COULD USE YOUR INSIGHT
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Okay - I understand that this was written to Timothy who was a minister of the Word. But there are many of us who are called to serve in this capacity even without the position as a pastor. Don't all Christians have a calling to be ready to minister the Word when needed? In the workplace, in the family, to our friends, etc. So wouldn't it mean that we must be studying the Word more than we invest our time in worldly matters? Not so much "compromising principles" as compromising our time?
And there is that word "entangled" which speaks of great involvement. Maybe it means not to be entangled as a Christian unless the Lord calls you for a season to be involved in a social issue as His representative and to speak the truth.
And there is that word "entangled" which speaks of great involvement. Maybe it means not to be entangled as a Christian unless the Lord calls you for a season to be involved in a social issue as His representative and to speak the truth.
Our focus is to be on Jesus Christ and serving him, when we allow this world to take our focus away from Christ we stumble.
I wish I could tell you how to do that, but being with Jesus for thirty five years has not perfected me and I find myself entangled in the world's affairs more often than I would like to admit.
Christ be with you always.
I wish I could tell you how to do that, but being with Jesus for thirty five years has not perfected me and I find myself entangled in the world's affairs more often than I would like to admit.
Christ be with you always.
Well, to be very clear I could study that book more. But no one needs to study that long unless they are desperate in need and don't have much to do heh. But about compromising and such; Jesus did teach to love and help, and to teach his word and such, but just because people get upset or because you will hurt their feelings doesn't mean you don't speak unless they are happy or okay with hearing it. And you don't change or not fully do what Yahweh/God has you to do because people may fight you or try to make a deal or something with you to a level. Doing what's right isn't easy with the Lord, but we need to, and it will make many hate us and do things to us if we follow the Lord. And to be kind and not ever be so forceful, doesn't mean we should let evil people just do what they want in the world and walk all over us instead of us standing up for what the Lord says. And it is somewhat difficult to put it all together. But the Lord can help you understand it. There is a time to speak, and a time to be silent. There is a time to teach and a time to listen. There is a time to let others just do what they do, but also a time to stop it. That takes quite a lot of God's understanding and fruits of the spirit to do that right. We have a lot of issues today because Christian's aren't living for God and they are letting the others take over with evil and we are letting them control us and not let us put God into the world or even speak of him and his teachings. God is in control, but he works through us, and he wouldn't just let people stop us from doing his will.
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i am sure it has much to do with this:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(Matthew 6:19-21)
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(Matthew 6:19-21)
K
Well, in Proverbs 31 it is said that a wife of noble character looks after the affairs of her household. To me this means things like how school is going with the kids, is the house running smoothly with the groceries and cleaning, etc. But the affairs of the world, to me, are like Y2K "Oh no, the computers won't know how to turn the year- therefore the world is going to end!" or "Keeping up with the Kardashians- who's wearing what, and who's divorcing who?
It's part of the same message I've been trying to spread now for the longest! Today we are worried about getting a good job, providing for our families and making ends meet. We as a whole are entangled in the affairs of the world. This is how the world teaches us to survive. But Christ said NOT to worry about these things that the gentiles worry about and that our Father knows we have need of all these things.
He said to seek first the kingdom and all these things will be added to you!
When we realize that money is now holding us back as a race and keeps up so much evil and stop using it and GIVE FREELY OF ALL WE HAVE, THEN THE KINGDOM WILL OPEN TO US, WE WILL ALL BE TRANSLATED AND SURELY EVERYTHING WE WANT AND NEED WILL BE ADDED!
You can bank on that!
He said to seek first the kingdom and all these things will be added to you!
When we realize that money is now holding us back as a race and keeps up so much evil and stop using it and GIVE FREELY OF ALL WE HAVE, THEN THE KINGDOM WILL OPEN TO US, WE WILL ALL BE TRANSLATED AND SURELY EVERYTHING WE WANT AND NEED WILL BE ADDED!
You can bank on that!
W
What the scripture is saying is not to become so entangled in world affairs that we fail to follower Jesus. We are to be aware of what is going on in the world so we can know where we stand with current events as well as knowing what to pray for. Being involved would mean knowing things that are transpiring in our world that would prevent us and others from worshiping God. We need to know like if their was a vote on praying at work. We need to support the right to pray and vote appropriately. We can not allow ourselves to become consumed with any subject outside of the Word that would take us away from the Word.
J
For me the word 'entangle' has something in it that makes me think about an octopus. Like an octopus with a lot of arms which can all be going in another direction and are able to do different things at the same time. Now that comes close to what is warned for in this verse. We are warned not to get entangled with the affairs of this world. We should not get so involved with different things of this world that we found ourselves to much hanging on to this world. That we notice that we not really would let those things go without fighting and holding on to it. They got to important for us. And because of all those many things from the world that we got involved with our attention gets more and more drawn to that world and the affairs of the world. It starts to pull on us, to take some time from doing Biblestudy, praying, helping out people, etc. The world 'entangle' gives me a feeling of something that is hard to pull back because its holding on to something with different 'arms' like an octopus would do.
Its not wrong to get involved with affairs from this world, its not even possible not to get involved with them i think, especially not if you have a desire to tell people about our Heavenly Father and about our Saviour Jesus Christ. But make sure you are able, ready and willing to get yourself out of those affairs of the world that you're involved with whenever the Lord says you have to get out of it. Make sure it wont start taking away time from the time you spent with the Lord or the time you spent on helping people, sharing time with family and friends.
Make sure your eyes are not being drawn more and more to the world. Make sure your happiness and the way you look at being rich doesnt changes from only needing the Lord to worrying about all kinds of material things you need to have a good life.
