By: Kevin Cauley

Two defining characteristics of Christ living within us are loving God and loving our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). This is fundamental to good human interaction. Paul tells us that without love, all our efforts amount to nothing, even if we could perform the greatest of feats. “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Interacting with others must have love as its underlying motivation.

Love, when properly applied, governs our behavior for, “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” One’s interactions would wholly benefit from a generous application. The trick is, of course, to take the list and apply it to every thought, word, and deed. Why do we not do this?

Selfish desires get in the way of truly loving other people as God wants us to love them. One of the problems is that we do not see our selfish desires as unloving. We see them as “necessary,” or “important,” or “first.” Does God really want us putting others ahead of ourselves? Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” When it comes to selfish ambition or conceit, we must remove those desires in favor of others if we want to have good interactions with other people.

By: Kevin Cauley

“No man is an island” is an old saying that means no one can get through this life on their own. We all need the help of others to get by. The life of the isolated is not a very good one. It is full of loneliness, anxiety, self-doubt, and fear. Life is much better when we have other people to interact with. God said, “It is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). God made humanity a social creature, but interacting with other people can be hard. God wants us to interact with others. The word “interact” does not necessarily imply good interaction, but it has a positive connotation. Some synonyms are to collaborate, cooperate, network, connect, and relate. These words are generally positive. By and large, we want our interactions to be good or, at least, productive.

When God made people to interact with others, it was with the best of intentions. Genesis 1:27 says, “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.” God wanted humans to work together to accomplish this goal. Sinful desires thwart God’s purposes and create conflict that inhibits interaction. To further God’s purposes together, we must address that conflict or risk failing to fulfill God’s plan. Resolving conflicts is part of interacting with people, too, and the Bible gives us instructions on how to do this. A large part of this is God’s work through Jesus. Becoming a Christian means that we let Jesus live in us. This creates an environment where our interactions are Christ-centered. Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life.

By: Mike Riley

If we are wise, we understand about making wise use of our time. We arrange our priorities and do first things first (Matthew 6:33). We structure each day the most out of the time we are allotted. We understand the preciousness of living each moment we have, knowing that time is fleeting and our appointment with death and judgment is a certainty (Hebrews 9:27).

Scripture addresses the importance of making wise use of our time while we have it. The Psalmist requests, “So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Paul exhorts us, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). Jesus recognized the brevity of His time on earth to do His Father’s will – “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). It is certainly appropriate to exhort our youth to “remember thy creator in the days of thy youth….” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

We need to habitually “exhort one another daily while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). Why? because today is all we have (James 4:13-14).

The following poem (by an unknown author) entitled “No Time For God?” further illustrates making wise use of our time in spiritual matters.

 “You’ve time to build houses, and in them dwell,

And time to do business — to buy and to sell;

And none for repentance, or deep earnest prayer;

To seek your salvation you’ve no time to spare.

You’ve time for earth’s pleasures, for frolic and fun,

For her glittering treasures how quickly you run;

But care not to seek the fair mansion above.

The favor of God or the gift of His love.

You’ve time to take voyages over the sea,

And time to take in the world’s jubilee.

But soon your bright hopes will be lost in the bloom

Of the cold, dark river of death and the tomb.

You’ve time to resort to the mountain and glen;

And time to gain knowledge from books and men;

Yet no time to search for the wisdom of God,

But what of your soul when you’re under the sod?

For time will not linger when helpless you lie,

Staring death in the face, you will take time to die.

Then, what of the judgment — pause, think, I implore!

For time will be lost on eternity’s shore.”

Brethren, are we wisely using our time to do the Lord’s work while here upon the earth? If not, perhaps today would be an appropriate time to begin making better choices in the proper use of our time. As our Lord warns us, “the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4).

By: Mike Riley

King David, Israel’s most illustrious ruler — a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22; cf. 1 Samuel 13:14), became the seducer, the adulterer, the liar, the murderer — utterly pitiless and unmoved by his monstrous misdeeds. Israel’s ruler was now ruled by sin (cf. 2 Samuel 11:1-27).

A year had passed since David committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the murder of her husband (2 Samuel 11:1-4; 2 Samuel 11:6-17). David deteriorated physically and emotionally. His gnawing conscience kept him restless and melancholy. At night he tossed and turned.

When David was brought face to face with his corruption (2 Samuel 12:1-12), his defenses crumbled and He cried, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13). And Nathan the prophet replied, “The Lord also has put away your sin.” Despite the devastating consequences of David’s sin, he was assured of God’s forgiveness (2 Samuel 12:13-14).

After realizing the extent of his sin and its consequences, David penned Psalm 51, a song of repentance and pleading for God’s forgiveness. “I acknowledge my transgressions …. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:3 – NKJV; Psalm 51:7 – NKJV).

Are we suffering the consequences of our sin? Let’s admit our wrongs and ask God to “forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9). He will show abundant mercy and restore to us the “joy of Your [God’s] salvation” (Psalm 86:5 – NKJV; Psalm 51:12 – NKJV).