Continuing on with Money as an area in which we compromise by Charles Stanley
A significant area of compromise today is that of finances. People are deeply in debt. However, the problem is much deeper than more debt. It is a matter of submission to God. Paul wrote, "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Tim. 6:10) According to Paul, the problem is not the paper currency we hold in our hands. Our attitude toward money is the problem. ... if your driving desire is focused on money, then you are caught up in worshipping something other than God, and He says this is sin because it separates you from Him.
You can say no to compromise
If you find yourself in a position of compromise, you can do several things to change your circumstances.
First, ask God to rekindle your love for Him.
Second, pray that He will help you to restore your faith in Him.
Third, make a commitment to stand firm and listen for God's leading.
Short today. Tomorrow we'll start chapter seven, The Landmine of Unforgiveness. That might be a tough pill to swallow, but all these chapters are necessary if we are to remove the cancers that can grow undetected in our hearts. Just a preview of the next few chapters, we'll be looking at disappointment, fear, and immorality, and slothfulness (laziness). I think this book will become a great resource for me in the future, not only keeping me on track, but also in helping others. If you're in ministry or discipling others, I'd recommend this book. Have a blessed Sunday.
Showing posts with label Compromise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Compromise. Show all posts
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #27
Good morning! Today we'll look at how marriage can be compromised by Charles Stanley.
Numerous times people have come to me saying how they have fallen in love with a wonderful person. It is always exciting to hear the joy in their voices. But before long, I see a drop in their happy expression. I usually know what they are about to say: "The only problem I'm facing is she [or he] is not a believer." This is a huge problem that cannot be explained away. The apostle Paul admonished,
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. (2 Cor. 6:14-16)
At this point, many people interject that they are witnessing to the person and not planning to marry him or her. They just want to date, but what they are doing is tripping a landmine that they cannot hope to defuse.
Compromise always leads us away from God-a little at first, but the destination is the same-far from God's will. What are you willing to compromise to feel accepted or loved for a short season? This line of thinking may sound very narrow-minded. If it does, then perhaps you have already started down the path of compromise.
These days, a kiss on the cheek is rarely where a couple says good night. If the person you are dating is a nonbeliever, he or she has the ability to pull you down. Over the years, I have seen many marriages-unequally yoked-end in sorrow and defeat. It may be one of the most difficult things you will ever do, but if you know the person you are seeing is not saved, then you need to step0 away from the relationship until there is an eternal shift in his or her devotion-one that you know without a doubt is sincere.
That's a good dose of wisdom for today. As I type, I'm reminded of a youth worker's job, and how important this kind of training is to them. Jr. High and High School kids are just starting to think in this direction. Feeling attractions to people at school can put them in harm's way if they haven't made pre-decisions. (Mentioned yesterday) I think often kids aren't taught about the dangers of close associations with unbelievers. Friendships with the same gender for the purpose of showing Christ's love and sharing the gospel is fine. But when an attraction to an unbeliever who is a member of the opposite gender starts to occur, it's a big red flag.
I know the pain of many women in our church who are married to unbelievers. Most of them were unbelievers when they got married, but became Christians afterwards. These wonderful ladies endure church services, Christmas celebrations, and other services alone, as their spouse refuses to enter the church, even for the sake of their wives. This puts up a wall, sending the message to the wife that she's not important enough for him to put aside his fears and discomfort to be with her.
There is another situation which should be looked at as well. It is when there is an attraction between two believers, but one is more spiritually mature than the other. This is an unequal yoking as well. Can it change? Sure. Do you want to bet on it? I'm not talking about Bible knowledge. I'm talking about the choices a person makes and their submission to the Lord and relationship with Him. When two are equally yoked, they can move ahead in their walk with lightening speed, instead of stopping at every disagreement and working it out at length.
I hope this has been helpful. Tomorrow we'll look at money.
