Category: Relationships

Someone’s Drowning!! Failures to Rescue Christians Who Fall Away

A small cruise ship was traveling through the balmy Caribbean waters when a young man fell overboard. As he thrashed about in the water, the people on board gathered along the guardrail to consider what to do.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/respres/4775577737/
by Jeff Turner (respres) via Flickr (Creative Commons use)

Some of the people said, “I really didn’t know him that well so I don’t know what good I would be able to do. He may not appreciate our efforts if we try to swim out to save him.” They went back to their comfortable chairs away from the crowd.

Many of the people looked at the boy fighting to keep his head above the waves and said, “He’s not really in trouble at all. He is still close to the boat and if he really wants to come back, he’ll find a way. Besides, he may start swimming in the same direction we are traveling and get to port safely.” Then they went about their business.

Some of the people quickly sat down at a table and talked about the situation. They discussed how he might have fallen overboard and suggested that someone ought to do something about the drowning boy. They agreed that someone ought to give some speeches: one on the dangers facing the person who falls overboard, another on better ways to inform people on what to do when one falls overboard, and a speech on how to rescue someone who is falls in the ocean. They continued talking about this for a while and decided to meet again later and discuss this important issue again.

Even the parents and other family members who were on the ship, and expert swimmers themselves, were concerned about their loved one and wondered who would jump in and save him. They kept yelling to the others and pointing out the young man who commiserated with them, but did not throw out a lifeline.

As the people on board pointed, talked, or went about their business, the young man’s efforts to stay afloat became weaker and weaker. Finally, the man’s head dropped lifelessly back and sank into the surf. Immediately, several jumped from the ship and brought the man’s dead body to the deck. They tried to revive him but it was too late. Those on the ship—parents, friends, other passengers—began to blame one another for the man’s death. Yet they were all responsible for his death for none would be responsible for trying to save him.

As the passengers sorrowed over the young man, a young woman fell overboard. Those on the deck immediately sprang into action. They gathered at the table to discuss this problem of people falling overboard and determined that the speaker must make haste to deliver his presentations on “The Dangers of Falling Overboard” and “How to Rescue the Drowning.” The other passengers went about their business or stood along the rail watching the young woman fight for her life alone in the dangerous swells.

Jude 20-23: But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

James 5:19-20: Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Galatians 6:1: Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted

Don’t Talk Your Dreams To Death

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23

“In all toil (labor) there is profit”
Diligent work always leads to some result or profit of benefit to the worker. Most work is neither easy nor fun but it does pay the bills and provides money for doing good and having fun. Even if you have a job you enjoy, there will be  unpleasant duties. People who love to garden still must get dirty, sweaty, and dig through the soil if they want to have the flowers or produce of the garden.

“Mere talk leads to poverty”
In contrast to diligent labor, talk without action leads to poverty. Idle talking does not pay and has gotten some people fired. Grandiose plans and slick presentations may impress others but it does not pay one cent if no labor is expended to make the dream a reality.

The first obvious application—indeed the natural application—of this verse is to the business world. In the early days of personal computers —before the average person could access the Internet—a man I knew had great plans to work with realtors to put pictures of houses for sale on videodisc (pre-DVD) with sale information for agents and customers. He had a prototype system, good marketing plan, and enthusiastic presentation. He talked with people in the office about his plans and the unlimited potential for profits. One problem: he did not have customers or profit from the work because he did not get out and talk to the customers who needed the system. In short, he planned and talked his way to poverty while other people, through hard work, were able to profit from similar ideas.

The world is made up of  poor creative geniuses and  rich people of average intelligence. The difference is not what they know but by what they do.

This principle is especially important for spiritual growth. Is your spiritual life the product of hard work or mere talk?

Some people talk about “getting their life right” or “straightening up” but still hang out with ungodly friends, feed their minds with filth, and do not change. Some say they want to pray or study more—and do so year after year. Some talk about doing more things with their brethren, helping the sick or needy, or getting involved with some work in the church but do not act.

Some people realize their life is displeasing to God, is yielding undesirable consequences, and is unsatisfying so they change their behavior. Some want a closer relationship with God and execute a plan to study and pray more frequently. Some take action to involve themselves with their brethren so they can have richer and deeper fellowship with other Christians.

If you want to have a rich and meaninful spiritual life, you’ll have to work for it.

  • Romans 13:11-14 – Awake and get busy
  • Thessalonians 5:4-8 – get busy with good things
  • Ephesians 5:14-17 – wake up and make good use of your time

 “He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.” Proverbs 28:19 (NIV)

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” How sad it will be for those who dreamed of a close relationship with God and their brethren, a close loving family, and a meaningful life’s work to fail because they only dreamed and did not act.

