“And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Ecc. 12:12), but there is only one book written by God.
How many copies are sold and how that compares with the #1 best seller is irrelevant (Matt. 24:35). Many have tried to destroy the Bible. People like Matthew Henry have even predicted its disappearance.
Revised December 27, 2016
After describing the wicked behavior of two NFL players, one father noted the two bad choices (bad sportsmanship and alcoholism) he saw demonstrated and asked the question, “Which has more potential to do harm to our impressionable children who watch the NFL and look to its players as role models?”
Not one person in the discussion even mentioned the cheerleader’s costumes or the new gay NFL player, but another parent observed, “Everyone got so upset with what one player said, which was loud and unsportsmanlike, but not vulgar, yet, not one word was said about the Chevy commercial played repeatedly through the game with a vulgar profanity in it.”
As I read, my first reaction was to consider the command of God in Ephesians 4:17-18—“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” What things are highly esteemed among men? Work? Sports? Obviously work produces something useful and is generally not in vain. What about games? Do they produce anything useful? Will the Lord reward us on Judgment Day for watching the Super Bowl, the Cotton Bowl, the Rice Bowl or the Rose Bowl? We all know the answer to that.
So what about those things not done for the Lord? Hebrews 6:1 and 9:14 speak plainly. Living works are done for God and dead works are at least vain (useless) if not eternally destructive. Finally, because of the aforementioned things that are part of any football game, I pondered which category it might fall into? Can anyone truthfully say he watches the football games for God?
Dead works are just that. They are works not done for the Lord—mind you…not necessarily sin, but at best just vain or useless time spent. It is a sad day when we have to make a choice between wicked lifestyles that affect our children! Whatever happened to following Jesus’s example in learning to discern between good and evil and choosing only the good (Isa. 7:15, Heb. 1:8)?
How can spending our time in a dead work (any dead work) serve God—especially a dead work that has so many obvious evils associated with it? Both wicked choices mentioned by the first father, plus the obvious evil advertising during the game, fall into the list of sins in 1 Corinthians 6.
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 6:9-10, KJV).
If those sins cause a man to be put out of the fellowship, is it OK to deliberately expose our children to either one? What should be the obvious choice in order to avoid such wickedness?
The real problem is found in 2 Cor. 5:15, Luke 9:23-26, Mark 8:35, etc. Not only parents but also all those who would be Christ’s disciples must die to self in order to live for him and the gospel!
Because of our own weaknesses and disposition toward worldliness (1 John 2:15), our children are watching and becoming part of it—emulating its evil “heroes.” The process takes place by what is called osmotic learning or osmosis. They gradually become like the people they are taught to admire (1 Cor. 15:33).
The only way to save our children from the world’s evil is to protect them (shelter them) from it. We must do our best to guide them in following the great heroes of the Bible—especially Jesus. Remember also that even though Christians have to live in the world, they should not be part of it (1 Cor. 5:9-10).
The Scripture quotations in this article are from The King James Version.
Disclaimer: Whereas I sometimes link Bible verses from BibleGateway.com or BlueLetterBible.org for the reader’s convenience, I have found there are serious issues with both programs. I neither believe nor recommend the Calvinist’ doctrines of predestination/foreordination nor the doctrines of grace only. I firmly disapprove of the denominational advertising found there.
The Bible does not mention the word “Gamble.” There are many principles that must be applied.
(1 Kings 21:1-29; 2 Kings 9:25-26)
Ahab was the son of Omri and the seventh king of Israel (1 Kings 16:30), who cemented a political friendship between Israel and Phoenicia with his marriage to Jezebel. Jezebel was the nefariously wicked daughter of Ethbaal (worshipper of Baal), king of the Sidonians (1 Kings 16:31). Ahab’s conversion to his wife’s false religion soon led to many immoral acts in every facet of his life.
From the window of his summer palace, Ahab could see a lovely vineyard as he viewed the landscape. He pondered how convenient it would be to turn that into a vegetable garden next door to his palace and decided to purchase it. To this point, Ahab’s covetousness did not pass the normal boundaries accepted by most men; however, when his offer was rejected his covetousness took full control of him. Imagine a king pouting and refusing to eat because he could not have his heart’s desire. Even yet, his covetousness appeared harmless enough to outsiders. When Jezebel promised to procure the vineyard for him and took his ring, he was passively in agreement to whatever method she might use to get the land. After she had finished her job, instead of taking action against her for dishonesty and murder, he resolutely went to put his name on the stolen property. It appears that he had absolutely no remorse for the corrupt judgment or the murders he caused as long as he could possess what his avarice demanded. When it came to dealing with Naboth, Ahab’s covetousness sprang from a greedy self-centeredness and an arrogant disregard of God’s law. Truly greed can make a very hard heart.
On the other hand, Jezebel had neither religious scruples nor any regard for the established government of Israel (Lev 25:23-34). She had Naboth tried unjustly and killed so that Ahab could take over his property (1 Kings 21:1-16). Jezebel bribed two mercenaries to bear false witness against Naboth and testify they heard him blaspheme God and the king. As a result of their lies, Naboth was found guilty; and both he and his sons were stoned to death (2 Kings 9:26). Elijah the prophet pronounced God’s judgment against Ahab and his house for this horrible act of false witness and murder (1 Kings 21; 2 Kings 9:21-26).
