We Must Be Careful With Our Lives

BIBLE STUDY #798 CHURCH IN THE HOUSES From: JANUARY 14 -20, 2014

Topic: “We Must Be Careful With Our Lives” Matthew 6:1 There are many things in which we can be boasted; I’m saying: “Many!” But, the end of this will be that God will judge our acts and if there is vain conceit in us we will remain without a reward. Many times we are moved by something that is not a healed passion, what moves us is our vanity. We like to look good, make an impression and be admired by many. And it would be better if we’re applauded by everyone; we think this way would be the best so it can be said that we are doing well the Lord’s work. We know it shouldn’t be like this. Matthew 6:1 “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” Be careful. Jesus sends you to look out after your life so that you protect it and watch out for vanity, of the boasting. Vanity is to boast, conceit, presumption. It’s the great boast behind the facts; they are the acts or deeds we perform and say they are for the Lord and in reality are worthless (delusions). Jesus knew very well the things in which men stumble; a very negative one is vanity. The Lord Jesus spoke very clear about the justice of the Kingdom and of the lack of ostentation. When one wants to comply with the justice in Jesus’ Kingdom we see that there is much to do or work, but it should be far from ostentation. Far from pride and ostentation in all the acts of justice: when giving to the poor, in prayer and in fasting, which in this case are presented as examples of justice. We should not make a display of our own justice to be filled of glory and applauses on behalf of those who see us. There are things that we should only do for the kingdom of God; it is our duty for with God who demands it in the first place and later judges it. The Lord our God will see to it that He is properly recognized, but when things are done only for ostentation for having complied with some duty, God cannot acknowledge it; He doesn’t even stop to judge it; well God only accepts what is done only with Him in mind. To despise others is very unpleasant to the Lord. Jesus said in Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones; for I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” In this world contempt is very common. The saying of those who like to boast is: “According to what you have is what your worth!” To humiliate others is proper of those who believe they are greater, such person ignores broadly those who believe they are underestimated. This means that the angels have a commission to fulfill before the throne of the Lord, and that is to take care and look out after all those who are despised by the presumptuous who display so much greatness. Those guardian angels care for all those who are underestimated on behalf of the others. 1 Corinthians 3:10 Careful how you rebuild! Here it is spoken to us of how to rebuild over the foundation of Christ. We have to build over that foundation that is already in place. Or better said, what was established or taught by Christ and the apostles. For example, Jesus said: “Be meek and humble” That foundation is already in place, it’s done. So what we’re rebuilding now cannot be in vanity, or in greatness, or nothing of ostentation. Simply, it is the way Jesus did it, who gave all his love; He surrendered Himself in exchange for nothing. The master did not seek applauses or to be recognized but rather He moved in deliverance and with great passion. Now we cannot edify or construct another foundation or edification different from the one of Christ and the apostles, we cannot go adding vanity to the humbleness and service of those pious men and of great surrender. We have to be careful of what we’re capable of teaching because it has already been edified and we need to follow the same line of what Jesus taught. 1 Corinthians 10:12 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! Let’s be careful with our lives, those who believe they are firm, see that you don’t fall. Colossians 4:17 “Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.” How much and how easy a life can deviate for what is ostentation! We cannot forget what we have been given to perform the service, a service that is for a great deal of dedication. Regrettably, to be before the people is our vanity. And we always yield to ostentation, where we can be seen, followed and where we can exhibit ourselves; that fulfills men. Careful! Jesus and the apostles did in secrecy, they were persecuted, they were lonely and in great pains. “Archippus: See that you comply with the ministry you received in the Lord.” It seems as if he is warning him, “Careful, don’t pass up what you’re supposed to do, don’t entertain yourself with the vain things.” We have all received the call to do some service from the hands of the Lord and one day we will be asked to give account of what we have done with it. The apostle had chains, but he did not stop to write and worry for his own; that was how he edified; being diligent to comply with his ministry. 1 Timothy 4:16 “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Preserve in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” Doctrine is the teachings given by Jesus and his disciples (the apostles). Doctrine is what was already taught and learned by Timothy. Paul warns him on how to take care of himself: “You should take care of the teachings received.” He insisted in him in being constant in teaching what he learned, to not get mixed up in what was proper in him, nothing of his mentality. Paul wanted the doctrine of Christ to be cautious so that there wouldn’t be anything of Timothy himself. Timothy was one who had to be cleansed with the blood of Christ of the vanity of this world and of all the unrighteous and adverse things there are of this world in one. We need to persist in what was taught and not what is proper of us. The advice and order from Paul to Timothy was so he could save himself and those who depended on him after listening to the pure doctrine of the gospel. We need to learn the doctrine of Christ, which are the Sacred Scriptures, in order to do what we should do in justice and in rectitude; not teach of us but rather what has already been taught by the Lord and the apostles. Amen.