
Love
never ends; (…).” (1 Cor. 13: 1-8a)
Love is greater than all
spiritual fruits and virtues. However, one could even give all his possessions
away without having love! He could be doing it out of selfish motives, and
this, in fact, is not genuine love. True love penetrates every particle of
one’s body, and expresses itself in faith, unselfishness, kindness,
forgiveness, patience, longsuffering, meekness, tranquility, hopefulness,
endurance, and all virtues existing under the sun! This should be the ideal and
the goal of every enlightened person: to be perfected in LOVE.
“He
who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still. He
who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for
stumbling.” (1 John 2: 9-10)
To abide in the light is to
love. To hate is to live in the darkness. He who loves his brother is not going
to stumble.
“Beloved,
let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God
and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.” (1 John 4: 7-8)
To be born of God is to
love, for love is of God. Here is a quick test for those who think themselves “born again” and for those who claim
to know God. Do they love unconditionally every human being? By this we shall
know that we know God, if we love one another.
“But
if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet shuts up his
heart of compassion from him, how does God’s love abide in him? My little
children let us not love in word or tongue but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3: 17-18)
True love is expressed not
just with words but, primarily, with deeds. When someone is in need we should
not shut up our heart of compassion.
“There
is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has torment, and
he who fears is not perfected in love.” (1 John 4: 18)
Perfect love drives fear
away! How comforting for us to know this truth! When our heart is full of love
all fears are gone. One who is perfected in love will never be tormented by
fear. What a wonderful state to be!
If we have love in our
hearts, then we are truly sons and daughters of God, who “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the
good, and sends rain on the
righteous and the unrighteous.”
(Matt. 5:45)
Chapter
2: Peace
How could we find peace in
a world of turmoil, stress, antagonism and confusion? Where could we turn to in
order to find tranquility in our heart and mind? The answer is simple, and it
is given in the following verse:
“To
set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life
and peace.” (Rom. 8: 6)
Paul is speaking about the
inner peace, the peace of the soul that passes all understanding. Such peace is
life and comes only when we fix our mind on the Spirit of God, i.e. when we
choose to live according to the spiritual principles. On the contrary, if we
set our mind on the desires of the flesh and the gratification of our senses,
we will never have peace and this will lead to spiritual death, which causes
sickness and even premature physical death.
“Submit
to God, and be at peace; in this way good shall come unto you.” (Job 22: 21)
Eliphaz, one of Job’s three
friends, urges Job to submit to God. He knew that only this way one could find
peace.
Submitting to God means
adhering to his precepts and also accepting without bitterness whatever life
brings to you. God is not responsible if things didn’t work out as we expected.
But if we submit to the Lord and are thankful for everything, while, at the
same time, searching our heart to see if, to some extent, we are responsible
that things have gone wrong, then we will find peace even amidst the most
adverse and painful circumstances.
“I
will lie down and sleep in peace; for you, alone, O Lord, make me dwell in
safety.” (Psa. 4: 8)
Only God can give us the
assurance that we dwell in safety, provided that we put our trust in him. Then
we will have peace even in our sleep! If one has the right relationship with
God, the same fears no evil. He feels safe in the Lord’s presence even though
he may walk through the valley of the
shadow of death.
“You
shall keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts
in you.” (Isa. 26: 3)
The great prophet Isaiah
also confirms that the person who trusts God, whose mind stays on the Almighty,
finds perfect peace. If we lean entirely upon God, our spirit will be strong;
we shall feel totally secure and have peace in our heart and mind.
“Great
peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” (Psa. 119: 165)
David knows from personal
experience that those who love and adhere to the law of God enjoy great peace.
They have a sense of security and nothing can be a snare or a stumbling block
to them.
“Seek
peace and pursue it.” (Psa. 34: 14b)
Peace is something that
does not come to us easily. It is a “commodity” we must work for diligently.
Inner peace, as well as peace with our neighbors, is to be vigorously sought
for and wisely pursued, as we adhere to God’s principles.
“Her
(wisdom’s) ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace.” (Prov. 3: 17)
Solomon is talking about
the wisdom that comes from God, the wisdom
from above (Jam. 3: 17). Such wisdom is peaceable. Wisdom’s ways are
pleasing, leading people to true happiness and inner satisfaction. Isn’t this
what man craves for in life? And all wisdom’s paths are peace. He who is wise
does never enter into strife either with his higher self or with others. He
knows the value of peace and always chooses a peaceful path to solve out
internal or external conflicts. How does one obtain this so precious wisdom, if
he doesn’t have it? One way is to ask God for it in prayer (Jam. 1: 5). In
addition to this, one must seek knowledge and acquire virtues. (More about
wisdom in the relevant chapter)
“Behold,
how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psa. 133: 1)
The psalmist is speaking
about unity that results in feeling great pleasure with each other’s company
and well being. Lack of quarreling, strife or enmity does not necessarily mean
unity. Sometimes people could live in peace only because they are indifferent
or live at a distance from each other.
The good and pleasant unity David praises here is the unity that makes
people yearn to be together. They feel
and behave as true brothers and sisters. They worship God together, show
affection to each other and find delight in promoting each other’s interests.
This is the unity that pleases God, for it is a blessing not just to the brethren who dwell together in unity but to the whole society and
even to the entire world. So great is the positive energy that emanates from
such unity.
How good and how pleasant
and beneficial for the society would be if Christians dwelt together in unity!
But now, fragmented as they are, they nullify the central message of Christ
that is LOVE, and instead of being a blessing to the world, they have often
become a cursing, as history proves…
“When
a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with
him.” (Prov. 16:7)
There are times in the life
of the spiritual seeker when he/she has not been able to reconcile with his/her
enemy, although one has done everything possible in order to be at peace with
that person. The other party is unwilling. In such cases one should commit the matter
to God in prayer and wait patiently. If the Lord is pleased with one’s ways,
sooner or later the rock of hatred in the enemy’s heart will be broken and
peace will prevail.
“It
is an honor for a man to cease from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.” (Prov. 20: 3)
Ceasing from strife, and
better not engaging in quarrels at all, is not a sign of weakness but of
wisdom. It saves up precious energy; it eliminates problems and promotes peace.
To let fall one’s weapons, to drop a controversy, to turn the other cheek, for the sake of peace, is also a sign of
strength and it honors a man. Only fools jump into quarrelling without
hesitation, thus creating distress and heartache not only to others but also to
themselves.
“Better
is a handful with tranquility than two handfuls with travail and vexation of
spirit.” (Ecc. 4: 6)
A poor man who has
tranquility in his heart is happier than a rich man with a worn out and vexed
spirit. This does not mean that one should be a sluggard in order to have
serenity. Solomon rather advises against excessive effort to obtain wealth, as
this unavoidably will create physical strain and mental stress and will steal
one’s peace. Envy, greed and extreme ambition is usually what makes someone a
workaholic. However, one should recognize and respect his physical and mental
limitations, as well as his need for rest.
A man should not be exhausted by overwork, if he wants to have peace.
“Therefore
love truth and peace.” (Zech. 8: 19b)
Zechariah ties together
truth and peace. If we want to have inner peace, we must be honest with
ourselves and hearken to the still
small voice of our conscience.
And if we want to have peace with others, we must be honest with them. Lies can
never be a sound foundation for peace. Dishonesty creates separation and
strife, but truth promotes peace.
“Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matt. 5: 9)
What greater honor could
one seek in life than to be called, ‘son
of God’? And this noble spiritual title belongs to all genuine
peacemakers. They are blessed by God! Such is the importance of peace among
men! However, to be an effective peacemaker, one must strongly love and delight
in peace. This comes naturally to one who has first made a true and lasting
peace with God. He/she is the one who lives daily according to the Creator’s
sovereign laws.
So, before one gets
ambitious to become a peacemaker, he/she has to make peace with the
Almighty. Good atheists, who often show
a zeal for peace, do not have the potential to go very far. Neither those
religious leaders who talk much about peace, while their real motives are
selfish, can establish true peace in society and the world as a whole, never
mind if they invoke God to bless their efforts. All these are fake peacemakers
and unfortunately there are plenty of them in the world...
“Be
at peace with one another.”
(Mark 9: 50b)
Jesus exhorted his
disciples to be at peace with each other. Unfortunately, two thousand years
later, the Christians have not yet hearkened to his exhortation. It is time
that Christians should examine where the root of their disunity lies. In my
opinion, the problem is primarily in the Christian doctrines. Christianity,
right from the beginning, instead of being a nursery of LOVE, became an
organized religion of vain mental acrobatics that inflate man’s ego and lead to
idolatry, antagonism, and even wars and atrocities.
Those
who have ears let them hear…
“And
suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising
God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
among men’.” (Luke 2: 13-14)
Peace among men is life!
That’s why it is the wish and prayer of angels and the heavenly hosts. War and
strife is death, the father and mother of all evil, and it should be avoided at
any other cost. Peace and good will among men is the foundation of individual
and collective welfare. But peace on earth will not descend on us from heaven.
People must work for it diligently. If mankind chooses war instead of peace,
all the prayers of the heavenly hosts are not able to avert it. Humans are
responsible for the conditions they create on earth. Whatever they strive for, the
same will they surely get.
“If
it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live peacefully with all men.” (Rom. 12: 18)
Paul recognizes that
sometimes it is difficult to be at peace with certain people. We cannot be at
peace with someone who wants war with us. It takes two to make peace. That’s
why Paul adds ‘if it is possible’,
‘as far as it depends on you’. If
we have done everything in our power but peace has not come, we will have inner
tranquility, knowing that we have earnestly tried.
“Let
us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual
edification.” (Rom. 14: 19)
Once again, Paul exhorts
the Romans to make every effort that leads to peace. Hardly could he suspect
that some of his basic doctrines would cause endless strife and divisions among
Christians in the centuries to come…
“For
God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Cor.14: 33a)
Of course, God is not the
author of chaos. Nor could he have been the inspirer of every word of the
Bible, when out of it has come so much confusion and strife among the
believers. Surely God is the author of order and peace.
“Finally,
brothers, farewell. Aim for perfection, be cheerful, be of one mind, live in
peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Cor. 13: 11)
Paul exhorts the
Corinthians to be perfect, cheerful and live in peace. He also urges them to be
of one mind. However we should try to live in peace with others even when we
think differently, which is usually the case. This way God, who is God of love
and peace, will be with us. And when God is with us, who can be against us?
“Endeavoring
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4: 3)
Paul’s exhortation to
Ephesians is also to do their best to keep the unity of the Spirit. Of course,
if the believers are one with the Spirit of God, naturally they will be one
with each other. There is no short way to go about it. Only spiritual unity will bind all believers
together in peace. Yet, what we see
among Christians today is quite the opposite:
Arrogance, strife, rivalry, dissension and even hatred are the ‘fruits’
of Christians’ separation from the Spirit of God.
“And
the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by the peacemakers.” (Jam. 3: 18)
Those who practice peace
sow the fruit of righteousness in peaceful ways. One shouldn’t try to preach
righteousness with ways that stir up envy, strife and enmity. The peacemakers,
who are called sons of God, have the sensitivity and the discernment to sow His
word peacefully.
“Peace
I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to
you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14: 27)
Jesus was about to depart
from the world and he wanted to comfort his disciples who would be left alone.
So he blessed them by leaving his peace unto them. If they received it, they
wouldn’t be afraid, and their hearts would not be troubled. Unfortunately, the
disciples did not receive this peace immediately. During the most difficult
hours of Jesus on the cross, they were frightened, scattered around in hiding,
and Peter even denied his Master.
What shall we say then?
Were Jesus’ blessings given in vain? Not-at-all! But in addition to Jesus
blessings, the disciples had to work for inner peace themselves. They had to
get closer to God and draw power from his Spirit through their own prayers.
Blessings from a heart full of love are precious; they activate angels, and
should be given freely to all by all. But they are more effective when they are
coupled with one’s own practical and diligent efforts. Those who earnestly seek
God and submit to him shall be filled with inner peace, courage and boldness.
Chapter
3: Faith
Whatever one’s opinion
about the Bible may be, there is one thing that cannot be argued. The Bible is
above anything else a Book of Faith. All biblical stories have one
common denominator, namely, faith in God. Everything we find in there starts
and ends with faith in God’s Sovereignty. To quote here all verses on Faith
would mean to transcribe the whole Bible. We find the power of man’s faith
nearly in all narratives of the Old and New Testament. For the purposes of this
manual I shall try to quote the most representative ones.
“Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”(Heb.11:1) Here we have a brief but
comprehensive definition of Faith. Faith is the essential ‘material’ to
create things we hope for. Hoping and believing go together. They are both born
in the soul of man. First comes hope and prepares the heart for the birth of
faith. Faith is the conviction, the firm persuasion that things, which
don’t exist at present, will come to pass. Faith is seeing with the eyes of the
spirit what our physical sight does not see yet. Faith is the greatest
force in Universe, the foundation of all creativity, and is planted in the soul
of man by the grace of God. But most important of all, Faith is the
inward acceptance of divine Revelation.
We continue with Paul’s
epistle to Hebrews, same chapter, for there he refers briefly to some of the
most renowned events of faith in the Bible.
“For
by it (faith) the men of old received divine approval.” (Heb. 11: 2)
The ancient believers, the
seers, the prophets of the first ages of the world, little by little perceived
by faith God’s sovereign laws. They ‘heard’ God in their spirit and accepted by
faith what they understood to be his Word. Thus they passed down to people that
which they had received by revelation, and so they earned divine approval and a
good report!
“By
faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and
constructed an ark for the saving of his household; by this he condemned the
world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.” (Heb.11: 7)
When Noah was 480 years
old, he received a warning from God about things not seen yet, i.e. a severe
judgment coming on the corrupt world by a flood. He was also advised what he
had to do in order for him and his family to be saved. If this revelation was
given by vision, dream, by the inner still
small voice or otherwise, we are not told. In any case, to act on this
information, Noah had to exercise a great faith. Indeed Noah did not doubt at
all and started the construction of the huge ark, just as God had commanded him
to do.
The flood came 120 years
later (!) and Noah was warned a week before it started to go into the ark. Once
again he had to exercise his faith in order to act on this information; and
sure enough, he did. So Noah, 600 years old at that time and a giant of faith,
took his family and one pair from all living creatures, just as God had
instructed him to do, and entered the ark, thus being saved!
One can imagine how many
times and to what extend Noah’s faith might have been tested during those 120
years. During those years, while Noah was constructing the ark of gopher wood, he was calling people to repentance, in order to
avert God’s plan of judgment. He was a preacher
of righteousness, as the scripture tells us (2 Peter 2:5). Since the
people did not hearken to his warnings, the flood eventually came. It rained
heavily for forty days, and all flesh
died and every living substance
was destroyed (Gen. 7: 21-24).
May God forgive the world
and save us from a similar universal judgment, for surely in our days the world
has sunk deeper into corruption than it had in the days of Noah.
It is worth studying the
whole story of Noah in Genesis. The great faith of Noah is indisputable. What
one has to discern and contemplate upon is the origin of the idea of judgment
by the flood. Had it started in the mind of God or in the heart of the prophet?
If we study carefully the Biblical prophecies, we may be inclined to believe
the second.
“By
faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to
receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By
faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in
tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.” (Heb. 11: 8-9)
Abraham, in obedience to
God’s call, set out to find the place he would receive as an inheritance,
although he didn’t know exactly where he was to go. Such was the faith of
Abraham to his God! The message wasn’t very clear, yet Abraham acted on it. He
submitted to God’s will and trusted him totally. He knew that, if he did the
first step, God would guide him afterwards to the Promised Land. But this first step on his behalf was very
decisive; it was absolutely necessary in order to receive the promise!
How many times have we not
denied God this first step because we didn’t have the full details of his plan
for us! And how many times haven’t we missed God’s blessing because we didn’t
act in faith on the inner information we had…
“By
faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age,
since she considered him faithful who had promised.” (Heb. 11: 11)
This is a very hopeful
message to all barren women. Sarah, thanks to her unwavering faith in God,
conceived even when she was past the
age! Nothing will be impossible to those who believe.
“By
faith Moses left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king; for he endured
as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the
blood, so that the destroyer of the first-born might not touch them.” (Heb. 11: 27-28)
The entire history of Moses
is a remarkable demonstration of faith. All the major decisions, which he took
in his life, were mighty acts of faith. Moses knew no fear of man or nature
because his trust was placed firmly on God and the knowledge of his secret
sovereign laws. He also had the discernment to know when God spoke.
“By
faith the people crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land; but the Egyptians, when
they attempted to do the same, were drowned.” (Heb. 11: 29)
The Israelites, who
followed Moses out of Egypt, had to exercise their own faith in order to cross
the Red Sea. While Moses trusted God and his own magic powers, the people
trusted Moses’ word. Otherwise they would have been drowned, as the Egyptians
had.
“By
faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven
days.” (Heb. 11: 30)
This is another spectacular
miracle, unbelievable to us today, due to Joshua’s great faith. The Israelites
had also to exercise their faith for seven days. All the men of war were to
march around the walls of Jericho once a day for six days, with seven priests
going before the Ark (which was
carried by other priests) blowing the trumpets continually. On the seventh day
they should march in the same manner seven times, and on the seventh time, when
the seven priests had blown the trumpets before the Ark of the Covenant, all the people should shout and the walls
would fall! And this is exactly what
happened. Now, whether in all this there is also a great element of magic or not we cannot be sure. It is
up to the student of the Bible to discern, although sometimes the borderline
between pure faith and magic is not always discernable.
“And
what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson,
Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets - who through faith conquered
kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of
weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received
their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release that
they might rise again to a better life.” (Heb. 11: 32-35)
Here Paul lists some more
names of men of great faith. The stories are well known and it is up to the
student of the Bible to restudy and benefit from them. Whether the events are
historically verified or not shouldn’t concern us. If our faith is to be
strengthened we have to take them as actual facts. Anyway, the power of great
faith is unlimited and miracles like those listed in the Old Testament could
happen any time among people of every race and faith. Today our society is in
great need of mighty prophets who will challenge with signs and wonders the
materially strong rulers of the earth and call them to the path of
righteousness.
“The
righteous shall live by his faith.” (Hab. 2: 4b)
Here the prophet Habakkuk
underlines the importance of faith for the righteous. The righteous people do
not have to worry about anything in life. Their faith will always sustain them.
This does not mean that the righteous do not have to work for living. If they
sat back doing nothing, they would no longer be righteous! It only means that
their trust is in God’s Providence. They totally rest in God, while they
conscientiously perform their daily duties toward themselves, their family and
the society.
“For
she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his garment, I shall be made whole.’
Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has
made you whole.’ And instantly the woman was made well.” (Matt. 9: 21-22)
The sick woman had already
decided in her heart what she needed to do in order to be healed. All she
needed was to touch Jesus’ garment! Her plan was precise and her faith had been
fully activated. Therefore as soon as she did this she was instantly healed. It
was her faith and not Jesus that did the healing. What God can do for us is
determined by our faith. Our willingness to trust him will release his blessing
towards us exactly to the proportion we believe. No more, no less.
“But
the centurion answered him, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my
roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. (…) When Jesus
heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly, I say to
you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. (…)’. And to the centurion
Jesus said, ‘Go; be it done for you as you believed.’ And the servant was
healed at that very moment.”
(Matt. 8: 8, 10, 13)
Here we have another man of
great faith. He, too, knew exactly what he wanted Jesus to do for him. He only
wanted him to say the word! And what was the word that Jesus uttered? “Be it done for you as you believed”.
Immediately the servant was healed! We must be careful then to be specific and
precise when we submit our requests to God. Our faith will bring us exactly
what we have asked for, even if, in our ignorance, we might have asked for
something harmful.
“For
truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say
to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing
shall be impossible to you.”
(Matt. 17: 20b)
The law of faith works even
if it is not attached to any particular god, saint, angel or religion. Faith
is a universal creative force that originates in the heart of human beings. A
strong faith can remove the mountain
of any problem in man’s life. It is comforting to always remember this. “If you have faith!” – Jesus did not
specify in whom.
“And
whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matt. 21: 22)
For those who have chosen
to pray to God, instead of speaking the word directly to the problem, Jesus
stressed that they should ask in faith. If they don’t have faith, they limit
God as to what he can do for them.
“And
Jesus stopped, and commanded him (the blind man) to be brought unto him; and
when he came near, he asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He said,
‘Lord, let me receive my sight.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight;
your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he received his sight (…).” (Luke 18: 41-43a)
Surely Jesus knew what the
blind man needed from him. Yet he asked him to spell out what he wanted,
because he had to be certain that the blind man had enough faith to be healed.
And the blind man responded in faith:
‘Lord, let me receive my sight’.
And, sure enough, his faith made him well. He immediately received his sight,
just as he had believed!
“In
Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had
never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at
him, saw that he had faith to be healed and said in a loud voice, ‘Stand up on
your feet!’ At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.” (Acts 14: 8-10)
In this case we have the
apostle Paul commanding a crippled man to stand up and walk. He didn’t ask him
any questions in advance. However, the scripture tells us, he discerned that
the crippled man “had faith to be
healed”. Paul had the gift of discernment; he had inner information that
this man would be healed, and he promptly acted on this information. Had he
doubted, he would have failed.
“So
then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17)
How can we increase our faith? One way is to
listen to the word of God. Thus we will get acquainted with the great men of
faith, the prophets of God. Learning about their tremendous miracles we will
get inspired and our faith will be strengthened.
“And
if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing.” (1 Cor. 13: 2b)
Having said so much about
the necessity of faith, we better remember that love is more important. Without
love we are nothing in the eyes of God, although we may have faith to move
mountains.
“What
does it profit my brothers, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can
his faith save him? (…) So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. (…)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and
shudder. (…) You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by
faith alone.” (Jam.2: 14, 17, 19, 24)
This is probably a
reference to the Pauline doctrine of salvation
by faith. True faith in God will inevitably result in good works. If
good works are not present in our lives, then our faith is dead. Even the
demons believe in God and shudder. But their deeds are evil. No one can be justified
by faith alone, never mind how many Biblical verses recites to the contrary.
“And
beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue
knowledge.” (2 Pet. 1:5)
Faith in God is the first
step of spirituality, but the next thing we should do is to add virtue to it.
Then we must add knowledge to virtue. Faith does not mean to believe in every
wind of doctrine that is passed down to us. Not-at-all! We have to obtain
knowledge in order to discern what is of the truth. In order to be discerning,
however, knowledge is not sufficient. We must be virtuous. The more virtuous
and sincere in our relationship with God we are the less prone to deception
will we be.
“For
whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that
overcomes the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5: 4)
John is talking about those
who are born of God, i.e. those
whose spirit is regenerated or quickened. The faith of those born of
the Spirit is their victory over the world, its trials and temptations.
“…Neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through
love.” (Gal. 5: 6)
Here is a hint of how faith
works. It works through love. Love is the foundation for building up a strong
faith and not the keeping of external rituals and traditions.
“And
without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb. 11: 6)
God is pleased with us when
we have faith. This is because only by faith we can enjoy abundant life,
something that is God’s plan for us. He is pleased when we are truly happy, and
in order to attain lasting happiness we must believe that he exists and he
cares for us. Believing that God is a
loving Father and approaching him with a pure heart and trust, like that of
little children towards their parents, will reward us with a happy and peaceful
life.
Chapter
4: Worship
“You
shall revere the Lord your God and Him only shall you worship.” (Matt. 4: 10b)
This was the firm and clear
answer that Jesus gave to Satan during his temptation in the wilderness. If
Jesus worshipped Satan, then the glory of the kingdoms of this world would be
given to him. But Jesus did not fall into the temptation to become a worldly
king. He answered the tempter that the reverence and the worship belong only to
God.
The scripture tells us that
after this third temptation of Jesus, the devil left him and angels came and
ministered to him. So it will be with everyone who decides to worship God and
him only.
“Do
not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels
disqualify you for the prize. Such a person (…) has lost connection with the
Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments
and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” (Col. 2: 18a, 19)
Paul exhorts the Colossian
Christians not to fall into false humility, nor to worship angels. Many
Christians think that they are unworthy to approach God himself in worship and
so they turn to angels, saints, etc. Such practices, says Paul, will disqualify
one from the prize. One should not be cut off from the head, which is God, who
holds the whole body together making it grow spiritually.
“Then
the angel said to me: ‘Write (…). At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But
he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your
brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! (…)’.” (Rev. 19: 9a, 10a)
John, the son of Zebedee,
who is considered to be the author of Revelation, at some point was greatly
moved and fell at angel’s feet to worship him. But immediately the angel
stopped John from doing this. Man must worship the Creator and not the
creatures. The angels are only creatures in the service of God.
“I,
John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen
them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them
to me. But he said to me, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and
with your brothers the prophets and with all who keep the words of this book.
Worship God!’ ” (Rev. 22: 8-9)
In the last chapter of
Revelation, John testifies to the same experience he had with the angel. It is
obvious that the apostle gives great importance to this warning. One should not
worship angels or saints but only God. A great deal of one’s spiritual growth
depends on the right decision on this so important issue.
