The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
February 1, 2004
In
This Issue:
Mankind's
Nature -- God's Provsions
by
Gilbert Alexander
Is
Your Money Any Good?
by
Steve Klein
MANKIND'S NATURE &
GOD'S PROVISIONS
God, the Creator, gave mankind the nature we have and the capabilities we have, desiring that we use our abilities to honor Him. He also provided for the needs of mankind in view of our nature. Since He perfectly knew our nature, He, in perfect wisdom, gave us fully all things that are needful, even blessing us richly far above our needs.
Mankind is flesh (Gen.2:7, 19). We all are given a physical, earthly body (2 Cor.5:1; I Cor. 15:44-49). We have minds to think with and to guide our bodies' behavior. These physical bodies are corruptible; that is, they wear out and are subject to disease, injury, and the final onslaught of death (I Cor.15:53, 54; I Pet. 1:24). We are subject to temptation (Gen.6:3; James 1:13-15), just as Adam and Eve were (Gen.3). Temptation to sin comes from desires of the flesh by which one is enticed to do wrong things. Because we are flesh, we need physical sustenance (I Tim.6:8). Since God made us, He knows that we need these things (Matt.6:11, 32). We also need companionship (Gen.2:18-24), and are sociable creatures.
God has provided for our fleshly needs. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights..." (James 1:17). He gives us "life and breath and all things" (Acts 17:24-28). From the beginning He has made provision for all physical needs and has taught us how to obtain them (Gen.2:9; 9:2-4; Eph.4:28). As a loving Father, He has not left us without care (Matt.6:25-34; Acts 14: 17). He has even-provided ways to escape temptations of-the flesh (I Cor. 10 : 13).
Mankind also has a spirit that God formed in each person (Zech.12:1). The body lives as the spirit dwells in it (James 2:26). The spirit does not die with the body, but departs back to God (Eccl.12:7). Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59). When Jesus raised the dead, their spirits returned to their bodies (Luke 8:49-56). The spirit God gave each of us is intelligent (I Cor.2:11). The human spirit also has desires as the body does and sometimes resists the desires of the flesh (Matt. 26:41; Rom.7:14-25). In order for one to please God, his spirit must overrule the flesh to do righteousness (I Cor.6:20; 2 Cor.7:1; I Cor.5:5). This overruling is called self-control. To be strong and faithful, the spirit needs spiritual nourishment, just as the body needs physical nourishment.
God has provided spiritual nourishment for mankind. He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph.1:3). He has provided the means of spiritual understanding (Col. 1 :9). He has given us spiritual knowledge in His word so that we can be nourished by the good doctrine (1 Tim.4:6), and strengthened in the inner man (Eph.3:14-21). He has given us assurance of an eternal dwelling place when the mortal has put on immortality (I Cor. 15:50-58), thus giving us hope and reason to live holy lives.
by Gilbert Alexander
I suspect that here in the South, there are still some who are holding onto Confederate money. I'm sure it is valuable for its historical significance, but it is no good as "legal tender for all debts, public and private." Of course, even money that is currently being produced and circulated by the U.S. Mint is not good for everything. Like the Beatles sang, "money can't buy me love." In fact, money is no good for several things.
-
Money cannot buy happiness. The rich young ruler "went away sorrowful" although "he had great possessions" (Matthew 19:22).
-
Money cannot buy long life. At the day of death, it does not matter how rich a person may be. "No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, And no one has power in the day of death" (Ecclesiastes 8:8). The Psalmist observed that no one "can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him 8 For the redemption of their souls is costly... 9 That he should continue to live eternally, And not see the Pit" (Psalm 49:7 -9).
-
Money cannot buy God's gifts. When Simon the Sorcerer offered to buy from Peter the God-given ability to transfer miraculous power, Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!" (Acts 8:20).
Money is good for some things, but many of the things it's good for are not necessarily good. Be especially cautious about desiring money so that "you may spend it on your pleasures" (James 4:3). The God who selflessly sacrificed His own Son, is not overly fond of the selfish use of money.
But some of the things money is good for are truly good things.
-
Money can provide for our needs. Paul indicates that the money he earned from working with his hands provided for his "necessities," as well as for the necessities of those who were with him (Acts 20:34).
-
Money can help provide for the needs of others. The ability to "distribute to the needs of the saints" requires that one have something to distribute (Romans 12:13). In Ephesians 4:28, we learn that God expects a man to work and earn "that he may have something to give him who has need." While love cannot be bought with such gifts of money, it can be shown. "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" (1 John 3:17).
-
Money can support the cause of Christ. The Philippians repeatedly sent money or its equivalent to help support Paul in his evangelistic work. This money was "a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God" (Philippians 4:18). The work of the church is supported by money (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8-9), and the work of the church is good work.
Yes, money can accomplish much good. Is your money good? That is, are you using what you have been given to accomplish the good that the Giver intends? Let us all learn not to "trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." Let us "do good" and "be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share," storing up "a good foundation for the time to come" that we "may lay hold on eternal life" (1 Timothy 6:17 -19).
By Steve Klein