Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
(Matthew 18:4-7)
Many in the modern Church are causing their fellow saints to stumble by their vain speech and idle babbling, all without knowing. The Bible has much to say about speech. Speech itself has an effect on the hearer, not merely emotionally or psychologically, but spiritually. Indeed, "death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof" (Proverbs 18:21).
The mere listening to, or in the case of the internet, the reading of words, has an effect on one's spirit, mind, and soul. It is the means by which one takes in spiritual food, and can either nourish or poison the soul. Sinful speech is fatal and can lead to death:
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness (2 Timothy 2:16).
Such talk refers to any profane and vain talk, not just talk about issues that are clearly vain, such as outward 'beauty', nor shameful talk, that is, sexual immorality. No! It refers to any talk that can lead people to ungodliness of any kind. Thus, it most definitely includes any speech which can stir up envy and jealousy in people, especially a weaker follower of Christ who is struggling with such a sin.
There are many in the modern Church who struggle with the sin of envy and jealousy. These are sins of the flesh, sins that are just as serious as idolatry, unrighteous wrath, witchcraft, and sexual immorality (Galatians 5:19-21).
Many in the modern Church speak with admiration about those who are "rich", for example' those who are "professionals", or those couples who have a "double-income". This stirs up envy and jealousy in many people. It is not stating the fact that a person is a professional, has financial 'security' or double-income itself that is a sin. Such may be true, one might say. However, that is what the problem is, that such things are said to incite envy and jealousy in others.
Even speaking about the basic financial security of one person compared to another can be such vain speech, being spoken in the manner of spirit of expressing admiration, disdain or false sympathy towards those who have less financial security. Such is evil speech which will incite people or tempt people to trust in mammon, as opposed to God (Matthew 6:24-34).
My friends, flee from those whose mouth praises others for the vain things they have, calling such things admirable, to your ruin. It will only stir up envy and jealousy in you.
Such speech can and often is subtle. It is extremely subtle. Speaking in admiration of the so-called good but vain earthly fortune that others have is a manifestation of envy and jealousy. People who exhibit such speech are under the spirit of envy and jealousy themselves.
Speaking about the good things one has, which others do not have, whether it be money, house, jobs, marriage, education, family, friends, or car, in the manner of spirit of wanting to be admired, or be envied is itself vain talk. One need not be ostentatiously boasting about such things to be guilty of such a sin.
As long as one has the desire even to the slightest to show how good a position one is in, it is sin, it is vain vile talk. One sins even more by such speech where done in the presence of those who struggle with the sins of envy and jealousy, to their ruin, and even possibly shipwrecking their faith.
Apostle Paul told Timothy to remind people not to speak things which ruin their hearers: Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers (2 Timothy 2:14).
Speech which in the manner of spirit of wanting to be admired, envied or incite jealousy, is abominable. It is totally immaterial that the content of such speech is factually true. To even think about speaking of people in such a way is itself sin, and is stumbling block. Shame on you if you profess Christ but are full of such vain speech which ruins hearers!
Woe to those who cause others to stumble in their faith in Jesus Christ!
If you are full of envy and jealousy, and have no problem with it, but call yourself a follower of Christ, you are probably not a true follower of Christ. If you are not a Christian, you will be full of envy and jealousy. You will have no peace and joy because you are not right with God. Only by being right with God, the true God of the Bible, will you have peace and joy.
If you have lies, looked in lust, blasphemed the name of God, for example, by saying, "Oh my G-d", you have sinned against righteous and holy God. You have broken His Law and must be punished by God because He is righteous, good and just. That punishment is eternity in Hell. But God, in His great mercy and grace made a way out.
That way is Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully Man. He died for your sins so that you may be saved from God's just wrath. You broke God's Law, Jesus paid your fine, so that one the Day of Judgment, God may dismiss your case. So, be saved from the wrath of God. Humble yourself, acknowledge your sin, turn from your sin and place your faith in Jesus Christ today. Do it today while you still have time.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
(Matthew 18:4-7)
Many in the modern Church are causing their fellow saints to stumble by their vain speech and idle babbling, all without knowing. The Bible has much to say about speech. Speech itself has an effect on the hearer, not merely emotionally or psychologically, but spiritually. Indeed, "death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof" (Proverbs 18:21).
