Making a Meaningful Life

To improve efficiency, a company hired a consultant, who called a meeting of all shop personnel. Stressing the need to listen to experts, he said, "Imagine you're on the Titanic, and it's sinking. You climb into a lifeboat. Which direction would you row?" Then he asked, "What if you had the ship's navigator with you? Now which way would you go? You'd row the way the navigator told you to, right?"
  
There were murmurs of agreement until a guy in the back piped up, "Well, I don't know. He's already hit one iceberg!"
  
You need discernment concerning whom you'll take advise. The book of Proverbs urges us to get advice from the wise (1:2-7). Wisdom in the Bible is "skill for living." Some people know how to make a living but don't know how to make a life, which is a shame for it is better to make a good life that a good living.
   
The book of Proverbs is about godly wisdom, how to get it and how to use it. It's about priorities and principles, not get rich-quick schemes or success formulas. It tells you, not how to make a living, but how to be skillful in the lost art of making a life.
   
The first seven verses of chapter one reveal the purpose of the book. It was written to teach wisdom by applying wisdom to life instead of simply theorizing about it. The entire book was intended to be of great practical benefit to the obedient listener. It's wise practical teaching leads the understanding man who fears the Lord to wisdom (CIM).

I. THE TITLE, 1:1 -The Preacher-Teacher of Proverbs.
II. THE THEME, 1:2 - Attaining Wisdom
III. THE PURPOSE, 1:3-6 - Imparting Wisdom to Men.
IV. THE FOUNDATION, 1:7 - The Fear of the Lord.

We learned last week that Solomon was an insightful teacher of wisdom. Now let's learn what makes a genuine student of wisdom. The preamble in 1: 1-7 prepares you for reading the book as a whole. It sets forth its theme (v. 2, attaining wisdom), its purpose (vv. 3-5), the basic contrasts between wisdom and folly (v. 7), and wisdom's cornerstone or theological foundation (v. 7). [How to Read the Bible by Gordon Fee. Grand Rapids. Zondervan.2002. 145]

II. THE THEME, 1:2 - Attaining Wisdom

Verse 2 states that the personal attainment of wisdom is the theme of this book. "To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the sayings of understanding,

Wisdom is a word of enormous importance in Proverbs. [Wise & wisdom are used at least 125 times.] A purpose of the Proverbs is that the reader might "know wisdom" and allow it to govern his or her life. The word here is chokma and is the most frequent word for wisdom in Proverbs. It meant skill (Ex. 28:1-3; 31:25; 1 Chron. 22:18), here skill in living. Originally the term was used to describe people skilled in working with their hands, craftsman. [It was used in reference to the detailed work of Bezalel and Aholiab in constructing the tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-11). God gave them and others skill for artwork, building, weaving, and carving.] It came to mean the use of life knowledge in practical and skillful ways. God crafts wisdom into a life so that one learns how to live skillfully, or successfully before Him. The emphasis is not on theoretical information but on a proper discernment for decisions between choices, to know good from evil, and right from wrong. People with wisdom have the skill to face life honestly and courageously and manage it successfully so that God's purposes are fulfilled in their life. Wisdom orders and directs life for proper purpose. It brings us into harmony with the priorities and principles of God.
  
A purpose of Proverbs is to know or attain wisdom "and instruction." Instruction is the teaching of priorities and principles. It is the corrective teaching which results in values or morals but it is more than intellectual enlightenment. It refers to training and discipline for life skills. Instruction (Heb. musar) refers to the fact that training is needed so that one might keep themselves walking God's way, under His restraint and control and in His direction. Instruction is ordering life according to divine principles so that we can live skillfully.
  
Another purpose of Proverbs is listed as "to discern the sayings of understanding." "To discern" is to have insight into (1 Kings 3 :9), to separate, to make distinct. These Proverbs give us insight into the sayings of understanding. These sayings are the pulling together of the observable knowledge from life or lives. The focus is not merely on what goes on in life but the ability to understand it then apply that understanding to your life so that life can be corrected or trained skillfully. There will be much in-depth thought required to see the implications of many of the wise saying of Proverbs. But this attempt to absorb them is a healthy mental exercise which will sharpen the mind.

III. THE PURPOSE, 1:3-6 - Imparting Wisdom to Men.

Verse 3 continues with the purpose with the book but also tell us what we will take in or learn from Proverbs. "To receive instruction in wise behavior, righteousness, justice and equity;"
   
The result of true wisdom is the enacting of wise behavior, righteousness and equity. The wisdom purposed in Proverbs is more than enlightenment of human reason through means of comprehending reality as it is. It is for "wise behavior" (haskel, Heb. "good sense and practical judgment;" 1 Sam. 25:3), or for moral achievement. It is worth remembering that man may "take in" (receive) knowledge till he is ignorant. No matter how enriched one is with science and philosophy, he is a fool if he does not practice righteousness, justice, and equity.
  