“But
the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the
Father in spirit and truth, for these are the kind of worshippers the Father
seeks. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in
truth.” (John 4: 23-24)
In this verse, Jesus
himself gives the answer we need. The true worshippers must worship the
Father in spirit and in truth. The Father, and not the Son,
seeks such worshippers. And what does worshipping in spirit and in truth mean? God does not need any sacrifices or
other offerings in order to accept our worship. Nor is there any need for icons
and pictures to help one worship the Creator. Worshipping God with our spirit
and a pure heart is all we need.
“And
Samuel said to the people, ‘Fear not; you have done all this evil, yet do not
turn aside from following the Lord, but worship the Lord with all your heart;
(…) Be sure to fear the Lord and worship him with all your heart; consider what
great things he has done for you’.” (1 Sam. 12: 20,24)
If one has done great evil
in the eyes of God, the same should not be overwhelmed by fear and turn away
from following the Lord. On the contrary, this is the time one needs to worship
God with all his heart. Through such worship and gratitude for the things God
has done for him, he will receive forgiveness and grace from the Almighty,
which will heal his soul.
“Therefore,
I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Rom. 12:1)
Devoting one’s whole being
to God is the highest kind of worship. True worship is not just lip service during
the time of Sunday liturgy. The spiritual worship that is required from a
person is a pure life, a life totally devoted to God. Only such worship is
pleasing to the Lord, as it results in man’s spiritual growth and
enlightenment.
“To
what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? Says the Lord: I am
full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fattened animals; I have no
pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and he-goats.
When
you come to appear before me, who requires of you the trampling of my courts? Bring
no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New Moon, Sabbath and
the calling of assemblies- I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. (…)
When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you
make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash
yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before
my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression;
defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” (Isa. 1: 11-13, 15-17)
Who believed that God
required sacrifices of animals as a form of worship in the Old Testament? It
was people’s narrow minds that erroneously thought so. The great prophet Isaiah
is very clear about it. God has no pleasure in the blood of rams and bulls! How
then should he require the blood of his Son later? It doesn’t make sense.
The above verses are
contrary to Paul’s doctrine, “without
the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Heb. 9:22b), and
give much food for thought. “Bring no
more vain offerings”, says Jehovah through the mouth of Isaiah. Before
one spreads forth his hands to worship the Almighty, he must first clean his
heart from iniquities. Otherwise, God does not accept one’s worship and won’t
listen to one’s prayers.
“Thus
says the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel: (…) For in the day that I brought
them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them
concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. But this command I gave them, ‘Obey
my voice, and you shall be my people; and walk in all the way that I command
you, that it may be well with you’.” (Jer. 7: 21a, 22-23)
Jeremiah, another major
prophet of the O.T., verifies the words of Isaiah, which I have quoted above.
This is an amazing contradiction to the instructions of Moses concerning
sacrifices as quoted in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, supposedly given to
him by God himself. However, Jeremiah is very clear about it. God never
commanded Israel’s forefathers, when he brought them out of Egypt, to bring him
sacrifices and burnt offerings. The only thing he required of them was to walk
according to his commandments. Indeed, the Ten Commandments that God gave to
Moses mention nothing about sacrifices of animals as a form of worship.
“Praise
the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed
be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and for evermore! From the rising
of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!” (Psa. 113: 1-3)
The servants of
righteousness should praise the name of the Lord all the time. The heart of
true worshipers is full of adoration for God, and their mouth blesses the name
of the Lord from the rising of the sun to its setting, although one can hardly
find the right words to express one’s feelings for the Almighty. At the end,
the true worshippers resort to silence, praising God with all their being,
while their face reflects the light of God’s presence.
“O
come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our
salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a
joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God and a
great King above all gods.”
(Psa. 95: 1-3)
David’s heart is full of
gratitude and thanksgiving towards God, the rock of one’s salvation. He invites
people to sing together a joyful noise unto the Lord with songs of praise!
Praise uplifts the spirit of man and renews his strength. It is the best
holistic medicine that heals all maladies. Praise of God fills the worshipers
with peace and drives away evil spirits. David knew this well since, by playing
his harp, he used to drive away the evil spirit that tormented king Saul. (1
Sam. 16:23)
“O
sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord,
bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among
the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord,
and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods
of the peoples are idols; but the Lord made the heavens.” (Psa. 96: 1-5)
David is running out of
words as he invites all people to worship the true God, the sole Creator of
heaven and earth. All other gods are idols. Every believer should declare the
glory of the true God among the nations and remind people of his marvelous
works. The Lord should also be feared, in a healthy way, as his sovereign laws
are always at work and one should better comply with them if one wants to make
the best out of life.
“The
Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and
thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the
foundation of his throne. (…) The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all
the peoples behold his glory.” (Psa. 97: 1-2, 6)
Every person can witness
the wisdom and glory of God in his creation. All the earth rejoices in his
presence. The heavens proclaim his righteousness! Let all people acknowledge
that the Lord reigns! Let the many coastlands, the valleys and the mountains be
glad! Let the people join their songs of praise to those of the birds, for the
Lord is worthy to be praised.
“Bless
the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the
Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your
iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who
crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long
as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psa. 103: 1-5)
It is difficult for me to
add anything to this wonderful song of David. In a few words he has said
everything. His heart overflows with gratitude towards the Lord, and all his
being blesses his holy name! It is good for the student of the Bible to
meditate on these words as often as he can, for the believer derives great
inspiration and joy from it; and such joy has healing power.
I shall make an attempt to
analyze the following four quotations from Psalms, although I feel rather
inadequate to do them justice. Let the reader contemplate in these songs of
David, and let his heart rejoice in blessing the holy name of God!
“Praise
the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with
splendor and majesty. Who wraps himself in light as with a garment; who
stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers
on the waters. Who makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the
wind.” (Psa. 104: 1-3)
David exhorts his heart to
praise the Lord. He invites all the faculties of his being to engage in
worshipping God. It takes an act of will on our behalf to stir up ourselves and
set our spirit in the right attitude to praise our heavenly Father. The psalmist
stands in awe before the glory of God who is clothed in the splendor and
majesty of his creation. God’s works forever proclaim his infinite wisdom, love
and greatness.
God, who is Light (1 John
1:5) and the Father of all lights (Jam. 1:17), dwells in unapproachable light
(1 Tim. 6: 16), and light is his garment! God stretches out the heavens as a
magnificent huge tent that protects humankind from being frightened of the
awesomeness of the Universe. The beams of God’s upper rooms are laid on the
waters and the clouds are his chariots! He rides on the wings of the wind,
having absolute control over them and directing them as he pleases!
“Give
thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what he has
done. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory
in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to
the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has
done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.” (Psa. 105: 1-5)
The Psalmist invites the
believers to call on the name of the Lord with thankfulness, making known among
the nations the great things he has done for his people. He exhorts them to
sing praises unto him and even to take pride in his wonderful name. The heart
of those who seek the Lord must rejoice, for God will be always by their side
to comfort them. One should look to the Lord to receive strength and seek his
face always. He must remember not only the miracles and the wonders he has done
but also his sore judgments on the disobedient.
“My
heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake,
harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the
nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher
than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God,
above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth.” (Psa. 108: 1-5)
David sets up a perfect
example of how one should praise the Lord. His heart was steadfastly fixed on
God. He promised to sing praises to the Lord with all his soul, awaking early
in the morning and making music with his harp and lyre. He also pledged to
acknowledge and praise the Lord among the nations who worshiped false gods. His
heart was overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s great love and faithfulness.
That’s why every man should exalt God above
the heavens and pray for his glory to cover all the earth.
“As
the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul
thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of
God?” (Psa. 42: 1-2)
If our soul longs for God
as the deer longs for streams of water, if it thirsts for the living God, then
one day we may get a glimpse of his glory. Needless to say that to see God’s
face is impossible, as no one could ever see the Omnipresent Spirit of God with
his/her physical eyes (1 John 4:12).
I have quoted only a few of
my favorite verses from the Psalms, just to show the reader the form of worship
that uplifts one’s spirit and nourishes one’s soul. By all means, one should
make his own selection, picking up Psalms of praise that inspire and renew
one’s mind. Furthermore, one could write his or her own songs of worship, which
would be more pleasing to God and more beneficial to his soul than copying
somebody else’s words.
“And
all the angels stood round the throne and (…) worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen!
Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and
might, be unto our God forever and ever! Amen’.” (Rev. 7: 11-12)
It is not only men who feel
the need and have pleasure in worshipping God Almighty. Apparently, the angels
in heaven are doing the same, as John found out in his vision.
Chapter 5: Wisdom
“Happy
is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, for the gain
from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold. She is
more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long
life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are
pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who
lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.” (Prov. 3: 13-18)
Solomon praises wisdom as
the most precious quality a human character could acquire in this life. He
values wisdom more than anything else, as he knows from personal experience its
great worth. The man who finds wisdom has found happiness; he who has found
true understanding is joyful. To find wisdom is to find the truth about God,
oneself, the world and the purpose of creation. To be wise is to know how to
live and act so that the purpose of one’s existence may be accomplished. To
find understanding is to be able to explain correctly what is happening inside you
as well as around you.
The profit from wisdom is
far better than the profit from silver, gold and all precious stones together.
Indeed, nothing one could desire compares with wisdom. How foolish is the man
who grieves over the loss of money, when amidst the loss he has gained
something more precious, i.e. wisdom! And this wisdom will, in time, bring him
and riches and honor.
Wisdom carries in her right
hand the gift of long life. When one knows how to think, to speak and to behave
he protects his health from many hazards. Wisdom enables one to feed himself
properly, to maintain a good balance in his emotions, to work in moderation, to
have the right relationships with his fellow human beings, and to renew his
strength through his communication with God. Indeed, wisdom is a tree of life
to those who hold her fast, and makes them blissful. All wisdom’s paths are
pleasant and peaceful!
“But
the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, lenient, open to
reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality or hypocrisy.” (Jam. 3: 17)
True wisdom comes from above, and its excellence cannot
compare with worldly wisdom. Jesus demonstrated the difference when he chose
uneducated fishermen to become his disciples and deliver his message to the world.
Heavenly wisdom comes from the interaction of human spirit with the Holy
Spirit. Of course one should not disregard secular education and science. On
the contrary, man must diligently seek them. However, unless one has gained a
measure of spiritual wisdom from his relationship with God, he won’t be able to
enjoy the benefits Solomon listed in the previous verses (Prov. 3: 13-18).
James gives the
characteristics of the wisdom that is from God. First of all, such wisdom is pure from iniquity and causes one to
live a godly life. Then it is peaceable,
i.e. it promotes peace and not strife. He who is truly wise is not only
peaceable in his own life but also a peacemaker. He knows that warfare is the
mother of every evil and should never be endorsed as a solution to a conflict.
The spiritual wisdom is lenient. It is not disposed to
severity but is full of toleration. It is not stubborn but is open to reason and could be easily
persuaded, if it recognizes that someone else is right. Promptly yielding to
the truth is not a sign of weakness but of strength. The wisdom from above is
also full of mercy and good
deeds. He who is wise produces good
fruits in his life. In fact, the wise man is recognized by his deeds,
just as a good tree is recognized by its fruit. Heavenly wisdom is without partiality. He who is blessed
with spiritual wisdom treats all men equally, not been affected by their wealth
or poverty, by their status or the lack of it. He knows that all men are made
in God’s image and likeness and so they deserve the same respect and love.
Lastly, the truly wise man abhors hypocrisy.
As he lives in the light, pharisaism, deceitfulness, insincerity, pretense and
the like are alien to his nature.
“He
who heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof goes
astray.” (Prov. 10: 17)
The prudent gives careful
attention to the advice of a wiser person and modifies his behavior
accordingly. Such man is on the path to a more abundant life. But he who
rejects reproof goes astray. It takes wisdom and humility for someone to accept
reproof and take notice of instruction. However, the foolish and haughty would
rather keep erring than accept correction and guidance from somebody else, even
if the latter were an admittedly wiser person.
“When
pride comes, then comes disgrace; but with humility comes wisdom.” (Prov.11: 2)
Where there is pride there
is folly. The proud man refuses to recognize his ignorance, his mistakes and
his shortcomings. Not only does he not heed instruction, but also he never
enters into a sincere self-examination in order to correct himself. As a
result, sooner or later, he will suffer disgrace. On the contrary, the humble
man will gain wisdom, as he/she is always open to knowledge and the advice of
the prudent.
“Pride
goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16: 18) Here is another proverb of
Solomon with the same meaning as the previous one. Pride paves the way to one’s
destruction. This seems to be an axiom in life. A haughty spirit will drive a
person to his/her downfall. Why? Isn’t a man free to be proud, if one so
chooses? He/she surely is, just as one is free to be a liar, a drunkard, etc.
