Not a hint of sexual immorality, impurity, or greed

Ephesians 5:3 (NIV)

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.

To be holy is to be free of sexual immorality, be free of any kind of impurity, and to be free from any kind of greed.  These are three clearly identified areas of impropriety according to God’s Word.  They also are in line with what I John 2:16 writes: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh (sexual immorality), the lust of the eyes (impurity), and the boastful pride of life (greed) is not from the Father, but is from the world”.  Let’s take a deeper look:

Not a hint of sexual immorality

Sexual immorality includes not only adultery, one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:14), but also includes fornication (unmarried sex, read Hebrews 13:4), various perversions such as sex with a relative (Leviticus 18:6), homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27), sex with animals (Leviticus 18:23), and immorality of the mind (Matthew 5:28).  Immorality of the mind is the most difficult aspect of immorality to overcome because this involves complete control of your mind and your eyes (see Job 31:1, Matthew 6:22).  Such control is often usurped because of supersaturated and rampant emphasis on sex in all media—movies, television, magazines, even newspapers—and the overwhelming availability, now to epidemic levels, of pornography on the internet. 

The Bible is clear…….if you wish to be holy (to be separated from evil), there must not be a hint of sexual immorality in your life.  This is where you must claim the promise God that nothing is impossible with Him (Luke 1:37) and giving over your problems to Him will help you overcome the problem of sexual immorality in your daily life (I Corinthians 10:13).        

Not any kind of impurity

Impurity means contamination or uncleanness.  In the pharmaceutical business, drug impurity can lead to injury and death.  Impurity of the mind and heart also can lead to spiritual injury and death.  Impurity is strongly connected with sexual sin(s), but in this passage and in Galatians 5:19 and Colossians 3:5. Immorality and impurity are separate words either describing different sinful natures or reinforcing how much God hates immorality and impurity.  Conversely, purity (and not morality) is a description of a godly man as Paul writes in I Timothy 4:12 and 5:2.  While impurity is closely connected to sexual immorality, it also can refer to sins of envy, covetousness, jealousy, lying, and, well, practically any kind of sin.  Your life must be free of any kind of impurity and that’s why it is so important everyday to confess your sins for the Lord is faithful to forgive you and to cleanse (purify) you of all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).

Not any kind of greed

The problem of greed is very relevant in American society evidenced by daily headlines in business, entertainment, and sports.  Demands of more money from spoiled pro sports athletes are publicly prime examples of rampant greed going on in this country.  Greed is idolatry and any kind of study of the Old Testament becomes very convincing how much God hates idolatry.  The world has always been filled with people who are greedy; you can read about some of this in I Corinthians 5:10-13.  The famous “greed is good” quote by Gordon Gekko in “Wall Street” shows the emphasis that the world has about money and covetousness.  Greed is associated with wickedness (Proverbs 21:26) and contrasted with righteousness that is associated with giving away.  Jesus warned us against the sin of greed in Luke 12:13-15.  Greed is powerful enough to keep you from entering heaven according to Mark 8:36-37.  The greatest guard against greed is to learn to be content (Philippians 4:11, Hebrews 13:5) with what you have that will prevent you from having an unhealthy and spiritually dangerous love of money (I Timothy 6:10).

If you claim to love God, you must not have in your life a hint of sexual immorality, any kind of impurity nor any kind of greed.   You must do whatever it takes to guard your heart and mind and soul against these very serious and very dangerous sins.  Why are they dangerous?  Because Paul then writes in Ephesians 5:5-7: “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.”

Practicing the humility of Christ

Philippians 2:3-8 (Message)

Don’t push your way to the front.  Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.  Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage.  Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.  Think of yourselves the way Jesus thought of Himself.  He was God….but He took on the status of a slave……an incredibly humbling process.  He didn’t claim special privileges.  Instead, He lived a selfless, obedient life……

This passage speaks about the mind of Christ, a mind of humility.  When you read the above paraphrase from Eugene Peterson’s The Message, you read the description of Christ.  He did nothing that was selfish or conceited.  He regarded others as more important than Himself.  He looked out for the interests of others as much or more than for His own interests.  He lived a life that was the supreme example of the right attitude to have on this earth.  He was divine, but did not act superior over others.  In fact, He “emptied Himself” (verse 2:7, NASB) and took on the status of a slave (bond-servant).  He humbled Himself even to the point of suffering as He did and dying on the cross.  Have you not seen “The Passion of the Christ” and easily conclude that Jesus was the most humble man on earth to put up with what He did even though He had the power to crush all His opposition.  Our finite minds cannot grasp such humility.  Saint Augustine once said, “God has humbled Himself, but man is still proud. 

