"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." III John 2
This text has always had a peculiar fascination for me. It leads me to ask, If you were physically only as prosperous and healthy as you are spiritually, how well off would you be? Here is a believer whose spiritual health is so superb that the apostle's highest wish for him is that his physical well being — in health and wealth — might match that of his soul. What a tribute!
Consider some of the characteristics of Gaius' spiritual health: "… thou walkest in the Truth (v.3);" the truth of God was his environment. That is spiritual integrity . "Thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and to strangers (v.5)." That is fidelity; across the board consistency. And " charity (v.6)," or spiritual love, highly publicized in the church . What a testimony!
The question we might properly ask is, what can I do to promote spiritual health and prosperity? to make my soul to prosper? The answers are well enough known, but bear repeating.
First and foremost is fellowship with God. It is written, "He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness [Ps. 107:9]." God promised Israel, "The LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good… If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul [Deut. 30:9-10]." It is often not indifference, but halfheartedness that robs us of spiritual vitality. The business of the world is a hearty competitor and a distraction to spiritual devotion, and too often even the business of the church can be the same.
Mary and Martha are a case in point, made by the Savior Himself. He gently but firmly chastened Martha as "careful and troubled about many things," and commended Mary, who sat at His feet and "heard His word," saying, "One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Cf. Luke 10:38-42) The cultivation of a healthy soul demands that we spend time with Him, and that requires familiarity with His word and time spent in meaningful prayer. Short of this, it is impossible to "walk in the Truth."
A second factor in the cultivation of a healthy soul is spiritual exercise. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "Exercise thyself… unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come [I Tim. 4:7-8]." Gaius was, evidently, engaged in the exercise of the spiritual gift of hospitality, or helps. His godliness was not passive, but active, and so should ours be. There is a place within the body of Christ where every believer can make a spiritual contribution, and it behooves us to do so, if we would have a healthy and prosperous soul.
A third thing comes to mind. If we are to enjoy sustained well being of the soul, we must take proper precautions against the virus of sin that fills the atmosphere around us. Peter cautioned, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul [I Pet. 2:11]." Not only is the world a potential distraction for us, but it can be a powerful attraction, given the residue of the old sin nature that lingers within. The healthy Christian will be a disciplined Christian. We must pray for divine protection from evil, but we must also take practical measures to resist it: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you [James 4:7]."
These are not profound or new disclosures, but I venture to say if we review them and take them seriously, our souls will advance in health and prosperity. Cultivate a meaningful devotional life. Engage in some constructive spiritual activity. Adopt a disciplined stance against "worldly lusts." Then it will be appropriate to say of you, "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in heath, even as thy soul prospereth."
For our health and welfare,
"Pastor" Frasier
This text has always had a peculiar fascination for me. It leads me to ask, If you were physically only as prosperous and healthy as you are spiritually, how well off would you be? Here is a believer whose spiritual health is so superb that the apostle's highest wish for him is that his physical well being — in health and wealth — might match that of his soul. What a tribute!
Consider some of the characteristics of Gaius' spiritual health: "… thou walkest in the Truth (v.3);" the truth of God was his environment. That is spiritual integrity . "Thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and to strangers (v.5)." That is fidelity; across the board consistency. And " charity (v.6)," or spiritual love, highly publicized in the church . What a testimony!
The question we might properly ask is, what can I do to promote spiritual health and prosperity? to make my soul to prosper? The answers are well enough known, but bear repeating.
First and foremost is fellowship with God. It is written, "He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness [Ps. 107:9]." God promised Israel, "The LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good… If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul [Deut. 30:9-10]." It is often not indifference, but halfheartedness that robs us of spiritual vitality. The business of the world is a hearty competitor and a distraction to spiritual devotion, and too often even the business of the church can be the same.
Mary and Martha are a case in point, made by the Savior Himself. He gently but firmly chastened Martha as "careful and troubled about many things," and commended Mary, who sat at His feet and "heard His word," saying, "One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Cf. Luke 10:38-42) The cultivation of a healthy soul demands that we spend time with Him, and that requires familiarity with His word and time spent in meaningful prayer. Short of this, it is impossible to "walk in the Truth."
A second factor in the cultivation of a healthy soul is spiritual exercise. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "Exercise thyself… unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come [I Tim. 4:7-8]." Gaius was, evidently, engaged in the exercise of the spiritual gift of hospitality, or helps. His godliness was not passive, but active, and so should ours be. There is a place within the body of Christ where every believer can make a spiritual contribution, and it behooves us to do so, if we would have a healthy and prosperous soul.
A third thing comes to mind. If we are to enjoy sustained well being of the soul, we must take proper precautions against the virus of sin that fills the atmosphere around us. Peter cautioned, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul [I Pet. 2:11]." Not only is the world a potential distraction for us, but it can be a powerful attraction, given the residue of the old sin nature that lingers within. The healthy Christian will be a disciplined Christian. We must pray for divine protection from evil, but we must also take practical measures to resist it: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you [James 4:7]."
These are not profound or new disclosures, but I venture to say if we review them and take them seriously, our souls will advance in health and prosperity. Cultivate a meaningful devotional life. Engage in some constructive spiritual activity. Adopt a disciplined stance against "worldly lusts." Then it will be appropriate to say of you, "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in heath, even as thy soul prospereth."
For our health and welfare,
"Pastor" Frasier
No comments:
Post a Comment