Why be a watchman on earthly matters?

OldWiseGuy

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Jesus was teaching the disciples how to preach the Gospel by divine miracles. Christ then instructed then, 'Feed my sheep (spiritually)', the disciples had to learn.

Spiritual and heavenly things come 1st, and if your faithful and obedient to Christ he will bless you in earthly things, but never abundantly so you may obtain more and more earthly possessions on earth. The love of money/possessions is the problem with many believers. How you use them is what pleases the Lord.

Eggzakly. :oldthumbsup:
 
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OldWiseGuy

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James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct
that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

Our works/deeds are the evidence of our inner spirit.
 
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Mr. M

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In regards to his return, Christ instructed us to watch for the signs and seasons he gives us in the gospels
His disciples asked for signs, He warned about deceptions.
Matthew 24:
3
Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, asking,
Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming,
and of the end of the age?
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you.
 
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Mr. M

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Jesus was teaching the disciples how to preach the Gospel by divine miracles. Christ then instructed then, 'Feed my sheep (spiritually)', the disciples had to learn.

Spiritual and heavenly things come 1st, and if your faithful and obedient to Christ he will bless you in earthly things, but never abundantly so you may obtain more and more earthly possessions on earth. The love of money/possessions is the problem with many believers. How you use these earthly possessions is what will please the Lord, and in the negative its how he will judge us when he returns, if you use them for self.
3 John
2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3
For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the Truth in you, just as you
walk in the (Spirit of) Truth.
4 I have no greater Joy than to hear that my children walk in (the Spirit of) Truth.

'just as your soul prospers'=Seek first the Kingdom?
 
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Victor in Christ

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3 John
2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3
For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the Truth in you, just as you
walk in the (Spirit of) Truth.
4 I have no greater Joy than to hear that my children walk in (the Spirit of) Truth.

'just as your soul prospers'=Seek first the Kingdom?

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Spiritual and practical growth as a Christian first, then the basic needs of life will follow. Some think they can take and take from God in materialistic things and think nothing of it. There's a grave danger here regarding material wealth. What God has given you in wealth, he expects you to give a portion back to him, for the furtherance of the Gospel.

A Christian will soon learn not to give and give to the Joyce Meyer's and the
Joel Osteen's of this world.
 
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Victor in Christ

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Too many are preoccupied with signs of the end times.

So true. watched this video few days ago (3rd Temple/western wall) and their eyes are on earthly things, not heavenly spiritual matters

The watchmen should look out for the church and its saints on earth, not earthly Jerusalem

 
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JulieB67

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His disciples asked for signs, He warned about deceptions.

They asks for signs and he first warns them to not be deceived and then lays out everything that will happen before his return. He gives them them the signs and later in in Mark 13 for example,

Mark 13:29 "So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

How would one not know if these things have come to pass if they weren't watching for the signs he has just given? He lays it out perfectly so one is not deceived.

Later he states,

Mark 13:33 "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.


Mark 13:34 "for the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."


Mark 13:35 "Watch, ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:"

Mark 13:36 "Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping."

Mark 13:37 "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."

Too many are preoccupied with signs of the end times.

It's very important or Christ wouldn't have issued stricts warnings on this very subject as well as Paul later on. We shouldn't base our entire life on it but we should always be on watch and that should be an important part of our lives as Christians.
 
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Victor in Christ

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They asks for signs and he first warns them to not be deceived and then lays out everything that will happen before his return. He gives them them the signs and later in in Mark 13 for example,

Mark 13:29 "So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

How would one not know if these things have come to pass if they weren't watching for the signs he has just given? He lays it out perfectly so one is not deceived.

Later he states,

Mark 13:33 "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.


Mark 13:34 "for the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch."


Mark 13:35 "Watch, ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:"

Mark 13:36 "Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping."

Mark 13:37 "And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch."



It's very important or Christ wouldn't have issued stricts warnings on this very subject as well as Paul later on. We shouldn't base our entire life on it but we should always be on watch and that should be an important part of our lives as Christians.

Make sure you have oil in your lamp for the coming of the King. watch out for your fellow brother and sister in Christ so they don't be lead astray, and be not concerned with the matters of this world or earthly Jerusalem.
 
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Mr. M

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It's very important or Christ wouldn't have issued stricts warnings on this very subject as well as Paul later on. We shouldn't base our entire life on it but we should always be on watch and that should be an important part of our lives as Christians.
I understand completely what you are saying. The point I was making is that while "Watch and Pray"
is essential, this particular subject (Forum Topic?) would be a source of great deception.
The OP is asking if watching what is going on in the world is what He meant. Were you around for Y2K?
I spent hours trying to show people that was not the end of the millenium.