Humility, of course, is the opposite of pride.  Pride is the number one reason for people committing sin.  Read Proverbs 16:18, 18:12; and Jeremiah 49:16.  You want to be honored in your life?  Then remember Proverbs 15:33—“Before honor comes humility”.  The word “humility” in the Hebrew means “gentleness”; in the Greek “bring low”.  These are concepts laughed at by the world.  Yet, remember that God commanded His children not to be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2) and not to love the things of and in the world (I John 2:15-16).  

In the verses above, as you think about your own life, are you convicted by any of these that you know describe you?  Have you put yourself before others?  Have you acted selfishly?  Have you ever been described as conceited?  Would others describe you as humble or something less honorable? 

Who in your life lives an example of humility?  Who exemplifies Christlikeness in your life?  Why?  What is it that they do?  One trait I always find with humble people is their high concern for others without ever bringing attention to themselves.  When you talk with others is the focus of the conversation about you or about them?  How much interest do you show with others about their lives?  How much thought and prayer do you put in on behalf of others compared to yourself?  Would others describe you as humble?  How can you live your life starting right now so that humility can become a descriptor of your life? 

Foundation of your life---built on rock or sand?

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and put them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

This parable concludes Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  You would think that the conclusion of Jesus’ longest recorded sermon demands our closest attention.  I use this story in my pre-marital counseling to help to-be-wed couples realize that the strength and longevity of their marriage depends on the foundation of their relationship.  In marriage, as in life itself, storms will come.  Note that the storms Jesus is talking about come from above (rain), below (streams), and on all sides (wind).  Storms of life can hit us very hard from all sides.  If our lives are not grounded firmly in the faith of Christ, we have the foundation of sand and we will collapse.  Lives based on the foundation of rock can overcome any storm(s) that attacks.  Storms reveal our lives’ foundation.

What is the foundation of rock?  Jesus says that rock is putting into practice His words.  It is not simply hearing His words, but putting action behind the words.  Jesus often used the phrase “He who has ears, let him hear”.  What He meant here is that He knew people heard His words, but are they really listening to the point of acting upon His words.  That’s a common problem for all of us.  Most sincere Christian people desire to practice what they learn from the Bible via preaching, teaching, and personal study.  Yet, often our "spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”.

What kind of house have you built in your life?  The house built is based on the decisions you make.  For example, do you seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) or do you seek first your own selfish desires?  The former is a house built on rock, the latter is a house built on sand.  Actually, Luke 6:48 suggests that both houses are built on sand but one house is dug deeper and its foundation based on rock.  As long as the storms are absent, your life is just fine.  But, sooner or later the storms come and they can be vicious.  You know what storms of life are like---significant loss (death, health, divorce, job, possessions, security, etc.), various crises (financial, family, illness, relationships, war, etc.), various emotional, mental and spiritual battles (addictions, doubt, fear, anger, failure, etc.), and so forth.  Have the decisions you have made in your life given you a foundation of faith and strength to face these storms and overcome them or given you a foundation of weakness and uncertainty that will result in a great crash?  Give serious thought and take serious action to make necessary changes to better assure yourself that your decisions from now on will provide a foundation of rock for the rest of your life. 

David Brinkley once said, “A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her”. 
The great coach John Wooden once said "The true test of a man's character is what he does when no one is watching."  The taller and greater is the building, the deeper is its foundation.  What is the basis of the foundation of your life? 

Treasures in heaven

Matthew 6:20 (NASB)

Instead, store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal

Jesus stated that you are not to store for yourself treasures upon earth, but rather store those treasures in heaven.  We all can agree with His reasons, that moth and rust will destroy (that is, material things are perishable) and that thieves break in and steal (material things are subject to theft that can include what we all are going through now with stock devaluations, recession, bankruptcies, faulty investments, and the like).

So what does it mean to store up treasures in heaven where you don’t have to worry about destruction or loss?  Treasures that Jesus is talking about are our affections, our hopes, and our actions towards others.  In Matthew 19:16-24, when the rich young ruler told Jesus that he had kept all the commandments that Jesus gave, Jesus then told him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor.  But note that He stated that by doing this, the man would have treasure in heaven.  So the act of giving enables treasures to be stored in heaven. 

Treasures are where your heart is.  If your treasure is on earth, your heart will experience unhappiness and disappointment.  If your treasure is in heaven, your heart will not be devastated by whatever happens on earth.   The famous missionary Jim Elliot understood the big picture. By sacrificing his life in an attempt to evangelize Ecuador’s Auca Indians, he became an illustration of his own words: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Jesus said in Luke 16:9 to use your worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.  All you have comes from the Lord.  You must use what you have for the good of others that brings glory to God.  You own nothing, you are a steward of God’s possessions and one day you will need to give account of what you have done with what God gave you.  However, while on earth, by being a good steward, you will be loved by others.  All of this is storing treasures in heaven.   

Think back over your life, perhaps your most recent weeks and months.  What have you done in your life that has stored treasures in heaven?  What have you done that would earn the affirmation from the Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant….” -- Matthew 25:21, 23?

Eight ways you will be blessed (be happy)

Matthew 5:3-10 (NIV)

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 

Jesus proclaimed that there are at least 8 ways that you can feel and be blessed.  The word He used for blessed (“makarios”) can mean “happy”, but Jesus used this word in a broader sense to reveal who possesses the favor of God and who is in the state of being in the fullness of God.  Each of these 8 beatitudes (Greek for happy) contrast the difference between what the world thinks brings blessings and what Jesus proclaims brings blessings. 

Jesus says that you are blessed if you are poor in spirit.  To be poor in spirit is when you recognize your spiritual poverty and your need for God.  The world says that you are blessed when you are self-confident and self-sufficient.  That attitude will bring you only temporary blessing.  To be poor in spirit means to have an attitude that you are not self-sufficient.  God cannot fill you with His love unless you are ready to empty yourself of self-sufficiency.  Being dependent on God enables you to be part of His kingdom of heaven that someday will be His kingdom on earth.   

Jesus says that you are blessed if you mourn.  This is not mourning because of the death of a loved one.  This is mourning or sorrow over the sin in your life and the sin in others that if not forgiven in Christ will lead to eternal damnation.  The world says that you find happiness when you seek pleasure for yourself.  Jesus says that your mourning will be blessed by the comfort He provides, not what the world provides.

Jesus says that you are blessed if you are meek.  Ha, says the world, you cannot be happy unless you are proud, powerful and important.  No, Jesus says that being meek is the right attitude you have toward others, that you do not assert your rights over others’, that you have given control of your life over to God and you along with all other meek people will inherit the earth.

Jesus says that you are blessed when you hunger and thirst for righteousness.  This simply means that you have a sincere desire to seek God, to be His child, and to practice His spiritual priorities.  The world says that you will be blessed if you are satisfied with what you have in the world, your possessions and talents.  No, you are truly blessed when you desire to know God and His will for your life and you will be filled with all that He has to offer that the world can never offer. 

Jesus says that you are blessed when you are merciful.  Being merciful means to be caring, forgiving and to love others as you love yourself.  The world will say that you are blessed only if you take care of yourself without any concern for others.  Jesus says that when you have sensitivity for the needs of others and feel their hurts, you will be blessed because of the mercy you in turn will receive from God.

Jesus says that you are blessed when you are pure in heart.  To be pure in heart is to desire holiness, to seek the truth of God and to avoid the lust of the flesh, the eyes and the boastful pride of life.  The world will say that those who are “adult”, sophisticated and broad-minded, and pretending to be someone you are not is the way to happiness.  To be pure in heart is to be completely open and honest to God and His presence in you radiates through you in positive ways to others. 

Jesus says that you are blessed when you are a peacemaker.  A peacemaker is someone who brings peace to others and, of course, has peace with God.  You do not lose your temper, you have self-control and you encourage others to work out their differences without hurting each other.  The world will say that blessed are those who are competitive and aggressive.  Lasting blessings happen when you bring peace to others and do not exacerbate aggressiveness. 

Finally, Jesus says that you are blessed when you are being persecuted for the sake of righteousness.  You will feel God’s favor when you stand up for what you believe without compromising your beliefs.  The world will say that people who want to be popular no matter what and don’t ever take stands are the happiest.  No, the Bible is clear that those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (II Timothy 3:12), yet such individuals solidify their place in the kingdom of heaven and this truth brings true “makarios”. 

What are your thoughts as you meditate over what is basically a contrast between God’s value system and the world’s value system?  Realize that what Jesus taught here challenges everything you may have been taught prior to becoming a Christian.  May all these blessings happen to you as you allow the Lordship of Christ to change what you value and who you become.