Teaching The Young

THE OLDER WOMEN CAN TRAIN THE YOUNGER WOMEN TO LOVE THEIR HUSBANDS AND CHILDREN, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2.3,4.

I was discussing the other day the role of the older generation in the life of the younger ones and I was surprised at what I heard from a mature, well-educated, Christian professional of the younger generation. He was only voicing the general opinion that prevails: “the older generation is outdated in their thinking and what they have to say is not relevant or applicable to the modern day life-style!” Some even go to the extent of saying that the teaching of the Scripture is old-fashioned and they need to ‘update’ it according to the times and culture of the changing world!

But the Scripture makes it very clear that what God taught our fathers and even forefathers directly through the Word and by experience are very relevant to the generations that follow. The Word of God gives clear command to the older generation to teach and train the younger ones the ways they have learned from God during their lifetime.

In today’s text, we have one such specific command to ‘the older women or mothers’ to train the younger women. What are they to teach and train? “To be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God”. Nothing could be more ‘old-fashioned than what the Word of God expects them to be, in the light of the modern day women’s lib and the lifestyle of women today! Surely God knew that! Nevertheless, He gave this command. He does not want the older generation to be silent or even condescending. If they do, they would be sowing the seed of self-destruction of the new generations. God forbid they do that!

Our eternal God expects the older generation of men and women who have tasted the goodness of the Lord and seen His severity, to fearlessly continue teaching and training the younger ones in the eternal and unchanging Word of God and the standards of lifestyle it set for the believers for all times!

Dear young believer, if the counsel and instruction of your old-fashioned parents are in accordance with the irrevocable Word of God, they will never be out-dated and irrelevant. The Words says, “Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck” (Prov 1.8,9).

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, Your Word can never be out-dated. Give me the courage to be true to its teachings and practices in the midst of the changing lifestyles of a world that is destined to perish with its Godless philosophy! Amen.

The Truth Will Set You Free

YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE. John 8.32.

Once in our church, we were running a course on ‘Personal holiness and temptation’. I was preparing the lessons from the text book when I came across the story of this young man who kept saying to his teacher, “But you don’t know how great MY temptation is!” He was living in sexual sin with women, always excusing himself thinking that he alone was born a super stud!

The teacher gently said, “I appreciate that!” Then he asked the young man, “But would you look with me at the Word of God?” He took a verse and showed him, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Cor 10.13).

The teacher told him “See! God says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man’. But you say your temptation is stronger than others! Someone must be terribly wrong – you or God!” For the first time, confronted by the truth of God’s Word, the young man conceded, “All along, I fooled myself into believing that my temptation was far greater than that of others. Hence, I kept on giving in to my temptation and sinning! Today, I quit!”

I remember once a young believer told me that his tobacco addiction was so great that he could not overcome. But you have the help of the Holy Spirit who by His mighty power raised Jesus Christ from the dead! What lie the devil has put in your mind to prevent you from knowing the truth! You say, ‘Your anger and outburst are ‘inborn’ and you cannot help it; the bad mouthing and sarcasm you rail at your brothers and sisters are beyond your control; the sexual sin and the extra-marital sex you live in, you cannot get out of!

Let the truth from God’s Word sink in you so that it will set you free: “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5.19-21).

Dear believer, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Gal 6.7,8).

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, please impress Your Word on my soul that I will be set free by its truth. Let me not give in to Satan’s lies that keep me sinning against You and Your Word! Amen.

Being A Christian Employee

EMPLOYEES, WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AS WORKING FOR THE LORD. COLOSSIANS 3.23.

Before a Christian worker picks up an issue with his Christian employer on what the Word of God expects of him, he should stop a while and continue to read the instructions God gives to him or her! The Scripture is never lop-sided. Its teachings are comprehensive and complete. No one should get one part of any teaching and forget its main substance! If you want to learn about any doctrine or subject from the Scriptures, you must scan through every passage that relates to it to get a full understanding of God’s mind and wisdom. You may want to look into the different versions and even search the dictionaries to be accurate in your understanding.

Now to all of us who are employees or staff or workers in any capacity and are subject to the employers or authorities, there are specific counsel and corrections in God’s Word to us. You should check your conduct and work ethics in the light of the Word of God. It has been my own experience that Christian staff or workers are more demanding and often unreasonable and lack punctuality and are even unreliable. They try to take advantage of the Christian boss and demand that they should be granted leave every time they have a personal need or there are church meetings and events. If the worker is from the boss’s church, it is even worse for he will be accused of not helping them in their spiritual life! The rest of the non-Christian staff work regularly and make no unnecessary demands. It is only natural that they begin to complain if special privileges and concessions are given to their Christian counterparts! The worst scenario is that they quarrel with you for any petty reason and leave you without even a notice and go and malign your name! I am thoroughly disappointed by the Christian workers that not only am I scared to employ them but I caution my friends against employing them just to help them out! What a tragedy!

Dear friend if you are working in a secular employment and your boss happens to be a believer, obey him in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. If your work does not allow you to go for all the church meetings, camps and retreats, either you have to forgo them or find another suitable job. You should not take advantage of your believing boss or seek favouritism. You must work harder, more efficiently and set an example to the non-Christians. They should see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, help me by my conduct, action and words to provide opportunities to others to know what I believe and Whom I believe and seek to please. Amen