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Measure Twice

Careful, deliberate choices about our lives are important

Introduction

1. Text: Eph. 5:15,16.

2. An old bit of carpenter's advice is: Measure twice, cut once.

   1. The more consequential an action is, the more carefully it needs to be thought out.

   2. Wise people know it is never a waste of time to ensure accuracy.

   3. It is far better to make sure one is right -- deliberately, cautiously, and carefully -- than hastily and thoughtlessly to act in ways that turn out to be wrong.

3. It is possible for a person's life itself to be "ill-measured."

4. In regard to God, we are sometimes shockingly careless.

I. IN THE MATTER OF RELIGION IN GENERAL

1. Given the ramifications of the question, the casual way in which many have tossed aside "religion" is nearly incredible.

2. The average person has rejected religion on the basis of hastily made assumptions from inadequate information, not a serious consideration of the genuine article.

   1. Many have never taken the time to try to investigate the stereotypes, caricatures, and prejudicial slogans that turn people against religion.

   2. Often, modern people do not even have the curiosity of the Athenian philosophers to hear the case for Christianity - Ac. 17:16-21,22-34.

   3. Perhaps we are more like those in Athens who hurriedly mocked than those who wanted to hear more before making up their minds - v.32.

3. Many have never truly "considered" or "looked at" the evidence. Cf. Psa. 8:3-5.

II. IN THE MATTER OF "CHOOSING A CHURCH"

1. How thoughtful is the average person's analysis of what is going on in the world of "Christian" denominationalism?

2. Many people's approach to choosing a church is little better than hit-or-miss.

   1. If all the seven churches of Rev. 2,3 were in our locality, on what basis would we decide where to identify ourselves?

   2. How carefully do we check the "accuracy" of churches and their practices against the authoritative standard of the Scriptures?

3. The question of whether a doctrine is true is no trivial matter, and it takes some searching find out!

4. Dealing responsibly with the problem of modern religious division requires at least the attitude of the Bereans - Ac. 17:11.

III. IN THE MATTER OF THE LIFE THE CHRISTIAN SHOULD LIVE

1. In a world filled with evil, there is no realistic hope of living acceptably before God without a careful, circumspect approach to the matter - Eph. 5:15-17.

2. Imagine your life as a speech. What kind of speech is it: a painstakingly prepared text, or an impromptu performance that you make up as you go along?

3. We need more men and women who will consciously and carefully distinguish right from wrong - Hb. 5:14.

Conclusion

1. Socrates is reported to have said, "The unexamined life is not worth living" -- life is too consequential not to be thoughtful and deliberate about it.

2. We ought to carefully settle on our convictions and then fit our lives to those convictions.

   1. Too often we merely do what comes naturally -- and then make up a set of "convictions" to fit what we've already done.

   2. Cf. Dan Shipley's article on "After-Thought Authority" in Plain Talk, July 1972. (See below)

3. The spiritual consequences of "ill-measured" deeds are eternal -- we can't afford to cut now and measure later.

4. We get one life, and only one. Once done, that life can't be undone.

   1. Building a life is serious business.

   2. Constructing a character is important work.

   3. Mistakes are disastrous.

5. What kind of words describe the quality of your life's "workmanship" up to now?

   1. Haphazard, slipshod, makeshift?

   2. Or purposeful, meticulous, thorough? Cf. 2 Tim. 2:15.

6. It is vital that we:

   1. Study to find the truth.

   2. Think about the significance and implications of the truth.

   3. Act on the basis of the truth.

7. Jesus warned us to "count the cost" (Lk. 14:25-33) of discipleship.

   1. This would involve an equally sober assessment of the cost of non-discipleship!

   2. The fact is, it costs very much more to refuse discipleship than to accept it.

   3. How carefully are we considering this?

8. So far, is your response to Jesus the result of careful consideration and deliberate action? He deserves
   nothing less.

After-Thought Authority
Dan Shipley
Plain Talk, July 1972

An interesting story with a good point appeared in a recent issue of Nuggets. It told of a Marine recruiting sergeant who happened upon an impressive sight while traveling the backwoods country. At this one roadside farm, he saw targets painted just about everywhere -- on the barns, on fences, and on all the outbuildings. And exactly in the center of each target's bull's eye, there was a bullet hole! Knowing the Marine Corps could use a marksman like that, the sergeant stopped at the farm house in hopes of recruiting this sharpshooter. His knock on the door was answered by a gangling, barefoot lad of a not-too-bright appearance who proudly admitted that he had made the targets and bullet holes. The sergeant asked him how he managed to get a perfect bull's eye with every shot. He drawled, "Aw, that's easy, Sarge. I jes' shoot first, an' then I paint rings around the bullet hole!"

It occurred to me that a lot of people make bull's eyes in religion like that too. They "shoot" first by committing themselves to some religious position or affiliation, then later, when necessary, seek to justify their actions by "painting on" the target rings with some kind of after-thought "authority." Multitudes have made such commitments and in doing so have entrusted their souls to positions which they have assumed pleased God, but in which they have no real understanding or conviction. This means that what these people are religiously is attributable to something less than their regard for Bible truth -- and they, therefore, are something less than what God would have them to be. In spiritual matters as elsewhere, eternally important commitments are apt to be improperly motivated and rashly made.

But, in religion, as nowhere else, once committed, seldom changed. Why? Because "every way of a man is right in his own eyes" (Prov. 21:2). And perhaps because many had rather be considered right than to be right. And because, though essential, prides makes it difficult to render an objective assessment of what one has done or become. So -- out comes the target paint of after-thought authority. Just about any "shot" of commitment can be transformed into a bull's eye using such "paint" as feelings or sincerity. Other popular shades of target paint are: It doesn't make any difference what you believe, The Bible doesn't say not to, and All roads lead to heaven. No wonder so many view themselves as being "on target" in religion.

But all such efforts ignore the fact that only God has the right to make such a "target" and that His word (Bible truth) constitutes the mark (bull's eye) for which all men are to strive. (Sin is missing His mark.) Coming to Jesus Christ and salvation is impossible apart from hearing and learning His will (Jn. 6:44,45) and abiding in Christ means abiding in His teaching (2 Jn. 9). Therefore, all right relationships with the Lord involve a right relationship with Bible truth and vice versa (Col. 3:17; 1 Pt. 4:11).

Was it Bible truth that influenced what you are?