He was his own man, tending to his responsibilities, but standing firm for his beliefs, no matter the outcome.”
                    –Chris Mullen  (Rowdy:  Wild and Mean, Sharp and Keen)

       “But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household.  And we are that household if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.”
                    –Hebrews 3:6  (HCSB)
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          “Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…”
                    –Philippians 2:15-16 (NASB)
          “Holding tightly to the word of life…”
                    –Philippians 2:16 (NLT)

     God’s call is very clear to us.  In a society of confusion, of hate and bitterness, and living in a nation where people sneer and spurn the name of Jesus Christ, God’s call is very clear.  We are to stay blameless, we are not to be involved in the works of the world, and we are still to be lights to an ever darkening world.  We are to prove ourselves and hold tightly to the word of God.
     Little needs to be said if one has followed the news the past few years.  We call it “liberalism” but in reality, it is nothing more than part of Satan’s evil agenda.  And the Church, what about the Church?  The true Church, the one that holds fast to the doctrine does not need to worry,  However, many churches and ministers are complacent, compromising, and even attaching themselves to these demonic ideologies.  Gary Inrig writes, “Much more than I want to admit, many Christians live, act, and choose as if God’s Word has never been written.  Hmmm, take time to read the indictments given by the prophets to Israel.
     In this time and world in which we live we must, as true believers, understand that God is righteous–He is a holy God.  Misery overtakes people who forsake the holy God.  Listen, sin is not an insignificant thing to be passed over lightly; it is an affront to God’s righteous character.  The words of Christ in Revelation should be taken to heart:

          “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lamp stand out of its place–unless you repent.”  (2:4-5, NASB)

     Know this–God is sovereign.  He orders all the forces of nature and history in accordance with His righteous will, thus working out His judgment upon nations.  Notice, when you study the prophets, of the corruption in the courts, then take a look at our court system and what is happening.  Many judges and other leaders follow the agenda of devils.  Do not turn a deaf ear, listen, God is still on the throne.
     My friend, in confused and troublesome times, we are not to neglect the importance of faith.  Stand firm, hold tightly to the Word of God, the word of life.  Gary Inrig states, “We are to be agents of our King, pressing His kingdom and its values into our culture and forming communities that are outposts of His kingdom, demonstrating to the world another, and a better, way to live life.”  If people do not accept the values of a holy God, you hold tightly to them.
     Read the Book of Judges; it is a book about hard and immoral times.  Leaders were called to make a stand–to lead and guide a wayward people.  As believers we are called to make that same stand, perhaps not on a national level, but to stand wherever you are.  Stand up, hold tightly to the truth, prove yourself and let God raise you up in such a time.

Helping people was good. But if you weren’t careful, you could destroy yourself in the process. And then what good would you be to people in need?”
                    –John Deacon  (The Provider 4)

       “‘Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well’ –but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing.  What good does that do?”
                    –James 2:16 (NLT)
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     Good stewards, not only in finances and goods, but also with our time.  This is part of the essence of Proverbs 3:27-28.
(NKJV)
          .27 — Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.
          .28 — Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.
(ESV)
          .27 — Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
          .28 — Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it” –when you have it with you.

“Not withhold,” literally means, “hold not back from its master.”  In other words, pay what is expected  to whom it is due and pay it on time.  We need to concentrate on the verse part of verse 27.  To whom do we owe is the question.  Here are a few thoughts:
          1)  We owe honest wages to workers under our employ.
          2)  We owe it to our family who depend on us.
          3)  We owe it to those with whom we have debts.  (Oh my, and that includes those with whom we have credit).
          4)  We owe our due to the government in the form of taxes.
          5)  We owe it to others by doing acts of friendship.
The world says, “look out for number one.”  Bob Beasley tells us that “Selfishness is the root of pride, which is the root of sin, which is the root of all of the problems the world faces.”  Part of this is the idea that whenever we possibly can, we are to do good to those who need it.  With that being said, we are also to be good stewards; that means knowing to whom and what we are giving.  Yes, to those whom we owe, we must pay.  But, as F.B. Meyer states, “Life presents us with many duties, as well as many opportunities.  We need to be generous, but we also must be prudent.”
     We must do good with our time.  Far too often we procrastinate with our time and then it is too late.  We must be good stewards of knowledge as well.  Don’t just throw your money away and if you give it, understand who and why you are giving.  We must also give the spiritual knowledge that we have.  We are to render the benefits we enjoy because of the Gospel.  Matthew Henry tells us, “True wisdom consists in the due discharge of our duty toward man, as well as toward God, in honesty as well as piety.”
     “Come back tomorrow,” what an excuse.  What was it Wimpy used to say, “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today”?  Pay up, if you have the means at the time.  “‘Come back tomorrow’ is being devious in hoping that the needs of our neighbors will somehow disappear, be forgotten, or that his neighbor will find help elsewhere.” (Beasley)  Listen, “Good intentions…are like ghosts haunting a dwelling.” (William Arnot)  Jesus gives a stern warning, “I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me. (Matthew 25:42-43, NKJV)
     These verses are not telling you to give to this person or to that cause, but to be prudent.  To pay what it owed, then to help when and wherever possible.  J.L. Flores presents some reasons why we should not withhold our time, money, knowledge, etc.:
          1)  The person in need today may be beyond your reach tomorrow.
          2)  You may not live to help him tomorrow.
          3)  The person’s need may be increased by the delay.  The delay may make the demand greater.
          4)  To do the good tomorrow instead of today is not to be an imitator of God.
          5)  The postponement may allow evil to rise in our heart–hindrances, thoughts, bitterness, excuses.

Something strong and strange was at work deep within him.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Fighting Caravans)