When we read through the scriptures and learn how godly people are to walk, there are just some things that are hard to imagine. I have made a short list of things that would seem so strange to proceed from the mouth of a Christian, yet I wonder how true they might actually be:

How can I do less for the Lord and still get by as being faithful?

How can I be faithful and still put my desires ahead of the Lord?

How can I fulfill my duty to sing praises to God without actually opening my mouth?

How can I be there for my brethren when I don’t want to be around them?

How can I convey to others that I have joy in being a Christian without ever smiling?

How can I fret about every little thing, yet tell people that I have the peace that passes all understanding?

How can I develop my abilities without ever volunteering to do anything?

How can I convey to the lost that I want them saved, but I refuse to talk to anyone?

How can I claim that I build others up, when all I do is criticize them?

How can I complain about people not being friendly to me when I am not friendly to them?

How can I be a positive example to my children when my actions at home don’t match my actions at worship?

How can I give to the Lord as little as I can and be happy with that, knowing I ought to give more?

This list could go on and on. The point I want us to see is that even though these can’t be done, it doesn’t mean people are not trying. Yes, it is futile, but as long as people convince themselves that they might be able to do it, they will continue to try. When Jesus said that no one can serve two masters, this didn’t stop people from trying (Matt. 6:24).

This reminds me of what James wrote, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring can yield both salt water and fresh.” (Jas. 3:10-12).  You might argue that a person can cuss and say blessings. That is true, however, you can’t utter blessings and feel there are times when you can cuss.

There is a reason the word hypocrisy is found so much within the word of God. Such play acting is taken place by many in the spiritual realm. We all need to make sure we haven’t become such good actors that we have fooled ourselves. This is why self-evaluation is vital for the Christian (II Cor. 13:5).  The reason saints are told not to be deceived is because many are (II Tim. 3:13).

When you read the twelve statements listed at the beginning of this article, you can’t help but realize people actually think these things. If we are not going to learn, we will be in for a rude awakening come judgment day.

Chuck

There needs to be less love 

This might seem like an odd thing to say, but there would be more love in the world today if there was less love. First of all, there is no question we need more love. Love covers a multitude of sins (I Pet. 4:8). Christians are even told that if we do not have love, we are nothing (I Cor. 13:1-3). Let us also not forget that we told that we must love because God loves us and He is love (I John 4:8, 19).

Knowing the importance of love, why did I say there would be more love if there was less love? The answer is found in what we love. In other words, if we love certain things less, it will, in turn, help us love other things more. So what things should we seek to love less?

We need to love “self” less

It is interesting to note that when we love “self” less, we become selfless. This is exactly what Christians need to become. Conversely, if we love ourselves more, it becomes harder to be clothed with humility. Our Lord made it perfectly clear that the haughty and arrogant (those who want to be first) shall be last. And those who are last (the humble) shall be first (Mark 9:31-37). Recall the old saying that there is no “I” in team. In God’s family, Christians do all they can to avoid thinking of themselves more highly than they ought (Rom. 12:3). Ultimately, their love of self can cause them to love others less.

We need to love pleasure less

When Paul told Timothy that perilous times will come, he mentioned both those who will love themselves and also those who will become lovers of pleasure rather than God (II Tim. 3:1-4). Let’s

face it – if we did not love pleasure, then there would be no such thing as having fun. The problem comes when we live for fun at the expense of everything else. If daily living becomes a burden that we “endure” until we can go and have fun again, something is wrong. People who live this way will struggle to study their Bibles, participate in worship, etc. Thus our God is loved less and less. The opposite is also true – when we love pleasure less, there is more love for God.

We need to love our present faith less

This point might also seem odd.  After all, we cannot please our God without faith (Heb. 11:6). Nor would our works be any good without being coupled with faith (James 2:26). Here is the issue though - it is very easy to love our current level of faith and never increase it. Our faith will not grow if we are satisfied and comfortable where we are. Such people will become lukewarm (Rev. 3:16). Christians who love their current level of faith less will seek to increase it (II Thess. 1:3) by getting out of their comfort zone and developing their abilities.

We need to love our praises less

There is nothing wrong with being complimented for things that we do. Jesus and His apostles often spoke favorably of certain individuals when they did good things (John 12:7-8; Phil. 1:3-5). The problems arise when we begin to crave the praise of men though (John 12:42-43). If we will love this less, then we can love the praise of God more. Knowing that our Father is pleased with us should bring us more joy than anything else in this world.

We need to love our possessions less

There may be exceptions, but most people buy what they like. The Lord does not want us to hate everything we own. Still, we must be wary of loving our stuff so much that it becomes our main focus.  Loving our possessions less will help us to love the future dwelling-place of our souls more (Matt. 16:26). Let’s do our best to love less in order to love more!

                                                                                         Chuck