Righteousness is from tsedeg and implies right believing, right thinking, and right action. Justice is the understanding and application of right and wrong. Equity is to know what is fair and balanced. The great philosopher Locke said the goal of education "is not to perfect a learner in all or any of the sciences, but to give his mind that disposition and those habits that may enable him to obtain any part of knowledge he will apply himself to or stand in need of in the future course of life."
  
Management expert PETER DRUCKER once wrote that too often people focus on efficiency (doing things right), instead of on effectiveness (doing the right thing). "There are few things less pleasing to the Lord and less productive," Drucker says, "than an engineering department that rapidly turns out beautiful blueprints for the wrong product. Working on the right things is what makes. . . work effective." Those are wise words for anyone seeking business success, and for those trying to live a good life.
   
Are you busy trying to get everything done in life? It would be wise to first see if you are living the right kind of life. How can we be sure we are doing the right thing-that which is truly valuable--instead of doing the wrong thing in an efficient way? Solomon wrote his Proverbs so that his sons would "receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity." Or, as one translation puts it, to acquire "a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair" (NIV).
  
Through His Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God will teach us what is right and enable us to do it. Our most important task is doing what is grounded in "justice, judgment and equity!

Verses 4 and 5 introduce various recipients who will find help in the Proverbs: the naive, the young, the wise man and the man of understanding. Verse 4 tell us what can happen through a study of this book. "To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion."
  
Prudence is what is offered to the naive. Prudence is the ability to escape the wiles of another (Gen. 3: 1)or the traps of life by knowing which course of action is best. This is a great blessing especially for the naive (simple, KJV, nethi, Heb.). The word naive literally is open-hearted and describes one who is wide open, gullible, easily susceptible to good or bad influences. Prudence is a safe guard against being mislead.
  
Proverbs offers "to the youth knowledge and discretion." A youth (naar, Heb.) is one who is immature and has not yet experienced the world. His mind fluctuates at the opinionated winds of those about him, unless he settles his purpose and fixes his priorities, to obtain wisdom. The young because of their hot blood and inexperience especially need the preventive medicine injected into these Proverbs.
   
Not only does a youth need to grasp the knowledge of the wise, he or she needs discretion. Discretion (Heb., mezimmah, "meaning to press together") is mental concentration which produces discerning thoughtfulness in decision making.
   
How unfortunate it is that those most in need of these Proverbs avoid them and often will only learn their truth after repeated failures and bitter experiences. We can either be instructed and guided by experiencing life, or we can learn by studying the Word. We can learn in the storm or we can learn in the sanctuary. We can learn in the crisis or we can learn in the classroom. Most of us have had to experience learning in both places. Proverbs wants to teach us in the classroom. [Jon Courson. Application Com. OT. Vol. 2.Nelson. Nashville. 2006. p 179.]

Verse 5 teaches us that we will need to apply our selves in order to hear, learn and acquire understanding and wisdom. "A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,"
   
A person disagreed with something I said and asked for an explanation. After I explained it to her in greater detail she responded. "Thank you for your answer. It was something I didn't know. What I learned in childhood I just took for granted. But now I realize how good it is to learn something new." At 89 that wise lady was still learning.
  
"A wise man" is described here as one that is still learning. The Hebrew word learning means "taking in." But before learning occurs a wise man is attentive, he will hear. The mental and spiritual ears of some are so heavy that they do not hear the voice of wisdom. The ears of others are so full of the rush of the world that truth even when it cracks like thunder rolls beyond their grasp unheard.
  
So a wise man is described as an improving man, one increasing in learning by knowing truth and God better. He discards what is less adequate for what is more accurate. "It's what we learn after we know it all that counts."
  
A wise man is also a "man of understanding" (tachbuloth), literally knows the ropes. He knows who to tie himself to in order to better guide himself through life. A wise man is one who grasps divine truth through wise counsel. Wise counsel literally is steering (like the tackle for directing a ship) and suggests moving one's life in the right direction. He has the discernment to steer a right course through life.
  
When was the last time you admitted your were wrong? Why is that so hard to do? What have you learned recently from another believer? The best way to make room for wisdom is to get rid of know-it-all pride. The most annoying type of person is the know-it-all, a person who has a dogmatic opinion on most everything. They are closed to learning because they think they already know. Don't be a know-it-all. Learn from the wisdom of God and from those who walk in God's Word. Only God truly knows it all. [Application Bible. Zondervan. ]
   
[STILL LEARNING] Many years ago an OLD MAN TOOK A CLASS at the University of Berlin. It was an unusual sight to see this small, white-haired gentleman sitting among 19-and 20-year old students. But what made this most unusual was that the old man was Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), the renowned German naturalist and scientist. In fact, during a lecture on physical geography, the professor, who was an-eminent scholar himself, quoted as his authority something von Humboldt had written.
  
When Alexander von Humboldt was asked why he, with all his learning, was taking that class, he replied, "To help me review what I had neglected in my youth." With such a hunger for knowledge, he was not too proud to take notes and learn right along with his younger classmates.
  
The desire to learn about our physical world is commendable. But nothing is more important than to increase our knowledge of God's Word. We will never get to the place where we can say, "I know it all. No one can teach me anything that I haven't heard before."
  
A wise person never stops learning about God and His world.
Increase your knowledge of God's Word, For in it you will find
The wisdom that you need for life, Which comes from God's own mind.
The more we learn the more we realize how much we need to learn. The book of Proverbs is not only for the naive-but also for the wise. It is for anyone who realizes that he has further to go.

The following are some things you should know about PERSONAL GROWTH.
(1) Growth isn't automatic. You're only young once, but you can be immature indefinitely.
  
Each year the lobster is forced to shed its shell; it's a pity we aren't! Come on, if you don't make personal growth your responsibility it'll never happen. The road to anything worthwhile is always uphill, so the sooner you start climbing the closer to reaching your God-given potential you'll be.
  
(2) Growth today brings success tomorrow. What you sow today determines what you reap tomorrow. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "Once stretched by a new idea, a man's mind never regains its original dimensions." So what are you doing today to become wiser, more truly successful tomorrow?
  
(3) Growth is your responsibility. When you were a child your parents were responsible for your growth, now you are. Robert Browning wrote, "Why stay we on earth except to grow?" Good question! Yet few of us dedicate ourselves to the process. Why? Because growth requires change and most of us are uncomfortable with change. Gail Sheehy writes, "If we don't change we won't grow, and if we don't grow we're not really living. Growth demands the temporary surrender of security. It means a giving up of familiar but limiting patterns, safe but unrewarding work, values no longer believed in, relationships that have lost their meaning. Taking a new step is what we fear most, yet our real fear should be the opposite." Other than going to Hell, can you think of anything worse than living a life devoid of spiritual growth and improvement?

In verse 6 Solomon propose a challenge to the reader of the book. "To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles."
   
A genuine learner is described as an interpreter. The deep things of God need to be interpreted (1 Cor. 2:9,10). A proverb is a description by way of a comparison. The words of the wise are thought provoking words and riddles are thought provoking questions which need interpretation.
  
The goal of learning should be to better know God and out of that knowledge to love Him, and to become like Him that we may possess true virtue and wisdom.

IV. THE FOUNDATION, 1:7 - The Fear of the Lord.

Verse 7 conveys the book's theological foundation and that the basic contrast between wisdom and folly. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Here is the foundational truth on which the book rests. Without this basic preparation or characteristic the reader disqualifies himself from obtaining true knowledge and wisdom. The knowledge needed for wisdom begins with "the fear of the Lord." The single essential to finding eternal knowledge is the fear of the Lord.
 
In God's eyes natural man is a sinner living in rebellion against His revealed will and thus meriting eternal separation. Those that know this fear will not remain strangers to the Word of God nor the Family of God. They will fling themselves upon God's mercy, begging for His forgiveness and cleansing, trusting only in Jesus' substitutionary sacrifice and ransom payment on the cross for their sin and sinfulness.
   
"Fear" is respect for legitimate authority. God is the absolute final authority of everything and everyone. Wisdom begins with a submissive reverence to God Almighty, recognizing who He is. Once His greatness and holiness is reverend, lives will be lived in obedience to His revealed will. To too many people God is an after-thought, not the first thought. Therefore most do what is right in their eyes, with little of no concern for God's will or way or word.
  
This fear of the Lord is where knowledge begins. Satan has intellectual knowledge but true knowledge, spiritual knowledge, the knowledge of self, the universe, eternity, Christ and man comes from God. For knowledge to become an eternal building block in one's life it must be based on this reverent acknowledgment and submission to Almighty God.
  
Today it seems that the fear of man is what is prevalent. There are many people who profess a belief in God but demonstrate by attitude and lifestyle a total disregard for His wishes and complete disdain for His Word. They show by their unwise behavior that the God they believe in has not been discovered through fear. God demands His due recognition of His sole right to be Lord of life, every life. With telling forth rightness' Solomon describes those who deny God in speech, attitude and action.
  
"Fools despise wisdom and instruction." A fool (nahal) is not one who lacks intelligence, but one who is obstinate (13:16; 17: 10) and stubborn (1:7; 17:28; 20: 3; 22: 15). The root of his foolishness is not intelligence but spiritual perspective. He begins his downward journey by rejecting the fear of the Lord and determines to go his own way (v. 31) shutting God out of his life.
  
So fools are those who despise wisdom's instruction. They are morally bankrupt, fleshly, and practically ignore of the greatest truths in the universe. They trifle with the serious and gamble away the joys of eternity for the lusts of time. Though their intelligence may be great their logic is faulty and inconsistent.
  
[A FOOLS LOGIC] This fact was vividly impressed on me while I was watching a television special several years ago on the subject of the "textbook controversy." Those who defend the use of dirty, blasphemous material in the schools claim that our youth need to be exposed to the whole spectrum of thought, including that of morally and religiously twisted groups. But these proponents of "open-mindedness" are opposed to the writings of Biblebelieving Christians, and want them out of the class room and off public property. Furthermore, to support their use of objectionable textbooks, these people say that even the Bible contains passages that appear obscene. Yet they fail to recognize that the literature they defend encourages unbelief, lawlessness, and immorality. The Bible, on the other hand, promotes a fear of God and a respect for human dignity and the property of others.
  
These advocates of a "well-rounded education" also fail to see the disastrous results of their godless philosophies. Drug abuse, prostitution, shoplifting, and crimes of violence are increasing at an alarming pace. If moral standards are not taught, or if they are said to be relative, such conditions will continue to exist.
  
Don't believe the faulty logic of fools. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge!" Education may make you smart, but only God makes you good.
  
A man may fill his mind with facts until it overflows, But without wisdom he's a fool unless the Lord he knows.
  
Foolishness is a liar. It promises pleasure, peace, and prosperity. But, as its victims discover, it delivers the opposite. After the pleasure is a gaping void and inescapable pain.
  
Wisdom, however, delivers more than we could hope for. She says from the beginning her way is hard. She demands our respect and requires discipline on our part. But in return she gives her children freedom, security, and joy. These jewels of wisdom are thrown away on him who has no heart for them. Achieving wisdom may seem difficult. But the end result is worth it. The fear of the Lord is the starting point and essence of wisdom.

IN CONCLUSION

In this age of information, knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom is scarce. Wisdom means far more than simply knowing a lot. God's wisdom guide us in how to live our life right. It grows out of a daily walk with the Lord. The foundation for this knowledge of true wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Wisdom begins by honoring and respecting God, by living in awe of His power, and in obedience to His Word. Faith in God's revealed wisdom should be the controlling principle for your understanding of the world, your attitudes, and your actions. Trust in God and He will make you truly wise.
  
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN was a U.S. Congressman, 3-time Democratic presidential nominee, and Secretary of State who served this country for three decades. He is probably best remembered for the famous Scopes Trial in 1925 at Dayton TN. This man's far reaching influence has been attributed to his wisdom. Perhaps the secret of his wisdom was his acceptance of the advice given to him by his father. Just before William was leaving for college, his preacher father challenged him to read through the Book of Proverbs once a month for a year. The young man did so during his freshman year. Years later he looked back at his father's request as one of the most important factors in his life.
  
Man's advice may or may not be good. It depends on where the man has derived his wisdom. The wisdom of God will give one the ability to make an eternally significant impact with your life. If we are to gleam the wisdom of Proverbs we must bow in awe and respect for God's authority and respond to Him in faith and obedience.
  
Father, remove from me, from us, what does not reflect Your character and replace it with Yourself. Amen. May the Word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom.

[The goal of learning should be to better know God & out of that knowledge to love Him, & to become like Him that we may possess true virtue & wisdom. The Book of Proverbs is not only for the naive but also for the wise. It is for anyone who realizes that He has further to go. So let us study this book which is rich in wisdom for the age in which we live.] print with http://offsetprintingphilippines.blogspot.com

Christmas

Luke 2:7-20 

  

It is a time of great rejoicing in the palace, for a prince has just been born. Near the throne there is a lively discussion going on as the king's advisers are making their suggestions concerning the best way to announce to the wonderful news. They have suggested some elaborate ways to publicize & celebrate this great event.

   

All but one have expressed their opinions, & now the king turns to him & asks, "How about you? Do you have any ideas? What do you suggest?" "Well," came the reply, "I think that we should send a messenger out at night into the fields to tell some shepherds about it."

 

What a ridiculous idea! And yet, that was God's way of announcing Jesus' birth. God's ways are certainly not our ways, are they?

 

Listen as I read those very familiar words in the 2nd chapter of Luke, beginning with vs. 8. (READ Luke 2:8-15)

 

Somehow, when we hear about shepherds coming to the manger & seeing the Christ-child it makes us feel warm inside. If shepherds are important to God, then we are important, too. God loves the common people, & God loves us!

  

Now turn to another very familiar passage in Matthew 2, beginning with
vs. 1. (READ Matt 2:1-12)

   

The story of the wise men is also a story of love & worship & adoration. They represent the aristocracy of the time - the rich, the educated, the learned. And they are valuable to God too.

   

Whenever we think of the shepherds & the wise men, we invariably see scenes of love & joy & worship.

