Watch Out! Be Careful Who (or What) You Listen to.

December 11, 2018

Watch Out! Be Careful Who (or What) You Listen to.

Romans 16:17–18

Ryan Moret

Central Truth

Thanks to technology these days, we all have unlimited access to opinions and worldly information at our fingertips. Be sure you are rooted in truth so that you can "spot the lie" in how our culture informs us.

Final Instructions and Greetings

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites,^{1

16:18
Greek their own belly} and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Footnotes

[1] 16:18 Greek their own belly

Paul is wrapping up his letter in Romans with an urgent request. It really is not a complicated one, but it is oh so important. All Paul wants them to do is to not forget what they have already learned. He knows that as soon as we turn our backs, temptations and lies come swooping in.

We have unprecedented and unlimited access to a wealth of worldly knowledge, but it is up to us to sort the truth from the lies. You can't make it through a social media app or website without finding "99 Life Hacks to Make You Happier," or someone ranting and raving about a new product that is guaranteed to change your life. Netflix and YouTube are full of documentaries and channels of people out experiencing the world and various cultures to discover what it means to be happy or to "find yourself."

Here’s the best news: God has not left us to figure it out on our own. He has equipped us and provided everything we need to sort out lies and to be rooted in truth. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we learn that "[a]ll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." That is to say, the answers to the questions that we seek are provided in God's Word. Additionally, God has provided the Holy Spirit to convict us and guide us to recognize where we need to rely more on Him and less on ourselves. In John 14:26, Jesus tells us that the Spirit is here to teach us all things and to remind us what Christ has said.

If we discipline ourselves to a daily devotion to God's Word and prayerful obedience to the Spirit, then we can know (God's Word tells us!) that we can "spot the lie" the world is feeding us and remember the true wisdom His Word provides. We cannot spot the lie, though, without first knowing the truth.

This month's memory verse

The Example of Christ

1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

– Romans 15:1

1. Have you accepted God's Word as true and applicable in its entirety? What does this look like in your life?

2. How are you watching out for false prophets and lies in your life?

3. What are you feeding your mind and heart on a daily basis? Do you spend more time consuming information from the world or consuming truth from God's Word?

4. Are you speaking truth when providing advice to those around you? Is your advice based solely on experience and opinion rather than being rooted in Scripture?

5. When making hard decisions, where/to whom do you turn for wisdom?

6. Try playing "Spot the Lie" the next time you are watching TV, a movie, or while flipping through social media. Look for something in the advertising or the story that you might instinctively want to believe is true, but from a biblical standpoint does not hold up.