Results 1 - 7 of 7
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Balanced, centered, or lukewarm? | Eccl 7:18 | Aixen7z4 | 101142 | ||
Ecclesiastes 7:18 is apparently a summary and conclusion, following on verses 16 and 17. Thesis, antithesis, synthesis. But where does it leave us? Don't be too hot, or too cold, but don’t be lukewarm either. Who among our brethren has been able to find that perfect balance without being spewed out of his mouth? Please share your wisdom now, your experience, and the scriptures that have guided you. | ||||||
2 | Balanced, centered, or lukewarm? | Eccl 7:18 | compudex | 101151 | ||
Aixen7z4: Because of your question - is there a feeling of condemnation that has crept into your thoughts? Are you feeling that you have not or are not doing all that you can? If so, this thought is not unique to Christians. Often we find that sometimes an idea comes into our heads that we are not right in God's eyes. A seed of doubt. An attempt to steal joy. In the Gospels Satan tried this very thing with Jesus. Sowing doubt in our minds. Hot, cold, lukewarm. Ecclesiastes has a recurring word in it, vanity. This tool is used with precision in the hands of Satan. Getting us involved into looking inside ourselves too much. A mother holds her child and you can see the love she has for it in her eyes. Does a mother love her child less when she is washing dishes and you don't see the love? No, the spirit of her love is still the same. It is just not being displayed. Did Paul love the Lord less when he was making tents? (Acts 18:3*) No, it was not displayed, in that he was not out preaching and teaching. Yet, it was displayed because he was supporting himself. And actually, the mother's love was displayed by washing the dishes and keeping up the house as an act of loving her child. Therefore, what we do throughout the day can show our love to the Father just by doing daily responsibilities. God is not going to come into your kitchen and wash the dishes for you. Paul worked and supported himself, did his daily chores just like us, and tended to his calling, teaching and preaching. He was called to a full time ministry but he did his daily responsibilities as well. Do not separate Romans chapter 7 and Romans chapter 8. The words "there is therefore" in Rom. 8:1 means "what I am going to say next has to do with what I just said". My supportive Scriptures, cause I am still man: Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. * Act 18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. God works in us everyday toward getting us to the mark. Every day can be an adventure. Nothing can remove you from the Hands that love you. Mark 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Grace to you! |
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3 | Balanced, centered, or lukewarm? | Eccl 7:18 | Aixen7z4 | 101174 | ||
You are correct. I am not doing enough. I feel certain of that. More than that, I wonder have I done my best for Jesus Who died upon the cruel tree To think of his great sacrifice and suffering And know my Lord expects the best of me It’s a matter of quality over quantity. And yet, you need to be careful with the extrapolations, Compu, for you know not the thoughts of another person beyond what has been written, only your own. In any case, the invitation is to share your own thoughts, not to look into the thoughts of others. For me, it is not a matter of condemnation. Is it for you? For me, it is not whether God loves me or I love him, and I cannot even address the points about doubt or vanity. You say that one can look within oneself too much, and that is getting closer to the point. With what do you balance looking within? And how much is too much? Where’s the balance? You say , “what we do throughout the day can show our love to the Father just by doing daily responsibilities”. Where is the balance, then? I might guess that you think the matter of balance is not important, but I don’t want to read your mind. When you survey the wondrous cross, what do you do? Do you strive for balance in your life? |
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4 | Balanced, centered, or lukewarm? | Eccl 7:18 | compudex | 101183 | ||
Hi Aixen7z4: To have balance in ones life. Balance with what? Am I satisfied with what I have done with the time the Lord has given me, no! When I look at the cross sometimes I just break down and cry. Sometimes the crying is from guilt and sometimes the crying is from gratefulness. Sometimes I ask what is the Spirit of Christ. I am still in a body that wants to do what it wants to do. I must understand this and ask God to forgive me where I fall short. I am elated when I am aware of His blessing. Balance, is there a balance? This maybe something we were taught or heard that was necessary for the ultimate Christian life. I don't recall reading in the Scriptures about balance. Some days I can't wait for Christ's return and some days I say Oh God, don't come now. How do I strive for balance? I don't. Am I perfect, no, not yet. Do I accept that? Sometimes. Am I frustrated? Yes, sometimes. I guess mostly when I look inside myself is when I pray. For then is when I am quiet and the Spirit brings to mind things that I can improve on. A few people I have talked with seem to think they should just go and go and go. I read in the Bible the events that have taken place. One page after another - this happened - that happened. The time span between the pages ( or events) usually is quite a while. Things just don't happen one right after another. In some places Paul spent two years at a time. As you said, I can't see what is in your mind. And I wasn't trying to. I just related to the confusion of thought. You are very right about - "It's a matter of quality over quantity." Is it a matter of condemnation? Yes, I get that thought sometimes. I even get the thoughts that God is not real. But, I know where these thoughts come from and who has entered them. We are spiritual creatures and we are susceptible to the spirit world. Not all our thoughts are our own. As for me, my roots are in the ground and I keep reaching for the Son. The Scriptures says that 'each star has its own glory'. So it is with us. Ever had the experience (or something like it) that you thought to yourself that you needed to do the laundry? Then you decide to wait until tomorrow. Then, that night one of your best friends calls you to go out for dinner. And the thought comes to you that you KNEW you should have done the laundry because now you don't anything clean to wear to the restaurant. In other words, sometimes it can be the most insignificant little thing, but that small voice is always for our betterment. Do we always hear it? Yes. Thanks for responding to my previous note. |
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5 | Balanced, centered, or lukewarm? | Eccl 7:18 | Aixen7z4 | 101187 | ||
You say you don't recall reading in the Scriptures about balance? Then maybe you should read our key verses again. They are Ecclesiastes 7:16-18. The scriptures also speak about “moderation” and “modesty” and “self-control” and these seem to connote balance. One might say they are most desirable qualities in any man, most of all the Christian. “Balance with what?”, you ask. Don’t you like the way Jesus balanced power with meekness, knowledge with humility, desire with patience? But then individual postures, such as anticipation, may well be balanced too. Some days you can't wait for Christ's return and some days you say, “Oh God, don't come now”. How do you strive for balance? You don't. You seem to have good tolerance for the ups and downs of anticipation. If you wanted to have balance there you could decide to “abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. Remember to be ready always : “for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh”. Another alternative to balance is to be extreme. Very hot. Very cold. Very fast. O so slow. “Just go and go and go”. Or “no go”. One gets the picture of a driver rapidly alternating between the accelerator and the brake. Would it not be better to get some balance of that peddle? I think our passage, indeed the whole tenor of scripture, says there is a need for balance. It seems that experience and practice should help us to achieve it. What do you think? |
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6 | Balanced, centered, or lukewarm? | Eccl 7:18 | compudex | 101191 | ||
Since you have all the answers I can offer nothing else. Peace to you! |
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7 | Balanced, centered, or lukewarm? | Eccl 7:18 | Aixen7z4 | 101215 | ||
Please do not be discouraged. This is not an exercise in giving answers. For me, it is not a matter of having the answers. Rather, it is that we encourage each other to practice what we know (John 13:17). If we have established that the Lord requires a balanced life, the question remains: How do we do it? Experiences, with verses, would be most welcome. |
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