Good morning,

A most valuable lesson for every Christian to learn

(J.R. Miller, “Devotional Hours with the Bible” 1908)  LISTEN to audio!  Download audio

(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)

“I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.” Exodus 16:4

They were not to lay up in store, but were taught to live simply by the day. When night came, they did not have a supply of food left over for the next day–but were entirely dependent upon God’s new supply to come in the morning.

In this method of providing, God was teaching all future generations a lesson. When the Master gave the disciples the Lord’s Prayer, He put this same thought of life into it, for He taught us to say: “Give us this day our daily bread.”

This is a most valuable lesson for every Christian to learn. We should make a little fence of trust around each day, and never allow any past or future care or anxiety to break in. God does not provide in advance for our needs. We cannot get grace today–for tomorrow’s duties; and if we try to bear tomorrow’s cares and burdens today–we shall break down in the attempt.

TIME comes to us, not in years, not even in weeks–but in little days. We have nothing to do with ‘life in the aggregate’–that great bulk of duties, anxieties, struggles, trials and needs, which belong to a year or even to a month. We really have nothing to do even with tomorrow.

Our sole business is with the one little day now passing, and the one day’s burdens will never crush us; we can easily carry them until the sun goes down. We can always get along for one short day–and that is really, all we ever have.
Something to ponder
J.C. Ryle: “Is the Bible the Word of God? Then be sure you never read it without fervent prayer for the help and teaching of the Holy Spirit. Here is the rock on which many make shipwreck. They do not ask for wisdom and instruction–so they find the Bible dark, and carry nothing away from it. You should pray for the Spirit to guide you into all truth. You should beg the Lord Jesus Christ to “open your understanding,” as He did that of the His disciples. The Lord God, by His inspiration the book was written, keeps the keys of the book, and alone can enable you to understand it profitably.”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

We live busy lives.  Work, school, church, gym etc.  Interruptions.   Do we see needs and meet them? 

God has given us the privilege and responsibility to bear one another’s burdens. Physically, relationally, financially, and spiritually.

This week we will look at what the Bible says about bearing one another’s burdens.

Today we see how spiritual needs are met.

Spiritual

Barnabas and Paul, Barnabas brings Paul to the apostles Acts 9:27, 13:1-3

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.² As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.³ And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Jesus and the woman at the well John 4:3-42

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (4:9)

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.²⁵ The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. ²⁶ Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. (4:23-26)

The Bible calls Barnabas the son of encouragement. He was not the Bible headliner of his day. He was the guy in the background, ministering to the needs of the saints. He saw something in Saul, who becomes Paul, worthy of investing time into him. It was Barnabas who presented Paul to the apostles. Barnabas believed in Paul. The Holy Ghost command was to “Separate me Barnabas and Saul…” 

God uses people who are available. Barnabas was available to conduct ministry at all levels. He was faithful.

Jesus saw the spiritual need of a Samaritan woman and was determined to meet that need. He explained her need, the solution, and the result. She trusted Christ and told all her friends. Some of them also received Christ.

God wants us to be faithful to do what He calls us to do. We may not feel we have the skills for the task, but God does. If we are willing to trust Him, He will give us everything we need to accomplish the task.

Are we willing to serve? Do whatever God calls us to do? Willingly?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

We live busy lives.  Work, school, church, gym etc.  Interruptions.   Do we see needs and meet them? 

God has given us the privilege and responsibility to bear one another’s burdens. Physically, relationally, financially, and spiritually.

This week we will look at what the Bible says about bearing one another’s burdens.

Today we see how a widow gave all she had to please God.

Financial

Women’s mite, she gave of her want Mark 12:41-44

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.⁴² And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.⁴³ And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:⁴⁴ For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

This widow was poor. She did not have a lot of money to give. Yet Jesus says she gave all she had.

That begs the questions, how much are we willing to give? What is our motivation to give? Ultimately, where does our money come from?

We are stewards of God’s money. It is not ours. God allowed us to earn it, inherit it, or otherwise procure it. That being said, what are we doing with God’s money? How much of God’s money is going to the work of God? His church, ministries, missionaries. What motivates us to give? The command to give or the desire to give back to God what He has already freely given to us? What if God took away our ability to earn money? Would we still give a portion of what we have?

Jesus was trying to teach His disciples a lesson. Our giving should be out of love for what God has done for us. What we deserve is death and hell. What God has given us is life, through Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, is eternity with God in heaven, forever!

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  Gal 6:2

INTRODUCTION: 

We live busy lives.  Work, school, church, gym etc.  Interruptions.   Do we see needs and meet them? 

PHYSICAL

Pharaoh’s daughter has compassion on Moses Exodus 2:5-7 Key v6

And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.⁶ And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.⁷ Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

Shunammite woman’s care for Elisha 2 Kings 4:8-10  

And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.⁹ And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.¹⁰ Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.     

Elisha’s gift of opportunity to bear a child in old age 2 Kings 4: 14-17

And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.¹⁵ And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.¹⁶ And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. ¹⁷ And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

Elisha heals dead son.  2 Kings 4: 20, 34-37

And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.³⁵ Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.³⁶ And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.³⁷ Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

Samaritan binds the wounds of the man left for dead.  Luke 10:33-35

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,³⁴ And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.³⁵ And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

RELATIONAL

Ruth goes with Naomi Ruth 1:16-18

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:¹⁷ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.¹⁸ When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Ruth provides for Naomi Ruth 2:17-18

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.¹⁸ And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.

Ruth is in the line of Christ. Ruth 4:13, 17-22

So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.

And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.¹⁸ Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,¹⁹ And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,²⁰ And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,²¹ And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,²² And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

David and Jonathan 1 Samuel 18:1-4  

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.² And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.³ Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.⁴ And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

Financial

Women’s mite, she gave of her want Mark 12:41-44

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.⁴² And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.⁴³ And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:⁴⁴ For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

Spiritual

Barnabas and Paul, Barnabas brings Paul to the apostles Acts 9:27, 13:1-3

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.² As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.³ And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Jesus and the woman at the well John 4:3-42

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (4:9)

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.²⁴ God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.²⁵ The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. ²⁶ Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. (4:23-26)

Conclusion:

• Will you look for the needs that present themselves?
• Will you stop and help?
• Will you allow God to use you?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

We live busy lives.  Work, school, church, gym etc.  Interruptions.   Do we see needs and meet them? 

God has given us the privilege and responsibility to bear one another’s burdens. Physically, relationally, financially, and spiritually.

This week we will look at what the Bible says about bearing one another’s burdens.

Today we see different Bible characters who saw a relational need and met it.

RELATIONAL

Ruth goes with Naomi Ruth 1:16-18

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:¹⁷ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.¹⁸ When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Ruth provides for Naomi Ruth 2:17-18

So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.¹⁸ And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.

Ruth is in the line of Christ. Ruth 4:13, 17-22

So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.

And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.¹⁸ Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,¹⁹ And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,²⁰ And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,²¹ And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,²² And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.

David and Jonathan 1 Samuel 18:1-4  

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.² And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.³ Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.⁴ And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

Two great stories. Ruth and David.

Ruth saw Naomi’s need for a companion, friend, and provider. She met each of those needs. In so doing, she met Boaz, who she married, had his child, Obed, who was in the line of David, and the lineage of Jesus Christ. Just because, in a time of need she stepped up and met the need.

Jonathon loved David. David was a lover of God, war hero, and enemy of Jonathon’s father, Saul. Yet Jonathon encouraged, protected, and provided for David. Jonathon dies in battle, but he helped David to become one of the best kings of Israel.

Are we willing to God to use us as a friend to someone?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

We live busy lives.  Work, school, church, gym etc.  Interruptions.   Do we see needs and meet them? 

God has given us the privilege and responsibility to bear one another’s burdens. Physically, relationally, financially, and spiritually.

This week we will look at what the Bible says about bearing one another’s burdens.

Today we see different Bible characters who saw a need and met it.

PHYSICAL

Pharaoh’s daughter has compassion on Moses Exodus 2:5-7 Key v6

And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.⁶ And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.⁷ Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

Shunammite woman’s care for Elisha 2 Kings 4:8-10  

And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.⁹ And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.¹⁰ Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.     

Elisha’s gift of opportunity to bear a child in old age 2 Kings 4: 14-17

And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.¹⁵ And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.¹⁶ And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. ¹⁷ And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

Elisha heals dead son.  2 Kings 4:20, 34-37

And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.³⁵ Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.³⁶ And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.³⁷ Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

Samaritan binds the wounds of the man left for dead.  Luke 10:33-35

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,³⁴ And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.³⁵ And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Not all needs are the same. God used a specific person, with specific skills, at the specific time, to meet a specific need.

The bearer of the burden had a choice to help or not. They to chose to help.

A nation was saved, a prophet was housed and fed, an old woman conceived, a dead boy was brought back to life, and the Samaritan was helped to recover from his wounds.

All in a day’s work for the bearer of burdens.

Will we be God’s burden bearer today?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

We come to the climax of our study of life. Today is decision day. There is a clear choice between life and death. We have studied it from many different perspectives. However, we are the only ones that can choose. No one can choose for us. Please consider seriously about what you read today. It truly is a matter of life and death.

Eternal Life

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

1 John 5:12-13  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ¹³ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Eternal Death

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Revelation 21:1-2, 27 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. ² And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ²⁷ And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 20:13-15 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

God sent Jesus Christ from heaven to earth to pay the sin debt for mankind. The payment needed was the blood of a spotless lamb. Jesus is that spotless Lamb. Had Jesus only died and shed His blood, this would have been the same as all the animal sacrifices in the past. Jesus not only died, but He resurrected from the dead, seen by over 500 individuals, and then ascended back to Heaven to be with God the Father. No other spiritual leader EVER has done that.

Please make the decision to trust Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior.  Repent of you sins and ask Jesus Christ to take control of your life. If you have read each of the devotions this week, it is evident the LIFE is in Jesus Christ. Rejection of Jesus Christ is DEATH and eternity spent with Satan and his demons in the lake of fire.

Now you must decide. Life or death.

CHOOSE LIFE

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Day four on our study of life. As the Scripture verses below indicate, we have a choice to choose life with God or death without God.

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: ²⁰ That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Proverbs 11:19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus Christ gives life. When He died on the cross for our sins, resurrected from the dead, and ascended into heaven, He made a way for us to go from death to life.  

Let us consider the pros and cons.

PROS: Good, walking with the Lord, knowing and obeying His commandments, may multiply, blessings, may dwell in the land, righteousness, fear of the Lord, everlasting life, reconciliation to God, and salvation.

CONS: Evil, cursing, snares, condemnation, and sin.

The preponderance of evidence is on the side of LIFE.

Your choice. CHOOSE LIFE!

If you are interested in being saved and going from death to life, please call or email me. Tomorrow we will explore Eternal Life and Eternal Death.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The information below came from www.GotQuestions.org.

I found this information useful to our discussion of suicide in the Bible.

Question: “What is the Christian view of suicide? What does the Bible say about suicide?“

Answer: The Bible mentions six specific people who committed suicide: Abimelech (Judges 9:54), Saul (1 Samuel 31:4), Saul’s armor-bearer (1 Samuel 31:4–6), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), and Judas (Matthew 27:5). Five of these men were noted for their wickedness (the exception is Saul’s armor-bearer—nothing is said of his character). Some consider Samson’s death an instance of suicide, because he knew his actions would lead to his death (Judges 16:26–31), but Samson’s goal was to kill Philistines, not himself.

The Bible views suicide as equal to murder, which is what it is—self-murder. God is the only one who is to decide when and how a person should die. We should say with the psalmist, “My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:15).

God is the giver of life. He gives, and He takes away (Job 1:21). Suicide, the taking of one’s own life, is ungodly because it rejects God’s gift of life. No man or woman should presume to take God’s authority upon themselves to end his or her own life.

Some people in Scripture felt deep despair in life. Solomon, in his pursuit of pleasure, reached the point where he “hated life” (Ecclesiastes 2:17). Elijah was fearful and depressed and yearned for death (1 Kings 19:4). Jonah was so angry at God that he wished to die (Jonah 4:8). Even the apostle Paul and his missionary companions at one point “were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8).

However, none of these men committed suicide. Solomon learned to “fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Elijah was comforted by an angel, allowed to rest, and given a new commission. Jonah received admonition and rebuke from God. Paul learned that, although the pressure he faced was beyond his ability to endure, the Lord can bear all things: “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

So, according to the Bible, suicide is a sin. It is not the “greatest” sin—it is no worse than other evils, in terms of how God sees it, and it does not determine a person’s eternal destiny. However, suicide definitely has a deep and lasting impact on those left behind. The painful scars left by a suicide do not heal easily. May God grant His grace to each one who is facing trials today (Psalm 67:1). And may each of us take hope in the promise, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13).

Conclusion:

• Suicide does not please God, the giver of life
• Men in the Bible have committed suicide
• Other men overcame their temptation to commit suicide and God greatly used them
• It is God’s desire that all men trust God as their personal Lord and Savior

Please make a study of this issue. Look and see who the men were that committed suicide and then the men that did not. Please refer back to the first two lessons as you study.

Tomorrow, we will look at life vs. death.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The last time you bought a big ticket item; did you go to the store and buy the first item you saw? Probably not. Usually, we do some research. We determine exactly what we need, our price range, and the features that we want. Then we shop around, either on the internet, papers, or brick and mortar stores.

Choosing a positive or negative approach to life has several similarities. Research is essential. What are the pros and cons of life? What are the benefits to living a positive life?

Yesterday we learned that God created heaven and earth. He also created man and woman. He equipped them with the ability to make choices. They chose to disobey God’s commandment. So sin enters the world and has increased exponentially.

So far it looks pretty bleak for mankind.  

God sent Jesus to be the Author of life. Although things became progressively worse after that first sin, there were always righteous people on the earth. Think of Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Hezekiah and Josiah. Jesus was acting behind the scenes to orchestrate God’s plan for the ages.  Let us look at what the Bible records about Jesus.

Jesus is Life

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 11:25,26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

So what do we take away from this?

• Jesus is our sustenance
• Jesus is our light
• Jesus is the resurrection
• Jesus is the way and truth
• Jesus is the true God
• JESUS IS LIFE

Jesus is someone I would want to follow.

Tomorrow we explore six men who committed suicide in the Bible. Can any of you name all six?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com