Be Wise In What Is Good

Alba 8-7-2022

BE WISE IN WHAT IS GOOD

Romans 16:17-21

Before smart meters, overcoming locked gates, tall fences and snapping dogs always presented a challenge for meter readers. They were required to actually read all meters, no estimates allowed.

One time a worker in Oklahoma succeeded in getting past a particularly vicious watchdog tied to a chain that was long

enough to give him the ability to cover the entire back yard and driveway.

Later, the owner was curious and questioned the man's supervisor: "How was he able to get past that watchdog?" The workman was asked about it. "That's easy, boss," the meter reader said. "I parked on his chain."

That was a wise decision! And it was a good decision. In life we need to make wise and good decisions because there are many choices out there. And also because many are false choices.

There are those who may appear to be harmless to our spiritual lives, but are as dangerous as a vicious dog. That is why we have the warning from the apostle Paul in Romans 16:17-21. He writes:

17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

This kind of warning of false teachers is not new. Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-16, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.”

And in Acts 20:29-30 Paul warned the elders of the church in Ephesus saying, “29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”

Even today we have these same issues. We have those who, knowingly or unknowingly, work against the plan of God and seek to mold the church to their likeness! Or worse yet, they are trying to eradicate the church from society.

There are many false teachers in our world today, and many of them gain a large audience - mostly by telling people what they want to hear. Whether it be that God wants everyone to be healthy and wealthy, or that you can live anyway you want, as long as you sincerely believe what you believe and love like you want to love.

Do you want to get rich and seek a life of materialism? You can find those kinds of churches. Do you want to keep your religion as just a nice ritual kind of thing that doesn’t demand too much of you? You can find those kinds of churches. Do you want a religious approach that says that any kind of sexual or relational expression is okay? Yup, you can find those kinds of churches too.

There is tremendous pressure for us to abandon the teachings that have been handed down to us from Jesus and the apostles. The pressure comes from our society in general, which has become so liberal and atheistic. And Paul warns that it can even come from inside the church.

Who are these people we are warned about? The apostle Paul tells us that they are those who serve their own belly. In other words, they are utterly focused on gratifying their own desires.

These individuals may be professing Christians, but they seek their personal comfort rather than the glory of God. They are not prepared to accept the instruction for the child of God in II Timothy 2:3 “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

Their attitude can be described as, “Let Jesus have the beatings, the sweat and the toil; give me the praise and the glory.”

They are uncomfortable if confronted with any teaching that challenges their thinking, or with teaching that exposes their private sin, or with teaching that confronts their self-centered desires.

The result is they cause divisions and put obstacles in the way of those who are trying to obey God's Word. How do they do this? By deviating from the Word of God!

They teach doctrines contrary to what the Bible says. They teach doctrines that resemble what one finds in the Bible. But there are subtle differences. Differences that make all the difference!