Numerous times people have come to me saying how they have fallen in love with a wonderful person. It is always exciting to hear the joy in their voices. But before long, I see a drop in their happy expression. I usually know what they are about to say: "The only problem I'm facing is she [or he] is not a believer." This is a huge problem that cannot be explained away. The apostle Paul admonished,
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. (2 Cor. 6:14-16)
At this point, many people interject that they are witnessing to the person and not planning to marry him or her. They just want to date, but what they are doing is tripping a landmine that they cannot hope to defuse.
Compromise always leads us away from God-a little at first, but the destination is the same-far from God's will. What are you willing to compromise to feel accepted or loved for a short season? This line of thinking may sound very narrow-minded. If it does, then perhaps you have already started down the path of compromise.
These days, a kiss on the cheek is rarely where a couple says good night. If the person you are dating is a nonbeliever, he or she has the ability to pull you down. Over the years, I have seen many marriages-unequally yoked-end in sorrow and defeat. It may be one of the most difficult things you will ever do, but if you know the person you are seeing is not saved, then you need to step0 away from the relationship until there is an eternal shift in his or her devotion-one that you know without a doubt is sincere.
That's a good dose of wisdom for today. As I type, I'm reminded of a youth worker's job, and how important this kind of training is to them. Jr. High and High School kids are just starting to think in this direction. Feeling attractions to people at school can put them in harm's way if they haven't made pre-decisions. (Mentioned yesterday) I think often kids aren't taught about the dangers of close associations with unbelievers. Friendships with the same gender for the purpose of showing Christ's love and sharing the gospel is fine. But when an attraction to an unbeliever who is a member of the opposite gender starts to occur, it's a big red flag.
I know the pain of many women in our church who are married to unbelievers. Most of them were unbelievers when they got married, but became Christians afterwards. These wonderful ladies endure church services, Christmas celebrations, and other services alone, as their spouse refuses to enter the church, even for the sake of their wives. This puts up a wall, sending the message to the wife that she's not important enough for him to put aside his fears and discomfort to be with her.
There is another situation which should be looked at as well. It is when there is an attraction between two believers, but one is more spiritually mature than the other. This is an unequal yoking as well. Can it change? Sure. Do you want to bet on it? I'm not talking about Bible knowledge. I'm talking about the choices a person makes and their submission to the Lord and relationship with Him. When two are equally yoked, they can move ahead in their walk with lightening speed, instead of stopping at every disagreement and working it out at length.
I hope this has been helpful. Tomorrow we'll look at money.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Spritual Warfare #26
It's good to be back. Greg and I attended the Awaken 2008 conference in Pasadena. It was more than amazing. We got lots of confirmations about things. The conference was basically broken down into three topics: Leadership, Evangelism, and Culture. Check out the website. There were amazing speakers there. Greg had lunch with Erwin McManus. I was able to meet Erwin McManus, Wayne Cordeiro, Dr. Henry Cloud, and Phil Cooke as well as get my books signed by them. Phil Cooke is in the entertainment industry and just did a project in Turlock for a local church. (He couldn't remember which one). Wayne Cordeiro is the nicest person you'd ever want to meet. He was a Four Square guy. He and Greg knew some of the same people. Anyway, it was fabulous and we're planning on going next year as well.
Back to Compromise by Charles Stanley
Compromise Defined
What are the areas in which we compromise the most?
Morality We know what is right, but we ignore the truth for fear of not having our needs met. We may also be afraid that if we stand for what we believe, we will face rejection.
Principles Often when people are on the verge of compromise, they will ease up on their devotion to God. They say, "I've been busy every Sunday and just have not been able to go to church." Going to church will not assure us a position in God's kingdom. We are saved by faith, but a lack of desire to be in His house usually indicates that something is wrong-out of balance and the first step to failure.
Doctrinal Beliefs. When we compromise our convictions, fail to spend time with the Lord in prayer and the study of His Word, we are bound to end up hedging on our doctrinal views.
Parenting. Parents who begin to slip in their devotion to God rarely have the right tools to teach children how to walk wisely. If you are involved in a sinful situation, you will not be able to think clearly about what your children are doing. Beyond this, there is a natural temptation to compromise on certain things, such as what you allow them to watch, listen to, and do.