However, an unwritten law seems to be in action here, and this law works out
the proud person’s chastisement. The Creator’s sovereign statutes serve to
promote a person’s ultimate interest, which is his/her edification and
spiritual progress. The root of pride is self-centeredness and lack of love,
and these are vices with negative consequences on the whole person.
“Humility
goes before honor.” (Prov. 15: 33b)
Humility is a virtue that
leads a person to godliness. God will honor the humble person with precious
spiritual gifts and abundant life. Sooner or later, other people will also
honor the humble.
“The
integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous
destroys them.” (Prov. 11: 3)
The righteous person gains
divine wisdom, which guides
his/her paths safely and guarantees a happy life. On the contrary, the iniquity
of a wicked person causes him/her confusion and, as a result, it ruins his
life.
“The
righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the transgressors will be taken
captive by their own wickedness.” (Prov. 11: 6)
Here we have one more
proverb similar to the previous one. All people are pilgrims, or they should
be, on a journey to spiritual maturity and evolution. However, even a righteous
person could be caught in a snare by some mistake. No one in this world is
perfect or infallible for, if one were, he/she wouldn’t be living on this
earth! Nevertheless, the person who consciously follows the path of
righteousness will always be delivered. In any case, though, those who violate
God’s sovereign laws, whether knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or
unintentionally, will be disciplined, and this will come as a natural
consequence of their actions and not as a deliberate punishment from God.
“But
I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the
right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matt. 5: 39)
With this instruction Jesus
invalidates the Mosaic permission for retaliation (“eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth”). He advises his
followers, when they are challenged by a wicked person, to turn the other cheek. It does not serve one’s best interests,
physical or spiritual, to be revengeful and try to get even with those who have
treated him/her unjustly. To start with, a good person cannot compete with an
evil one either in physical violence or in verbal. By nature, the person of
principles is not prone to inflict injuries, physical or psychological, even to
an evil person, no matter how hard the righteous has been wronged by the
wicked. A virtuous person knows that
retaliation brings more suffering on both parties. On the contrary, by turning
the other cheek, it is more likely that the quarrel will stop before one
receives a second blow.
What happened if one’s life
is threatened? I suppose the unwritten law of self-preservation requires that
one may resist evil so far as it is necessary for one’s own safety and that of
his/her family. However, the believers should earnestly pray that they would
never find themselves in such a critical situation. And indeed, through faith
in God, wisdom and love, they will always be able to overcome the evil ones without
being fatally injurious to them.
“It
is not good to eat much honey, so be sparing of complimentary words.” (Prov. 25: 27)
It is good for one to be
encouraging to others and say nice words to them when they really deserve them.
However, too many complimentary words, even if they are true, may inflate the
ego of the recipient and harm his/her character. Besides, a plethora of
complimentary words reveals an underlying tendency to flattering for personal
gain.
“Do
not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (Prov. 27: 1)
We are not to boast about
the future, for nobody knows even if one will still be alive tomorrow. Besides,
boasting stirs up envy in others, which releases negative energy against one’s
plans. Surely we must work and prepare for tomorrow, but we should neither
worry nor boast about it. Submitting to God’s will for our present and the
future is the only way to find lasting inner peace and joy in our heart.
“Let
another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Prov. 27: 2)
Praising oneself is a sign
of pride and foolishness. If a person is good and successful, let the others
praise him/her and not one’s own lips. The humble and wise people will never
praise themselves, for they are aware of their inner inadequacies and
shortcomings, in spite of their phenomenal successes. The same are never fully
satisfied with themselves, as their heart longs for the excellency of God’s
highest standards.
“A
stone is heavy, and the sand is weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than
them both.
Wrath
is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who can stand before jealousy?” (Prov. 27: 3-4)
Beware not to provoke a
fool for, when the idiot is enraged by someone, his/her fury could be very
dangerous. The fool’s wrath is heavier than a weighty stone or a huge load of
sand, and so such a person could inflict serious harm on those he/she is
enraged at. Therefore, since most people don’t have such a great discernment as
to know for sure who is a fool and who is not, it is safer not to provoke
anyone to anger.
However, jealousy is more
unbearable than a fool’s wrath. Blind envy could drive someone to cruelty. The
person who resents and grieves over the achievements and the good fortune of
his/her friend, brother or sister, weaves up jealous feelings into a real
entity, a personal demon, which
could be very cruel. Most probably, Solomon, who was blessed generously by God
with many gifts, had often been the recipient of jealousy by those around him
who professed to be his friends. So he knew firsthand how overwhelming jealousy
could be. The severity of the outbursts of the demon of jealousy has no limit. The envious person is
psychologically sick, and he/she also suffers under the torture of the
self-created demon of jealousy. Such person deserves our compassion and needs
our prayers rather than a confrontation.
The jealous people need spiritual enlightenment in order to be able to
see their problem and seek deliverance from it. The following proverb shows how
destructive feeling envy is.
“A
sound heart is the life of the flesh, but envy is the rottenness of the bones.” (Prov. 14: 3)
While a sound heart, i.e. a
soul full of unconditional love for all, maintains health in the body and even
renews one’s strength, envy is the rottenness of the bones; in other words, it
makes the envier sick! That’s why the jealous people need our forgiveness, love
and prayers.
“A
fool utters all his mind, but a wise man holds it back.” (Prov. 29: 11)
To lay bare of one’s mind
is a sign of foolishness. One should not reveal all his thoughts in the first
instance of a discourse. When one does this, soon afterwards the results
usually make him/her regret it. But the wise person is never in a hurry to
strip off his/her mind. Such person knows how much to hold back, until probably
an appropriate time, when the other person would be more likely to understand
and appreciate his/her reasoning. Some of the secret thoughts, however, one
should never disclose to others, as they are his/her own hidden treasures.
“Answer
not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.” (Prov. 26: 4)
“Answer
a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.” (Prov.26: 5)
The above two verses seem
to contradict each other. How should one deal with a fool? Should he answer him
according to his folly or not? Well, there is no single rule to deal with such
a person. It depends on the situation. In any case, it is difficult even for
the wise to find the right arguments to deal with someone whose reasoning
faculty is impaired. Since the fool lacks understanding, communication with him
is almost impossible. The wise man sometimes will decide not to come down to
the level of a fool and answer back to him in the same manner. He would rather
keep silent at the provocation of an imprudent person. At other times, however,
one should answer back to the fool in a similar language, lest the latter
consider himself wise.
“Though
you should crash a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet his
foolishness will not depart from him.” (Prov. 27: 22)
This is a metaphor, of
course. Surely Solomon does not imply that anyone could become wiser through
physical punishment, i.e. by the rod
of correction, although
elsewhere he recommends such a method for children (Prov. 22: 15). He rather
wants to give an emphasis on how difficult it is for the fool to change his
pattern of thinking. It appears that a fool’s faculty of reason is impaired and
he perceives a distorted reality.
“If
a wise man contends with a fool, whether he rages or laughs, he finds no rest.” (Prov. 29: 9)
One should have no
illusions that it is possible to bring a fool to his/her senses, no matter how
hard one may try. Contending with an idiot, whether one gets angry or uses
his/her humor, one will get nowhere. The wise man finds no rest in dealing with
a fool. On the contrary, by insisting on trying, one will waste time, energy
and peace of mind. Worse still, a person will suffer even heart pain should
he/she take the fool’s charges seriously.
“When
a man’s own folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.” (Prov. 19: 3)
All of us make foolish
mistakes in our lives, and sometimes the consequences are disastrous. In such
circumstances one should not accuse God of being responsible for his/her ruin.
In fact, turning against God will make one’s grave situation more unbearable,
as it grieves the inner Comforter,
even the Holy Spirit.
If we seek God before we
take any decision, and learn how to listen to the still small voice of our own spirit, then we will avoid many
mistakes and their destructive consequences.
“A
wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool throws away restraint
and becomes rash.” (Prov. 14: 16)
It is a sign of maturity
and wisdom to be careful and turn away from evil. But a fool knows no restraint
and acts impulsively and rashly, falling into many snares.
“Wise
men store up knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites ruin.” (Prov. 10: 14)
The wise people think much,
speak less and listen more. By listening, they store up more knowledge and
increase their wisdom. On the contrary, the fools speak too much without
thinking, and through their babbling bring themselves nearer to destruction.
“A
cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.” (Prov. 17: 22) Gladness is the best medicine
one could use. A cheerful person, who is not grumbling about the circumstances
life brings him/her, is also healthy. But someone with a depressed spirit opens
the way to many diseases, which dry up one’s bones.
“A
glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is
broken.” (Prov.15: 13)
The gladness of heart is
reflected on one’s countenance and makes it shine. The person who is joyful is
pleasant to be with, is lovable and, by his/her mere presence, one transforms
the environment. But a sorrowful heart breaks one’s spirit and emanates
depression to those around. No one wants to be near a dispirited person.
“A
soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Prov. 15: 1)
A gentle answer calms down someone who is
angry. A good word will pacify a person who is enraged. But a harsh word, even
if it reflects the truth, will provoke more anger and will make things worse.
“A
hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets
contention.” (Prov. 15: 18)
Anger is contagious. If a
hot-tempered man raises his voice, others around him will follow suit, and
strife will be created in no time at all. On the contrary, if a calm man finds
himself amidst contention, he may be able to calm it down.
“He
who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who controls his temper
(is better) than one who takes a city.” (Prov. 16: 32)
Mighty is a person who is
not easily provoked to anger! It takes great spiritual power to control one’s
temper. Those who have a meek temperament usually are the winners in a dispute.
A person who loses his/her temper stands no chance to convince the opponents
even if he/she were right.
“Do
not give dogs what is sacred, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they
trample them under their feet and then turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matt. 7: 6)
This is a precious advice
of Jesus to the believers that has stirred up some controversy. Who are the dogs and who are the swine? He is talking of people, of
course, but people who are not ready yet to receive the sacred word of God. Not
everyone is at a level to appreciate and accept spiritual things. Some peoples’
heart is stubbornly closed to the truth and, if one gives spiritual pearls to
them, they are likely to trample them under their feet. They can be even
dangerous of turning around to attack the believer, either physically or
verbally. So, one should be wise what to say to whom.
“For
which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the
cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a
foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish’.” (Luke 14: 28-30)
This is a message to those
who want to follow Christ and be servants of righteousness and ministers of
truth in the world. It will cost you, says Jesus. Count the cost, in order to
make sure that you have enough energy reserves to finish the spiritual tower you are about to begin. Search
yourself to see if you have enough love for God and your fellow human beings,
so as to make the sacrifices required, and adequate spiritual strength in order
to finish the task. Otherwise you won’t be able to finish the tower you started
and people will laugh at you.
There are numerous verses
in the Bible that impart wisdom but, for the purpose of this short manual, the
ones I have quoted are enough. The
seeker of wisdom could continue the study of Scriptures to find them all.
Chapter 6: Fear
Fear is negative energy
that is vested in the object of one’s imagination giving form and substance to
that which is feared. Fear is a force, the opposite of faith. As faith causes
things one desires to materialize, so fear causes things one fears to come to
pass.
“What
I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.” (Job 3: 25)
It appears that Job, who
had enjoyed great blessings in his life, didn’t know this basic principle,
although he was a devout man. So he apparently let fear take a grip of him. He
imagined himself being stripped off of all his blessings and dreaded that this
would someday happen to him. And sure enough it did.
Quite rightly, then, people
say, “Fear nothing except fear itself”.
The best self-protection from fear is not to indulge in negative thoughts, as
this will shape them up in one’s imagination. As soon as fear of something
creeps into our mind we should dismiss it and form a positive mental picture in
its place.
“What
the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be
granted.” (Prov. 10: 24)
The wicked is more prone to
fear for he dreads that the iniquities he did in secret may come to light. His
position is made worse by the fact that he doesn’t have boldness and faith to
pray to God for deliverance from the grip of fear. However, even a righteous
man could be the victim of fear, as we saw in the case of Job. But the
righteous person has learned to trust God for deliverance, and the desires of
his heart, being in accordance with the will of God, are granted.
“The
fear of man lays a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord is safe.” (Prov. 29: 25)
Fear lays a snare for him
who fears. As we saw already, fear generates energy that subtly weaves negative
thoughts into a horrifying vision that tends to materialize. Replacing negative
thoughts with positive ones and trusting God is the best defense against the
attacks of fear.
“The
wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Prov. 28: 1)
Iniquity alienates a person
from God, who is the only source of real security, and results in timidity and
fear. So the wicked man flees although no one pursues him. Guilty conscience brings nightmares and
terror to the wicked. But the righteous person who trusts in God is fearless
and bold as a lion!
