As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, not to set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God who richly furnishes us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed.
Richard Craig, Author at GraceAndWorks - Page 50 of 59
We have all at some time or another been put in a tough situation. Whether it was with family, friends, workplace, Church, school, money problems, etc. Sometimes we can know what to do, yet other times we are at a complete loss on what to do. Today I want to give two different views on tough situations and how those involved saw what to do.
Genesis 22:1-19 tells the story of Abraham and the tough situation he found himself in. God called upon him and Abraham said, “Here am I.” God then proceeded to tell Abraham to sacrifice his only son whom he loved very much. Abraham didn’t question God and set out to do what he was asked. He did all the preparation and took his son to the mountain where God told him to go. Isaac, Abraham’s son, had no idea what was going on and he said to Abraham, “My Father!!” Abraham said, “Here am I, my son.” Isaac asked where the sacrificial lamb was and Abraham said, “God will provide it.” An angel of the Lord called Abraham and he said, “Here am I.” Then a ram showed up caught in the bushes. God had sent the ram and Abraham did not have to sacrifice Isaac. The point of this story is that Abraham had complete faith in God. Three times he was called, and all three times he answered, “Here am I.” He was in a tough situation and knew God would take care of him.
The second story I want to share is about Moses. In Exodus 3:9-12, God calls on Moses. He tells Moses, “I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” Moses didn’t want to do this for God and started asking all kinds of questions. God wasn’t taking no for an answer. God gave him all of answers and finally Moses said to God, “They are not going to believe me.” (Exodus 4:1-17) God still was not going to take no for an answer, so he gave Moses a couple things to show Pharaoh to convince him about who Moses was. 1) God put a rod in Moses’s hand and Moses dropped it to the ground and it turned to a serpent, Moses picked it up and it turned back to a rod. 2) Now God told Moses to put his hand in his bosom, when he took it out it was leprous. He put it back in his bosom and took it back out and it was restored like it was originally. God now tells Moses, After you show these things to them maybe they will believe you.” God then tells Moses, “If those don’t work, get some water from the Nile and pour it on the ground and it will turn to blood.” Now Moses tells God he is not an eloquent speaker, and asks God to send some one else. God tells him not to worry, “I will put the words in your mouth.” Moses makes one more plea to God to please send some one else. God tells him, “I will get Aaron, your brother to help you.” Moses was in a tough situation, and between he and God, they got things worked out.
What I want you to think about is this: Are you like Abraham and have complete faith in God or are you like Moses and need more help from God to get worked through things. Either way, with God, you will see that you can handle any “Tough Situation” you get put into. Have a good day all!!
Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now HE COMMANDS MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT, because He has FIXED a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.
By this we know that we abide in Him and he in us, because He has given us of His own Spirit. And we have seen and testify that that the Father has sent His Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgement, because as He is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who has fear is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.
But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgement will be revealed. For He will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulations and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek. but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.
It was of these also that Enoch in the seventh generation from Adam prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with His holy myriads, to execute judgement on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness which they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own passions, loud-mouthed boasters, flattering people to gain advantage.
For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Fatso–scumbag–fleabag–curly–you’re not good enough–can’t you do anything right?–you’ll never amount to anything–you’re just stupid–you’re not as good as your brother/sister–slut–piggy–nerd–and the list goes on.
If you have ever been bullied you’ve heard some of these sayings or maybe all of them. Harmless words to some and VERY harmful to others. Making fun of you, brow beating, putting down, making fun of what you do, are all excuses the one doing the bullying uses. No matter what twist you want to put on these sayings, they all amount to bullying. Many people deal with this every day. It doesn’t matter what age, color of skin, or gender you are. IT HAPPENS!!
How it is dealt with varies from individual to individual. Some will resort to cutting. Some will resort to eating disorders. Some will go into a deep depression and completely withdraw from any activity. Some will turn to alcohol. Some will turn to drugs. Some end up in jail, completely throwing their life away. Some will turn to suicide. Regardless of what happens, it could have been prevented had those words not been said.
There is help out there for those individuals who are having this problem happening to them. For kids, there are counselors available at school (They WILL listen and help). If they are a part of a church, there is clergy available to help them. If they have a decent communication line between them and their parents, the parents can help. It may have gotten bad enough for them that as they reach out, professional help may be needed. Parents–watch for signs, before it gets too late to help. Three of the major signs are, 1) Withdrawal and 2) Grades have dropped for no apparent reason 3) Change of friends or no friends.
Adults can also have a problem with bullying. It can be a work related problem. It could be a spouse abuse/marriage problem. It could be getting eliminated from a group. And it could be that some of the above words and sayings are being said and done to them. Whatever the case might be the symptoms are the same as for kids. Depression, drugs, alcohol, eating disorders, and suicide. Adults are like kids in that they sometimes won’t reach out for help. In a strong marriage with good communication, the spouse will see what is happening and reach out to help. If you are part of a church group, they can help, especially the clergy. Most of them are trained to listen and give guidance. And like kids, it may be bad enough that you will need professional help.
Bullying is a huge problem in today’s world. As we read about it and learn about it, the more concern there is for those being bullied. It’s a sad situation for those it is happening to and needs to be addressed. If you know of someone, or you are being bullied, SEEK HELP!!
This is evidence of the righteous judgement of God, that you may be made worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you are suffering– since indeed God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and UPON THOSE WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might, when He comes on that day to be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
“Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, `Lord open to us.` He will answer you, `I do not know where you come from.` Then you will begin to say, `We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.` But He will say, `I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!` There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at the table in the Kingdom of God. “
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