Correspondence: Rom. 13:14; Acts 2:16-18; 1 Tim. 5:8

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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Ans. Read Rom. 13:11-1411And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Romans 13:11‑14). We are waiting for the Lord's coming, and our behavior is to correspond with our character as children of light. We are to walk honestly, as in the day. We are not to give way to the lusts of the flesh, but make the Lord Jesus our pattern, and thus put on in our practical life, the Lord Jesus Christ, making no provision to indulge in worldly desires and pleasures.
It is quite right to make provision for our households and bodily needs. The contrast in verse 13 will help to make plain what the apostle meant.
Ques. 42
Ans. It was so marvelous to hear men speak "the wonderful works of God" in tongues they had not learned, that in amazement they say, "What meaneth this?" Others said, "These men are all full of new wine." Peter answers, "These men are not drunken as ye suppose." "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." Joel prophesied of the pouring out of the Spirit on all flesh when the millennial reign of Christ begins, in the time of Israel's restoration; and extraordinary signs as in Acts 2:17, 1817And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (Acts 2:17‑18), will accompany it. But, notice, Acts 2:19, 2019And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: 20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: (Acts 2:19‑20), show signs of a different kind, in heaven and earth, in sun and moon. These will precede the blessing, as said, "before the great and notable day of the Lord come.”
In Acts 21:99And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. (Acts 21:9), Philip's four daughters prophesy. (See also 1 Cor. 11:4,54Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. 5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. (1 Corinthians 11:4‑5).) We do not get women in Scripture praying in public or preaching to saints or sinners. So we need to think of them exercising this gift where and when it would be according to Scripture.
Ques. 43
Does 1 Tim. 5:88But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. (1 Timothy 5:8) include the thought of one laying by in store against death: as by life insurance and the purchase of a house for the benefit of those dependent upon him? If not, what scripture would show the Lord's mind in regard to those matters? F. F. S.
Ans.-1 Tim. 5:8 speaks of a believer's duty to provide for the present need of those dependent upon him, and this extends sometimes to caring for a mother, sister, etc. (1 Tim. 5:16), that they might not be a charge to the assembly. Unbelievers, with only natural affection to guide them, will care for their households. If a believer did not, it would be a reproach to the truth.
Matt. 6:19-3419Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:19‑34) tells us not to be anxious about the future. We can only provide for them according as God has prospered us; the rest we are to cast upon Him (Phil. 4:66Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)).
Man is a steward of what is committed to him. The believer with a heavenly calling is also a steward of all the Lord gives him. If he allows his heart to be taken up with earthly things, his spiritual enjoyment is hindered; he does not enjoy "his own" portion, the "true riches". (Luke 16:11, 1211If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:11‑12).) He is responsible, and therefore should seek guidance from the Lord (Prow, 3:6), when to spend, when to keep, when to give, and how to trade with it. (Luke 19:1313And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (Luke 19:13).)
It is against natural affection, and it would certainly be wrong, not to do our best to provide for our children (2 Cor. 12:1414Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. (2 Corinthians 12:14)): at the same time we should seek to teach them dependence on God, and exercise our own hearts to walk in it, avoiding a covetous spirit that desires what we have not, lest to get it, we leave the path of dependence upon God, for some invention of man's, that appeals to our natural selfishness, by offering us something large for very little, and, what is worse- for it destroys dependence on God- promises immunity from need, thus depriving the soul of the exercise needed to walk with God.
There is nothing to hinder us buying a house, or whatever we may need, if we pay for it honestly, thus doing all for the glory of God. (Col. 3:1717And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17).)