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Conviction vs. Preference

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As a young attorney, David C. Gibbs Jr. could hardly believe his ears as the pastor relayed how his church was being sued by the state for operating its ministry. As he reviewed the legal documents, Dr. Gibbs was astonished that such a thing could happen in modern America. From that very first case through the present day, God has blessed Dr. Gibbs’ commitment to legally help churches, pastors, and Christians free of charge. The ministry has grown substantially through God’s blessing over the last 40 years as attorneys, legal assistants, and other ministry workers have joined the team of “legal missionaries.”

Shared here are excerpts from his book, Conviction vs. Preference, by Attorney David C. Gibbs Jr., Christian Law Association, Conneaut, Ohio 44030. These are actual incidents that have occurred during court proceedings.

When a Christian stands to defend his beliefs in a court room, his testimony becomes quite critical, for the court has said a man cannot hold his beliefs if he cannot describe them. A belief is not a hunch. It is not a feeling or an “it seems to me.”

There are people who have gone to the witness stand and after stating what they believe are asked, “Well, why do you believe that? Can you show me that in the word of God?” Some do not even know if what they believe is there, but reply with “it sort of seems to me.” The problem the court has with a “well, it seems to me,” is that feelings change rapidly and as a consequence, a hunch or a feeling, or an “it seems to me” will not be honored.

In a court of law, a defendant must be able to state his beliefs from the Bible orally. The court does not expect eloquence, but it does expect the defendant to be able to explain his or her beliefs in a simple and concise manner. It also requires knowledge of those beliefs. This becomes important because often we like to hide behind a title. We may claim to be a “separated fundamentalist” or “a Christian,” which are descriptive terms that may have to be described more fully. In the matter of beliefs and believers, the court realized there must be a test to determine which beliefs are upheld and which beliefs will not be honored and protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

In 1972, the court came down with such a test. Ironically, that test case involved Christian education. An Amish man who lived in the state of Wisconsin by the name of Jonas Yoder told the state that he would no longer send his children to the state school. The state of Wisconsin advised him that he must, to which he replied, “I don’t think you hear me. I am not going to send my children to your school.” Mr. Yoder was threatened with being sued if he refused to comply but still he refused. He was warned that if he was sued and if the state won the case, he could go to jail. His only response was that he would not send his children to the school. Even under the threat of losing his children, he refused to change his mind, explaining that his religious beliefs prohibited him from complying with the demand.

Mr. Yoder did not fare very well in court. He lost the case and was told that now that he had had his day in court, he must comply with the ruling. He still refused, never altering his position and he found out something very interesting. After losing his appeal, his case went to the U. S. Supreme Court, where Mr. Jonas Yoder was told that the First Amendment protected him and he was not required to send his children to the state school. This case laid down the test that was to be used for all subsequent cases to determine which beliefs are to be protected by the First Amendment and which are not.

The first definition the court made was, “Every religious belief is one of two types. It is either a conviction or a preference.”

Most Christians carelessly use the word conviction. In reality, the test of whether or not a matter is a conviction is a very severe one and not to be taken lightly. It will be seen here that most of us possess only preferences.

WHAT IS A PREFERENCE?

A preference is a belief that is held with such intensity that a person can go into full time service in the name of that belief. He can be a minister of the gospel, a Christian schoolteacher or a missionary. He might even give all of his wealth to it and the court decides he still has only a preference. His belief may energize him to stand on a street corner and witness and proselytize, but it would still only be a preference. If a belief can change under some circumstances, the court calls it a preference. True conviction cannot be changed!

  1. Peer Pressure

The court has found that peer pressure causes many people to change their beliefs. A minister may study the word of God and believe that there is something he knows he must do. He resolves in his heart to make that change, but when he shares it with his friends or other ministers or his congregation, they convince him to tone it down a bit so others can cooperate with him. Little by little he bends, proving that what he first said was a preference. He preferred it, he wanted to do it and even resolved to do it, but he changed. The court says that if you can change the belief, it is a preference.

Bear in mind that if a person can ever show from the word of God where something they do is wrong then they must change it. In the context of this topic it refers to peer pressure causing good men to change. In that case the belief is a preference.

  1. People Pressure

People pressure causes many people to change their beliefs. When a man knows what he believes is right and allows the pressure of others to cause him to bend, the court calls the belief a preference. The court is well aware that the family is probably the strongest influence of change in a person’s life. The court says if “family pressure” will cause you to change, your beliefs are preferences.

  1. Lawsuit Pressure

Lawsuit pressure causes many people to change their beliefs. There have been many men who say, “I am for this, but I am not going to get sued over it because the news media makes us into villains.” Defending a ministry against a lawsuit can be very expensive. There are some great victories that are publicized but not many are interested in those who have churches of about 100 that are reduced to 20, or a man with a church of 350 to 400 reduced to 60. If you avoid taking a stand that will cause you to get sued because you do not want to see your church membership drop and that causes you to change your beliefs, then your belief was a preference.

  1. Jail Pressure

Jail pressure causes many people to change their beliefs. Jails today are thought by some to be like holiday inns but they are horrible places. The incarcerated are isolated from their Christian influence, friends and family. They are told when to go to bed, when to get up, when to eat, how to eat, when to stand, when to sit, when to go to the restroom. And they are thrown into the middle of often-brutal men who normally relish the thought of breaking a Bible-toter.

Would you go to jail for a matter of your faith? Throughout history great men of faith have gone to jail and nobody understood why they went. The court says if you change your beliefs for fear of going to jail, then your beliefs are preferences.

You may believe you could go to jail but would you, as a man, watch your wife go to jail? Levi Whisner, in Ohio, faced that threat and made plans for who was going to take care of their children while he and his wife were incarcerated.

  1. Death Pressure

Death pressure causes most people to change their beliefs. The court will ask if you are prepared to die for your belief. The court says that for a belief to be a conviction it will not change, even in the face of death. Why? What creates a conviction? For a Christian it is only one thing. He believes that his God requires it of him.

Only a belief that is God-ordered is a conviction. Therefore the court must first decide if your belief is a conviction or a preference. Only a conviction is protected by the Constitution.

WHAT IS A CONVICTION?

  1. A conviction is something that you purpose in your heart, as a fabric of your belief system. It is one that you will not change due to any circumstance. It says, “When you believe that your God has required something of you, you will withstand all of the tests put to you.” It has been said that a man is never made by a crisis. The crisis exposes the man for what he already is.

There are parallels to this in the history of the three Hebrew children in the book of Daniel. When taken into captivity, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego purposed in their hearts not to defile themselves. It was something about which they determined with resolve.

  1. A conviction must be pre-determined. When Nebuchadnezzar erected his golden image and commanded that all the people bow when the instruments played, these three men stood erect. A question might be asked at this point, where were all the other Hebrews? There were more than three Hebrews in Babylon who must have been in compliance with the King’s orders, for only these three Hebrews, who had predetermined what they would do, remained standing.
  2. A conviction is a personal belief. The court says that if you require others to stand with you to maintain your beliefs, then your beliefs are preferences and not convictions. There have been preachers willing to stand on their belief only if they have the backing of a certain college or group to stand with them. That doesn’t go over in a court, for your belief must be a personal conviction regardless of what anyone else thinks or does. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did stand together, but in reality they stood alone. Their decision was made more difficult when going against other Hebrews who buckled under the pressure of impending death.
  3. A conviction is non-negotiable. When they were brought before the king, Nebuchadnezzar did a strange thing. He broke the law by giving them a second chance. They said to the king that they did not have to be careful how they answered him. They had resolved that they were not going to bow and that was not going to change. They told the king that this was a matter of faith and non-negotiable.

The court says if you can discuss the negotiation of your faith, it is a matter of preference. Why? How do you negotiate what is God ordered? Recall what the three Hebrews said because it illustrates the last point the court chose. “King, we believe that our God can deliver us, but even if you throw us into that furnace and God does not deliver us, we are not going to bow” (Daniel 3:16–18).

  1. A conviction is not contingent on victory. The court said if you must be assured of victory before you stand, your beliefs are preferences and not convictions. That is a test the court is beginning to follow because many are more concerned about winning than about standing. Bear this in mind. In the Christian faith we do not fight for victory; we fight in victory. The battle was won at the cross of Calvary and we stand in that victory.

When Levi Whisner went to trial and lost, he still won. When he appealed and lost, he won. When he went to the Supreme Court of the state of Ohio and the judges unanimously said he was right, he was right all along. A court does not tell us whether we are right or wrong. We are right as long as we honor the word of God. Levi recognized that. He stood in this country when no other man saw the issue. He stood for all of us. He stood with no one beside him. When all the tests of preference and conviction were applied, he passed.

THE ULTIMATE TEST OF CONVICTION

The court recognizes a problem because people sometimes do not tell the truth. In the courtroom I have seen some men who have been incredibly casual with the truth. The court decided there must be a way to know whether what is being claimed is the truth, if it is preference or conviction. Real convictions will have already passed the other preference tests: peer pressure, people pressure, lawsuit pressure, jail pressure and death pressure.

