Which Way?

Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:6-11)

We have been studying about God’s Economic Plan, and seeing how God’s plan for our economic prosperity differs from what the world presents. We embarked on that study because Jesus pointed out that how we trust God for financial needs was the least area, the starting point, for living by faith. Let me summarize by quoting a verse on what is even better than riches:

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

Today I want to start looking at having a “good name”, having a “good reputation”. We saw that God’s way for finances are at odds with the world’s way, and today I want to continue looking at this variance between God’s way and the world’s way. Let’s refer back to our opening verses from Isaiah chapter 55. In verse 6 we see that we are to seek the Lord – the Lord isn’t going to force Himself on us. Verses 7 through 9 point out that God’s ways are better than the world’s, higher to the same degree that the heavens are higher than the earth. Verses 10 and 11 point out that His ways go forth through His word, the same word that we seek and study through The Bible. As we get started today, let me make this real simple in today’s Key Point Number 1: There are only two ways to do anything: God’s way, and the Wrong way! And that is why it is critical for us to read and study The Bible. After all, let’s look at what we are called to do from Romans chapter 12:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:1-3)

We are called BOTH to be a living sacrifice, giving up our will to God’s, AND to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We need to be doing BOTH, renewing our mind through knowing God’s word and therefore His will, and yielding our will to His. And why is this critical? Because we will be tested constantly! Unless you are a hermit living alone, you will be tested, since it is in our human relationships that many of the battles occur. So let’s take a look at how we are to deal with these battles. Let’s start with one of Jesus’ teachings on dealing with issues between “brothers”:

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you; Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)

Does your brother have some issue against you? Have you trespassed against your brother in some way? Don’t expect your offering to God to be accepted until you reconcile with your brother first. How can we bless God if we have not been a blessing to our brother? What did John teach on this?

If a man says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar: for he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? (1 John 4:20)

Today’s lesson is our opportunity to examine ourselves, to see if we truly love God by seeing if we truly love our brothers (and sisters). What about the times when our brother trespasses against us? Jesus taught on this too:

Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto you as an heathen man and a publican. (Matthew 18:15-17)

Here’s today’s Key Point Number 2: Methods matter! How do we deal with a brother, when there is an issue? Step 1: go to your brother directly, alone. Try to address it out of the public arena, but openly and directly between the two of you. If that doesn’t work, step 2 is to take with you one or two people, but again out of the public arena and openly and directly with your brother. Only after that do you bring the issue before the church.

What is the opposite of this approach? How often do we come across gossip, things like “do you know what so and so did to me?” Stories spread from person to person accusing and condemning one individual and often that individual doesn’t even have a clue that they have offended the person! Or here’s another example: have you ever come upon two people talking between themselves, and as soon as they see you the conversation instantly stops? Later on you discover that you were the primary topic of their conversation, and that conversation was not of a constructive nature.

Examples like this are common in the world – we start to experience them as children, especially within nearly any school environment. As we get older, they tend to become more discrete, but in the world the use of “backroom” discussions and meetings to attempt to achieve a desired goal has in many ways become an art form. But we need to realize that the world’s ways are not God’s ways, and as Christians we need to follow God’s ways. And this means that we go to our brother, and discuss things honestly and directly. The word “transparency” is very prevalent in the media these days, due to the scandals that have rocked the financial and business world. As Christians, we need to be even more transparent in our human relationships – openly letting people know who we are and were we stand, not trying to hide, or mislead, or deceive, or manipulate in any way.

As in all things spiritual, and in all things relational, what matters most is the attitude of our heart. Let’s look at how Jesus’ disciples responded when they were informed of an offense that had not even occurred yet:

Now when the evening was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Truly I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? (Matthew 26:20-22)

What was their response? “Lord, is it I?” What do you suppose the world’s way would be? Probably something like “I’ll bet it’s so and so – he seems like the betrayer type?” We see it in the news media constantly – speculation, innuendo, and accusation, even before all of the facts have been gathered. We need to be quick to examine ourselves first, to make sure that our heart is right, before going to address an issue with anyone. Let’s look at another teaching from Jesus:

And why do you behold the mote that is in your brother's eye, but perceive not the beam that is in your own eye? And how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in your eye, when you yourself behold not the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of your own eye, and then shall you see clearly to pull out the mote that is in your brother's eye. (Luke 6:41-42)

One of the reasons it is so critical to be living by God’s ways, by His word, is because it will help us to know when there is a beam in our own eye. We need to constantly be renewing our mind through God’s word, so that we can see clearly. If we are not reading and studying God’s word, if we are not removing beams from our own eyes, we need to avoid trying to correct others – we’ll be doing more harm than good.

So let’s consider our human interactions, and how we handle issues between ourselves and our brothers. Let’s examine our hearts and our attitudes, and let’s make sure that we are handling things in God’s way and not the world’s. And let’s remind ourselves of one last Key Point Number 3: Motive is everything!

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

You can do all of the right things, you can know all of the right things, but if you do not have charity (unconditional love), it is nothing. So let’s be learning God’s ways, and doing things God’s way, motivated by a love for God and for God’s people, and we will see God’s word living and working and prospering in and through our lives!

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