What is highly esteemed among men?

[VictoryinJesus]

What is highly esteemed among men(mankind).

Stature?
Position?
Reputation?
Money?
Power?
Pride?
Beauty?
Control?
Strength?
How about War? Or could it all be summed up by ...FLESH. But there is more isn’t it: to maintain, keep, feed, to not let go of...the fight to live and to not die to the world. It( the flesh)holds on tight so fearful of loss.

But God says it is when we lose our life that we find it. What is lightly esteemed? ...Love? Spirit? The first response may be an automatic “NO, that is not so.” Then what does this world; lust and greed do to love? What does flesh do to love?

Luke 16:14-15
[14] And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. [15] And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Hebrews 8:10-13
[10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: [11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. [12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. [13] In that he saith, A new covenant , he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

That which decayeth and waxeth old and that which remains:

Matthew 7:22-27
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: [25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. [26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Do we want to be built on shifting sand that waxeth old and passers away? Great was the fall of it.

Or do we build on the Rock?
...that fell not.

 

[Windmill Charge]

I really don't understand what you are trying to say.
Are you addressing Christians or nonchristians?

 

[Episkopos]

I really don't understand what you are trying to say.
Are you addressing Christians or nonchristians?

Isn't flesh just flesh...be they believers or not? By flesh I mean carnal reasoning and actions.

 

[Enoch111]

I really don't understand what you are trying to say.
Are you addressing Christians or nonchristians?

In a nutshell, Christians are not to love the world, neither the things which are in the world, which all trigger the three major lusts, and are all "vanity". See 1 John 2. Here "the world" does not mean human beings but worldly things.

 

[Episkopos]

We can't receive honour from men AND God. We have to choose one or the other. The answer to this is to embrace obscurity...and let God do as He wills.

We are to embrace powerlessness and a lack of position...all the things that men crave and respect so much. But God's ways are different.

 

[Nancy]

What is highly esteemed among men(mankind).

Stature?
Position?
Reputation?
Money?
Power?
Pride?
Beauty?
Control?
Strength?
How about War? Or could it all be summed up by ...FLESH. But there is more isn’t it: to maintain, keep, feed, to not let go of...the fight to live and to not die to the world. It( the flesh)holds on tight so fearful of loss.

But God says it is when we lose our life that we find it. What is lightly esteemed? ...Love? Spirit? The first response may be an automatic “NO, that is not so.” Then what does this world; lust and greed do to love? What does flesh do to love?

Luke 16:14-15
[14] And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. [15] And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Hebrews 8:10-13
[10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: [11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. [12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. [13] In that he saith, A new covenant , he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

That which decayeth and waxeth old and that which remains:

Matthew 7:22-27
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: [25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. [26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Do we want to be built on shifting sand that waxeth old and passers away? Great was the fall of it.

Or do we build on the Rock?
...that fell not.

Good and thoughtful post VIJ,
"but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." Indeed, that list you named and, more...the world continues to try to fill themselves with these "things" and attitudes, putting their faith and adoration in them. They never fill. Only God has the best of the best for His children.

"What is lightly esteemed? ...Love? Spirit? " And, isn't that a sad commentary. This whole world is skewed, in every way.
Workers are few!
"Or do we build on the Rock?
...that fell not." I will take our never changing, solid Rock :)

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Workers are few!

Yes! James 3:18 “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

It seems rare and few for sure. But if it is our hearts desire for the earth to be filled with His peace; then He will give the hearts desire for His name’s sake.

Greek: εἰρήνη
Transliteration: eirēnē
Pronunciation: i-rah'-nay
Definition: Probably from a primary verb εἴρω eirō (to join);
peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity: - one peace quietness rest + set at one again.

Psalm 132:7-9
[7] We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. [8] Arise, O Lord , into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. [9] Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

I really don't understand what you are trying to say.
Are you addressing Christians or nonchristians?

Anyone and everyone. It is question’s I’ve had to face and ask in my own life.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

We can't receive honour from men AND God. We have to choose one or the other. The answer to this is to embrace obscurity...and let God do as He wills.

We are to embrace powerlessness and a lack of position...all the things that men crave and respect so much. But God's ways are different.

What is the sand the house was built on? ”...and it fell: and great was the fall of it?”

 

[quietthinker]

What is highly esteemed among men(mankind).

Stature?
Position?
Reputation?
Money?
Power?
Pride?
Beauty?
Control?
Strength?
How about War? Or could it all be summed up by ...FLESH. But there is more isn’t it: to maintain, keep, feed, to not let go of...the fight to live and to not die to the world. It( the flesh)holds on tight so fearful of loss.

But God says it is when we lose our life that we find it. What is lightly esteemed? ...Love? Spirit? The first response may be an automatic “NO, that is not so.” Then what does this world; lust and greed do to love? What does flesh do to love?

Luke 16:14-15
[14] And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. [15] And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Hebrews 8:10-13
[10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: [11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. [12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. [13] In that he saith, A new covenant , he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

That which decayeth and waxeth old and that which remains:

Matthew 7:22-27
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: [25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. [26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Do we want to be built on shifting sand that waxeth old and passers away? Great was the fall of it.

Or do we build on the Rock?
...that fell not.

An open heart drinks in what God presents. A closed heart is one of self justification fixed on image, even a 'christian' one.

 

[quietthinker]

What is the sand the house was built on? ”...and it fell: and great was the fall of it?”

The story of the ten virgins... towards the end the foolish wanted oil from the wise...it was not given because it was not possible.

 

[Enoch111]

What is the sand the house was built on? ”...and it fell: and great was the fall of it?”

According to the narrative, it is failure to be doers of the Word. Which would include failure to obey the Gospel (which is the first step).

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand...

The Word of God demands a response from all -- believers and non-believers. Those who fail to respond are deemed "foolish". Those who fail to receive Christ and the Holy Spirit (represented as oil) are also deemed to be foolish (as said about the five foolish virgins):

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish*. 3 They that were foolish* took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

*Strong's Concordance
móros: dull, stupid, foolish
Original Word: μωρός, ά, όν
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: móros
Phonetic Spelling: (mo-ros')
Short Definition: stupid, foolish
Definition: (a) adj: stupid, foolish, (b) noun: a fool.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

According to the narrative, it is failure to be doers of the Word. Which would include failure to obey the Gospel (which is the first step).

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand...

The Word of God demands a response from all -- believers and non-believers. Those who fail to respond are deemed "foolish". Those who fail to receive Christ and the Holy Spirit (represented as oil) are also deemed to be foolish (as said about the five foolish virgins):

2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish*. 3 They that were foolish* took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

*Strong's Concordance
móros: dull, stupid, foolish
Original Word: μωρός, ά, όν
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: móros
Phonetic Spelling: (mo-ros')
Short Definition: stupid, foolish
Definition: (a) adj: stupid, foolish, (b) noun: a fool.

Is this not the house built on sand(works of flesh) “...it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Romans 9:27-33 “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: [28] For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. [29] And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. [30] What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. [31] But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. [32] Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; [33] As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Romans 10:1-3
[1] Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. [2] For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. [3] For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Luke 21:6
[6] As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

The house built on the Rock being the house made without hands (work of Spirit). “...and it fell not.”

Who are the foolish(stupid, morons)? 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; [28] And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea , and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: [29] That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

Romans 7:25
[25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.