“There
is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; because fear has torment,
and he who fears is not perfected in love.” (1 John 4:18)
John gives us an effective
rule of how to cast out fear. The enemy of fear is love! Do you fear that
someone may harm you? Then love that parson! Clothe the enemy with light and
affection in your imagination and fear will disappear. A heart full of love has
no room for fear. And if one is tormented with fear, the same is not perfected
in love. Here, then, is a rule of thumb to check up ourselves and see if our
love is perfect, i.e. if it is genuine and unconditional to all people.
“For
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and sound
mind.” (2 Tim. 1: 7)
The spirit of fear is evil
and as such does not originate in God. It is created in the heart of man by
violation of divine principles and ignorance. All that God wants for us, and
grants us if we abide in him, is a sound mind and a heart full of love and
power.
There is another fear,
however, which is healthy and positive. This is the fear of the Lord:
“The
angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” (Psa. 34: 7)
The angel of the Lord is
near those who respect God and adhere to his precepts. Healthy fear of God
means reverence for his sovereign laws and not dread of his punishment. It is a
great comfort for the devout man to know that he is surrounded by angels, who
are ready to deliver him from all mischief. In the Bible we find many instances
where angels rescued persons who revered God from many dangers.
“He
who despises the word brings destruction on himself; but he who fears the
commandment will be rewarded.”
(Prov. 13: 13)
Fearing God means giving
careful attention to his commandments and complying with them. If a person does
this, the same will reap the good fruits of his/her right conduct. This will be the reward of the righteous. However,
if one ignores the word of God, i.e. his commandments, one will reap
destruction there from.
“The
fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; but fools despise wisdom and
instruction” (Prov. 1:7)
Solomon is talking about
divine wisdom. When one begins to understand truth and reality, the same will
start feeling awe and respect for God and his sovereign laws. To put it in a
different order, he who starts fearing God is on his way to obtaining
understanding and wisdom. The healthy fear of God causes one to seek him and
not hide his face from him; and by seeking God one obtains wisdom. Those who do
not respect God are fools for they despise godly wisdom and teaching.
“In
the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a
refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the
snares of death.” (Prov. 14: 27)
He who fears the Lord, i.e.
one who adheres to his principles, will feel secure and confident. He will have
peace of mind, no matter what he faces in life. His children also will be
blessed, finding a refuge in God.
The fear of God is a
spiritual fountain of life to the soul of man. Not only does it quench its
thirst for truth and wisdom but it also guides man to avoid the snares that
lead to one’s destruction and spiritual death.
“It
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10: 31)
Falling into the hands of
the living God means to be caught up in the consequences of one’s evil actions.
The violation of sovereign laws results in one’s destruction, and this is a
fearful thing. Sooner or later, a person reaps what he/she has sown and no one
can suppress this law.
Chapter 7: Tongue
“For
in many things we all make mistakes. If one makes no mistakes in the word he
speaks, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. Behold,
we put bits in the horses’ mouths that they may obey us; and we turn about
their whole body. Behold also the ships: though they are so great and are
driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the
will of the pilot directs. Likewise the tongue is a small member but boasts of
great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! The tongue also
is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole
person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by
hell.
For
every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has
been tamed my man, but no man can tame the tongue- a restless evil, full of
deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men,
who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and
cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth fresh
water and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or grapevine
figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” (Jam. 3: 2-12)
This is James’ short
treatise on the tongue. Just as a man can bridle a horse by a small metal bit,
and guide a ship by a very small rudder, so he who controls his tongue can
master his whole body with his desires and passions. The tongue, although a
small member of man’s body, is capable of doing great things, good or evil.
The Bible tells us that God
created the Universe by his Word. He spoke and the cosmos came into existence.
Man is made in God’s image and likeness and so there is power in the word we
speak, i.e. creative energy. This energy, vested with strong emotion, can heal
or kill; hence the visible outcome of blessing and cursing.
The tongue, i.e. the spoken
word, can corrupt the whole person but it can also purify and pacify soul and
body. It is like a fire that can set ablaze not only the whole body of the
person who speaks but also the recipient of the word. A perverse tongue is full
of deadly poison and reveals an evil nature. For a good spring cannot bring
forth fresh water and salt water at the same time! Those who can tame their
tongue are perfect, says James.
“A
wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein crushes the
spirit.” (Prov. 15: 4)
When people open their
mouth, they should always be conscious of what they say. With their words
either they impart life into their body and that of the hearers or crush their
own spirit and wound the heart of their fellow men. Hard words cause heartache
to the recipients and it is very difficult to be forgotten by those offended.
“A
man of crooked mind does not prosper, and one with a perverse tongue falls into
calamity.” (Prov. 17: 20)
A person who devises
crooked schemes against others will not prosper, and those who use a perverse
language prepare calamities for themselves.
“A
fool’s lips bring strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.” (Prov. 18: 6)
The provoking language of a
fool stirs up strife and quarrels among one’s hearers, while at the same time
it invites a punishment for oneself.
“A
fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to himself.” (Prov. 18: 7)
The words of a fool are a
snare and work out one’s own destruction. That’s why we should think carefully
before we speak.
“Death
and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat its
fruit.” (Prov. 18: 21)The tongue
has the power to kill or revive the one who speaks and those who hear. The
people who are wise in its use shall reap good fruit from their wholesome
words.
“From
the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his
lips he is satisfied.” (Prov. 18: 20)
The words one speaks are
like the fruit of a tree and therefore must be wholesome in order to nourish
one’s body and soul. What comes out of one’s mouth is spiritual food that fills
one’s stomach (soul and body).
If the words we speak are positive, the harvest,
i.e. the effects on the whole person, will be satisfying. But if they are
negative, our body and soul will be poisoned.
“Pleasant
words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” (Prov. 16:24)
Pleasant and kind words are
sweet to one’s soul and bring health to the bones just like a honeycomb does.
“The
mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked
conceals violence.” (Prov. 10: 11)
The mouth is the outlet of
one’s mind. The verbalization of a righteous person’s wholesome thoughts brings
life to the same and the hearers. Wholesome words are like streams of fresh
water that quench the thirst of the weary traveler. However, the wicked never
express their true thoughts but conceal their dark schemes of violence.
“Reckless
words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Prov. 12: 18)
Rash words, words without
due consideration to the feelings of others, grieve the soul of those to whom
they are spoken. Reckless words pierce the heart like a sharp sword, making it
difficult for the person who was hurt to forget, forgive and be emotionally healed.
We all know what to be pierced by harsh words means. At some time or other we
have been the recipients of such words and have felt deeply wounded in our
heart. However, what we are not fully aware of is the pain we ourselves have
inflicted on others by our abusive words.
Ill-considered and
slanderous words also wound the reputation of those against whom they are
spoken, break family bonds and poison friendships. At the same time, the person
who utters the reckless words will suffer the grave consequences of the
violation of the sovereign law of love. Unfortunately, often the damage caused
to others by the slanderer is of such nature that it is impossible to be
repaired, even if one were willing to pay the cost for it.
On the other hand, the
words of the wise uplift the spirit of the hearer and bring healing to one’s
soul and body. They are also a balsam to the heart of the recipient.
“From
the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, (…).” (Prov. 13:2a)
He/she who speaks wholesome
words edifies his/her soul enjoying good spiritual fruit. Wise words spoken in
love, and not hypocritically, apart from doing good to the recipients,
primarily benefit the person who utters them.
“He
who guards his lips preserves his life; but he who speaks rashly comes to
ruin.” (Prov. 13: 3)
When we are careful in what
we say, we protect our soul from guilt and grief and save our life from
trouble. On the contrary, an ungoverned tongue brings one to ruin.
“Do
you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for
him.” (Prov. 29: 20) The people
who are hasty and impulsive in what they say do not stand many chances to
become wise. The person who does not pause to listen to others but rushes into
impetuous talking is worse than a fool. There is no hope for such person.
“A
man of knowledge uses words with restraint; (…)” (Prov. 17: 27a)
A person who is wise is careful when he/she
speaks. Such person uses words with restraint so as to express precisely what
needs to be said, in order to serve the purpose he/she aims at. The wise people
do never resort to idle talking.
“He
who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from distress.” (Prov. 21: 23)
Those who safeguard their
tongue and their lips from uttering injurious or even unnecessary words protect
their soul from anguish.
“A
time to keep silence and a time to speak.” (Ecc. 3: 7b)
There are times when is
preferable for one to be silent, as, e.g., when our words would be
misunderstood by some biased hearers. But there are times when one should speak
for the sake of truth or in order to defend a wrongly accused or defenseless
person.
“An
evildoer listens to wicked lips; and a liar gives heed to a mischievous
tongue.” (Prov. 17:4)
The evildoer is inclined to
listen to wicked lips in order to find justification and soothing for his/her
iniquity. Similarly, a liar gives ear to a tongue full of mischief that he/she
may obtain material to build false stories upon. As the saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together”.
People tend to associate with those of a similar taste and behavior.
“With
patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will crush bones.” (Prov. 25: 15)
When one is trying to
persuade another person, he/she should never be in a hurry. If there is no
success the first time, there will be in the second or third. Waiting for the
right opportunity to present one’s case will pay. This way even a ruler could
be persuaded. However, along with patience one should use soft words. A soft
tongue, though it may sound ineffective, breaks bones, i.e. persuades even the
most stubborn quarreler.
“For
out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt. 12: 34b)
One should have no
illusions that an evil person could speak good things. Depending on our heart’s
treasure, we bring forth good or evil. So, we must first clean our heart of
iniquity and then our words can be wholesome. A heart full of hatred will be
identified by the words one speaks. And a heart full of love will be revealed
through someone’s words, which will be sweet and kind, bringing comfort, joy
and hope to the hearers.
Chapter
8: The Commandments
All paths to one’s
salvation pass through the Commandments. It is therefore necessary for the
student of righteousness to know them in detail. However, it would be impossible
to find a written commandment for every situation we may face in life. Thank God, there is a way for us to be
guided. If we wholeheartedly devote our life to the Almighty, then our own
spirit, the inner man, will be
quickened and manifest more clearly as divine inherent law, discreetly guiding
us in all circumstances. Nevertheless, as it is difficult for us to reach at
once this degree of enlightenment, it would be useful for everyone to study the
basic divine rules of moral conduct, which were passed down to us by prophets
and saints. Even if one is sincerely devoted to doing the will of God, the
enlightenment of one’s conscience will be gradual, since the spiritual growth
comes little by little, as one complies daily with the fundamental divine commandments.
Let us, then, start our
study from the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses. (Deut. 5:
7-21)
1.“You shall have no
other gods before me.”
Man must not worship other
Gods apart from the Creator of the Universe. The true prophets of God forbade
man to worship any other gods, as this would affect negatively one’s spiritual
growth. Yet Christianity, although it has its foundation in the Old Testament
and considers itself to be a monotheistic religion, appears to worship three
Gods under the name of the Holy
Trinity. Furthermore, some traditional Christian denominations have
added to them the worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and a multitude of
saints!
2. “You shall not make
for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven
above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the
earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them. (…)”
Man must not attempt to
make any graven images of God, as this would be a snare leading to idolatry.
Besides, God is Spirit having no particular form which man could possibly
portray. The scripture clearly says that no one has ever seen God (1 John 4:
12). Unfortunately, ever since the Jews received the Ten Commandments, they
disregarded them and followed the practices of the heathen.
However, Christians don’t
do any better. The Orthodox have established the worship of icons – they bow
down before them, light candles to them, kiss them and carry them around on
their shoulders in processions – while the Catholics have their churches full
of statues of Mary.
The followers of some
monotheistic religions worship other ‘gods’ in a more subtle way. In order to
pray, they turn their faces toward a particular city, as if God abided only
there. Others go and pray in front of an ancient wall as if it were God.
3. “You shall not take
the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless
who takes his name in vain.”
Taking the name of God
lightly is a transgression and renders man guilty before the Lord. This is an
evil habit of both unbelievers and believers, who use the name of God in vain
in many cases. Man violates this commandment when he swears by God’s name, and
when he is taking a false oath, using the name of God or any of his attributes,
e.g. Truth. Jesus made it clear that one should not swear at all, either by
heaven or by the earth. (Matt. 5: 34)
The worse form of this
transgression is blaspheming angrily the holy name of the Almighty. Expressions
like, “for God’s sake”, “by God”, and some more profane ones such as those used
by some of my fellow Greeks, are a gross violation of the third Commandment and
bring judgment upon the blasphemer while grieving the spirit of the hearers.
The blasphemer is virtually tearing himself apart for he yells against God’s
seed that is in him, even his own spirit.
Those who blaspheme the
name of God, or the name of Christ, the Virgin Mary and whatever others believe
and hold as holy, admit that they feel miserable and shattered afterwards. Yet,
it is difficult to stop doing it, for blaspheme is an evil spirit that has
captured them. It takes sincere repentance and fervent prayer in order for one
to draw upon himself the grace of God and be delivered.