The mere listening to, or in the case of the internet, the reading of words, has an effect on one's spirit, mind, and soul. It is the means by which one takes in spiritual food, and can either nourish or poison the soul. Sinful speech is fatal and can lead to death:
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness (2 Timothy 2:16).
Such talk refers to any profane and vain talk, not just talk about issues that are clearly vain, such as outward 'beauty', nor shameful talk, that is, sexual immorality. No! It refers to any talk that can lead people to ungodliness of any kind. Thus, it most definitely includes any speech which can stir up envy and jealousy in people, especially a weaker follower of Christ who is struggling with such a sin.
There are many in the modern Church who struggle with the sin of envy and jealousy. These are sins of the flesh, sins that are just as serious as idolatry, unrighteous wrath, witchcraft, and sexual immorality (Galatians 5:19-21).
Many in the modern Church speak with admiration about those who are "rich", for example' those who are "professionals", or those couples who have a "double-income". This stirs up envy and jealousy in many people. It is not stating the fact that a person is a professional, has financial 'security' or double-income itself that is a sin. Such may be true, one might say. However, that is what the problem is, that such things are said to incite envy and jealousy in others.
Even speaking about the basic financial security of one person compared to another can be such vain speech, being spoken in the manner of spirit of expressing admiration, disdain or false sympathy towards those who have less financial security. Such is evil speech which will incite people or tempt people to trust in mammon, as opposed to God (Matthew 6:24-34).
My friends, flee from those whose mouth praises others for the vain things they have, calling such things admirable, to your ruin. It will only stir up envy and jealousy in you.
Such speech can and often is subtle. It is extremely subtle. Speaking in admiration of the so-called good but vain earthly fortune that others have is a manifestation of envy and jealousy. People who exhibit such speech are under the spirit of envy and jealousy themselves.
Speaking about the good things one has, which others do not have, whether it be money, house, jobs, marriage, education, family, friends, or car, in the manner of spirit of wanting to be admired, or be envied is itself vain talk. One need not be ostentatiously boasting about such things to be guilty of such a sin.
As long as one has the desire even to the slightest to show how good a position one is in, it is sin, it is vain vile talk. One sins even more by such speech where done in the presence of those who struggle with the sins of envy and jealousy, to their ruin, and even possibly shipwrecking their faith.
Apostle Paul told Timothy to remind people not to speak things which ruin their hearers: Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers (2 Timothy 2:14).
Speech which in the manner of spirit of wanting to be admired, envied or incite jealousy, is abominable. It is totally immaterial that the content of such speech is factually true. To even think about speaking of people in such a way is itself sin, and is stumbling block. Shame on you if you profess Christ but are full of such vain speech which ruins hearers!
Woe to those who cause others to stumble in their faith in Jesus Christ!
If you are full of envy and jealousy, and have no problem with it, but call yourself a follower of Christ, you are probably not a true follower of Christ. If you are not a Christian, you will be full of envy and jealousy. You will have no peace and joy because you are not right with God. Only by being right with God, the true God of the Bible, will you have peace and joy.
If you have lies, looked in lust, blasphemed the name of God, for example, by saying, "Oh my G-d", you have sinned against righteous and holy God. You have broken His Law and must be punished by God because He is righteous, good and just. That punishment is eternity in Hell. But God, in His great mercy and grace made a way out.
That way is Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully Man. He died for your sins so that you may be saved from God's just wrath. You broke God's Law, Jesus paid your fine, so that one the Day of Judgment, God may dismiss your case. So, be saved from the wrath of God. Humble yourself, acknowledge your sin, turn from your sin and place your faith in Jesus Christ today. Do it today while you still have time.
Comments
Post a Comment