Intro

This week we conclude the “Ten Rules to Live by in the End Times” series.  Last week’s rules pertained to maintaining spiritual health.  This week we focus on our responsibilities as stewards and shepherds for the Lord.

Scripture and Commentary

Rule #6: Take care of yourself physically

I Corinthians 6:19-20

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.

I Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Proverbs 20:4, 20-21

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness.  20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, 21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

There are many Scriptures that support taking good care of our physical health, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising in moderation, avoiding too much alcohol, and getting enough rest.  All of these are crucial to maintaining ourselves fit for service and to maintaining a good witness.  God dwells in us, and He will give us the strength to maintain control over our flesh.

Rule #7 Take care of yourself mentally

Philippians 4:4-8

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Sunday school children sing a song that goes “be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little eyes what you see” and so on.  I think as adults in the end times we might do well to start our days with a rousing rendition of this song before heading out into the world!  As wickedness grows around us it will become ever more important to remember to rejoice, rejoice, rejoice.  Know when to turn off the news, and to log off of the internet.  Take care in choosing your entertainment.  Re-read The Anger Trap posting on this blog, and beware of content that is intended to anger or frighten you.  Guard against feelings of fear, doubt, or anger, as these will tempt you to take actions inconsistent with a walk of faith and love.

Rule #8 Take care of your example, and of others

James 2:14-17

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Romans 14:13-23

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

In previous blog posts we have dealt with the importance of maintaining a good example by abstaining from silly disagreements, loving the foreigner as one born among us, and practicing charity.  Continue to do these things as befits the Light of the World.

Rule #9 Take care of the earth

Psalm 24:1

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it

Genesis 1:26-30

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

The Bible makes it clear that the earth belongs to the Lord, and has been entrusted to us for our home.  We have a stewardship responsibility to take care of that He entrusted to us.  Moreover, we have a responsibility to have love in our hearts for those-presently or in the future should the Lord tarry- that may be harmed by damage to our planet.  We don’t worship the earth, nor do we look to science and the actions of mankind as a source of salvation, but we should behave as good stewards and shepherds of the Lord’s creation.  None of us truly know when the Lord will return.  So stewardship should be viewed as a standing order, He hasn’t given us a “latter days” opt-out clause.

Rule #10 Love

John 13:35

35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Galatians 6:10

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Matthew 22:34-40

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 24:12

12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold

This is a topic we have discussed many times, but it certainly bears repeating.  Regardless of the changes in the world around us, we must be steadfast in our love of God and all His creation.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, please share.

Be blessed.

K