Unfortunately even some
devout Christians take the name of God in vain when they boast and lightly
babble about what the Lord did for them, thinking that they keep him in their
pocket to do their bidding.
4. “Observe the Sabbath
day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall
labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your
God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or
your manservant, or your maidservant, or your ox, or your ass, or any of your
cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your manservant and
your maidservant may rest as well as you. (…)”
In Genesis, chapter 2,
verses 1-3, we read that God finished the heavens and the earth in six days. On
the seventh day he rested. “So God
blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his
work which he had done in creation.” Likewise man should observe the
seventh day of the week and keep it holy, not doing any work in it. During the
seventh day the believer, his family, his servants and his animals should rest.
The Sabbath, however, was
instituted for one more important reason. During this day man should feed his
spirit by seeking and worshipping God. Six days of labor is enough to serve
one’s material needs. But man has also spiritual needs and these should be met
in order for him to function normally and be happy.
Christians have established
Sunday as the day of rest and religious observance. However, one should not
idolize the “Sabbath”, refusing even to help someone in need during that day for,
as Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made
for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2: 27)
5. “Honor your father
and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you; that your days may be
prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land that the Lord your God
gives you.”
The fifth commandment
concerns man’s duties towards his parents. One must love, respect and honor his
father and mother. Children should obey their parents who always desire what is
best for them. They should heed their instructions, warnings and corrections,
for their experience and unselfish love enable parents to have better judgment
and discernment than their children.
Of course there are
exceptions when the parents may ask their children to do something that is
against God’s precepts. In such cases the child should try to correct his
parents with patience and kindness, without provoking them to anger. It serves
the child’s best interests never to upset his/her parents, lest the latter say
something against them. Indeed, offensive words spoken by a parent in anger,
and even nurturing adverse emotions or thoughts against one’s offspring, are
injurious to the child’s welfare. It is widely accepted that a father or
mother’s curse against their children is very harmful to their life. On the
contrary, as the fifth commandment confirms, the parents’ blessing will prolong
one’s life and make one happy. Apparently it serves as a powerful protective
shield around the child.
One should also endeavor to
take care and comfort his/her parents when they get old and cannot look after
themselves properly. It is then that the parents mostly need their children’s
kindness and affection. Sons and daughters must carefully avoid disappointing
and embittering their parents in their old age for, if they do, they will store
up misery against themselves. Sooner or later they will reap what they have
sown.
6. “You shall not
kill.”
The sixth commandment is
crystal clear and does not need any analysis. One should not kill under any
circumstances! Unfortunately people have made allowances over this so
fundamental divine rule, legitimizing the killing during war or even the
killing of an embryo during pregnancy. It is my conviction that killing is the
ultimate evil and no excuse can transform it into a blessing. Every human being
has come into this world for a purpose and no one has the right to cut
someone’s life short.
7. “You shall not
commit adultery.”
What is adultery? According
to the dictionary, adultery is the voluntary sexual intercourse between a married
person and a person (married or not) other than his or her spouse. In order to
appreciate this commandment and be willing to keep one’s chastity one must have
the right perspective of marriage and sex. If marriage is a God ordained
institution, and as such sacred, than adultery is a transgression for it
desecrates it and defiles the bodies of both people involved. Moreover, if sex
is sacred, given for the reproduction of human species and not to indulge in
lusts, then adultery should be avoided as every other sin of the flesh.
This commandment, as indeed
all the rest, is given not to kill the joy of people but to safeguard their
happiness. It is enough to take a look on the results of adultery in order to
be convinced that the consequences it entails are destructive for the
adulterers, their families, and the society as a whole.
8. “You shall not
steal.”
This command forbids us to
take another person’s property illegally. The eighth commandment has raised
much strife and controversy over the centuries, especially as the poor and
deprived believe that most rich people have accumulated their wealth by
stealing, i.e. by exploitation of the workers and other dishonest means. It
surely serves one’s best interests not to take forcibly or clandestinely
somebody else’s goods, as this act is punished even by the civic law. On the
top of it, any action that hurts the feelings of another human being, sinner or
not, hurts the offender also. One may argue, ‘What if stealing a loaf of bread
is a matter of survival for someone?’ It is my humble opinion that God will not
allow a good person to be tested to his/her limits and resort to stealing.
There are plenty of promises in the Bible about how God provides for those who
trust him, while experience has proved those promises to be true.
9. “You shall not bear
false witness against your neighbor.”
Lying with the purpose of
deceiving our neighbor, or to hurt one’s reputation, and bearing false witness
against someone are forbidden as evil. Lying results in hurting others while it
undermines the mental health and complicates the life of the liar who resorts
to invent more lies in order to cover the previous ones.
10. “You shall not
covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house or
field, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or ass, or anything that is your
neighbor’s.”
Greatly desiring what
belongs to others will make someone miserable if he/she cannot obtain the same.
It will fill a person with envy, bitterness and self-pity, which are negative feelings
and hurt one’s physical and mental health. Discontent at what one owns causes
depression and tempts one to try dishonest means in order to obtain what his
neighbor has. In other words, the violation of the tenth commandment is the
root of many transgressions.
“Hear,
O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” (Deut. 6: 5)
Love in the superlative
degree is the first duty of man to the true God, who is one. Our love to the
Lord our God should be deep, sincere, and strong, flowing from all our heart
and soul and involving all our might. Why? For by so doing we actually love and
nurture our spiritual nature, the inner
man, who is the essence of God in us, infusing energy into our spirit
and causing it to mature.
True love for God is
translated into godly living. The person that loves the Almighty loves also his
commandments and conforms to them. Unconditional love for God is the alpha and
the omega of spirituality, the foundation of godliness. In the New Testament we
have Jesus answering a lawyer’s question about which is the greatest
commandment of God (Matt. 22: 35-40). Jesus said to him that the first and
greatest commandment is to love the Lord God with all our heart, all our soul,
all our mind, adding the second equally important one, i.e. “love your neighbor as yourself”.
“…What
does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk
in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord,
which I command you this day for your good?” (Deut. 10: 12-13)
Here Moses explains in more
details one’s duties toward God, which in effect are duties to ourselves, as
God has no need to receive anything from us. One should first fear the Lord,
i.e. fear the grave consequences of the transgression of his sovereign laws.
This is a healthy fear that originates in wisdom and protects man from many
snares. Then one should walk in all God’s ways, loving him and serving him, in
the face of one’s fellow human beings, with all his heart. Keeping all God’s
commandments and statutes is for the individual’s own good.
“And
the Lord said to Moses, ‘Say to the people of Israel, I am the Lord your God.
(…) None of you shall approach any one that is near of kin to him to uncover
their nakedness. (…) You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an
abomination. And you shall not lie with any beast and defile yourself with it,
neither shall any woman give herself to a beast to lie with it; it is a
perversion.” (Lev. 18: 1-2, 6, 22-23)
Sexual intercourse between
persons who are too closely related, i.e. incest, is a perversion and as such
is forbidden by God; so is homosexuality and bestiality. According to the
Scripture, all these practices are abominations, since they pollute and defile
one’s body, soul and mind, leading to physical, psychological and spiritual
retardation.
“Keep
your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil,
and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” (Psa. 34: 13-14)
As we saw in the chapter on
tongue, guarding one’s lips means guarding one’s life. One should also depart
from evil, do good and seek peace with all men. This is the way to an abundant
life here on earth and to life eternal in the hereafter.
“Let
not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the
tablet of your heart. So you shall find favor and good understanding in the
sight of God and man.” (Prov. 3: 3)
Truth and mercy are the
greatest virtues one could obtain. So man should try to constantly live up to
them. They must be cherished and written on the “tablet” of one’s heart. They
are like a precious amulet, which one should bind around his/her neck. Abiding
in God’s truth and showing mercy to all people creates a protective shield
around man and delivers him from evil.
“Therefore,
all things whatsoever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for
this is the law and the prophets.” (Matt. 7: 12)
This is a simple and
straightforward, but so comprehensive, principle that includes all the law and
the prophets! If one treats others as he/she would like to be treated by them,
one has fulfilled the law. This is a golden rule easy to remember and easy to
apply. We don’t have to search the scriptures in order to find out how to
behave in every instance of our life. All we have to do is to ponder and think
what we would have others do to us. Then we will instantly know the answer to
any dilemma.
“But
I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to
judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and
whoever says, ‘you fool!’ shall be liable to hell fire.
Therefore,
if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your
brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and
go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matt. 5: 22-24)
Being angry with someone is
a transgression that entails judgment upon oneself. Anger against a fellow man
releases negative energy that hurts one’s feelings and health, while at the
same time defiles the soul and poisons the gallbladder of the angry person.
Therefore one should try to stay calm, even when he/she is provoked to anger,
and not utter any insulting words against a fellow human being.
Furthermore, before we
present our gifts unto God and enter into worship and prayer, we must prepare
our heart by reconciling with those who hold something against us. Now, the
question is what should one do if the other person does not want
reconciliation? I suppose, if one has done one’s best, he/she should commit the
matter to God and feel free to offer spiritual gifts unto the Lord.
“But
I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adultery with her in his heart.” (Matt. 5: 28)
My opinion is that here
Jesus was referring to a man who is already married to another woman.
Adulterous thoughts and
dispositions, even if they never materialize, defile the soul just the same. As
the eye is the inlet of a great deal of wickedness, a man should avoid even
looking at a woman lustfully lest he commit adultery in his heart. Restraining
corrupt glances and keeping out of one’s imagination defiling impressions,
safeguards one’s spiritual and physical chastity.
“But
I say to you, do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of
God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the
city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one
hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, and your ‘No’ be ‘No’;
anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matt. 5: 34-37)
One should not swear at all
under any circumstances said Jesus. Let a man’s word be simply ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Anything more, and especially using the name of God in one’s oath, violates the
third commandment and brings judgment upon oneself. It is a shame that in some
Christian countries people who give witness in Courts of Justice are called to
swear that they say the truth by putting their right hand upon the gospel, the
very book that contains the above words of Jesus!
“Be
careful not to do your alms before men, in order to be seen by them; for then
you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give
alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and
in the streets, that men may praise them. Truly, I say to you, they have received
their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your
right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who
sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matt. 6: 1-4)
Giving alms is a divine
duty and an inner need of every person, but one must be cautious not to do it
in order to be approved and praised by men. The motive counts more than the
actual alms. If one’s heart is not moved by sincere compassion but by hypocrisy
and vainglory, then the charitable donation does not have any spiritual value
for the donor. As Jesus said, such person shall not have any reward in heaven.
Therefore one should endeavor to give one’s alms in secret.
However, it is my humble
opinion that even if a person gives alms secretly but expects a reward in
heaven or on earth, his/her motives are not totally unselfish. So, in this case
also the donor is not doing his/her soul the best service. The spiritual person
gives because his/her heart is full of compassion and cannot ignore those in
need. Such person gives because he/she considers the needy as a part of
oneself, as members of God’s body, and does not expect any reward from God.
He/she is like a good tree that offers its fruits generously to all, without
expecting anything in return.
“Then
Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against
me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say
to you seven times, but seventy times seven’.” (Matt. 18: 21)
One should forgive another
person’s offenses as many as seventy times seven, said Jesus. This, of course,
does not mean that we should keep a record of how many times we have forgiven
our brother or sister, so that we may stop forgiving when the number exceeds
seventy-seven. Not at all! Jesus meant that one should not require strict
justice in dealing with other people, but one should always be ready to forgive
and forget, in order for his/her own debts to be also forgiven by God. For who
of us can claim that has sinned only seventy seven times? Our life is stained
by countless smaller or greater offenses and it is only by the grace and mercy
of God that we can overcome the guilt of our conscience and have peace in our
heart.
“And
he sat down, and called the twelve, and said unto them, ‘If anyone wants to be
first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all’.” (Mark 9: 35)
Humility is a great virtue
that one must cultivate in order for the same to become great in the spiritual
kingdom of God. What a pity that many of those who believe to be Christ’s
representatives, even Church leaders, behave like despots over their “flock”!
In a major Christian denomination, the bishops are even called “despots”,
besides their other superlative titles. Obviously they believe
that these words of Christ concern others and not themselves!
“Do
not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only that which is
good for edifying others according to their needs, that it may minister grace
to those who hear.” (Eph. 4: 29)
Before we open our mouth to
say anything, we must make sure that our talk will be wholesome, i.e. good for
the edification of the hearers, according to their needs.
