Things Men Consider Cheap

Someone said, “Riches are a golden key that opens every door except the door of heaven.” Men may consider things like money, security, property, or pleasure valuable. But often times men have their values confused and we tend to think of things as valuable, when truly they are of very little value. Keep this thought in mind ---- that which man considers valuable is not so considered by the Lord. Jesus said: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). John D. Rockefeller is supposed to have said, “I would give all my millions for a working man’s stomach.” Money is not all. Men must train themselves to think of things valuable if the Lord thinks them to be valuable. Christ is the best judge of a bargain. What is my evaluation of things in contrast to His? Jesus said: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:2), and “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Our soul should be regarded as the most valuable thing that we possess.

Righteousness

Something is cheap to a person if he would give just a little for it. Anything that exalts a nation must be very valuable. The wisest of all men said, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). This would eliminate the oppression of one group by another. It would end racial hatred and political prejudices. It would eliminate the waste of money spent for liquor as well as on welfare that people do not deserve - when they won’t work. It would do away with dishonesty in business and government. Truly the Lord knows what is valuable, but it seems that most men won’t accept the formula given to us by God.

Following Christ

If you consider something cheap, you won’t give much for it. That’s the reason I know that men consider following after Christ very cheap. They don’t put any money or effort into it. If they considered following Jesus Christ a valuable thing, they would do so at all costs. Only a very few people do. Jesus saw Simon and his brother fishing on the sea of Galilee and Jesus said, “come and I will make you fishers of men.” The Bible says they left their nets and followed Him. Jesus puts great value on following Jesus the Christ. In fact, we must leave all, as did His beloved disciples. Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). Most people must consider Christ cheap, because very little value is placed on their salvation.

Don’t Set Your Hope on Riches

All the solid evidence points to the wisdom of setting our affections on heavenly things. Men depend too much on material things. If we have money, we feel secure. The Bible says: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). One corrupts, corrodes, rusts and rots, while the other remains. One promises much and delivers little. The other promises much and God has the power to deliver. We sing the song, “Jesus is all the world to me” but do we really believe it and trust in Him? There have been many men on their death bed wishing they could buy back the past, but it is too late. One cannot do so. If one could only buy back a few days to accept the Lord, how secure he would be, but he comes to his death realizing that money now will do absolutely no good. It truly is my hope and prayer that all men would “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). That is not cheap at all – that is where true value is. 

Things Considered Valuable

Money

When we think of things valuable, we usually think of money. If you had a ten-thousand-dollar bill, it would be valuable, at least in the eyes of men. A thing may be valuable because of what it will buy, or it may be valuable because it is scarce. Or a thing may be valuable because it has sentimental value to a particular person. So, in a real sense, money is very valuable in the eyes of most of us. But it is very easy to consider it too valuable. 

When money, or its equivalent, causes us to be envious, or jealous; when money is put before friends or other things more valuable, we are getting the wrong concept of money. Some people know the price of everything, but the value of nothing. The wise man said, “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city.” While valuable, let us ask this question: “What value does the Lord place on money?” The Bible says: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). The rich man in Luke 12 thought so much of himself and his wealth that he forgot about what was really important - his soul! Notice what is said in Luke 12:19-21: “And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then who's will those things be which you have provided?' So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Wealth is only a temporary thing. Our soul will live forever. Our soul, or money – what do you think is the most important? 

Security

Solomon said, “The rich man is wise in his own eyes” (Proverbs 28:11). A person with money thinks of himself as very secure. Insurance companies are among the wealthiest businesses in the world. Men put much faith and money in security. We want to be secure in our homes, in our businesses. We want to provide for the time when we will not have a good income. Money makes us feel secure. Did you ever think how much better you felt with money in your pocket - especially if you are on a trip or away from home. Security is a very valuable thing to mankind.

But the security that is really valuable is the conviction that I will someday live with God. Paul said: “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12). The impossibility of apostasy is a doctrine of Satan; but strong faith in God is the greatest security one can have. Think about it, do you have the security of knowing that you are doing all things that are pleasing to God? Remember Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).

