God's Great Gifts to Humanity: A God-given ethic for life 12-27-20

God loves us – and He wants to help!

 

Can you remember a couple of individuals that made an impact in your life, such as a family member or teacher/mentor?  We all have people in our lives that have shaped and taught us – it is one of the ways God “gifts” us - with good teachings and influences.  He does this because He loves us, and wants to instill within us an ethic for life.  An “ethic” is simply an overall approach to life and relationships – the set of ideas and controls that guide your life!

 

The teachings God sends us are based upon His eternal love for us all.

King David understood this:  Psalms 25:4-6, 8-10

 

David acknowledges that God’s ways are based on His desires to provide a path for life and salvation.  Here are a couple of things David mentions:

 

A Godly Ethic for life

 

Based on God’s eternal wisdom:  “For they have been from of old.” (v.6)  God’s knowledge and wisdom are eternal!   The path of life is the same in every age, and every culture.  What actions and characteristics led to life and joy thousands of years ago, can do the same today.  A godly lifestyle is never ‘out of date’ this kind of life can always guide us on a path that leads to joy and fulfillment.  It may not be popular, and it may lead one to live in a way that seems outdated, but God’s wisdom and teachings are eternal, because they are based upon God’s eternal character!

 

It is for everyone:  “Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.” (v.8)  As you know, God created us all as equals, and the creation and fall story – that of being created in God’s image and without sin, and then choosing to sin – is everyone’s story!  And just as the story of God’s salvation to come was for those in the original story, so too is the offer of salvation to all of us through the knowledge of the Gospel.  God instructs sinners in “the way” – the way of life, and the way of salvation.  We all need to hear this message!

 

When people hear the instruction of God and begin to live their lives as God teaches, their lives get better:  more stable, healthier relationships, and less of the self-destructive actions that come so naturally to us all. 

 

God’s ways shape our lives

 

A life based on God’s teachings will develop and follow the ‘ethic’ of God.

Whenever there is a big change in one’s life, there are a variety of factors and behaviors to consider.  For instance, if an overweight middle-aged man such as myself wants to ‘get in shape,’ there are many things to address:  diet: sugar and meats and vegetables; heart: cholesterol and blood pressure and conditioning; even ‘lifestyle’: watching tv often, walking, etc.  There is no “one” thing to do, and only doing one thing won’t make much difference.  It is the same for so many areas of life: even the effort to develop an ethic for life that is from God!        

-Whenever we talk about a ‘path’ of life, particularly an ‘ethic’ from God, we aren’t talking about any one practice or idea – it is a collection of beliefs and practices that make up an ‘ethic’ towards life! 

 

Jesus addressed this truth in his Sermon on the Mount.  READ Matthew 7:24-27

 

Jesus used the analogy of one building a house: if you build upon a solid foundation, your house would stand in a storm; if you build upon sand, however, the house would fall.  Jesus, making this point in vv.24, and 26, said this: “acts upon them. . . does not act upon them.” If you build your life on his teachings it will stand, if you do not, it will crumble.

 

Here are just a few of the parts of a ‘solid foundation,’ or “godly ethic’ Jesus mentioned in his sermon on the mount:

 

Elements of a Godly Ethic

 

Healthy relationships, 5:3-10:  A high value in the Christian faith

Sincerity, 5:20:  The problem with the Pharisees was their hypocrisy, and all saw it.

Emotional restraint, 5:21-24: This ‘fruit of the Spirit,’ is a primary factor of life-success.

Financial gifts, 6:2:  Vital to the faith is not only the practice of sharing with those in need; it is also important to resist being too tied to one’s possessions.

 

Developing this godly ‘ethic’ for life is always a good and profitable practice – for everyone! This ‘ethic,’ when lived consistently, becomes a way by which God works within our lives.  God can use us, and bless us as we live out our faith.

 

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Thank you for listening. We will see you next week.