IN COVENANT TO GROW

#472                                          IN COVENANT TO GROW

Scripture  Ecclesiastes 12:10-14; Acts 10:35 NIV                                                           Orig. 3/3/1968

                                                                                                                   Rewr. 10/1969, 9/20/1976

Passage:

Ecclesiastes 12:

10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.[a] 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

13 Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

Acts 10

35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 

Introduction

            I read an article last week that began, “The old taboos are dead or dying.  A new, more permissive society is taking shape.”  One man was quoted as saying, “The emphasis is  on the senses and the release of the sensual.  All the old codes have been broken down.”

            Let me tell you about two men whom I knew.  About 15 years ago one was working on the then-new Red River Bridge in Alexandria.  He lost his balance and fell 86 feet to the river bank, not into the water, or soft mud, but onto a pile of plywood sheeting that had been used on pier forms.  I saw him a few months back, and one who didn’t know would say “the law of gravity has broken down.”

            Another, not yet old enough to vote, jumped from a plane as a paratrooper only to look up and face the horror of an unopened chute.  To see him today one who didn’t know would say “the law of gravity has broken down.”

            I, for one, am glad that prudery and hypocrisy in morality are dead or dying.  But to think that we can exist without morality and codes of conduct is as foolish as saying that we can exist without gravity and natural law.

            Let us not think that out of the ashes . . . (illegible).

I.          Growing in Community Consciousness.  Psalms 15:1-33, “Lord, who will abide in thy tabernacle?  Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?  He that walketh uprightly and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.”

            Walking circumspectly.  The word “circumspectly” means looking about cautiously in all directions.   It is like the soldier on patrol—the needing to keep in contact with his unit, his primary duty is to search for hidden danger.  Not an injunction to search for inconsistencies in others.  A warning to stay away from threats, temptations.

            Just in our dealings. A word with many meanings.  For our use here it is to be consistent, impartial.  We are to treat all men fairly.  We are to take advantage of none.  Romans 12:17, Provide things  honest in the sight of all men.  I still get amused at these movies that continue to beset  us.  The Indian chief speaks to the army major and says, “White man speaks with forked tongue.”  It is too often true.

            Faithful in our engagements.  We could begin by saying it is an injunction for the deacon to take the office seriously.  Active, energetic, faithful. We could call attention to laity on part of church workers—absenteeism about 25%.  Sometimes I think preachers  have created some of the problem.  We left impression that the record is tithing—the very Sunday you lay out may be the Sunday God needed you for something great.

            Exemplary in our deportment.  God does not call us to go on crusades against the sins of the world  until we have learned to deal with our own sin.  But God is not ashamed to have any forgiven sinner, no matter how heinous his sin, to speak a word for Him.       

            Christlikeness is the order of the day.  Living so as to reveal God’s love to those around us and those we chance to meet.

II.         Growing in Family Faithfulness.  Genesis 18:19, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do what is right and just.”

            Maintain family devotions.      This does not refer to grace at meals.  Let us observe grace at home and abroad in the land.  It is a time of planned Bible devotion.  A parent or parents and children, reading together the word of God.  Praying together for greater grace.  (More strength to use prevailing grace.)  It is one of the most difficult acts of Christian consciousness.  I don’t know how often we have started on a few days, and some interruption or other [gets in the way].  Teaching our families to love and respect, but not worship, the Bible.

            Religiously educate our children.  It is first of all a job to be done at home.  Most tragic verse in Bible is Jeremiah 7:18, “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.”  We stop helping them in school work when they get beyond our school experience.  Could this be the reason you do not help them in their spiritual exercises?

            Then there is Sunday School.  Sunday School is a Bible teaching organization—the sincere application of Bible truth is the teacher’s first responsibility.  Gossip handled tactfully and discreetly.  Training Union is Training for Christians.  You say “I don’t get anything.”  Of course not, you don’t give anything.  You don’t enjoy it.  You enjoy Ed Sullivan more.

            Missionary organizations—115 million lost Americans above age of accountability.

            Avoid all tattling, backbiting, excessive anger.  This does not refer to temporary occasions of misunderstanding: husbands and wives, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, teachers and parents, neighbors, relatives, any two people who spend time in association or chancing a misunderstanding. 

This speaks directly to the person who delights in someone else’s  troubles.  It also directs us to seek accord when occasions of misunderstanding arise, and room is left for anger, but not excessive anger.

III.       Growing in Personal Perceptivity.  Haggai 1:7, “Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, consider your ways.”  I Corinthians 11:31, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”

            Maintain secret devotions.  A time of reverent study.  I Timothy 4:13, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”  A time of quiet meditation.

            Seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances.  This you must settle at home in quietness of your own life.

            Abstain from the sale of and the use of intoxicating beverages.  Anything that limits our performance as a person, anything that weakens our witness.  New Orleans pot party—2-year-old killed on Friday—mother reported  him missing 7 hours later.  Charged with negligence.

Closing

            Morality is the way a man reacts in regard to his fellow human beings.  For the Christian, morality is the effort to advance the Kingdom of our Saviour.

            Article 134, Uniform Code of Military Justice—A man is chargeable and punishable for bringing discredit upon the military establishment.

            Paul’s admonition to Timothy—Endure as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.