We all know that this world is a vain world we live in. Does anyone disagree? The Bible actually describes it beautifully.
Romans 1:17 - 32 For the gospel reveals how God puts people right with himself: it is through faith from beginning to end. As the scripture says, “The person who is put right with God through faith shall live.” God’s anger is revealed from heaven against all the sin and evil of the people whose evil ways prevent the truth from being known. God punishes them, because what can be known about God is plain to them, for God himself made it plain. Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all! They know God, but they do not give him the honor that belongs to him, nor do they thank him. Instead, their thoughts have become complete nonsense, and their empty minds are filled with darkness. They say they are wise, but they are fools; instead of worshiping the immortal God, they worship images made to look like mortals or birds or animals or reptiles. And so God has given those people over to do the filthy things their hearts desire, and they do shameful things with each other. They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever! Amen. Because they do this, God has given them over to shameful passions. Even the women pervert the natural use of their sex by unnatural acts. In the same way the men give up natural sexual relations with women and burn with passion for each other. Men do shameful things with each other, and as a result they bring upon themselves the punishment they deserve for their wrongdoing. Because those people refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God, he has given them over to corrupted minds, so that they do the things that they should not do. They are filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and vice; they are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deceit, and malice. They gossip and speak evil of one another; they are hateful to God, insolent, proud, and boastful; they think of more ways to do evil; they disobey their parents; they have no conscience; they do not keep their promises, and they show no kindness or pity for others. They know that God’s law says that people who live in this way deserve death. Yet, not only do they continue to do these very things, but they even approve of others who do them.
So what is vanity?
In many religions, including Christianity, vanity is considered a form of self-idolatry, in which one rejects God for the sake of one’s own image. Some people might say that the magazine, Vanity, showcases the various vanities of people — their obsessions over beauty, appearance, clothing, having the best job, making the most money, knowing the “right people”.
The Christian answer lies in what God asks us to consider important – must we consider our beauty, appearance, clothing, having the best job, making the most money, knowing the “right people” to be important according to the Bible?
When Jesus told the parable of the seed sown on different ground in his own words he said: Mark 4:18 - 20 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.Think of Matthew 6:33, “Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things that you need.” Take note though of no promise of what we think we need, but rather what we really need.
And Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up riches for yourselves here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and robbers break in and steal. Instead, store up riches for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and robbers cannot break in and steal. For your heart will always be where your riches are.Then even stronger: 1 John 2:15 - 17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions–is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
And Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.So why do people, Christians have these obsessions over beauty, appearance, clothing, having the best job, making the most money, knowing the “right people” and other vanities? A whole bunch of answers could come out of this – to find acceptance, to fit in, because it seems normal, it’s all a person knows, it’s what gives a person value, it’s how we value ourselves, etc, etc.
Remember we are all vain, it’s a human problem.
But perhaps vanity becomes an issue because we place value on the obsession and we don’t know our value in God.
I found this very cool and free thing online, read this verse:
Matthew 16:26 What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
Now read it, Matthew 16:26 What will it benefit Lynda if she gains the whole world yet loses her life? Or what will Lynda give in exchange for her life?
Take a look at this and then put your own name in by clicking here.
John 1:12 Lynda is God’s daughter.
But Lynda received Him, and to Lynda He gave the right to become God’s daughter, because Lynda believes in His name.
John 15:5 Lynda is a part of the true vine, and a channel of Christ’s life.
I am the vine. Lynda is a branch. If Lynda remains in Me, and I in her, she will bear much fruit, for apart from Me, Lynda can do nothing.
John 15:15 Lynda is a friend of Christ.
No longer do I call Lynda a servant, for a servant doesn’t know what her lord does. But I have called Lynda a friend, for everything that I heard from My Father, I have made known to Lynda.
Rom. 8:17 Lynda is a joint heir with Christ, she shares Christ’s inheritance with Him.
And if a daughter, then an heir; an heir of God, and a joint-heir with Christ; if indeed Lynda suffers with Him, that Lynda may also be glorified with Him.
I Cor. 3:9 Lynda is God’s co-worker.
For Lynda is one of God’s fellow workers. Lynda is God’s field, God’s building.
Etc etc etc…try it yourself with your own name clicking here now - it’s free. Read all the verses in fact print them out for yorself so you can always have a copy of your personal identity in Christ with you.
So to end…you don’t have to put your value in anything or achievement or ability or obsession or appearance because YOU have an identity that is valuable and unique and excellent in God.
It isn't about believing IF God exists or not, it’s about BELIEVING God, and that’s the most difficult. God says, "Come back and quietly trust in me. Then you will be strong and secure. But you refuse to do it" Isaiah 30:15. If you are struggling with spiritual stuff then you know that someone is UP THERE, but can we trust what He says? And why, why, why does He allow so much bad stuff? Why did He allow you to be sexually abused? Does He just not care? How do we make sense out of everything?
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This Weeks Bible Study...Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:4
Our Lord does not present the Beatitudes in a random manner, everyone was carefully and prayerfully thought through by our Lord and given a precise place in the spiritual sequence. Last week we saw that the poor in spirit are favoured by God. The kingdom of heaven is for people who are broken, depressed sinners. People who really need God. Once we see that entrance into the kingdom of God is through acknowledgement of our spiritual poverty and the acceptance of Christ’s resources then we are ready to go on and consider the next Beatitude.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4
At first glance the second Beatitude seems somewhat strange and difficult to understand. How can someone who mourns be contented and blessed? Most commentators say that what Jesus is pointing out here is the need to mourn over our sin, to face up to the pain it causes us, and then to find comfort in Christ. But, did our Lord have something else in mind as well as this? Such as the need to face, feel and process the pain that arises within us when we meet with difficult and distressing circumstances. Mourning is the process of grieving, and grieving involves coming to terms with loss and all its attendant emotions. Our unwillingness to face the pain that comes from our losses and the hurts and injuries that occur in our lives, and mourn because of them, is one of the major causes of psychological problems. Reality must be faced. A famous psychiatrist once said, "People can’t take too much reality so they run down the convenient road of denial. And that road is a crowded highway. I should know because that is where I have to travel to find most of my patients." Being willing to accept that life is difficult will save us from unrealistic expectations which can trigger stress and even depression. Then, when troubles come, we are not surprised, but face reality in the confidence that no matter what happens to us, God will turn it to good. (Taken from Every Day With Jesus, The Blessed Life, 15 July)
Pain is temporary but denial and its consequences are forever!
When we look at life with a realistic gaze we see grim and depressing things happening around us. There are, of course, many good things that happen to people, too, but we must not blind our eyes to the bad things that occur and thus deny reality. We don’t have to become preoccupied with the sad things by constantly thinking about them, but we do have to accept that they happened. Integrity requires that whatever is true must be faced. (Taken from Every Day With Jesus, The Blessed Life, 16 July)
When an emotion arises within us which we know is unacceptable and is likely, if it continues, to mar our spiritual experience, we must not pretend it is not there. We must acknowledge it. However, it is important that we do not dump that emotion onto another person. You do not need to express an emotion to deal with it effectively, but you must acknowledge it. All we have to do is to yield to the Spirit. He will help us keep our emotions in check. Our Lord does not want us to be mastered by our emotions but to draw upon His power so that we remain in the position of mastery. When our stomachs are churning with grief, sorrow or hurt, instead of pretending that we are not feeling the pain, we should come before the Lord with a prayer something like this: "Lord, right now I am hurting so much I do not think I can endure it. I feel like screaming, running away or even hitting someone. I don’t want to feel like this, Lord, but I do. Thank you for loving me as I am. Help me know to handle my feelings in a way that glorifies You and honours Your name." In this way you have not denied your emotions but have opened them up to the Lord and asked for His help. Not pretending, but being real and honest in His presence, is part of the mourning process. (Taken from Every Day With Jesus, The Blessed Life, 18-19 July)
So how can someone who mourns be happy and blessed, the answer: God’s comfort cannot fully reach us until we are real people. Those who pretend they are not hurting when they are make it difficult (perhaps even impossible) for God to pour His comfort into their souls. Their pretence forms a barrier that a God who respects human freedom will not break down. Facing and being willing to feel the negative emotions of loss, grief and hurt, may not be something that excites us, but it is essential if we are to experience the emotional, mental and spiritual health we were made to enjoy. When we are willing to feel the hurt, acknowledge our emotions, and ask for God’s help, then something glorious and transformative happens – we experience deep in our souls the incredibly powerful and all-embracing comfort of our Lord. (Taken from Every Day With Jesus, The Blessed Life, 20 July)