Forgiving Ourselves

You know, based on God’s promises, that He has forgiven you. But if you’re still agonizing about what you did (or didn’t do) and feeling great guilt, perhaps you have yet to forgive yourself. When you acknowledged your sin you already made the hardest decision–facing yourself and making changes. Sometime when you pray, thank God for the guilt and shame that moved you to repent and leave a destructive path.

Your past will not define your life and you should not look at yourself through the lens of your past. There are many people who have been down the same road you traveled who are fine teachers, loving spouses and parents, and good examples for others.

Sometimes we hold onto guilt and have problems forgiving ourselves because we feel that we are letting ourselves off too easily. Holding guilt allows us to punish ourselves and, when reaching some spiritual summit, reproach ourselves saying, “You’re not so good. I remember when you…” It is ok to let go of your guilt. Acknowledge that your inward pain has been your punishment and prison for past sins and give yourself a pardon.

Forgiveness is the greatest thing you can give others and yourself. Grieve your sins, the embarrassment you feel/felt, the sorrow for letting others and yourself down, the actions you regret–yes grieve them–then let them go. You have punished yourself well enough–I think anyone could say that you have not let yourself off easily–you have the right to free yourself and enjoy true peace and happiness. You will never forget what you have done, but when you forgive yourself, it finds a place in your past that can only give you a small tinge of pain when it is brought to mind, but it will not bully and berate you anymore.

Making Mature Decisions

The New Testament does not give many specific “do” and “don’ts” as in the Old Testament.  There are many specific commands, but we must make the majority of our decisions using principles established in the word of God.  We do not have a specific command:  “Thou shalt not cheat on your federal income tax form.”  Nevertheless, we do have the principles of honesty, fairness, and “paying taxes to whom taxes are due” in the scriptures.  The Bible does not outline specifics on our apparel (how long, how tight or loose, etc.) but does command us to be modest, able to blush, not to incite others to lust, and wear clothing that reflects godliness, not worldliness.  Through an honest application of these principles, we can determine what is proper attire.
Some will say, “But the Bible doesn’t say not to” when trying to defend something that may have no specific restriction but is against the very principles of Christianity.  Does the defendant believe in a loophole that will allow his behavior to pass on the Day of Judgment?  There are things that might be good that are forbidden in certain circumstances such as eating meat in 1 Corinthians 8:13.  Eating meat offered to an idol is not wrong unless it would cause my brother to stumble.

As Christians, we must grow to maturity so we can use the word of God to make decisions in our lives.  We must pursue or avoid some things based on general principles of godliness and holiness.  The Bible does not tell us what specific movies to watch, books to read, music to listen to, or TV programs to watch.  We are given principles that must guide our thoughts: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things,” Philippians 4:8. 

Some may be frustrated since there are not many “thou shalt” and “thou shalt not’s” in the New Testament (note: The Old Testament had guiding principles as well: Matthew 22:34-40).  However, God is trying to make us better people, not just individuals who can read a checklist and do what is commanded.  God did not create us to check off a list of commands but to transform us into Christ-like creatures that want to be godly, holy, and useful for every good work.  We must guide our mind by principles in addition to following specific commands.
You will find no particular book of the New Testament that lists all of these principles.  The principles are spread throughout the Bible, are seen in the life of Christ, and are the very fabric from which the Christian life is made. By daily study and practice, we can learn the principles and the thought processes that must guide our daily decisions.

Choose Friends With Care

One of our strongest influences is our friends.  The friends we choose will help us draw closer to God or go farther away from Him.  There are good examples like Cornelius in Acts 10 who invited his friends to hear the gospel.  There are bad examples like the friends of Rehoboam, in 2 Chronicles 10, who gave Rehoboam bad advice which cost him most of the kingdom.

Proverbs 12:26 and 22:24-25 warns us to choose our friends carefully since the wicked can lead us astray.  Most people are familiar with 1 Corinthians 15:33:  “Evil company corrupts good habits.”  When our closest friends are people who do not share our faith, priorities, and principles, we create the potential for many conflicts and unnecessary tests of our faith.

 We should not abandon friendships with non-Christians, but should make our closest companions (who are in greater positions of influence) those who share our values and priorities.  Some have lost their faith by associating with very worldly people thinking, “I will change them.”  However, it is often the child of God who is changed, and usually for the worse.  Paul prefaces his “evil companions” warning of 1 Corinthians 15:33 with “Do not be deceived.”  It is easy for us to deceive ourselves and think that others cannot corrupt us.

Good friends can greatly strengthen us.  Proverbs 27:17 teaches that good friends can improve one another as iron sharpening iron. We should choose our closest friends from the children of God.  They understand the trials that we face, the importance of service to God, and the principles that guide our lives.  By our mutual associations, we can encourage one another to do what is right, Hebrews 10:24-25.