Month: July 2025

The BIBLE VIEW #1011 — Love

In This Issue:
Real Love: Having Charity
Lust Never Satisfies
Undying Love 
The Right Motive

Volume: 1011   July 28, 2025
Theme:  Love

Real Love: Having Charity
Bill Brinkworth

Love is an emotion that we all need to be happy.  It is the strong affection a child has for his parents, the fondness parents have for their child, the bonding relationship between husband and wife, and the feeling a person has for another.  Although one of the most important emotions for mankind to be healthy, it is the one feeling that is most misunderstood and confusing to many.

Seekers of love seek it in the wrong places, and when they do experience it, they are often confused by the emotion.  People sometimes confuse lust with love, confuse selfishness with love, and sometimes even confuse responsibility with the emotion.  Real love is not what one can demand from another.  It is not bought; it is given.

Real love is often referred to as “charity” in the Bible.  Charity is described simply in I Corinthians 13:3-8:

  • I Cor. 13:3:  “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” Prior to this verse, many of the gifts God gave to members of the early church, before they had the written Word of God, were mentioned.  Many of those gifts would fade away.  One gift that would not be taken away was the gift of charity.
  • I Cor. 13:4: “Charity suffereth long,
    Love doesn’t quit.  It continues and endures.
  • and is kind;
    Love is not mean, but is kind!
  • charity envieth not;
    Love does not cause a person to get jealous of another.
  • charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”
    Love does not make one brag about oneself, or make one think he is better than another!
  • I Cor. 13:5: “Doth not behave itself unseemly,
    Love doesn’t think bad thoughts (indecent) about another.
  • seeketh not her own,
    Love does not prompt one to care about another solely for what they can gain from them.
  • is not easily provoked,
    Love for another person does not easily allow one to get mad at them.
  • thinketh no evil;
    Love does not allow one to see the bad in another.
  • I Cor. 13:6: “Rejoiceth not in iniquity,
    Love does not allow one to be happy when another is sinning.
  • but rejoiceth in the truth;”
    Love is happy when the other tells the truth, and when friends are honest with each other.
  • I Cor. 13:7: “Beareth all things,
    Love puts up with a lot.
  • believeth all things,
    Love believes what the other person says, no matter what is suspected.
  • hopeth all things,
    Love wants the best for another.
  • endureth all things.”
    Love does not stop!
    I Cor. 13:8: “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease;”

The love described in these verses is not the one portrayed in most movies.  It is not the temporary emotion that produces a “love” relationship several times a month.  It is an emotion, given to people by God, and it is characterized by tolerance, resilience, forgiveness, and unity.  It is real love!

“Love meets the needs of the loved object.”   — Gary Bane

Lust Never Satisfies
Bill Brinkworth

James 4 discusses a sin that has robbed many of an opportunity to be fully satisfied.  It has also robbed many of the joy they could have had.  At times, it has often left some feeling “emptier” than they were previously.  This rampant sin, as do all iniquities, gets man further away from God than they would ever imagine.  It is the sin of lusting that is examined in this chapter.

One’s longing desire for many of the world’s tempting offerings is often an attempt to meet spiritual needs in one’s life with worldly things.  One will never be truly fulfilled that way.  Always more will be needed as one’s carnal appetite increases.  

Lust for power and riches has caused the deaths of unfathomable numbers in war (James 4:2).  No matter the earthly treasure gained, still the insatiable hole in one’s soul remains unfilled (James 4:3).

Covetous actions are identified as sin in the Bible.  Attempts to ask God for things that involve them in things God does not want them to have in the first place will not be granted (James 4:2-3).  

The lust for what the world has is identified as spiritual adultery (James 4:4).  For the Christian, lusting for what the world offers is “cheating” and not being faithful to the one who created and saved one, and who knows what one should have in his life.

In attempting to acquire all that the world has to offer, the coveter is disregarding something more important.  They may have accumulated much of what this world offers in goods and social standings, but in so doing, they may have become an enemy of God.  An enemy of God will never have joy or peace.
“… whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4b

Perhaps, because of being in the world, we sometimes think too much like the unsaved.  That may be why most battle the sin of covetousness.  

Many have forgotten, or may never have learned, that God has an entirely different value system than the unsaved do.  Our creator knows what will help and what will hurt us.  We do need many of the things in the world to survive, but there often comes a point when one forgets the difference between a “need” and a “want.”

