My Friend and I had a talk.

Every morning before my banana and cold iced water I have a talk with my friend. Sometimes my friend talks to me in a whole chapter, some times just a few verses. Some how it seems to fit my thoughts for that day or perhaps my thoughts seem to fit it. I do not know.

Today my friend and I talked in 1 Corinthians 10 verses 25-33. In this section of scripture Paul tells the Corinthian church not to worry about what they eat. He says "the earth is the Lord's and the fullness there in".

This verse always strikes a cord with me. What this says in no uncertain terms is, I am at liberty to eat or drink what ever I choose. He continues on though to instruct me that I have that liberty as long as I do so with thanks to God. God should be glorified in what ever I do. This carries great responsibility with it.

Paul goes on to say, that if some one comes to me and is pricked because of what I am eating or drinking, that for their sake I should stop. So if I am eating pork and a sister is hurt some how feeling I should not be eating pork I need to stop for her sake.

Is it wrong for me to have pork? God says no. However it is wrong for me to act in a manner that is disrespectful to another. Disregarding how another feels is disrespectful. Later once this sister begins to understand the liberty we have in Christ to do or not do, that may change.

I have always heard these verses. Usually when some one is arguing about drinking alcohol. Yes we have that right. However, what is more important? MY rights or the soul of a sister who is not convinced of our liberty? If by drinking that glass of wine I hurt her, is the price really worth it? Paul says no. If my job on earth is to represent Christ who did no harm to any, what does it say about my conviction to follow Christ if I am willing to disregard the thoughts of another?

Now I do believe that a solid discussion of scripture is called for. Because a religion deciding we can not do that which God says we can, is false religion. They are adding to the law of God. However that is no excuse for doing something unneeded just because I can.

There are many instances of this. Look at the brouhaha over "holidays". No where in the New Covenant are we told to celebrate feasts or special days, other than the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread. Yet every year around October folks get all antsy and riled because of the up coming festivals and holidays. If the earth is the Lord's, then surely so are the days. Personally I do not celebrate any day as holy. Other than Sunday. I do have a feast and gifts and all on Christmas, and I do a feast on Thanksgiving. The rest I do not mess with. Colossians 2 is very explicit in it's instruction. Judge no one for any respect of any day. We have liberty to do or do not, as long as what ever we do, we do with thanksgiving to God.

I am not sure why my friend brought this to my attention this morning, but he did and he asked me to share with you when I talked to him afterward.

Have a blessed day ladies!

hugs y'all

Contentment

I have begun a Sunday Bible study based on a book called Cultivating Contentment. I think what I have is the workbook, not the actual book book. Make sense?

Anyway this weeks lesson was Discontent. Discontent in the dictionary as a noun means:
: lack of contentment: a : a sense of grievance : dissatisfaction b : restless aspiration for improvement.

Does this describe you? In reading over the lesson I discovered that many of the things the author (Lucy Swindol wrote the forward but I am unsure how much of the study guide she wrote) listed many things that do not affect me. Her examples included, clothes you bought 2 seasons ago (most of mine are at least 2 seasons old!) Kitchen wallpaper, I have none. Actually the one thing on her list I would like to change, I have no bedroom curtains... I would like some once I decide on material I will probably make some.

The questions are based o Scripture. For example, what is the lesson from Proverbs 30: 15, 16?
What 4 things never say enough?
Hey that gives me an idea... What if I hosted a drawing and the entry is the answer to a Bible question...
I could post it on Monday and pick a winner on Friday...

Anyway back to contentment.
I remember never being content. Now days I still feel an urge to change something. Not often. Some days for example I wish I stayed home instead of working. However working fills a need in me to help others. I love my job. I love my home. If I stayed at home I would probably miss working.

So how do we find contentment in this world that Paul tells us in Romans 8 is subject to frustration? We turn to God. We train ourselves that only by following HIS word can we find contentment here on earth. No this does not mean we must shun prosperity or make ourselves look mournful and be content that way. That is false humility. Isaiah asks in chapter 55 why we do not use our money to buy bread and to use our labor for things that satisfy.

So many times I see dour Christians who deny themselves things in the name of godliness. They seem to think it makes them look pious, when really it makes Christianity look scary and unwelcoming. Like several proverbs say, better is little with contentment and love than much with contention.

Contentment and contention are polar opposites and can not reside together.

Anyway my first day of this study I can say it puts a new light on some things. However I can also say Miss Swindol seems promote the idea that a life of decadent delicacies and frivolity, if affordable is ok. I am not sure I agree. I am a utilitarian person. That means that while I like a few knick knacks, over all I prefer things that have a function. I prefer to have a function.

I wonder what next weeks study will reveal...