Promises for believers "practical" considerations.
And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: ( Deuteronomy 28:13).
Some things in our Christian walk may seem like worldly wisdom; but when we live in a society that is decaying much like the Roman Empire did we see how God contrasts the rewards of those with a work ethic compared to those who don't. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 states that if we don't work we don't eat; and amazingly enough Lenin who started Communist rule in Russia had the same ethic along with some early labor leaders in this country. The verse I have quoted could certainly apply to those who do NOT subject themselves to "usury" which God's people were told not to do or do to each other (see Nehemiah 5:7-10; Leviticus 25:36). That process; of course leads to bondage for extended payment well beyond that borrowed; and has many people in slavery in the world today.
When push comes to shove; when we ask God to provide income He will provide what is necessary in His timing if we are physically and mentally up to the work. To save money should of course be for our families and future inheritance as well as to meet our own needs; but also the principle of saving a little at a time is beneficial if we need to help those in our midst; particularly in the Body of Christ.
There are many other admonitions in scripture for husbands; wives and children to follow; as well as single people and widows.
If we call ourselves "Christian" and are lacking in any of these disciplines and we find God blessing someone who is not a believer because they are following some of these principles we should not be surprised. God is impartial and blesses those He wishes to bless; curses those likewise according to His will. (see Luke 16:9-13 as to how to use "unrighteous mammon"
That's a big topic Jewelgh & hope you get other answers. I would first make a distinction between slavery & the slave trade. Slavery was acceptable in the Bible but trading in slaves was not ( Exodus 21:16): & punishable with death.
1. Slavery was normal amongst the Hebrews because some people needed to survive because of their circumstances. Slaves could be taken from their own people or from outsiders. Hebrews could become slaves because of committing crime ( Exodus 22:3); having a debt they couldn't pay ( Leviticus 25:39,40), but treated as a hired servant; or a father's right to sell their children to pay off money borrowed for taxes ( Nehemiah 5:4,5). Foreigners could become slaves: either they were prisoners of war or purchased from their owners ( Leviticus 25:44,45).
2. Slavery was fine because God had permitted it to happen ( Exodus 21:1-11), but under strict conditions (as shown in Leviticus chap 25). To note, that Hebrew slaves were to be treated kindly as one would a hired servant & not a slave ( Leviticus 25:39-43). What we know as slavery today (whether from the past or even happening now in some parts of the world), is both wrong & cruel, when they are treated like animals. So slavery then amongst the Hebrews, could be better understood as bondservants, as 'slavery' gives us a wrong connotation.
3. The Hebrew word for slave or bondservant is 'ebed'. So, the meaning is the same, but how they were treated was important. In the NT, we can take 1 Corinthians 7:21,22 as an example. The word 'servant' is used thrice in these verses: as a servant to man & as a servant to the Lord. In both instances, the Greek word is 'doulos', where both slave, servant, bondservant can be used. This denotes the dedicated duty to service rather than bonded into agonizing slavery.
4. As mentioned, 'slavery' has an evil connotation today & could never be a good thing when practised by ungodly men. But it can be a state of happy servitude where kindness & freedom is given.
Debra, you are correct. We should do all we can to responsibly take care of our needs. In these times, many people have been it hard by the lockdowns and closing down of businesses, loss of income. Your posts reminds us to be generous to help others in need. We may have been in their shoes one time or may in their shoes sometime in the future, or never. But we can always find ways to bless people wen their resources fail.
God says "owe no man anything" , so we need to be careful in our spending, and not incurring debt if possible. It also was not is desire for us to live off of or burden the church with our debts, although I do believe they should help in an emergency. I know my particular church has helped me many times as a single mom. I did not always have to ask either but Bible also says , "if a man doesn't work" , he doesn't eat and a "man who doesn't take care of his own, is worse than an infidel". We all hit hard times, and I am blessed my church has helped me, but I also learned to help myself and eventually I was able to help others..
"Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?" With regard for the practicality of the Apostles' statement, That we not bring the Gentile Believers under bondage to be circumcised and follow the ordinances of Moses; IT DOES NOT somehow preclude the good use of the Law as a teacher of love for God and men.
Praise the Lord for all His Blessings including His Chastisements. According to the scripture he chastises those that He loves and He knows how to give the better best gifts unto His Children. Even in bondage Nehemiah was an extremely blessed man. In fact Nehemiah was in a cushy position of blessing as the Kings Cupbearer prior to taking this gutsy step of faith.
I think we should have a 21st Century shake down on the creditors and lenders that have taken away houses and people ability to survive and prosper with money by charging ridiculous amounts of interest. The world has gone mad and also churches are not helping the poor.
And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: ( Deuteronomy 28:13).
Some things in our Christian walk may seem like worldly wisdom; but when we live in a society that is decaying much like the Roman Empire did we see how God contrasts the rewards of those with a work ethic compared to those who don't. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 states that if we don't work we don't eat; and amazingly enough Lenin who started Communist rule in Russia had the same ethic along with some early labor leaders in this country. The verse I have quoted could certainly apply to those who do NOT subject themselves to "usury" which God's people were told not to do or do to each other (see Nehemiah 5:7-10; Leviticus 25:36). That process; of course leads to bondage for extended payment well beyond that borrowed; and has many people in slavery in the world today.
When push comes to shove; when we ask God to provide income He will provide what is necessary in His timing if we are physically and mentally up to the work. To save money should of course be for our families and future inheritance as well as to meet our own needs; but also the principle of saving a little at a time is beneficial if we need to help those in our midst; particularly in the Body of Christ.
There are many other admonitions in scripture for husbands; wives and children to follow; as well as single people and widows.
If we call ourselves "Christian" and are lacking in any of these disciplines and we find God blessing someone who is not a believer because they are following some of these principles we should not be surprised. God is impartial and blesses those He wishes to bless; curses those likewise according to His will. (see Luke 16:9-13 as to how to use "unrighteous mammon"
1. Slavery was normal amongst the Hebrews because some people needed to survive because of their circumstances. Slaves could be taken from their own people or from outsiders. Hebrews could become slaves because of committing crime ( Exodus 22:3); having a debt they couldn't pay ( Leviticus 25:39,40), but treated as a hired servant; or a father's right to sell their children to pay off money borrowed for taxes ( Nehemiah 5:4,5). Foreigners could become slaves: either they were prisoners of war or purchased from their owners ( Leviticus 25:44,45).
2. Slavery was fine because God had permitted it to happen ( Exodus 21:1-11), but under strict conditions (as shown in Leviticus chap 25). To note, that Hebrew slaves were to be treated kindly as one would a hired servant & not a slave ( Leviticus 25:39-43). What we know as slavery today (whether from the past or even happening now in some parts of the world), is both wrong & cruel, when they are treated like animals. So slavery then amongst the Hebrews, could be better understood as bondservants, as 'slavery' gives us a wrong connotation.
3. The Hebrew word for slave or bondservant is 'ebed'. So, the meaning is the same, but how they were treated was important. In the NT, we can take 1 Corinthians 7:21,22 as an example. The word 'servant' is used thrice in these verses: as a servant to man & as a servant to the Lord. In both instances, the Greek word is 'doulos', where both slave, servant, bondservant can be used. This denotes the dedicated duty to service rather than bonded into agonizing slavery.
4. As mentioned, 'slavery' has an evil connotation today & could never be a good thing when practised by ungodly men. But it can be a state of happy servitude where kindness & freedom is given.
Thanks for the reminder.
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