Tag: lacking

1 Thessalonians 3:10 – Improve Your Prayer Life

Posted on by Will

night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and complete what is lacking in your faith?

Truth to Learn

All Christians should work on improving their prayer lives. We need to thank God more and pray more for others.

 

Behind the Words

“Praying” is translated from deomai, meaning “to ask, plead, or beg.” Between this word and huperekperissou, Paul could hardly have used a stronger or more extreme expression of how often and how much he pleaded with God regarding his desire to see the Thessalonians in person.

The word “exceedingly” is from the Greek word ekperissou. This is a compound word made up of ek, meaning “out of” but used here as an intensifier, and perissoteros, meaning “excessively.” This word means “exceeding all bounds” or “more than excessively.” And – this word is preceded by huper, meaning “above.” So Paul is saying that he prayed “more than exceedingly.”

Katartidzō is the Greek verb translated “complete.” It means “to put a thing in its appropriate condition,” that is “to bring something to completeness or perfection.” It is used in Matthew 4:21 of fishermen mending (putting back to completeness and full usefulness) their nets.

The word “lacking” is translated from husterema, which is based on the verb hystereō, meaning “to lack” or “to fall behind.” The basic meaning of husterema is “that which is lacking or missing.”

 

Meaning Explained

We noted in yesterday’s verse that the Apostle Paul was a prayer warrior, praying incessantly for all Christians, especially for those to whom he ministered. Here we get another sense of how often he prayed. He says that he prayed “night and day.” To Paul, prayer was such a necessity in the Christian life that he did it at all times. He didn’t simply “throw a prayer God’s direction” when he first got up in the morning. He didn’t just give God thanks when he sat down to eat. He didn’t just think of others and pray for them when he was about to lay his head down at night. Paul prayed to God throughout the entire day.

Paul was so incessant in his prayers that he says here that he prayed more than abundantly. This superabundance included how much he prayer, how long he prayer, and how earnestly he prayed. Oh, that we all would pray like Paul!

We get a picture of the Apostle to the Gentiles communicating with and communing with God whenever he was not actively engaged in any other activity. If fact, he was probably talking with God even while engaged in other activities. To him it was sort of like breathing. No matter what he was or wasn’t doing, Paul was praying.

But notice that even the prayers of Paul were not always answered in the affirmative. One of his frequent prayer requests was that he might be able to be in the presence of the Thessalonian Christians, to see their faces. As far as we know, this never happened throughout the remainder of Paul’s life. And this was not a selfish prayer; he wanted to see them so that he could continue their Christian education, to personally instruct them in the maturing of their faith.

 

Application

If you are like me, you feel woefully inadequate in your prayer life compared to Paul. But this is not cause to give up and quit trying. It should inspire each of us to redouble our efforts to pray more frequently and consistently. Give thanks and praise to our God continually and let Him use you for His glory.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

James 2:15 – The Invisible Poor

Posted on by Will

If a brother or sister is naked and should be lacking daily food,

Truth to Learn

We often don’t even notice those members of our church having the greatest needs.

Behind the Words

“If” is translated from the Greek word ean, which is used here (along with the subjunctive mood of the verb) to denote a third class conditional clause. As we saw in the previous verse, this indicates the possibility of something being true but not assumed to be one way or the other.

Previously we looked at the word adelphos, meaning “brother.” Here we now have the feminine form of this word, adelphe, meaning “sister.” James is talking about a man or a woman who is a fellow Christian.

The word translated “naked” is gumnos, which can refer to someone who is absolutely naked or someone who has very little or shabby clothing.

“Should be” is not translated from the normal verb of being, but from huparchō. This is a word made up of hupo (or hypo), meaning “under” and archō, which means “to begin.” It refers to a condition of being and could be translated as “exists.” Hence, James is referring to a brother or sister who exists in a condition of having insufficient food.

Leipō is the word translated “lacking.” This word means “to leave” or “to forsake.” Used, as it is here in the passive voice, it means someone who is left without something.

The word “daily” is translated from ephēmeros. This is made up of epi, meaning “upon or over” and hēmera, meaning a day. It refers to that which lasts for only a single day. It is the word from which we get our English word ephemeral, meaning something that is fleeting or that lasts for only a short time.

Meaning Explained

James is using a grammatical device called hyperbole (which, in Greek, means “to throw over” or “to overstate”). He is stating an extreme case as if it were the general rule. Teenagers are masters of the use of hyperbole, saying such things as “I’m starving” or “You never let me do that.”

This verse, like several we have looked at previously, cannot stand on its own. It needs the following verses to make sense. James is using an exaggerated example to make a point about the difference between a faith in words and a faith in action. This verse could be interpreted as:

If one of our fellow Christians should be regularly dressed is shabby or inadequate clothing and does not even have enough food to feed himself, or herself, on a daily basis …

This is an example of James’ very practical writing style. He doesn’t talk about theological concepts in an abstract manner but in a down-to-earth, put-it-on-and-wear-it manner. That’s what makes this book so practical. It’s Christianity in action!