  1. A conviction will be demonstrated by a person’s lifestyle. The court said you do not have the right to say you have a conviction unless it can be seen that the conviction is lived with some degree of consistency. When the court begins to apply that test, good Christian people often become quite uncomfortable.

The word of God says in James that faith is dead without corresponding works. It is like a body with no spirit and is meaningless, because the thing that gives it vibrancy and life is absent. The court will examine the evidence of your faith in action in order to prove it is a conviction.

For example, it may be claimed that children ought to be sent to a Bible based Christian school, believing it to be the only desirable place for them to receive an education that will equip them for life. However, if you do not send your child to a Christian school, then have your child be the best witness he can be in the public school. The court said that is a classic example of a preference statement.

The court is looking for consistency

If we say that something is a matter of conviction, the source of those beliefs is the word of God. We teach a child that it is a sin to disobey the word of God. The court says the opposite of conviction must be a sin and you must act on that belief or else it is not a conviction.

We really cannot take exception to being required to be consistent because that is in line with our beliefs. If the Bible requires it, it is God ordered. If it is God ordered and we choose not to do it, it is a sin. A Christian believes that disobedience to what God has ordered is the classic definition of sin.

According to the court, stating that something is a conviction, you must be prepared to say that its opposite is a sin. If you say you have a conviction about Christian education, then you must be prepared to say that to not give a child a Christian education is a sin. If you say that you have a conviction about a certain lifestyle, then you must say the opposite is a sin, or it is not a conviction. When a person says he ought to do some things, but wants to be more tolerant and a little more open minded, the court determines it a preference.

In the courtroom you must be able to define what you believe. You must tell the court whether you hold your beliefs as preferences or convictions and be able to explain to the court that the opposite of these convictions is a sin. What happens if you don’t tell them it is a sin? The following is dialogue that I have personally witnessed:

“Pastor, do you believe that every child must receive a Christian education?”

“Yes I do.”

“Well, Pastor, do you hold that as a conviction of your faith?”

“Yes I do.”

“Pastor, have you ever told your people that not giving your child a Christian education is a sin?”

“No I have not done that.”

“Why have you not done that Pastor?”

“I just have not gotten around to it.”

“How long have you been getting around to it?”

“Oh, a couple of years.”

Then the pastor was asked: “Pastor, is it not that the reason you have not said that is because you were afraid of the effects? You were afraid that the public school teachers in your congregation would leave? You were afraid that the people who do not agree with Christian education in your church, and are good givers might be offended. You were afraid of what the repercussions would be. Is that not the truth as to why you did not say that?”

One must bear in mind the pastor has taken an oath of affirmation to tell the truth in front of the whole world. Half of his congregation is sitting in that courtroom and he must now answer that question truthfully. If you say that you have a conviction make sure that you do.

Otherwise the court becomes a very painful place in which to be trapped. Unfortunately, I have seen it happen to many Christians.

  1. A conviction is consistent to itself. In this matter of lifestyle consistency, the court says that consistent practice means reasonably consistent, not perfect. One judge said to me, “Your people do not have to be perfect, but they are becoming very perfect at being imperfect. I would like you to see if we could match up the two L’s—Life and Lip.” A good part of every court case is about whether what you say with your mouth is consistently being practiced with your life. Let us examine how easily we form convictions that can be challenged in court.

It is a conviction of Christians that pornography should not be viewed, that obscenity should not be spoken, that nudity should not be viewed. It is a conviction that unrighteous themes should not be exalted. Most would agree that these are the convictions of a Christian because the Bible requires it. Is it a sin to do otherwise? Yes. These are things that most of us believe, yet I have seen the following happen:

In a courtroom people have been asked,

“Do you own a television?”

“Yes I do.”

“How much did that television cost?”

“Two to three hundred dollars.”

“Where do you keep that television?”

“In the living room or family room.”

“Why do you keep it there?”

“We keep it there so people can see it.”

“Is it not true that if you do not plug in that television and turn it on, it does not work? That television cannot do anything until you turn it on, and it is your choice whether or not you watch it?”

“Yes, this is true.”

“On this television do you ever see or hear obscenity, or do you ever hear someone curse or swear?”

“Yes!”

“Is there any nudity?”

“Yes!”

“Do you ever see unrighteous themes exalted on television?”

“All the time.”

“Do you ever see righteous themes debased?”

“Yes.”

“Yet you have no problem watching those? Do you have no problem paying hundreds of dollars to have an instrument that allows all of those things that you say you are against in the most traveled portion of your house, and you say you even have to turn it on before it can do anything to you?”

Do you see the inconsistency? That person just showed the court through his lifestyle that the convictions he mouthed were not consistently practiced. Bear in mind that you don’t have to believe anything, but if you are going to say that you believe something, and that it is a conviction, then you must live it and at such a level that when the court looks at your life, they can see consistency.

If a man stood with an alcoholic drink and told you he did not believe in drinking alcohol and then guzzled it down he would appear to be a hypocrite. But that is exactly what happens in the courtroom when people say one thing, but they do another. The court will go into all of the areas of life, including the use of your finances, and the use of your time, to see if you are living your beliefs with visible consistency.

Your life is the truest test of your convictions. Many Christians live lives that defy their stated beliefs, being against sin in some forms that they readily accept in another form. They denounce the actions of some that they allow to be acceptable in themselves.

The problem we face here is that convictions are being tested and for most of us that scrutiny will verify that many of our so-called convictions are merely preferences. Most of us claim that we would die for beliefs that we are not even consistently living for in other areas of our lives. We have convictions for morality in the school that we do not enforce in our own living rooms. This proves that most of our beliefs are only preferences that we personally find comfortable and convenient.

The greatest tragedy is not the inconsistency before the court, but the insult before Christ. Far too often we bow before the altar of self-serving living and bring a reproach upon the Saviour who bought us with the price of His own blood. It is a sad commentary on our love and commitment to Him that we have very few beliefs that could stand up to the serious examination of this world. The greatness of the New Testament church was that the believers were not only willing to die for their beliefs, but their accusers could find no fault or inconsistency in them. Oh, that the world could say the same about us. Someone has said, “Your walk talks and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.”

Perhaps it is time to place ourselves on trial to see if we really believe what we say we believe. Are we really living consistently by the things that we say are convictions? Whether or not you are ever brought to a courtroom and put on trial by men, you are on trial every day before your God. He demands holy living and consistency of life, not just in simplicity of word. Anyone can say he believes in certain things, but as a child of God we ought to live like it. God help us to make it so.

Give Me Barabbas

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It had been a long night for Jesus, Who stood before Pilate in the early hours of the morning. He had celebrated the Passover supper with His disciples before going out to Gethsemane to pray and prepare for the impending events. It is not known exactly how long He prayed, but it must have been for hours. Late in the night, a rabble approached with clubs and priests to arrest Jesus. Judas kissed Him with the betrayer’s kiss and He was arrested and taken before the Sanhedrin to be first tried there. Early in the morning He was taken to Pilot.

“Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.” John 18:28. What hypocrites! “Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He spake, signifying what death He should die. Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of Me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me: what hast Thou done?” Verses 29–35.

This was an interesting question. Pay close attention to how Jesus answered. “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end I was born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will you therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.” Verses 36–40.

There are five roles that played an intricate part in this trial—Herod, Pilate, the church, Barabbas and Jesus. After self-examination, it will be discovered that every one of us will fit the description of one of these roles and hopefully by God’s grace we will all be like Jesus. In fact, this same trial will be carried out in these last days on such an immense scale that will be difficult to even begin to comprehend.

Herod

The record in the book of John does not mention Jesus’ interview with Herod. That is found in Luke 23. The Jews, knowing the weakness of the governor, took Jesus first to Pilate who dismissed Him sending Him off to Herod because He was from Galilee and not under the jurisdiction of Pilate. So off to Herod they went—Jesus, hustled by a group of soldiers. The interview begins in Luke 23:8: “And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.”

Herod brought a group of maimed people into the judgment hall so he could be entertained by Jesus’ miracles of healing with the promise of letting Him go free. Pilate and Herod were equally evil, but although Jesus had answered Pilate’s questions, when brought before Herod, who “questioned with Him in many words; … He [Jesus] answered him nothing.” Verse 9.

Jesus had no words to speak to Herod. Herod’s conscience by then was far less sensitive than when he had trembled in horror at the request of his stepdaughter, Salome, when she had asked for the head of John the Baptist. She had danced before Herod and his eyes had been dazzled. Under the influence of alcohol he foolishly offered her anything, up to half of his kingdom. He was horrified at her request and instead of making a stand for right and refusing, he yielded. His pride kicked in and he did not want to look like a fool in front of his audience.

We are told that Herod’s conscience had once been sensitive, but what happened? “For a time he had felt the keen stings of remorse for his terrible act; but his moral perceptions had become more and more degraded by his licentious life. Now his heart had become so hardened that he could even boast of the punishment he had inflicted upon John for daring to reprove him.” The Desire of Ages, 730.

Interviewing Jesus, “Herod’s conscience was now far less sensitive. … And he now threatened Jesus, declaring repeatedly that he had power to release or to condemn Him. But no sign from Jesus gave evidence that He heard a word.” Ibid. Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit could no longer influence this man’s mind. His conscience had been violated over and over again and Jesus had no words for him.

Pilate

Pilate was a very discerning man. In fact, when the rabble had come to him in his judgment hall, waking him early in the morning, he was not happy. He had been called from his bedchambers. Seeing the crowd, he instantly recognized that the prisoner had been brought to him because of envy. “But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him envy.” Mark 15:9. It is interesting that though the man had lived a licentious life, the Holy Spirit could still speak to him and instantly he was able to correctly survey the situation.

He knew it was an absolute farce that the priests would bring Jesus to be judged by him. “Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of Me?” John 18:33, 34. The Holy Spirit was working in Pilate’s mind.

“Pilate answered, Am I Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me: what hast Thou done?” Verse 35. “Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art Thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice. Pilate saith unto Him, What is truth?” Verses 37, 38. This is a question we also should be asking ourselves: What is truth?

We do not know what would have happened right there if Pilate had paused and listened to the answer to his own question, but Pilot did not stick around to hear. “And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in Him no fault at all.” Verse 38.

“He [Pilate] had heard of Jesus and His works. His wife had told him something of the wonderful deeds performed by the Galilean prophet, who cured the sick and raised the dead.” The Desire of Ages, 724. She had also sent a letter through a messenger to Pilate telling him, “Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him.” Matthew 27:19.

“Pilate had a desire to know the truth. His mind was confused. He eagerly grasped the words of the Saviour, and his heart was stirred with a great longing to know what it really was, and how he could obtain it.” The Desire of Ages, 727.

“And the chief priests accused Him of many things: but He answered nothing. And Pilate asked Him again, saying, Answerest Thou nothing? behold, how many things they witness against Thee. But Jesus yet answered him nothing so that Pilate marveled.” Mark 15:3–5.

How easy a retaliatory spirit will rise so instantly when someone starts accusing us of something. Pilate was amazed that Jesus did not retaliate. “Jesus did not directly answer this question [Art Thou the King of the Jews?]. He knew that the Holy Spirit was striving with Pilate, and He gave him opportunity to acknowledge his conviction.” The Desire of Ages, 726, 727.

“Pilate’s golden opportunity had passed. Yet Jesus did not leave him without further light. While He did not directly answer Pilate’s question, He plainly stated His own mission. He gave Pilate to understand that He was not seeking an earthly throne.” Ibid.

What a tragedy! We each have a golden opportunity that can be missed. Pilate’s doom was sealed when “the Jews cried out saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.” John 19:12.

“When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. … and he saith unto the Jews, ‘Behold your King!’ ” Verses 13, 14.

Pilate tried to release Him but, “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.” Matthew 27:24. “And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified.” Mark 15:15.

What a sad ending for Pilate. He was more concerned for his reputation and standing in the Roman government than he was for the glory of God. He was of a vacillating character, one that is unstable as water. Pilate knew that Jesus was a just and righteous man. He had evidence after evidence and yet still he did not act upon his convictions, being worried more about his reputation. Pilate tried to secure his place as a Roman governor but ironically, just months later he was pulled from the throne and he killed himself. Stifling conviction is very dangerous. Pride had gotten the best of him causing him to make choices that would cost him eternity.

The Church

The church has a most interesting involvement in this event. “Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.” Matthew 27:15.

“Pilate was forced to action. He now bethought himself of a custom which might serve to secure Christ’s release. It was customary at this feast to release some one prisoner whom the people might choose. This custom was of pagan invention; there was not a shadow of justice in it, but it was greatly prized by the Jews.” The Desire of Ages, 733.

“And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.” Matthew 27:16. That word notable can mean noteworthy and also infamous or notorious. “Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.” Verses 17, 18.

Note here who was responsible for the choice made. “But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.” Verse 20.

This is quite amazing. After all, are these not God’s chosen people? Pilate, desperate at that point to find some reason to release Jesus, brought both He and Barabbas hoping that as these religious leaders and the multitude compared the two, and unwilling to make the decision himself, he hoped the crowd would choose Jesus. After choosing Barabbas, “Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified” (verse 22)!

Pilate’s plan had failed. Many hardened criminals had stood before him and when Pilate looked into the face of Christ, he knew immediately that He was innocent. “The religious leaders and guides of the people—the men who ought to have led in right paths—persuaded the poor, ignorant multitude to reject the Son of God, and choose a robber and murderer in His place.” The Review and Herald, August 20, 1901. It is imperative to know what is truth for ourselves and not trust in the wisdom of others.

“Those who chose Barabbas thus yoking up with Satan gave evidence that a profession of piety and of love for God, and a claim to know the Scriptures, neither made them the sons of God nor led them to represent His character.” The Signs of the Times, April 14, 1898.

The religious leaders, the priests, were part of that mob dressed in their white robes, piously wearing their phylacteries on their hands and on their foreheads. The whole book of Moses they had memorized, learned from childhood, but this did not make them representatives of Christ. Profession is worthless!

“They [the high priest and leaders] cried out for the crucifixion of Christ and, as representatives of the Jewish nation, placed themselves under the Roman jurisdiction, which they despised, by saying, ‘We have no king but Caesar.’ When they said this, they unchurched themselves.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 12, 388.

No matter how high their profession, they were not God’s church. They were supposed to be the ones who led people in the right path, but they led them astray and unchurched themselves. They had switched leaders and the ones they hated, the Romans, now became their rulers. Remember, we are talking about parallels to our day.

Barabbas

This is the most interesting part of this story. It was the church that chose Barabbas. “And he [Pilate] released unto them him [Barabbas] that for sedition [conspiracy] and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.” Luke 23:25. Barabbas was a conspirator against the Roman government. The Jews also wanted to overthrow the Romans. For centuries they taught that when the Messiah came He was coming as a conquering king to overthrow their enemies. Barabbas was a murderer, but he was a better fit for their false interpretations than the meek and lowly Jesus.

The motives and actions of Barabbas reflect the devil himself. Lucifer also was a conspirator and attempted to overthrow the government of heaven. Just as the fallen angels had before them, the Jews accepted a false Christ, a counterfeit Christ, a false Messiah. Barabbas means the son of a father. Speaking to the leaders, Jesus said in John 8:44, “Ye are of your father the devil. … He was a murderer from the beginning.” The same thing had brewed in the hearts of the Jews and they had yoked up with the devil. He was also a robber: “The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” John 10:10.

A manuscript was discovered during the 10th century with text that said Pilate came out and said, “I release to you Jesus Barabbas,” meaning Jesus who is called Christ. The translators in the 16th century did not want to put the word Jesus in the same sentence with Christ; so it was removed. However, it is mentioned in the Spirit of Prophecy.

“This man had claimed to be the Messiah. He claimed authority to establish a different order of things, to set the world right.” The Desire of Ages, 732.

Barabbas “had done wonderful things through satanic agencies, he had gained a following among the people, and had excited sedition against the Roman government. Under cover of religious enthusiasm he was a hardened and desperate villain, bent on rebellion and cruelty.” Ibid.

They chose Barabbas, the Messiah, the false Christ, the one working satanic miracles. Jesus had warned that, “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22, 23.

So far we have looked at Herod, whose conscience was hardened, who was beyond repair and beyond reaching; Pilate with his weak vacillating character who really did want to know the truth, but let his pride rise till he spurned that truth; and Barabbas, the false Messiah, son of the devil, whom the church chose. Now we will consider Jesus, but first let us look at the end time scenario.

End Time Scenario

“The scene in the judgment hall in Jerusalem is a symbol of what will take place in the closing scenes of this earth’s history.” The Review and Herald, January 30, 1900.

In “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1106, she says, “When Christ was upon this earth, the world preferred Barabbas.” Is it any different today? The world and the churches today are making the same choice. If the scenes of the betrayal and rejection of Christ will again be reenacted but on an immense scale, we need to stop and think for just a moment and consider into which category we fall.

When we yoke up with Christ we are on the side of infinite power, for there is nothing beyond God’s ability to accomplish in our life. Will we be the church that accepts Barabbas, the false Messiah, the worker of miracles and satanic delusions, or Jesus the Christ? “Those who apostatize leave the true and faithful people of God, and fraternize with those who represent Barabbas.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 395.

Revelation 13:4 says, “And they worshipped the dragon.” “As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look for the Saviour’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation (Revelation 1:13–15). The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: ‘Christ has come! Christ has come!’ ” The Great controversy, 624.

It has happened before. The Jews chose the imposter, Barabbas and again the majority will be deceived. “The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody.” Ibid.

The statement goes on to say that “he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in the assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed.” Ibid. Ellen White says, “This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion.” Ibid.

Friends, study your Bibles. Pray daily. Those scenes in the judgment hall will be reenacted. Jeremiah 17:5 says, “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm.” Put your trust in Christ. He is the only One Who can keep you from falling, not man. The church will be swept off its feet when the devil comes in all his deceitfulness.

