“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.” (Jude 11)
Years ago when I was about 16 years old I sat in a Sunday School class as the teacher taught on Proverbs 25:11.
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”
Only instead of reading the verse “a word fitly spoken,” he read “a word FILTHY spoken” and talked about how filthy words are like apples of gold in pictures of silver. “They just do not go together!” he said. I kept asking myself if I was reading the word “fitly” right, but in my heart knew that I was. I remember thinking that the teacher got this all wrong because he got one word all wrong. I am sure it was an honest mistake on his part. He was in no way trying to lead us in a false way, but a little more study on his part could have saved him from this error.
Through the years this memory has motivated me to be vigilant when I read, study, and teach the Bible. I have not been perfect at doing this and have laid some eggs along the way, but my heart’s desire is to be faithful and true when it comes to the Word of God.
When we read today’s verse for the final 100th day of the Loser Bible Study series we see three men who got it all wrong when it came to following and obeying God. You could say that their way was the wrong way to lose. Their false teachings are still prevalent in our world and have crept into today’s Christian culture as it did back then. Jude warns that the Lord Jesus will return to judge ungodly false teachers who live and teach like these three men.
Cain chose his own way instead of God’s way. In doing so he led his family away from God. The secular world boldly encourages us to do it our way, to follow our dreams, trust our heart or just be anything we want to be. Our churches are filled with “free to be me” members who do that which is right in their own eyes and encourage others to do so as well.
Balaam served and preached for reward. He had a greedy heart. Prosperity gospel living permeates churchgoers today. There are some who will choose a church based on whether the members will make good clients for their personal business. The Christian is not called to a health and wealth gospel. Christians are called to lose for Christ’s sake and the gospel’s. Some people actually suppose that gain is godliness, but there is no place for this type of personal financial or social gain in our churches.
And then we have Core or Korah (Numbers 16) who perished in gainsaying. When I first looked at this word I was a little confused as to what it could mean. Was Korah trying to seek personal gain? Well, in fact he was seeking his own promotion by speaking against Moses and Aaron, but that is not what this word means. Gainsay means to say against or oppose. Korah’s mistake was that he rose up and spoke against the men God had chosen to lead the church in the wilderness. (Acts 7:38)
“And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?” (Numbers 16:3) (emphasis mine)
This was a very foolish mistake on his part that led to his death and the death of the 250 men who stood with him against Moses and Aaron when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up. Do you think this type of attitude abounds in today’s culture? If you spend any time on social media or watch popular news channels you would have to say it does. Sadly, it is also flooding our churches as it did in that church in the wilderness.
We are told in Numbers 26:11 that the children of Korah died not. I for one am thankful that God pointed that out. Furthermore, the children of Korah are credited with writing at least 11 of the Psalms. Praise the Lord! We can learn from the mistakes of others and go on to serve God faithfully, but we must be vigilant in order to do so.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8)
We have an enemy who desires to devour us. Do you think Satan cares which way we choose to go or which lie we choose to believe? No, he does not. Any way or lie will do as long as it is not God’s way or God’s truth.
So often the last thing we feel we want to lose is our own way. In fact, when we want our way it seems we will do everything we can to get it. We will disregard, discredit and even change the interpretation of the very Word of God to fit our own choices. Then, to justify ourselves we will teach others to do the same.
But for the Christian the last thing we should want to lose is God’s way. God’s way is the way to everlasting and exceeding joy. Though Jude warns us strongly against believing and teaching the wrong way, he gives hope and encouragement as he closes out this letter to fellow Christians.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25)
God’s desire is to keep us from falling.
God’s will is to present us faultless.
God’s way is the way to exceeding joy.
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