What I’m asking you to do… is think. Please, think, why do you do what you do? Why do you dress the way you dress? Why do you use the jewelry you use? Why do you do what you do with your money? Why do you do what you do with your time? Why do you watch what you watch on television or at the movies, or on the computer? Why do you do what you do on the computer? Do you have God glorifying reasons for all of it? Do you live in that faith, believing what I am doing is glorifying God, because whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Ro 14:23)
Whatsoever you do, whether you eat, or drink you’re to do it for the Glory of God. (1 Cor 10:31) We need to be people who think. Don’t just do it because other people at school do it. Don’t just do it because other people at work do it. The worldly system is everywhere around us. Do what you do because you can substantiate it from the Word of God. Period…
Are your motives, deceitful desire? Worldly desire? Desire that wages war against your flesh or against your soul, driven, are they driven by those passions? Or is it driven by a desire to please God? That’s what we have to ask ourselves. What is the motive? “Well I dress this way because I want to get this guys attention.” I hope you would see what the motive is. When the bible says: If you want to get a guys attention, the kind of guys attention that you probably ought to be trying to get, You should be working on a meek and quiet spirit, ladies. Knowing the scriptures, that’s what 1 Peter 3 says.
I mean, young guys, if you’re working out to get the ladies attention, you’re working out because you want to be all hulked up and big and look like the world. Now look, physical exercise profits some. If it helps you discipline yourself and it helps you feel better, and you’re not as near tired during the day, and you can get by with less sleep. And it just overall makes you feel better. There may be a place for it. But is it godliness driven?
What we wear? I mean do you wear what you wear because you’re wanting to glorify God? Do you give? Do you use your money? In ways that are God glorifying? Where’s your motive behind what you do with your money? If you’re going to make the decision to have a television or not have one, I know Christians that have them, I know Christians that don’t have them (televisions). What’s your motive? What are you accomplishing?
When you eat, why do you eat the way you do? When you drink… If you were going to say “Well the Bible allows me to drink alcoholic beverage.” You need to ask yourself, why? Why are you doing it? Is there a motive there that is God glorifying? It’s not God glorifying if you do things that cause a brother to stumble. And you do it right in-front of them. If meat or drink cause your brother to stumble you need to abstain.
Why do we do what we do? Are we trying to win people to Christ? Hudson Taylor dressed like a China man to win China men. And he did! Paul became all things to all men that he might save some. (1 Cor 9:22) By all means, he might save some. You see, when you’re driven by love, when your driven by a desire to save people When you’re driven by a desire to grow. When you’re driven by a desire to become more godly. When you’re driven by a desire to become more meek. More bible knowledgeable. When you’re driven by a desire to “Not make my brothers and sisters stumble.” See the motivation? Versus when you just want pleasure. And so your going to do what you want to do because you want fun. You’re going to do what you want to do because you want to enjoy. You’re going to do what you want to do because you want to satisfy these desires. That’s dangerous ground. Listen. They (the passions) wage war against the soul.
And people lose their soul in this fight… all the time. By God’s grace, by God’s strength, by God’s power. Abide in Christ! And seek to live with the right motives. Bringing your thought life, bringing your motives in subjection to Christ. All the time. In subjection to Christ, being led, guided, motivated by love. Let love rule your life! Let love for God and love for your fellow man rule your motives. Not passions. But love. God help us.
