Post by Cindy on Feb 13, 2016 12:53:08 GMT -5
Today I studied Luke 12:22–34 and it really hit home to me when I realized that He was telling us this in relation to the parable about the rich man that he'd just told. That and the first two verses really made me sit up and take notice. “Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.” (Luke 12:22–23) In the parable He'd just told before, the rich man had focused entirely on living a life of luxury; of having fine food and beautiful clothes, and all that those things suggested. Jesus said that man was a fool and that all he had accumulated was really worthless for him. He'd missed the most important things of all because he focused on his body and it's comfort. Jesus tells us that we're not to worry or focus on our bodies at all. These bodies are not who we are. Besides, we'll be getting our real body at the rapture. We should take care of this body the best we can, but not to the point of worrying about things relating to it or focusing on it. It's simply a vehicle for us to use during this lifetime; a vehicle to use to bring glory to God.
It's really amazing to see the horrible things that happen to those who do focus on their bodies and worry about the things that pertain to their bodies. Jesus tells us not to do that for a reason - He knows the horrors this sin can bring on us. Some folks focus on the idea that they're too "fat" and eventually wind up anorexic or bulimic. Others don't go that far but instead cause themselves all kinds of grief because again their thoughts are constantly on their body. They're constantly dieting or worrying that they've eaten too much or haven't lost enough weight or haven't lost it fast enough, or have gained weight, etc. Or they worry that their diet isn't working the way it should, so they often try all kinds of different diets, programs, and ways to make their body be what they have decided it should be, instead of simply accepting themselves the way that they are. For others, it's the opposite, they think they're too thin, and go through all the same things trying to gain weight! Then there are those that focus on exercise. No matter what else happens, you'll find them at the gym, or some kind of exercise class or even things like body building, weight lifting, yoga or martial arts or whatever they can think of to force their bodies to be other then the way they are.
Then there's the whole clothing thing, and dressing in the latest fashions. Some people are spending tons of money for clothes they don't need, just because the latest fashion magazines have told them that these other clothes that they're selling are the very latest and all who are in the know, wear them. So it's a frantic rush to keep up with the Jones's in the fashion industry, even though Jesus tells us that they can't possibly create anything that's as beautiful as the way God adorns the flowers in a field, flowers, that don't worry about what they look like.
Or there's the whole area of make up, and hair style or dying their hair or whatever; not to forget manicures and pedicures and tanning salons or just plain "beauty salons". Along with all of this are all the products, supplements and even surgical procedures that are supposed to make people look younger. (at least in our opinions). Speaking of supplements, there are also people that spend amazing amounts of money on those things to try and make their bodes become what they want instead of what they are. I'm constantly amazed at how much money people spend on all this kind of stuff. I'm more amazed though at how very important this is to so many people.
But God says, "No!, that's not what our focus is to be on!" 1 John 2:16 defines all sin as either: 1) the lust of the flesh, 2) the lust of the eyes, 3) the boastful pride of life; but look at what the next verse says: “For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:16–17) They pass away, like the rich man in the parable Jesus told before this portion of scripture. We're not to be like him, we're to be separate from the world. Do you remember how God described Lucifer before he fell? “ ‘...You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. ...” (Ezekiel 28:12–14) Like Jesus said, certainly more beautiful then even the flowers of the fields! But because of his great beauty, and the pride it generated, he sinned and fell from God's grace. He focused on his beauty instead of on the God who gave it to him. And that's exactly what every commercial we see, hear or read is trying to make us do. That's what we're doing when we focus on this body and try to make it something that it isn't. (Ezekiel 16:14–15)
Please know that I am not saying that we shouldn't keep our bodies clean and neat, or that we shouldn't keep them as healthy as we can. What I'm saying is that our body should not be what we are focused on in this life. How do we know if we're focusing on it instead of God and His righteousness, His kingdom? Look at the amount of time that's spent in front of a mirror, and especially at the amount of time spent thinking about diets, weight, looks, etc. If our thoughts turn to those things more often then they turn to God, then we are focusing on the wrong things. We are not our bodies. We are God's children and when we get our real bodies at the rapture, they will reflect the real person we are inside. Therefore it's far more important to perfect who we are in Christ, then to work on the outside. This is part of what Jesus was saying earlier: “Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.” (Luke 11:39–41) Both Paul and Peter tell us this in no uncertain terms as well: “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (1 Timothy 2:9–10) “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,” (1 Peter 3:3–5) Over and over we're told to focus on what's inside, not what the outside looks like! And it's our creator that tells us this. Somehow I think He knows what he's talking about, don't you?
What is really amazing, and I've seen this with my own eyes, is that when a person stops focusing on the outside and instead focuses on God and applying His Word to their lives every day, their body eventually, starts to reflect that inner beauty they're becoming as the Lord changes them to be more like Jesus. I've seen women who were overweight, and without even thinking about dieting, the extra weight simply dropped off of them. I sincerely believe that it happens like that because the person is no longer focusing on the outside. Her thoughts are no longer constantly revolving on weight, food, and her body. Instead, her thoughts are on God and His Word as she applies it to her life and reflects on it. And because of that, eventually her body begins to reflect what's in her mind.
