Do You Hate Correction?

There are some within this world who hate any type of correction. It could be a student in class making light of that which his teacher has said. It could be the child screaming to his parent, “Get off my case! You can’t tell me what to do!” Sometimes, it’s even the person sitting in the pulpit, hearing God’s Word preached, “I don’t care what that preacher says. I’m not changing.” Sometimes it is hard to receive correction but it is for our own good. Solomon wrote, “He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.” (Proverbs 15:32). If there is anyone who refuses to listen to godly correction, that person hates his own body! Godly correction is given for the protection of our own bodies. Think about that for one moment. There are some sins which are damaging to the body. Furthermore, these sins are damaging to the soul and WILL keep one from an eternal abode in Heaven. If a man refuses to listen to godly admonition against these things, it can be said that he hates his own soul. On the other hand, if a person is willing to listen to God’s Word and take in God’s Word, that person gains understanding. You better understand what things to avoid and what things to seek. You are more likely to protect your body from certain harm and yourself eternally. Do you hate receiving godly correction? It’s to the detriment of your own soul.

Pictures from the Prodigal: Sin (Part 2)

Sin Humiliates

He was no longer a superior citizen (v. 11-12, 14). When one considers a few basic facts from this text, he would notice that this younger son was not from a poor family. His father had many servants and was able to take good care of these servants. Upon returning, the young man was greeted with many great blessings which would not come from a poor family. That being said, when the young man set off for the far away country, he was not destitute. He was what we might consider to be a “superior citizen” monetarily. After spending all with riotous living, he soon found himself in a position lower than he ever dreamed.

He became a servant to swine (v. 15-16). In his poverty, this man took the only job which was apparently available. He joined himself to one of the citizens and began feeding swine. This statement is not a knock on those who raise swine for a living. A relative used to have a small pig farm and made a good living while he did it. The difference is this relative is not a Jew. Pigs are considered unclean by the Jews (cf. Leviticus 11; Acts 10:12). This Jew found himself in the most humiliating position he could be in. He was tending to an unclean animal. Also consider that in his starvation, the food given to the swine begun to be appealing to him. It is thought that this was a type of bean which had a bitter taste. While it would have been filling to the young man, it would have offered him nothing of nutritional value.

Sin has the ability to being man into his lowest state. Consider these extra Biblical examples. Near the end of Daniel 4 one would read of Nebuchadnezzar’s boasting statements. “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). He was giving himself credit for the national powerhouse which was Babylon. God let the king know who truly deserved credit for Babylon’s existence and for his boasting Nebuchadnezzar ate grass like a wild beast for a period of time. Read Psalm 38:1-8. It is thought that this was written after David’s sin with Bathsheba. Sin put David in a low and humiliating position. What about Judas? He felt sadness after the realization that Christ was going to be put to death and told those who paid him to betray the Christ, “I have sinned!” Their response was simply, “It’s not our concern. Deal with it yourself.” Judas hanged himself. That’s not humiliating part. Acts 1:18 gives more details to the death of Judas. After hanging himself, Judas was cut down from the tree. Apparently time had passed and bodily gasses had built up within his body. His belly burst open adding humiliation to his death. One can even consider the more modern example of our own celebrities. How often do these people start out well enough only for sin to take a major hold of their lives? Soon enough many of these people become parodies of themselves, faced with bitter mocking from others, and sometimes a humiliating ending.

Please understand the sin will take one and drag that person into an utterly humiliating position in life. The best practice is not to get involved as to keep oneself from being drug down into this position.

Sin Alienates

He was alienated from his fair-weather friends (v. 13, 16). One may ask, “Where is there mention of him having fair-weather friends within the parable. This author will concede that there are none mentioned within the text but will argue that one normally does not live “riotously” by oneself. Help is usually given to encourage this type of lifestyle. Where were these so called friends when he began to be in want? It is quite possible that he was working for one and being mistreated. Adversity has a way of telling us who our true friends are and when this young man needed help there was none to be found.