Some parents may think, Five minutes won't hurt them. However, those five minutes could lead to a lifetime of trouble and heartache.
Dress. What we wear and what we allow our children to wear are choices we must make that have tremendous potential for good or evil. If your heart is set on Christ, you will want to be like Him in all that you do, wear, and say.
Music. It is interesting to me that many Christians separate what they do in church on Sunday from what they do during the week.
Living the Christian life requires a lifestyle change that affects every area.
God created all things for us to enjoy; nevertheless, there is a line that He does not want us to cross. Music touches the deepest part of our being. Remember, He created it so that we could worship Him.
Conversation. The author of Proverbs wrote, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable" (Prov. 10:19) He also reminded us, "The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, / And they go down into the innermost parts of the body" (Prov. 18:8).
Tomorrow we'll look at compromise in the area of Marriage. There is a lot to show so this is a good stopping point.
I'm happy to say my daughter is very sensitive to the area of compromise, especially in dress, music, and speech. Though she goes to a Christian school, she is appalled at the way some of the girls in her class don't filter out books and music with bad messages. They compromise by rebelling against authority, by talking about 'sneaking' electronics on field trips, etc. You would think using the word 'sneak' would be a red flag to them, but it's not. I pray these girls make a turn, and quickly, before these compromises lead to really devastating life choices.
The teen years are hard enough, without dabbling in dangerous landmines. If you have teens, talk with them. The best choices are pre-choices. Deciding what to do if they are in a situation prevents them from having to make spur of the moment choices in the heat of the moment, and making the wrong choice. Have a great Friday!
Back to Compromise by Charles Stanley
Compromise Defined
What are the areas in which we compromise the most?
Morality We know what is right, but we ignore the truth for fear of not having our needs met. We may also be afraid that if we stand for what we believe, we will face rejection.
Principles Often when people are on the verge of compromise, they will ease up on their devotion to God. They say, "I've been busy every Sunday and just have not been able to go to church." Going to church will not assure us a position in God's kingdom. We are saved by faith, but a lack of desire to be in His house usually indicates that something is wrong-out of balance and the first step to failure.
Doctrinal Beliefs. When we compromise our convictions, fail to spend time with the Lord in prayer and the study of His Word, we are bound to end up hedging on our doctrinal views.
Parenting. Parents who begin to slip in their devotion to God rarely have the right tools to teach children how to walk wisely. If you are involved in a sinful situation, you will not be able to think clearly about what your children are doing. Beyond this, there is a natural temptation to compromise on certain things, such as what you allow them to watch, listen to, and do.
Some parents may think, Five minutes won't hurt them. However, those five minutes could lead to a lifetime of trouble and heartache.
Dress. What we wear and what we allow our children to wear are choices we must make that have tremendous potential for good or evil. If your heart is set on Christ, you will want to be like Him in all that you do, wear, and say.
Music. It is interesting to me that many Christians separate what they do in church on Sunday from what they do during the week.
Living the Christian life requires a lifestyle change that affects every area.
God created all things for us to enjoy; nevertheless, there is a line that He does not want us to cross. Music touches the deepest part of our being. Remember, He created it so that we could worship Him.
Conversation. The author of Proverbs wrote, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable" (Prov. 10:19) He also reminded us, "The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, / And they go down into the innermost parts of the body" (Prov. 18:8).
Tomorrow we'll look at compromise in the area of Marriage. There is a lot to show so this is a good stopping point.
I'm happy to say my daughter is very sensitive to the area of compromise, especially in dress, music, and speech. Though she goes to a Christian school, she is appalled at the way some of the girls in her class don't filter out books and music with bad messages. They compromise by rebelling against authority, by talking about 'sneaking' electronics on field trips, etc. You would think using the word 'sneak' would be a red flag to them, but it's not. I pray these girls make a turn, and quickly, before these compromises lead to really devastating life choices.
The teen years are hard enough, without dabbling in dangerous landmines. If you have teens, talk with them. The best choices are pre-choices. Deciding what to do if they are in a situation prevents them from having to make spur of the moment choices in the heat of the moment, and making the wrong choice. Have a great Friday!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #25
The Consequences of a Wrong Decision by Charles Stanley
Your character is weakened.
Your personal testimony is diluted and suffers. Often nonbelievers are the first to notice a shift in someone's faith. They notice the compromise and make it clear that they are happy you have broken ranks and betrayed the convictions of your faith.
God's truth becomes irrelevant. Compromise changes the way we view issues such as abortion, homosexuality, adultery, and more. The person who is steeped in sin rarely raises an issue over what is right and what is wrong. Instead, she begins to view sins such as these as social issues that need to be defined by someone other than the church.
People abandon God's Word. We no longer consider God and what He says about our lives, circumstances, and relationships. This is the most sorrowful position for believers-on our own, away from God, and searching for true meaning.
A Costly Decision
Many times when we feel guilty, we are hearing the voice of God.
You won't lose your salvation when you compromise and do the opposite of what you know is right. Yet you risk losing the very thing that has the ability to keep you steady in times of trouble, and that is your intimate fellowship with the Savior. God will not compete with sin. When compromise and sin are present, He can choose to withhold His guidance and friendship until you confess your wrongdoing.
Friday we'll look at the areas in which we compromise. I'll be unable to blog until then. We had a wonderful sermon yesterday on compromise, looking at the character of Daniel. You can hear it here in a few hours once I upload it. It was spot on!
Have a great week.
Your character is weakened.
Your personal testimony is diluted and suffers. Often nonbelievers are the first to notice a shift in someone's faith. They notice the compromise and make it clear that they are happy you have broken ranks and betrayed the convictions of your faith.
God's truth becomes irrelevant. Compromise changes the way we view issues such as abortion, homosexuality, adultery, and more. The person who is steeped in sin rarely raises an issue over what is right and what is wrong. Instead, she begins to view sins such as these as social issues that need to be defined by someone other than the church.
People abandon God's Word. We no longer consider God and what He says about our lives, circumstances, and relationships. This is the most sorrowful position for believers-on our own, away from God, and searching for true meaning.
A Costly Decision
Many times when we feel guilty, we are hearing the voice of God.
You won't lose your salvation when you compromise and do the opposite of what you know is right. Yet you risk losing the very thing that has the ability to keep you steady in times of trouble, and that is your intimate fellowship with the Savior. God will not compete with sin. When compromise and sin are present, He can choose to withhold His guidance and friendship until you confess your wrongdoing.
Friday we'll look at the areas in which we compromise. I'll be unable to blog until then. We had a wonderful sermon yesterday on compromise, looking at the character of Daniel. You can hear it here in a few hours once I upload it. It was spot on!
Have a great week.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Spiritual Warfare #24
Continuing on with Compromise and why we compromise by Charles Stanley
We fail to give God what He requires. Many people leave God out of their finances completely. In their minds they draw a line between God and their bank accounts. They go to church and worship God, but never transfer what they have learned through the teaching of His Word to the area of their finances. Whether we admit it or not, God owns everything. He is the One who gives us the "power to make wealth" (Deut. 8:18). When we fail to tithe and to give to His work, we miss a tremendous blessing. We also face the consequences that come from disobeying God. He is specific about giving - it is something we do not want to compromise, especially if we want to obey him.
We become spiritually weak and discouraged. When we compromise our basic convictions, our very thought patterns become corrupted. After a while, something inside us changes. Even other believers may end up being used by the enemy to create an atmosphere of discouragement and fear around our lives. You may feel weak in your devotion to the Lord, but He is your fortress-your deliverer, your shield, and the horn of your salvation-not just in times of trouble but through every season of life (Ps. 18).
We are blinded by pride. Pride isolates us from God and prevents us from experiencing the depth of His love and goodness. Many times, prideful people fail to realize the extent of their condition until it is too late or until God does something major to gain their attention.
