“IF YOU KNOW
WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU…”
Jack Davis
Ecc. 6:11-12, “Seeing that there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? For who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun.” The book of Ecclesiastes gives us the perspective of man under the sun. Thank God, by faith in Christ Jesus we realize that we have been raised up and seated in the Heavenlies in Him, giving a better point of view.
Have you heard this line? “If you know what’s good for you!!” Most of us in our youth have at one time or other heard these or similar words from our mother, or both parents for that matter. They say this to precede a command or requirement of some sort. “Don’t do that, or you better do this.” Even if they were not specific, we usually knew what they were getting at.
God our Father’s Word teaches both that which is harmful and helpful for us. We are taught how to do well in that which is profitable, beneficial, or expedient. We are enabled to discern the things which increase vanity, and produce substance, so that we don’t spend our days as a shadow. Thank God!
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil…” I Thess. 5:21-23.
“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” Heb. 4:12. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” Heb. 5:14.
Pleasing God, doing His will with a thankful heart is blessedly beneficial, and must not be seen as a dreadful duty, as if it was His pleasure to make us miserable. It is evidently to be rather a delightful devotion. It is God’s pleasure to guide us into the most enjoyable privileges that promote eternal pleasures. Consider Psalm 16:1-11, in this light.
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” Ps. 119:71. “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word” Ps. 119:67. “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me” Ps. 119:75. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way” Ps. 37:23. “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works” Ps. 73:28. “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” Ps. 84:11.
“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High” Ps. 92:1. “Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely” Ps. 147:1.
From what we should know from the Scripture, and may come to know by experience, it should be very clear to us that it is not good for us to allow the world to influence our thinking Romans 12:1-3,9,21. I John teaches us to not love the world.
We also come to know that we don’t want our own flesh to control our living. Our fallen nature, that sinful self-life would like to dominate us in selfish living. Trusting the flesh hinders us from recognizing when God sends good – Jer. 17:6.
Therefore knowing these things, we realize that we certainly don’t want Satan, the devil, that god of this world, the prince and power of the air, the ruler of the darkness of this age to influence, dominate, or in any way to affect our daily living.
Whatever we allow to determine our attitude and actions today has great bearing on our tomorrow (eternity). It is bad enough to allow the world, the flesh, and the devil to cheat us out of present blessings and everyday enjoyment, even rich endowment now. But our enemy is not satisfied with stealing from us, now. He uses the world and the flesh profusely to rob us of everything he can for eternity. Then his greater goal is aimed at taking away all the glory he can from God.
God’s children often choose so foolishly, and act so blindly, stupidly, just stumbling, and staggering along into Satan’s harmful traps. We should realize that as He influences the world, that he also intends to influence selfish living from us. We need not be ignorant of his devices. We should well know how he operates. It is well documented throughout the Bible. He doesn’t mind dangling before our eyes, things that are not seemingly so-bad, in order to lead toward that which is worse. He would not resist the “good” so strongly if it would keep us from that which is “better” if he could beat us and God out of the “best.”
Paul and Jesus both speak of the many attractive elements that are intended to keep us from seeking the things that are above and setting our affections there. We must decide if we will yield our members as instruments of righteousness, or unrighteousness.
It seems that God has allowed the flesh and the world to be at the disposal of our enemy. But we determine personally what influence of control our enemy has on us or exercises on our fallen nature.
We choose whether or not we bring our thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ (II Cor. 10:5); and our bodies into subjection to the life of our Lord and Savior. I Cor. 9:27.