He was alienated from his eldest brother (v. 26-29). This is not intended to give either brother a free pass. Both were wrong in their actions. The eldest brother was in the wrong because his pride caused hatred for his younger brother and spurred a gentle rebuke from his father. What put the eldest brother in this position? The sin committed by his younger brother. It should be understood that sin can and will cause division amongst families. Children have been alienated from parents due vices such as alcoholism, adultery, or other reasons. Parents and siblings have been alienated from children/siblings due to drug usage and a host of other reasons. Is it the correct attitude when one wishes to repent? No, but these types of sins have been known to drive a rift in families. David wrote, “My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.” (Psalm 38:11). The parable shows this to be true.

He was alienated from himself (v. 15-17a). We are told that this young man “came to himself.” This statement was normally used of someone who was mentally deranged coming into his right mind. Understand, this young man was not mentally deranged per se but one can argue that he was not in the right mindset. Truly, when a person makes a decision to live his life in sin, that person is not thinking clearly. Notice how it took this person hitting rock bottom to remember the blessings which came from being under his father’s roof. Sometimes, that is sadly what it takes for someone to come back to the right frame of mind.

That is a brief look at the picture of sin found within this parable. What is the best practice to avoid these things from occurring in your life? Avoid sin! Understandably, none of us will live a perfectly sinless life but one can avoid living his life serving sin by serving One who will truly care for him. That One is Christ. Get rid of the harsh master that is sin and obey the gospel of Christ (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6; Luke 13:3; Romans 10:10; Mark 16:16) to become the servant of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18).

Pictures from the Prodigal: Sin (Part 1)

There are many pictures that are found within the Bible. By pictures it is meant that the Bible is so detailed on certain items that one cannot help but visualize what is being said. For instance, one can think back to the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8). As Christ begins with “A sower went out to sow his seed…” one can easily visualize a sower sowing seed. Another parable where this is easily seen is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. One can easily visualize the young man as he wastes all and falls into troubles. In fact, there are three pictures which could be found within the text. One such picture is the picture of sin. Within the parable, we are told of a young man who went “into a far away country.” This country is a representation of sin and it would do well to exam the similarities between sin and this country. Our study will take place in Luke 15:11-17.

“And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” (Luke 15:11-17). From this text one would notice three things concerning sin and how it relates to man.

Sin Separates

He was separated from his father (v. 11-13a). The young man first goes to his father and selfishly asks for his portion of the inheritance. One may ask, “How was this young man able to demand his portion of inheritance while his father was still living?” At the time Jesus spoke this parable, Roman law stated that a child could make such a request while their father still lived. If the father did not give the inheritance to said child the government would intervene and force its hand. The only requirement of the child was to pay the government a tax for receiving the inheritance early. The father divided the living amongst his two sons and the youngest son left and went into the far off country away, thus separating himself from his father.

He was separated from his family (v. 13a). Within this parable one is able to read of this young man’s father, eldest brother, and his father’s servants. When one considers how the servants were treated, it is almost as if they were part of this family and treated as creatures lower than any other beings. Again, the young man went into the far away country and by doing so he was separated from his family.

He was separated from his wealth (v. 13b-14a). Upon entering into this far away country the young man took part in “riotous living.” This is essentially spending without any type of investment whatsoever. While his older brother had a theory of how the money was spent, there is nothing within the text to prove this theory. Christ just said it was riotous living which could mean a number of things. Regardless, it is no wonder that with no investments being made the young man soon “spent all.”

He was separated from his blessings (v. 14b-16). Soon after spending all, a famine entered the land and the young man began to be in want. Consider the blessings that would have come by still living with his father. He could remember how well his father’s servants were treated. As this man’s son, the young one would have been blessed more so than his father’s servants. Instead, due to his decision to enter the far away land he was separated from the blessings which came from being under his father’s roof. He was forced to work as the servant of another feeding swine.

