‘I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Revelation 2:2-5 [NASB]
We all have one spiritual state or level. Our spiritual level should be gradually increasing to see the great things of God. It is because we have to change into the likeness of Christ. Does that not mean that our spiritual condition has to go into perfection? Our spiritual level can be measured by the things/deeds we do. The deeds/actions we take indicate our spiritual level. It is through the action we show that how much we love God. The three things our deeds, our spiritual level, and our love for God are interrelated. Consider the Word of God in this regard: But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first;… Revelation 2:4-5 [NASB]. We know that above passage was written by God for the church in Ephesus. However, the gist of that passage also applies to our personal lives. Remember our early days when we accepted Christ as Savior. How great was the interest we showed? Are our devotional actions at the beginning higher than the present ones? Or are our present devotional practices worse than they were then? We must note this. Our acts of devotion include: reading the Bible, praying, participating in church activities, listening to the Word, and being in greater fellowship with God’s people, worshiping Him, having the mindset to go to church, and so on. Are we so interested now? It should be noted that our interest in these has decreased which means our level of devotion has decreased. Does the lowering of our spiritual level mean that our first love for Him has diminished? If your answer is yes, then you need to think seriously about it.
No one wants to be degraded from a spiritual state. In fact, in many cases, we unknowingly slip out of the spiritual state. Degradation from the spiritual level is not a one-time process. It happens slowly and gradually. But we do not recognize it. The damage is done before we even notice it. Read this passage in this context: Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations of which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you; they will certainly turn your heart away to follow their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives, who were princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned his heart away. 4 For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of his father David had been. 5 For Solomon became a follower of Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and of Milcom the abhorrent idol of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as his father David had done. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the abhorrent idol of Moab, on the mountain that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abhorrent idol of the sons of Ammon. 8 He also did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods. 1 Kings 11: 1-8 [NASB]
In the beginning Solomon was very pious. He obeyed the Lord God very much. God freely blessed him with wisdom and riches. Solomon knew God’s laws. God has said that if you associate with people who do not know God, they will distance you from the living God. But, we see Solomon neglecting this. Among his wives were many who did not know God. It may not make sense to him when he marries one after the other. However, in the end, the Word of God says that they turned him to their gods. For Solomon became a follower of Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and of Milcom the abhorrent idol of the Ammonites. 1 Kings 11: 5 [NASB]. Why did it happen? God’s abandonment of Solomon did not happen all at once. We can see that it happened gradually. Do you leave the living God if someone tells you to follow other gods? You say that you can’t do it right away. Would not Solomon be like us? Depending on this, we can observe a gradual decline from the spiritual state. This we do not notice. Even if we observe, we do not take it so seriously.
Such mischief happens without us realizing it. So we need people who can tell us our spiritual state. Or we have to test ourselves every day. As we examine in the passage quoted earlier, God tells how the Ephesian church has its spiritual level. God said that the church had patience, endured hardships, did not tolerate the wicked, and found the false apostles. But God also said that the first love for God in the Church is gone. Our situation is the same. We think our devotion is so good considering the few good deeds we have. We need people to tell us about our spiritual condition. Those who warned Solomon when he was going to marry foreign women would not appear. Wouldn’t his situation have been like this if he had received such warnings? We can know our spiritual levels, at least through them, if we continue to associate with Church, God’s servants, brothers, or sisters who are devoted to Christ. If we want to know our spiritual levels for ourselves, it is the devotional actions we are doing that are indicative of us.
Some people are very interested in revealing other people’s things. Even if the other person does not ask, they just keep on saying it. They are very interested in looking at the lives of others. The same is different when it comes to theirs. They think that their personal matters should not be known to anyone. Are their lives only lives? Will they only have dignity? Are the rest of the lives just lives? What does the Bible call them? They are slanderers. They have no more work to do. They can’t shut the mouth. They can’t sleep if they can’t talk about others. They come to our own people and tell our secrets/things before we do. Why do they need to put other people’s personal matters in front of someone else? The Bible says: One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, but one who is trustworthy conceals a matter. Proverbs: 11:13 [NASB]. We cannot trust them. Friendships and conversations with them can be very dangerous. Because they make many people laugh at your life too. That is why the Word of God says: One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with a gossip. Proverbs 20:19[NASB]. Aren’t all these words provoking strife? Do not all such words erode good relations with others? One reason why a person who tells such personal things to others is that he has no love for the other person. Doesn’t the Bible say that if we truly love, we will hide everything? Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all offenses. Proverbs 10:12 [NASB]. We know that this applies not only to offenses but also to the secrets of others. Because, only love works there.
Let us look at this passage in this context: Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1: 18-21 [NASB].
Joseph learned that Mary, who had been his prime, was now pregnant. He knew that the pregnancy was not caused by him. He did not know that Mary was pregnant because of the Holy Spirit. He did not know the reason. There was confusion in his mind. The thought that Maria had deceived him did not even come close. He did not care about the reasons. He did not show his aggression on Maria. He did not intend to put Maria in front of everyone and insult her. What a great mentality! Probably, that is why God wanted him and Mary. Look at what the Bible says: And her husband Joseph, since he was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. The righteous will not dishonor others. The righteous man does not mock others. The righteous keep things secret. That is why Joseph secretly intended to leave Mary. However, God told Joseph the secret that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
If we are righteous we don’t put the things of others before everyone and insult them. If we are truly righteous we will not look down on the lives of others. If we have the love of God in us, we will hide the faults and secrets of others. Slanderers are interested in exposing the secrets of others. They seek their own happiness in the sorrows and reproaches of others. If possible one should try to bring such people in a good way. Recognizing that their words can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings, it is good to stay away from them. {One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with a gossip. Proverbs 20:19[NASB]} It’s not that we hate them; it’s that we care about ourselves.
