Regrets
Before beginning the new passage, we reviewed some of the “regret” discussion from the previous week. In addition to regretting some things in the past, we also need to make a clean break from some of our old actions. When we agree that what we did was actually wrong, and then determine not to repeat those actions, this is what we call “repentance.” The word implies a real change, much as a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.
Not all changes are actually 180 degrees, however. God has already been at work in each of our lives, so we are getting some things right. Repentance means that we are ready to get even closer to God, agreeing with Him that it’s time to make some more changes.
Enemies of the Cross
Paul, the author of Philippians, starts the new passage off with negative examples: How some people live as enemies of the Cross. He gives three tests for us to consider.
- Their god is their stomach
The class talked about how everyone has a God-shaped hole in life. When we try to fill it with anything else, we are never satisfied.
- Their glory is their shame
As a Christ-follower, there are places I should not go, sights I should not see, and relationships that aren’t worth building. Of course, this is not to say “abandon anyone who sins.” But if we are going to these places or looking for these sights for the wrong reasons (to shock others, or to defy God), then we are in danger of living as enemies of the Cross. Being a Christian is not about following a set of rules, but about being sure our motives are pure.
- Their mind is on earthly things
Destruction
Paul was not holding up the enemies of the Cross to ridicule or judgment. He was brought to tears by the realization that these people were separating themselves from God and each other. If our chief aim is to make ourselves happy, then we will naturally alienate others. And if we refuse to acknowledge God’s leadership, we will do our best to avoid Him, too.
And separation from everyone else is the destruction Paul describes. It is not that God is against those who reject Him. It’s that the rejecters won’t accept His love.
Next week, we’ll look at how Paul says we should live instead.
When we talked about "earthly things," I remembered a time when I had that challenge. Kathy and I were new parents, and a salesman was ready to sell us something that any new parent just had to have. Any parent that wouldn't buy it was obviously jeopardizing the child's future forever. All we had to do was sign on the dotted line and we could have the product delivered right away, with plenty of time to pay for it later. (After all, it was way out of our price range, so as responsible parents we'd surely be glad to go into debt for this wonderful product.)
ReplyDeleteEven with the sales pressure, I was able to reflect a moment. Why was I reluctant to be a good parent? Why not agree to commit future funds to such a great cause? Was I really just too cheap to invest in my child? Then the answer came to me.
God had certainly entrusted this child to Kathy and me. And we needed to do our best for him. But God had also provided us with limited means, and it was our job as God's stewards to use those means as wisely as possible. And was this product the only way to assure our child's future? Or weren't we supposed to trust God for His help? So I got to explain to the salesperson that we did care about our child, but we also cared about our stewardship before God. And ultimately, we would trust God to help rather than trust this wonderful product.
I wish I could say I've always remembered to look beyond just an earthly focus, but at least that time God helped me see life from His perspective, at least a little bit.