Elder Ko Swee Chay

                                                                                          Walk with God in God’s Way
                                                                                                 (Part 3A of 3)

Introduction

Part 1 of 3 of this article printed in Pandan News Weekly on 10 July 2016 covered five aspects of walking with God, namely: "walk in all His ways"; "walk in the light"; "walk in newness of life"; "walk in the Spirit" and "walk by faith". Part 2 of 3 of this article printed on 11 Sept 2016 covered the next five aspects, namely: "walk as children of light"; "walk circumspectly"; "walk in love"; "walk in truth" and "walk in wisdom".

This Part 3A of 3 covers 3 more aspects, namely:

1. "walk uprightly" (Ps 15:2, Prov 10:9);

2. "walk humbly" (Mic 6:8);

3. "walk honestly" (1 Thess 4:12, Rom 13:13).

To recap, in the Bible, "walking" is used symbolically or figurativelyto indicate a believer’s relationship with God, his spiritual state, how he lives, and how he conducts his life in a consistent and transparent manner. Walking with God ought to be according to God’s prescribed way and standard as given in the Holy Scriptures in order to be accepted of God and that we do not walk in vain.

1. Walk uprightly

"He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart." (Ps 15:2). "He that walketh uprightly, walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known." (Prov 10:9).

God wants His redeemed children to live holy lives. The standard for living a holy life comes from God, given in His revealed Word, the Bible. Ps 15:2 and Prov 10:9 give the standard to "walk uprightly", that is, to be an upright person.

A born again Christian who walks uprightly exhibits the following traits and virtues:

- he makes the Word of God the standard and rule of his life: in his thinking, words, actions and relationships with others;

- he walks in the sincerity, integrity, and uprightness of his heart according to God’s Word and truth, both before God and men;

- he speaks the truth in his heart to people, he doesn’t double-talk – "yea be yea and nay be nay" (2 Cor 1:17; James 5:12);

- he loves and exercises righteousness, in that he is conscientiously honest and just in all his dealings and transactions, faithful and fair to all the people he works with;

- he guards and keeps his heart sound, pure and clean;

- he has the testimony of a good conscience, there is no guile in him.

Such an upright man "walks surely", meaning securely, confidently and safely. He has nothing to fear and worry about in his daily walk. On the other hand, he who walks in the broad way, refusing to be ruled by God’s Word and standard as the upright man but strays into crooked paths, whose way is folly and wickedness, craftiness and deceitfulness, shall surely be exposed and made known, if not in this life, it will be in the final judgment.

2. Walk humbly

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD required of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Mic 6:8).

In Micah chapter 6, the LORD pleads with Israel. In verses 1 to 5 the LORD put forth His controversy (case) against His chosen people, the Israelites. In verses 6-7, the people of Israel responded with a series of pointed questions: "Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow thyself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my first born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" In response to God’s displeasure, the people of Israel sarcastically asked if God would be appeased by religious rituals, offerings and sacrifices. In verse 8, the LORD answered the people of Israel "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good;" – from what God had showed to Israel through various Prophets, they should already have known the answer to their questions. The LORD then reiterated that what He required of them is simply "to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." Theoretical and ritualistic religion cannot be of God. A true relationship with God is always accompanied by a righteous and merciful relationship with all men.

"to do justly" – In Israel during the time of Micah, injustice, oppression, violence, bullying and deception were common problems: "And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppressed a man and his house, even a man and his heritage." (Mic 2:2); "Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth." (Mic 6:11-12). Sadly the judicial system in Israel failed to pass fair judgement and protect the innocent and the oppressed (Mic 3:1-3). The audience of Micah would understand this phrase as living with a spiritual discernment of just and unjust, good and evil, right and wrong, truth and falsehood.

"to love mercy" - Along with justice and fairness, Israel was told to love mercy, meaning to show compassion and loving-kindness toward others, just as the LORD has shown mercy and loving-kindness to them repeatedly. We know that both justice and mercy are the characters of God, "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face." (Ps 89:14). God delights in showing mercy to His people (Mic 7:18).

"to walk humbly with thy God" – This involves living in humility and obedience to God’s Word and will. It is a description of the attitude of the heart and lowliness of mind in relating to God. We must humble ourselves to walk with God. He is the Creator and Ruler of heaven and earth. He is our Maker, Redeemer and Saviour. We need to always remember that it is by His grace and mercy that we can remain on earth after salvation and are able to work and to acquire wealth. Instead of claiming credit and taking pride in our achievements, and our service and offerings to God, we should humbly acknowledge that all things belong to God. All that we are and all that we have come from God. We depend on Him rather than on our own abilities and strengths.

Micah’s message is pertinent for us today. The LORD has made His requirements abundantly clear. He wants us to be just, fair and merciful toward others and to walk humbly with Him. We have to recognise and realise that no amount of personal sacrifices, church and mission works, tithe and offerings, and no matter how extravagant our religious rites and worship service, they can never replace a heart committed to fairness, justice, mercy and humility. The response of a God-centred and God-honouring heart is therefore to do justice, to love and exercise mercy, and to walk humbly with God. We need to ask ourselves: Are we fair and right in treating fellow men? Do we show mercy to people who offend and hurt us? Are we humble before God? Are we humble in dealing with people inside and outside the church?

3. Walk honestly

"That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." (1 Thess 4:12).

"Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying." (Rom 13:13).

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, apostle Paul reminded the brethren in the Thessalonian church on how they ought to please God. They have been given the commandments: abstain from fornication, don’t defraud their brother and love one another and the people in Macedonia. He also urged them to "increase more and more" and commanded them to "study (aspire) to be quiet", and "to do own business", and "to work with their own hands". (1 Thess 4:1-11). In 1 Thess 4:12, Paul told them to "walk honestly" toward those people who are "without", and that they may "have lack of nothing".

The word "honestly" is not to be understood according to our modern usage. It is used here to mean "honourably," "creditably," "decently," or "properly". The phrase "walk honestly" means to behave honourably, in a manner befitting a Christian; in good credit and reputation. If we are true Christians, we ought to live an outward life that is consistent with whom we are on the inside. There should be no pretence in our lives. If we say we are saved, we should live as though we are saved. We are to be sure that our conduct and practice match our faith and belief.

The word "without" literally means "outside" or "out of doors", figuratively referring to "those who are away or outside from faith in Jesus Christ"; in other words, it refers to those outside the Christian Church that are without Christ and hope.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible rightly states: "It does not refer here to mere honesty in the transaction of business, but to their general treatment of those who were not professing Christians. They were to conduct themselves toward them in all respects in a becoming manner - to be honest with them; to be faithful to their engagements; to be kind and courteous in their conversation; to show respect where it was due, and to endeavor in every way to do them good."

The phrase "have lack of nothing" means self-sufficiency and not having to beg from others for the supply of your needs, to be no man’s dependents. Barnes' Notes on the Bible gives a good explanation: "It is the duty of a Christian so to live as not to be dependent on others, unless he is made so by events of divine Providence which he cannot foresee or control. No man should be dependent on others as the result of idle habits; of extravagance and improvidence; of the neglect of his own business, and of intermeddling with that of others. If by age, losses, infirmities, sickness, he is made dependent, he cannot be blamed, and he should not repine at his lot." Paul in 2 Thess 3:10-12 reiterates again this point of working with your own hands to meet your own needs: "...this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread."

The exhortation of Paul in 1 Thess 4:11-12 is that when we aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind our own business and to work with our own hands as commended, and not be busybodies in other man’s matter, we will not have to beg from others for the supply of our needs. We may then walk honourably in the unbelieving world, and be a powerful testimony to the non-Christians, receiving their approval and admiration. We would be more effective when we share the gospel with them.

In Rom 13:13, Paul also calls upon the believer to "walk honestly, as in the day". That is to live a life that is honest, upright and pure which needs no concealment; a life that is open and transparent as in the day, nothing hidden;a life that is pleasing and acceptable and bringing honour and glory to God. Paul went on to focus on the prohibitions that Christians should abstain from, three categories of sins of the flesh that were prevalent in Paul's day:

"not in rioting and drunkenness" - varied forms of intemperance; denoting revellers in general. Rioting refers to wild partying with eating, drinking, dancing, sexual orgies, brawling, etc. Drunkenness refers to habitual and intentional intoxication.

"not in chambering and wantonness" - varied forms of sexual sins. Chambering points to definite acts, "to go to bed with someone". It refers to fornication and adultery. Wantonness is tied to chambering and refers to unbridled, uninhibited sexual desire and activity.

"not in strife and envying" - varied forms of that venomous feeling between man and man which reverses the law of love. Strife refers to troubles or conflicts between two people or groups, to a mind-set that seeks its own way first and foremost without considering the impact and implication to others. It speaks of those people who are argumentative and confrontational. Envying refers to the feeling of wanting something that someone else has. It is an attitude of the heart that seeks everything self wants without regard for the impact upon the lives of others.

These sins of the flesh are prevalent in our day as well. They can be found in the world as well as the church. I pray and hope that none of the members and worshippers of Calvary Pandan B-P Church are indulging in these sins.

We as Christians must be careful to conduct and behave ourselves well, to walk uprightly, humbly and honestly in all that we say and do, so that others may see Christ in us. Weare, therefore, to regularly examine and reflect on our own lives especially before those who are still outside God’s kingdom. Will our interactions and dealings with others, our conduct in the work place, our activities in business, and all areas of our relationships be assessed by others to be "walking uprightly, humbly and honestly? Or will they find indecency, unethical and immoral practices, hypocrisy, corruption and deception? We should regularly check our motives, words and actions to see if we are unblameable and unreproveable before God. AMEN.

References:

a. Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

b. Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

c. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

d. John Gills Exposition of the Bible

e. Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary

f. The Sermon Note Book THE BELIVER’S SPIRITUAL DUTY Romans 13:11-14 By Alan Carr 2003

g. Got Questions Ministries – "What does it means to do justly, love mercy and walk humb