God will provide all our needs.  If we seek Him first, He will meet our needs and many of our wants (Mat. 6:33).  Resist the temptation to be like the unsaved (James 4:7).  We are on the winning side!  Why should we desire what the losing side has?

When we draw close to God, He will draw close to us (James 4:8).  When He is close to us, we will have a better relationship with Him and develop the mindset He wants us to have.  We will ask for what we need properly (James 4:3), and He will provide all that the Christian needs.  None of God’s children will ever be without what God deems necessary for them (Psalms 37:25).

“The best things in life are not things.” — Author Unknown

Undying Love
Dr. Southey, 1871

They sin who tell us love can die:
With life all other passions fly,
All others are but vanity.
In Heaven, ambition cannot dwell;
Nor avarice in the vaults of Hell;
Earthly these passions of the Earth,
They perish where they have their birth;
But love is indestructible.
Its holy flame forever burneth,
From HHeaven it came, to Heaven returneth;
Too oft on Earth a troubled guest,
At times deceived, at times opprest,
It here is tried and purified,
Then hath in Heaven its perfect rest.
It woeth here in toil and care,
But the harvest time of love is there.

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.” Ephesians 5:2

The Right Motive
Walter Knight

Hudson Taylor was examining some young people who had volunteered for the mission field.  He wanted to ascertain their qualifications for the arduous life they were seeking.

“And why do you wish to go as a foreign missionary?” he asked one.

“I want to go because millions are perishing without Christ, not having even heard of the One name whereby the lost may be saved.” Others gave various answers.  Then Hudson Taylor said, “All of these motives, howsoever good, will fail you in times of testing, trials, tribulations, and possibly death.  There is but one motive which will sustain you in trial and testing, and that is “For the love of Christ constraineth us; …” II Cor 5:14. (“Constrain”: force, compel, confine)

The BIBLE VIEW #1010 — Prayer

In This Issue:
The Situation Was Impossible, BUT …
They Denied Giving God His Due Credit
Reasons Why Prayer May Not be Answered
Be Grateful! 

Volume: 1010   July 21, 2025
Theme:  Prayer

Sunday School Teachers & Preachers: There are hundreds of free lessons at http://www.openthoumineeyes.com/lessons.html and http://www.devotionsfromthebible.com/.  One commentary for each New Testament chapter can also be used for lessons at http://www.openthoumineeyes.com/blog/.  You can be assured that all material uses only the KJV (most other Sunday School material from other companies cannot claim that)!

The Situation Was Impossible, BUT …
Bill Brinkworth

Peter’s future did not look too promising as he lay in a dark, dank prison cell.  Acts 12 describes his unpleasant position further by detailing that he was chained to guards on either side of him, was unclothed, was locked in a prison with other security outside his chamber, and was facing a death sentence from Herod.  No one would ever have suspected he would leave that jail alive.  Then a hopeful word came into the story.  It is a word that usually indicates that things are going to change.  The word is “but” (Acts 12:5), and the situation did change.

Things changed in Peter’s gloomy situation because praying Christians got God involved.  The impossible was made possible.  Guards were not disturbed; however, shackles fell off the prisoner, an angel got involved, and prison doors flung open on their “own” accord.  Out walked Peter, a free man!

Just as the situation was changed for Peter when others started praying, things can change today when God’s people start praying.  People with illnesses have been cured by prayer.  Fearful and dangerous situations have been transformed into peaceful ones when petitions were sent to our heavenly Father.  Drunken, runaway parents have had their lives changed and salvaged by the prayers of their loved ones.  Continuous supplications have gotten God involved in putting marriages back together.  Prayer has prompted God to do miracles at jobs, to help financial situations, to mend relationships, to fix broken things, and countless other “hopeless” situations.

For Christians, calling on God in prayer can transform any situation.  It should be our first line of defense in battling the troubles we face in this life.  There is always hope when God is involved.  There is nothing God cannot do when a Christian calls on his Father for help!

“Children of God — please call home.  Your Father is waiting!”

They Denied Giving God His Due Credit
Bill Brinkworth

God had done an incredible miracle and healed a man who was crippled from birth in Acts 14.  Paul was the vessel through which God enabled the man to stand and walk by faith.

Then a shocking thing happened.  When the people saw what Paul had been used to do, they immediately gave credit to their false gods!  They attributed Paul to being Mercurius (Mercury), the Roman god of commerce.  They thought Barnabas was Jupiter, the Latin name for the false god, Zeus.  To make matters worse, the priest of Jupiter soon arrived, bringing them gifts, and wanted to make a sacrifice to the false gods (Acts 14:13).

