In today’s study, Selwyn looks at another escape route from reality. He starts by saying: “Let us look at yet another popular escape route – that of busyness and activity. It’s interesting how the phrase “I’m too busy” can be a cover-up allowing us to avoid something that we don’t want to do but know full well, we ought to do.”
I think what Selwyn has written is fairly straight forward – and I’ve no additional comments.
What did you think of today’s study?
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Last night, I had a dream (about Jesus); and, it was so vivid I got up out of bed at around 3 am, and started to read the Bible. I was taken to a number of different passages, but these verses from Pslam 107, I found to be very encouraging (verses 1-22, NIV) : “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story – those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.
Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.”
It does not matter – what sort of distress we are suffering; our Lord and our God – loves us, and will rescue us.
Selwyn starts today’s study with: “We continue considering the question: Have we allowed the yeast of the Pharisees to get into our spirit?”
The best bit, I thought was: “Christians know exactly who they are – they are the children of the living God and joint heirs with Jesus to all that God owns. You see, those who understand that their true greatness comes, not from things or earthly attachments, but from their relationship with God have no need of superior attitudes. … You are meant to live with your feet on the earth and the Spirit of God in your heart, walking straight up to the task that God has called you to do.”
The issue is that while on a knowledge level, many Christians are aware of the verses in the Bible which tell them that they are God’s children; this knowledge hasn’t been fully actioned – in the way they live their lives. Yet, this is how we demonstrate our love for Jesus – in the way we follow Him. Knowing what the right path is to eternal life, is one thing; actually moving our feet in that direction is the real challenge. Do you agree?
Today, Selwyn continues to examine the attitude of the Pharisees - that group of people known for their self-righteous attitudes.
He says: “Jesus saw right to the depths of their lives and perceived that they were inwardly bankrupt … they were proud, supercilious and self-righteous – the attitudes some people adopt to cover up their feeling of inferiority.”
Later on, in the study he brings our attention to the fact that the sin of pride is often found at the root of a superior attitude. While Selwyn concentrates on just one aspect: that a superior attitude is a cover, a shelter from the unpredictable storms we all have to face in everyday life. I also think that with many people, who portray a superior attitude; that attitude is used as a diversion – to divert attention from their real motives, which is based on pride, greed and lust. In summary, Pharisaism is basically idolatry – it’s the putting of self-interests first; in their hearts they love their ‘self’. Consequently, they don’t have a relationship with God. They cannot love others in the true sense of the word, and any charitable works are done to makes themselves – ‘feel good’. This ‘yeast of the Pharisees’, is still active and spreads rapidly through each generation. The attributes of our sinful nature, are the same now - as they were two thousand years ago; as they will be – on the last day.
In Luke 12:1-3 (NIV), we hear Jesus talking to His disciples: “Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”
Jesus is telling the disciples that a person’s true motivation will be revealed. In a very real sense – Jesus is within us, monitoring the desires which we form in our hearts – nothing we do is missed by God. Even those thoughts or actions that come to us under the cover of darkness, are seen by Jesus. Hypocrites – are the devil’s fools!
Any comments on today’s study?
In today’s study, Selwyn discusses Pharisaism – perhaps, if I can first say a few things about Pharisees. At the time of Jesus, and while the temple in Jerusalem was still standing; we know from historians like Josephus that ‘the Pharisees were considered the most expert and accurate expositors of Jewish law’. A point to keep in mind is that debate about the interpretation of Jewish law within the group, was active and there were often different schools of thought within their ranks – usually centred on the leading rabbis (e.g Hillel, Shammai), of that era. The point I’m making, is that there were a range of views held within the group – Jesus was highlighting the problems with some views; and, a number of scholars now agree, that some Pharisees would not have had a major concern regarding Jesus’ viewpoint, on Jewish law.
In discussing issues like this one, it’s important that we don’t become legalistic ourselves. [As an aside, I find it hard to understand why there are still pockets of people who dislike Jews, or for that matter, different Christian denominations. People, who express a general 'dislike' against members of groups that are different to theirs - are doing the work of Satan.]
