Economic Growth (6)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12.21
Not a cakewalk
Advancing the Kingdom economy is not exactly a cakewalk. It’s hard work, like running a marathon, going to war against spiritual adversaries, cultivating a field, or embarking on a long and arduous journey. We may expect to encounter many obstacles and challenges along the way as we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Indeed, some of these will arise from within our own souls, as the lingering law of sin continues to exert its nefarious powers upon our hearts, minds, and consciences. Other challenges will come from well-meaning believers, who’ll think you’re getting just a little too serious about this discipleship thing. Still others will come from those who oppose the Gospel, as well as from the pervasive presence of sin throughout the various institutions of our culture and society.Jesus warned us that in this world we would have trouble (cf. Jn. 16.33). Paul said all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will know trouble and persecution (2 Tim. 3.12). As surely as we have received the gift of saving faith, so we can expect to know the gift of suffering (Phil. 1.29).
So there will be no lack of evil to confront us along the path as we labor to advance the Kingdom economy in ourselves and our world.
We must neither run from these challenges nor give in to them. Instead, advancing the Kingdom economy requires that we face evil head-on, and determine to overcome it by good works of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14.17-19).
Levels of opposition
We can expect to engage this part of Kingdom-seeking at various levels, beginning in our own souls.
Here is a call to become more consistent at recognizing and resisting temptation and rejoicing in the face of trials and difficulties. We will fall through temptation into sin if we don’t have in place strategies for resisting the devil and staying the course with righteousness. But we can grow through temptation and trial if we seek the Lord, rejoice in Him, rest in His Word, and draw on the indwelling power of His Spirit to stay focused on Jesus and walking in His path.We can also expect to confront evil in others.
Here we have a duty to try to help our brothers and sisters in the Lord to break free from the grip of sin and press on in righteousness. Christian love requires that we confront wayward brethren in love, like Paul did Peter in Antioch (cf. Gal. 2.11-14). If we turn our back on sin in the lives of our fellow disciples, we actually do harm to the cause of Kingdom growth. But if, through gracious confrontation, we are able to pull a believer back from dalliance in sin, then we shall have helped him overcome evil and be better equipped to serve the Lord more effectively.Then there will be plenty of evil around us in the culture and society of our day.
We must be prepared both to resist and speak against the practice of wickedness, and to show the way to righteousness, justice, and conduct that pleases the Lord in every area of life. So we must become students of good works, and of how the good works for which we have been redeemed (Eph. 2.10) should come to expression in every area of life. And we must encourage our fellow believers, in every area of life, to pursue those good works which glorify God in all their ways (Heb. 10.24).
Overcome evil with good
Paul instructs us to overcome the evil of our lives and times with specific good works, those which accord with the Law of God, the example of Jesus, and the teaching of the apostles.
Jesus promised that we would shine like a city on a hill if we live out our good works for all to see, and Paul insisted that we should make our good works conspicuous as part of our calling to follow Jesus (Matt. 5.13-16; 1 Tim. 5.25). The Law of God, Paul insisted, is holy and righteous and good (Rom. 7.12). We are not saved by the Law; however, having been saved, the Law of God is established for us as the standard of the divine economy for all good things (Rom. 3.31)
As disciples of Jesus and stewards of His Kingdom economy, believers must be diligent in the practice of every good work. We must become, as Paul put it, “devoted” to good works (Titus 3.8, 14). This, he explained, is the way to be fruitful and to meet the urgent needs of our day. And this will require daily meditation in the holy and righteous and good Law of God (cf. Ps. 1).
If we’ll do this, we will be ready, every day, to battle evil with good works of righteousness and love.
For reflection or discussion
1. Give some examples of why living for Christ in the divine economy is “not a cakewalk.”
2. What’s the difference between falling through temptation and growing through it? What’s the key to getting it right when temptation arises (cf. 1 Cor. 10.13)?
3. Suggest some positive ways Christians can help one another face up to sin in their lives and get busy working to overcome it.
Next steps—Preparation: Where do you typically encounter obstacles or opposition to the progress of the divine economy? How do you deal with this? How can believers help one another in this matter? Use these questions in an extended season of prayer, waiting on the Lord to help you prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast begins a series of readings in our book, If Men Will Pray. Our Crosfigell teaching letter wraps up its brief series on the early 6th-century Irish saint, Coemgen. In our daily Scriptorium column, we are working our way through Matthew’s gospel, studying the coming of the Kingdom of God. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
