And remember that verse 3 indicates that these positions of responsibility are gifts of grace. And that means that they are sovereignly distributed. “I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
After the things mentioned, come a myriad of other gifts which are not confined or restricted in any way. They aren’t offices, although they could be considered gifts from God. They aren’t limited by the Lord, and I suppose that we should all strive with all our might to improve these gifts and talents for the glory of God. Perhaps the Lord’s parable of the talents becomes applicable here – Matthew 25:14-30. The Lord has granted to all of us, and to the people of the world at large, a great many gifts. He tells us all, to occupy until the day of His return – or until the day of judgment. For example, it is our job to make sure that the love which we have been granted be planted by us in the hearts of others; that it be watered as best we can, fertilized and protected so that it might grow. And if the Lord gives us a talent for music, we ought to nurture it, expand it and use it for the Lord’s glory. When God grants us a good job, we need to be the best employee possible. For every opportunity and every gift that the Lord gives, we are held responsible. And it’s to some of these things that Paul now refers.
Let your love be without dissimulation. That means without hypocrisy. There is something in all of us, even in small children, which can detect imitation love and interest. We can see that the salesman only pretends to have interest in us – it’s obvious and proverbial. But when it comes to the family which we call the “church of God,” it is imperative that our love be genuine. And that requires expression – a vivid means of communication. And that often means sacrifice to some degree – if nothing more, the sacrifice of a little time. It still grieves me to see how slow some of us are at greeting and taking genuine interest in visitors. Although we are much, much better than we used to be, some of us are still more prone to drive people out of our church by ignoring them, than to attract them by our friendliness. We need to pray that God enable us to strengthen our affection toward one another and toward the stranger. And remember that Paul said, this love is greater than hope or even faith.
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” I wonder if the last two parts of this verse are opposites, or if there is more to it than that. By that I mean, is evil the opposite to good? The word “evil” could be translated “wickedness.” It is not the same Koine Greek word as “sin” or “transgression.” But can something be “evil” without being a sin? I’m not philosophically wise enough to know the answer. And are “to abhor” something, and to “cleave” to something else, opposites? I know that to hate something is more than simply to dislike it. And I also know that to abhor something is more than to merely hate it. To abhor that which is evil is to be revolted by it; to have a horror of it, and the greatest aversion toward it. Paul is urging us to have the same opinion of this evil as the Lord has. But do we? Don’t make excuses, and say that we can’t have the same hatred as God, because we are not infinite. Don’t say, that as long as we remain in the flesh we are going to be weak when it comes to evil. While that is true, we have the instruction to mortify this flesh and to become increasingly more Christ-like. We need to remember and realize that these evils are dangerous and destructive. Playing with rattlesnakes may be exhilarating and perhaps money-making, but it could also be fatal. “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?”
It is the duty of every Christian to “cleave to that which is good.” Would it be improper to point out that “there is none good but God?” Could it be said that the good to which we are supposed to cleave or cling to is the Lord our Saviour, and to all the principles of good and righteousness which are intrinsically His? He is originally, infinitely, and immutably good. He is good in His nature, and works, and to all His creatures, especially toward His chosen people. He should be grasped, cleaved to, along with His will, all His ways, and His worship. And isn’t Christ Jesus the Good Shepherd of the sheep? Isn’t the gospel actually the “good news”? Shouldn’t it be constantly shared and preached? And even though good works are not a part of the production of our salvation, aren’t they supposed to be produced by the Lord through our salvation?
Notice verse 11 – “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” This word “business” might be a little confusing at first glance. It means “diligence,” “haste” and “earnest care.” Even though it is scandalous for a Christian to receive wages from a man in the business world, and not to give him our full attention and energy for the time agreed to, this may not be referring specifically to that kind of arrangement. Gill says that this refers to spiritual business, the affairs of piety and religion, the service of God, private and public, to which we should not be backward, nor slothful in our performance; such as preaching, hearing, reading, praying, and other ordinances of God; yea, we should be ready and forward to every good work, and particularly ministering to the poor saints in their necessity; in doing which we show that kind, tender, affectionate, brotherly love. The Bible spends a considerable amount of time exhorting us not to be slackers and slothful. Proverbs 6 – “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?” “As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.” “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.” “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” Proverbs 24 – “I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.” Proverbs 26 – “The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.” Ecclesiastes – “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Isaiah speaks of this and so does the Lord Jesus in several of His parables.
Paul even teaches us in II Thessalonians that the slacker should be excommunicated from the church. “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” These are just some of the scriptures which teach us to be diligent in business – both secular and spiritual.
“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” You’ll notice that the word “spirit” is not capitalized, meaning that our translators didn’t think that it referred to the Holy Spirit, and I agree. Paul is reminding us that the opposite to slothfulness is fervency. This word “fervent” speaks of “boiling.” Fervent in spirit; boiling in their own spirits for the glory of God, the honor of Christ and the cause of Truth. In imitation of Christ himself, and as Phinehas and Elijah were fervent. This fervency of spirit is opposed to that lukewarmness of soul which is condemned in Revelation 3:16. It is opposite to cold of affection, and leaving of the first love which is condemned in Revelation 2:4. When “the love of God is shed abroad in the heart” by the Spirit of God, this will make a man’s spirit fervent in the service of God.
“Serving the Lord.” I know for a fact that there is a great deal of service for God, which is actually self-service. There are music specials sung by talented and not so talented people in the hope of some praise. There are sermons preached for the same purpose. And some of us know of churches where invitations are extended for the sake of winning prizes and recognition. As Christians, we are supposed to be nothing, and the Lord is to be everything. We should be willing to serve Christ, and to do the right thing whether any human being every acknowledges it.
“Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” The word translated “distributing” is “koinoneo” (koy-no-neh’-o) Five times it is translated “to be a partaker” of something; twice it is “communicate” and once “distribute.” It means “to come into communion or fellowship with, to become a sharer, be made a partner. To enter into fellowship, join one’s self to an associate, make one’s self a sharer or partner.” “Communion” and “communication” are words which have evolved away from their original meanings. And yet there is still a little of the original meaning in them, if we listen hard enough. Fortunately we have the Textus Receptus, those many manuscripts which tell us about the original words that Paul used. If an English word is confusing, we can turn to the original for explanations. What is it to communicate? It is to talk together, sharing ideas and opinions. But originally, it meant to share far more than opinions. Galatians 6:6 – “Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” Philippians – “Ye did communicate with my affliction.” “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.” Paul told Timothy to share with his people, “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.” Hebrews – “Do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” It is something required by God of all His children that they give to the needs of other believers, that they be hospitable people.
And last this evening, Paul says, “Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” As difficult as this is in the flesh, it is distinctly Christian – it is clearly Christ-like. Our Saviour has told us – “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” And then He Himself said of those who crucified Him, ” Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” This particular chapter ends with, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” In Corinthians and Thessalonians Paul reiterates: “Labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it.” And “being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” This was the illustration of Stephen when he knelt down, dying under the hand of Saul – “he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” This was the message of Peter – “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
So here are about a dozen things. I believe that if the true saints of God could practice these things well, we could revolutionize the world. I believe that these twelve things could be more potent in authenticating our message of the gospel, and we’d never think again about the need of miracles. For example, how much effect do you suppose that this last exhortation had on the heart of Saul as heard the love and forgiveness-filled voice of Stephen? We’ve looked at two sentences this evening, and we’ve found enough material here to meditate on for hours. Lord, help us to implement these things in our lives.