August 28, 2008

The Task of the Young Man

I am often asked by young men about finding their role in the body. Being young, they are full of energy and desire to change the world, overnight.

I am not sure if Titus discussed this with Paul but in his letter, Paul addressed it (in chapter 2).

Of interest, is that Paul gives direction and tasks to four groups, older men, older women, young women and young men.

Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance (note there are six areas that Paul encourages them to pursue).

Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women (five areas of important ministry).

[Young women are] to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored (seven critical tasks).

Likewise urge the young men to be sensible (one thing to pursue, sensibility).

"There must be more", one might ask. But, there isn't. The sensibility that a young man learns will serve him for a lifetime (see blog on oxen).

What then is "sensible"? The Greek gives it the definition of: to be of sound mind, having sound judgment, temperate and self controlled.

The Proverbs were written for this very purpose; to receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice and equity; To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, to bring wisdom to the young man, prudence, knowledge and discretion. Pro. 1:3-4

This should be our ministry to the young men, encourage them to study and meditate on the Proverbs.

August 26, 2008

Convictions

Basic Commands of Scripture which I have purposed to follow, whatever the cost.


August 15, 2008

Maturing

Discovering that the most difficult lessons that we will ever learn are the ones we thought we already knew.

August 02, 2008

Grumbling (continued)

To grumble is to murmur or begrudge something. To dispute is a debate, argue or reason through, i.e. leaning on how you understand things.


Paul says, “don’t”. The next verse gives his rationale. That you may prove yourself to be…


The importance of the word ‘prove’ is that it isn’t that you do it to prove to people you are a Christian i.e. “a witness” but rather, this is an assayer’s term meaning to become. It is that the circumstance, that you would normally grumble about, is there to cause you to become blameless and innocent…


Paul used this term because he was aware of the assayers work and the result of his efforts. An assayer would take soil and put it in a crucible. Intense heat would be applied. Impurities would rise to the top and be be skimmed off then it would be allowed to cool down. The process would begin again, seven times, until the dross (impurities) had been eliminated and a perfect bar of silver remains. (Psalm 12:6; 66:10)


God's desire is that you become blameless and innocent. He does this through trials.


This verse, re-written, might sound like this: Do all things without grumbling or reasoning through the circumstances so that its result will be that you will become blameless and innocent…


Ponder the act of grumbling and how it affects your relationship with others and with God.