BOASTING.

I have been curious recently as to the topic of boasting. It seems that boasting can either be bad or good, depending upon the manner in which it is done, and what is being boasted upon. We're going to look at these things today, and I'd like to bring forth some observations I have made on a couple of verses.

James 4:13-15 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— (14) yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (15) Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

Now whenever I would read this verse, I would think, “Well what's wrong with simply telling someone what you're gonna be doing next year? Also, wouldn't it just be covering up a problem by just simply adding something on to what you were already going to say? (i.e. If the Lord wills....)” But after looking at it, I realize that James is talking about your mindset! If you say, “Well I'm going to go to a city next year and sell some goods and make a profit.” Notice he doesn't state by who’s strength and will that it'll be decided, it's assumed that it's his own. (That's some arrogance right there) Whereas, James is saying that we ought to be mindful of God's will, and put our trust and hope in Christ. Maybe, just maybe He doesn't want us to even go to that city at all! I found In Webster's dictionary; “Boasting, n. Ostentatious (showy) display of personal worth, or actions; a glorying or vaunting (Speech of extravagant self-praise).” We see that this is what James does not want and is trying to prevent.

So boasting is giving glory to yourself, or possibly on another. Now that I have sort of established what boasting is, I'd like to look at what other verses have to say about boasting.

1Corrinthians 5:1-7 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. (2) And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. (3) For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. (4) When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, (5) you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (6) Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (7) Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

We see that the sin that this man committed in this fellowship is something that even the unbelievers would grimace at! But yet they boast on this! Paul then tells them to get rid of this guy for the sake of the fellowship in order to keep them pure.

1Co 9:15-16 But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. (16) For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Before this verse, Paul was listing off some rights that we as Christians do have the liberty to take part of. He's also saying that Pastors and Elders should be provided for (see 9:13-14). Paul's point, is that he has not partaken of any of these so that he may boast in the Lord! So that he can say "God took care of me when I was in need." That way he could be a more profound witness to others. THIS is good boasting. Boasting that is founded on God, and that glorifies Him, not sinful man.

You may be thinking, “So what? A little boasting here and there can't be as bad as the Corinthians did. It just feels good to do.” Well let's look at the rest of James 4. (The caps is mine)

James 4:13-17 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— (14) yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (15) Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." (16) As it is, you boast in your arrogance. ALL SUCH BOASTING IS EVIL. (17) So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

God has given us a conscience for a reason. You KNOW that not giving glory to God is wrong. He deserves it! Shifting that glory onto yourself...? That's even worse!

2Corrinthians 10:17 "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

Swearing

Hello, my name is Jonathan and I am good friends with Matthew, Daniel, and Savannah.
Today I am going to talk about swearing and cursing.

Swearing and cursing is a big problem in everyday life. People are constantly swearing and cursing no matter where we look: on TV, on the internet, on the streets, in the workplace, and even in the home.

So, what's so bad about swearing and cursing? In Ephesians 4:29 the Bible says:
"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." First Peter 3:10 says: "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit."
James 3:9-12 says: "With it [our tongue] we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh."

So we see that from scripture, swearing and cursing is wrong.

Some people say that cursing is okay in high-stress situations, because it helps to channel anger in a way that is not physically violent. However, swearing in moments of stress and anger is, besides being sinful according to Scripture, very immature. It can be compared to the crying of a toddler:You are making a disagreeable noise, not to solve your problem (which it certainly can't), but simply because you are not getting your way. Not swearing when things get tough shows self-control, self-control shows maturity. Not having self-control is a sign of immaturity, and therefore swearing when things get tough is clearly immature.

Also, the way we speak reflects our character and says something about the state of our souls. In Matthew 15:11 Jesus tells us that it is "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” He says in Luke 6:45: "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."

So as Christians, our words should reflect the amazing work that God has done within us. Galations 5:22-23 says that "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." These are the fruit we should be bearing and that people should be hearing when we speak.

Next time you hear a brother or sister swear, remind them of these scriptures. Next time you are in a tough situation, don't curse, but pray. Next time you hear a non-believer cuss, ask them to stop. If they ask why, you can give them your reasons and from there, who knows! God might work through you to bring that person to Him.

Patience

Hey Guys! As Daniel said, I was on a misson trip to Burma and Malaysia. By the grace of God it was incredible and life changing. I'm back and writing. Sorry it's taken so long for me to post. God bless you all a ton!

"No WAY!!!!!!! Not again..." I walk into my room and find my sewing supplies everywhere. It’s the fifth time this week and I’m at the end of my rope. Pins and needles poking my feet, spools of thread partially unwound and in a tangled mess, fabric cut into a million pieces, not to mention the buttons! "Elijah David!!!" I yell in anger. This time he’s going to get it... What do I need at this moment? I desperately need patience.
Patience demonstrates that we are in Christ. It’s one of the fruits that should be growing in the life of every believer. Patience is defined as long suffering, bearing under or withstanding circumstances and also as holding out hope while not despairing. The most common understanding of patience involves everyday circumstances. A biblical understanding of patience includes victory in the everyday irritations of life as well as developing a confident trust in God’s will.
How do we attain such a lofty virtue? Patience must start with putting off the old man and his ways as 2 Corinthians 5:17 says. We have to put off self-centeredness and irritability. 1 Corinthians 13 teaches us that love is patient, it is not easily irritated and does not seek its own way. We really need a change in our perspective. We need to stop looking out for our own interests. We need humility. Philippians 2:3-4 says "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." We also need to have self control. Controlling our words and actions starts with controlling our thoughts and motives. 1 Corinthians 10:5b says "... and take every thought captive to obey Christ;" When a situation unfolds that frustrates us we can replace the angry and self-centered thought with a gracious thought. I can think, "Elijah is trying to make my life difficult. He doesn’t care about all the work he makes for me!" or I can think, "Elijah is creative and very curious. I need to help him learn to respect others property. I also need to spend more time showing him my sewing supplies together." Maybe I need to remember to store them properly. Instead of focusing on him, I need to see if there’s a lesson for me to learn. Therefore, what I need for patience is really loving-kindness. We need to love others, count them as "more significant", and do that by putting down our selfish desires.
Is that all that is required to be patient? It’s certainly a great start! But patience goes a bit further. Patience requires contentment. 1 Timothy 6:6 says "Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment." Patience also requires a hopefulness while waiting. When we wait on God’s timing, and are content in the stage he has placed us, we have patience and peace. When we trust in the sovereignty of God with full assurance of his goodness, we have no reason to be unhappy or impatient. His timing is perfect and we can rest in that. The peace that ensues is a great blessing from our Lord, and a result of patience.
Wether you and I are struggling with the daily irritations that happen all the time, or having trouble being content with our circumstances, we all need to be more patient. With all we’ve considered it might seem like a huge task, and in many ways it is too great a task for us alone. However God’s Word promises that "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil. 1:6) Praise the Lord! Be encouraged to be patient.

Note: Elijah, my five year old brother, though quite curious in real life has never dumped my sewwing supplies. He is released of all guilt.

Mission Trip Update

Hey everyone, thanks so much for any and all your prayers for the Burma mission team. They safely returned Saturday before last. Sorry I haven't updated the blog in a bit, we've all been busy. Now that Savannah's back, she'll be rolling out a new essay soon. Thanks again!

Asia Mission Trip

Hey everyone, quick prayer request. Savannah's family is heading overseas today on a mission trip to Malaysia and Burma. Mr. Brenyo will be preaching every day for several hours each while they're over there. The areas surrounding where they'll be visiting are hostile to the Gospel, and the people they are ministering to are one of the most persecuted groups in the world. I just want to ask for prayer for their family, not only that God would keep them safe, but that they will speak the Word truthfully and boldly, and that God will move in the hearts of the people to come to Himself to His glory. Thanks.