Selwyn writes: “Those who take the escape route of superior attitudes are in essence really no different from (those) Pharisees whom Jesus so roundly challenged. It is interesting to note that many secular training manuals on counselling refer to a defence mechanism – what we call an escape route – which they term ‘Pharisaism’. This is how one such manual describes it: ‘Pharisaism occurs when an individual becomes increasingly self-righteous (thinking themselves better than others because of what they do or don’t do religiously) to avoid becoming aware of their own feelings of inadequacy or inferiority.’
These words from Luke 11:39-42,52 (NIV), provide an excellent summary of what Jesus was condemning: ‘Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you – be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. … Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering. … “
These people were keen to parade their ’purity’ in public, while their hearts were full of greed and wickedness. I think, it’s exactly the same today; people are very keen to demonstrate their ‘political correctness’, but their hearts are full of anger, greed and lust.
Do you agree?
I thought that this was an interesting study, Selwyn writes: “Next we consider a rather more subtle escape route down which we may run when faced with unpleasant reality – the adoption of superior attitudes. Since we will inevitably feel inferior and inadequate whenever we avoid facing up to an issue, the personality helps us compensate for these feelings by assisting us to develop an aloofness and superior disposition.
One of the characteristics of those who have extravagant notions about themselves is they go around regarding others as foolish.
… we need to be willing regularly to open our beings to God, and pray the prayer that is before us today: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart … See if there is any offensive way in me’.”
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:1-3 (NIV), we read: “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, … “
We also see, something similar, in Peter’s first letter (5:5b-6, NIV): ” … All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
I think that the development of superior attitudes can be controlled by cultivating, with God’s help, an attitude of valuing others above yourself. Perhaps a good way of keeping this issue in focus, is to have a time of reflection set aside – say, once a week, where you examine your feelings towards those people with whom you have had some interaction during the previous week. The idea is to catch and control, the development of superior attitudes, before they grow to become a permanent part of our personality.
Any comments?
Selwyn starts today’s study with: “Three days ago we said that denial is one of the most popular escape routes down which people run when they are confronted by difficult or unpleasant reality. … Sadly, denial keeps us away from God, for whatever is true must be accepted, integrity means having a system of living that never requires us to deny what is before us. We need not exaggerate what is before us, we need not minimise what is before us, but we need to acknowledge frankly and honestly what is before us.”
Later on, in the study, Selwyn makes a connection between those Christians who deny reality and those who hold, strong dogmatic views. [From an on-line dictionary: dog·ma·tism (noun): Arrogant, stubborn assertion of opinion or belief.] I’m not so sure that such a generalisation is useful – sure, there would be some Christians who are caught in a trap of denial, and are also very dogmatic, regarding their views. However, as mentioned on previous days, I think fear has a lot to do with people wanting to avoid the realities of bad things happening to ‘good‘ people. People, who are driven by fear can lack the confidence to express any definite views, so I think both outcomes are possible – dogmatic stubbornness in some; and timidity, in others. What do you think?
I liked the key verse for today, (Psalm 86:11), ‘Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth … ‘. It’s good because it illustrates, once again, that to take this sort of issue – dealing with reality – to God in prayer; opens up our heart to God’s teaching. Jesus loves us and you can trust that He will lead us along the narrow path.
Any comments?
First things first
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I like the verse (1) from Psalm 127, which Selwyn used for the key verse for today’s study.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain.”
It’s a very re-assuring verse because it tells us that God is in control and that His will prevails. There are no surprises for God – everything that happens has been seen by God before He created time, which is also controlled by His laws of physics. I think that this is one aspect of God’s greatness that is beyond our comprehension.
In today’s study, Selwyn talks about those people who escape from reality by being extremely active and always busy. He writes: ” … busyness and activity are not bad in themselves; they become troublesome when we use them as an escape route to avoid facing up to an important issue that needs attention. … No amount of Christian work can justify inaction in urgent and important matters that relate to family and home.”
The prayer for today, is an excellent summary: “Father, I am coming to see that effective living is a matter of priorities. Help me to put things in their proper order – God first, family next, and church work third. In Jesus’ name I ask it. Amen.”
In Matthew 22:37, we read: ‘Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” … ‘
The first aspect of our spiritual life which must be given the highest priority – is to love God.