Matthew 24:
10
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
11
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Let's say, for example, the war in Syria escalates, and involves Israel, Turkey, Iran, etc...
many 'prophets' will say that the end time tribulation is upon us, and many who believe in
a pre-trib rapture would easily be led to believe that event was upon them. If it does not
occur, how many would be offended? We are to watch for His return, not for events that
ultimately, from my experience, make people anxious.

Matthew 24:
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all
must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. [false labor]
 
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JulieB67

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We are to watch for His return, not for events that
ultimately, from my experience, make people anxious.

Well, I'm of the belief that the false Christ comes first and that's why Christ and Paul are warning us to not be deceived. We have to be on guard for that. It's not as much events like y2k, etc, what the mark of the beast is, etc.

That's not the thread for that though but I understand what your saying but the OP asked why should we be watching for earthly matters and the signs that Christ laid out are earthly. And he told us to watch for these very signs. I don't fret about them or anything. I just watch and try and plant seeds as someone did once for me concerning the end times.
 
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Bible Highlighter

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Ecclesiastes 7:16

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ?

I believe this is man made righteousness and or operating outside of God's will when employing holy living. A person may create in their mind that they have to live so holy that they may not eat too much and it could effect their health. They may also not be as wise as a serpent and know when to leave town when persecution arises and they could be killed (in preaching in a certain country). One can surely seek martydom head on today if they like, but God wants us to be as innocent as doves and as wise as serpents. Now, if God chooses a time on when we should be martyred and that His plan for our life according to His will (then that is another matter). A person can also burn themselves out in trying to create their own holy rules that are not exactly written in Scripture either. So when we act upon our own way in trying to be righteous, it can potentially destroy us. But this would not be in reference to living holy by God's power (according to His Word) after we are saved by God's grace. This would not be in reference to picking up your cross and denying yourself by any means. This would not be in reference to how we are told to not love this world, and the things within it.
 
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Halbhh

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Psalms 130:6
My soul waiteth for the LORD more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Ideally the watching we do on Earth will be for others.

Out of Love. "love one another"

Like the Good Samaritan, who watched out in a way for something here in this world: noticed the man laying wounded on the side of the road.

Christ said about the Good Samaritan to us:
Luke 10:37 "The one who showed him mercy," replied the expert in the law. Then Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

But your bigger point is a good reminder:
We are watching for the things of God, for our true hope.
 
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Bruce Leiter

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Psalms 130:6
My soul waiteth for the LORD more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

It's the psalmist's contrast between his eager waiting for Yahweh's blessings and the eagerness of the night watchman on the city's wall. The psalmist's eager watching is much greater.
 
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Mr. M

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Ecclesiastes 7:16

Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ?

Isaiah 5:21. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Yeshua showed a particular concern for people who were zealous for "doctrines of men".
Many seem preoccupied with conveying their expertise in a particular doctrine/debate topic,
and many do pertain to end times/
eschatology.
Was that your purpose in posting Ecc 7:16 in this thread/forum?

To my experience and understanding, there are many ideas that come about from
an academic
system that I find worldly, and not spiritual.
 
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Pavel Mosko

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Psalms 130:6
My soul waiteth for the LORD more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

As a person that has done that precise job, I likewise have waited for the morning many times. It's good to go home after you stayed up all night.
 
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1watchman

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We all have our priorities, as the Lord directs. Seek First!
Colossians 3:

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Very good and the emphasis is on IF, and one needs to be sure their belief is on and in and through the Lord Jesus ---the "Christ of God". Many professing Christians see Him as only a teacher sent forth from God, rather than God manifest in the flesh (noting John 14 and Romans 8: 1-8). They then spend their life trying to work their way into Heaven without the Savior in their heart. In christendom I sadly see this kind of fleshly profession too often. Let us take "all the counsel of God" ---would you say?
 
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Norbert L

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Psalms 130:6
My soul waiteth for the LORD more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

Why be a watchman on earthly matters?

The mini story that Psalm 130 writes about, reads like the author has written a piece of music that compared his gut feeling as a soldier when he was responsible for the lives of other men on night watch. Perhaps imo while it was dark and you didn't know where the next arrow would come from. This moment in life he was given is far less of a thought than he has towards the LORD.

What would be love is the answer.

 
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nolidad

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Psalms 130:6
My soul waiteth for the LORD more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

For many earthly matters have spiritual and biblical significance! Remember prophecy will be fulfilled on planet earth!
 
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Victor in Christ

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For many earthly matters have spiritual and biblical significance! Remember prophecy will be fulfilled on planet earth!

When you mention prophecy, do you mean OT prophecy or NT ministering/witnessing what Christ has done?

I know Christ will trample the wicked under his feet when he returns. Paul tell us that in Corinthians. The last 'wickedness' will be death.

Christ's return and destruction of the wicked might be before Rev 21 will begin. I don't know, but i seek no wisdom (honour/prestige) on such matters.

Seeking such wisdom will be to our downfall. Pride will take over and then we'll fALL.....
 
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