Our relationship to God and to people

(The following is a summary of the sermon that was preached by Michael Larsen on January 26, 2019.)

Jesus Christ is the perfect model for living. He not only showed us how to do it, He gave us specific instructions. There are ten character traits with which we need to live.

1.  Discernment.

What that means is you evaluate things. You test things. You don’t just automatically accept what somebody tells you. 

2.  Integrity.  

Integrity is more than being honest and telling the truth. What integrity means is wholeness. Everything in your life is integrated. What integrated or integrity means is your life is all the same. You don’t act differently with different groups of people. You don’t compartmentalize your life.  

3.  Humility.

Humility is dependence upon God. The more humble you are, the more you depend on God and the less you depend on yourself. God blesses those who realize their need for Him. 

4.  Simplicity.

We have so much stuff. Jesus says in Luke 12:15 Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. 

5.  Possibility.

I see the possibilities because I have faith. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God. In what area or areas of your life are you limiting God by your unbelief?  Every time you doubt God, you limit yourself.  

6.  Hospitality

Hospitality is just love in action. It’s very possible for you to live a life with just acquaintances, to not really get close to anybody and show hospitality.  

7.  Civility.

This is how God wants you to act toward people who disagree with you. Civility is just treating other people the way you’d like to be treated, even if you disagree with them. Be polite to everyone, especially those who serve you.

8.  Charity.

Charity is a big basket that holds a lot of other concepts like forgiveness, mercy, kindness, grace, and compassion. All these things are wrapped in the idea of charity. Showing love to people, including your enemies.

9.  Generosity.

God wants us to learn generosity so that we can be like Him. God is generous.  Every time I give, it makes me more like Jesus Christ. Luke 16:9 says I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. He says take some of your money – not all of it – and use it to help people learn about Jesus and hear the good news. So when they’re saved, they’re going to get to heaven, and when you get there, they’ll welcome you as friends and say, “Thank you!”  

10.  Priority.

That means know what’s first. Notice what Jesus said in Luke 12:30-31 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.  But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.