The title is taken from a book by Francis Schaeffer (founder of L'Abri Fellowship International in Switzerland), the late American theologian and renowned philosophical apologist who wrote A Christian Manifesto. Christianity is about the so-called "good life" indeed, for Jesus promised a "more abundant life." But few believers achieve this and fall short of God's best for them and never really prosper in God's will and calling. We must not live for ourselves for even Jesus didn't please Himself (cf. Rom. 15:3). The Christian has the Spirit to know God and to enjoy and delight in the Lord while the infidel is a slave to sin and held captive by the devil to do his will. We must be rescued from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the light.
God indeed promises prosperity, but prosperity theology of "name and claim it!" is fallacious as commonly taught--it's not always financial but definitely in finding God's will. Financial prosperity is not a sign of God's favor or blessing because even the wicked prosper--but some people receive their portion and reward in this life (cf. Psalm 17:14). We are not here to live for the here and now, but in light of eternity. Our reward is in heaven and, per Lamentations 3:24, "the Lord is [our] portion]; we are awaiting a reward that cannot perish! The whole purpose we are here is to glorify God (cf. Isa. 43:7). We do this by completing the purpose we are called to do and enjoying Him in praise, thanksgiving, and worship. We really glorify God by enjoying Him!
Now to the title of how should we live: Solomon, the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, said that the whole duty of man is to fear God (for the fear of the Lord is only the beginning of true knowledge and wisdom! as is written in Proverbs) and to keep His commandments! Obedience and faith are equated! (cf. Heb. 3:18-19). To be happy in Jesus we must simply "Trust and Obey!" For the Word says, "To obey is better than sacrifice," in 1 Sam. 15:22, NIV. They both say the same thing. Jesus (cf. Matt. 23:23) condemned the Pharisees for neglecting the main point of the Law: Justice, mercy, and faithfulness!
In the same vein, Bonhoeffer said, "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes." Some people would tell you that the secret is to have faith for they believe in faith in faith, while others will tell you to believe in yourself, for self-esteem is vital. We as Christians don't put stock in faith per se, but faith in the right object--Christ. We also don't stress self-esteem as we rely on God-esteem.
It's also not how big our faith is, but its object that counts and how big our God is that matters! God only requires faith as a mustard seed, but it must be in Him! It is a key point that the phrase "Keep the faith!" is erroneous and misunderstood by many. It matters what our faith is and what kind of faith, and in whom (cf. 2 Tim. 1:12)! We are not believers in faith for its own sake! Some will be defenders of faith per se, but not defenders of THE FAITH (cf. Jude v. 3)!
We ought to walk even as Enoch did with the Lord and be in step with the Spirit all the way through thick and thin, come what may, letting the chips fall where they may, and even when the chips are down! "Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God"--therefore the Lord reckoned him as righteous (cf. Gen. 6:5) We have more at our disposal than Noah (the complete canon of Scripture, the Holy Spirit, the fellowship of the church, and even a long tradition of sound doctrine and teaching of the Word).
Our faith is a walk; i.e., "we walk by faith, and not by sight" per 2 Cor. 5:7. That means we may have to venture out of our comfort zones and go where the Lord calls us, but we cannot be qualified if we haven't bloomed where we are planted first. The order of the day is not to look for an area of service, but to bloom where planted and let God do the calling into service. The whole world is our domain of service and we are already at large, so to speak, in the mission field, our circle of influence!
No matter how important faith is, love is of paramount importance in all things; let all things be done in love! It matters not what we do--even servile acts of kindness and mercy--but how much love we put into action. Love is proved by our good deeds and it should not be a matter of words only but of deeds--we must turn our creeds into deeds! For our faith is not a matter of knowing a creed but of knowing a person and proving this to the world, making Him known as our marching order. As Paul said in Gal. 5:6, NIV, "[A]ll that counts is faith expressing itself through love," and in the love chapter that, if we have not the passion of love manifest in our hearts, we are nothing but a "sounding cymbal or clanging gong."
And in the final analysis, we ought not to live selfishly, but for others and to see ourselves on a mission to live solely for Christ's work and to do His will in everything, always to the glory of God and making Him known. We are all here for a purpose or mission (cf. Acts 20:24): As it says in Pss. 138:8; 57:2, that God will fulfill His purpose for us! When David had completed God's purpose, He took him (cf. Acts 13:36). He will never abandon the work of His hands and will never give up on us as lost causes, for God completes His work (cf. Phil. 1:6) and we are all works in progress!
