These three words, in the title of this message, give us criteria for evaluating things in our life, in the world and in Scripture. They lead us to question actions and the causes of those actions. They also lead us to look at behavior and motives from the standpoint of Divine imperatives or Divine consequences. In other words: actions and attitudes can only be fully evaluated by the standard of what God says. A quick example: I John 2:15-17. If you love the world you will also love and do worldly things. This cannot coexist with loving God (James 4:1-4). Love of the world is described as:
1) "The lust of the flesh" - the external fulfillment of worldly pleasure.
2) "The lust of the eyes" - the internal cravings that form in the mind and heart and cause us to look at things with desire;
3) "The pride of life" - another internal craving that focuses on the ego and self-fulfillment.
4) The missing element and only way to escape the love of the world has its source in the eternal - Love for God and dwelling in the love of God is the only way that we can escape the power of worldly temptation and do the will of the Father (Matthew 22:35-40; James 1:12; I John 4:7-19).
When we have behavior that contradicts the will of God we need to look at what is happening in our hearts and minds and then go to the only source of help: God (Psalm 119:9,11,59; Philippians 2:12-13; Romans 11:36). When evil things are happening in the world, other important things are happening in the hearts and minds of those who do them. Read Psalm 10:2-13 and note words like "imagine," "heart," "thoughts," "secret," "secretly," "privily" cp. Ephesians 4:17-19; II Corinthians 10:3-5; Psalm 119:126.Now, let's look at Psalm 10 and see the conflict that wicked people have with those things which are: | Verse | External | Internal | Eternal |
|---|
| Verse 1 | Times of Trouble | | Why, LORD? | | Verse 2 | Persecuting the poor | Pride, evil imaginations | | | Verse 3 | Boasting | Heart's desire | | | | Bless the covetous | | Whom the LORD abhors | | Verse 4 | Countenance | Pride | Not seeking God,
God not in all thoughts | | Verse 5 | Ways are always grievous | Puffs at his enemies | God's judgments are out of sight | | Verses 7-13 | Grievous ways
explained (vs. 7-10) | Eyes set against the poor
(vs. 8)Cp. "Evil eye" -
Matthew 6:22-24 | He said in his heart, "God has forgotten...
He'll never see..." (vs. 11)
Shows contempt and renounces God (vs. 13) |
In Psalm 10:12-18 God will take action (external) because he cares for those who are oppressed. He "forgets not the humble" (internal). God works with authority because He is King (eternal). Consider I Thessalonians 5:23 and notice God's care for your "spirit" (eternal), "soul" (internal), and "body" (external). Instead of fearing man, understand and pity his condition (Isaiah 2:22; II Corinthians 5:11; II Timothy 2:24-26; Jude 20-23). |
