JURONG OUTREACH - JAN 07

MARRIAGE TESTS
4 Feb 07

“And they lived happily ever after.” We have probably heard a few stories with this ending. Of course the story is of a prince and princess who fall in love and eventually get married and the story stops right there! If the truth were told though, the wedding is the beginning and the life begins thereafter.

We all know that happiness is not handed to us on a silver platter. It is something we work toward every day. We are often tested and tried along the way. Let’s look at some of the tests we might encounter as we live together with our spouse and for God. 

The test of adjustment. Life is filled with adjustments, and marriage is the king of them! This is probably so because marriage is such an intimate relationship. Most importantly, there is the emotional adjustment. Sometimes the demands of one to another are so unreasonable that the other might not be able to adjust from what they were before marriage. Other adjustments include sexual adjustment, family connections, and money matters. It is good for couples to list things they had to adjust or would like for their mate to adjust in order for the marriage to be the best it can. For example: tidiness, neatness, attractiveness, the courtesies of life, and expressions of gratitude, and appreciation. 

The test of loyalty. Everyone appreciates loyalty. We want it in the church, community, state, nation, and in our homes. Although it is unwanted and disliked, disloyalty often creeps into marriages and eats at them until they dissolve in divorce. It certainly does not help that encouragement for the spouse to be disloyal to his/her mate is promoted through TV, magazines, Internet, and the everyday walks of life. In spite of all the pagan influences in the world, we can guard our marriages by feeding our relationships with love and compassion. Our relationships are like hardy plants—if we take care of their roots, we can enjoy their wonderful fruits! 

The test of respect for personality. God made all of us different from all others. The husband and wife are no exception, that is, they are not carbon copies of one another. They are however to complement one another. Husbands learn and live by the Word (Eph. 5:24; 1 Pet. 3:7). Wives, as well, learn and live by the Word (Eph. 5:22-24; 1 Cor. 11:8, 9).  

Although in submission to their husbands, a wife has first obligation to God (1 Cor. 7:15). Sharp words, rude manners, harmful language, and lack of respect for one’s privacy as a person will eat away at marital happiness. 

The test of “in-laws.” Consider all the jokes you have heard or told dealing with “in-laws.” The fact that there are “in-law” jokes infers that this is a problem area. It should be remembered that when one marries, he/she marries into a new family. However, the relationship between the husband and wife should take precedence over all others, even children and parents! The father and mother of the bride and groom must take second place (Mt. 19:6; Gen. 2:24). In a Christian home, “in-laws” can be a great source of joy and help for a happy, successful marriage. 

The test of children. Knowing that children are a gift from the Lord (Psa. 127:3), this test might seem to be a paradox. One of the divine purposes for marriage is procreation. Children help bind husband and wife closer together, but on the proverbial other hand, a child might bring some basic differences to the surface. Children involve sacrifice of time, money, and thought (Eph. 6:1-4). Some couples resent these “losses.” Having children is not something to take lightly, or a decision that is made on a whim. 

The test of money. Who has not encountered this test?! Counselors say that 1 of 5 arguments in the home is about money. Emphasis should not be put on earthly things. Someone said, “Man needs but little here below, nor needs that little long.” The Bible teaches us to be frugal and thrifty (Eph. 4:28; Jn. 6:12). A good rule of thumb is, “waste not, want not.” “Happy is the family, whose members spend not beyond their income, who do not have sudden terror at the coming of the first of the month. For more joy can be gained from a little, than from much unnecessary stuff, with unpaid bills behind it.”  

—Kirk Talley

                  Newlyweds...

BE AN EXAMPLE...IN FAITH
11 Feb 07

Everybody should learn lessons from young people. Paul told a young preacher named Timothy to be an “example of the believers…in faith” (1 Timothy 4:12) so that others could be better Christians because of Timothy’s example. What do you think faith is? That’s a very important question for several reasons. Of course, you and I must have faith in Christ before we can be baptized (Mark 16:16, Mt. 28:19-20), and the Bible says that we cannot please God unless we have faith in Him.

(Heb. 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

Paul wanted Timothy to have a faith to which other Christians could look to for strength and encouragement. What is that faith? Is it simply believing that God exists, even though you cannot physically see Him? Is it simply believing that Jesus existed as a man, even though you were not in Palestine to see Him while He was on earth? No, it is more than that. If you have the faith of Paul and Timothy, you’ll not only believe that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit exist, but you’ll also have full confidence that God knows what’s best for you.

Samuel showed that kind of faith when he was working for Eli the High Priest in the tabernacle. Samuel believed in Eli enough to follow Eli’s instructions. Samuel believed in God enough to answer God by saying “Speak Lord, Thy servant heareth.” Samuel believed that God wanted what was best for Him. Do you believe that God wants what’s best for you (1 Timothy 2:4)? 

Many people don’t have enough faith to get up and go to church services on Sunday mornings, much less get up in the middle of the night like Samuel did. Many church members in America are such poor examples in faith that if the Lord called them at 3 a.m., they might tell the Lord to come back after breakfast.  

Samuel had faith in God’s perfection (whatever God told Samuel to do was good enough for Samuel). Samuel had faith in God’s people (Samuel judged them all the days of his life, 1 Samuel 7:15). Samuel had faith in God’s plan (even when God’s plan included disaster for Eli’s family, Samuel never questioned it). 

The faith that Paul wanted Timothy to have motivated Timothy to live according to the principles of the Bible. Just like Timothy and Samuel, we should be examples of the believers in faith.  

—Caleb Colley

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Do You Live What You Preach 

While speaking to a group of Hindu women a missionary noticed one of the women silently walked away but soon returned and listened more intently than before. Afterwards, he asked her, “Why did you leave in the middle of my message?” The woman replied, “I was so interested in the wonderful things you were saying that I went to ask your servant if you live like you teach and he said that you do. So, I came back to hear more about Jesus.”
“...Jesus began both to do and teach” —Acts 1:1

Don’t Swat That Bee!

Encouragement
I recently read a little quotation from Reader’s Digest that said, “It isn’t so much how busy you are; but why you are busy. The bee is praised. The mosquito is swatted.” That sounds good, but I know a few bees that got swatted as well. 

In the church, we have some bees and some mosquitoes. Some people work at building the church, while others expect the church to work for them. One gives honey; the other sucks the life-blood from the body. One group wants to serve, and other wants to be served.

Let’s be careful not to swat a bee. Let’s protect the bee. We certainly don’t want him to become an endangered species! In fact, while we are at it, let’s change mosquitoes into bees. That’s something we can do that science can’t!

“...encourage thou him…” —2 Samuel 11:25

BE AN EXAMPLE...IN PURITY
18 Feb 07

None are purer than innocent children. Our Lord knew that when He said that adults should become “like little children” (Matthew 18:3). Paul told the young Timothy to maintain purity as a young preacher (1 Timothy 4:12). It is important that our heart, mind, and body be pure.  

Our example in this area is, once again, Samuel. In 1 Samuel 7:3, Samuel spoke unto all the house of Israel, saying, “If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” Samuel wanted to purify Israel of idols. More than that, though, Samuel wanted to purify their hearts.

I recently read this story: Two theological students were walking along a street in the Whitechapel district of London, a section where old and used clothing is sold. “What a fitting illustration all this makes!” said one of the students as he pointed to a suit of clothes hanging on a rack by a window. A sign on it read: SLIGHTLY SOILED—GREATLY REDUCED IN PRICE.  

“That’s it exactly,” he continued. “We get soiled by gazing at a vulgar picture, reading a book, or allowing ourselves a little indulgence in dishonest or lustful thoughts; and so when the time comes for our character to be appraised, we are greatly reduced in value. Our purity, our strength is gone. We are just part and parcel of the general, shopworn stock of the world” (Source: Unknown). 

