September 06, 2014 Bible Study — Avoid the Appearance of Impropriety

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 22:22-23

    Those who exploit the poor and use the courts to oppress the needy will face God’s judgement. The poor may not have the means to resist the efforts of the wealthy and the needy may be unable to mount a defense in court, but God will bring ruin on those who take advantage of this fact.

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Psalm 50:1-23

    God appreciates when we make offerings to Him. Giving of our wealth pleases Him. However, He does not need our money nor our resources. What He truly desires is that we serve Him. If we refuse to follow God’s commands, if we approve of the actions of thieves and adulterers, if we speak evil and lies, if we slander those closest to us, God will not be bought off by offerings and sacrifices. What God truly desires from us is that we be thankful for what He has given us, that we follow the path He has shown us. Let us live righteously, then, and only then, God will approve of our sacrifices and offerings.

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2 Corinthians 8:16-24

    This passage reminds us of the importance of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety when handling money donated for charitable use. Even Paul, for all of his stature in the early Church, was careful to make sure that he was accompanied by people who were not beholden to him while he transported monies donated for the relief of the believers in Jerusalem. He was careful to make sure that not only did he do what was right in the sight of God, but in the sight of man as well.
    This lesson is all too often forgotten by those entrusted with monies intended to do God’s work, and sometimes by those who give those monies, it is just as important that we be seen to be handling that money appropriately as it is to be actually doing so. When doing the Lord’s work it is just as important to avoid the appearance of impropriety as it is to avoid impropriety. One of the reasons it is important to avoid the appearance of impropriety is that it is all too easy to slip into misusing funds, or other improprieties, when no one can see if we are doing something inappropriate.

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Song of Solomon 1-4:16

    The Song of Solomon is a celebration of sexual love between a man and a woman. It speaks of the sensual nature of such love, but it emphasizes the importance of waiting until the time is right to experience such love. The time is right when both parties are captivated solely by the other. Not captivated in the sense we usually use the term when discussing sexual love, but captivated as in captured and unwilling to risk losing the other person. The right time for sexual love is when both parties are unwilling to consider other sexual partners for fear of losing/weakening their relationship with the one that matters.
    This passage also tells us that the appropriate place for sexual love is in private, not hidden from others, but reaching fulfillment when in private.