Pleasure

Men seem to be living for pleasure, power and prosperity. Did you ever think how much money is spent on pleasure? Men will risk life and limb to have a good time......to satisfy the desires of the flesh and of the mind. Men will risk a whole life in prison for a few moments of pleasure. Men will spend thousands, risk their lives, endanger their home, and do just about any other foolish act for a few moments of pleasure. This is a form of selfishness.

What does the Lord think of pleasures? Listen to the inspired writer as he commends Moses of old: “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26). Moses had the perfect opportunity to forsake his values and enjoy wealth, fame, fortune, and all the other pleasures of life. But he chose to live a life devoted to God. The Lord commended him for that choice in these verses. Will the Lord be able to say these things about you and me? We should all desire to be like those others that are mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, which I like to call the “Hall of Faith chapter.” Don’t forsake the Lord for a few moments of pleasure here on this earth. It’s not worth spending an eternity away from God because of it. May we all think about what is truly valuable and realize that the most valuable thing that we all possess is our own soul.

The Purpose of Miracles

God does not do things without a purpose. All of His work is planned, purposed and orderly done. This was true with His work with reference to performing miracles. Let us examine and answer this question; “What was the purpose of miracles during the days of the apostles and Jesus Christ on earth?”

Revealing the Truth

One purpose of miracles was to reveal the truth unto all mankind. If God speaks to man, then He must choose some medium. Rather obviously that medium must be in ways that man will understand. So God spoke to man in words adapted to man's understanding. In 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit gave unto the apostles what he wanted the apostles to reveal to man. Here is what Paul wrote: “But as it is written: “EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” The Holy Spirit revealed unto the apostles the words that God wanted them to speak. Listen to Him: “These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches.” Miracles had to be performed for man to know the truth.

Confirming the Word

Another purpose of miracles in the first century was to confirm the word. By this we mean that the apostles did miracles in order to prove they were truly speaking from God, that they were not imposters. These men claimed to be spokesmen for God. But how were the people to know for sure? Miracles were done to prove it. These miracles were signs. Other miraculous manifestations were called "wonders" or "miracles." There were differences in the design or purpose of the kinds of miracles. "Signs" were proof of divinity or proof of authority. "Wonders" had to do with the great power manifested in the miracles. In John 2:11 we read: “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” The turning of water into wine was proof that Jesus was divine. You remember Nicodemus said: “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (John 3:2). Yes, signs, or miracles, were proof of the genuineness of the person speaking from God. But still, even seeing all these signs, wonders, and miracles, people would not believe. The gospel of John is filled with miracles for the purpose of getting people to believe in Jesus. John wrote: “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). Do you believe in Jesus Christ? I certainly hope so because unless one believes that Jesus Christ is the son of God and is buried with Him in baptism, they cannot have eternal life. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).

No Evidence of Miracles Today

Now think about this. Since the Bible, the Word of God, is now revealed, and since the confirmation has already been made, what need have we of miracles? There is no valid evidence today that men can do miracles as they did in the first century and that is because it is not needed today as it was then. Do we need more truth revealed to us? Is not the Bible enough? Would you charge that the Bible is insufficient? Is there something lacking in God’s book? Do we need more light now than the people did in Paul's day? If one faithfully follows God’s book today, wouldn’t he be saved? If so, then what do we need with added revelation? Since the Bible is proven to be from God, why do we need more confirmation?

God Hates Sin

Can God hate? The Bible says He can. In the Proverbs, chapter 6, it says "These six things the Lord hates..." Each of these is sin. God hates sin so much that He was willing to let His son die to destroy it. This is the love, or the mercy of God. The Bible says: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). It also says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God," (Ephesians 2:8). Let no one tell you that members of the church of Christ do not believe in the grace of God. But grace alone will not save any more than faith only. When Paul said we are saved by grace, he did not say we are saved by grace alone. Without man's faith and obedience, one could never be saved. The Bible says "though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him," (Hebrews 5:8-9). This passage clearly states that He is the author of eternal salvation to those who obey Him. Without obedience to Jesus, we cannot be saved. Have you made a determination within your life to obey Him?