Our bodies WILL remain pure (free from the damages of drugs, alcohol, smoking, sinful sex) if our hearts are kept pure. We can’t even allow our hearts to be slightly soiled, because if we are, our usefulness in God’s service can be greatly reduced, and we can’t be the right kind of example (1 Timothy 4:12). 

We must be careful to not commit what most people consider to be “little” sins—those things that may seem insignificant, but in reality play a part in the wearing out (soiling) of our example. Such dangers can be found in many movies, TV shows, books and perhaps in many of the people you see from day to day. 

Nothing earthly, however “fun” it may be, is so important that it should make us compromise your purity (Matthew 16:26). We must always remember that, as well as Philippians 4:8, which tells us to think on things that are pure. Be like Samuel. Be an example in purity.  

—Caleb Colley

The Holy Alphabet

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of “Camp Complaining”
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To “thank” is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We’ll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Yes, there’ll be good times and some will be bad, but...
Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

BE AN EXAMPLE...IN CHARITY
25 Feb 07

Everybody should learn lessons from young people. Paul told a young preacher named Timothy to be an “example of the believers…in charity” (1 Timothy 4:12) so that others could be better Christians because of Timothy’s example. “Charity” means “love.” There’s an entire chapter of the Bible (1 Corinthians 13) devoted to telling people the right way to love. Our subject in this study of love will be a young man named Samuel. 

Samuel loved God more than any humans (even more than his own family). Samuel did care for the people around him, but because he put God first in his life, he loved people in the way God wanted him to love them. 

Samuel loved and respected his mentor, Eli. Eli was the high priest in the tabernacle. Late one night, God told Samuel that some awful things were going to happen to Eli. The next morning, Eli was eager to hear what God had said. Here’s what happened. “Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good” (1 Samuel 3:16-18). It was very hard for Samuel to tell Eli that the high priest’s family was going to be cursed. It hurt Samuel, and it hurt Eli. Why did Samuel let Eli know a truth that would hurt him deeply? Because Samuel loved Eli too much to tell him a lie. Samuel also loved God too much to alter, or even “water down,” God’s message. 

People who love God love people, and want souls to go to heaven. People who love always tell people the truth about their spiritual condition. However, it’s often difficult for people to tell the truth in today’s society.

It’s hard for preachers to preach the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), because preachers do not like to offend people (sometimes the truth offends people). Preachers still have the obligation to tell people what they need to hear to help them go to heaven, because they love souls. It’s hard for elders to tell people the truth in love, because sometimes that may mean looking someone in the eye and saying, “you are in a lost condition, and unless you repent, the church will be forced to withdraw fellowship from you.” However, elders who love souls must tell the truth, even when it’s difficult. 

It’s painful for many people to tell others about what they need to do to be saved, because sometimes people that are close to the ones that are spreading the Word have not done what they must do to obey the Gospel. Christians will still share the Gospel, though, because they love souls. In order to be examples of the believers, we must love like Samuel loved God and Eli.

Hugs Are Important in the Home

It’s wondrous what a hug can do. A hug can cheer you when you’re blue. A hug can say, “I love you so,” or, it can say, “I hate to see you go.” A hug is “Welcome back again,” and, “Great to see you, where’ve you been?”

A hug can soothe a child’s pain, and bring a rainbow after rain.
The hug, there’s just no doubt about it—we scarce could survive without it!

A hug delights and charms; it must be why God gave us arms.
Hugs are great for fathers and mothers, sweet for sisters, swell for brothers. And chances are, your favourite aunts, love them more than potted plants.

No need to fret about your store of them; the more you give, the more there are of them.
So stretch those arms without delay, and give someone a hug today! 

The human touch is powerful medicine overlooked. There are some crucial times for families to think about hugs:

When you get up in the morning.

When you part for the day.

When you come together in the evening; and,

When you retire for the night.  

Have you hugged your kids today? What about your husband or wife? Take the time to make a difference in somebody’s day.

—Jim Roberts

“...a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing” —Ecclesiastes 3:5