Father, may I be willing to accept this second prescription for happiness. Please help me to take my "medicine" until I am completely whole and can be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Prayer from Every Day With Jesus, The Blessed Life, 20 July)
Matthew 5:4
Our Lord does not present the Beatitudes in a random manner, everyone was carefully and prayerfully thought through by our Lord and given a precise place in the spiritual sequence. Last week we saw that the poor in spirit are favoured by God. The kingdom of heaven is for people who are broken, depressed sinners. People who really need God. Once we see that entrance into the kingdom of God is through acknowledgement of our spiritual poverty and the acceptance of Christ’s resources then we are ready to go on and consider the next Beatitude.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4
At first glance the second Beatitude seems somewhat strange and difficult to understand. How can someone who mourns be contented and blessed? Most commentators say that what Jesus is pointing out here is the need to mourn over our sin, to face up to the pain it causes us, and then to find comfort in Christ. But, did our Lord have something else in mind as well as this? Such as the need to face, feel and process the pain that arises within us when we meet with difficult and distressing circumstances. Mourning is the process of grieving, and grieving involves coming to terms with loss and all its attendant emotions. Our unwillingness to face the pain that comes from our losses and the hurts and injuries that occur in our lives, and mourn because of them, is one of the major causes of psychological problems. Reality must be faced. A famous psychiatrist once said, "People can’t take too much reality so they run down the convenient road of denial. And that road is a crowded highway. I should know because that is where I have to travel to find most of my patients." Being willing to accept that life is difficult will save us from unrealistic expectations which can trigger stress and even depression. Then, when troubles come, we are not surprised, but face reality in the confidence that no matter what happens to us, God will turn it to good. (Taken from Every Day With Jesus, The Blessed Life, 15 July)
Pain is temporary but denial and its consequences are forever!
When we look at life with a realistic gaze we see grim and depressing things happening around us. There are, of course, many good things that happen to people, too, but we must not blind our eyes to the bad things that occur and thus deny reality. We don’t have to become preoccupied with the sad things by constantly thinking about them, but we do have to accept that they happened. Integrity requires that whatever is true must be faced. (Taken from Every Day With Jesus, The Blessed Life, 16 July)
When an emotion arises within us which we know is unacceptable and is likely, if it continues, to mar our spiritual experience, we must not pretend it is not there. We must acknowledge it. However, it is important that we do not dump that emotion onto another person. You do not need to express an emotion to deal with it effectively, but you must acknowledge it. All we have to do is to yield to the Spirit. He will help us keep our emotions in check. Our Lord does not want us to be mastered by our emotions but to draw upon His power so that we remain in the position of mastery. When our stomachs are churning with grief, sorrow or hurt, instead of pretending that we are not feeling the pain, we should come before the Lord with a prayer something like this: "Lord, right now I am hurting so much I do not think I can endure it. I feel like screaming, running away or even hitting someone. I don’t want to feel like this, Lord, but I do. Thank you for loving me as I am. Help me know to handle my feelings in a way that glorifies You and honours Your name." In this way you have not denied your emotions but have opened them up to the Lord and asked for His help. Not pretending, but being real and honest in His presence, is part of the mourning process. (Taken from Every Day With Jesus, The Blessed Life, 18-19 July)
So how can someone who mourns be happy and blessed, the answer: God’s comfort cannot fully reach us until we are real people. Those who pretend they are not hurting when they are make it difficult (perhaps even impossible) for God to pour His comfort into their souls. Their pretence forms a barrier that a God who respects human freedom will not break down. Facing and being willing to feel the negative emotions of loss, grief and hurt, may not be something that excites us, but it is essential if we are to experience the emotional, mental and spiritual health we were made to enjoy. When we are willing to feel the hurt, acknowledge our emotions, and ask for God’s help, then something glorious and transformative happens – we experience deep in our souls the incredibly powerful and all-embracing comfort of our Lord. (Taken from Every Day With Jesus, The Blessed Life, 20 July)
Father, may I be willing to accept this second prescription for happiness. Please help me to take my "medicine" until I am completely whole and can be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen. (Prayer from Every Day With Jesus, The Blessed Life, 20 July)
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