You would think that the church would recognize something like this, but the church will be swept off her feet saying, “Christ is come! Christ is come!” prostrating themselves at the feet of the imposter in adoration, not in abhorrence but in acceptance.

When the church does this, she will have accepted Barabbas. When Barabbas was accepted, what did they want to happen to Christ? Crucify Him! That is what will happen in the person of the saints of God at that time. Those who experience this treatment will need a character like Jesus to be able to stand.

Jesus

At His trial, Jesus was beaten and mocked. Jesus was patient with the people through His whole trial. There was no vengeful spirit in Him. This is a hard thing to fathom. Let me tell you friends, if we can’t even shut our mouths and lock our lips when someone says something wrong to us now, how will we stand during a trial like that? If I retaliate now when my coworker irritates me and gets under my skin, will I be able to be patient and Christlike when my character is attacked during the time of trouble? No.

We need to be like Jesus. That is the bottom line; we need to have His character and possess His spirit. The trials we suffer now are to prepare us for the trials of the end time.

By God’s grace, let us reflect the character of Jesus day by day and be ready to meet Him when He returns to take us home.

Mike Bauler was ordained into the ministry in 2005 and serves as pastor of the Historic Message Church in Portland, Oregon. Prior to locating in Portland, Pastor Bauler served as a Bible worker for Steps to Life Ministries. His goal is to help give the gospel to the greater Portland area with an emphasis in helping his Bible students discover the truths in Bible prophecy, which are so often neglected today. His wife, Amanda, a family nurse practitioner, and their daughters Hannah, Esther and Abigail assist him in his ministry.

Terrible Consequences

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There is little space given in the Bible to recounting the virtues and wonderful qualities of even the very best men who have ever lived. This silence is not without a purpose and the reason is that all the good qualities men possess are the gift of God. Their good deeds are performed by the grace of God through Christ, and since we owe to God whatever glory or whatever we have or do, we are just instruments in His hand to do His work. In addition to this, it is a perilous thing to praise or exalt men. The reason for this is that if one comes to lose sight of his entire dependence upon God and begins to trust in his own strength, he is absolutely sure of falling.

We need God’s strength because we are contending with foes that are stronger than we are. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12, 13, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

The Bible is very clear that before this world was created, a leading angel in heaven called Lucifer, rebelled against the government of God and persuaded one third of the angels to follow him in his rebellion. “War broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:7–9. Satan personated a serpent when he spoke to Eve, deceiving her and causing the fall of Adam and Eve and all of their subsequent descendants.

Notice what the Bible says about this in Romans 5:12: “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men.” So, death came upon all the descendants of Adam and Eve because of the sin of one person. It is impossible for any of us in our own strength to maintain the conflict. And whatever diverts our minds from God, whatever leads us to self-exaltation or to self-dependence, is assuredly preparing the way for our overthrow. The entire tenor of Bible instruction is to inculcate distrust in human power and to encourage trust in divine power.

It was when David had been flattered, when he had been successful, winning many wars and victories, when he had become one of the most prominent kings on the face of the earth, that he fell. It was the spirit of self-confidence and self-exaltation that caused his fall. The whole story of what happened is recorded in the Bible in 11 Samuel 11. Some people have asked why God records in the Bible the awful things that good men have done. These records are to show man’s weakness and his liability to fall, making the most dreadful mistakes. In fact, the greater man’s position of power and authority, the bigger the sin it is possible to commit.

In II Samuel 11:2–5 it says, “It happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, ‘I am with child.’ ” Now, David was in trouble.

It is interesting that the work of the great tempter of mankind does not begin in an abrupt or crude fashion. The temptations are not, at the onset, sudden or startling but a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. This undermining begins when a person is apparently unfaithful in small things like controlling his or her thoughts. It begins in a neglect to be true to God and to rely upon Him completely. It begins with a disposition to follow the customs and practices of the world.

Previous to this, David, while being hunted by King Saul, had been protected by the Lord from unnumbered snares and traps. But now, he was trapped on his own. He had become guilty; he was unrepentant; he did not ask help from the Lord, and he did not ask guidance from heaven. He was now desperate to extricate himself from the dangers in which he found himself.

Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba’s husband, was one of David’s officers in the army. He was one of his most faithful solders, and nobody could foresee the problems that would be the result if this crime should become known. The law of God pronounced then and now that the adulterer is guilty of the death sentence. Had Uriah, the proud-spirited soldier who had been so shamefully wronged known, he could decide to avenge himself by killing the king or by exciting the whole nation to revolt. David made every possible effort to conceal his guilt even having Uriah called home so that he could be with his wife. But Uriah was a faithful soldier and refused to seek any pleasure with his wife while his soldiers were still in battle.

David had betrayed himself into the power of Satan and now danger surrounded him and dishonor, more bitter than death, was before him. This is not the first or last time something like this has happened. Perhaps you know of someone who has committed suicide in order to avoid the shame which they were afraid would come upon them because of an illicit connection. David was now desperate and there appeared to be no way to escape so, hurried on by the tempter, he added one more sin to the one he had already committed. Murder was added to his adultery.

The same tempter who had compassed the destruction of Saul was now attempting to lead David to ruin. And Uriah the Hittite was made the bearer of his own death warrant. David wrote a letter, sealed it and gave it to Uriah the Hittite to give to Joab, the head general. The letter told Joab to put Uriah in the front of the battle where he knew that there were valiant men, then retreat from him so that he would be killed.

Joab should not have obeyed such an order. The Bible is very explicit about these things. We are to obey human law. We are to obey kings and governments. Christians are never to be disobedient or disrespectful to the government. The apostle Paul had this to say: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1, 2. Peter brings forth the same principle in I Peter 2:13, 14: “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.”

The Christian is to be subservient to the government and not to rebel against its authority. But there is one time when the Bible teaches that a person is to exercise civil disobedience and not obey the laws of man. This one exception is found in Acts 5:29. We are told what the apostle Peter said when they were commanded that they were not to preach anymore about Jesus. Peter and the other apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). If the laws of men tell us, or require us, to break the law of God, then we cannot obey those laws. We must keep the higher law. But as long as we do not have to disobey the higher law of God, we are to keep the lower laws of men, the lower laws of government.

Joab had already violated his conscience, which had been stained and seared by more than one unjust murder and as a result he listened to the words of David. Uriah the Hittite was killed. It was interesting how the report of Uriah’s death was worded when sent back to David. Joab said in 11 Samuel 11:20, 21, “If it happens that the king’s wrath arises, and he says to you: ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ ” The message was worded so that it looked like an accident. Nobody could blame either Joab or the king for what had been done. They were in a war and it looked like an accident that Uriah the Hittite had been killed. But of course, like so many other things in this world, what looked like an accident wasn’t an accident at all. It was a premeditated murder, a murder ordered by the king.

The Bible says that there is nothing that is hidden from the Lord. Notice what it says in Hebrews 4:12, 13: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

God knows everything. God knew exactly what happened. He knew what David intended, what Joab had done and why it was that Uriah had died. The Bible says that what David had done was displeasing to the Lord. That’s what we need to think about in our daily life. Is what you are doing or the way you are living, pleasing or displeasing to the Lord? Have you ever thought about the fact that the things people think are covered up and that nobody will ever find out? The Bible says, in Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”

Nothing can be hid from God. Everything will be revealed. Jesus said, in Matthew 10:26, “Do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.”

Many people excuse their sins by saying, “Well, look what David did.” However, they have usually forgotten to read and find out the consequences of what he did. The consequences brought terrible trouble over David, not only for the rest of his life, but also over the nation of Israel that has lasted from that time on and has never ceased. How could this be? Remember, Jesus said, “There is nothing covered that won’t be revealed.” Everything is going to be brought into judgment. This time the judgment didn’t wait until the end. Judgment was going to come to David within about a year.

David had fallen so far that he could murder one of his most faithful and most valiant soldiers, then take his wife, and hope to enjoy undisturbed the reward of his sin. From the beginning, Satan has portrayed to men the gains to be won by transgression. In this same way he seduced angels. Thus he tempted Adam and Eve to sin and in this way he is leading multitudes today away from obedience to God. The path of transgression is made to appear desirable and better than following in the way of God’s commandments. But the Bible says that “the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12.

As time passed on, David’s sin toward Bathsheba became known and suspicion was excited that maybe he planned the death of Uriah the Hittite. Well, of course, God knew everything that had happened. The Bible says, in II Samuel 11:27, that what David had done was displeasing to the Lord. And so the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to give a stern message to the king.

Ordinarily, especially in those days, it would be impossible for anyone to give a message like this to a king without incurring the death sentence himself. But Nathan faithfully gave the message, clothing it in a parable so the king would end up passing sentence upon himself. Here is the way it went; beginning at II Samuel 12:1–12 it says: “Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: ‘There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.’

“So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, ‘As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’ Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.’

“ ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”

When David heard this message, he said, “I have sinned.” Verse 13. Some people wonder why it is that David was forgiven when he committed a worse crime even than had Saul, yet Saul was not forgiven. The difference is, David repented, and confessed his sin whereas Saul did not. Notice what David said after this in Psalm 51:1–7, 11, 12: “Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight. … Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. … Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.”

David was afraid he had committed the unpardonable sin. He was afraid he could be struck down in judgment, in an unsaved condition, and he repented and pleaded for forgiveness.

Ellen White says, “I present before you the fifty-first psalm, a psalm filled with precious lessons. From it we may learn what course to follow if we have departed from the Lord. To the king of Israel, exalted and honored, the Lord sent a message of reproof by His prophet. David confessed his sin and humbled his heart, declaring God to be just in all His dealings [Psalm 51:1–17 quoted].” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, 1147.

Chief Guilt Is Sin Against God

“Sin is sin, whether committed by one sitting on a throne, or by one in the humbler walks of life. The day is coming when all who have committed sin will make confession, even though it is too late for them to receive pardon. God waits long for the sinner to repent. He manifests a wonderful forbearance. But He must at last call the transgressor of His law to account.” Ibid.

How is it with you? The Bible says we have all sinned. It is not a question of whether you have sinned or not. We have all sinned. The question is, what are you doing about it? David repented and he confessed his sin. You can read in Psalm 51, the entire chapter, giving the story of his confession. Now David was not excused from earthly punishment. Even though he was forgiven and will be in heaven, he had to suffer the consequence of his sin in this world. There are always consequences with sin. None of us are promised that we can escape those consequences. Sometimes we don’t perceive clearly what they are, but there are always consequences. Here were just some of the consequences that happened to David:

First of all, by transgression his relationship to God changed. God could no longer exercise His power to protect David from the results of the sin that he had done as He had protected him previously from the enmity of Saul. So, events were going to take their natural cause. Not only that, but there was a great change in David himself. He was broken in spirit by the consciousness of his sin. He felt humbled in the eyes of his subjects. His influence was weakened. His subjects and his sons were led to think of sin in an even lighter manner, and to commit sin. His authority over his own household was lessened. His claim to reverence and obedience by his children was weakened. His sense of guilt kept him silent when he should have condemned sin and made him feeble to execute justice. His evil example exerted an influence that was demoralizing to the whole nation and the terrible consequences went on and on. However, he himself, because of his repentance and his confession, was forgiven. This is the Bible promise to people who have fallen in sin, and who would like to be delivered from the guilt and power of sin. The Bible says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7.

All have sinned, but the question is, have you repented? Have you confessed your sins? Have you decided to forsake sins and follow the Lord that you might be forgiven?

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Editorial – Our Greatest Foe

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Facts that all should know:

  1. Satan is a diligent Bible student.
  2. Satan knows the important truth that it is essential for the people to receive.
  3. His “study is to divert minds from the great truths given to prepare them for what is coming upon the world.” See Testimonies, vol. 8, 292.

“After the passing of the time in 1844, we had fanaticism of every kind to meet. … The experience of the past will be repeated. In the future, Satan’s superstitions will assume new forms. Errors will be presented in a pleasing and flattering manner. False theories, clothed with garments of light, will be presented to God’s people. Thus Satan will try to deceive, if possible, the very elect. Most seducing influences will be exerted; minds will be hypnotized. … The most sorrowful thought of all is that under his deceptive influence men will have a form of godliness, without having a real connection with God.” Excerpts from Ibid., 292–294.

What is this truth that is so essential to receive and that will prepare a people for what is coming on the world? It is the truth found in the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14. The truth of these messages gives understanding to the subject of the sanctuary in heaven in connection with the 2300 days, which is the foundational knowledge of the first angel’s message. It uncovers the mystery of who Babylon is in the last days, who the beast is, who the image is and what is the mark of the beast as described in Revelation 14:9–11. Then, most importantly, you will understand the commandments of God and what constitutes the faith of Jesus.

“The third angel’s message is infallible. It is to unite a people to do a special work, preparing them with perfection of character to unite in one great family in the mansions Christ has gone to prepare for those who love Him.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 15, 362.

A.T. Jones preached many sermons on the faith of Jesus at the 1895 General Conference but here it is in a nutshell: “ ‘The faith of Jesus’ (Revelation 14:12). It is talked of, but not understood. What constitutes the faith of Jesus, that belongs to the third angel’s message? Jesus becoming our sin-bearer that He might become our sin-pardoning Saviour. He was treated as we deserve to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins that we might take His righteousness. And faith in the ability of Christ to save us amply and fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 172.

Bible Study Guides – Problems to Overcome (II)

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July 20, 2014 – July 26, 2014

Key Text

“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” Matthew 13:22.

Study Help: Counsels on Stewardship, 133–140.

Introduction

“All money lovers … will one day cry in bitter anguish: ‘Oh, the deceitfulness of riches! I have sold my soul for money.’ ” Testimonies, vol. 3, 544, 545.

1 DECEPTION

  • How does Satan often pervert the heart and the mouth of people who want to take business advantages? Jeremiah 6:13; Acts 5:3, 4.
  • How earnestly did King David struggle against a deceitful tongue? Psalms 52:2, 3; 101:7; 120:2; Proverbs 30:8.
  • As Christian stewards must often be in contact with deceitful people, what prayer should they send up to the throne of grace? Psalm 43:1, last part.
  • How does God often permit a deceitful person to be the victim of his or her own tricks? Psalm 7:14–16.

2 DISHONESTY

  • How is a dishonest person described? Proverbs 6:12, 13, 14, 16–19.
  • How does the Lord consider those who are dishonest in their financial transactions? Deuteronomy 27:17–19; Proverbs 11:1; 20:23.

Note: “The accounts of every business, the details of every transaction, pass the scrutiny of unseen auditors, agents of Him who never compromises with injustice, never overlooks evil, never palliates wrong. …

“Against every evildoer God’s law utters condemnation. He may disregard that voice, he may seek to drown its warning, but in vain. It follows him. It makes itself heard. It destroys his peace. If unheeded, it pursues him to the grave. It bears witness against him at the judgment. A quenchless fire, it consumes at last soul and body.” Education, 144, 145.

  • What will happen to anything that is acquired dishonestly? Proverbs 13:11; 15:27; 21:6.

Note: “This is a question that demands consideration by every parent, every teacher, every student—by every human being, young or old. No scheme of business or plan of life can be sound or complete that embraces only the brief years of this present life and makes no provision for the unending future. Let the youth be taught to take eternity into their reckoning. Let them be taught to choose the principles and seek the possessions that are enduring—to lay up for themselves that ‘treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth;’ to make to themselves friends ‘by means of the mammon of unrighteousness,’ that when it shall fail, these may receive them ‘into the eternal tabernacles’ (Luke 12:33; 16:9 RV).” Education, 145.

3 INJUSTICE

  • How are we warned to avoid partiality in our dealing with others? Leviticus 19:15.

Note: “Do not show partiality to one or more, and neglect other of your brethren because they are not congenial to you. Beware lest you deal harshly with those who you think have made mistakes, while others, more guilty and more deserving of reproof, who should be severely rebuked for their unChristlike conduct, are sustained and treated as friends.” The Review and Herald, March 12, 1895.

  • What does the Christian steward do when dealing with disadvantaged groups? Psalm 82:2–4.

Note: “God requires that His people should not allow the poor and afflicted to be oppressed. If they break every yoke and release the oppressed, and are unselfish and kindly considerate of the needy, then shall the blessings promised be theirs. If there are those in the church who would cause the blind to stumble, they should be brought to justice; for God has made us guardians of the blind, the afflicted, the widows, and the fatherless. The stumbling block referred to in the word of God does not mean a block of wood placed before the feet of the blind to cause him to stumble, but it means much more than this. It means any course that may be pursued to injure the influence of their blind brother, to work against his interest, or to hinder his prosperity.

“A brother who is blind and poor and diseased, and who is making every exertion to help himself that he may not be dependent, should be encouraged by his brethren in every way possible. But those who profess to be his brethren, who have the use of all their faculties, who are not dependent, but who so far forget their duty to the blind as to perplex and distress and hedge up his way, are doing a work which will require repentance and restoration before God will accept their prayers. And the church of God who have permitted their unfortunate brother to be wronged will be guilty of sin until they do all in their power to have the wrong righted.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 519, 520.

4 POOR COMPANY

  • While the Lord is our great Counselor, from whom may we seek counsel on this earth? Proverbs 13:20.

Note: “The only safe course for the youth is to mingle with the pure, the holy, and thus natural tendencies to evil will be held in check. By choosing for their companions such as fear the Lord, they will seldom be found disbelieving God’s word, entertaining doubts and infidelity. The power of a truly consistent example is very great for good.” In Heavenly Places, 172.

  • What happens when we seek counsel from those who are not in harmony with the principles of Christian stewardship? Proverbs 14:7; II Thessalonians 3:6.

