Evangelist/Editor
- William J. Stewart July 4, 2004 / Volume
8, Issue 27
Pack Rats
Webster’s dictionary identifies a
pack rat as “one who collects or hoards especially unneeded items.”
The term was primarily applied to the wood rat (Rocky Mountain area),
on account of it’s tendency to hoard food and miscellaneous objects.
Paul asked the Romans, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (6:16) He went on to compel them, “...just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.” (v 19).
Friend, do not store up treasures which will bring about sorrow. The goods of this life will pass away (Mt 6:19). The honour and prestige of men will vanish (Ecc 4:13-16). Sin is but a passing pleasure (Heb 11:25). Let us store up treasures in heaven (Mt 6:20), that we might from our heavenly Father reap great reward.
THE PHYSICAL PACK RAT
Ask a pack rat to give up some of his inventory, and
you will have a substantial fight on your hands. Though his collected
treasures consist of things that are broken, worn out, too big, too
small, outdated, and generally useless; they are nonetheless his
fortune. I don’t think that Solomon had the pack rat in mind when he
wrote the following words, but regardless, the principle holds true:
“There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: riches kept
for their owner to his hurt.” (Ecc 5:13). It is heart wrenching for
the pack rat to give up any of his hoard, and yet by keeping it, he
becomes a slave to it. He literally has no room for life, for his
stored goods have taken over.THE SPIRITUAL PACK RAT
Have you ever considered that we might become pack
rats when it comes to our souls? How sad when a person crowds himself
out of house and home by storing up things which are of no use, but how
much more lamentable when we hoard things which are for naught to the
ruin of our souls. James commanded, “...lay aside all filthiness and
overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word,
which is able to save your souls.” (Jms 1:21). Taking into account the
“great cloud of witnesses”, those who have faithfully served the Lord
before our time, the Hebrew writer enjoins us to “...lay aside every
weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us...” (Heb 12:1)Paul asked the Romans, “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (6:16) He went on to compel them, “...just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.” (v 19).
Friend, do not store up treasures which will bring about sorrow. The goods of this life will pass away (Mt 6:19). The honour and prestige of men will vanish (Ecc 4:13-16). Sin is but a passing pleasure (Heb 11:25). Let us store up treasures in heaven (Mt 6:20), that we might from our heavenly Father reap great reward.
ANSWERING THE
ATHEIST Vol. 4, Iss. 27 -- 07/04/2004
The Atheist's
Complaint:
When did the cursed fig tree die? Immediately (Matthew
21:19-20) or the next morning (Mark 11:13-14, 20-21)? Is there a
contradiction?
Response:
As with many cases, one gospel
writer gives more information to us than another. Both Matthew and Mark
record the cursing of the tree (Matthew 21:19; Mark 11:13-14), and both
record the disciples reaction to seeing the withered fig tree (Matthew
21:20; Mark 11:20-21). However, Mark records details which Matthew
does not.
The tree had no fruit on it because “it was not the season for figs” (Mark 11:13). As such, perhaps the disciples had walked right by the tree without so much as a look. Mark indicates that the disciples heard Jesus’ words (v 14), but did not see the withered tree until the next day (v 20). Between the time of the curse against the tree and the disciples seeing the outcome, they had entered Jerusalem, where Jesus cleansed the Temple.
When did the fig tree die? Immediately, as Matthew said (v 19). It is the questioner’s assumption that the disciples also saw the withered tree immediately. Matthew does not distinguish between the day of the curse and the day when the disciples saw the dead tree, but neither does he necessarily infer that the two events happened at the same time. The words “when the disciples saw it” (v 20) do not tell us when. We need to go to Mark’s account to determine “when the disciples saw it.”
There is no contradiction.
The tree had no fruit on it because “it was not the season for figs” (Mark 11:13). As such, perhaps the disciples had walked right by the tree without so much as a look. Mark indicates that the disciples heard Jesus’ words (v 14), but did not see the withered tree until the next day (v 20). Between the time of the curse against the tree and the disciples seeing the outcome, they had entered Jerusalem, where Jesus cleansed the Temple.
When did the fig tree die? Immediately, as Matthew said (v 19). It is the questioner’s assumption that the disciples also saw the withered tree immediately. Matthew does not distinguish between the day of the curse and the day when the disciples saw the dead tree, but neither does he necessarily infer that the two events happened at the same time. The words “when the disciples saw it” (v 20) do not tell us when. We need to go to Mark’s account to determine “when the disciples saw it.”
There is no contradiction.
When in Kingston, Ontario, worship with the Limestone
Church of Christ
assembling at 332 Montreal Street
MEETING TIMES:
Sunday Bible Classes..........................10:00
a.m.
Sunday Worship Assembly...................11:00 a.m.
Sunday Bible Classes............................6:00 p.m.
Wednesday Bible Classes......................7:00 p.m.
--
''~``
( o o )
+oooO--(_)--Oooo-----------------------+
| William J. Stewart |
| 332 Montreal St. |
| .oooO Kingston, ON K7K 3H3 |
| ( ) Oooo. Phone: 613-542-4271 |
+--\ (----( )------------------------+
\_) ) / www.lookinguntojesus.net
(_/
''~``
( o o )
+oooO--(_)--Oooo-----------------------+
| William J. Stewart |
| 332 Montreal St. |
| .oooO Kingston, ON K7K 3H3 |
| ( ) Oooo. Phone: 613-542-4271 |
+--\ (----( )------------------------+
\_) ) / www.lookinguntojesus.net
(_/
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