Balance

~ Avoid Extremes! ~

Scripture  ~  “I have seen everything in my days of vanity: there is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.  Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?  Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?  It is good that you grasp this, and also not remove your hand from the other; for he who fears God will escape them all” (Ecclesiastes 7:15-18). 

Comment  ~  This difficult passage of Scripture is seldom discussed or used as a text for sermons.  Solomon is noting what we all learn: life on earth in man’s fallen state is not fair! 

Solomon is not saying balance your spiritual life with some carnal activities.  Rather, he is warning about a “holier-than-thou” attitude, showing off your spirituality (i.e., “when you pray enter into your closet”—Matthew 6:6), or pseudo—Christianity.  The word righteous here carries the thought of conceit or “thinking you are righteous” (i.e., forgetting you are a sinner saved by grace—Ephesians 2:5-8).  The word wise also carries the thought of pride or “thinking you are wise.”  The fear of God is the beginning of true wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW 

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Long & Short, 4of4

~ The Christian’s Joy Will Never End ~

Because our activities are controlled by “time” we tend to think in the short-term. 

introduction:  Time—all time—is just an indistinguishable dot on the timeline of eternity (the phrase "timeline of eternity" is an oxymoron).  God is beyond the constraints of time in both eternity-past and eternity-future.  In this short series we will look at four critical aspects of this reality. 

The Believer’s Sorrow Is Short  ~  “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).  Jesus said, “Then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:21-22). 

The Christian’s Joy Is Without End  ~  “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).  “The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads.  They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).   

special note:  If you are a Christian you may experience unhappiness and sorrow on earth, but you should always have a deep joy within (if you do not then refer to the formula for JOY in the prior post in this series).  In our future home both joy and happiness will always be maximized. 

concluding thought:  Are you sacrificing the eternal on the altar of the immediate? 

series conclusion:  The reason the four things presented in this series are all true is that God’s love, mercy, and grace are everlasting.  “The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:17).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Long & Short, 3of4

~ Pleasure Is Only Momentary ~

Because our activities are controlled by “time” we tend to think in the short-term. 

introduction:  Time—all time—is just an indistinguishable dot on the timeline of eternity (the phrase "timeline of eternity" is an oxymoron).  God is beyond the constraints of time in both eternity-past and eternity-future.  In this short series we will look at four critical aspects of this reality. 

The Non-Christian’s Joy Is Very Short  ~  “The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment” (Job 20:5).  “There were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.  By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber” (2 Peter 2:1-3). 

additional thought:  To have true and lasting JOY reset your priorities:  

Jesus first,

Others second, and

Yourself last. 

The Non-Christian’s Sorrow Will Never End  ~  “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: ‘Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?  Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?" (Isaiah 33:14).  “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are.  And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).  “For whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 13b).  “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).

concluding thought:  Are you sacrificing the eternal on the altar of the immediate? 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .