Scriptures that have given you trouble...

[nb37]

I know that I have a few scriptures that have given me pause..I kinda don't get them. I believe the whole bible so this is not a thread about whether it's true or not but just what gives you a little bit of a struggle and lets discuss it.

One for me would be: Proverbs 10:22- "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich,and He addeth no sorrow with it."
Now different preachers that come to my church have said that whatever the Lord bless you with, it will not be a struggle to keep it. That is their interpretation of that scripture. But I don't really understand that because everything that I have been blessed with it has been a struggle to keep it. Houses, cars, money, just about everything. I mean if what they say is true then I guess God has not blessed me much in the material realm because it has not been in any way easy to keep these things. I don't hold tight to these things as if they are my life but who doesn't work hard to keep their house and car?? If anyone has a take on this one please I want to hear it.

 

[Jenster]

Great idea for a thread, nb! I would say that this scripture refers to wealth that is God given rather than man made. When God blesses you, His gift does not bring stress with it. You know it is from Him and You worship the Lord, not His gift.

However, when a man is wealthy of his own effort, it can bring with it stress. Either because the wealth has been ill-gotten (as it says in my concordance Bible) or because man becomes attached to the fruit of his labor and is scared to lose it.

That's my take, anyway.

I recently was looking for new housing, and my own efforts to find a suitable place were causing me stress. Then the Lord blessed me with a shared housing opportunity, and it fell into place quite easily. So I would say that it is true that when God blesses you, there is no sorrow attached to it.

If I can think of some scriptures that give me trouble, I will add them here, nb.

 

[barbaraclarke]

the scripture that give me the most trouble would be ones like 'it is not good for man to be alone '
that married christains throw at singles.

 

[covenantwmn]

I think for me the ones that have to do with predestination and free will, a mystery to me.

 

[nb37]

Great idea for a thread, nb! I would say that this scripture refers to wealth that is God given rather than man made. When God blesses you, His gift does not bring stress with it. You know it is from Him and You worship the Lord, not His gift.

However, when a man is wealthy of his own effort, it can bring with it stress. Either because the wealth has been ill-gotten (as it says in my concordance Bible) or because man becomes attached to the fruit of his labor and is scared to lose it.

That's my take, anyway.

I recently was looking for new housing, and my own efforts to find a suitable place were causing me stress. Then the Lord blessed me with a shared housing opportunity, and it fell into place quite easily. So I would say that it is true that when God blesses you, there is no sorrow attached to it.

If I can think of some scriptures that give me trouble, I will add them here, nb.

That's what I believe the scripture mean also Jenster, I have had things work out smoothly but then it turns hard. I mean some things I have gotten, I could see God all in it, but then it just turns hard, maybe I am looking at it wrong. I don't know. Maybe just because it gets rough doesn't mean it's not from God?? I guess you can all see I'm having a bit of trouble with this one

 

[nb37]

the scripture that give me the most trouble would be ones like 'it is not good for man to be alone '
that married christains throw at singles.

Yes this one is one to ponder over too. If it's not good for man to be alone, and I am assuming by man it also mean woman, why are so many of us alone? But I guess it's all in God's timing. And then there are those who are meant for singleness. How would one know if they are meant for singleness?? Maybe by the time you're 60 and still no prospects on the horizon?

 

[Jenster]

That's what I believe the scripture mean also Jenster, I have had things work out smoothly but then it turns hard. I mean some things I have gotten, I could see God all in it, but then it just turns hard, maybe I am looking at it wrong. I don't know. Maybe just because it gets rough doesn't mean it's not from God?? I guess you can all see I'm having a bit of trouble with this one

Ah, that is hard, nb: how to interpret life when it seemed like the clear path, and then that path gets rocky. That reminds me of the praise song with the lyrics: "You give and take away, You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, 'Lord, Blessed be your name.' "

Truly everything is God's. Some things, though, it does take effort to keep. Paying for a house, for example, is just plain old hard work. (Fixing the things that go wrong with it, even harder!)

Even my new housing situation, I feel like the women I'm going to live with are decent and respectful women, but it'll still take work to make sure we're all getting along and being considerate of one another.

So I don't know, nb. I don't mean to offer "pat" answers, but those are just some of my thoughts on it...

 

[floridasun]

I have 2 Scriptures in particular:

1) in Matthew 17:20..."Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there', and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

2) James 1:6.."But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

I don't know if I have faith of a mustard seed to say to a mountain to move from here to there....does anybody understand this?

As far as the James passage, if a person is praying and he/she has a slight doubt, will their prayers be answered?..I'm not sure if I ever truly prayed one time and not doubted, even just a little bit...

Lord bless,

..Nestor..

 

[nb37]

Ah, that is hard, nb: how to interpret life when it seemed like the clear path, and then that path gets rocky. That reminds me of the praise song with the lyrics: "You give and take away, You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, 'Lord, Blessed be your name.' "

Truly everything is God's. Some things, though, it does take effort to keep. Paying for a house, for example, is just plain old hard work. (Fixing the things that go wrong with it, even harder!)

Even my new housing situation, I feel like the women I'm going to live with are decent and respectful women, but it'll still take work to make sure we're all getting along and being considerate of one another.