Tomorrow we'll look at the consequences of a wrong decision. Good stuff? Have a great Sunday.
We fail to give God what He requires. Many people leave God out of their finances completely. In their minds they draw a line between God and their bank accounts. They go to church and worship God, but never transfer what they have learned through the teaching of His Word to the area of their finances. Whether we admit it or not, God owns everything. He is the One who gives us the "power to make wealth" (Deut. 8:18). When we fail to tithe and to give to His work, we miss a tremendous blessing. We also face the consequences that come from disobeying God. He is specific about giving - it is something we do not want to compromise, especially if we want to obey him.
We become spiritually weak and discouraged. When we compromise our basic convictions, our very thought patterns become corrupted. After a while, something inside us changes. Even other believers may end up being used by the enemy to create an atmosphere of discouragement and fear around our lives. You may feel weak in your devotion to the Lord, but He is your fortress-your deliverer, your shield, and the horn of your salvation-not just in times of trouble but through every season of life (Ps. 18).
We are blinded by pride. Pride isolates us from God and prevents us from experiencing the depth of His love and goodness. Many times, prideful people fail to realize the extent of their condition until it is too late or until God does something major to gain their attention.
Tomorrow we'll look at the consequences of a wrong decision. Good stuff? Have a great Sunday.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Spritual Warfare #23
There were quite a few new visitors to the site yesterday, so I just wanted to say, "Welcome." We're going through a book called Landmines In The Path Of The Believer, Avoiding The Hidden Dangers. I blog on the parts of the book that particularly struck me so it is not complete, but I try to give enough complete thoughts to make it logical for you to follow and get the best nuggets of wisdom.
Starting Chapter 6 today with The Landmine of Compromise by Charles Stanley
Compromise - An attitude that develops and grows stronger with neglect and time. First, he [Satan] gains a foothold in a person's life by tempting him or her to yield to his relentless suggestions: "Just once won't hurt. Don't you get tired of being lonely? Don't you want to be part of the group? This is the way to do it. Just relax, take it easy, and let your heart go free." Satan always has a goal to reach, and it is to draw you away from the Father's love.
Anything that tempts you to abandon what you know is right should be viewed as deadly and dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Many people fail to do this and become hooked by the subtle and evil lure of compromise, which leads to sin.
It leads to compromise and weakens our commitment to the Lord. One step taken in a wrong direction can do more damage than you will ever know.
The Truth About Compromise
If God has called you to a certain place, you need to stay put until He either moves you or makes it clear that He wants you to leave.
Never forget that there is always a small degree of truth tucked away in every one of Satan's lies. This is how he gets us to compromise our convictions and to do the very things God has told us not to do.
It is true: you can serve the Lord almost anywhere and at any time. Yet this does not necessarily mean you are fulfilling His will and purpose. He has a plan for you. You step on a powerful landmine when you decide that you will follow your own plans and not His.
If He has called you to do a certain job, stay at your post until He directs you differently. Even though the situation may be very trying, you will receive a wonderful reward for remaining obedient and not abandoning the work He has given you to do.
If you do leave, ... the sense of fulfillment will be gone because there is a distinct difference between being in the center of God's will and standing along the sidelines.
Why Do We Compromise?
We experience doubt and fear.
We want to avoid conflict. "If I say something, I'll lose my job." Instead of addressing the shift from truth to compromise, they will cower and allow things to roll along. There are times when we need to speak up, just as there are times when we need to be quiet. If you will seek God's counsel, He will show you what is correct concerning your circumstances.
We have a desire for unity. There are people who do not want to cause "waves." Instead of standing up for what they believe, they hold back and, in doing so, may compromise what God has given them to do. It always is a good thing to seek unity, especially among believers, but it is never good to do this when you end up jeopardizing what you know is right.
We have a deep need for acceptance. "Do I want to be accepted by a group of people who could love me today and not tomorrow, or by an eternal, loving, heavenly Father, Who loves me with an everlasting love?" When you make a commitment to be the person He has designed you to be, you will face some challenges. Rest assured, you won't face a single one alone.