The Cleansing Agent

If a worker comes in with dirty hands, there are several things necessary to get them clean. First, he must recognize that they are dirty. Without this realization he would not wash his hands. Secondly, he must have a cleansing agent. This probably is soap and water. Without this he may never get the grease or dirt off his hands. But before that cleansing agent of soap and water will do any good, he must apply that cleansing agent to his hands. No matter how much soap and water one has, without application of it, then he would never get his hands clean. In like manner, Christ shed His blood for sinful man. But first man must realize that He is a sinner. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:23). This is probably the most difficult thing in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Most people are defensive about admitting that they have sin in their life, saying that they are really pretty good folks. But in reality, they know that they are sinners. Next, they must have a cleansing agent to get rid of the sin and that cleansing agent is Jesus Christ. This has been provided for the taking. Paul wrote: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Jesus has provided the most wonderful gift ever for mankind - it is there for the taking. But without application of the blood of Christ, then there is no cleansing. Wishing will not make it so. Paul also writes: “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?" (Romans 6:3). There is the application! It is not until we are baptized into Christ, into His death, that we put on Christ. The Bible also says: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). It is baptism that provides the means of cleansing for man's sins. Just as soap and water is needed to cleanse our dirty hands, baptism is the application needed to cleanse us from sin.

The Sacrifice of Christ
How does one take advantage of the sacrifice of Christ? Most Bible believers admit that it takes the blood to wash away sins, but how is this blood applied to the human heart? The apostle Paul wrote: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). What does it mean to be baptized into Christ? Simply, that we are baptized into the benefit of the death of Christ which is eternal salvation. Christ died for our sins. To benefit from the blood, we must get into Christ, which means getting into a right relationship with Christ. Thus, being baptized is simply being saved, or accepting the offer of Christ's salvation. Peter said: "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;..." (Acts 2:38). How did these individuals obtain remission of their sins? By repenting and being baptized. How does one get into Christ? By baptism. The same act that saves you puts you into Christ. Baptism brings salvation, remission, church membership, and puts one into Christ. The destruction of sin can only be had through our obedience to Jesus.

Newness of Life
Becoming a Christian is likened to the death of Christ. The Bible says in Romans 6:3-6: "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." In verses 3-4, it says that these New Testament Christians had just been baptized into Christ. That means into the benefits of the death of Christ. In so doing, the sinner puts off the old man of sin and puts on the new man in Christ. When did this happen? When they were baptized into Christ. The idea that one does not need to be baptized in order to be saved has been invented by man and is without Bible authority. The Bible clearly says that to be in Christ one must be baptized. One is baptized into the death of Christ. There the sinner puts off the man of sin and puts on Christ Jesus. There is no way under heaven to put on Christ outside of baptism into Christ. Please read what God says in His word, and then be submissive to His teaching.

Be Determined to Follow Christ

Sunday will be the first Lord's Day of 2023. Have we determined within our hearts to follow Christ in all that we do this year? Have we thought about making any personal and family changes that would be better in our service to Christ? I would encourage each of us to be more determined than ever to devote personal time in the studying of our Bible. Paul told Timothy to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Each child of God has the same responsibility in their service as a Christian. Before we can be an effective example and an effective teacher, we must know the Word of God. We can only be approved of by God when we learn those things in which He has instructed for us to do in our life and then carry them out with the love of our Lord and one another.

We need to be more like the Bereans and search the scriptures daily to make sure that we are in compliance with God's will. When we understand and accept that ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God then we will be on our way to carrying out the commandments of God. The basic fundamental principles of Bible authority are recognizing the "need" for authority and having "respect" for authority. We respect the Word of God when we DO what God asks of us. Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Do we recognize the need for authority? Do we respect God's Word? If we do, then we must determine now to follow the commandments of Christ in our lives not only in 2023, but in all the days to follow.

 

Sin Separates Us from God

The person who believes in God wants always to enjoy his fellowship, yet the consequences of sin is separation from God. Listen to Isaiah: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). The consequences of sin is that it causes us to be separated from God. A person is lost because of his sin. Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Death means separation, so the sinner is separated from God. This is true whether or not you have once become a Christian.

There are some human creeds that tell us that you or I cannot fall from grace once we have become a Christian. This can’t be so because Paul says in Galatians 5:4: “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” The apostle Peter writes: “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Peter 2:20-21). Paul also states in Romans 11:22: “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.” We can learn from these and many other scriptures that even the Christian may be cut off from the fellowship of God by not continuing to live in obedience to Him. Revelation 2:10 says we must be “faithful until death.” The terrible consequences of sin is that it causes God to withdraw himself from His children. God does not desire it, but justice demands it, and God cannot deny Himself. If one does not repent of their sin, and live faithfully, then separation from God will be the consequence of that.

Sin Causes an Eternal Separation from God

Hell is eternal separation. Sin separated a man from God here on this earth, but it will also cause him to be eternally separated in the next life. Can you fathom eternity? I cannot. To be in Hell for even a short time would be bad; to be in hell eternally, forever separated from God, is much worse. But that’s what sin will do. After the death in this life a man in Hades, in the place of torment, begged Abraham to have Lazarus to cool his tongue with some water, for he was in torment in the flames. But it was impossible, for the Bible says: “And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us” (Luke 16:26). To avoid hell, man must take advantage of the death of Christ in obeying the gospel. The Roman brethren did this, and Paul said they were baptized into Jesus’ death (Romans 6:4). As long as one remains in sin, then there is no hope of gaining an eternal home with Jesus in heaven when we take our last breath on this earth. We must live for Jesus daily now, so that we can live with Him eternally. 

Man Has His Values Confused

It is very evident that in our society, man has his values confused. What often seems valuable to many is not really valuable at all. Men put a great price-tag on pleasure, money or prominence. Men value wealth, satisfaction of the physical desires and attention from their peers. If they secure this, they think of themselves as successful. But these pass with time.

It is righteousness that is lasting and truly valuable. The greatest of all man’s needs is to be made righteous. In the absolute, God is righteous. But Christ was sent from God to make men righteous. Paul stated: “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). It is God’s desire to have all men become righteous, but without Christ’s sacrifice, man could never have been righteous. The Bible says: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8). The eternal God knows man’s needs and God has supplied the greatest need of all and that is salvation through Jesus Christ.

Man was not born in sin, but men of accountable age do sin. Men do not inherit their sins as they do the color of their hair. Yet, being sinners, man’s greatest need is salvation. Since man cannot save himself, he must have a savior. God in His infinite love and grace has provided man’s salvation through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). Why? Because God was not willing that man should perish, but have eternal life. At great expense God fulfilled His promise to send Christ into the world as our savior. Almost two thousand years ago, Christ died on the cross for our sins. Thanks be to God for His love and mercy! 

Our Spiritual Need is Greater Than Our Physical Need

“What is the greatest need that we have?” We may answer that our greatest need is economic stability or political integrity. We may answer that our greatest need is financial security, or better health. And while all of those things are desirable, our greatest need, regardless of the economic or political situation, is salvation from sin, for sin is the greatest enemy of mankind. Sin is the greatest enemy of man because it is the enemy that can destroy a good life here, and cause us to be eternally separated from God. It is a most troublesome thought to think of a ruined life in this world, but it is even worse to think of an eternity in hell. I am glad I serve a God that anticipated the greatest benefit of man, the salvation from sin. Since sin separates one from God (Isaiah 59:1-2), our great need is reconciliation to God, or salvation from sin. Only Jesus can save us.

God has made two dispositions of sin. First, if not forgiven, sin brings death to the sinner. This is justice. The Bible says “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Also, “the wages of sin is death.” Secondly, God can and does forgive sins. Man cannot live above sin, and man cannot save himself, so he is entirely at the mercy of God for forgiveness. Christ died on the cross for our sins, and had he not done this, we would all be doomed to death, for no other person could have died for our sins. But God promised salvation UNCONDITIONALLY, but salvation is conditional. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved....” (Mark 16:16).