Needless to say, when the two men of the true God heard how God’s work had been interpreted and credited to false gods, they were shocked.  Barnabas and Paul “rent their clothes”, which was how the Jewish culture at that time showed great distress and disappointment.  They immediately went among the crowd trying to explain to the people who the real God was.

Many times, we see God’s mighty hand at work in a situation.  We know it is answered prayer and are amazed at what He has done.  However, it is not long until we hear the ungodly crowd see it completely different.

I remember when Florida was faced with a hurricane that was headed directly for the southwest portion of the state.  All weather projections had it going straight through the state and doing much damage. 

The hurricane got closer and closer.  It was inevitable that the state would be clobbered.  Windows were boarded up.  People left the threatened area.  Dark clouds and winds arrived.  At the last minute, the hurricane turned 180 degrees and headed away from land and went out to sea.

Christians were elated.  They knew God had done the impossible — again.  Almost immediately, the weather broadcasts attributed it to some scientific weather anomaly.  They would not give credit where credit was due.  They failed to recognize God’s intervention.  Perhaps, it was for the same reason that the crowd who saw Paul’s and Barnabas’ experience was blinded.  It may have been because they were raised without the knowledge of God, and therefore, did not know Him or what He was capable of doing.

Unfortunately, I believe our world today is in a similar position as it was in Paul’s day.  Many people have been programmed and raised without any knowledge of God: His creation, His history with the people of the world, and His workings.  When something supernatural does occur, they explain it away with the only “religion” they do know: humanism, science, or other false religions they have been exposed to.

Man always has to have an answer for what happens.  If they are not trained properly or shown God’s truths, they will devise their own explanations.  That is why, as Christians, it is so important that we fill the void of understanding that an ungodly world has with the truths from the Word of God.

“A coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.”
— Author Unknown

Reasons Why Prayer May Not Be Answered
Bill Brinkworth

Many do not have what they need from God because they:

Do not ask Him.
“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:2

Ask improperly, often selfishly. 
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3

Are separated from God’s help because of sin.  
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” Psalm 66:18
“Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.” Lam. 3:44  Also: I Kings 8:35, Jer. 11:14, Psalm 80:4, Isa. 45:20, Isa. 59:1-2, Lam. 3:8.

Ask the wrong “god”.  “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.” Isa. 45:20

Are praying for a situation in which God will not intervene.
“Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.” Jer. 7:16

Are hypocritical: “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.  Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Mat.  6:5

Are not sincerely seeking God: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” Mat.  23:14

Without meaning they repeat the same prayer over and over.  “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” Mat.  6:7


Be Grateful!
Bill Brinkworth

After passing through Samaria and Galilee, Jesus healed ten lepers (Luke 17:11-17).  In the account, only one turned back and thanked Jesus, and gave God the credit. After being healed of a debilitating disease that severely disfigured their bodies and made them social outcasts, one would expect that all would be grateful.  Perhaps they were, but only one expressed his gratitude.

We dare not ridicule them, because many praying Christians have been ungrateful for what God has done for them. 

We pray.  We beg God to deliver us from the clutches of a disease or deliver us from a hopeless situation, and He does.  How many times did we forget to thank the Lord for His miracles and answers to prayer?

Sometimes, perhaps because we did not ask God specifically how to answer our prayer request, we fail to see that He has answered it.  Unless the answered prayer is gift-wrapped and dropped out of Heaven with a note “From God, with Love”, we often write the prayer fulfillment off as a “coincidence”.

Here are some suggestions as to how to be more grateful for answered petitions:

  • Thank the Lord for the answered prayer when you originally told Him your need.  By faith, assume He will answer it.  Sometimes the answer will be, “Not now, later”, or “No.”  Many times, it may not be the way you expected it to be answered, but there will always be an answer to a Christian’s request.
  • Write your prayer requests on a piece of paper.  Pray daily for them, and when they are answered or no longer needed, put a mark next to them.  Soon, a marked paper will clearly show you that God is working and answering your prayer requests.
  • Pray daily for the need.  Doing this will show God how urgent it is to you, and will make you aware that it is still a need you asked Him to help you with.  When you no longer have to pray for it, you will be reminded that it is He who has met your need.

God does answer the prayer requests of Christians who seek His help.  Have you thanked God for His answers to your prayers, or are you like the nine, unthankful lepers?

“When in doubt, give God the glory [credit].”