Keep your eyes focused on the Lord, keep your heart a beautiful place to live for Jesus and listen to His voice. If Jesus lives in your heart, you may always listen to the voice of your heart. 'Cause it aint your voice anymore.
If you find this hard and difficult: pray. Dont look for help from friends or family or material things first. Dont try solving the problem first, but pray. He knows everything, is Almighty, knows everyone and is willing to help you if you're willing to follow Him. Trust Him. Tell Him what is going on. Pray!
Its not wrong to get involved with affairs from this world, its not even possible not to get involved with them i think, especially not if you have a desire to tell people about our Heavenly Father and about our Saviour Jesus Christ. But make sure you are able, ready and willing to get yourself out of those affairs of the world that you're involved with whenever the Lord says you have to get out of it. Make sure it wont start taking away time from the time you spent with the Lord or the time you spent on helping people, sharing time with family and friends.
Make sure your eyes are not being drawn more and more to the world. Make sure your happiness and the way you look at being rich doesnt changes from only needing the Lord to worrying about all kinds of material things you need to have a good life.
Keep your eyes focused on the Lord, keep your heart a beautiful place to live for Jesus and listen to His voice. If Jesus lives in your heart, you may always listen to the voice of your heart. 'Cause it aint your voice anymore.
If you find this hard and difficult: pray. Dont look for help from friends or family or material things first. Dont try solving the problem first, but pray. He knows everything, is Almighty, knows everyone and is willing to help you if you're willing to follow Him. Trust Him. Tell Him what is going on. Pray!
J
ahmmm... I'm not good in giving verses or commentaries. I can only give a simple illustration.
For me, a good balance of being involved is like this: (Notice the string or rope on a toy top, that's like getting involve.)
string or rope coiled around its axis which, when pulled quickly, caused a rapid unwinding that would set the top in motion.
Being involved was like being active.
and being entangled for me is like a moss.
A moss in here is being passive. A person who does not remain active shall wither. You were trapped and entangled that's why you are ineffective.
Hope, I did not confuse you.
For me, a good balance of being involved is like this: (Notice the string or rope on a toy top, that's like getting involve.)
string or rope coiled around its axis which, when pulled quickly, caused a rapid unwinding that would set the top in motion.
Being involved was like being active.
and being entangled for me is like a moss.
A moss in here is being passive. A person who does not remain active shall wither. You were trapped and entangled that's why you are ineffective.
Hope, I did not confuse you.
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J
Don't think and act like those who have no hope. Set your mind on things above where Christ is seated. That ,means as long as you are fully obeying Him (being a soldier) GODIS in TOTAL of your life and NOTHING comes into your life unless He ordains it.
Why are you worrying about the world worries about -- the economy, politics, etc. KNOW what GOD IS DOING TODAY. And don't get involved in anything unless you KNOW God is leading you --- or you will be entangled.
Why are you worrying about the world worries about -- the economy, politics, etc. KNOW what GOD IS DOING TODAY. And don't get involved in anything unless you KNOW God is leading you --- or you will be entangled.
Luke 8:11 & 14
In the OT, the replacement sacrificed for Isaac was tangled in a thorn bush...likewise Christ bore a crown of thorns when he gave his life in exchange for ours. So Christ gave the solution to this problem...
John 12:25
The "thorns" are tangled around the first life, the life that must/will die sooner or later...the same life that Christ took to the cross in exchange for the life he offers us. So in order to be freed from those thorns we must completely give up this first life; the life we so proudly represent with our last names.
We must "count the costs" (Luke 14:27-30) of this walk before we take it because it takes real commitment, and a real sacrifice ("take up your execution stake and follow him"), more so that what today's believers are taught. We must believe that there's nothing of value in the life we were given by our parents (because it came from fallen Adam). But it's a hard thing to care nothing for that life if we still believe the life we were given at birth is the only one we actually have.
John 3:3
Being born a 2nd time is an act of faith; an act of us rejecting the life/heritage we were born under (as offspring of man), in exchange for a new life/heritage we are given as offspring of God...with the old life actually taken to the cross.
Until we truly believe this, we will continue to be entangled.
In the OT, the replacement sacrificed for Isaac was tangled in a thorn bush...likewise Christ bore a crown of thorns when he gave his life in exchange for ours. So Christ gave the solution to this problem...
John 12:25
The "thorns" are tangled around the first life, the life that must/will die sooner or later...the same life that Christ took to the cross in exchange for the life he offers us. So in order to be freed from those thorns we must completely give up this first life; the life we so proudly represent with our last names.
We must "count the costs" (Luke 14:27-30) of this walk before we take it because it takes real commitment, and a real sacrifice ("take up your execution stake and follow him"), more so that what today's believers are taught. We must believe that there's nothing of value in the life we were given by our parents (because it came from fallen Adam). But it's a hard thing to care nothing for that life if we still believe the life we were given at birth is the only one we actually have.
John 3:3
Being born a 2nd time is an act of faith; an act of us rejecting the life/heritage we were born under (as offspring of man), in exchange for a new life/heritage we are given as offspring of God...with the old life actually taken to the cross.
Until we truly believe this, we will continue to be entangled.
B
Once the octopus has a good hold onto you, it may not be possible to break free from it without the Lord's help. The sad scenario is most Christians never break away from the octopus' arms. That's why it is so important to keep a safe distant from it and not to get near it.. Many Christians like to dip into both worlds freely, and somewhere down the line they get snarled/entangled by the octopus (Satan).