When is Alcohol a Reward?

I recently flew Southwest Airlines between Nashville and Austin, and as I was browsing through the magazine in the pocket in front of me, I noticed that on special occasions, they would give away a complimentary alcoholic beverage. I believe last Fourth of July, they “honored” all military that flew with a complimentary alcoholic beverage, and they often “reward” their frequent fliers with a coupon for a complimentary alcoholic beverage. This underscores a serious problem in our society—many people believe that drinking alcoholic is not only fun and exciting, but sadly, many depend upon the consumption of it to “have a good time.”

This certainly and especially underscores a great temptation to our young people. For example, it has not been too terribly long ago when the popular band Nickelback penned the words to their song:

Beer bottles laying on the kitchen floor

If we take them out back, we can buy some more…

Better hang on if you’re tagging along

‘Cause we’ll be doing this ‘til six in the morning

Nothing wrong with going all night long

Tough to put the brakes on, doesn’t matter when you gotta

Get up and go out, me and all my friends

Drink up, fall down, then we’ll do it all again

Just sitting around, hanging out this afternoon…

From the moment I wake up, I just love being with my friends

We barely get by, but have the best times and hope it never ends.

We drink all day until we fall down, so we can do it all again.

We already have far too many television commercials glamorizing the consumption of alcohol, but now, we have this musical portrait added to the long list of temptations to our youth—“There is nothing wrong with me (youth) and my friends sitting around on the weekend and drinking to the point of drunkenness. I really am not hurting anyone. In fact, it is fun! I cannot wait until the next time when we can do it all over again!” How sad that people waste away their lives with the beer bottle. We have enough problems, as it is, associated with a slothful society, and this only adds to its despair.

If one chooses to listen to true wisdom about the real meaning of life and the pursuit of happiness, then one ought to read the words from the Bible, which condemns such behavior. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine” (Proverbs 23:29-30). “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!” (Isaiah 5:11).

Parents, please talk about these things with your children! Warn them of the dangers of alcohol! Warn them of the dangers of music and friends that entice them with such! The negative influence of alcohol could cost their life, as well as their soul. In addition, if you want to honor the military, there are countless numbers of other ways to do so without resorting to buying them a drink. Our Lord in heaven above knows that this is the last thing we ought to be encouraging our military (and children) to do!

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Quit You Like Men

Among the final directions from Paul in his first epistle to the church in Corinth is this interesting expression in the KJV and ASV. It is grouped among other admonitions in First Corinthians 16:13: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” This expression comes from a single Greek word that is only found once right here in our passage.

It actually means the very opposite of that which it sounds—Paul is encouraging these brethren to discharge their duties in true manly fashion. In other words, they were not to be cowards. They were not to be timid in their pursuit of godly things. They were not to allow their enemies to alarm them and create fear to the point of discouraging them from doing that which they knew was right. They were to be brave. In modern times, we would express it, “Be a man!” This expression, along with the others within First Corinthians 16:13, is a verse for soldiers and warriors!

Whenever we have difficulty understanding a Biblical expression, it is often helpful to research other translations to gain a better understanding. Note the following:

  • “…act as men” (McCord).
  • “…act like men” (NASV).
  • “…have courage” (NCV).
  • “…be men of courage” (NIV).
  • “…be brave” (NKJV).
  • “…be courageous” (RSV).
  • “…acquit yourselves like men” (WNT).

It is interesting that while we do not find this word anywhere else in our Greek New Testaments, we do find this word in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament) a number of different times. Most notably, we find this expression within the emphatic encouragement that God gave to Joshua as he took the reins of leadership following the death of his mentor, Moses: “Be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:6-9), to which even several of the tribes of Israel responded assuredly in the same fashion (Joshua 1:18). David gave this same encouragement to his son, Solomon: “Be strong and of good courage” (1 Chronicles 28:20). Hezekiah encouraged his captains concerning the invasion of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, with these same words: “Be strong and courageous” (2 Chronicles 32:7). One may find this expression about nineteen other times in the Septuagint.

In addition, we can see the same expression translated in the same way in the Old Testament. For example, the Philistines rang their battle cry against the Israelites, “Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight” (1 Samuel 4:9). In similar fashion, Joab, captain of the Israelite army under King David, encouraged the troops when he said, “Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good” (2 Samuel 10:12).

By gaining a better grasp of this expression, it reminds us of what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:14: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine….” I cannot help but attach this with what he had written previously—“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Thus, when Satan sends enemies to attack us and other saints within the church of our Lord, we do not flinch! We maintain our ground. We press forward and strike as good soldiers of the cross (cf. Ephesians 6:10-20). May we all resolve to become Christians who are brave in the face of moral danger!

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O for a Faith that Will Not Shrink

One of the great joys of attending chapel with the students is the deeper devotion time I am able to enjoy in both singing praises to God and reflecting upon some vast veracities from his word. In one recent chapel session, one of the students led this song, unaware that it was exactly upon what I needed to reflect at that moment in my life. We all have our ups and downs, and I was experiencing some discouraging circumstances, but this song spiritually shook me back to reality. Please consider carefully the lyrics that William Hiley Bathurst (1796-1877) wrote:

O for a faith that will not shrink, though pressed by every foe,

That will not tremble on the brink of any earthly woe.

That will not murmur or complain beneath the chastening rod,

But in the hour of grief or pain, will lean upon its God.

A faith that shines more bright and clear when tempests rage without;

That when in danger knows no fear, in darkness feels no doubt!

Lord, give us such a faith as this; and then, whatever may come,

We’ll taste even here the hallowed bliss of an eternal home.

Mixed in this song of unquenchable faith and conviction are encouragements to withstand any weakness, doubt or complaining, even in moments of grief or pain. I needed that at that moment, and maybe you, the reader, do also. These exact expressions from this lyrical author may serve as encouraging words in a selection of different situations. Whether we are facing sickness, persecution, discouragement or any general form of weakness, we may take comfort from these words, which point us back to God and remind us of what he has already stated in his word. How may we develop a faith that will not shrink?

First, focus on God—remember that God cares for us. In the face of his own points of discouragement with which he deals in his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul began such with the bold affirmation, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation…” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). This is why the apostle Peter plainly declared, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). One of the great blessings from studying the Psalms is to see the psalmist do exactly that—he pours out his heart to his God. Whenever we face trying times, we are to remember always that we serve a God who cares for us. He demonstrates concern for us. Even the Hebrew writer uses our Lord Jesus Christ as an example of one who is concerned about those who are hurting, portraying him in the following manner: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Then, his conclusion to those Hebrew Christians who were on the verge of quitting their faith was, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Why would he give such a charge? He did so because he knew they needed to hear that God cares for us!

Second, focus on others—look to the burdens of others. Whenever we face trying times, instead of looking inward, look outward. Instead of relegating to the attitude, “Woe is me,” take the moment to count your many blessings and realize that there are others who are far worse. What an inspiration Job offers—no matter what I face, I doubt I will ever face as harsh conditions as he faced, and through it all, he remained faithful to God. Thus, I can draw strength from such. I can begin to find others who need comfort, and I can offer such: “…that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:4). Not only will I forget my own problems, I will realize that I have helped another. My own problems diminish as I focus on others.

Third, focus on today—learn to live one day at a time. We all will face painful problems that will test our faith. When such occurs, focus on simply the day at hand. Far too often, we create exponentially difficult situations when we look to the uncertainty of the future. Our stress levels rise. The truth of the matter that all Christians know is that tomorrow may never come—our Lord may return, and we ought to prepare ourselves for such (cf. Matthew 25:1-13). Concerning our daily needs, about which the Gentiles would often worry (cf. Matthew 6:31-32), Jesus succinctly stated, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:34). Even James spoke against the uncertainties of the future in James 4:13-15. Therefore, when we only concern ourselves about the present day at hand, our problems greatly diminish, and they become so much more easily manageable. This is the way our God intended us to live.

How do we develop a faith that will not shrink? Focus on God, focus on others and focus on the day at hand. Whenever we do this, our day will brighten, and our problems will not seem that severe, and with the aid of our Redeemer, we can overcome anything!

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“Not to Please Ourselves”

The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 15:1, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” This principle of selflessness is one that we must remind ourselves constantly, because selfishness is at the core of every sin and is at the root of every problem we face (cf. Matthew 16:24). In fact, the Bible repeatedly admonishes us to develop this form of selflessness. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught, “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away” (Matthew 5:42). To the Galatians, Paul taught that Christians ought to be willing to bear the burdens of others (Galatians 6:2-3). To the Ephesians, Paul wrote, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). To the Philippians, he declared, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own tings, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). Thus, in these passages and so many others, God teaches us to take self out of our lives!

Nevertheless, this is not easy to do. This is why we see the importance of the godly quality of “longsuffering.” One may be right and not be longsuffering. In fact, older, more mature Christians ought to understand that longsuffering is essential in dealing with weaker, younger members lest through our intolerance and impatience we drive them away. In fact, the Pharisees tried to convey themselves as being proud (filled with pride) of the fact that they were perfect in keeping the Law of Moses (although Jesus exposed their hypocrisy) to the point of it driving a wedge into their very souls due to their extreme selfishness (self-righteousness). Let me conclude this thought with a personal illustration and a Biblical illustration.