   

But when we think of King Herod we see darkness & hatred & death. In verse 16 we read this terrible statement, "When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, & he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem & its vicinity, who were two years old & under."

  

Why do people react like Herod did? Why are some people filled with love & happiness, while others are filled with darkness & despair?

   

I think we can learn something about that as we look again at what these Scriptures tell us about the shepherds & the wise men & Herod. Maybe through it all Christmas will mean even more to us.

   

I. GOD CAN WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE PREPARED TO RECEIVE HIS MESSAGE

   

First of all, I think that God chose to announce to the shepherds & the wise men the wonderful news of the coming of Jesus because they were prepared for that event. Somehow the soil of their souls had been plowed & made ready for the planting of that glorious news.

   

Who understood the idea of sacrifice better than shepherds? Do you realize how close Bethlehem is to Jerusalem? They are just a few miles apart, separated only by some hills on which shepherds raised their sheep.

   

History tells us that many of the sheep raised on those hills between Jerusalem & Bethlehem were raised specifically to be used as sacrifices in the Temple at Jerusalem. You see, once a year every Jewish family was supposed to come to Jerusalem & offer sacrifices in the Temple for their sins. And the animal that they sacrificed was generally a lamb.

  

They didn't bring a sacrificial lamb along on the long journey from their homes to Jerusalem. Instead, they waited until they got to Jerusalem & then bought a lamb there to use as a sacrifice.

   

So these shepherds knew about sacrifice. They spent their lives on the hills outside of Bethlehem watching little lambs born. Watching them grow to maturity & realizing that someday a priest would come & buy them & take them back to the temple to offer as sacrifices for the sins of the people.

   

They realized that sin was so awful in God's sight that it required the shedding of blood & the giving of life. So how appropriate that these shepherds should be the first to hear about the "lamb of God" who would be "the Savior, Christ the Lord."

    

They were ready for that. Their minds were uncomplicated. They were not great theologians. They didn't think of reasons not to believe. They just believed. Their hearts & their souls were ready & when God spoke through angels they listened & accepted the news with great joy.

  

The wise men were also prepared. Evidently they had studied the great prophets of Israel. Undoubtedly they came from the area where Daniel, the prophet, had had such great influence & power. Did they have some of the prophecies of Daniel that we don't know anything about today? I don't know.

  

But somehow, they were waiting & hoping. And when they saw that bright light, that star shining, they knew it meant something special. They recalled all of the things they had learned & they were ready to make their journey, because they knew the star meant that somewhere a king had been born & they wanted to worship Him. They were prepared & ready for Christmas.

  

But King Herod wasn't ready. Have you ever wondered why Herod didn't see the star? If it was bright enough for wise men to see it in far countries, it was bright enough for Herod to see it too.

   

Why didn't Herod hear the announcement of the angels? Why didn't he see the heavens lit up on that first Christmas night? He could have seen. He could have heard. But he didn't have eyes to see or ears to hear.

Christmas came to Herod as surely as it came to wise men & shepherds. But Herod didn't know it because Herod was not prepared.

   

You see, if we resist Him; if we ignore what God has done through Jesus Christ, then Christmas will come on Dec. 25, as it always does, but it will mean almost nothing to us because our hearts are cold & insensitive to what God is trying to do in our lives.

   

Christmas is almost here. Are you prepared? Is your heart soft? Are your ears sensitive? Can you hear God telling you of His love for you?

   

II. THEY WERE WILLING TO TAKE A JOURNEY OF FAITH TO SEE JESUS

  

Secondly, when they heard the message the wise men & the shepherds were willing to step out & take a journey of faith, but not Herod.

  

I love the words of the shepherds. Shortly after the angels went back into heaven they said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem & see this thing that has happened."

   

They didn't say, "Let's go to Bethlehem & see if this thing is really true." They didn't question the message of God. They didn't question the announcement of the angels. They didn't sit around & think about all the impossibilities & how humanly speaking it didn't make sense. No, they just rushed to Bethlehem to see the baby. It was a journey of faith for them.

  

How about those wise men? Have you ever put yourself in their place? Can't you see them standing out in their front yards getting their camels ready for the long journey? They are loading up their saddlebags with food & clothing, gold, frankincense & myrrh.

   

Just then some neighbors walk by & ask, "What are you doing?" The wise men reply, "We are getting ready to take a trip." "Where are you going?" "Well, we're not sure." "Do you have a map?" "No, we are going to follow a star."

   

"Oh! What are you going to find when you get there?" "We are going to find a king." "What's the king's name?" "We don't know. All we know is that we have seen His star & we are going to follow it until it leads us to Him, & then we're going to worship Him."

   

It was a journey of faith, you see. And faith doesn't make sense to people who don't know the message & who don't share the faith. It was a journey of faith, & faith can only be explained by a heart that understands what faith is all about.

