Some Practical Commands
My dad used to say, “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.” He didn’t get that out of the Bible; nor did these “heavenly minded” people he was talking about get very many of their ideas out of the Bible. It is true that we are to lead lives which are led by the Spirit; however, the first step in being led by the Spirit is to know the book He wrote. Otherwise, it is very easy to invent our own ideas and simply claim that they belong to the Spirit.
Both in the second letter to the Thessalonians and in the first letter to Timothy, Paul gives some extremely clear guidelines regarding where the Holy Spirit’s guidance will lead.
We are supposed to work. It is true that some people cannot work, and when this is the case we are certainly not to despise them, but cannot work and will not work are two different things. It isn’t God’s will for us to work to the exclusion of all else. Work too often tries to take the place of a relationship with God, but work, in its proper perspective, is a godly quality. Before I went into the ministry full time I was employed at the Social Security Administration. That job was a blessing from God for it allowed me to put food on our table and support the Lord’s work and still have time to put in much time in volunteer ministry.
Do not be a busybody. Don’t be always poking into other people’s business, but also, don’t be fascinated by myths and endless genealogies which only serve to create controversies. Some have turned away from the command to love and started talk radio shows... I mean, given themselves to meaningless talk.
That’s enough to chew on for right now. Let’s get those bases covered and then we can really start following the Spirit.
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