Sunday, August 28, 2011
pm
WHOSE BUSINESS IS IT HOW
I LIVE?
It is truly sad, but we live in a society where there are many
who want to serve God on their own terms.
They want to be able to attend worship services when they want to
and they want to live however they choose and still profess to be
following God. When a
concerned brother comes to him about some questionable behavior OR
perhaps something that is outright wrong, he might hear, “Mind your own
business.” “What I do is
none of your business so leave me alone!”
It is interesting that as Paul was writing to the church at
Thessalonica he said, “But we urge
you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to
lead a quiet life, to mind your
own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you
may lack nothing.” (1 Thess 4:10-12)
As one reads this he might think if someone wants to live in
rebellion against God’s will that we should simply let them.
Perhaps one might even think that he has no responsibility to
address one overtaken in some sinful conduct.
But is that what the text is actually saying?
AND, should we be concerned about how one lives, especially our
brother in Christ?
Tonight we want to examine these questions and seek to answer according to God’s word, “Whose business is it how I live?” We will notice some people according to God’s word whose have an impact on your conduct.
a.
First and foremost, we
must realize that everything we do is God’s business.
He sees all that we do and even knows what we think.
b.
Heb. 4:13 tells us that
we cannot hide from God.
There is no creature hidden from His sight AND we will give account to
Him.
1 Cor. 4:5 tells us that a time is coming when the counsels of the heart
will be judged.
c.
Acts 17:31 tells us He
has appointed a day when He will judge the world.
2 Thess. 1:8 tells us that with flaming fire He will take vengeance on
those who do not know Him and those who do not obey the gospel.
Considering that one day we will stand before Him, we ought to
care that He cares.
d.
1 Cor. 6:20 reminds us
that a price was paid for our redemption.
Because of this we have a responsibility to “glorify God in your
body and in your spirit.”
IF we are going to serve God (with reverence and Godly fear) with ANY
hope of salvation, it WILL matter to us how our conduct affects Him.
II.
It’s Christ’s business
a.
As with God, 2 Cor. 5:10
tells us that we must all appear before judgment seat of Christ.
It is His word that will determine our salvation – John 12:48.
b.
1 Cor. 6:15-20 describes
how we belong to Christ and the way we live reflects that.
c.
Mark 8:38 – whoever is
ashamed of Me and My word…
d.
If there is to be any
hope of salvation after this life, we better know that what we do IS the
business of our Lord.
III.
It’s the Spirit’s
business –
a.
The Bible is the product
of the Holy Spirit. A lesson
within itself can be presented demonstrating how the word of God is the
work of the spirit. He
revealed the Word for us to follow – 1 Cor. 2:10-13, Eph. 3:3-5 has Paul
explaining that what he wrote and taught was a product of the Holy
Spirit.
IF the Bible is a product of the Holy Spirit then it is from God and
MUST be respected (cf. 1 Pet. 4:11)
b.
When we reject the word
of God we will be a disappointment to the Holy Spirit.
Eph. 4:30 tells us to not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.
The text indicates that this is done through our conduct toward
others.
c.
1 Pet. 4:14-16 – Does
the Spirit of glory and of God rest upon you?
IV.
It’s the church’s
business –
a.
Whether we want to face
it or not, our actions are a reflection upon the body of Christ.
b.
Most of the letters of
Paul were written to churches and addressed concerns, often dealing with
how our conduct affects others.
i.
1 Cor. 12:26 – as the
body of Christ, if one member suffers, all will suffer.
ii.
Rom. 2:24 finds Paul
saying the name of the Lord was blasphemed as a result of the sinful
conduct of some in the church at Rome.
c.
Heb. 13:17 – Obey those
who rule over you. Elders
have a responsibility to shepherd the flock (Ac. 20:28, 1 Pet. 5:2-3,
etc.). Whether you like it
or not it is their responsibility to lead you on the right path.
This doesn’t mean they micromanage your life, but if you are
engaged in conduct unbecoming a Christian or that brings reproach upon
the body of Christ, they will act out of concern for your soul.
d.
Further, we are given
clear instructions to deal with one who is not living as they ought to.
Sometimes we call it discipline, but it is actually the final
steps of discipline that has failed up to that point.
