WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO?
Kevin D. Paulson
We know the story well.
The once-proud persecutor now prostrate in the Syrian soil, the light so long resisted by his conscience now a visible, blinding reality.
And the first words from the lips of the now-penitent Saul of Tarsus?
Acts 9:6:
"Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do.”
No discussion of lifestyle standards can begin unless this principle is understood.
- The Analogy of Romance to the Christian Walk
Scripture often compares the relationship of God to His people to the husband-wife relationship. Perhaps the most grand and glorious of these comparisons is in Revelation 19:7-8:
“Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted for her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.” (RSV).
In a romantic relationship, whether before marriage or in the context of marriage, we want to do what the person we love desires.
John 14:15:
“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”
I John 3:22:
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him; because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”
John 15:10-11:
“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.
“These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
John 13:17:
“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”
- Fitness for Heaven
We’ve talked many times in this series how obedience to God’s commandments, through His power received by faith, is the condition of our salvation.
Jesus made this clear, both to the rich young ruler and to the lawyer to whom He told the story of the Good Samaritan:
Matt. 19:16-17:
“And behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
“And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but One, that is, God; but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Luke 10:25-28:
"And behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
“He said unto Him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.
“And He said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."
This is not, as we have noted a number of times, in order that we might earn or deserve salvation. It is in order for us to be fit to live in a society where love and service to others are the ruling principles.
It is important that this principle be kept in view as we apply the principles of Christianity to a number of areas in life where it isn’t often applied.
We have talked a great deal in this series about physical health and its relationship to our walk with God. Tonight we will speak of a number of other issues where Biblical teachings affect how Christians live.
- The World
The Bible speaks repeatedly about the dangers of unity with the world, and how the world outside the fellowship of Christ’s body is at war with God.
Rom. 12:2:
“And be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
James 1:17:
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
James 4:4:
“Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
I John 2:15-16:
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
Notice how the Bible clearly identifies what there is about the world that followers of God should shun.
God isn’t telling us to withdraw from the world. Jesus Himself made this clear.
John 17:15-16:
“I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
- Why Controlling the Thoughts is Imperative
Actions begin in the mind. Everyone knows that. But this is especially true in the spiritual realm.
Prov. 23:7:
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
Matt. 5:28:
“Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
Perhaps the most comprehensive description of purity of thought in all the Bible is found in Philippians, chapter 4, verse 8:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.”
What would happen to our leisure activities, our entertainment choices, our thought processes, if the principles of this verse were applied to our lives?
What kind of television programs, movies, or DVDs would be watch?
Would any of us be comfortable inviting Jesus to join us while watching a soap opera? Or a movie that glorifies sexual immortality, violence, and ungodly intrigue?
What kind of music would be listen to if the principles of the above verse were applied?
The vast proportion of popular music in our world today is absolutely unfit for Christians. This is because the thoughts and activities so much of it encourages lead us away from Biblical purity and faithfulness to God.
What would we look at on the Internet if we followed this verse?
Certainly any and all pornographic movies would be avoided. And that’s not just on the Internet or with DVDs or explicitly pornographic magazines. What about the Victoria Secret catalog? Or similar advertising mechanisms?
Another passage in Paul’s writings speaks of the fruits of the flesh, and how Christians must avoid them:
Gal. 5:19-21:
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
“Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Now brothers and sisters, any kind of activity, any kind of entertainment, any kind of mental food (reading, music, etc.) which encourages or lessens our hatred of such choices as those listed above, can fairly be said to be inappropriate for the Christian.
But praise the Lord, Paul doesn’t stop there!
Verses 22-24:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
“Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
The same writer tells us how God’s power is capable of bringing our thoughts into captivity to His:
II Cor. 10:4-5:
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.
“Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
Think of the adulterous affairs, the one-night stands, the exploitation of one another in so many relationships, which would be avoided if this promise were claimed by men and women!
The verses we have cited from Scripture are very clear that sexual intimacy outside of marriage is not pleasing to the Lord.
Homosexual practice is not pleasing to the Lord either. In both Old and New Testaments, this practice is roundly condemned:
Lev. 18:22:
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: it is abomination.”
Rom. 1:26-27:
“For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature.
“And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.”
I Cor. 6:9-10:
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
“Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
But the good news comes in the next verse:
Verse 11:
“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
There’s a great deal of controversy in our society just now about homosexual relationships. And we as Christians need to remember that no sin is any worse in God’s sight than another. All it took was one sin to remove our first parents from Eden. And all it will take is one sin to keep us from going back.
James 2:10:
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Homosexuals don’t deserve to be persecuted because of their sin. What they need is to see consistent, loving, godly lives in the experience of Bible-believing Christians, and to thus desire such beauty and fulfillment in their own lives.
Political activism on the part of Christians is not the answer to the homosexual lifestyle. Conversion is the answer.
What about the way we dress?
Is modesty in dress an issue many Christians are ignoring just now? When we choose our wardrobes, what principles do we consider? Do we seek to draw attention to ourselves? Or to encourage thoughts that will honor the Lord?
Remember what we read in I John 2:16 about “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Immodest dress involves all of these, and is therefore not proper for a Christian.
- Jewelry and Adornment
Many Christians are not aware that the Bible speaks in a number of places against the wearing of ornamental jewelry.
In one passage such elements are placed directly outside the limits of the modest apparel God intends for the Christian:
I Tim. 2:9-10:
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array:
“But which becometh women professing godliness with good works.”
The apostle Peter spells out the same principle:
I Peter 3:3-4:
“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, and of putting on of apparel;
“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
Like so many New Testament principles, this one got started in the Old Testament.
When Jacob and his family experienced a revival and a new consecration to God, listen to what happened:
Gen. 35:4:
“And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.”
When the children of Israel had broken their covenant with God by worshiping the golden calf, listen to what happened:
Ex. 33:4-6:
“When the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned; and no man put on his ornaments.
“For the Lord had said to Moses, ‘Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now put off your ornaments from you, that I may know what to do with you.’
“Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward” (RSV).
- Legalism and Grace
Now there will always be persons who will say that to get particular about matters like the above is an exercise in legalism.
But remember what we noted at the beginning.
If we love the Lord on account of the salvation He offers us, we will joyfully submit to His commands.
Legalism isn’t a matter of what we do. It’s a matter of why we do it.
For example, the man or woman who keeps the letter of the marriage vow because they first love God, and because of that love, extend the same to their spouse and family, is not a legalist. That’s called loving obedience.
However, if one keeps the letter of the marriage vow simply because of social custom, convenience, or merely to avoid a scandal, that’s legalism.
Legalism is a matter of motives, not behavior. If love is the motive for obedience and service, then our lives our acceptable in the sight of God. If, however, our obedience and service is done because of cultural habit, tradition, or to impress others, that can rightly be called legalism.
- Conclusion
The glorious news of the gospel is that God offers the power not only to forgive our past sins, but to give us victory over them.
Rom. 8:3-4:
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.
“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Rom. 8:13;
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
II Cor. 7:1:
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Eph. 5:27:
“That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
I John 1:9:
”If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Jude 24:
“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”