1 Thessalonians 5:14
14 Now [de] we exhort [parakaleo] you, [humas] brethren, [adelphos] warn [noutheteo] them that are unruly, [ataktos] comfort [paramutheomai] the feebleminded, [oligopsuchos] support [antechomai] the weak, [asthenes] be patient [makrothumeo] toward [pros] all [pas] men. KJV-Interlinear
14 And we urge you, brethren,
admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men. NASB
We have been studying
the role that God has prepared for those who teach the scriptures, and the role
that God has prepared for all people, in general.
God has laid out a role
for everyone who has ever lived in history, and certainly for everyone who is
alive today.
In so doing, God has made
provision for the needs and wants and situations for every human being. Bible doctrine being their primary provision,
and logistical support for the needs of life through their personal spiritual
growth, or indirectly through the principles of divine establishment.
At some point in everyone's
life, there will come a time when they will wish or hope that they could have
something more, in order to give help and comfort to all who are in need of
help.Some wish for it. Some pray for it. Some strive for it.
But remember, this is
the devils world.Suffering exists by
default because of that principle.But
also, all people possess by default, a basic intuition or instinct regarding
good and evil, and everyone knows of God and the possibilities of what God has
to offer humanity.Most folks simply
disregard God in their life.Thus the
suffering of the world takes precedent over their lives.
God has a plan for
everyone.It is a good plan, but most
reject that plan.Your wishing or wanting
to superimpose your views and aid for those in need, if taken out of context
from Bible doctrine, serves as a direct insult toward God and an application of
your own self righteousness toward life.
Here is a simple
example.Remember our study of Moses a
very long time ago.Moses was the Crown
Prince of Egypt and was to be the next Pharaoh.
He had at his disposal all of the wealth of Egypt, and more, almost within
his grasp.He knew of his heritage and
he intended to use his role as Pharaoh to help his people.
But that was not Gods
plan. If the worlds resources of evil were used to
help people then they would in effect be getting no help at all. The world and
its resources can never help anything or anyone.
So, God placed Moses in
a situation whereby Moses killed an Egyptian and was forced to flee from
Egypt.Moses was gone for forty years,
in order to teach him Gods will, and not Pharaohs.
Moses returned not with
wealth and power, but with a rod of wood, and nothing more. And the power of God freed the Israelites, not
a decree of Pharaoh.
Government regulations,
welfare disbursements, social programs, good intentions, never help anyone.
God provides doctrine,
but people must work for their blessing.
That work, defined in James, is called learning, and understanding, and
applying, growing up, and being responsible.
And from that, God provides everything a person needs in this world, in
order to survive, and to prepare for eternity.
So, if you inherit or
win or earn the big bucks, do not get it in your head that you will solve the worlds problems with your
wealth.You won t do anything but set
yourself up for disappointment.
Our country has been
giving away money by the trillions, and yet unemployment has doubled in the last
year and foreclosures have shot off the charts.
If the wealthiest nation cannot solve the basic problems that have
existed in human history forever, then what could you possibly do?
The answer is not
through carnal systems, but through spiritual resources. God is the ultimate
provider and God has unlimited and infinite resources.
Charity and generally
helping people is a good thing, but that is only a band-aid until the real
solution, Bible doctrine, enters into their life.
So, Paul here commands
that we admonish and warn the fainthearted and weak, and encourage them.
Who are the unruly, the
fainthearted and the weak?These are
spiritual terms for those who lack spiritual resources.
The unruly are those
who lack arrangement within their souls. Doctrine is the only information
resource that can arrange the soul.
Without arrangement within ones soul, means insubordination toward truth
and toward God.Therefore, the
spiritually deficient person is unruly or rebellious toward truth. They pursue their own ideas, whether good or
bad.
The fainthearted and
the weak are those who lack spiritual stamina and strength. This comes from a lack of spiritual growth.
Therefore be tolerant,
be patient, be uncomplaining with those who lack proper perspective in
life.Without spiritual resources they
are their own worst enemies.But
hopefully time, doctrine and perhaps mistakes will teach them the error of
their ways and direct them toward better times in life.
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