One Wednesday evening during a church service we heard a lesson about Treasure in Heaven. The lesson contained several profound truths that could change our perspective on how we live this life and the purpose for which we live. Two side thoughts in the lesson that impacted me these are: building on the foundation of Christ from 1 Cor. 3:11-15, and, being hostile to God in our thinking and actions from Rom.8:5-14.What are you building with?
1 Cor. 3:11-15:“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
As I reflect on this scripture, I have to ask myself, especially as I look back on my years as a disciple, “What have I been building spiritually? Have I built carefully, using good materials or have my efforts been feeble? Efforts that were just to comply with expectations but not with total heart? Efforts coming out of pride to save face, keep up with others or protect self? Efforts out of selfish ambition? Efforts that arise from covering sin? Efforts put forward with resentment/impure motive?” These are questions we all need to ask ourselves. What materials have we been building with into our character, the church family, your family, your work place, etc?
Is my perspective “hostile to God?”
The second passage from Romans 8:5-14 indicates that we as disciples can be hostile to God. This seems impossible and contradictory, yet when we consider that we are flesh and Spirit and the two war against each other we can understand this possibility. (Gal. 5:16-17- “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do what you want”). In addition, the fact that Paul was writing this to disciples is a cause to pay attention. It is a warning that we as disciples can have a mindset that is hostile to God, and we need to put forward spiritual effort to fight succumbing to it.
Romans 8:5-14-“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you… Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”
The term “hostile to God” is a strong and hard expression. We don’t normally associate it with us as disciples. As those who regularly attend worship services, read our Bibles and make efforts to serve others, we wouldn’t even consider that we are capable of being hostile to God. Infact, to think of being hostile to God is frightening to us. We view others, who are not disciples, as hostile to God. However, if we reflect on this concept, I think we, as disciples, can be hostile to God possibly more readily and frequently than we think.
In view of Romans 8:5-14, some of the scenarios presented below can be times when we are hostile to God and being lead by the flesh rather than the Spirit:
- resisting reading the word of God; resisting having a quiet time
- resisting taking time to pray
- resisting putting in effort and time that is needed to overcome and change a character weakness
- resisting doing the good we know we should, this is known as quenching the Spirit
- doing good for the wrong reasons, usually to gain something for self or to be recognized or praised by others. We cannot grow in faith or seek God’s glory when we seek our own. (Jn. 5:44-“How can you believe when you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God”)
- overindulgence of time in entertainment, hobbies or worldly pursuits
- resisting sharing our hearts or confessing our sins and needs to others
- resisting seeking help or advice.
These are a few examples that characterize “being hostile to God.” Perhaps you can add more to these. When thinking of these characteristics it is difficult to state them in a positive manner. The word “resistance” kept coming in mind. Resisting the things of the Spirit in our life is being hostile to God. We, as disciples, do not want to be hostile to God, so we need to be alert to the patterns in our life, the inclinations of our flesh that can subtly lead us into such a hostile mindset. We need to be in the Word of God and have regular spiritual interchange with one another to help us continue to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh.
Take some time to think about how you have been hostile to God. Pray about these things. Make a prayerful plan as to how you will seek to change these and share your plan with other spiritually minded people.