The Undisciplined Person

MEMORY VERSE: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” —I Corinthians 10:12

PROVERBS 23:19-21, 29-35

THIS lesson is designed to emphasize the importance of self-control. The first three verses associate the uncontrolled use of wine with “riotous eaters of flesh,” or, being gluttons. This combination of vices was charged against Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. They called him a winebibber and a glutton. (Matt. 11:19) The basis for this charge was largely that Jesus was a friend of publicans and sinners; or, as the matter is expressed today, “guilt by association” But Jesus was not concerned over this false charge, or any of the other false charges which were made against him. He came to do the Heavenly Father’s will, and his only concern was that he might be pleasing to him.

Paul warned against the evil of drunkenness. He wrote, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”—Eph. 5:15-20

What a beautiful contrast we have here of a group of people indulging in a drunken revelry, and a company of the Lord’s people seeking inspiration through the singing together of “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” and “giving thanks unto God and the … Lord Jesus Christ” And what a wonderful way this is of redeeming the time in these evil days, whenever there is an opportunity of relaxing from everyday toil and cares of life!

Guidelines for a disciplined person are laid down by the Apostle Peter in his second epistle, chapter 1, verses 4-7. Such a Christian character must be rooted and grounded in the promises of God. There are given unto you, Peter affirms, “exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance [Greek, self-control]; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly-kindness; and to brotherly-kindness charity [love].”

A Christian who has exercised himself in the development of these qualities will be given an abundant entrance “into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

I CORINTHIANS 10:12, 13

“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (vs. 12) This statement by the Apostle Paul rejects the theory of “once in grace, always in grace.” None knew better than Paul that the forces of evil are striving continually to draw aside the Christian from the pathway of faithfulness to the Lord and from his covenant of sacrifice with the Lord.

The three principal enemies of the Christian are the world, the flesh, and the Devil. The Devil is the commander of this unholy union, and it behooves all of us to be on the alert continually lest we fall into temptation which will lead us away from our course of fidelity to the Lord.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (vs. 13) This is a wonderful promise, but it implies that the Lord’s people cooperate faithfully with the Lord in the use of every means of grace which he provides to keep them from falling.

The Lord will not prevent us from turning our back upon him and walking away from his means of grace. Those who do this will surely fall; and unless they later turn in humility to the Lord to seek his help they will fail to attain that for which they were called, which is the divine nature, and joint-heirship with Jesus in his kingdom.

QUESTIONS

Should Christians be intemperate in anything?

Is it possible for a Christian to fall away from God’s grace?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |