Feature 2 for July/August 2015: “Earthly Things And The Christian” (Alfred Bouter)

s Feature 2 for July/August 2015: “Earthly Things And The Christian” (Alfred Bouter)

Feature 2 – July/August 2015 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Earthly Things And The Christian

“Those who use the world, as though they did not make full use¹ of it; for the form of this world is passing away.” — 1 Corinthians 7:31 NASB

As believers we are living in this world but not of it, for we no longer belong to it. We are strangers – belonging to heaven instead. Consider God’s call of Abram. He told him to leave country, kindred and close family (Gen. 12:1). When the Patriarch arrived in the Promised Land he understood that he should live there as a sojourner, a stranger, a pilgrim on his way to another destination (Heb. 11:8). Abram, meaning “exalted father,” became Abraham, the “father of a multitude” (Gen. 17:5). As the father of all believers, Jewish and non-Jewish (Rom. 4:11-12), Abraham is our example, model and guide. Even though he had arrived in the land that God had promised him as a possession and was living there, Abraham understood that for the time being he could not yet make full use of it.

This is the lesson in regard to our use of this world: Use it as good stewards who have been entrusted with the things of this world for a time, realizing that all belongs to God² and that the present form of this world is passing away (1 Cor. 7:31). In the world to come everything will be put under the control of our Lord Jesus, when His rights will be fully honored (Heb. 2:5-8). Then it will be possible to make full use of it, in submission to and in fellowship with Him.

Lessons From 1 Timothy 3:16-4:5
The highest revelation is the mystery of godliness, spelled out in 1 Timothy 3:16. Taken in its context this passage gives us the right view of things in this world, which has been under the enemy’s control since the Fall (Gen. 3). It teaches us how to live here according to God’s will, despite the enemy’s influence. This passage also provides insight on how to use the earthly blessings of this present creation – food, married life, family life – for the glory of God and our own benefit. The apostle explains that all is to be used in fellowship with God (the Creator, our Father) according to His Word, together with prayer and thanksgiving.

In Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8 Paul further taught us to be patient with weaker believers who abstain from certain things which are good in themselves. But the similar verses in 1 Timothy 4 are not associated with weakness and patience. Here Paul condemns wrong forms of abstinence, such as certain leaders forbidding themselves or others of getting married in order to be “closer to God.” They may prohibit the use of selected foods, impose certain days as more holy or any number of the same type of restrictions. Where such things are taught and imposed, the Spirit of God through Paul unmasks them as being the doctrine of demons, for such forms of abstinence completely set aside what God has given in creation and in nature. All that which God has created is good in itself and is therefore also good for us. Christians are to use these earthly blessings as coming from His hands as long as we use them according to God’s will and in fellowship with Him.

Paul shows how to enjoy these earthly things, with the right (spiritual) attitude:

In the context of God’s revealed truth, faith on our side and the knowledge of God and Christ according to 1 Timothy 3:16, we are lifted above the earthly level. Yet this does not mean that we should reject earthly things in and by themselves, or abstain from them (or force others to do so). What is condemned is worldliness, the attitude or desire of participating in things of this world, which is under Satan’s control. There are two extremes: abstinence or indulgence – and they are both wrong!
With thankful hearts we realize that all earthly blessings come to us from God’s hand. Giving thanks for them we are to receive them thankfully, enjoying them in fellowship with Him, for His glory and for our benefit.
Earthly gifts are sanctified by the Word of God – set apart for Him and us. This gives us the authority to use them according to God’s direction, with prayer, as we express our thankfulness.

Let us make sure that we understand that we are not talking here about the spiritual blessings God has blessed us with (Eph. 1:3) or eternal life He has given us. These were received through faith and the work of the Holy Spirit, and they are our true possessions. We are talking now about things of this earth, earthly blessings that we have received from God to be enjoyed during the time we are living here. All these belong to God and He has given them to us for a time: food, jobs, family, marriage, children, holidays, “free time,” house, car ... and the list could go on. We are to use them as His stewards, honoring God in using them and in the way we are using them.

Lessons From 1 Timothy 6:6-19
God gives us all things to enjoy (see Ecclesiastes 2:24, 3:13, 5:18). We may use our earthly blessings and possessions for our enjoyment and in communion with God, as we have seen. But we must learn not to put our confidence in earthly possessions: “Having food and raiment, let us therewith be content” (1 Tim. 6:6-10 KJV).

There is a higher way we can use earthly blessings – namely in sharing them with others. The writings of Paul show us that the value of eternal life surpasses that of our earthly blessings (vv.12,19) even when used in a spiritual manner. Therefore, be reminded that even enjoying these earthly things properly or using them for the good of others are of less value than eternal life.

Administrators Or Stewards
Let us repeat that we, Christians, are stewards of the earthly things which God has entrusted to us for a time. We use them for His glory in a world where His rights as the Creator-Redeemer-God are not honored, but rejected. Luke 16:9-12 describes the following contrasts:

EARTHLY AND TEMPORAL	HEAVENLY AND ETERNAL
Wealth (mammon) of unrighteousness	Everlasting habitations (used for the Master)
That which as some valuie	That which has much value
Unrighteous mammon	True riches in Christ, heavenly blessings and eternal life
That which belongs to another	That which is our own and remains with us

As stewards and administrators, we must be faithful (1 Cor. 4:2) for the blessings that God has entrusted to us, shown in the left column, really belong to Him. The things we truly possess – eternal and spiritual things, true life and eternal life – are given in the right column.