Note: “Let the youth choose the influence of, and become associated with, men and women of bad principles and practices … and they are polluted. Silent and unconscious influences weave their sentiments into their lives, become a part of their very existence, and they walk on the very brink of a precipice and sense no danger. They learn to love the words of the smooth tongued, the honeyed words of the deceiver, and are restless, uneasy, and unhappy unless they are carried to the pinnacle of someone’s flattery. … To walk in the counsel of the ungodly is the first step toward standing in the place of sinners and sitting in the seat of the scornful.” In Heavenly Places, 172.

“It is wrong for Christians to associate with those whose morals are loose. An intimate, daily intercourse which occupies time without contributing in any degree to the strength of the intellect or morals is dangerous. If the moral atmosphere surrounding persons is not pure and sanctified, but is tainted with corruption, those who breathe this atmosphere will find that it operates almost insensibly upon the intellect and heart to poison and to ruin. It is dangerous to be conversant with those whose minds naturally take a low level. Gradually and imperceptibly those who are naturally conscientious and love purity will come to the same level and partake of and sympathize with the imbecility and moral barrenness with which they are so constantly brought in contact.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 125.

5 THE FUTILITY OF ACQUIRING RICHES

  • How much of our earthly riches do we retain when we die? Psalm 49:16, 17; Ecclesiastes 5:13–15; I Timothy 6:7.
  • What can we take with us to the great judgment of humanity? Matthew 16:26; Proverbs 11:4; Isaiah 31:7.

Note: “The redeemed will be welcomed to the home that Jesus is preparing for them. There their companions will not be the vile of earth, liars, idolaters, the impure, and unbelieving; but they will associate with those who have overcome Satan and through divine grace have formed perfect characters. Every sinful tendency, every imperfection, that afflicts them here has been removed by the blood of Christ, and the excellence and brightness of His glory, far exceeding the brightness of the sun, is imparted to them. And the moral beauty, the perfection of His character, shines through them, in worth far exceeding this outward splendor. They are without fault before the great white throne, sharing the dignity and the privileges of the angels.

“In view of the glorious inheritance that may be his, ‘what shall a man give in exchange for his soul’ (Matthew 16:26)? He may be poor, yet he possesses in himself a wealth and dignity that the world could never bestow. The soul redeemed and cleansed from sin, with all its noble powers dedicated to the service of God, is of surpassing worth; and there is joy in heaven in the presence of God and the holy angels over one soul redeemed, a joy that is expressed in songs of holy triumph.” Steps to Christ, 126.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 What are the results of a deceptive communication?

2 How does dishonesty affect the one who deceives?

3 How do Christian stewards treat others in their financial dealings?

4 Who is the Christian steward’s financial counselor?

5 What should remind us of the temporal nature of material wealth?

© 2010 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – Problems to Overcome (I)

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July 13, 2014 – July 19, 2014

Key Text

“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” James 3:16.

Study Help: Testimonies, vol. 5, 242–248.

Introduction

“Whether we recognize it or not, we are stewards, supplied from God with talents and facilities, and placed in the world to do a work appointed by Him.” Education, 137.

1 ENVY AND KINDRED SINS

  • Explain the origin of pride, envy, and ambition for position—and its bitter results. Isaiah 14:12–15.

Note: “It was pride and ambition that prompted Lucifer to complain of the government of God, and to seek the overthrow of the order which had been established in heaven. Since his fall it has been his object to infuse the same spirit of envy and discontent, the same ambition for position and honor, into the minds of men.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 403.

  • Describe a carnal mind—a candidate for the second death? I Corinthians 3:3; Romans 8:6, 7; James 3:14, 15.

Note: “If you open your heart to envy and evil surmising, the Holy Spirit cannot abide with you. Seek for the fullness that is in Christ.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 191.

  • How does envy affect your personality and well-being? Job 5:2; Proverbs 14:30; 27:4.

Note: “The envious man diffuses poison wherever he goes, alienating friends and stirring up hatred and rebellion against God and man. He seeks to be thought best and greatest, not by putting forth heroic, self-denying efforts to reach the goal of excellence himself, but by standing where he is and diminishing the merit due to the efforts of others.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 56.

2 COVETOUSNESS

  • In what sense does covetousness violate the commandments of God? Exodus 20:17. What do we learn about this sin from the experience of Achan? Joshua 7:20–26.

Note: “The deadly sin that led to Achan’s ruin had its root in covetousness, of all sins one of the most common and the most lightly regarded. While other offenses meet with detection and punishment, how rarely does the violation of the tenth commandment so much as call forth censure. The enormity of this sin, and its terrible results, are the lessons of Achan’s history.

“Covetousness is an evil of gradual development. Achan had cherished greed of gain until it became a habit, binding him in fetters well-nigh impossible to break. While fostering this evil, he would have been filled with horror at the thought of bringing disaster upon Israel; but his perceptions were deadened by sin, and when temptation came, he fell an easy prey.

“Are not similar sins still committed, in the face of warnings as solemn and explicit? We are as directly forbidden to indulge covetousness as was Achan to appropriate the spoils of Jericho. God has declared it to be idolatry. We are warned, ‘Ye cannot serve God and mammon’ (Matthew 6:24). ‘Take heed, and beware of covetousness’ (Luke 12:15). ‘Let it not be once named among you’ (Ephesians 5:3). We have before us the fearful doom of Achan, of Judas, of Ananias and Sapphira. Back of all these we have that of Lucifer, the ‘son of the morning,’ who, coveting a higher state, forfeited forever the brightness and bliss of heaven. And yet, notwithstanding all these warnings, covetousness abounds.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 496, 497.

  • What should be our relationship with those who are controlled by the spirit of covetousness? Ephesians 5:5; I Corinthians 5:11.
  • Among what other sinners will covetous persons be kept out of the kingdom of God? I Corinthians 6:10.

3 GREED

  • As envy and covetousness take root in the heart, what follows? Job 5:2, 4, 5.

Note: “The Scriptures describe the condition of the world just before Christ’s second coming. James the apostle pictures the greed and oppression that will prevail. He says, ‘Go to now, ye rich men … ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton. Ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you’ (James 5:1–6). This is a picture of what exists today. By every species of oppression and extortion, men are piling up colossal fortunes, while the cries of starving humanity are coming up before God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 170.

  • What often happens when wealth is selfishly retained by their greedy owners? Ecclesiastes 5:13.
  • How do wicked people reveal what is in their heart and mind? Psalm 10:3.

Note: “Men in their blindness boast of wonderful progress and enlightenment; but to the eye of Omniscience are revealed the inward guilt and depravity. The heavenly watchers see the earth filled with violence and crime. Wealth is obtained by every species of robbery, not robbery of men only, but of God. Men are using His means to gratify their selfishness. Everything they can grasp is made to minister to their greed. Avarice and sensuality prevail. Men cherish the attributes of the first great deceiver. They have accepted him as God, and have become imbued with his spirit.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 14, 15.

4 PRIDE

  • The concept of pride is highly valued in this world. How does Scripture describe pride? Proverbs 16:5.
  • What will the Lord do to the proud? Proverbs 15:25; 16:18, 19; Luke 18:14. Describe what the servant of the Lord was shown regarding the outcome of the proud.

Note: “I saw that God hates pride, and that all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 132.

  • Rather than pride, what is seen in the life of the Christian steward? James 4:6.

Note: “All who study the life of Christ and practice His teaching will become like Christ. Their influence will be like His. They will reveal soundness of character. They are established in the faith, and will not be overcome by the devil because of vanity and pride. They seek to walk the humble path of obedience, doing the will of God. Their character exerts an influence that tells for the advancement of the cause of God and the healthful purity of His work. …

“In these thoroughly converted souls the world has a witness to the sanctifying power of truth upon the human character. Through them Christ makes known to the world His character and will. In the lives of God’s children is revealed the blessedness of serving the Lord, and the opposite is seen in those who do not keep His commandments. The line of demarcation is distinct. All who obey God’s commandments are kept by His mighty power amid the corrupting influence of the transgressors of His law. From the lowliest subject to the highest in positions of trust, they are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.” Evangelism, 315, 316.

5 THE LOVE OF MONEY

  • What will the love of money bring you? I Timothy 6:10; Ecclesiastes 5:10.

Note: “The Bible condemns no man for being rich, if he has acquired his riches honestly. Not money, but the love of money, is the root of all evil. It is God who gives men power to get wealth; and in the hands of him who acts as God’s steward, using his means unselfishly, wealth is a blessing, both to its possessor and to the world. But many, absorbed in their interest in worldly treasures, become insensible to the claims of God and the needs of their fellow men. They regard their wealth as a means of glorifying themselves. They add house to house, and land to land; they fill their homes with luxuries, while all about them are human beings in misery and crime, in disease and death. Those who thus give their lives to self-serving are developing in themselves, not the attributes of God, but the attributes of the wicked one.” The Ministry of Healing, 212, 213.

  • What is the top priority in the life of every faithful steward? I Corinthians 2:2; Matthew 6:33; Luke 9:25.

Note: “When the sinner reaches the cross, and looks up to the One who died to save him, he may rejoice with fullness of joy; for his sins are pardoned. Kneeling at the cross, he has reached the highest place to which man can attain.” The Review and Herald, April 29, 1902.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 How will envy impact your stewardship?

2 What kind of association should you have with persons who do not follow the principles of Christian stewardship?

3 What is the result of living a greedy life?

4 What is the basis of your financial decisions?

5 Explain the danger of becoming preoccupied with material goods.

© 2010 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – Qualities of Genuine Stewardship

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July 6, 2014 – July 12, 2014

Key Text

“Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.” Psalm 119:57.

Study Help: Child Guidance, 150–168.

Introduction

“All that we possess, our mental and physical powers, all the blessings of the present and the future life, are delivered to us stamped with the cross of Calvary.” The Review and Herald, December 14, 1886.

1 CONTENTMENT

  • What do Christian stewards realize about all of their earthly possessions? Job 1:21.

Note: “All things belong to God. Men may ignore His claims. While He bountifully bestows His blessings upon them, they may use His gifts for their own selfish gratification; but they will be called to give an account for their stewardship.

“A steward identifies himself with his master. He accepts the responsibilities of a steward, and he must act in his master’s stead, doing as his master would do were he presiding. His master’s interests become his. The position of a steward is one of dignity because his master trusts him. If in any wise he acts selfishly and turns the advantages gained by trading with his lord’s goods to his own advantage, he has perverted the trust reposed in him.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 246.

  • Why are Christian stewards content with their earthly possessions? Psalm 37:16; Proverbs 15:16; I Timothy 6:8.

Note: “We think of Jesus the Creator of all the worlds, and how He came into the world as a poor man. He had not where to lay His head. So poverty is no disgrace. Sin is a disgrace.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 1514.

2 FAIRNESS

  • Since Christian stewards are content with their worldly possessions, how do they treat the earthly possessions of others? Deuteronomy 16:19.

Note: “In the last great issue between Christ’s followers and the powers of darkness, Satan offers his bribes to men and women. Some sell themselves for naught; for what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, 243.

“We must feel a special interest in looking upon the things of others—not to covet them, not to find fault with them, not to remark upon them and present them in a false light, but to do strict justice in all things to our brethren and all with whom we have any dealings.” That I May Know Him, 176.

  • What does God want us to realize about the evils of partiality? Deuteronomy 24:17; Romans 2:11.

Note: “No distinction on account of nationality, race, or caste, is recognized by God. He is the Maker of all mankind. All men are of one family by creation, and all are one through redemption. Christ came to demolish every wall of partition, to throw open every compartment of the temple courts, that every soul may have free access to God. His love is so broad, so deep, so full, that it penetrates everywhere. It lifts out of Satan’s influence those who have been deluded by his deceptions, and places them within reach of the throne of God, the throne encircled by the rainbow of promise. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free.” Prophets and Kings, 369, 370.

“The reason for all division, discord, and difference is found in separation from Christ. Christ is the center to which all should be attracted; for the nearer we approach the center, the closer we shall come together in feeling, in sympathy, in love, growing into the character and image of Jesus. With God there is no respect of persons. …

“The Son of the infinite God, the Lord of life and glory, descended in humiliation to the life of the lowliest, that no one might feel himself excluded from His presence. He made Himself accessible to all. He did not select a favored few with whom to associate and ignore all others.” That I May Know Him, 99.

3 HONESTY

  • What blessing is given to all who follow integrity in all their business transactions? Proverbs 10:9.
  • What should link the action, the words, and even the thoughts of the Christian steward? Proverbs 12:5, 17; 14:2.

Note: “By the terms of our stewardship we are placed under obligation, not only to God, but to man.” Education, 139.

  • How does the Lord consider those who are dishonest in business? Proverbs 16:11; 20:10.

Note: “It is neither the magnitude nor the seeming insignificance of a business transaction that makes it fair or unfair, honest or dishonest. By the least departure from rectitude we place ourselves on the enemy’s ground, and may go on, step by step, to any length of injustice. A large proportion of the Christian world divorce religion from their business. Testimonies, vol. 4, 337.

“An honest man, according to Christ’s measurement, is one who will manifest unbending integrity. Deceitful weights and false balances, with which many seek to advance their interests in the world, are abomination in the sight of God. Yet many who profess to keep the commandments of God are dealing with false weights and false balances. When a man is indeed connected with God, and is keeping His law in truth, his life will reveal the fact; for all his actions will be in harmony with the teachings of Christ. He will not sell his honor for gain. His principles are built upon the sure foundation, and his conduct in worldly matters is a transcript of his principles. Firm integrity shines forth as gold amid the dross and rubbish of the world. Deceit, falsehood, and unfaithfulness may be glossed over and hidden from the eyes of man, but not from the eyes of God. The angels of God, who watch the development of character and weigh moral worth, record in the books of heaven these minor transactions which reveal character. If a workman in the daily vocations of life is unfaithful and slights his work, the world will not judge incorrectly if they estimate his standard in religion according to his standard in business.” Ibid., 310, 311.

4 HUMILITY

  • What is the reward for the humble Christian steward? Psalm 37:11; Proverbs 22:4; Matthew 18:4.

Note: “Supreme love for God and unselfish love for one another, this is the best gift that the heavenly Father can bestow. Let all believers draw near to God and to one another, that God may draw near to them. No man is to be exalted as supreme. No man is to suppose that he is infallible because he has been enlightened by God and used by Him in bringing souls to the truth. Our endowments are valuable only as they are used as God’s entrusted talents to magnify the truth. The one through whom God works is never to exalt himself, never to seek to rule. As a wise steward, he is to do his work in sincerity and humility. He is to do God service by imparting what he has received, by speaking the truth in love in a clear, decided manner. Thus he is to enlighten others, remembering always that God only can impress the mind and purify the heart.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 275.

  • What must characterize all who seek to be among God’s elect? Proverbs 29:23.

Note: “Love, compassion, and tenderness are to be revealed amongst us. Put on, as the elect of God, mercy and kindness. The sins that were practiced before conversion are to be put off with the old man. With the new man, Christ Jesus, are to be put on ‘kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering’ (Colossians 3:12).

“Those who have risen with Christ to walk in newness of life are the elect of God. They are holy unto the Lord, and are acknowledged by Him as His beloved. As such, they are under solemn covenant to distinguish themselves by showing humility of mind. They are to clothe themselves in garments of righteousness. They are separate from the world, from its spirit, its practices, and they are to reveal that they are learning of Him who says, ‘I am meek and lowly in heart’ (Matthew 11:29). If they realize that they have died with Christ, if they keep their baptismal vow, the world will have no power to draw them aside to deny Christ. If they live the life of Christ in this world, they are partakers of the divine nature. Then, when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, they also will appear with Him in glory.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, 236, 237.

5 OBEDIENCE

  • What characteristics were shown to John the Revelator when he saw the people of God in these last days? Revelation 14:12.
  • Where do we find instructions concerning legitimate business principles? Deuteronomy 5:32; 25:13–15; Luke 11:28.

Note: “There is no branch of legitimate business for which the Bible does not afford an essential preparation. Its principles of diligence, honesty, thrift, temperance, and purity are the secret of true success. These principles, as set forth in the book of Proverbs, constitute a treasury of practical wisdom. Where can the merchant, the artisan, the director of men in any department of business, find better maxims for himself or for his employees than are found in these words of the wise man: [Proverbs 22:29; 14:23; 13:4; 23:21; 20:19; 17:27; 20:3; 4:14; 6:28; 13:20; 18:24 quoted.] …

“How many a man might have escaped financial failure and ruin by heeding the warnings, so often repeated and emphasized in the Scriptures. …

“These are principles with which are bound up the well-being of society, of both secular and religious associations. It is these principles that give security to property and life. For all that makes confidence and co-operation possible, the world is indebted to the law of God, as given in His word, and as still traced, in lines often obscure and well-nigh obliterated, in the hearts of men.” Education, 135–137.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 How can you be content with your earthly possessions?

2 How should you treat others in your financial transactions?

3 What blessings will you receive if you are honest in all your transactions?

4 How can humility be manifested in my life in practical ways?

5 Name some benefits pertaining to financial honesty.

© 2010 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – The Steward

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June 29, 2014 – July 5, 2014

Christian Stewardship

Key Text

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6.

Study Help: The Ministry of Healing, 500–502.

Introduction

“That man might not lose the blessed results of benevolence, our Redeemer formed the plan of enlisting him as His co-worker.” The Review and Herald, August 25, 1874.

1 COMMITMENT

  • What is the basis of Christian stewardship? Psalm 37:4–6.

Note: “If the word of God is cherished as an abiding principle in the heart, and held fast under all and every circumstance, man is brought, with his entrusted capabilities, under [subjection] to the Lord Jesus Christ. His undivided powers, even his thoughts, are brought into captivity to Christ. This is true sanctification. All the parts of the experience blend in complete harmony. He is ‘wanting in nothing.’ He does not keep part to himself, to do with just as he pleases.” In Heavenly Places, 190.

  • Explain the primary motives of the Christian steward and what is the chief asset sought. Matthew 6:33, 34; Philippians 3:8.

