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Study #1/Spring of 2022

A New Year’s prophecy for our modern world… (From the pen of Charles Dickens in ‘A Christmas Carol’)

In his famous book titled ‘A Christmas Carol’, Charles Dickens brings us to ponder many of the wrongs of this material-minded world…

— It is my favorite Christmas movie tradition, to watch the classic version starring Alastair Sim. For there is such a wonderful message of the waking of a wholly material, self-centered Mr. Scrooge into a new life of joy at the opportunity to instead bless others.

However, I am always gripped by one scene in which Scrooge is being addressed by the ‘Ghost of Christmas present’… In the scene, the apparition reveals two starving and emaciated children, a boy and a girl, hidden in his robes. He warns Scrooge of these two as this specter says, “This girl is WANT. And the boy is IGNORANCE.” …He goes on to warn against ignoring people who lack the necessities, THOSE IN WANT, …however, he stresses “But especially beware of this child IGNORANCE”.

Q1/ Do you see the prophetic in this statement?
— It is being continually proven true everywhere in our struggling world.

The danger of the increasing divide between “HAVES” and “HAVE-NOTS”, haunts the streets of society to this very day.

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Let’s first look at the terrible fact of those who live in poverty.

Q2/ What do you see that contributes to world poverty?

Q2a/ ~ GREED… (What is greed? – Is it not self-centered thinking, the lack of thought for others?)
— Can you think of any scriptures that speak against greed?

— One that jumps to mind is the account of Jesus teaching the young lawyer in Matthew 22:34-40 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.  (35)  And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.  (36)  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  (37)  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  (38)  This is the great and first commandment.  (39)  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  (40)  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

— However, the boldest statement comes from Romans 13:8-9  Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.  (9)  For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Q2b/ ~ What about our CULTURE, or the way we are raised?
— Does a culture that teaches honesty and hard work help to limit poverty?
— What scriptures support that idea?

Proverbs 6:6-11  Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.  (7)  Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,  (8)  she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.  (9)  How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?  (10)  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,  (11)  and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Not all are so blessed materially as we are, so other things must come into play as well…

Q2c/ ~ Does where you were born contribute to your struggle with poverty?

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Q3/ Are the materially wealthy much happier than those in poorer situations and countries?
— Does God’s Word have anything to say on that score?

SEE 1^st Timothy 6:6-10  But godliness with contentment is great gain,  (7)  for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  (8)  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  (9)  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  (10)  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

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We are called as Christians to give aid to the poor, and to have compassion for their situations. However, I agree with the warning from the pen of Charles Dickens, that we have a growing danger of the one named IGNORANCE…

For as Charles Dickens prophecied, the greatest danger lies in those who are trapped in their ignorance, this is explained to us in God’s word… Psalm 14:1-6  Fools say to themselves, “There is no God!” They are all corrupt, and they have done terrible things; there is no one who does what is right.  (2)  The LORD looks down from heaven at us humans to see if there are any who are wise, any who worship him.  (3)  But they have all gone wrong; they are all equally bad. Not one of them does what is right, not a single one.  (4)  “Don’t they know?” asks the LORD. “Are all these evildoers ignorant? They live by robbing my people, and they never pray to me.”  (5)  But then they will be terrified, for God is with those who obey him.  (6)  Evildoers frustrate the plans of the humble, but the LORD is their protection.

The IGNORANT maintain that there is no God… They then proceed to dictate their own version of what is right and what is wrong, and what is the destiny of the ‘evolution’ of mankind. This requires denying, of course, any supreme creator’s right to tell them what the true purpose of life is all about.

— They attempt to strip away a Creator God’s right to judge His creation.

— Instead, they commence judging the ideas and writings of this same Creator, whom they so virulently oppose.

We are rapidly approaching a world in which the majority of the population will be as stated in the first verse; “Fools say to themselves, “There is no God!” …They are all corrupt, and they have done terrible things; there is no one who does what is right.” (If you view the entire population of our globe, Communist China included, we may be there already.)

— As we ‘progress’ the persecution of God’s followers also continues to increase.

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Q4/ So what is our role in all this?

God commands us, believers, to keep the faith, we must be found by God when He looks for those who keep their trust in Him. (SEE Vs.2)  The LORD looks down from heaven at us humans to see if there are any who are wise, any who worship him.

Q5/ What is God looking to find here in humanity? (Hint: It’s the opposite of those who say, “There is no God!”)
— Have your struggles ever caused you to doubt God or His goodness?
— Maybe you know someone who is struggling with these thoughts through these terrible times on this earth.

Q6/ Do you have any helps for those who are struggling with their faith these days? (Perhaps you have practices that you employ when Satan tries to cause you to doubt God’s goodness?)

— Our faith in God should always be our strength. (SEE Vs.6)  Evildoers frustrate the plans of the humble, but the LORD is their protection.

Q7/ Can you share a testimony of God’s protection in your life? (Does it help to remember these things?)

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Q8/ Are we going to be counted as FAITHFUL?

— SEE 1^st Timothy 6:11-12  But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.  (12)  Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Q8a/ ~ What do the words from Vs.12 say to you?
(12)  Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called
— Is the idea of being strong part of this challenge from the Apostle Paul?

Q8b/ ~ What does it take to remain faithful?
— Is it wrong to have a ‘STUBBORN FAITH’?
— How do you stay strong through these terrible times?

I leave this as an encouragement for all believers… ‘Gird up your armor of faith’, so you WILL BE COUNTED UNDER GOD’S OWN ALL-POWERFUL, EVER VICTORIOUS PROTECTION.

— The words of Jesus should call us to watch and be ready… Luke 18:7-8  And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them?  (8)  I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

May God keep us strong in 2022, AMEN!

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Next week, Lord willing, we will look further into ‘STUBBORN FAITH’.
— As part of that study we’ll be looking at the stubborn faith of Abraham and Job.