THREE GRAVE DANGERS CHRISTIANS FACE TODAY

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THREE GRAVE DANGERS CHRISTIANS FACE TODAY
by Philip Owen

The spiritual battle never changes, so we should not be put off by the fact that our title suggests three dangers that face present-day believers but that our text comes from the Book of Deuteronomy. In the sixth chapter of this book, we read some of the instructions of the old servant of God, Moses, as, facing his own death, he prepares a new generation for the dangers that await them. His words serve as a warning from God to every generation, and duly prepare us for three specific dangers.

Failure to properly instruct our children (see Deut. 6:6-9). “Thou shalt teach them [the commandments of God] diligently to thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkedst by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Provocative, is it not, that the first warning involves the necessity of giving our children faithful, consistent instruction in the Word of God? The text makes perfectly clear the fact that taking them to Sunday School and church several times a week and enrolling them in a Christian school are not sufficient instruction in the things of the Lord. The text emphasizes the fact that “religious instruction” is a full time job for both parents. We are to teach our children in such a way that they develop a scriptural world view, that everything is seen through the lens of Scripture, that they see God above, beneath, in and through every detail of their lives. The portion of life from which God is omitted will be the Achilles heel of our children. Moses, the man of God, put this warning first; therefore, it must be critically important that we instruct our children daily in the ways of the Lord that they may follow Him daily in the paths of their lives.

Prosperity (see Deut. 6:10-12). Moses catalogues the blessings that the Lord is about to shower on his people, for example, “houses full of all good things” (v. 11). Then he gives this dire warning: “Then beware lest thou forget the Lord” (v. 12). Some may be shocked by the suggestion that prosperity is dangerous. After all, a huge part of Christendom promotes the “prosperity gospel” and suggests that prosperity is the evidence both of God’s blessing and of spiritual maturity. Yet prosperity is dangerous. And it is almost certainly true that more believers are ruined by abundance than by lack. Lack tends to humble us, drives us to the Lord, keeps us on our knees, reminds us of our dependence on Him. Prosperity tends to engender pride, encourages self-sufficiency, promotes satisfaction with temporal comfort rather than with our spiritual well-being. If you think that financial success is not a danger, ask yourself this question: “What am I willing to part with in terms of occupation, location, and possessions in order to serve the Lord?” Prosperity has already corrupted us if we put conditions on when, how, where, and under what conditions we will serve the Lord. We can not slough this warning off, for our material prosperity is often the cause of our spiritual bankruptcy. We use the grace of God “for an occasion to the flesh” (Gal. 5:13), abusing the very gifts that He intends for our blessing. We must beware of setting our affections on earthly things.

Adversity (see. Deut. 6:16). “Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah” (v. 16), where they sinned against God through murmuring and strife because of their lack of water. This is a sober warning that adversity, of itself, does not sanctify. While we may be driven to the Lord by problems, it is also quite likely that we first (if not finally) will succumb to unbelief and fear, to worry and despair, or to murmuring and complaint. But we are to remember that God intends adversity in our lives for a sanctifying purpose. We frequently require the chastening that trials bring, and we never grow beyond the need for sanctifying trials. The believer who has come to the place where he ceases to sigh and murmur (those are sins) and can rejoice in tribulation is truly blessed with maturity in the Lord. Whatever the purpose of the adversity (and often we can not discern a specific reason), the Lord intends for us to trust Him implicitly.

These three dangers—neglectfulness in instructing our children, prosperity, and adversity—threaten our path at every step. May we be sober and watchful against falling prey to these great dangers and of succumbing to sin against our Lord.

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THREE GRAVE DANGERS CHRISTIANS FACE TODAY by Philip Owen

THREE GRAVE DANGERS CHRISTIANS FACE TODAY
by Philip Owen