Naboth, the object of the crime, was an Israelite of Jezreel who owned a vineyard next to the summer palace of Ahab, king of Samaria (1 Kings 21:1). Ahab offered Naboth the worth of his vineyard in money or a better vineyard, but Naboth refused to part with his property, explaining that it was a family inheritance to be passed on to his descendants. Had Naboth deeply considered the laws regarding property, he might have understood that the land would be returned to him or to his heirs in the year of Jubilee. The concept of the sacred birthright probably accounted for Naboth’s refusal to sell his vineyard to King Ahab. He answered, “The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!” (1 Kings 21:3).
QUESTIONS:
1.Ahab was king and Naboth was his subject. What kind of strain would that put on Naboth when Ahab demanded his vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-3)?
2.Ahab had an intense desire to possess something that belonged to another man. The Law of Moses prohibited that attitude (Exod. 20:17; Deut. 5:21). What did Ahab reason in his heart about the imagined need for such a garden?
3.Why did he desire (covet) Naboth’s property (1 Kings 21:1-2)?
4.Did Ahab’s offer to buy or trade seem reasonable if there had been no law against it?
5.What was Ahab’s reaction to the answer Naboth gave him (1 Kings 21:3-4)?
6.Pouting, sullenness and depression seem to be childish behaviors. Was it a harmless matter for Ahab to dwell on his disappointment and become depressed and morose about not getting what he wanted (1 Tim. 4:7; 2 Pet. 2:14-15; Matt. 6:21; Luke 12:34)?
7.Who came to Ahab’s “rescue” (1 Kings 21:5-7)?
8.What was Jezebel’s plan for taking the vineyard by force (1 Kings 21:8-10)?
9.Relate the events of Naboth’s unjust judgment (1 Kings 21:11-13).
10.Was Naboth the only one who died that day (2 Kings 9:25-26)?
11.Why would it be necessary (in Ahab’s eyes) to kill the sons of Naboth? This answer is partly based on the research in question #18.
12.After Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, what did he do (1 Kings 21:14-16)?
13.Which prophet went to meet Ahab there (1 Kings 21:17-18)?
14.What was the message God had told the prophet to give Ahab (1 Kings 21:19, 21-24)?
15.What was Ahab’s temporary reaction to this message (1 Kings 21:27)?
16.As a result, what was God’s reaction to Ahab (1 Kings 21:28-29)?
17.In spite of the apparent repentance, what does God say about Ahab’s character (1 Kings 21:25-26)?
18.RESEARCH QUESTION:
The following ideas have to do with possession of property under the Law of Moses. This is pertinent for understanding Naboth’s answer to Ahab and for understanding what happened to Naboth’s sons at the same time (2 Kings 9:26).
•Why might Naboth not want to sell his vineyard (Num. 36:7; Ezek. 46:18)?
•Using Leviticus 25:1-55, answer the following questions:
* How do you know that fields could be redeemed by the original owner within a year or, if not then, in the year of Jubilee?
* Who could the Israelites NOT sell their lands to? Why?
•In the account found in Numbers 27 and Numbers 36, who received the inheritance of their father? What would happen if they married within another tribe (Num. 27:7; Num. 36)?
•By implication, who usually received the inheritance (You may also search keywords birthright or firstborn.)?
•When there was no heir, who inherited? Give the line of succession.
•Who were daughters to marry (Num. 36:3-13; Deut. 7:1-4)?
•By implication, who would sons of the tribes marry?
•What was to be the inheritance of the tribe of Levi (Num. 18; Num. 35; Deut. 10:9; 18:1)?
•What was the situation surrounding Ruth’s inheritance and why the nearest of kin could not take possession of it when Boaz gave him the chance (Ruth 4:5)?
“Put off Anger”
When it comes to anger, we sometimes let our “what-can-we-get-away-with” attitude show through. The most popular scripture dealing with anger is, “Be ye angry, and sin not” (Eph. 4:26). Even though it is absolutely true that anger is not necessarily sin in itself, it is not something that can be used with impunity.
Consider these:
1. Anger can put our souls in danger. “But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment” (Matt. 5:22). Everyone thinks he has a cause. Be careful.
2. It never works the righteousness of God. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).
3. A wise man is slow to anger (Prov. 16:32). Are you wise? There are many other scriptures which teach about being slow to anger: Neh. 9:17; Psa. 103:8; Psa. 145:8; Prov. 15:18; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2; Nah. 1:3.
4. It is a glory to pass over a transgression (Prov. 19:11). Is that how you feel about overlooking things done against you? Remember the many good discussions and studies about forgiving others.
5. He that rules his own spirit is better than a man who takes a city (Prov. 16:32: Prov. 25:28). How strong are you? If you cannot control your own spirit, do you need to seek help?
6. Just because anger itself is not a sin does not mean it is OK to use it to control people and situations. God says to put off anger. ” Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice” (Eph. 4:31). “But now ye also put off all these: anger”¦” (Col. 3:8).
MULIEBRAL VIEWPOINT 