Is addiction ALWAYS a bad thing, is jelaousy ALWAYS a bad thing?
If you simply say "yes" think again!
1 Corinthians 16:15 says this: I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
Now, you know and I know that the "saint" here were not some statues or pendants or dead people who were "canonized", they were, simply, the beleivers. It says here that the house, oikos, HOUSEHOLD, a gathering of multiple families who were a Household of Faith, was "ADDICTED" to the "ministry of the saints."
What is "the ministry of the saints?"
Verses 17 and 18 explain this a bit further:
17I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
18For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
Quite simply, they took care of people, and they supported the work of the ministry others were doing, and not just with resources but in other ways as well, helpong, refreshing their spirit, and simply being supportive and encouraging.
So, we SHOULD be addicted.....
to the ministry of the saints!
But what about that green monster, jealousy?
2 Corinthians 11:2-3 tells us when we might be jealous and it actually be godly.
2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
Paul is worried here that the Corinthians will fall into legalism and be led astray from the truth, and he does not want that.
How often do we have such godly jealousy over our new converts or even over the people we minister to? How often does something rise up within us when we see a member of our fellowship being led astray to scream out "I have espoused you to one husband?"
We have a tendency in Christianity to "kill our wounded and abdandon our babies", but if we had godly jealousy over the wounded who have fallen, lest they be snatred and lost to the Bridegroom whom we have espoused them to, or the new convert who is stumbling, we might be willing to go and find them when we don't see them for a few weeks, we might spend time with them in their home to help them and answer their questions or concerns, and we might be willing to show them, by our deeds and not just our words, just how addicted we are to the "ministry of the saints" because we have godly jealousy for the souls we care for or lead to Christ.
Replies
IMHO much of the church has too much fun being judgemental to be effective with the walking wounded. It's even worse when the wounded are wounded by those in the church. So much easier for leaders especially to poke at someone's attitude and poor delivery than to actually hear what they are saying and see your role in it. Most of the time the person is hurting, doing the best they can, and may have never been taught to express themselves well. Then you have the days when these folks turn around and do exactly what they just told you not to do. Gotta love people (double meaning intended.)
Jan said:
What concerns me more...is the walking wounded the we Christians many times never reach out to. Those whose heart cry is "please...someone come before...I divorce my spouse...or------ ( fill in the blank). The world is cold out there....and the church should not be just as cold or if not colder!
Jan said:
Jan said:
Lisa
Jan said:
I would like to comment on this,"We have a tendency in Christianity to 'kill our wounded and abandon our babies' .." Boy do I agree...that to our shame!!
But I am not sure what you mean by what was said right after that " ....lest they be snared and lost to the Bridegroom...." How can a Christian...wounded... though he may be...or baby.. though he may be.....be"lost to the Bridegroom"???
Jan
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
Joshua 24:19
Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God.
Psalm 79:5
How long, LORD?Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
Ezekiel 36:6
“Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, and the valleys, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and My fury, because you have borne the shame of the nations.”
Nahum 1:2
[ God’s Wrath on His Enemies ] God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;
Romans 10:19
But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “ I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”
Romans 10:18-20 (in Context) Romans 10 (Whole Chapter)
Romans 11:14
if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
Romans 11:13-15 (in Context) Romans 11 (Whole
2 Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:1-3 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter)
James 4:5
Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
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