In 1 Cor. 5:11-13, we read that we are not keep company with a
brother overtaken in sinful conduct.
2 Thess. 3:6 tells us to withdraw from every brother who walks
disorderly.
Because of passages like these, one’s conduct may very well be the
business of the Lord’s church in a given location.
V.
It’s the business of my
brethren –
a.
Along with the church
and its work, as one’s brother or sister in Christ, we ought to care
about you and your soul.
b.
In Gal. 6:1-2 – we are
obligated to seek to restore a brother overtaken in a trespass.
Jesus taught in Matt. 18:15-17, BEFORE a matter is brought to the
church, individuals involved must respond FIRST.
c.
In 1 Cor. 8:9-13, Paul
challenged these brethren to think about one another in their conduct.
He admonished each of us to not let your liberty become a
stumbling block to your brother.
As a child of God this tells me it is MY business to make sure I
am not doing anything that might be a detriment to my brother.
IF he sees something that is not right, is it not his business to
do what he needs so that he can live godly and without undue temptations
to sin?
d.
Friends, if your
brethren care about you they will make it their business to help you
make yourself right with God, even at risk of relationship. I have said
this before – we ought to be thankful that brethren care enough to come
to us with concerns.
VI.
It’s the business of my
neighbor
a.
May we continually
remind ourselves that we ARE influencing our neighbors whether we like
it or not.
b.
WE are commanded to
behave properly toward those who are outside the body of Christ.
1 Thess. 4:12 calls for us to walk properly toward those who are outside
Matt. 5:16 – let your lights so shine…
c.
Rom. 13:1-5 – obey the
government. When we violate
the laws of the land, not only are we accountable to God, but also to
the government itself. AND
we need to keep in mind how such could reflect our influence concerning
the church.
VII.
It’s the business of my
family –
a.
Sometimes, within the
home, there are those who do not want to submit to God’s pattern.
Whether it be your spouse, your child, your parent or your
sibling, there are standards to be considered.
What do we do in such circumstances?
b.
Col. 3:18-21 – speaks of
responsibilities of various family members.
1 Tim. 5:8 – if one
fails to provide for his family is worse than an unbeliever.
c.
A part of raising
children is to correct them.
Can a child live in rebellion and it not be a concern to his parents?
Under the Old Law, a rebellious son was to be stoned to death (cf. Deut.
21:18-21)
Prov. 13:24 says, “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves
him disciplines him promptly.”
Is it the business of a husband that His wife follows God’s
instructions? Is it the
business of the wife that the man follows God’s instructions?
To what degree do we as brethren have a concern when we see ungodly
families in peril? Again I
do not believe we ought to micromanage, especially another family and we
ought to give WIDE latitude in judgment, BUT when a child is in danger
or a marriage is in danger we ought to do what we can to save that
relationship. Will we?
And if you are the one whose family ties are in jeopardy, will
you listen?
VIII.
It my personal business
a.
Having said all the
above, the bottom line is that if you become upset when a genuinely
concerned brother comes to you, YOU have the problem.
YOUR business is to take care of YOUR business so that others do
not have to.
b.
Consider the context of
1 Thess. 4:11. It was
written to brethren who were not working (I.e. taking care of their
family and had become idle) and as a result they were meddling in the
affairs of others. Rather
than being productive, they were becoming gossips and critics of
everyone else. They ignored
the peril in their own lives.
Paul’s admonition was for them to “aspire to lead a quiet life, TO MIND
YOUR OWN BUSINESS, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded
you.” It wasn’t a matter of
concern for others, it was
personal failure that resulted in one not being busy doing good things
in his own life. So in
reality, the message is NOT about others coming to you with concerns but
you living so that they need not have to come to you with such things.
c.
Gal. 6:3-5 calls for
each of us to examine our own works and bear our own load.
2 Cor. 13:5 calls for us to examine and prove ourselves, lest we be
disqualified.
Conclusion:
Considering how one day you WILL stand before God and give account for
your own life – 2 Cor. 5:10 – you better take care of yourself.
AND if your brother loves you enough to come to you with a
concern: Instead of telling him to mind his own business, be thankful
that he cares enough about me to tell me what I NEED to hear instead of
what we want to hear. That is a true friend.
Solomon said so, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the
kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Prov. 27:6)
Think about it!