  

But for Herod there was no faith. He heard the message from the wise men. The wise men came to Herod's palace & asked, "Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east, & have come to worship Him."

  

When Herod heard this he was troubled. "Where? Where is a king? I haven't heard of any king." Quickly he called together the chief priests & they told him that the prophets had foretold that the Messiah, the Christ, would be born in Bethlehem.

  

You know the story. Herod sent the wise men on. He had an opportunity to learn about the new king. But he didn't have eyes of faith or a heart that believed. So while the king was born only a few miles away, he was not ready to receive Him because there was no faith in his heart.

  

That is a problem, isn't it? There is a whole lot that can't be explained. You can't explain a virgin birth. You can't explain the heavens lighting up & angels announcing the birth of a king. You can't explain a mysterious star shining above. You can't explain all of the drama & glory & wonder. It's divine. It can only be understood with a heart & a mind of faith.

  

Before Christmas will ever be real to us, our journey must be a journey of faith too. We must realize that we will never completely understand the wonder of God's love, but in faith we must be ready to accept it.

  

III. THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE & MAKE THE SACRIFICE

  

Finally, the wise men & the shepherds were willing to pay the price & to make the sacrifice.

  

Think about the shepherds. When they said, "Let us go to Bethlehem & see this thing which is come to pass," that was a major decision for them. When they went to Bethlehem they had to leave their sheep. Everything they owned was wrapped up in their sheep. It was at night, when wolves could come & attack & kill their sheep.

  

So it took faith. They had to say, "We will leave behind all that we have to seek the Lamb of God, & we will trust our flock to the Good Shepherd who will take care of them."

  

I have always hoped that when they came back they found all of their lambs safe & sound, & that from then on God prospered them in ways they never even dreamed, because they were willing to place everything in His hands.

  

The wise men paid a price, too. They left behind families & businesses, & all that was familiar & dear to them. They left it all to follow a star - to travel a strange & possibly dangerous journey - just to pay homage to the new king, & to give Him their gifts of gold, frankincense & myrrh.

  

But not Herod. Herod learns about a king & quickly rushes to his throne & puts his arms around it, saying, "Where is He?" He wants to cling to all that is his - his silver & gold, his power & prestige. He was afraid that he was going to lose it all.

  

Christmas means surrender. It means that the sovereign God of heaven looked down & saw us dying in our sins & said, "I can't let this go on. I must do something about it."

  

He surrendered His glory & His power. He became a baby. He walked among us. He breathed our dust. He let us persecute Him & spit on Him & drive nails into His hands & His feet. That's surrender.

  

Christmas means giving. Not just brightly wrapped gifts to people that we love but giving ourselves.

  

So here we are. Some of us may be like the shepherds. We don't have much, & we may not know a lot that the world considers important. But we are ready to listen to what God has to say.

  

Others may be more like the wise men, searching for the truth, asking questions, knowing His promise that if we will seek the truth with our whole heart that we will find Him.

  

Unfortunately, there are many like Herod who are antagonistic towards God - who hate Him rather than love Him & will not receive what God wants to give.

  

And every year, at Christmas time, this great line is drawn. Here are people who are like shepherds & wise men coming to Jesus to worship Him. And there are people like Herod who stand hard & cold, resisting all that God is trying to do in their lives.

  

Into which category do you fall? Who best represents you?

  

God wants to take all the Herods & make them into shepherds & wise men. But that can only happen when you are willing for it to happen. When you are prepared to receive His message. When you are willing to make the journey of faith. When you are willing to surrender to Him.

  

The invitation is extended this morning & God invites you to come to His manger, to come to His throne, to come to His cross, & to know His love.

   

As we stand & sing we invite you to come.

Why God Lets Friend Die

John 11 contains the well-known story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, and (for trivia fans) the shortest verse in the Bible is in this chapter. We also find here the last of the seven miracles (or "signs" as John calls them) which structure this book. Miracles (of course) are exciting, but Jesus is no mere magician. God has come to die for the sins of his people and to rise for our justification. This culminating sign is a parable revealing deep truth about God's love and work in our lives. Please give your attention to the reading of God's Word in John 11. [Read John 11.1-44. Pray.]

     

One ill effect of an evil heart is that I naturally assume that my will should be the axis around which the universe turns. This perspective often reveals itself by how much the affairs of life control my feelings. When events please me, I believe God is good and his love safe and solid. When circumstances go awry, I wonder that God's love is so fickle and frail. Such attitudes betray a most basic form of idolatry. I look at life's problems and assume they reveal the nature and character of God. The Bible condemns that approach.

  

The book of Romans does say that creation reveals God exists and deserves worship. The Apostle Paul learned this from Psalm 19: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." But Paul adds that sin both bends creation's story to hide the truth, and corrupts our ability to interpret "general revelation" properly. As a result, circumstances actually deflect us from the true nature of God. We must have the Word (both in flesh and in Scripture) reveal God to us.

   

William Cowper struggled with depression much of his life. This led him to meditate frequently on God's love and goodness in the midst of pain and suffering (what he called God's frowning providence). One fruit of his anguish was the hymn, God Moves in a Mysterious Way. Listen to these words: "Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds ye so much dread, are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust him for his grace, behind a frowning providence, he hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding ev'ry hour; the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flow'r."

   

Today, a frowning providence; tomorrow a smiling face. ESV Psalm 30.5b: "Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." God's unfolding flower of providence will one day reveal blessings unimaginably sweet for his people.

  

Our family found a corollary example of this when we left off sweets for lent - pleasure can increase when we do without for a season. What that experience taught in a small and simplistic way is also true in substantial and significant events: hard circumstances and difficult trials can bring "joy inexpressible and filled with glory" (1Peter 1.8).

  

As I grow older I am more and more convinced that our attitude towards our troubles drastically affects the outcome. We find it easy to nurse poor attitudes until they infiltrate every pore of our lives. Rather than trust God and count trials as opportunities to grow in grace and faith, our attitudes drive us to self-pity, self-absorption, self-trust, fear, defensiveness.

  

These attitudes seem to lead to one of two errors. The first subordinates thoughts of God's glory to desire for personal happiness. Then, when bad things happen, when we are displeased with God's providence, we either reject God completely or dissolve into a morass of destructive emotions. We may say, "I'm not interested in a God who let's my friends die (or suffer)." Or we may simply feel sorry for ourselves and take out our pain on whoever happens to be near.

  

The other error imagines that God's concern for his own glory makes him unfeeling and indifferent to our suffering. Religion, then, helps me grit my teeth and endure. But this is the false faith of stoicism. You know people whose faith is joyless, and not content with their own bad attitudes, they steal joy from others.

  

The Biblical balance is ESV James 1.2-4: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

  

The Bible clearly teaches that God delights to glorify himself. That truth is the only rock that holds firm when storms of suffering slam against us. But (and do not miss the other half) God's glory is the only thing which will make me infinitely and eternally happy.

  

Both of these truths come to light in John 11, in the person of Jesus Christ. Pain, suffering, death of dear friends - these miseries of a fallen world combine to cast doubt on God's love. But Jesus steps into our world to show us both the power and purposes of God - and to deliver us from errors and attitudes which threaten hope and joy. To get there, first...

  

1. We Must Remain Certain of God's Love (John 11.3,5,36)

ESV John 11.3: So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." John 11.5: Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. John 11.36: So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

  

After singing, "Oh, How I Love Jesus," Philip Bliss commented: "Those words are true. Yet I feel guilty for having sung so much about my poor love for Christ and so little about his endless love for me." So he wrote a hymn with these words: "I am so glad that our father in heaven/Tells of his love in the book he has given;/Wonderful things in the Bible I see/This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me."

  

John wants us to remember the certainty of God's love; he tells us three times. But why must we be reminded?

  

We must be reminded of God's love because of sin. When people sin against us, we feel anger and coldness and (sometimes) contempt. Since we know that we sin against God, we can assume that God's love for us fades like a cut flower left on the dashboard of the car.

  

We must be reminded of God's love because of Satan. When the enemy destroys your confidence in God's love, your usefulness in the kingdom is shattered.

  

We must be reminded of God's love because of circumstances which argue against that love. Notice how the sisters describe to Jesus the need: "Lord, he whom you love is ill." They do not make demands; they are humble and confident. "Tell God about your problems and the problems will go away," seems to be their plan. They picture in their mind's eye Jesus mounting his trusty steed and racing furiously to arrive in time.

  

But time ticks away. Minutes are marked by dozens of worried glances through the window - "Do you see him?" "Is that him?" "Is he coming?" After a day or two the dreaded word is whispered: "It's too late; Lazarus is dead."

  

When God lets friends die, you may doubt his love. So John reminds us: Jesus loved Martha; he loved Mary; he loved Lazarus. And if you are his, if you have been born-again of his Spirit, then he loves you. Yes, I love Jesus, but my soul needs a greater anchor, a more glorious truth: Jesus loves me. This is especially critical when we realize that...

  

2. We Must Not Deny the Difficulty of God's Love (John 11.5-10)

  

I see two ways the love of God is shown to be difficult.

  

First, Jesus stays two more days. John 11.5-6: Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was." Jesus does not rush to help; he does not hurry to comfort. Jesus seems to care little about Lazarus' sickness or the sisters' sorrows. Indeed - he intentionally waits until Lazarus dies before departing! Difficult! And you know when God seems not to care about your problems how difficult it is for you to hold on confidently to God's love.