“Put
to death therefore what belongs to your earthly nature: fornication, impurity,
passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. (…) But now put them all
away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not
lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old nature with its
practices and have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge
after the image of its creator. Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised
and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, (…)” (Col. 3: 5, 8-11)
Here Paul gives us a list
of all vices that a believer must put away in order to grow spiritually and
enjoy abundant life. One should mortify the impure desires of the flesh and
subdue the vicious tendencies of the mind in order to enter the kingdom of God.
Chapter
9: Wealth
It is a fact that money,
possessions and wealth are man’s primary goal in this life. To some extent,
this is healthy as it secures a decent life for a person and his/her
dependents. However, when the desire for wealth becomes an obsession, it could
have negative effects on one’s life. Let us see what the Bible tells us on this
subject.
“If
I have put my trust in gold, or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security’, if I
have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained, (…) then
this also would be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful
to God on high.” (Job 31: 24-25, 28)
Here we have one of a
series of Job’s rhetorical questions, as an oath of innocence before God. Job, who had been a very rich man,
protests that he was not guilty of greed; he denies that he rejoiced over his
great wealth or placed his security upon his fortune. He admits that greed is
an iniquity to be judged, for it means that one has been unfaithful to God on
high.
Taking pride in one’s
wealth and placing one’s trust in riches is a form of idolatry. It hardens
one’s heart and alienates a person from God, who is the only source of lasting
joy and real security. Yet, the majority of people throughout the ages have
“worshipped” money, ignoring life’s lessons. They depend upon their wealth so
much as if it alone were sufficient to secure them a happy life.
Admittedly, it is hard for
man to have wealth and not put his/her hopes and confidence in it. That’s why
Jesus said that it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
Yet, wealth per se is not evil since God himself wants us to have abundant
life. It is man’s attitude towards it that makes riches a blessing or a cursing
for someone.
“Do
not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house
increases, for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will
not descend with him. (…) A man who has riches without understanding is like
the beasts that perish.” (Psa. 49: 16-17, 20)
Don’t be astounded seeing a
man grow rich, says David. Unfortunately, in our culture people tend to idolize
rich men and women, and even bow down before them. They consider the rich to be
superstars, never mind if they obtained their wealth by inheritance or even
through dishonest means. Today, it is money that primarily measures a man’s worth. TV, newspapers and magazines verify this
every day.
But David reminds us that,
when a person dies, he/she takes nothing into the grave. All his/her wealth
will be left behind and others will spend it, usually unwisely, to their own
detriment. Don’t we all know this? Yet, we tend to forget it…
The scripture also says
that a man with riches but no wisdom is like the beasts that perish! Wealth
without understanding makes a man beastly. I am sure every one of us knows at
least one such example. Therefore one should first ask God for wisdom, as king
Solomon did, and riches will follow. But a wise rich person will never be a
slave to his/her riches. On the contrary, money will be his/her servant – a
tool for the benefit not just of one’s own family but also of others less
fortunate.
“Riches
do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” (Prov. 11: 4) When the day of “wrath” comes,
i.e. the day of trial and temptation that comes to every person, then riches
profit little. In such cases righteousness can deliver one from peril, says the
proverb. The rich person’s wealth cannot save one when, e.g., facing an
“incurable» disease. However, a righteous man stands more chances to be
delivered from danger, through faith in God.
“One
man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds unduly, but comes
to poverty.” (Prov. 11: 24)
Wealth must change hands.
It is like a seed. The more one scatters it, the more will increase. Being
generous will make a man grow richer, but being stingy is likely to result in
one’s poverty.
“He
who is greedy for unjust gain brings trouble to his family; but he who hates
bribes will live.” (Prov. 15: 27)
Unjust gain, dishonest
deals that bring quick money, secret bribes and other dark financial schemes,
sooner or later, will bring trouble to one’s family. We cannot feel at ease
when we know that we have earned money through illegal and immoral means. Our
conscience, however tough we may be trying to silence it, will constantly
remind us of our corrupt deeds. Thus we will never be able to find inner peace,
even if our schemes were never uncovered.
“Treasures
gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.” (Prov. 10: 2)
Once again, king Solomon
reminds us that treasures gained through wicked methods do not benefit.
Usually, such gains are followed by trouble. One way or another, their
possessor will be harmed. Only righteousness and faith in God can deliver one
from deadly dangers.
“Wealth
gotten by vanity dwindles away; but he who gathers by labor will increase it.” (Prov. 13:11)
Wealth obtained through all
kinds of illegal schemes will be scattered. As easily and quickly as it has
been gathered just as quickly it will waste away. On the contrary, those who
gather little by little through honest labor will prosper.
“Better
the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.” (Psa. 37: 16)
The righteous person can
enjoy the little he/she has more than the wicked enjoy their abundance. A good
person derives fulfillment mainly through his/her relationship with God and a
clear conscience. But the rich and wicked people cannot gain true and lasting
happiness from their material wealth alone.
“Better
a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” (Prov. 16: 8)
King Solomon repeats his
father’s axiom as quoted in the previous verse. It is better for people to have
a small income earned with honest ways than to have great revenues earned by
fraud and oppression of others. The former, if of course they are content with
their earnings and are not grudgers or envious of the rich, will enjoy the
little they have more than the latter, who cannot find peace in their heart.
“Woe
to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice;
who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing, and does not give him his wages.” (Jer. 22: 13)
It appears that
exploitation has been a rotten human habit from times immemorial. Jeremiah
pronounces woes against such people who make their neighbors work for nothing.
Such callous exploitation of people was contrary to the Law that Jehovah gave
to Moses (Lev.
19:13, Deut. 24: 14). In personal deals with others, one should comply with the
principles of economic fairness and justice, trying to promote such principles
in society. Otherwise the woes of those who suffer injustice and exploitation
by them will, sooner or later, have negative effects on the exploiters and
their families.
“Like
a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by
unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end
he will prove to be a fool.”
(Jer. 17:11)
Those who use unjust means
to become wealthy may succeed to prosper for a time. But later, halfway through
their life, the ‘bills’ for their injustice will be handed over to them and
they will prove to be fools. The unwritten law of retribution is always at work
and is not a respecter of persons.
“A
fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.” (Prov. 21:6)
The wealth of those who are
lying in order to make a fortune, bearing false witness, signing fraudulent
contracts etc., will be like smoke that rapidly vanishes away. Such wealth will
be a deadly snare for them, undermining their peace of mind and health.
“The
blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no sorrow to it.” (Prov. 10: 22)
Here is a very encouraging
proverb. The blessing of the Lord will bring wealth to those who gather little
by little through honest labor! The blessed person will enjoy his/her wealth
without vexation of spirit, using it wisely, so that he/she may always be able
to help others in need.
“Do
not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but
a glance at riches, and they are gone; (…)” (Prov. 23: 4-5a).
King Solomon warns people
against being exhausted by overwork. Covetousness may result in toiling and
tormenting oneself. One must have the wisdom to recognize one’s limitations and
show restraint. Health, peace of mind, and free time to relax and spend with
one’s family are more important than riches. Besides, riches are very uncertain
things. Sometimes they disappear at a glance. It is enough for someone to make
the wrong decision, or to choose the wrong people as colleagues, and one’s
fortune may disappear overnight. Money is a fluid. No one can hold it safely in
his/her hands.
“Riches
do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.” (Prov. 27: 24)
Neither riches nor glory
are permanent. Even if one manages to hold them for life, one will leave them
behind at the day of one’s death. But the riches of the soul and the crown of
righteousness have eternal value.
“Give
me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I
may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become
poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” (Prov. 30: 8b-9)
We should ask God to help
us earn our daily bread so that we may not dishonor his holy name by resorting
to stealing. At the same time we should not crave for riches, as they cause
vanity and conceit, alienating one from God. Both extremes, i.e. poverty and
abundance, are stumbling blocks for the spiritual growth of man, which should
be one’s priority in life.
“Again
I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for
a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matt. 19: 24)
It is extremely difficult
for a rich person to enter the spiritual kingdom of God, which is within. The
rich person’s mind and heart are firmly set on one’s riches, thus obstructing
the truth and the light of God from reaching one’s soul and give him/her real
joy and peace.
“Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he
eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich man will not let him sleep.” (Ecc. 5: 12)
A laborer with a clear
conscience, whether with full or half-full stomach, enjoys a sweet and peaceful
sleep. On the contrary, the abundance of the rich will cause them to lose their
sleep. Fear of thieves, blackmailers, kidnappers and the like, plus a guilty
conscience, usually torture most of the rich people.
“He
who loves money will never be satisfied with money; nor he who loves wealth
will ever be satisfied with his income. This too is vanity.” (Ecc. 5: 10)
According to Ecclesiastes, if
we set our heart on money and possessions, we will never be satisfied, as we
will never feel that we have enough. The
greedy constantly strive for more and more, since deeply in their heart they
always feel insecure. Besides, their vanity always pushes them to compete
against others who have more than themselves. Thus they will have difficulty in
finding inner peace, which is the prerequisite for happiness.
“They
will cast their silver into the streets, and their gold will be like an unclean
thing. Their silver and gold will not be able to save them in the day of the
wrath of the Lord; they will not satisfy their souls or fill their stomachs
with it, for it was the stumbling block of their iniquity.” (Ez. 7: 19)
This is the word Jehovah
gave to Ezekiel. Riches are a stumbling block causing people to sin.
In the day of the wrath of
the Lord, i.e. the day of retribution, which comes as a thief in the night, the
silver and gold of those who gathered it with injustice won’t deliver them. It
will be useless. They will cast it into the streets as a dirty thing, for it
hasn’t helped them. Their soul will be starving for peace and salvation but
their wealth won’t satisfy their hunger.
“Do
not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where thieves break in and
steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6: 19-21)
Here we have the words of
Jesus exhorting his followers not to store up material wealth but to gather
spiritual treasures. The latter are heavenly treasures that neither moth nor
rust can consume, while thieves cannot touch them. No one can steal godliness
from one’s heart. On the contrary, those who gather material wealth will always
be threatened by something or someone and will be in constant fear of losing
it.
“And
he said to them, ‘Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life
does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ And he told them a
parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man brought forth plentifully; and he
thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?”
And
he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and
there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul,
you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink and be
merry.”
But
God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things
you have prepared, whose will they be?”
So
is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God’.” (Luke 12: 15-21)
This is one of the most
remarkable parables of Jesus. The greedy man is a fool for he does never think
of death, even when he has reached an old age. He gathers wealth incessantly as
if he were to live a thousand years on this earth. And he gathers it only for his own sake, so
that one day he may not need to work and thus enjoy his life, eating, drinking
and entertaining. However, when death arrives, the soul of such man will be
naked of spiritual adornments, while all his material treasures will be left to
others to spend.
“As
for what was sawn among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of
the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Matt. 13: 22)
It is difficult for the
word of God to take roots and sprout in the hearts of those who love riches. It
is like sowing good seed among thorns. Worldly cares compare to thorns and are
a great hindrance to one’s profiting by the word of God. They divert man’s
attention from learning the path of righteousness and walking in it, something
that should be the priority in one’s life.
“Sell
your possessions and give alms. Provide purses for yourselves that will not
wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes
near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also.” (Luke 12: 33-34)
Here is another exhortation
of Jesus, admittedly very difficult to be followed literally. One should sell
his/her possessions and give alms! We
should be willing to sell the surplus of our possessions, that which we could
spare from the support of ourselves and our family, and give it to the needy.
Thus we will secure eternal treasures in heaven.
“For
we brought nothing into the world, and it is certain we cannot carry anything
out of it. And if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many
senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For
the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that
some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many
sorrows.” (1 Tim.6: 7-10)
Having food and clothing
may not be enough for the average person of contemporary culture. One needs
money to provide oneself with the means even to do the work of God! However the
craving for riches is a snare that diverts a person from faith in God and
plunges one into destruction. The passion for money is indeed the root of every
evil and entails many sorrows for man.
“Charge
them that are rich in this world not to be arrogant nor to set their hopes on
the uncertainty of wealth but on God, who richly provides us with everything to
enjoy. Charge them to do good, that they may be rich in good deeds, ready to
distribute, ready to communicate. In this way they will lay up treasure for
themselves as a firm foundation for the future, that they may enjoy eternal
life.” (1 Tim. 6: 17-19)
Paul instructs Timothy how
to advise the rich people concerning the proper use of their wealth. They
shouldn’t be arrogant, setting their hopes on the uncertainty of money, but
they should trust God who enabled them to obtain wealth. As we saw in previous
verses, and as experience verifies, material wealth is not permanent, and we
cannot take it with us in the hereafter.
Surely there is a wise way
to use one’s money that lays up treasures with eternal value. Spending one’s
money in good deeds, being ready to share it with others, to distribute it for
the common good, is a firm foundation for the future. At the same time, if we
share our wealth with others, we enjoy the fruit of our generosity even in the
here and now. Those who have learned to do good deeds with their money have
experienced great joy and peace in their heart every time they extended their
hand to help the needy.