The conclusion of the matter is that the good life is not to be sought in materialism (the American dream), seeking a higher standard of living, education, clout, power, riches, or even fame, but solely in realizing one's potential in Christ, in whom we are made complete (cf. Col. 2:10); for we died and our life is hidden with Christ in God (cf. Col. 3:3). Soli Deo Gloria!
God indeed promises prosperity, but prosperity theology of "name and claim it!" is fallacious as commonly taught--it's not always financial but definitely in finding God's will. Financial prosperity is not a sign of God's favor or blessing because even the wicked prosper--but some people receive their portion and reward in this life (cf. Psalm 17:14). We are not here to live for the here and now, but in light of eternity. Our reward is in heaven and, per Lamentations 3:24, "the Lord is [our] portion]; we are awaiting a reward that cannot perish! The whole purpose we are here is to glorify God (cf. Isa. 43:7). We do this by completing the purpose we are called to do and enjoying Him in praise, thanksgiving, and worship. We really glorify God by enjoying Him!
Now to the title of how should we live: Solomon, the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, said that the whole duty of man is to fear God (for the fear of the Lord is only the beginning of true knowledge and wisdom! as is written in Proverbs) and to keep His commandments! Obedience and faith are equated! (cf. Heb. 3:18-19). To be happy in Jesus we must simply "Trust and Obey!" For the Word says, "To obey is better than sacrifice," in 1 Sam. 15:22, NIV. They both say the same thing. Jesus (cf. Matt. 23:23) condemned the Pharisees for neglecting the main point of the Law: Justice, mercy, and faithfulness!
In the same vein, Bonhoeffer said, "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes." Some people would tell you that the secret is to have faith for they believe in faith in faith, while others will tell you to believe in yourself, for self-esteem is vital. We as Christians don't put stock in faith per se, but faith in the right object--Christ. We also don't stress self-esteem as we rely on God-esteem.
It's also not how big our faith is, but its object that counts and how big our God is that matters! God only requires faith as a mustard seed, but it must be in Him! It is a key point that the phrase "Keep the faith!" is erroneous and misunderstood by many. It matters what our faith is and what kind of faith, and in whom (cf. 2 Tim. 1:12)! We are not believers in faith for its own sake! Some will be defenders of faith per se, but not defenders of THE FAITH (cf. Jude v. 3)!
We ought to walk even as Enoch did with the Lord and be in step with the Spirit all the way through thick and thin, come what may, letting the chips fall where they may, and even when the chips are down! "Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God"--therefore the Lord reckoned him as righteous (cf. Gen. 6:5) We have more at our disposal than Noah (the complete canon of Scripture, the Holy Spirit, the fellowship of the church, and even a long tradition of sound doctrine and teaching of the Word).
Our faith is a walk; i.e., "we walk by faith, and not by sight" per 2 Cor. 5:7. That means we may have to venture out of our comfort zones and go where the Lord calls us, but we cannot be qualified if we haven't bloomed where we are planted first. The order of the day is not to look for an area of service, but to bloom where planted and let God do the calling into service. The whole world is our domain of service and we are already at large, so to speak, in the mission field, our circle of influence!
No matter how important faith is, love is of paramount importance in all things; let all things be done in love! It matters not what we do--even servile acts of kindness and mercy--but how much love we put into action. Love is proved by our good deeds and it should not be a matter of words only but of deeds--we must turn our creeds into deeds! For our faith is not a matter of knowing a creed but of knowing a person and proving this to the world, making Him known as our marching order. As Paul said in Gal. 5:6, NIV, "[A]ll that counts is faith expressing itself through love," and in the love chapter that, if we have not the passion of love manifest in our hearts, we are nothing but a "sounding cymbal or clanging gong."
And in the final analysis, we ought not to live selfishly, but for others and to see ourselves on a mission to live solely for Christ's work and to do His will in everything, always to the glory of God and making Him known. We are all here for a purpose or mission (cf. Acts 20:24): As it says in Pss. 138:8; 57:2, that God will fulfill His purpose for us! When David had completed God's purpose, He took him (cf. Acts 13:36). He will never abandon the work of His hands and will never give up on us as lost causes, for God completes His work (cf. Phil. 1:6) and we are all works in progress!
The conclusion of the matter is that the good life is not to be sought in materialism (the American dream), seeking a higher standard of living, education, clout, power, riches, or even fame, but solely in realizing one's potential in Christ, in whom we are made complete (cf. Col. 2:10); for we died and our life is hidden with Christ in God (cf. Col. 3:3). Soli Deo Gloria!
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