for fun...

I self-published my a paper I wrote for Mid-America Seminary for fun.  Here is a preview. 

Laziness

As I was studying this evening, I came across a section of a passage and commentary worth typing for you here:

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ESV (11) and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, (12) so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

"They had learned very well that the Lord would be returning in mighty power, and evidently they felt that it would be very soon. Accordingly there was no point in continuing in some steady job. It was much more realistic, they evidently thought, to be about the business of proclaiming the near end of the world. If they had need of this world's goods in the meantime, why, there were others, Christian brethren, who could be relied upon to come to their rescue. This kind of thing can be done from a sense of serious purpose. But, human nature being what it is, it can easily degenerate into downright laziness and idleness. Men can be so taken up with the spectacular, with excitements over the near approach of the Lord, that they pass over the important things of everyday life. So Paul gives his attention to such matters, and counsels these brethren to mend their ways."

Morris, Leon. The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing, 1979, 132.

How Should I Answer Temptation?

1 John 2:16 ESV 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.

• Jesus answered the desire of the flesh with Scripture

Matthew 4:4 ESV But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

We ought to follow Jesus’ example when we deal with a fleshly desire, whether it be a sexual temptation, substance abuse temptation, or a temptation to overeat. Use Scripture. How would your life be different if instead of succumbing to temptation you quoted Scripture to the tempter?

• Jesus answered the desire of the eyes with Scripture

Matthew 4:10 ESV Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"

Deuteronomy 6:13-14 ESV It is the LORD your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. (14) You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you-

We ought to follow Jesus’ example when we deal with the desire of the eyes, whether it be a job that seems like it will give us, fame, fortune, or glory. Use Scripture. How would your life be different if instead of succumbing to temptation you quoted Scripture to the tempter?

• Jesus answered the pride of life with Scripture

Matthew 4:7 ESV Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Deuteronomy 6:16 ESV You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.

We ought to follow Jesus’ example when we deal with the pride of life, whether it be a gimmick in which we seek to pull the wool over someone else’s eyes for our own glorification or combating a misrepresentation of Scripture/faith . Use Scripture. How would your life be different if instead of succumbing to temptation you quoted Scripture to the tempter? Tell the tempter to “Go away!” as Jesus did.

Matthew 4:10 ESV Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! ..."