So I don't know, nb. I don't mean to offer "pat" answers, but those are just some of my thoughts on it...

No Jen your answers are not "pat." They are helping me. See, your answers are simple and often we as humans make things complicated! I just have to look at things and try not to complicate them But really I am starting to see the light of this scripture. I realize that when God gives us something, it does not mean that it will be easy to keep them all the time. If God gave me a husband, I would have to work on my marriage not just hang out and assume it will take care of itself. As well as anything else, it takes work sometimes to have or keep things, as long as the things, or people don't have or keep you. I am learning...I am so glad for this site and for the insightful people of God here.

 

[nb37]

I have 2 Scriptures in particular:

1) in Matthew 17:20..."Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there', and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

2) James 1:6.."But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

I don't know if I have faith of a mustard seed to say to a mountain to move from here to there....does anybody understand this?

As far as the James passage, if a person is praying and he/she has a slight doubt, will their prayers be answered?..I'm not sure if I ever truly prayed one time and not doubted, even just a little bit...

Lord bless,

..Nestor..

Matthew 17:20, a mustard seed is so tiny and just think that is all the faith that we need to get some major mountains out of our lives!! As we excersise that bit of faith, our faith in God grows! A seed is tiny, especially a mustard seed, but then it grows to this HUGE tree. Our faith is like that it will continue to grow, and we will have the faith to not only move mountains but planets!! We are all given a measure of faith, and we all at least have mustard seed faith. But we have to not doubt, that goes into your other scripture James 1:6, We have to believe God is able and will do it. In Heb.11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
I have had my battles with this one too. But when I started to really take God at His word, believe when He said you have to have faith and not doubt, it was a little easier to not doubt and just believe. One scripture helped me along and that is:Mark 9:24 "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
I had to cry out those words when that demon of doubt wanted to take over, and it helped quite a bit. Now be aware that it can be a crutch also, you don't want to continue to quote that scripture everytime you pray cause then you really are not letting God help you, you are not activating that faith and allowing it to grow. That scripture was for when I was just starting out and just couldn't seem to get a hold of my doubt but I have grown some and I had to release it and stand on my faith alone. It takes time, but we have to be diligent and when we see God do some things that gives us more confidence that He will do other things too. Ok, I am just going on and on, but I hope that I have helped in just the tiniest way, God bless

 

[floridasun]

Thank you nb37 for your reply!!...I asked a good friend of mine whether he has prayed before earnestly and never doubted for one second...he said he has !!...

I appreciate your input...this issue is always in the forefront of my faith...I want to believe God and not doubt...maybe the mustard seed analogy would help me..

Lord bless,

..Nestor..

 

[nb37]

There is another scripture I am wondering about. It says the Lord is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. Eph. 5:27. How is that even possible? Believe me, I know he is coming back but to a church that's pretty near perfect?? Will the church ever get to where it would be considered "blemish free?" Wow what would it take for that to happen? Any thoughts? You might want to read the whole chapter to get the jist of the verse.

 

[smiledaily]

Psalm 34:16 KJV
The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Does this mean once someone goes to heaven, and leaves this earth, that they will not remember the loved ones who have not repented and been saved? What does this verse mean?

 

[Radagast]

There is another scripture I am wondering about. It says the Lord is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle. Eph. 5:27. How is that even possible?

... just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

He's making us like that. It's a work in progress, that will be complete only in Heaven.

I love that verse... it's so encouraging!

 

[Radagast]

Psalm 34:16 KJV
The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

Does this mean once someone goes to heaven, and leaves this earth, that they will not remember the loved ones who have not repented and been saved? What does this verse mean?

I don't think so -- it just means that the evil people will soon be forgotten here on earth.

Who do you remember: the Emperor Gaius Germanicus, or the Apostle Paul? The Emperor Marcus Aurelius Commodus, or Saint Nicholas? The Nazi Albert Speer, or Anne Frank?

 

[Bridgit]

What does this verse mean?

1 Cor. 5:4,5

In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, along with my spirit and with the power of our Lord Jesus, turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.

 

[nb37]

What does this verse mean?

1 Cor. 5:4,5

In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, along with my spirit and with the power of our Lord Jesus, turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.

I was told that it meant to release people, (your loved ones) if they continue to do the things that are not pleasing to God but the devil is loving the things they are doing. To release them to whatever the Lord will allow into their lives, that it may kill or hurt the flesh but through the pain and trouble they will come to know Christ, but because the lifestyle that they chose, the consequences of that lifestyle will cause them much pain or even death. I don't know but it's what I heard in a sermon one time. It was quite interesting.

 

[Jenster]

This is not a difficult verse, more like a coincidence. I was meditating on scripture this week and read the passage about "Lift up your gates" to allow the Lord in. This morning as we were praying in preparation for worship, my pastor used that exact same scripture as his exhortation! I was, like, "Woah! God's trying to say something here!"

 

[Radagast]

What does this verse mean?

1 Cor. 5:4,5

In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, along with my spirit and with the power of our Lord Jesus, turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.

Well, "when you are assembled" means in church.

Paul is talking here about serious unrepentant sinners (verse 1: It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife) and this passage is about officially throwing people out of the Church, in the hope that, later on, they may repent and be saved.

 

[Bridgit]

Thanks all for your answers!