WAYS TO IMPROVE #1

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Belshazzar was weighed in the balances and found wanting. Dan.
      5:22-31
   B. If God was to weigh us in His balances, how would we stand?
      1. Would we be found with a surplus or would we be found
         wanting?
   C. It is good from time to time to resolve in our hearts to       
      improve in various things.
      1. The Psalmists often prayed for a revival. For example, Psalm
         85:6 says, "Will You not revive us again, that your people
         may rejoice in You?"
      2. We often need a revival. We need to improve ourselves.
      3. This is especially true in things which we might be lacking.
      4. It is good for all us to set basic goals (goals that we can
         actually meet) and work toward them.
   D. In this lesson we suggest some ways in which we can improve.

I. LET US STRIVE TO INCREASE OUR SPIRITUAL-MINDEDNESS.
   A. We should enrich our minds with proper thinking. Phil. 4:8
      1. Someone once said, "We should not make a sewer out of our ears,
         and a septic tank out of our hearts."
      2. Our world readily provides a sewer and septic tank for all
         who want them.
   B. One of the reasons God destroyed man in Noah's day was
      because the imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only  
      evil continually. Gen. 6:5
      1. Indeed, the heart is very hard to control. Jer. 17:9
      2. We must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience
         of Christ. 2 Cor. 10:5
      3. We need to set our minds on things above. Col. 3:1-2
      4. We need to mediate on spiritual things. Psalm 19:14
         a. Let us strive to develop a spiritual vocabulary, speaking
            words of edification which minister grace to the hearers.
            Eph. 4:29
         b. Consider the words of Boaz and how his servants
            replied. Ruth 2:4
      5. Those who are spiritual are more respected among their co-
         workers
         a. Some people might contend that religion has no place in
            the office, but a recent study proves otherwise. It might
            be to your advantage, the study concludes, if you
            profess your religious beliefs rather than keep silent
            about them. Professionals who actively expressed their
            religious beliefs were perceived to be more intelligent,
            more trustworthy, more moral, and better adjusted than
            those who did not. (From Roger Bailey and Philip
            Doriot, via Pulpit Helps)

II. LET US ATTEND EVERY SERVICE.
   A. Of course, this will not apply to most because they already    
      attend every service.
      1. For some reason unknown to me, some are not attending on
         Sunday nights and Wednesday nights.
      2. For those who are unfaithful in this matter, can you think  
         of a better way to improve during the coming year?
      3. It is our duty to attend every service. Heb. 10:25
   B. A preacher was once asked to define "Faithful Attendance at
      Worship," and this was his reply: "If your car started one out 
      of three times, would you consider it faithful? If the paperboy
      skipped Thursdays and Sundays, would they be missed? If you
      didn't show up at work two or three times a week, would your
      boss call you faithful? If your refrigerator quit a few days   
      now and then, would you excuse it and say, 'Oh, well, it works 
      most of the time.' If your water heater greets you with cold   
      water one or two mornings a week while you are in the shower, 
      would it be faithful? If you miss several mortgage payments in 
      a year's time, would your mortgage holder be pleased? If you   
      miss worship and attend meetings only often enough to show     
      you're interested, but not often enough to get involved, are   
      you faithful?" (From Illustrations Unlimited, by James S.      
      Hewett, p. 87, slightly adapted)
   C. The water spider lives at the bottom of muddy pools and has the
      distinctive power of ascending to the surface of the pool and
      there surrounding itself with a tiny bubble of air. Thus       
      enveloped, it descends to the sludge and ooze at the bottom of 
      the pool and remains there unsullied by its environment until  
      the air is exhausted. Then it rises again to the surface and   
      the process is repeated. (From Illustrations of Bible Truths,  
      Compiled by Ruth Peters, p. 66)
      1. Likewise, Christians find rejuvenation by worshiping
         regularly with the saints. Through Bible study, worship, and
         fellowship with those of like precious faith, they can      
         continue to be unsullied by the hostile environment of the  
         world.

III. LET US STORE OUR MINDS WITH SCRIPTURE.
   A. We all need nourishment for our souls, just as we need
      nourishment for our bodies. Matt. 4:4
      1. A study of the Scripture will build and increase our faith.
      2. The Scriptures produce patience, provide comfort, and give
         hope. Rom. 15:4
   B. Diligent Bible study seems to be a rare commodity today.
      1. It is a lost heirloom, time worn, and out of date.
      2. A preacher in a Meeting mentioned that he stayed in the
         home of an elder who didn't open his Bible during the whole
         week.
   C. Let us all determine and resolve to store our minds with
      Scripture. Psalm 1:1-3; James 1:25
      1. Bible study can be intriguing and challenging. Let us find a
         workable study plan, and stick with it.
      2. A man had three sons. He wanted to test their ability to
         discern; so he gave each of them a piece of an apple with a
         rotten spot on it. The first ate the whole thing; the second
         threw the whole thing away; and the third separated the bad
         and ate the good. The father noted that the third was the
         wisest, and explained, "When we receive instruction, some of
         us believe everything we hear; others reject everything
         because some is bad; but the wise separate the bad from the
         good and benefit from the good." (Author Unknown)

IV. LET US PROMOTE LOVE AMONG OUR BRETHREN.
   A. God commands us to love one another fervently with a pure
      heart. 1 Pet. 1:22
      1. Above all else, we should have fervent love for each other. 
         1 Pet. 4:8; Col. 3:14
      2. Love is one of the identifying characteristics of the Lord's
         disciples. John 13:34-35
   B. One way to show love is to be alert to the needs of others.
      1. Will we be like those on the judgment day who said, "Lord,
         when did we see you..." Matt. 25:41-46
      2. Often, we do not see the needs of others because we are not
         alert; we do not notice when they have needs.
   C. May the Lord help us to increase and abound in love. 1 Thess.
      3:12-13
      1. We should remember the love of Christ, and try to do
         likewise. 1 John 3:16
      2. A man driving on a dark highway one night accidentally
         stuck a hitchhiker who had been near the roadside. Hearing
         the sickening thud on his front fender, he stopped to see
         what had happened. When he saw the injured fellow on the
         ground, he wanted to jump into his car and drive away. But
         as he started toward his car door, the injured man moaned,
         "For the love of God, help me!" The driver resisted the
         fearful temptation and returned to help.
         a. Because of the love of God, let us love others.

V. LET US BECOME BETTER STEWARDS OF OUR MONEY.
   A. Let us work to arrange things in our lives so that through good
      stewardship we will have extra to give to those who have need.
      Eph. 4:28
      1. Laboring for this purpose, to be able to give to the needy, 
         is certainly an excellence taught only in the Scriptures.
      2. Often, it is through poor stewardship of our money that we
         barely have enough to make ends meet, much less, extra that
         we can give to those who have need.
   B. It is very easy to get entangled in money endeavors which      
      hinder our service to God. Luke 8:14
      1. Money often comes between us and God. Someone has said
         that you can take two coins and shut out the view of the
         landscape. Go to the mountains, and just hold two coins
         closely in front of your eyes. The mountains are still      
         there, but you cannot see them because the coins are        
         shutting out your vision. Similarly, it doesn't take large  
         quantities of money to come between us and God. Just a      
         little can shut out the proper vision for spiritual things.
   C. I am not encouraging one to become a miser, as one who hoards
      up for that "rainy day," which never seems to come.
      1. God wants us to enjoy the fruits of our labors. Eccl.  5:18
      2. However, it is very easy to place undue interest in money.
      3. Jesus said that we cannot serve God and mammon. Matt.
         6:24
         a. Consider Prov. 23:4-5.

Concl.
   A. Belshazzar, an evil king, was weighed in the balances and found
       wanting.
      1. He was slain that very night and his kingdom was given to
         another.
   B. Let us seek to improve in these various ways (chart below) so
      that we will not be found wanting before God.
      1. May God help us to improve, to do better, that we might
         measure up to what He requires of us.

Chart:
Ways To Improve
Increase our spiritual mindedness.
Attend every service.
Store our minds with Scripture.
Promote love among our brethren.
Become better stewards of our money.
Learn to pray more.
Continue to avoid the works of the flesh.
Be a happy people rejoicing in the Lord every day.
Improve our family relationships.
Seek to lead a soul to Christ.