Faithful Love part 3

Previously...

We are looking at the second response to what Jesus has done and continually does for us. We saw that we respond to Him through faithful love. As we considered that, we looked at Ephesians 5:22-24 & Psalm 37 and discovered:

Because Christ is the head of the bride, the bride submits to Christ.

The church submits to Christ through faithfulness to Him.

We live faithfully to Christ when we trust Him, regardless of life’s circumstances.

We live faithfully to Christ when we do good because of what He has done for us.

We live faithfully to Christ when we find our delight in Christ.

We live faithfully to Christ when we commit our way to Christ.

We live faithfully to Christ when we wait patiently upon His provision.

We live faithfully to Christ when we humble ourselves before Him.

Psalm 37:12-20.

Regardless of how it feels at the time, the LORD knows the deeds of the wicked and the plight of His people.

But, unlike us, God sees the big picture.

“for he sees that his day is coming.”

God sees the downfall of the wicked.

“…their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.”

But, He also sees how enduring hard times develops His people.

James 1:2–4 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

God’s answer for His people: Verses 16-20

Verses 16-17 are a call for contentment. God’s people must learn to be content with a little and being right with the Lord than to have much and be right with the wicked.

Why?

Because the abundance is fleeting. Look again at verse 17...

Additionally, verses 18-19 remind us that God sees the larger picture of our lives.

The word “heritage” here means an inheritance.

Contextually, the heritage is the Promised Land, but we can extend that out and realize that as God’s people today, our inheritance is the kingdom of God, found through a relationship to God through Jesus.

This is how we will never be “put to shame” and will have “in the the days of famine…abundance.” Because our inheritance isn’t of this world and it isn’t fleeting. We have the deposit of the HS today and the promise of Heaven in the future.

We live faithfully to Christ when we learn the discipline of contentment in Christ.

So, why do I say “discipline of contentment”? Because, just like any other discipline, it takes time, attention, and commitment to develop our contentment in Christ. It doesn’t happen overnight or with a simple prayer.

But, it starts with truly finding our greatest contentment, not it what we don’t have, but it what we have in Christ. Paul said it this way:

Philippians 4:10–13 ESV

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Psalm 37:21-31.

We live faithfully to Christ when we live generously towards others.

Generous with possessions.

Verses 21-22...

Generosity is a hallmark of the Christian life. This can be particularly hard in our Western world because we put so much emphasis on possessions. Additionally, which of us haven’t been in a situation where someone ripped us off?

But, these verses show us why, even in a world where people routinely rip us off, we can still be generous with our possessions: because our inheritance out weighs our losses.

Here’s a guarantee: once you get to Heaven, you are going to spend exactly zero seconds thinking about what you lost. Zero.

Our generosity should be a reflection of God’s generosity.

Verses 23-26

God is generous to us, His people. Though we are completely undeserving, He deal with us with generosity.

He establishes our steps when we delight in His way...

When we fall, He picks us up...

He takes care of our needs...

Verses 24 & 25 are examples of a Proverb being a pity statement that is memorable and generally true. But not a guarantee either.

So our generosity should be a reflection of the generosity that has been afforded to us.

2 Corinthians 9:5–7 ESV

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Why does God love the cheerful giver? Because we are more like our Father in Heaven when we are generous as He is!

Generous with doing good.

Verses 27-29

We’ve already talked about the call to do good, so I won’t belabor the point, but to say: If God loves justice, then we should as well.

But, that’s not a call to demand justice, but to do justice.

What do I mean? Our world today is full of virtue signaling...

Instead of virtue signaling, we need to live virtuously and seek to do good for others, don’t just talk about it!

Generous with what we say.

Move along pastor!

Verses 30-31

How do we utter wisdom and speak justice? When God’s Word is in our heart!

What’s in our heart often comes out of our mouths.

When I had my heart problems, I had no idea I was in danger until it was almost too late...

It’s far easier to tell our spiritual heart condition by what comes out of our mouth.

Not just cursing. Also, gossiping, ugly talk, crude joking, breaking down other people, abusive language...

James 3:7–10 ESV

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Psalm 37:32-40.

We live faithfully to Christ when we make Him our stronghold.

“Stronghold” means something or someone that people turn to for assistance and/or security.

Often translated “refuge”.

Is Christ Jesus your refuge? I think it’s a lot easier to say that then to practice it.

We all have things, places, or people we tend to run to in times of trouble where we find security. But the greatest stronghold or place of refuge is Christ Jesus Himself.

Unfortunately, if you are anything like me, you run to Christ for refuge at times of great turmoil. Yet, Christ Jesus is our refuge regardless of our circumstances.

Lydia have been watching the movie Gettysburg together (which is in my top ten movies, by the way, along with the second movie in the series Gods and Generals). I’m fascinated by the Civil War. But, one of the things that stands out to me is that my two favorite generals in the Civil War were both on the Confederate side, even though I believe the Union was in the right more so than the Confederacy because of the issue of slavery.

Yet, I find myself fascinated with Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Though I believe both men were on the wrong side of the war, both were deeply committed Christians and both were loyal to their home state, not the institution of slavery.

Stonewall Jackson in particular was a man of a deep faith in God. He was called Stonewall because of his ability to sit upright without flinching even in the middle of a battle. When asked why he was able to do this he said, “My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me.”

That’s a man who found his stronghold in Christ!

Robert E. Lee went so far as to rightly state that slavery as an institution was a “moral and political evil.” He fought on the side of Virginia, not for the institution of slavery. He too showed himself to be a man of great faith, once saying, “In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.”

He knew that his stronghold needed to be Christ Jesus alone.

The point is, we need to seek the only faithful stronghold, who is able to deliver us and has saved us because we find our refuge in Him.