Young man, if you would serve your Lord in the church, grasp hold of the following things.
Understand The Great Scheme Of Things:
John 15:5 “. . . for without me ye can do nothing.”
16:13 “. . . when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth. . . .”
(And you thought you were going to lead everybody into all truth?)
[When the Lord says, “Be ye therefore perfect . . .”, the “ye” refers to YOU!]
Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Romans 11:22-25 “For I would not, brethren, that . . . ye should be wise in your own conceits. . . .”
1st Corinthians 1:26-29 “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”
Do Not Think Of Yourself As Being Anything:
Matthew 23:1-12 “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased. . . .”
1st Peter 5:5 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”
(It is the second part of this that is written to the elder. The first part is written for the younger.)
2nd Timothy 2:24-26 “And the servant of the Lord must . . . be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient . . . that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
Ephesians 4:1-3 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. . . .”
Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”
Philippians 2:3 “. . . in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”
2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who . . . made himself of no reputation. . . .”
Proverbs 18:12 “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.”
Do Not Seek Honour In This World:
John 5:44 “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?”
(HINT: Get honour later.) Matthew 25:21 “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. . . .”
Luke 6:40 “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.”
(The Lord of all the universe was hated and rejected.)
Do Not Seek Power:
Ecclesiastes 8:9 “. . . there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.”
Matthew 20:25-28 “. . . they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you. . . .”
Do Not Be Thin-skinned:
Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 “Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee. . . .”
Be Very Thankful At All Times:
Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Be A Man Of Prayer:
Psalm 5:3 “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee. . . .”
Love The Brethren:
Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love. . . .”
1st Peter 3:8-9 “. . . love as brethren. . . .” (Not as subjects!)
John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you. . . .”
Acts 20:35 “. . . ye ought to support the weak. . . .” (As opposed to beating them up?)
1st Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
1st Corinthians 13:1-5 “Charity . . . is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. . . .”
Never Carry A Grudge:
1st Corinthians 14:20 “. . . in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”
Be Slow To Anger:
Ecclesiastes 7:9 “Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”
Proverbs 19:19 “A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.”
1st Corinthians 13:4-5 “Charity suffereth long, and . . . is not easily provoked. . . .”
Be Watchful:
Jude 4 “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation. . . .”
2nd Peter 2:1 “But there were false prophets also . . . even as there shall be false teachers among you. . . .”
But Be Slow To Judge:
Romans 14:4 “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”
Develop Patience:
Ecclesiastes 7:8 “. . . the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
Hebrews 12:1 “. . . and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. . . .”
2nd Corinthians 6:1-6 “. . . in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience. . . .”
1st Timothy 3:2-3 “A bishop then must be . . . patient. . . .”
2nd Timothy 2:24-26 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be . . . patient. . . .”
Develop Discernment And Prudence:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. . . .”
8:5-6 “Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.”
Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be alway with grace . . . that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
Be Slow To Speak:
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.”
James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. . . .”
v. 26 “If any man among you . . . bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”
Proverbs 16:23 “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.”
Proverbs 29:20 “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”
Keep Foolishness To A Minimum:
Ecclesiastes 10:1 “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”
Ephesians 5:1-4 “. . . neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient. . . .”
Be Willing To Spend Time To Labor In Doctrine:
2nd Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. . . .”
Isaiah 28:9 “. . . and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk. . . .”
Ephesians 4:11-15 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro . . . with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”
1st Timothy 4:13-16 “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
Titus 2:1-2 “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. . . .” (“become” = adorn)
vs. 7-8 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness. . . .”
Get Wisdom:
(See “Wisdom” file.)