Proverbs 5 Is a warning to flee sexual sin. Verse 8 says 'remove thy way far from her,' God warns us to stay as far away from sexual temptation as we can get. There are few sins that I know of that can be as addicting, and as damaging both to yourself, your family, and your friends. Verse 5 says, 'Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.' Sexual sin is not something to mess around with.
Two Rivers' devotion comes from 1 Cor. 3:1-15. Paul is telling the Corinthian church that every member is individually responsible for their own relationship with God, as well as pulling their weight in their local church. A lot of times, we go to church because it is 'the right thing to do.' Sometimes we'll even go to church to learn something; but how often to we go to church to be a blessing to others? Verse 10b says 'But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.' Every christian is building on the foundation, Jesus Christ (v.11). The question is, what materials are you using; gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble (v.12)? Verse 13-14 says 'Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.' What materials are we building with?
Ohana's devotion is from 1 Cor. 13:1-8. Verse 2 says, '...and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.' Why is charity so important? I really don't know the answer to this one. If anyone has any extra insight, I could sure use the help today :-)
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Two things about the charity issue that may help.
ReplyDelete1) How do you define charity, and is that how charity is defined in this passage? If you're thinking charity in the way it's often used today, such as giving to the poor, etc., that would explain why you're confused about its importance. Verse 13:3 shows clearly that the word charity in this passage doesn't refer to what it is commonly used to mean today. Today we would probably use the word love instead. However, the very words and letters of God are perfectly preserved for us in his Word, and he used the word charity for a reason. (Psalm 12:6-7, Isaiah 40:8, 2 Timothy 3:16-4:1) I think for the most part it is to get our attention and make us think about the love of God. For his love is a non feeling based love (though it includes even the deepest of feelings) that always lines up perfectly with this passage's description in verses 13:4-8. In contrast we flippantly use the word love, and rarely does it match up with even some of the characteristics of God's love listed in these verses, much less all of them. Thus it's the at the very essence and core of who God is, his character, and all he does, which demonstrates the importance of charity. Another passage that helps show this is 1 John 4.
2) Charity is permanent and eternal. Everything else is relatively temporary. In the remainder of chapter 13 it gives this implication. It clearly explains that the 'sign' gifts have stopped with the complete Word of God now present. Other gifts, as well as, faith, hope, and charity remain; but the greatest of these is charity. I think that this is to give emphasis to the eternal aspect of God's love. For if you think about it, when we're in heaven faith and hope will no longer be needed.
Anyway, hopefully that helps. God bless and have a great day in the Lord.
Thanks Cody! I guess I just just confused about how important charity is. I know that there are many qualities that we should have in our life, but judging from this this portion of Scripture. Charity is the one quality that is just as important as faith. Am I on the right track here, or am I getting really lost? lol! Thanks for all of your help!
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