Just as being in the far away country caused this young man to be separated from many important things, sin will separate man from a number of important things.

Sin can separate us from The Father. Isaiah made this point as through inspiration he penned, “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2). The deeds which the Jews had committed caused a rift between them and God. It was the iniquities or sins which they committed which caused said separation. If one chooses to live in sin, he faces separation from God.

Sin can separate us from our Family. Within the pages of the Old Testament, one would read of an Israelite being “cut off from the people” for committing certain actions (Exodus 31:14). This was a softer way of saying that person would be killed for committing sin. Since the Jews were of a same lineage it was essentially being separated from a family. Within the pages of the New Testament, the body of Christ, the church, is given many different names. One beautiful description of it is a family (Ephesians 3:14). One can be cut off from that family by way of sin. Jesus gives another picture of this body when He speaks of Himself being the True Vine (John 15:1-7). Christ said, “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:6). That’s separation from the family of Christ because of sin.

Sin can separate us from our wealth. Keep in mind that Christians are not to lay up treasures on earth but Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). At the same time, the Christian is to make proper investments for the future as did the unjust steward (Luke 16:8). What does this have to do with sin? Sin is expensive. It is estimated that if the average smoker in Georgia were to quit, the money left over would feed his or her family for a week. Also consider how many are in want but can still afford a pack of smokes. Imagine the good which can be done if that money were used for other things.

Sin can separate us from our spiritual blessings found in Christ. Paul wrote that all spiritual blessings are found in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3). If one is separated from God and the family of Christ, that one is separated from Christ and the blessings found in Christ.

Notice the separating power which sin has. Why would anyone want to be involved with it? Next, it will be noticed how sin humiliates.

The Power of an Invitation

When one thinks of an invitation, one may think a number of things. One may think of how simple it is to just invite someone to services or to a Bible study. It is, in fact, simple to say, “I’d like you to come to services this Sunday.” Nothing complicated in that is there? One may think of how easy it is. It just takes a few words. One must never think that it is a waste of time. Think back to the invitations given in the Bible. One may remember the invitation given to Naaman by the Israelite maid concerning his leprosy. “Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3). Had he not been told what this young maiden had said, Naaman would never have been healed of his leprosy or come to know of God. We see the power of an invitation time and time again in the New Testament as well. Think back to the time when Andrew first met Jesus and his actions afterwards. “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” (John 1:41). If not for Andrew, Peter, one of the most influential men within the pages of the New Testament, may not have been the great speaker on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Just a few verses later, one can see the power of an invitation when Philip told Nathaniel concerning Christ, “Come and see.” (John 1:46). What about the power behind the great invitation which Christ gives to man today? While it is true that some may never answer the invitation, what about the person who would but is never asked? There is power behind something as simple as an invitation. Why not be willing to give one to someone you know or even someone you’ve just met?

Web of Lies

Have you ever met an individual who would make a statement and then contradict himself moments later? While not everyone who does this will fall under this category, it is usually the mark of a habitual liar. That is one who is in the habit of lying. Those who choose to constantly tell lies are a trouble not only to others but to themselves. “The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.” (Proverbs 12:13). The person who spreads falsehoods lays a trap for himself. How? Eventually, he will be found out. One can probably think of an episode of a television show where the main character tried to get out of a situation by lying. He tells one elaborate lie after another and is eventually found out. He is then made to sleep in the bed he has made. When a person lays out a web of lies, he often must keep up with one lie and build upon others. Unless he has a perfect memory, he will eventually get tangled in his own web and is found out. He also must live in fear of being found out. On the other hand, the just person who speaks as God would have him to speak will be saved from trouble because he does not have to keep up with lies. Remember, “A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.” (Proverbs 13:2). Furthermore, Christ said, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36). Are you in the habit of telling lies? Please stop. You are only hurting yourself in the end.