CONSIDER

Text: Ecc.7:13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

Introduction. As a boy and as a young man, my father often challenged me thus," God put that bump on your head for something beside a place to hang your hat. THINK!"
How sad it is that while we applaud those who apply their cognitive powers to understanding and solving the problems of life [inventions in medicine, industry, etc.], there seems to be an emphasis on the emotional in the realm of spiritual, often to the exclusion of the pragmatic. We must know that our God is a practical God and that He did, indeed place that bump on our shoulders for something besides a place to hang our hats.

I. As Children of God we must approach this consideration, contemplation, deliberation, and reflection ,with a mind made new. Otherwise we shall only reach the conclusions common to the lost world.
I Cor.2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Phil.2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

A. This mind is guided by the Will of God as expressed in the Word of God.
Col.1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col.3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

B. This approach to reality is disconcerting to the lost!
Mark 5:15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

II. Note a few of the things we are told to contemplate.
A. That He is the Creator and ONLY God.
Deut.4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Job 37:14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
Psalm 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

B. That this great God is aware of and cares about the welfare of His creatures.
Deut.8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

C. Judge and learn from His dealing with nations in the past.
Deut.32:7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.
8 When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

D. He desires that we even learn from the natural world.
Pro.6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Mat.6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

E. Ponder the utter folly and futility of turning from god to idols [fleshly desires]
Jer.2:10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
1. Know the judgment that will result from backsliding!
Psalm50:21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

F. Give thought to the prophecies of the Word of God
Dan.9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

G. Consider the folly of sowing to the flesh.
Hag.1:5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

II. The ultimate object of our consideration
Heb.3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

A. His faithfulness
Heb 3:2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

B. That he established His House [Church]
Heb 3:3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

C. Consider the suffering of our Lord.
Heb.12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

III. What will be the result of such consideration?
A. It will lead to a righteous life.
Pro.23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:

B. It will cause a spiritual testimony.
Matt.12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

C. It will insure a peaceful mind and a thankful heart in the midst of a mad, carnal world.
Phil.4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.