This command in Titus 2:4-5 is one of the most neglected and misinterpreted in the New Testament, and probably misunderstood and despised.
This does not suggest that her home is a prison where she must be kept! “Caring for the home” is the idea. She is to manage and work in the home. This word comes from the root word which means “A stayer at home.”
Note this phrase does not say “house keeper or keeper of the house.” It says, “Keeper of the home.” Nor does it say, “Stay at home Dad.”
The culture says that to be a homemaker is a form of bondage by males and they need to be freed.
It is estimated that 60% of mothers with children under 6 years of age hold jobs outside the home.
Dr. John MacArthur says, “It is tragic that the mother has to work because the husbands have died, imprisoned, abandoned with no child support, and their families are unable or unwillingly to help. It is not that their place is in the home as much as their responsibility is in the home.”
We say, “Well that’s what I have been taught and taught my girls. Both parents have to work to make it in the real world.”
I agree that this is what we have been taught and programmed. We live in a fallen world where the pursuit of things is our god. But is that what this verse teaches? Are there any “yeah buts” in this command?
1 Timothy 5:14, “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” [Proverbs 31:27-29].
Let the Scripture speak.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Best State to Live In
Phil. 4:13 is one of the most misinterpreted verses in the Bible and one of the most misapplied verses. It is often used to say that one can pass a hard test having not studied. Some use it to say they can accomplish a seemingly impossible athletic task. Some use it to say that they can accomplish any other task that seems impossible. They can do it because Christ strengthens them. Is this what this verse teaches?
Context: Paul was thanking the church at Philippi for financial assistance in his ministry. Paul is speaking of the fact that he had learned to be content in whatever state he was in. He had learned to be content whether he was abased or abounding, whether full or hungry, and whether abounding or in need.
Summary: Paul is basically saying that contentment is better than riches. He could do all things and be content in whatever state he was in, as long as it was God's will.
The Greek Work for content means "Sufficient, satisfied, or adequate." Whatever God's will was for his life, he was content in it.
The best state to live in is the state of contentment!
Let the Scripture speak!
Context: Paul was thanking the church at Philippi for financial assistance in his ministry. Paul is speaking of the fact that he had learned to be content in whatever state he was in. He had learned to be content whether he was abased or abounding, whether full or hungry, and whether abounding or in need.
Summary: Paul is basically saying that contentment is better than riches. He could do all things and be content in whatever state he was in, as long as it was God's will.
The Greek Work for content means "Sufficient, satisfied, or adequate." Whatever God's will was for his life, he was content in it.
The best state to live in is the state of contentment!
Let the Scripture speak!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Is That in the Bible
People often quote a saying or axiom and give it as being a Biblical truism or in Scripture. You may respond by asking, “Where is that in the Bible?”
More often than not, they can’t tell you. It seems that sayings have been handed down and passed on and we just assume they are in the Bible.
I want us to take a humorous view, yet informative view at some of the popular sayings that pass for Scripture. Remember, it doesn’t mean they might not be true, but just not in inspired Scripture.
My resources for this study are the Scriptures, Google, and Bible websites.
1. “God helps those who help themselves”
This is not found anywhere in Scripture. In fact, we read that God helps those who can’t help themselves.
This is a saying from Aesop’s [620 to 564 BC] fable “Hercules and the Waggoner.” A man’s wagon got stuck in a muddy road, and he prayed for Hercules to help get the wagon out. Hercules responded, “Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel.”
We can’t do anything to help when it comes to salvation; salvation is through Christ alone. In sanctification we play a part, but the Spirit is ultimately is the one who makes us like Christ.
The phrase is never used in the Scriptures in regard to working and God helping us.
God helps the helpless.
Romans 5:6, 8; Jeremiah 17:5.
2. “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”
This phrase is not in the Bible. The Israelites were given rules for uncleanness as a metaphor for sinfulness.
This began as an ancient Babylonian and Hebrew proverb and became very popular by John Wesley.
Jesus warns us to worry more about the sin in our hearts than the dirt on our hands [Matt. 7:18-23].
Godliness begins inside in transformation and works out in righteous deeds and behavior.
3. “In the last days, you will not be able to know the seasons except by the changing of the leaves.” or “You will not be able to tell the seasons.”
Matt. 24:32-33 uses the budding of leaves heralding the coming of summer as a metaphor for the signs that Christ’s coming is near.
No where in the Bible does it say the seasons will be altered as a sign for Christ’s return.
1 Thess. 5:1; Acts 1:7 speaks of times [extended period of time] and seasons [definite period of time].
4. “Money is the root of all evil.”
Let’s turn to 1 Tim. 6:10. “For the love of money” Money is amoral, neither good nor bad, and being wealthy is not a sin.
Job. 1:1 Job was wealthy and yet blameless, upright, and feared God.
5. “This too shall pass”
This actually is a line from an Old English poem.
Our earthly sorrows are temporary; yet we’re called to rejoice in our trials, knowing they lead to endurance and sanctification [James 1:2-4].
7. “The lion shall lay down with the lamb”
Isa. 11:6 says it is a wolf and not a lamb.
Isa. 65:25
The hunter and the prey will live in peace in the kingdom.
8. “Spare the rod, spoil the child”
Proverbs 13:34; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15
9. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”
Gen. 3:19
The phrase is used in the 1662 edition of the Book of Prayer of The Episcopal Church.
A search of the Bible reveals that “ashes to ashes” is used 0 times in the Bible; “dust to dust” is used 0 times in the Bible; and “dust and ashes” is used 3 times in the Bible- Gen. 18:27; Job 30:19; 42:6
More often than not, they can’t tell you. It seems that sayings have been handed down and passed on and we just assume they are in the Bible.
I want us to take a humorous view, yet informative view at some of the popular sayings that pass for Scripture. Remember, it doesn’t mean they might not be true, but just not in inspired Scripture.
My resources for this study are the Scriptures, Google, and Bible websites.
1. “God helps those who help themselves”
This is not found anywhere in Scripture. In fact, we read that God helps those who can’t help themselves.
This is a saying from Aesop’s [620 to 564 BC] fable “Hercules and the Waggoner.” A man’s wagon got stuck in a muddy road, and he prayed for Hercules to help get the wagon out. Hercules responded, “Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel.”
We can’t do anything to help when it comes to salvation; salvation is through Christ alone. In sanctification we play a part, but the Spirit is ultimately is the one who makes us like Christ.
The phrase is never used in the Scriptures in regard to working and God helping us.
God helps the helpless.
Romans 5:6, 8; Jeremiah 17:5.
2. “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”
This phrase is not in the Bible. The Israelites were given rules for uncleanness as a metaphor for sinfulness.
This began as an ancient Babylonian and Hebrew proverb and became very popular by John Wesley.
Jesus warns us to worry more about the sin in our hearts than the dirt on our hands [Matt. 7:18-23].
Godliness begins inside in transformation and works out in righteous deeds and behavior.
3. “In the last days, you will not be able to know the seasons except by the changing of the leaves.” or “You will not be able to tell the seasons.”
Matt. 24:32-33 uses the budding of leaves heralding the coming of summer as a metaphor for the signs that Christ’s coming is near.
No where in the Bible does it say the seasons will be altered as a sign for Christ’s return.
1 Thess. 5:1; Acts 1:7 speaks of times [extended period of time] and seasons [definite period of time].
4. “Money is the root of all evil.”
Let’s turn to 1 Tim. 6:10. “For the love of money” Money is amoral, neither good nor bad, and being wealthy is not a sin.
Job. 1:1 Job was wealthy and yet blameless, upright, and feared God.
5. “This too shall pass”
This actually is a line from an Old English poem.
Our earthly sorrows are temporary; yet we’re called to rejoice in our trials, knowing they lead to endurance and sanctification [James 1:2-4].
7. “The lion shall lay down with the lamb”
Isa. 11:6 says it is a wolf and not a lamb.
Isa. 65:25
The hunter and the prey will live in peace in the kingdom.
8. “Spare the rod, spoil the child”
Proverbs 13:34; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15
9. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust”
Gen. 3:19
The phrase is used in the 1662 edition of the Book of Prayer of The Episcopal Church.
A search of the Bible reveals that “ashes to ashes” is used 0 times in the Bible; “dust to dust” is used 0 times in the Bible; and “dust and ashes” is used 3 times in the Bible- Gen. 18:27; Job 30:19; 42:6
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