  

Second, the difficulty of God's love is shown in his taking his people into great danger, John 11.7: "Let us go to Judea again." To which his disciples answer, John 11.8: "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" We know the difficulty of what Jesus was asking by Thomas' response: John 11.16: "Let us also go, that we may die with him." Jesus takes his people where they may die. Eventually, most of the disciples will be martyred for their faith.

  

So God's love must not be defined by our health or comfort or safety. God loved Lazarus; Lazarus got sick and died. God loved Martha and Mary; Martha and Mary wept and mourned. God loved his disciples and leads them to the place of stoning. Throughout church history Christians have mistakenly assumed that God's love is best experienced in health, wealth and prosperity.

   

John Newton, known for writing, Amazing Grace, also wrote a poem to capture the difficulty of God's love:

   

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

   

'Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

  

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He'd answer my request;
And by His love's constraining pow'r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

   

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow'rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

   

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

   

"Lord, why is this," I trembling cried,
"Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?"
"'Tis in this way," the Lord replied,
"I answer prayer for grace and faith.
"These inward trials I employ,
"From self, and pride, to set thee free;
"And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
"That thou may'st find thy all in Me."

  
Martha and Mary discovered this truth; so did Lazarus and the disciples - you too must travel through the difficulty of God's love before you will know its joy. To connect the certainty and difficulty of God's love...

   

3. We Must Consider the Purpose of God's Love

  

ESV John 11.21: Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." ESV John 11.32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

   

These were not words of condemnation, but expressions of faith. Mary and Martha had talked together about what God could do. They trusted God's power and were certain that the purpose of God's love must be to keep Lazarus from dying. And such purpose would have been accomplished if Jesus had been present.

  

ESV John 11.35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"

  

It was not only Jesus' friends who knew best what God's love should do; the Jews were sure that if God really loved Lazarus, he would have kept him alive. I have often felt the same - if God loved me, so-and-so would happen. And I doubt God's love when he crosses the fair designs I scheme. That is precisely why John reminded us three times of Jesus' love.

  

So what were these friends of Lazarus missing? And what are we missing when circumstances cause us to doubt God's love?

  

ESV John 11.4: But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

  

ESV John 11.14-15: Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

  

In other words, God's love must be channeled toward a greater purpose than my pleasure - glorifying Jesus Christ. Additionally, God's love must seek a greater result than my comfort - faith in the surpassing goodness and joy of God's being glorified. My momentary pleasure and comfort cannot be the end for which the world exists. Even if it were, I would not be happy. God's glory is so infinitely beautiful that if I were to remove one drop of honor from his goals and his purposes, I would be miserable forever.

  

Suppose I take a can of black spray paint and repaint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Would this display of my art delight anyone? No, least of all, myself. My days would be filled with remorse over defiling such surpassing beauty. The glory of Jesus and our faith in him and his purposes are the Sistine Chapel across which my comfort would be hideous black graffiti. God's love is certain, though it seems difficult because it is constrained by God's purposes, not our own.

     

4. We Must Not Doubt the Compassion of God's Love (John 11.35)

  

Never does the Bible say that Jesus laughed. Indeed, he was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Jesus' tears prove three things (at least):

  

1) Jesus was truly human. In a few moments, he will raise the dead, his greatest miracle before his own resurrection and undeniable proof of his deity. But first, he weeps over losing a dear friend. God has become man.   
2) God truly cares. God is not "out there," disinterested in your hurts. He came near, wept with those who weep, and loved his own.

  
3) There is terrible wrong in this world. Lazarus is dead, and that is not the way it is supposed to be. God made us to enjoy his presence forever. Jesus' tears remind us that we live in a fallen world with great and terrible trouble.

   

Why does God record this shortest of verses? So that when you face the powers of hell and the frowning providence of God, you will not doubt God's compassion. Jesus wept.

  

5. We Must Place Our Hope in the Provision of God's Love (John 11.38-44)

    

Note well, the hope of this passage is not the restoration of your friends who have died. We do not weep and wail during funerals in the vain wish that they would climb back out of the casket. Jesus raised Lazarus, but he lived to die again.

    

This is a parable - to press on you the ultimate reality: "I am the resurrection and the life."

  

Where will you place your confidence when suffering comes? What will control you when your friends and family die? It happens, you know. Alan's nephew, boy scout troop leader. Article by pediatrician in Kentucky which occurred in Touchstone Magazine just this week. Two children died. I've noticed that a lot of people end up dying.

  

Christianity does not propose a sentimental faith - butterfly kisses wash away all pain. Nor is it a stoical religion - God is busy doing what is important, so go away and leave him alone.

  

Instead, Jesus is deeply troubled, "suffering with" that he might "suffer for." Love and glory come together so that your best and greatest joy is guaranteed in his greatest glory. That is a truth which will change your bad attitude and give you a faith worth seeing and a hope which sustains. You think about that. Amen.