Application

In keeping with what James has been teaching us about the way we discriminate against the poor and lonely of our churches while favoring the rich and famous, let me give you a challenge. Next Sunday, look around your church and specifically note those who are poor and needy. It’s quite likely that you will see people who you have never even noticed before. They are the ones who need your mercy. What are you going to do about it?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

James 1:4 – Completely Whole

Posted on by Will

But let patience have its completing work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Truth to Learn

God is constantly working on us to make us into a complete image of His Son. Don’t fight it, let it happen. Just remember, it’s not always easy or comfortable.

Behind the Words

“Let … have” is translated from the word echō, which means “to have something” or “to hold on to something.” This particular word is expressed in the Greek imperative mood. That means it is a command, not a suggestion.

The word translated “completing” is teleios, which means “to be brought to its end” or “to be completed.” This is the same root word as the one used by Jesus at the end of His time on the cross when He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

The word “complete” is translated from the Greek holoklēros, which is a compound word made up of holos meaning “all” or “the whole” and klēros meaning “a part or a share.” Hence, this word means “having all the parts together as a whole” or “to be complete with all its parts”

“Lacking” is translated from a form of leipō meaning “to be deficient in, or lacking something.”

Meaning Explained

Allow me to paraphrase this command that James gives to all of us:

But let your ability to persevere perform its finishing work so that you may be completely finished (Christ-like), not lacking in any detail.

As we saw in the previous verse, God is not punishing us when difficulties arise in our lives. He is refining our faith to make it pure and strong. So, when these situations arise in your life, don’t complain about them, learn to endure them resting in the everlasting arms of God. Know that God is using these trials to complete His work in you so that you will not lack anything in your Christian life.

Paul gave us some further insight regarding our response to these difficult situations, instructing us what to do in the midst of these trying times:

Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (Philippians 4:6)

So, when you undergo trying situations in your walk with God, don’t get uptight. God knows that it is uncomfortable for you, but He also knows what is best for you. Get on your knees and talk to God about it.

Application

Don’t complain or worry when you find yourself mired in one of the difficulties of life. Instead, hang in there and thank God for it, knowing that He is using it to make you complete! As you talk to God about it He will show you what you are to learn from the situation and He will make you more like His Son. He is able!

 
In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Thessalonians 3:10 – Improve Your Prayer Life

Posted on by Will

night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

Truth to Learn

All Christians should work on improving their prayer lives. We need to thank God more and pray more for others.

Behind the Words

“Praying” is translated from deomai, meaning “to ask, plead, or beg.” Between this word and huperekperissou, Paul could hardly have used a stronger or more extreme expression of how often and how much he pleaded with God regarding his desire to see the Thessalonians in person.

The word “exceedingly” is from the Greek word huperekperissou. This is a double compound word made up of huper (or hyper) meaning “above” or “over,” ek, meaning “out of” but used here as an intensifier, and perissoteros, meaning “excessively.” This word means “exceeding all bounds” or “more than excessively.”

Katartidzō is the Greek verb translated “perfect.” It means “to put a thing in its appropriate condition,” that is “to bring something to completeness or perfection.” It is used in Matthew 4:21 of fishermen mending (putting back to completeness and full usefulness) their nets.

The word “lacking” is translated from husterema, which is based on the verb hystereō, meaning “to lack” or “to fall behind.” The basic meaning of husterema is “that which is lacking or missing.”

Meaning Explained

We noted in yesterday’s verse that the Apostle Paul was a prayer warrior, praying incessantly for all Christians, especially for those to whom he ministered. Here we get another sense of how often he prayed. He says that he prayed “night and day.” To Paul, prayer was such a necessity in the Christian life that he did it at all times. He didn’t simply “throw a prayer God’s direction” when he first got up in the morning. He didn’t just give God thanks when he sat down to eat. He didn’t just think of others and pray for them when he was about to lay his head down at night. Paul prayed to God throughout the entire day.

We get a picture of the Apostle to the Gentiles communicating with and communing with God whenever he was not actively engaged in any other activity. If fact, he was probably talking with God even while engaged in other activities. To him it was sort of like breathing. No matter what he was or wasn’t doing, Paul was praying.

But notice that even the prayers of Paul were not always answered in the affirmative. One of his frequent prayer requests was that he might be able to be in the presence of the Thessalonian Christians, to see their faces. As far as we know, this never happened throughout the remainder of Paul’s life. And this was not a selfish prayer; he wanted to see them so that he could continue their Christian education, to personally instruct them in the maturing of their faith.

Application

If you are like me, you feel woefully inadequate in your prayer life compared to Paul. But this is not cause to give up and quit trying. It should inspire each of us to redouble our efforts to pray more frequently and consistently. Give thanks and praise to our God continually and let Him use you for His glory.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved