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1 Thessalonians 4:12 – Lacking In Nothing

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Will

that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may have need of nothing.

Truth to Learn

There is a key to receiving everything that we need in life.

Behind the Words

The word “that” is from the Greek conjunction hina, which means “so that” or “in order that.”

“You may walk” is translated from the verb peripateō. This word is composed of peri, meaning “around” and pateō, meaning “to walk.” Paul uses this word frequently to express “the manner in which we live our lives.” It is expressed here in the present tense, subjunctive mood indicating the possibility of such action as an ongoing event.

The word “properly” is from the Greek adverb euschēmonōs. This word is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of schema, which refers to “the external form or appearance of something.” Thus, euschēmonōs means “in good form” or “in the proper manner.”

Exō is the word translated “outside.” It is derived from the preposition ek, meaning “out” or “out of.” It is a reference here to those who are outside the church, that is, non-Christians.

The words “have need of” are translated from the Greek word chreian, which specifically refers to “a debt.” As used here, it refers to a lack of something or to have need of something.

“Nothing” is from the Greek word mēdeis. This is a double compound word made up of mē, meaning “not,” de, meaning “and, but, or even,” and eis, meaning “one.” When we put these all together we find that mēdeis means “not even one (thing)” or “nothing.”

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse begins with a conjunction (hina) meaning “so that.” Whenever a verse begins with a conjunction, we have to look back to see what it is joining the current verse to. In this case, we have to look back to the end of verse ten, “But we urge you, brothers, that you increase more and more;” and, in order to know what it is that has to be increased, we have to look back at verse nine. It says, “…concerning brotherly love …” In other words, one of the reasons that we have to greatly increase our love for others more and more is “so that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”

In yesterday’s verse we learned the first reason that we need to increase our brotherly love. It is so that we can keep from crossing the line to meddling and instead lead a quiet life, mind our own business, and work hard at whatever task we have been given to do. Now Paul teaches us that another reason for increasing our love more and more is so that it will guide our footsteps in life. If we continue to focus on being more loving, showing genuine brotherly love to others, it will continue to instill a habit in us regarding the proper way to live. Notice that this is not just to our brothers and sisters in Christ; by developing the habit of brotherly love, we will act the way God wants us to toward those who are outside the church as well.

Paul also tells us that if we develop the habit of showing genuine brotherly love to all people, we will have all our needs met; we will be lacking in not even one thing.

Application

God never promises us that we will have everything we want, but He does promise us that we will have everything we need if we learn to show genuine brotherly love to all people.

In God's service, for His glory,

James 1:6 – Doubtless Prayer

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Will

But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea being driven by the wind and tossed.

Truth to Learn

Wisdom is available from God for the asking but in order to receive we must believe God’s promise that He will deliver.

Behind the Words

James exhorts us to “ask in faith.” “Faith” comes from the Greek word pistis, which means “to believe.” To ask in faith means that you ask truly believing that God will answer your prayer.

“Doubting nothing” is from the Greek mēden diakrinō. Mēden literally means “not even one” and diakrinō literally means “to divide between” and figuratively it means “to hesitate,” or “to doubt.” So here James commands us to believe without doubting one single bit.

The word translated “wave” is kludōn which is a derivative of kludzō meaning “to wash against.” It describes the long ridges of water as they are driven by the wind in horizontal lines over the surface of the ocean.

“Tossed” is translated from a form of hripidzō, which means “to fan.” Here it describes the wind driven ocean as it is tossed into pointed waves, the tops of which are fanned into spray.

Meaning Explained

There are several things to consider when we pray. First, will the answered prayer result in praise and glory to God? Secondly, is the prayer request consistent with what God teaches us elsewhere in the Bible? Finally, do I really believe that God will answer? If we pray for selfish reasons, if we ask for something that is clearly contrary to what is taught in the Bible, or if we are not rock solid in our belief that God will hear and answer our petition, then we are undertaking a futile effort.

What James is saying is this: if you lack wisdom, pray to God for it and believe without a doubt in your mind that He will give it. If you waver in your faith and doubt, James says that you are like the wind driven waves of the ocean, rising and falling but producing nothing except spray.