Note: “[Matthew 6:22 quoted.]

“Singleness of purpose, wholehearted devotion to God, is the condition pointed out by the Saviour’s words. Let the purpose be sincere and unwavering to discern the truth and to obey it at whatever cost, and you will receive divine enlightenment.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 91.

2 STEWARDSHIP

  • A steward manages another’s property. Name some important things of which we are stewards. I Corinthians 4:1, 2.

Note: “Those with whom God has entrusted His truth, must possess the same beneficent spirit that Christ manifested. They must adopt the same broad plans of action. They should have a kind, generous spirit toward the poor, and in a special sense feel that they are God’s stewards. They must hold all they have—property, mental powers, spiritual strength—as not their own, but only lent them to advance the cause of Christ in the earth. Like Christ, they should not shun the society of their fellow-men, but should seek it with the purpose of bestowing upon others the heavenly benefits they have received from God.” Gospel Workers, 335.

  • Where does the Christian steward accumulate wealth? Matthew 6:19–21, 24, 33.

Note: “God desires us to choose the heavenly in place of the earthly. He opens before us the possibilities of a heavenly investment. He would give encouragement to our loftiest aims, security to our choicest treasure. He declares, ‘I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir’ (Isaiah 13:12). When the riches that moth devours and rust corrupts shall be swept away, Christ’s followers can rejoice in their heavenly treasure, the riches that are imperishable.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 374.

  • How do Christian stewards handle the wealth entrusted to them by their Master? I Timothy 6:18, 19; Proverbs 19:17.

Note: “All should feel that they are not proprietors, but stewards, and that the time is coming when they must give an account for the use they have made of their Lord’s money. Means will be needed in the cause of God. With David they should say: ‘All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee’ (I Chronicles 29:14).” Testimonies, vol. 5, 382.

3 POSITIVE ATTITUDES

  • What should the Christian steward consider in the face of an economic downturn? Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:28.
  • Why is your approach to financial matters important? Proverbs 16:2.
  • What warnings come to Christian stewards with regard to our attitudes and motives? I John 2:15, 16.

Note: “Satan is constantly presenting inducements to God’s chosen people to attract their minds from the solemn work of preparation for the scenes just in the future. He is in every sense of the word a deceiver, a skillful charmer. He clothes his plans and snares with coverings of light borrowed from heaven. He tempted Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit by making her believe that she would be greatly advantaged thereby. Satan leads his agents to introduce various inventions and patent rights and other enterprises, that Sabbath-keeping Adventists who are in haste to be rich may fall into temptation, become ensnared, and pierce themselves through with many sorrows. He is wide awake, busily engaged in leading the world captive, and through the agency of worldlings he keeps up a continual pleasing excitement to draw the unwary who profess to believe the truth to unite with worldlings. The lust of the eye, the desire for excitement and pleasing entertainment, is a temptation and snare to God’s people. Satan has many finely woven, dangerous nets which are made to appear innocent, but with which he is skillfully preparing to infatuate God’s people. There are pleasing shows, entertainments, phrenological lectures, and an endless variety of enterprises constantly arising calculated to lead the people of God to love the world and the things that are in the world. Through this union with the world, faith becomes weakened, and means which should be invested in the cause of present truth are transferred to the enemy’s ranks. Through these different channels Satan is skillfully draining the purses of God’s people, and for it the displeasure of the Lord is upon them.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 550, 551.

4 TRUST

  • What surrounds the true Christian steward? Psalm 32:10.
  • What qualities are present in someone who puts his or her trust fully in the Lord? Proverbs 3:5, 6; Job 23:12.

Note: “The psalmist says, ‘Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed’ (Psalm 37:3). ‘Trust in the Lord.’ Each day has its burdens, its cares and perplexities; and when we meet how ready we are to talk of our difficulties and trials. So many borrowed troubles intrude, so many fears are indulged, such a weight of anxiety is expressed, that one might suppose we had no pitying, loving Saviour ready to hear all our requests and to be to us a present help in every time of need.” Steps to Christ, 121.

  • Describe some lessons from nature that can give instruction to the Christian steward. Matthew 6:25–30.

Note: “Consider, says Jesus, how the lilies grow; how, springing from the cold, dark earth, or from the mud of the river bed, the plants unfold in loveliness and fragrance. Who would dream of the possibilities of beauty in the rough brown bulb of the lily? But when the life of God, hidden therein, unfolds at His call in the rain and the sunshine, men marvel at the vision of grace and loveliness. Even so will the life of God unfold in every human soul that will yield itself to the ministry of His grace, which, free as the rain and the sunshine, comes with its benediction to all. It is the word of God that creates the flowers, and the same word will produce in you the graces of His Spirit.

“God’s law is the law of love. He has surrounded you with beauty to teach you that you are not placed on earth merely to delve for self, to dig and build, to toil and spin, but to make life bright and joyous and beautiful with the love of Christ—like the flowers, to gladden other lives by the ministry of love.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 97.

5 THANKFULNESS

  • What does the Christian steward do upon discovering the truest riches of the universe? Luke 15:8, 9; I Thessalonians 5:18.

Note: “Forgetting our own difficulties and troubles, let us praise God for an opportunity to live for the glory of His name. Let the fresh blessings of each new day awaken praise in our hearts for these tokens of His loving care. When you open your eyes in the morning, thank God that He has kept you through the night. Thank Him for His peace in your heart. Morning, noon, and night, let gratitude as a sweet perfume ascend to heaven.” The Review and Herald, June 2, 1910.

“Have we not reason to talk of God’s goodness and to tell of His power? When friends are kind to us we esteem it a privilege to thank them for their kindness. How much more should we count it a joy to return thanks to the Friend who has given us every good and perfect gift. Then let us, in every church, cultivate thanksgiving to God. Let us educate our lips to praise God in the family circle.” My Life Today, 170.

  • For what does the Christian steward give the greatest thanks? Psalm 119:14, 72, 127.

Note: “The glorious possibilities set before Israel could be realized only through obedience to God’s commandments. The same elevation of character, the same fullness of blessing—blessing on mind and soul and body, blessing on house and field, blessing for this life and for the life to come—is possible for us only through obedience.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 305.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 How can you demonstrate commitment to the cause of the gospel?

2 What is the job description of a Christian steward?

3 How does your attitude affect your financial decision-making?

4 What is necessary to put God totally in control of your finances?

5 What do you discover when you count your blessings?

© 2010 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Recipe – Seared Polenta with Chunky Blueberry Sauce

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½ cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1 ½ tsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. water

1 tsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. honey

4 polenta slices

¼ tsp. freshly grated lemon zest

Combine blueberries, water, honey, lemon zest and juice in a small saucepan. Simmer until the sauce has thickened. Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium nonstick skillet. Cook polenta slices until golden on both sides. Top with the blueberry sauce.

Food – Best Good-for-You Foods

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It would be well for us to do less cooking and to eat more fruit in its natural state. Let us teach the people to eat freely of the fresh grapes, apples, peaches, pears, berries, and all other kinds of fruit that can be obtained. Let these be prepared for winter use by canning.” Testimonies. Vol. 7, 134.

“Intemperate eating is often the cause of sickness, and what nature most needs is to be relieved of the undue burden that has been placed upon her. In many cases of sickness, the very best remedy is for the patient to fast for a meal or two, that the overworked organs of digestion may have an opportunity to rest. A fruit diet for a few days has often brought great relief to brain workers. Many times a short period of entire abstinence from food, followed by simple, moderate eating, has led to recovery through nature’s own recuperative effort. An abstemious diet for a month or two would convince many sufferers that the path of self-denial is the path to health.” The Ministry of Healing, 235.

Green Beans

High-fiber foods like green beans can help you prevent weight gain and even promote weight loss—without dieting.

Boosting fiber by 8 grams for every 1,000 calories consumed resulted in losing 4 ½ pounds.

Also try raspberries, chickpeas and strawberries.

Watermelon

Watermelon is a good source of vitamin C. It also has lycopene, an antioxidant that may help protect against heart disease and some types of cancer.

Eating foods that are full of water, such as watermelon (92 percent), helps keep you satisfied on fewer calories. (Interestingly enough, drinking water alongside foods doesn’t have the same effect.)

Also try cucumbers (95 percent water), salad greens (90 percent), and strawberries (91 percent).

Blueberries

The diverse range of polyphenol—health-promoting plant compounds that include athocyanins and ellagic acid—provided from berries, like blueberries, can help keep your heart healthy.

Eating just under a cup of mixed berries daily for 8 weeks can increase levels of “good” HDl cholesterol and lower blood pressure.

Also try red raspberries and strawberries.

Tomatoes

Eating more vitamin-C-rich foods—such as tomato—may be a secret to smoother skin.

Vitamin Cs can have youthful effects on skin, like lowering the risk of wrinkles and age-related dryness in middle-age women. Its antioxidant properties help protect against ultraviolent in keeping skin firm via collagen synthesis.

Also try oranges, strawberries, and broccoli.

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