Become Complete - Ecclesiastes 7-9 and II Corinthians 13
In Paul's closing admonition to the Corinthian believers he told them several things that are very important to all Christians, but I want to focus on his command to "become complete." This command gives us all hope, because God does not give a command without giving us the ability to accomplish it. Therefore, all of us can become complete in Christ. We can all become what God has created us to become, being equipped to do exactly what He wants us to do. I liken it to a soldier who is equipped for war. He is a complete soldier. A farmer who can do everything to produce a crop is a complete farmer. An athlete who is able to compete well in his or her event is a complete athlete. God wants each of us to be a complete believer. How are you doing? None of us can become perfect, but we all can become complete.
Think about the chapters from Ecclesiastes in this light. Our sorrow leads us to be complete by teaching us valuable insights. We need patience to be complete. We need to grow in every area of righteousness, but all the while knowing that we can't ever become perfect. Therefore, it is so good to hear the admonition, "Do not be overly righteous." There are some folks who fool themselves into thinking they are better than they are, but they never become complete. They don't witness and see others become Christians. They do not become good stewards. They don't become more loving. They simply try to hold to a legalistic standard of righteousness, and they pat themselves on the back for how good they are. That is not God's will. God desires for us to be complete. He knows we can't be perfect. I pray that we will all have the right perspective in this area, or we will miss God's blessing of becoming complete.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ecclesiastes 10-12 and Galatians 1.
Think about the chapters from Ecclesiastes in this light. Our sorrow leads us to be complete by teaching us valuable insights. We need patience to be complete. We need to grow in every area of righteousness, but all the while knowing that we can't ever become perfect. Therefore, it is so good to hear the admonition, "Do not be overly righteous." There are some folks who fool themselves into thinking they are better than they are, but they never become complete. They don't witness and see others become Christians. They do not become good stewards. They don't become more loving. They simply try to hold to a legalistic standard of righteousness, and they pat themselves on the back for how good they are. That is not God's will. God desires for us to be complete. He knows we can't be perfect. I pray that we will all have the right perspective in this area, or we will miss God's blessing of becoming complete.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ecclesiastes 10-12 and Galatians 1.