by Michael E. Brooks

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others" (Matt. 23:23).

What are our herbs? Do we have special "hang-ups" on certain must-do routines or rituals that matter a lot more to us than they may to God? Jesus recognizes that there is value in tithing, even to the minute level practiced by the Pharisees, yet he makes it plain that other things are much more important. His point is that we must major in majors, without neglecting the things of somewhat less significance. The lesson is very plain. But how often do we think to ask ourselves whether we have learned the lesson and are applying it in our own walk?

On my last trip to Bangladesh I was able to arrange for some more furnishings for the office at Khulna Bible College. The big item was a wall of bookshelves. Weeks were spent in purchasing and seasoning the lumber, planing and cutting it, then putting the shelves together, fitting them, and finally sanding and staining. Finally they were in place and books were at last shelved and available to students and staff. During this process I found myself frequently visiting the areas where the work was being done, checking on progress. Completion of the project was a cause of celebration.

Now, looking back I have to grin a little sheepishly and ask, "wasn't that a lot of fuss over just some shelves? They are just wood; they don't really matter." How true. Thankfully, all our time and attention was not devoted to the shelves. Classes were taught, human needs were served, and much preaching was done, resulting in almost ninety baptisms and the planting of three new churches.

There are two lessons in this. First, even things of secondary significance must be done. Bookshelves are needed. In our local congregations these "lesser matters" may include our buildings, our budgets, and the organization of programs and activities. Few organizations can exist or flourish without such. A program is not as important as human souls or even the physical needs of the poor and helpless, but that does not mean it cannot be of value. There is time and place for the lesser things.

The second and more important lesson is, however, that we must insure that these lesser matters don't interfere with what is truly important. Meeting budgets, acquiring or improving buildings, organizing programs, and many similar activities are necessary things in churches today. They should not be neglected. But they are not the main thing. Preaching the gospel to the lost, exalting God, and serving the unfortunate remain the primary missions of the church. It is so easy for us to become so engrossed in taking care of the everyday routines that we loose sight of the big picture. We forget what the real goal of all those activities is. When that happens we become like the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day, and we should expect the same condemnation – "Woe unto you, Hypocrites!"

by Warren Baldwin

"Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house of sand. The rain came down and the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash" (Matt. 7:24-27).

When I was a kid we sang a song that was written to the words of this passage. We got to clap our hands and raise our voices. It was a fun song. But this passage is more than just about being about a fun song for kids. It is about life. Even eternity.

I've helped build houses. I know something of the process. A house gets built one two-by-four at a time. One brick at a time. It is a process.

And life is the same way. When we are younger we may look at a successful older person and say, "You know, when I am her age, or his age, I want to be a lot like that person. I want the financial success they have. Or I want the success in their family they have - married 35 years and still happy and in love. Or, I'd like to have a position in a company or a school like they have attained."

And you know, we can have it, if we work at it, one brick at a time. Success in any field does not come all at once. It is a process that we work on over time. Each decision. Each right action we take. Each act of unselfish service to others. Each exercise of self-discipline. Each extra college course or training program we subject ourselves to. Each act of character and honor. All of these mental decisions and actions are a brick or a two-by-four that we insert into the construction of our lives. And over time, we have successful life.

But the house is only part of the story. You can't add bricks or two-by-fours to a structure until there is something to build that structure upon -a firm foundation.

I saw a house in Wyoming a few years ago that was selling at an unbelievably low price. It was a large house in a nice part of town. And the bank was almost giving it away. Why? The foundation. It wasn't a good one. And the house was literally collapsing. Walls were cracking, windows were popping out. The house was a practically being given away ... because no one wanted it.

And Jesus said we better give ample care to the foundation of our lives. Of course, I think this is saying that JESUS ought to be the foundation of our lives. His values and ethics and priorities ought to become our own. But the truth is, Jesus said, many do not pick such a sure foundation. And they live their lives looking for happiness and meaning and substance only to be sadly disappointed. The walls of their lives crack and collapse, because their foundation is something or someone other than Jesus. Only one kind of life can stand the pressures and strains of this life and still emerge happy and meaningful, and that is a life built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

by Tim Hall

Before us are two individuals. Both are studious people, spending much time reading the Bible and other books. Both have attained advanced degrees in their studies, attested by diplomas gracing the walls of their offices.

But which of the two is wise? What does God think?

James raised this question in his letter to Christians: "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom" (Jas 3:13, NKJV). It's a rhetorical question, designed to make the reader think. A similar question is found earlier in his letter (2:14) when he asks whether inactive faith can save a person. In other words, is it really faith if it's not the kind of faith God commands? And regarding wisdom: Is it really wisdom if it doesn't behave in the way God desires?

Paul had sounded a warning about so-called wisdom in 1 Corinthians 8:1: "Knowledge puffs up." It's a graphic image, bringing to mind a person who puffs out his chest with an air of arrogance. "I'm a learned man," this person might boast. "I have more understanding that the common person." It leads to disdain toward others, and an expectation to be treated like a celebrity. How common such puffed-up people have been throughout time! But are they really wise according to God?

James, in our text above, made it clear that wisdom, if it comes from God, will be demonstrated by "good conduct ... in the meekness of wisdom". One of the marks of wisdom is that it is meek. James had earlier pointed to the value of meekness in 1:19-21: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."

The puffed-up individual does not receive instruction; they already know it all anyway (they think). Try to teach them something from God's word and you'll be interrupted or will receive an angry glare. "Do you think you can teach me anything?" they are thinking. The meek, however, know that there is a continual need for instruction. They are glad to receive the word, knowing it will lead to the salvation of their souls. Because they are meek, they are slow to speak and thus they are most apt to learn.

James himself seems to be a good model of meekness. There are strong reasons to believe he was the half-brother of Jesus. He had the credentials to make himself a celebrity. Instead of being puffed up by his good fortune, though, he introduced himself simply as "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (Jas. 1:1).

If we need more motivation to work toward becoming meek, let's remember that Jesus described Himself as "meek and lowly in heart" (Matt. 11:29, KJV), a trait of the Lord mentioned by Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:1. Was anyone more learned than Jesus? Yet look at what wisdom led Him to be.

Let no one condemn the pursuit of knowledge; it is encouraged often in God's word. But those who become puffed up by their advanced levels of learning show by their actions that they don't yet understand godly wisdom.

by Mike Benson

Have you ever watched a paleontologist on television after a fossil discovery? To say that he is careful is an understatement.

He gently brushes away the sand and clay. He painstakingly excavates the soil from around the bone. While he is thrilled with his find, his excitement is tempered by caution. He knows that a reckless, hasty or hurried approach could damage, if not destroy, the fossil.

Those of us who are students of the Bible might take a lesson from the scientist who digs for dinosaur bones. With the same meticulous care of a paleontologist, we too ought to chip away at the rubble of human opinion so as to uncover the truth of God's Word. While zeal and enthusiasm for the Word are commendable traits, our primary goal should be like that of the Bereans in Acts 17 who searched (Greek, anakrinontes, i.e., examined) the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so (v. 11).

To do anything less is to invite destruction (2 Pet. 3:16) of our souls. Think about it.

by Rod Kyle

Do you have an opinion on hell? It seems that everyone does. But the Bible says we must listen to Jesus on this subject (Mk. 9:7). So what does He say about this prepared place for the unprepared?

He teaches about it through His parables (Matt. 13:39-42), by way of illustration (Matt. 7:19), in His reference to authority (Matt. 7:21-23), in His condemnation of religious error and errorists (Mk. 12:38,39), and in His use of the Old Testament (Mk. 9:48). In fact, no other Bible character touches on it so much.

Jesus describes hell as a place of unspeakable horror (Matt. 8:12; Mk. 9:48). He also clearly teaches that it is a realm of eternal consciousness (Matt. 25:41,46). Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, taught that God made hell for the devil and his angels (Col. 1:16). But the vital message for humanity is this: Hell is a prepared place for the unprepared person (Matt. 24:45-51)! Or to put it another way — everyone in hell will have earned their place there (Rom. 6:23, Rev. 21:8).

Such is the love of the Creator for the created that He was willing to leave heaven to rescue mankind from its sin-induced destiny (Lk. 19:10; Jn. 3:16; Phil. 2:6,7). But the success of His mission depends upon your choice. Are you choosing to go with the majority to hell? Or are you searching for that narrow way home to heaven (Matt. 7:13,14)?

The Good News is this — a redemption price has been paid for your sins (Rom. 5:8; Heb. 5:8,9). But you must accept God’s offer of help through obedient faith (Jn. 3:36)? Hell is prepared only for those who are unprepared for heaven!

(Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol 39.)