Heavenly Springs

Holding Fast The Doctrines of Grace

The Lord’s Warnings of Punishment are No Idle Threat

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“Every warning God gives of judgement must be taken seriously, including those given to professing Christians. If we play with some secret sin we need to heed the warning of self-deception. ‘Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life’ (Gal. 6:7–8). The Lord Jesus himself warns professing Christians, ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” ’ (Matt. 7:21–23).

Understanding that the Lord’s warnings of punishment are no idle threat gives a responsibility to share his warnings with others. God’s warnings are an essential part of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christians are called to be like watchmen on a city wall who warn inhabitants of the danger that is coming (see Ezek. 3:16–19). People need to know that God is right to be angry, that God is right to punish sin, and that the day of his wrath is coming. His warnings are themselves acts of kindness and patience, calling people to repentance. The Lord is slow to anger. His wrath does not come quickly. But it will come and those who believe his warnings must proclaim them.

Some may laugh at the suggestion that God will punish sin. Others, hearing his warnings, will think they apply to others, but not to them. The reaction of others must not stop those who take his warnings seriously from proclaiming them. Ruth 1:1 illustrates that the Lord’s warnings of punishment are no idle threat.”

 Jonathan Prime, Opening up Ruth, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2007), 23–24.

Should Everyone Be Equal in Wealth?

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Thanks to a kind brother who shared this excerpt from a commentary on Ruth.   

“And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.” Ruth 2:1

“Some allege that all men ought to be equal in wealth; but God maketh rich, and maketh poor. He gives to some men power to get wealth, and withholds that power from others. He enables some to leave wealth to their families, whilst the families of other men are left to struggle with all the inconveniences of poverty. “Who shall say to God, What dost thou?” or, Why disposest thou so unequally of thy benefits? “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.” He hath given the earth indeed to the children of men, but he was not bound to give to every one of them equal portions of it. If he has given us any portion of it for our necessary subsistence, we ought to be content and thankful. Still more, if he hath given us an ordinary portion of the comforts of life. If we are displeased because he has not given us so much as he has given to some of our neighbours, “our eye is evil because he is good.” What hast thou given to God? Verify thy claim, and thou shalt be recompensed. God will be in no man’s debt . . .

Our happiness is very precarious if it is placed either in our wealth or in our children. What multitudes of Abraham’s posterity are now in a wretched condition, although he abounded in wealth whilst he lived in this world! But he sought his happiness in God, and in the better country . . . 

Yet let us not envy the rich. They have power to do hurt as well as good; and they can do themselves much more hurt than they can do to any one else. We trust too much to ourselves, if we think that we would certainly make a good use of riches if we possessed them. Even Solomon, with all his wisdom, found that his wealth was, in many instances, a snare. He did much good, but he also did much evil which would not have been in his power if he had been a poor man.”

Lectures on the Whole Book of Ruth to Which Are Added, Discourses on the Condition and Duty of Unconverted Sinners on the Sovereignty of Grace in the Conversion of Sinners, And on the Means to be Used in the Conversion of Our Neighbors.  By the Rev. George Lawson, Minister of the Associate Congregation in Selkirk. 1805.

HT:  D. Elmore

Naomi’s Story

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Here is a moving presentation of the book of Ruth.  I love how these women enter into the story to remind us that even in our darkest hour, there is hope — everlasting hope!

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. –  (William Cowper, God Moves In A Mysterious Way)