GOD SPEAKS

Sometimes, people see happenings in others’ (your) life and directly establish their own assumptions correlating with doctrines ( or concepts) of other’s faith, which they are not fully aware of, or with their beliefs or doctrines of their faith. These assumptions may turn us aside from the right path. Further, these could be formed into new doctrines that sidetrack the believers. The same could be a source and an opportunity for false teachers too. But, the validity of these assumptions and interpretations thereof can be proved in the light of Word of God. Hence, it is better for us to verify them with the word of God.

For more clarity, read this verse – And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. John 9:2-3. –  The disciples asked our Lord one such doubt. They had an assumption to establish a relation with the blindness of a man (happenings in others’ life) and its relationship with sin (doctrines of faith). The disciples did a good thing as they brought their doubt before the Lord and  He clarified them. His word is the truth which will eliminate the sprouts of false doctrines and doubts.

Disciples asked our Lord two things-

(1) Was the man’s sin itself the reason for his disability? This assumption would mean that a man who was born blind could even sin before his birth or there was another birth before this present birth. This idea of correlating the doctrine or concept of sin with present disability of that man would give a different meaning. But the Bible says –And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment. Hebrews 9:27. From the above verse it is clear that a man cannot have multiple births on the earth or rebirth on the Earth. Also, the Bible never proclaims Karma doctrine (according to which people will receive their blessings or curses in the present life on the earth for their deeds in their previous birth).

(2) His parent’s sin was the reason for his blindness?: In this instance, our Lord clarified that parent’s of this blind man were not the cause of his disability. Had it been the cause, as the Word of God applies to all people equally, the reason for disability of all the people would be sin of their parents. From this it may be understood that a direct link cannot be drawn for the disability owing to parent’s sin. From other verses – Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities. Lamentations 5:17. There is a probability that fathers’ sins may have an effect on their children life but it need not be a cause for their birth with disability.

In other instance from the Bible the same could be observed:  And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly : but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. Acts 28:3-6.

When the viper came and caught the hand of Paul, immediately the barbarians (no difference between them and us if we too make such assumptions) made an assumption that St Paul was a murderer. In their opinion, those who did the deeds of evil could not escape from the punishment and they would receive the fruits of their deeds on the earth itself. Therefore, they thought the vengeance (their doctrines of faith) came to God Servant Paul to kill him. Later on, when there was no harm to him, they changed their minds (assumptions). They looked at the incident or happening from their doctrines of faith or beliefs. Can such assumption be valid though appears to be true?

Therefore, let us (a) bring all our assumptions or doubts before the presence of the Lord as the disciples did with regard to the blind man. (b) Try to avoid see things from our beliefs but to see them in the light of Word of God. (C) Always meditate the word of God and verify every teaching as our predecessors did it to avoid all false teachings and assumptions. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11

It would be wrong to say that you are a follower of Christ leaving your family in their troubles. You have responsibilities with regard to your family. In all circumstances, this is your responsibility to see your family in a good order. This rule applies to you whether you are a father or father –in-law, mother or mother-in-law, a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister.

Let us see some of the verses from the Bible. Then Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?  Ruth 3:1. Orpah left her mother-in-law Naomi but Ruth did not. Ruth held her responsibility to not to leave her mother-in-law in her troubles and old age. Likewise, Naomi also had thought for her Ruth. From the above verse, it is clear in her saying that she has to seek rest for her that it may be well with her. This mutual act of holding responsibilities results her name to appear in the genealogy of our Lord Jesus as it is written- Boaz begat Obed of Ruth Matthews 1:5

It is also important to know that God sees your identity with your family. Though the salvation for is the individual, from God’s point of view your connectivity with the family matters a lot. This is the reason Lord asked Cain – where is your brother Abel? (Not where is Abel?) And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. Genesis 4:9-10. Cain replied God in anger – Am I my brother’s keeper?  Though he replied in anger, this is true. You are a keeper of your brother. You are a keeper of your family. This is the reason God asked him- Where is Abel thy brother?

Our Lord also set an example how one should have his responsibility towards his family. When He was on the cross, he fulfilled His responsibility towards his mother. Though Jesus was not only son to her mother, Our Lord Jesus himself showed an example how a son should have his responsibility. You and I cannot neglect our role towards our family members that other family members will have to take care of things. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son ! John 19:26. Our Lord gave John, whom he loved, as son to His mother! He fulfilled his responsibility.

More particularly, those who want to do His service need to bear in mind that this is very much essential to have responsibilities towards his family as it is written in the Bible- for if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God ? 1 Timothy 3:5

“and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. Luke 15:8.”  The younger son received his portion from his father. This portion could be compared to a blessing from the Lord. As long he is with his father, he enjoyed the fruits thereof. Soon after, he is away from his father, he lost his portion. Your portion (blessings) will never stay with you if you forsake Him.

Most of the times, after receiving the blessings from the Lord, we depart from Him. Your spiritual gifts talents, riches everything is from the Lord. As long as you are with him all these work for your benefit. The blessings given to you work conditionally. The condition is that you must be with him. If you leave him, everything goes wrong. If you forget this, you will see loss.

And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. Judges13:24.  Samson was blessed by the Lord. He was filled with the spirit of the Lord and did many mighty things. His strength was from the Lord. But he moved away from the Lord like the younger son to a far country. His desire for the women made him to go away from the Lord. His blessing to do mighty works was not from his mortal body but from the spirit of the Lord. Sin is a slow poison that will not allow you to recognize at its initial stages.

Samson’s lost his strength. He did not recognize it. And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him. But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes… Judges 16:20-21. The blessings from the Lord work with conditions. They are with you as long as you are with Him. Samson not only lost the presence of the Lord but also lost his eyes (represent earthly blessing) too. Loosing spiritual blessings may also cause you to lose your earthly blessing too. As an alternative, you may think that spiritual blessings will add you with earthly blessings.

Consider this verse –Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold : and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great :for he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants : and the Philistines envied him. Genesis 26:12-14. . This earthly blessing came to Isaac is from the Lord. No farmer in this world can reap hundred folds like Isaac. This yielding is neither the knowledge of Isaac nor the strength of the land. This blessing is purely His grace. Through His grace all things work for us. He used to meditate every evening in the field. Isaac was with the Lord. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide . Genesis 24:63. This could be a reason for his blessing.

Therefore, remember your blessings from the Lord are with a condition. You must be with Him. Your blessings exist with you as long as you are with him. As our Lord said- I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit ; for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5.