However, one should be
careful not to expect anything in return from those one helps, not even
gratitude; if one does, it is more likely to receive disappointment. The trees
that generously give us their fruit do not expect anything in return from us.
Nor do the flowers that offer us their fragrance expect praise and gratitude. It
is natural for them to be giving. So it should be with man. We should not do
our good works in order to receive something in return but because our full of
compassion heart prompts us to do so.
“Now
listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming
upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold
and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will testify against you and eat
your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth for the last days. Behold, the
wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry
out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord
Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have
fattened yourselves as in the day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have
killed the righteous man, who does not resist you.” (Jam. 5: 1-6)
James is quite tough
towards the rich, foretelling that misery is coming upon them. In my humble
opinion, his woes go too far. Apparently he believes that every rich person has
amassed their wealth by injustice and exploitation of the poor! It is true,
however, that the cries of the robbed laborers reach God’s heart and the
exploiters will be called to pay for their injustice, sooner or later.
“There
is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches kept by their owner
to his hurt.” (Ecc. 5: 13)
Here Solomon refers to the
stingy people who don’t spend their wealth even for their own comfort. Their
insecurity is so grave that they deny themselves even the basic necessities
lest their wealth be diminished. Stinginess is quite common. There are many rich people who do not use
their wealth but live as the poorest of the poor. In my opinion, people struck
by such grievous evil need
rather a psychologist than a preacher.
Chapter 10:
Judgment
The Universal law of sowing
and reaping is an unwritten law very few people would doubt. We witness it
manifesting daily in our lives and the lives of others. Let us see what the
Bible says about it.
“I
tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless
word they have spoken; for by your words you will be justified, and by your
words you will be condemned.”
(Matt. 12: 36-37)
The energy of spoken words
needs some time of “incubation” before one reaps what one has sown by his/her
tongue. In the above verse, the day when one will collect the fruit of one’s
lips is called Day of Judgment. So we must be very cautious how we speak, for
the fruit from every careless word will be very bitter for ourselves as well as
for those to whom our words are spoken. By our words we will be justified or
condemned, depending on their content and the energy (emotion) vested therein.
In the above verses Jesus implies that man works out one’s own judgment by the
way one speaks.
“From
the fruit of his words a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s
hand comes back to him.” (Prov. 12: 14)
In this proverb King
Solomon tells us that not only the words of a man come back to him as a
judgment or reward but also his actions. Whatever we sow by thoughts, words or
actions comes back to us. Each person is his/her own judge, whether one
believes it or not.
“The
Lord is known by the judgment which he executes; the wicked is snared in the
work of his own hands.” (Psa. 9: 16)
David refers to God as the
executor of judgment but he adds that the wicked is snared by his own works.
So, the judgment does not come from a personal God out there, who watches who
is doing what, but from the sovereign laws at work within us and in the
universe about us. The violation of those laws, whether knowingly or
unknowingly, entails judgment.
“Let
us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments; for this is the whole duty (το παν) of man. For God
shall bring every work into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it
is good or evil.” (Ecc. 12: 13-14)
Every thought, word or deed
of a man will be brought into judgment, sooner or later. This is a natural process, the functioning of
the law of cause and effect. So, the conclusion is that one should fear God and
keep his commandments. This is a person’s fundamental duty in order to
safeguard his/her soul from mischief and experience abundant life.
“Tell
the righteous it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their
deeds.
Woe
to the wicked! It shall be ill with them! They will be paid back for what their
hands have done.” (Isa. 3: 10-11)
This is the law of
retribution. People shall eat the
fruit of their deeds, as life will pay back the righteous as well as the
wicked according to the works of their hands. No one should doubt about it,
especially by looking at some wicked people who, for a while, seem to prosper
and be happy. At the fullness of time, or the Day of Judgment, people will surely reap what they have
sawn. Sovereign laws are impartial and do no favors to anyone.
“When
your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn
righteousness.” (Isa. 26: 9b)
Isaiah acknowledges that
the judgments of God upon people teach them righteousness. There is didactic
value in pain and man gains wisdom from it. Of course judgment, i.e. pain, is
not the best means for learning righteousness, but ignorant and stubborn
persons seem to go for it.
“I
the Lord search the mind and try the heart, to give every man according to his
conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” (Jer. 17: 10)
God by his representative,
i.e. the spirit of man (conscience), searches the mind and tries the heart of
each person in every instance of one’s life. We humans have a Higher Self, the inner man that constantly judges our
intentions, motives, feelings, thoughts, words and actions, warning, guiding,
approving or disapproving our conduct. No one can escape this inherent judge whose judgments set to motion
the law of retribution. Everyone receives that which one’s deeds deserve.
“I
will judge each of you according to his ways.” (Ez. 33: 20b)
The prophet Ezekiel,
speaking on behalf of God to the house of Israel, confirms that each one of us
will be judged according to our ways. The chosen people are not to expect any special treatment from God,
for his sovereign laws are unbiased.
“And
I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and
the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.” (Joel 2:
25)
The Lord has many ways of
judging people. In this verse we see that the prophet Joel considers the locust
and the cankerworm, the caterpillar and the palmerworm to be God’s great army. Yet, the Lord’s judgment does not last forever. If the
transgressors repent, God forgives them and restores the damage that his army has done to people.
“Then
I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against the
sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against
those who defraud the laborer of his wages, who oppress the widow and the
orphan, against those who deprive the alien of justice, and do not fear me,
says the Lord Almighty.” (Mal. 3: 5)
Malachi gives here a list
of the sins that inevitably draw the judgment of God upon the sinners. Unfortunately, those who do not fear God fall
into these sins repeatedly, being deceived into believing that they can
disregard the Lord’s commandments without suffering any consequences.
“If
any man hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I came
not to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not
receive my word has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on
the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me
has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak.” (John 12: 47-49)
Jesus did not come to judge
the world but to save us. How? By speaking the word of God to people. So, those
who heard his word have no excuse if they sinned. Knowledge of the truth, i.e.
of God’s principles, brings responsibility with it. Rejection of the word of
God entails judgment, the judge being the word itself.
“But
by your hard and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the
day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. For he will
render to every man according to his works.” (Rom. 2: 5-6)
On the day of wrath or the Day of Judgment, which comes for each
person at the fullness of time, each one receives according to one’s deeds; we
all reap what we have sown. The same warning is found in many other verses of
the Bible, as e.g. in Psalm 62:12 and Prov. 24:12.
“Knowing
that whatsoever good thing any man does, the same shall he receive of the Lord,
whether he is slave or free.” (Eph.
6: 8)
God is no respecter of
persons. His sovereign laws cannot show any favoritism. So everyone, whether
rich or poor, black or white, will receive according to one’s deeds.
“For
the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no
partiality.” (Col. 3: 25)
Let not anyone be deceived
that he/she will be exempted from judgment. There is no partiality in the law
of retribution. The wrongdoer will certainly be paid back for the wrong he/she
has done.
“Do
not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever man sows, that shall he also
reap. For he who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption;
but he who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Gal. 6: 7-8)
The flesh is perishable. So
anything that is vested in the flesh will perish with it. But the spirit is
eternal, and every value one vests in it will bring forth spiritual fruit of
eternal value.
“The
Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trial, and to keep the unrighteous for
the Day of Judgment, in order to be punished.” (2 Pet. 2: 9)
Trials are a part and
parcel of life and they come to both, the godly and the unrighteous. The
difference is that the godly, through wisdom and prayer, are more likely to
overcome and be rescued, while the unrighteous will fall into temptation and
reap destruction for themselves.
“I
the Lord search the mind and try the heart, to give every man according to his
ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jer. 17: 10)
The Lord by his candle, which is the spirit of man
(Prov. 20:27), searches the mind and the heart of every person in order to give
everyone according to their deeds. We shall reap the fruit of our deeds.
“For
judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs
over judgment.” (Jam. 2: 13)
In this verse we have a
reference to the law of reciprocity. He who shows mercy to others will receive
mercy; he who has not shown mercy will be judged without mercy. What is better
then, mercy or judgment? As James confirms, most surely it is better for us to
show mercy, to forgive and forget the wrongs which others have done against us,
then to demand justice and judgment against the wrongdoers. Thus we will, in time,
reap mercy for ourselves.
“In
this is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment.” (1 John 4: 17a)
If our love is perfected,
we will have boldness in the Day of Judgment. Love covers all sins, says
another scripture (Prov.10: 12).
“When
the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature what the law requires, they
are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that
what the law requires is written in their hearts, while their conscience also
bears witness, and their thoughts accuse or excuse one another.” (Rom. 2: 14-15)
Here the Apostle Paul
explains how a man is his own judge. The law of God is written in every human
heart! People who have not received the Law of Moses, who have never studied
the Gospel, or any other scriptures for that matter, are a law to themselves.
Their conscience bears witness, accusing or excusing their thoughts, words and
deeds, thus passing judgment upon them.
“It
is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Heb. 9: 27)
As we saw in the previous
verses, man is judged for his actions every moment of his life here on earth.
According to the last verse, after death the soul faces a final judgment.
God is constantly at work,
as Jesus confirmed (John 5:17).
The universe is perpetually
in motion and, in my humble opinion, it would be against the sovereign laws of
nature if the souls of the deceased had to enter into a long period of
non-existence before they were resurrected and judged! This is also against all
evidence. Without presuming that I know for sure what happens in the hereafter,
it makes more sense to me to think that immediately after death, the soul
enters into a process of self-analysis and perhaps expiation and spiritual
cleansing (purgatory), preparing itself for its next incarnation. The following
verses from Luke’s Gospel verify that the soul is judged immediately after
death.
“There
was a rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted
sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, full of
sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table; moreover
the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the
angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried; and in Hades,
being in torment, he lifted up his eyes, and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus in
his bosom. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in
anguish in this flame’.” (Luke 16: 19-24)
This story was told by
Jesus and shows that at the moment of man’s death the destination of one’s soul
is determined. We are already judged
for the way we lived, and our soul reaps what we have sown. According to the rest
of the story, nothing could be done after death to relieve the sinner from the
agony of his/her soul. However, I am inclined to disbelieve this for I cannot
imagine a merciful God having ordained an eternal torture for those who sinned.
There must be a way out of it, either by a second death (mentioned in Revelation) or by reincarnation.
Needless to say we cannot
be dogmatic on things we are not able to prove. All we can do is to remain
humble and constantly seek the truth and the grace of God upon us, as we
endeavor to be gracious towards fellow human beings.
I have no illusion that the spiritual
truths quoted in this short book represent all the universal truths included in
the Bible. Far from it! The student of the Bible, Christian or not, should
endeavor to meticulously study both the Old and the New Testament in order to
find and absorb all spiritual treasures included therein.
In our time and
age, more than in any other time in history, Christians and non-Christians need
to find and promote, both in theory and in practice, those spiritual truths
that unite mankind. Christians in particular, if they really wish to be the light of the world, as they profess,
they should propagate only the Biblical principles that are common in every
faith. They should not promote the far-fetched man-made doctrines that divide
people and cause strife among the nations, even if such doctrines are supported
by isolated Biblical verses.
Mankind cannot
afford more hatred, more wars, more bloodshed and more misery... However, the
key to unity is held by the World’s major religions and their followers… Let
them use it wisely in order to unlock the vast potential of human heart for
LOVE. Only Love for one-another, tolerance and mutual respect, in spite of
different religious beliefs, will promote Peace and harmony among the peoples.
Maria Seferou
was born in Dendron, a small village of Peloponnese in Greece. She studied
Civil Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, and she had a
successful career as a professional Civil Engineer - the first 10 years in
Greece and the next 10 years in England.
Just before the
age of 40 she started searching for God and meaning in her life. Consequently,
she joined the local Charismatic Church in Harrow Middlesex, England, where
slowly but steadily she experienced an inner transformation that completely
changed her personality and outlook on life.
Gradually she was feeling the desire to return to Greece. It took her
two more years to find the courage to give up her job and step by faith into
the unknown.
She returned to
Greece at the end of 1984, and in 1985 she had already published her first
book. Ever since she has written several
more books on Christian, social, economic, political and philosophical issues,
which are available on her blog.
When her country started falling into a deep economic and humanitarian
crisis, about the end of 2007, she felt the need and the duty for more direct
and immediate communication with her fellow Greeks. So she set up another blog where she uploads
articles on hot issues of the day, trying, as it were, to expose the roots of
the problems and suggest common sense solutions, being aware, though, that she
is but another voice in the wilderness…
Above is a panoramic picture of
DENDRO, the village where Maria Seferou was born and raised in.