And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. MATTHEW 6:27-34 [NASB]
What are we most worried about? We often see people worrying about the needs of this world. That is very common. The above passage teaches us not to worry about the needs of this world. It is because God will surely bless His children with them. What’s more is that people seem to worry more when they are struggling and facing the problems in their life. For the most part, these are self-inflicted by what we do. Even though God has made it clear many times, we make our own thoughts, make our own decisions and get stuck in them and worry for the rest of our lives. The intense thoughts we make when we get into trouble can leave us with endless worries with our lives. For example the Word of God warns us to stay away from debt. Read this: And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. PROVERBS 22:7 [NASB] How many of us do not know this verse? Yet don’t we run for them beyond necessity and beyond affordability? Do we remember the Word of God at that time? We do not count the word of God as it comes to mind. It is because our mentality is to do what we want. What is the value we place on the Word of God? We will continue to worry for the rest of our lives to finally get out of the debt trap. In addition, God warns many people through His Word about the things they are about to do. The strange thing is that even in that they look for meanings that are favorable to them. Because, they make room for their own likes. Their desires must be fulfilled. They do not need the will of God. If in the end it all comes down to mischief, they worry about why it happened. This verse fits exactly in this context: Have you not done this to yourself by your abandoning the Lord your God When He led you in the way? Jeremiah 2:17. [NASB] So, they spend the rest of their lives worrying. It’s just the things we have done for ourselves. We also blame our friends and relatives in such cases. Because, we think that no one is coming forward to help us. Some people then blaspheme God. What is actually wrong? Who did all this? Are not the things we do to ourselves the cause of our worries? What’s the point of worrying now? We must recognize that our own decisions and desires are the cause of our worries. It has been proven many times over how ignorant our own thoughts are. The Word of God tells us what we cannot achieve by worrying: And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? Learn to obey the Word of God. We must subdue our own will and our own decisions under the Word of God. No matter how difficult it is. As a child of God, do not stray from His lead.
Many people are seriously anxious to get out of those problems. At this stage they will be trying to come out using all their ideas. But is it possible? What happens except their brain warms up? Can we really use all our knowledge and avoid worries? If we have so much knowledge, why do we get into trouble? To some extent anything may be achieved with our knowledge. But, with God’s help we can get out of all worries and problems in a way we could not have imagined. He has solutions that are beyond our imagination. Let’s look at two good examples in this context:
EXAMPLE 1:
And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone penetrated his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with the sling and the stone: he struck the Philistine and killed him, and there was no sword in David’s hand. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and finished him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 1 SAMUEL 17: 49-51 [NASB]
We know that David defeated Goliath. Did David ever take part in such a war? How did David succeed without the sword of war? Is it easy to kill a warrior with a stone? Has that ever happened? A warrior dies from a stone blow? Where did David get the ability to look and hit with a stone? Who gave him the idea that he could kill a warrior with a stone? David’s idea would have been mocked if he had told those present earlier. If you were on that battlefield, would you justify this idea? God’s impulses and thoughts are beyond our imagination. David went to war in the name of God. It was the power of God, not the stone, which gave David victory there. What gave David victory here was not his ability but his faith!
EXAMPLE 2:
Now a woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go, borrow containers elsewhere for yourself, empty containers from all your neighbors—do not get too few. 4 Then you shall come in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour into all these containers; and you shall set aside what is full.” 5 So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they began bringing the containers to her, and she poured the oil. 6 When the containers were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” But he said to her, “There are no more containers.” Then the oil stopped. 7 So she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.” 2 KINGS 4:1-7 [NASB].
Here is a prophet’s wife grieving over a debt problem. When she came to the prophet Elisha, look at the advice/remedy given by that prophet. It should be noted that it was God who gave that advice, not Elisha here. Could she have anticipated that the problem would be solved with a little oil at home? Can you give her such advice if you are her neighbor? Such suggestions do not come to us. Is advice alone enough? Need God’s help or not? We know how God settled her debt. Isn’t her debt and worries over now?
How did this happen? It’s just God’s help. We must not forget that with God’s help we can succeed no matter how big the worries and problems because God wants to take care of all your worries. So look at what the Word of God says: Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. 1 PETER 5: 7 [NASB]
God is telling us one thing. That is, we do not have to worry about anything. All we have to do is do as He says! It is important to walk in the way He leads so that we do not fall into any worries. It should be noted that we cannot do anything apart from Him. We must believe that He will bless us with everything we need in this world. We must recognize that God cares about us and therefore put all our worries on Him. Our focus should be on how to get to such a heavenly kingdom. That’s why Jesus said: For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. MATTHEW 6:32-33 [NASB]. If we are spiritual, we will focus on heavenly things! Worries will follow you if you keep your mind on what is on earth. Jesus said He would take care of them. What else do you want? Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. COLOSSIANS 3:1-2 [NASB]