God has just promised us that he will provide wisdom in the midst of the trial and He does not lie. Do you believe what He says? If you do, then you should have great confidence when you ask for wisdom in the midst of trials. Remember that God loves you and wants you to be more Christ like. You can’t get that way without trials, but neither can you get that way without God’s help.

Application

How does your prayer life feel? Like the waves of the sea, rising and falling then rising again only to be blown off as ocean spray? Is that how your entire Christian life feels? If so, perhaps you could learn a lesson from the father whose son was demon possessed (see Mark 9:17-27). When he asked our Lord for help, Jesus said,

If you are able to believe, all things are possible to him that believes. (Mark 9:23)

Here’s how the child’s father responded,

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23)

The father of the child knew that Jesus could do it, but he also knew how weak his own faith was, so he humbly pleaded for help.

Lord, we believe; help us with our unbelief!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 4:4 – The Final Judge

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Will

For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

Truth to Learn

Serve God with diligence and with a humble spirit. Don’t worry about what others say.

Behind the Words

“I know” is translated from the Greek verb suneidō, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and eidō, meaning “to know.” Together they mean “to be consciously aware of.” It is expressed in the perfect tense, indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the effect.

The word “nothing” is from oudeis, which is made up of ou, meaning “not” and heis, meaning “one” or “one thing.” So, oudeis literally means “not one thing.”

Dikaioō is the word translated “justified.” It means “to bring out the fact that a person is righteous or without fault.” It is also expressed here in the perfect tense.

The word “judges” is translated from anakrinō, which we saw in yesterday’s verse meaning, “to discern, to decide, or to judge.” It is expressed as a present tense participle, indicating continuous ongoing action. We could paraphrase the end of this verse as “He who is continuously examining me is the Lord.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse, Paul boldly proclaimed that it is a very little thing to him if he is judged by the Corinthians or even a court of law (remember, this literally reads “man’s day”). He went on to say that he does not even make judgment against himself. In today’s verse he clarifies this last statement. He says that he is not consciously aware of anything against himself. In classical Greek literature, the expression he used means “I am not conscious regarding myself of any guilt or neglect of duty.” He is not claiming to have reached a state of sinlessness (which some refer to as “complete sanctification”), rather he is saying that regarding his ministry in Corinth, he is not aware of any malpractice or negligence of duty. He did what God called him to do and he did it wholeheartedly for God, not for himself.

He quickly follows this up with, “yet I am not justified by this.” In other words, just because he is not consciously aware of any faults in his ministry, it does not mean that he is claiming himself guiltless. He leaves here the possibility that he may have committed some act of neglect or malpractice in his ministry to the Corinthians. If so, he simply states that he is not aware of such an act.

In a final statement on the subject, Paul proclaims what should be obvious to any Christian: God is the Judge and final authority on all thoughts and actions of all Christians. If Paul had committed any neglect or malpractice while ministering to the Corinthians, he knows that God will judge such actions. That’s why it is such a small concern to him regarding what people in Corinth say.

Application

Each one of us has responsibilities that God has given us in spreading the gospel message and in building up His church. We are to perform such duties in complete subservience to God, not concerning ourselves with what others say about it. If we are doing our part as a totally committed servant, giving Him all the glory, then we needn’t be concerned about what others say. Give all you have and keep your eyes on Him!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 4:12 – Lacking In Nothing

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Will

that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

Truth to Learn

There is a key to receiving everything that we need in life.

Behind the Words

The word “that” is from the Greek conjunction hina, which means “so that” or “in order that.”

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse begins with a conjunction (hina) meaning “so that.” Whenever a verse begins with a conjunction, we have to look back to see what it is joining the current verse to. In this case, we have to look back to the end of verse ten, “But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;” and, in order to know what it is that has to be increased, we have to look back at verse nine. It says, “…concerning brotherly love …” In other words, one of the reasons that we have to greatly increase our love for others more and more is “so that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”

Paul also tells us that if we develop the habit of showing genuine brotherly love to all people, we will have all our needs met; we will be lacking in not even one thing.

Application

God never promises us that we will have everything we want, but He does promise us that we will have everything we need if we learn to show genuine brotherly love to all people.

In God's service, for His glory,