In this last context we now understand these passages:

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col. 3:1-2 NASB).
“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is their shame, who set their minds on earthy things” (Phil. 3:17-19).

These verses do not condemn earthly things. However, they do condemn those Christians who live only for the things of the earth, being totally preoccupied by them. Such Christians do not think at all of their life hidden with Christ in God. The use of earthly things is not wrong, as we have seen. But what is wrong is to be entirely “taken up” with these things. In a Christian’s life things of the earth and earthly blessings, of necessity, occupy an important place, yet they are always subject to and controlled by this true life: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

Worldly, Earthly And Heavenly Things
There is a distinction between the things of the world – a system that belongs to the enemy (since Genesis 3; see also 1 John 2:15-17) – and the things of the earth, which are good in and of themselves. But it is difficult to give a precise definition since this depends on many different factors.

It is clear that even as Christians it lies in our power to use the things of the earth in a worldly way or to allow earthly things to set aside the influence of eternal and heavenly things. Both actions are wrong!

When a Christian man thinks only of earthly and worldly things, he is not a spiritual brother. And the brother who only lives for and because of his wife is worldly. As another example, one who does not do his work as he should or who uses his employer’s time to read the Bible is not spiritual and is, in a sense, even worldly because he acts in the same way as those of the world. On the other hand, he who is so entirely taken up by his work that he no longer has time for his wife and family and even less time for the Lord is worldly since he only thinks of things of the earth.

Music is a marvelous gift of God – something which we can enjoy even in the context of our assembly [church] meetings and in the hymns we sing. But he who lives only for music, even if it is “spiritual music,” is thinking only of the things of the earth and therefore is worldly.

It may be helpful to read two passages from John’s first letter:

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (1 Jn. 2:15-17).
“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (3:16-17).

In the second passage “the world’s goods” are seen as earthly things with which we may do well towards our brother. But in the first passage we learn how the same things are viewed as being a great threat to the believer. The danger is that we would begin to love certain things of the world, good in themselves as are the earthly blessings. But when these start to occupy our heart and turn us from affections for the Lord, then they become the cause of fleshly lusts and pride. This is the starting point of idolatry (1 Jn. 5:21), when things God has given become a goal in themselves, apart from the great Giver, negatively impacting our communion with God.

Scripture distinguishes between worldly and earthly things. Closely related to being worldly, we see in Scripture the term “carnal,” which Vine’s Dictionary Of New Testament Words defines as “having the nature of the flesh ... governed by human nature, instead of by the Spirit of God.” If we are not watchful we could easily fall from a good, spiritual use of earthly things into one that is carnal or even worldly. In the first case we serve the Lord, in the second we serve ourselves (really Satan). May the Lord give us the grace to examine our hearts and judge what needs to be judged!

Conclusion
Having said this we can summarize the previous comments as follows:

A Christian who finds his joy in things that are worldly, that belong to this world system, is carnal by definition. He certainly is not spiritual, because worldly things, those that belong to this world as a wicked system, are always related to sin, the flesh and Satan.
A Christian who enjoys earthly things is not necessarily carnal.
A Christian who enjoys heavenly things is not necessarily spiritual or heavenly-minded.

It is essential that we really understand points 2 and 3, since point 1 should be clear to all. The Christian who enjoys earthly things is not necessarily carnal, provided that:

He or she receives the earthly blessings from God’s hand with a good conscience, in thankfulness and communion with God;
He or she uses these earthly things faithfully in obedience to the Word, such as by following God’s instruction regarding living as a Christian couple and as Christian family; and
He or she maintains the right balance between earthly and heavenly things.

On the other side of the coin we may ask, “When is a Christian carnal, even though he or she enjoys heavenly things?” This is the case when the believer:

Does not find real spiritual joy in these blessings or in true communion with God. Such things should lead to praise and worship. Instead, they may only give some intellectual satisfaction.
Enjoys a carnal pleasure in the knowledge of heavenly things. For example, this person may boast in all that he or she knows or has found to justify legalism or other carnal things.
Neglects his or her earthly obligations, whether regarding one’s spouse, children or daily tasks.

We can either be spiritual or carnal in earthly things! How the heart of man is deceitful and incurable (Jer. 17:9). May the Lord give us the grace to put into practice His thoughts, that in our lives of faith we would:

Keep ourselves far from worldly things;
Be spiritual in earthly things; and
Be spiritual in heavenly things.

Let us conclude with an earlier passage: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col 3:1-2 NKJV).

END NOTES
1. To understand this phrase, it is helpful to compare it with the same term in chapter 9. “What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:18 NASB). Paul limited the use of his rights, and that is the point also, but in a different context. In 1 Corinthians 7:31 it is to voluntarily limit our liberty with respect to the use of earthly things.
2. The principle of idolatry is using what belongs to God for self and/or Satan, who claims these things as the god of this age. When serving self, we indirectly serve Satan (1 Jn. 2:15-17, 5:20-21).

By Alfred Bouter