The Bible Standard - Re-Discover the Truth.

"ONE WHO IS DISHONEST IN VERY LITTLE"       Mar 24

Honesty seems to be an increasingly rare commodity in the 21stCentury.  Cheating the Govt at least a little is a common practice.  The shop assistant is astonished, but pleased, when one hands back money when you have been given too much change after making a purchase!

We read today a parable Jesus told about a manager who worked for a rich man and who was doing his job poorly and “wasting his possessions” [Luke 16 v.1].  This man had his mind fully set on this life and when he learnt he was going to lose his job he began “summoning his master’s debtors one by one” [v.5]. He comes to an arrangement with them to reduce the records about how much they owe his Master: this will obligate them to give him some support when he loses his job.

The rich man commends “the dishonest manager for his shrewdness” saying, “for the sons of this world are more shrewd in their dealing with their own generation than the sons of light” [v.8]. It appears to be a cynical observation and is followed by a strange statement, “And I tell you make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into eternal dwellings.” [v.8,9]

The point Jesus is making is that the “eternal dwellings” of the unrighteous are their tombs – and some elaborate tombs have been found by archaeologists, including the tomb of the High Priest’s family – a miniature replica of the Temple. This is the only future they will have because they have made money (and the things it can buy) their main objective in life.  Note Jesus’ words,  “One who is dishonest in very little is also dishonest in much.  If you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” [v.11]

Our Lord’s final point is “You cannot serve God and money.” [v.13] We then read; “the Pharisees, who were lovers of money heard all these things and they ridiculed him.  And he said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.” [v.14,15]  They were blind to the reality of the all-seeing eyes of God. We must not be blind in this way, or in any spiritual sense, being honest and true in our thinking in much more than money.

A small group of young Christadelphian brothers have taken the time to produce this valuable resource for the brotherhood and beyond, they are using the Bible reading planner developed by Brother Robert Roberts called The  Bible Companion. The Bible Companion (or Bible Reading Planner) is a guide developed by the Christadelphians to aid reading the Bible. It was first produced by Robert Roberts when he was just 14 years of age, in about 1853, and revised by him over a number of years into its current format.   Most Christadelphians use this plan each day and it was designed to help you read the old testament once and the new testament twice each year.  These readings which we feature are recorded using the KJV or the NKJV of the Bible and we hope will be helpful to those who may struggle with time or who have poor eyesight.

Description: The various time periods in the prophetical books of Daniel and Revelation are laid out. The outworking of history confirms the Bible foretells key changes which have impacted major political changes. The realignment of nations over the last few years have prepared the way for the situation that climaxes in the Battle of Armageddon when Gog comes down on Israel.

"HOW LONG WILL SCOFFERS DELIGHT"  Mar. 23

Solomon’s proverbs begin with a very telling chapter on the need “to knowwisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in …” [v.2,3]  It is a most appropriate message for all those who are in awe of God, “let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance” [v.5] writes Solomon.

Verse 7 states a vital principle, “ the fear (awe) of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”   How vital to be in awe of the mightiness of the Creator of all that exists and aware of his all-seeing presence.

Solomon asks two “How long?” questions!  First he says, “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?” [v.22]  How are we to understand ‘simple?’  It has the sense of failing to understand the meaning of life. Solomon later makes the point, “The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” [22 v.3]

Solomon’s second question is, “How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?”  The knowledge he is talking about is “the knowledge of God”.  The first 5 verses of chapter 2 describes the difficulty of acquiring “the knowledge of God” – most challenging verses we need to read and meditate on!

The way Solomon describes the state of mind of scoffers precisely fits the attitudes of many today. “I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, …  you have ignored all my counsel …” [v.24,25]  So “How long” will God allow this to continue?   It reminds us of the words of Jesus, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you?  How long am I to bear with you?” [Matt 17 v.17]

God causes Solomon to write, “because you have ignored all my counsel {today we can say, ignored the Bible}  “I also will laugh at your calamity … when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come … then they will call upon me, but I will not answer” [v.25-28]

Finally, the last verse tells us, “but whosoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”  Let us listen, let us read and pay close attention ‘hiding’ God’s word in our hearts – Psalm 119 v.10-16..

" YOU WILL BE REPAID AT …”    Mar 22

Luke’s record of the sayings of Jesus in today’s chapters are very challenging.  The essential message is that you cannot be a follower of Jesus on your own terms – you cannot just serve Jesus in your spare time.

