Lesson One

Ten Stupid Things Women Do To Mess Up Their Spiritual Lives

 

Introduction:

The popularity of Dr. Laura Schlesinger points out the need for American women in particular to discuss personal problems and have specific guidelines laid out for their lives. These "groupies" hang on Dr. Laura's every word and wouldn't dream of missing a broadcast of her radio program. The doctor is especially proud of her Jewish religion with its vast rules and way of life, and one would assume that because of this, she would have more than a passing knowledge of the Old Testament. I was listening to the program one afternoon when Dr. Laura was having a particularly hard time pronouncing the name of a caller which was apparently on her computer screen. After much fumbling with it, the caller finally helped her, explaining that his name was Malachi. I have 4th grade Sunday School class children who could have figured that out!

If the secular world can have their advisor and mentor, shouldn't the Christian world have their own "stupidity guidelines?" The Bible says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God..." Your spiritual life is far more important that your physical one.

Each one of our ten items has a Bible example; let's take a look at them:

 

1. Rob God (Acts 5:1-11)

Sapphira was given a chance to act independently of her husband even though she was privy to the scam. She blew her second chance and was found guilty of robbing God. Do you rob God?

A. Money --- A portion of all you earn belongs to God. Malachi 3:10

B. Time --- God is entitled to a portion of each of your days.
C. Talent --- The word "talent" seems to give people a reason to sit on idle. "I have no talent; I'm too old; I served when I was younger" are just a few of the reasons tossed about for not serving the Lord. Being selfish with your talent, abilities, and energy is a sure way to sabotage your spiritual life.

2. Be a "thorn in the flesh" to your husband (2 Sam. 6:16)

A. Michal loved David at one time. (1 Sam. 18:20,28)

B. She was given to another by her father Saul. (1 Sam. 25:44)
C. She returned to David possibly reluctantly. (2 Sam.3:13-16)

Despising, resenting, ridiculing, undermining your husband can have serious effects on your spiritual life. We are taught in (Tit. 2:5) to be obedient to our husbands, and if we behave according to God's word, we can be a crown to him, not a thorn. (Prov. 12:4)

Being a "thorn in the flesh" to your husband not only damages your spiritual life; it hurts his, too. 

3. Become too busy in the physical (Luke 10:38-42)

A. Martha was busy but not blessed. Can you relate? On that fateful April night so many years ago five warnings were telegraphed to Titanic. At the 6th warning the Titanic operator wired back, "Shut up, I'm busy!" See what happens when you're too busy to listen to God? Your ship sinks!

B. Stress and activity are signs of our time....people running to and fro as the spirit of the antichrist is with us now.
C. The Bible teaches us there is only one needful thing."One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple." (Psalms 27:4) 

4. Complain (Numbers 12:1,2)

A. God always hears. (Num. 14:27) I am reminded of the cartoon that shows a little boy praying, "I know you hear everything, God, but please don't believe everything you hear!"

B. Miriam is judged for her complaining by leprosy, a visual continual reminder of her complaining.
C. Through Moses' graciousness, she's healed but spiritually the scars remained. This woman, once a prominent part of God's plan, is not mentioned again until her death in (Ex. 20:1).
D. Continual complaining will drive a fatal stake in the heart of your spiritual life.
E. Paul admonishes us in Philippians regarding murmuring. "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" (Philippians 2:14,15). 

5. Ignore God's Word

"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Gen. 2:16,17) "But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." (Gen. 3:3)

A. First, Eve adds to God's word, then she ignores it completely with devastating consequences.
B. Reading your Bible and obeying its admonitions is essential to your spiritual health. Without it you're like a traveler in a foreign country without a roadmap.
C. Allow God to speak to you through prayer. "<<A Prayer of David.>> Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips." (Ps. 17:1) 

6. Cause trouble for God's annointed (1 Kings 18:4; 19:2)

A. Elijah troubled Ahab's house. Sometimes the preacher will trouble your house----that's his job!

B. In addition, Elijah challenged the prophets who ate at Jezebel's table. (18:19)
C. Jezebel's revenge - she went after Elijah with a vengeance. (19:1-3) Ahab tattled!
D. They picked on the wrong person. Don't mess with God's prophet. (2 Kings 9:30-37)
E. She gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "gone to the dogs!"
F. God gives explicit instructions in regard to His annointed. (Ps. 105:15)
G. David is the best example. (1 Sam. 26:9) "Destroy him not; for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's annointed and be guiltless?" 

7. Usurp the man's role (Gen. 27:6-10)

A. Rebekah in her zeal to circumvent Issac's authority and put her favorite son in a superior role, messed up God's plan for 20 years and robbed herself of the companionship of that son.

B. Look at the present ramifications of "Women's Liberation." Are we really better off? (Jer. 31:22)
C. God's order always works out better. (1 Cor. 11:7-9)
D. Do you want to mess up your spiritual life? Go ahead---be a man! 

8. Marry the wrong mate (1 Sam. 25:3)

A. Mrs. Billy Graham once said, "God has not always answered my prayers. If He had, I would have married the wrong man...several times!"

B. Abigail married an idiot who nearly got them all killed. He was on equal footing with Ahab!
C. Abigail honored her commitment and interceded for her foolish husband.
D. She lives "happily ever after" but not all stories end that way.
E. Look for the right characteristics in a mate. (2 Cor. 6:14) Forget about looks, money or social position.
    [1]. Common beliefs
    [2]. Similar upbringings
    [3]. Same goals

9. Worship other "gods." (Gen. 19:24-26)

A. The sole reason for Mrs. Lot to look back was her loyalty to other gods.

    [1]. May have been her beautiful home.

    [2]. May have been her social position.

    [3]. May have been her two daughters. (Yes, you can make gods out of your children!) (1 Tim. 6:6-8)

B. We live in an era when the worship of anything other than God is totally acceptable. (Rom. 1:24-25)
C. Perhaps Mrs. Lot was changed to salt because she wouldn't be the "salt" in her community. (Matt. 5:13) - "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be trodden under foot of men."

10. Feel sorry for yourself (Ruth 1:20-21)

A. Naomi may have forgotten why she was in this circumstance in the first place - they left Bethlehem and went to Moab, a land which worshipped false gods.

B. Many times our dire circumstances are a result of poor judgement.
C. Self-pity is a destructive tool of the devil to render you ineffective in God's work.
D. The anti-dote? (Phil. 4:8)
E. Remember, God had great blessings in store for Naomi; she just had to climb out of the well of "poor me" to receive them.

Any one of these ten mistakes can and will do damage to your spiritual life. You don't need Dr. Laura....you simply need a daily walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, even when all else is crumbling around you, your spiritual life will be healthy and thriving.


 

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