We are overwhelmed by peer pressure. Many times, in order to be a part of a group, people will compromise their moral convictions, and the results are devastating. You never have to compromise what you know is true and right in order to be part of a group. The enemy will try and tempt you into making a quick, thoughtless decision, but God never will.
We'll stop there for today. There are several more points to make as to why we compromise, which we'll cover tomorrow. Which one(s) do you struggle with? For me, it is probably the avoidance of conflict and the unity one, which seem to overlap. At home, I can be the person God created me to be, freely giving my opinion, making people laugh, or being sarcastic or dry in my humor. I don't have to worry about offending anyone. I'm accepted because they know my heart. Grace is freely given here as is the charitable assumption, and there is peace and harmony in our home. I don't compromise who I am here and there is much freedom in that.
Starting Chapter 6 today with The Landmine of Compromise by Charles Stanley
Compromise - An attitude that develops and grows stronger with neglect and time. First, he [Satan] gains a foothold in a person's life by tempting him or her to yield to his relentless suggestions: "Just once won't hurt. Don't you get tired of being lonely? Don't you want to be part of the group? This is the way to do it. Just relax, take it easy, and let your heart go free." Satan always has a goal to reach, and it is to draw you away from the Father's love.
Anything that tempts you to abandon what you know is right should be viewed as deadly and dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Many people fail to do this and become hooked by the subtle and evil lure of compromise, which leads to sin.
It leads to compromise and weakens our commitment to the Lord. One step taken in a wrong direction can do more damage than you will ever know.
The Truth About Compromise
If God has called you to a certain place, you need to stay put until He either moves you or makes it clear that He wants you to leave.
Never forget that there is always a small degree of truth tucked away in every one of Satan's lies. This is how he gets us to compromise our convictions and to do the very things God has told us not to do.
It is true: you can serve the Lord almost anywhere and at any time. Yet this does not necessarily mean you are fulfilling His will and purpose. He has a plan for you. You step on a powerful landmine when you decide that you will follow your own plans and not His.
If He has called you to do a certain job, stay at your post until He directs you differently. Even though the situation may be very trying, you will receive a wonderful reward for remaining obedient and not abandoning the work He has given you to do.
If you do leave, ... the sense of fulfillment will be gone because there is a distinct difference between being in the center of God's will and standing along the sidelines.
Why Do We Compromise?
We experience doubt and fear.
We want to avoid conflict. "If I say something, I'll lose my job." Instead of addressing the shift from truth to compromise, they will cower and allow things to roll along. There are times when we need to speak up, just as there are times when we need to be quiet. If you will seek God's counsel, He will show you what is correct concerning your circumstances.
We have a desire for unity. There are people who do not want to cause "waves." Instead of standing up for what they believe, they hold back and, in doing so, may compromise what God has given them to do. It always is a good thing to seek unity, especially among believers, but it is never good to do this when you end up jeopardizing what you know is right.
We have a deep need for acceptance. "Do I want to be accepted by a group of people who could love me today and not tomorrow, or by an eternal, loving, heavenly Father, Who loves me with an everlasting love?" When you make a commitment to be the person He has designed you to be, you will face some challenges. Rest assured, you won't face a single one alone.
We are overwhelmed by peer pressure. Many times, in order to be a part of a group, people will compromise their moral convictions, and the results are devastating. You never have to compromise what you know is true and right in order to be part of a group. The enemy will try and tempt you into making a quick, thoughtless decision, but God never will.
We'll stop there for today. There are several more points to make as to why we compromise, which we'll cover tomorrow. Which one(s) do you struggle with? For me, it is probably the avoidance of conflict and the unity one, which seem to overlap. At home, I can be the person God created me to be, freely giving my opinion, making people laugh, or being sarcastic or dry in my humor. I don't have to worry about offending anyone. I'm accepted because they know my heart. Grace is freely given here as is the charitable assumption, and there is peace and harmony in our home. I don't compromise who I am here and there is much freedom in that.
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