When I was a teenager in high school, I prided myself on being fairly intelligent and making good grades. I even competed in Scholar’s Bowl (trivia competition), watched “Jeopardy” with a passion and loved playing Trivial Pursuit. My boss was somewhat of a nerd and knew of my academic accomplishments, so I challenged him to a “friendly” game of “Jeopardy” on the computer one day after work. We built this competition up within the office, scheduling it days (or even weeks) ahead of time so that everyone else in the office could stay and watch as our make-shift audience. We played the game, and my boss beat me. I admitted to myself that I could have done better and did not play as aggressive as I could. Yet, when my boss rubbed it in that he beat me, it was as if he was rubbing salt in an open wound—I could not stand it. I began to spread the word that I let him beat me, and that I wanted a rematch. He gave me a rematch, and I won convincingly. In essence, I burst his bubble, while I got to gloat over the victory. In my youth, I did not see that I came across in a very ugly manner. One of my coworkers, who was an older, wiser Christian, pulled me aside and simply asked me, “What good did you accomplish with what you did?” I will never forget that powerful lesson he taught me—my ego fueled my drive, and the only thing that prompted my actions was selfishness. Did I have to “prove” myself to my boss and my coworkers? Why should I not have remained silent, even if I did know in my heart that I could have won?

To the church in Corinth, Paul spoke of many problems with which they were dealing in his first letter to them. Among them was the issue of eating meats offered to idols. As a mature Christian and apostle, Paul recognized that concerning the issue, “we all have knowledge” (1 Corinthians 8:1). He taught them that many knew that “an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one” (1 Corinthians 8:4). Yet, some were having a guilty conscience about such (1 Corinthians 8:7). Therefore, he encourages those who knew better, “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend” (1 Corinthians 8:13). Why would Paul react this way? He understood this principle—“Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Even though he knew he was right in eating meats offered to idols (nothing sinful about such), he would demonstrate a selfless attitude because of his love for his brethren. May God bless us all as we strive to develop this type of mature disposition—the church and the world will be a better place!

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Marriage and Alzheimer’s

Recently, the televangelist Pat Roberson made some alarming comments in response to a caller/viewer who asked concerning one dating another while his or her spouse has the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease. From his comments, he insinuated with approval that a spouse could divorce his or her debilitated spouse in order to date/marry another. His reasoning was that the disease produced a type of death in the marital relationship. Naturally, his comments produced an outcry from many.

Let me state immediately that I have no personal connection with this dreaded disease. I am not experienced with such. I have witnessed it from afar with various individuals, but I have not walked in the shoes of those who lived the living tragedy of watching a loved one suffer. Thus, any comments regarding this are solely from the perspective of what the Bible states and not from personal experience.

Nevertheless, anytime we approach any moral issue, including such delicate issues as this, we are to look to the word of God as our standard of right and wrong, rather than our experiences. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for…instruction in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16). From this, Paul instructs us that we are to use the inspired word of God to mold our convictions in all matters of morality and religion. This is why it is critical for parents to teach and instruct their children with regards to what God says, so that when they become adults and face tough temptations and deal with critical issues, their instruction in the word of God will serve as their basis of authority. Experience may serve a valuable purpose in the acquisition of wisdom, but unless there is the proper respect for God (cf. Proverbs 1:7) and in conjunction with this, respect for his word, experience may lead one down the wrong path, just as it did the prodigal son.

When the Pharisees tempted Jesus with a question regarding divorce, he took them back “at the beginning” and showed the commitment that God desires within the relationship—“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matthew 19:3-6). The comments that Pat Robertson made actually scare me when I consider the vows of commitment that couples make before God and witnesses: “Do you promise to love and to cherish, to honor and to sustain, in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, in good and in bad and to be true in all things until death alone shall part?” From the comments he has made, I have no doubt that he would have to change the vows he uses in conducting wedding ceremonies. Where is the lifelong commitment that God desires in godly marriages? Such is sadly indicative of this generation. While at one time we would see most marriages dissolve after 2-7 years, many more now are dissolving even after 25-30 years. Again, I ask, “Where is the commitment in marriage?”

Therefore, while we have seen various individuals attempting to circumnavigate the word of God through their personal redefinition of terms (redefining the term “adultery” or even that which President Clinton did years ago), we see Pat Robertson attempt to redefine the term “death” in this unfortunate circumstance. While my heart bleeds for all those who struggle and suffer unimaginable pain in dealing with spouses who suffer with Alzheimer’s, I do not believe Paul had this in mind when he declared, “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband” (Romans 7:2). It is to be as God planned, Jesus explained and the inspired apostle Paul stated—one man and one woman, cleaving together as one flesh until death (which James defines as “…the body without the spirit is dead,” James 2:26) should part them.

May God bless all of our marriages to be godly marriages, and may we reach out with support and comfort to all whose spouses struggle with Alzheimer’s.

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