Also – we must not serve Jesus in anticipation of getting immediate benefits. Jesus illustrated this with parables – such as those who “give a dinner or a banquet” with the expectation of receiving a return invite. (see Luke 14 v.12) Jesus did not count as his followers those who see themselves as being in a sort of exclusive happy family whose sole purpose as his servants is to enjoy one another’s company.  Instead they are to be lights shining in the darkness of the world.

Paul put this very well, as we read earlier this month: ”what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor.4 v.5,6)

.    How do we show this light of knowledge in daily living?  One way, said Jesus, “when you give a feast , invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you.  For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” [14 v.13,14]   Jesus, as with all his parables, is using normal events to illustrate spiritual principles.  It is among the ‘lowly’ people in today’s affluent world where some are still responding to the light..

This is fulfilling v.21,22 of the parable where the Master said to his servant, “Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.”  So he is told to go out again.

The final ingathering must be nearly complete. Let us make sure we are doing whatever we have the opportunity to do – to aid this final ingathering – then we “will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

"ONE'S LIFE DOES NOT CONSIST IN ..."  Mar 21

Many of the sayings of Jesus in today’s 12th chapter of Luke are very challenging.  They were addressed to the generation that were about to experience the destruction of Jerusalem and their nation at the hands of the Romans: their lives were going to be turned upside down.

Yet, as it is today, nearly all were self-centred, their religious beliefs were just a sort of ‘decoration’ in their lives. However, many recognised Jesus spoke with authority and one man wanted him to use that authority in the wrong way.  He said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” [v.13] causing Jesus to respond, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”   This man’s mind was focused on his life here and now and how Jesus could be a help: but that is the role of Jesus and his saints in his kingdom – ponder Psalm 149.

This exchange caused Jesus to say “to them (not just to him) take care, and be on your guard against covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” [v.15]   But that is exactly what the lives of nearly all people do consist of today – plus pleasurable activities such as going on trips.

This leads Jesus to tell the parable “of a rich man” who stored up his possessions and said to himself, “Soul you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink and be merry.” [v.19] But that night God caused him to die! Jesus then made the point, so “is the one who is not rich toward God.”

The future of those who are rich toward God is spelt out in one of today’s Psalms.  David looks to the time when “I will extol you my God and King,  and bless your name for ever and ever.  Every day I will bless you and praise your name …” [Psa. 145 v.1,2]   Truly, “The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.” [v.20]

Let us make sure we show our love for him – for he knows what our lives consist of – he also knows what our world will soon experience, but he will preserve “all who love him”.

Description: An excellent explanation of the promises (by God) to Abraham, and their outworking to all who through faith respond to God's invitation to His Kingdom to be established on earth.

"BLESSED RATHER ARE THOSE WHO ..."  Mar 20

Very soon we will be reading the Proverbs of Solomon. We thought of this when we saw the reference Jesus made to Solomon in today’s chapter 11 of Luke’s gospel. He made reference to the accounts in the Old Testament of the wisdom from God that Solomon received and how, such as the queen of Sheba, “came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon” [v.31]. But, said Jesus, “behold something greater than Solomon is here.”

Jesus was very popular and sought after – but was it for a good spiritual reason? “When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ‘This generation is an evil generation …” [v.29] And our generation? When “a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed” he responded by saying, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” [v.27,28]

So many people want something physical to look at to ‘worship’ It is tragic that idol worship practices have made their way into much of Christianity, this has been specially evident in all the publicity about the new Pope. In contrast, how many want to hear the word of God and keep it! Today, when it is so easy to read it (or hear it read) how rarely is the opportunity taken!

Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” [John 9 v.5] The light continues in God’s word! In today’s chapter, did you notice how Jesus states, “after lighting a lamp (no-one) puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.” [v.33] Jesus then warns, “be careful lest the light in you be darkness” [v.35] Or, becomes darkness. We turn on a light to make use of it!

God’s word gives light to our world., but it is no use seeing the light if we are not going to make use of it. Beware lest the Bible becomes an ‘ornament’ on the bookshelf that we are pleased to have, but, could it become, or maybe already is, little better than having an image of Mary!? Oh no, but think, although, we make use of it on Sunday to take with us and turn up the readings – but is that all? Do we only eat food one day of the week? Our minds need constant good food – even more so today with so much junk food around! May we all loudly hear (in our hearts) the words of Jesus, “Blessed rather are those who hear (read) the word of God and keep it”.

by Robert .j. Lloyd

PARABLES  Mar 19