I know I haven't covered all the ways that we focus on our bodies, but I think this is more then enough to get us started reflecting on what we may be doing, compared to what God wants us to do, so we can repent and instead focus on the inside.
It's really amazing to see the horrible things that happen to those who do focus on their bodies and worry about the things that pertain to their bodies. Jesus tells us not to do that for a reason - He knows the horrors this sin can bring on us. Some folks focus on the idea that they're too "fat" and eventually wind up anorexic or bulimic. Others don't go that far but instead cause themselves all kinds of grief because again their thoughts are constantly on their body. They're constantly dieting or worrying that they've eaten too much or haven't lost enough weight or haven't lost it fast enough, or have gained weight, etc. Or they worry that their diet isn't working the way it should, so they often try all kinds of different diets, programs, and ways to make their body be what they have decided it should be, instead of simply accepting themselves the way that they are. For others, it's the opposite, they think they're too thin, and go through all the same things trying to gain weight! Then there are those that focus on exercise. No matter what else happens, you'll find them at the gym, or some kind of exercise class or even things like body building, weight lifting, yoga or martial arts or whatever they can think of to force their bodies to be other then the way they are.
Then there's the whole clothing thing, and dressing in the latest fashions. Some people are spending tons of money for clothes they don't need, just because the latest fashion magazines have told them that these other clothes that they're selling are the very latest and all who are in the know, wear them. So it's a frantic rush to keep up with the Jones's in the fashion industry, even though Jesus tells us that they can't possibly create anything that's as beautiful as the way God adorns the flowers in a field, flowers, that don't worry about what they look like.
Or there's the whole area of make up, and hair style or dying their hair or whatever; not to forget manicures and pedicures and tanning salons or just plain "beauty salons". Along with all of this are all the products, supplements and even surgical procedures that are supposed to make people look younger. (at least in our opinions). Speaking of supplements, there are also people that spend amazing amounts of money on those things to try and make their bodes become what they want instead of what they are. I'm constantly amazed at how much money people spend on all this kind of stuff. I'm more amazed though at how very important this is to so many people.
But God says, "No!, that's not what our focus is to be on!" 1 John 2:16 defines all sin as either: 1) the lust of the flesh, 2) the lust of the eyes, 3) the boastful pride of life; but look at what the next verse says: “For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:16–17) They pass away, like the rich man in the parable Jesus told before this portion of scripture. We're not to be like him, we're to be separate from the world. Do you remember how God described Lucifer before he fell? “ ‘...You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. ...” (Ezekiel 28:12–14) Like Jesus said, certainly more beautiful then even the flowers of the fields! But because of his great beauty, and the pride it generated, he sinned and fell from God's grace. He focused on his beauty instead of on the God who gave it to him. And that's exactly what every commercial we see, hear or read is trying to make us do. That's what we're doing when we focus on this body and try to make it something that it isn't. (Ezekiel 16:14–15)
Please know that I am not saying that we shouldn't keep our bodies clean and neat, or that we shouldn't keep them as healthy as we can. What I'm saying is that our body should not be what we are focused on in this life. How do we know if we're focusing on it instead of God and His righteousness, His kingdom? Look at the amount of time that's spent in front of a mirror, and especially at the amount of time spent thinking about diets, weight, looks, etc. If our thoughts turn to those things more often then they turn to God, then we are focusing on the wrong things. We are not our bodies. We are God's children and when we get our real bodies at the rapture, they will reflect the real person we are inside. Therefore it's far more important to perfect who we are in Christ, then to work on the outside. This is part of what Jesus was saying earlier: “Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.” (Luke 11:39–41) Both Paul and Peter tell us this in no uncertain terms as well: “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (1 Timothy 2:9–10) “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,” (1 Peter 3:3–5) Over and over we're told to focus on what's inside, not what the outside looks like! And it's our creator that tells us this. Somehow I think He knows what he's talking about, don't you?
What is really amazing, and I've seen this with my own eyes, is that when a person stops focusing on the outside and instead focuses on God and applying His Word to their lives every day, their body eventually, starts to reflect that inner beauty they're becoming as the Lord changes them to be more like Jesus. I've seen women who were overweight, and without even thinking about dieting, the extra weight simply dropped off of them. I sincerely believe that it happens like that because the person is no longer focusing on the outside. Her thoughts are no longer constantly revolving on weight, food, and her body. Instead, her thoughts are on God and His Word as she applies it to her life and reflects on it. And because of that, eventually her body begins to reflect what's in her mind.
I know I haven't covered all the ways that we focus on our bodies, but I think this is more then enough to get us started reflecting on what we may be doing, compared to what God wants us to do, so we can repent and instead focus on the inside.
!!
