From the Pen of Paul

Three Important Questions

In II Kings there is an interesting event in the life of the prophet Elisha. We are told about a "great woman" of Shunem who befriended Elisha by providing him a room with a bed, a table, a stool, and a candlestick so he could stay and rest when he was passing through. When Elisha inquired what he could do for this woman, he learned that she had no child, and her husband was old. Elisha promised her a son and she conceived and bare a son as Elisha had told her, according to the time of life (II Kings 4:8-17).

When the child was grown, "it fell on a day, that he went out to his father's reapers, and died (v. 18-20). The woman of Shunem carried the dead son into Elisha's room, shut the door and immediately went to seek the prophet (v. 21-24). When Elisha saw her afar off, he told Gehazi his servant to run to meet her and ask her three questions (v. 21-26). The questions asked her then are still questions that need to be asked of us today. They are vital, heart-searching questions. Those questions are:

(1) "Is it well with thee?" It is of utmost importance that each of us seeks to make things right for ourselves in the sight of God. Paul told Timothy, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (I Tim. 4:16). On the day of Pentecost, Peter urged, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). And Paul told the Philippians, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12). We cannot "Love your neighbor as thyself" (Matt. 22:39) until we first love ourselves. Until we have secured salvation for ourselves, it doesn't make a lot of sense to try to warn and save others. Jesus spoke of the Pharisees and scribes and called them "hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves" (Matt. 23:16). Speaking of hypocritical judging, Jesus commanded, "First cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" (Matt. 7:5). So, we ask the question of all who read these words: "Is it well with thee?" Have you obeyed the Gospel and are you striving to grow and be faithful in all things?

(2) "Is it well with thy husband" (spouse)? The second inquiry had to do with the woman's husband. Once we have secured salvation for ourselves, our interest should be in assisting our mates to secure the same salvation. It is difficult to live and be faithful without the assistance of a faithful mate. It can be done, but the way is much more difficult. All of us should seek the welfare and the salvation of the one closest to us. When two become "one flesh" our attention should be turned toward going to heaven together. Is it well with your husband or wife? Is (s)he a Christian? Are you living in such a way that (s)he may be won by your "chaste conversation coupled with fear" (I Pet. 3:1-6)? Wives, are you "subject to your husbands in every thing" (Eph. 5:24), and husbands, do you "love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5:25)?

(3) "Is it well with the child?" The third inquiry Elisha had Gehazi to make concerned the woman's child. "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right" (Prov. 20:11). And as parents, we are taught, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Prov. 22:6). "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4). "Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged" (Col. 3:21). Titus instructed the older women to "teach the younger women to "love their children." (Titus 2:4). Far too many homes are run by children today; kids, of a very young age, are permitted to make their own decisions, when in reality God has placed that responsibility upon the parents. Even though "no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Heb. 12:11).

Take a long and careful look at these questions concerning you and your family. If corrections need to be made, then by all means, make them as soon as possible that it might be well with you, your spouse, and your children! Note: If you want to know what happened to the dead son, read this interesting story in II Kings 4.
—Paul Wilmoth

From the Preacher's Viewpoint. . .

"Ye shall know them by their fruits"

Can you tell what is in the heart of a person by the way he looks? The Pharisees were deceptive by their look. They wanted people to think they were very humble and sincere in their service to God (Matt. 6:16). You cannot tell how sincere and religious one is by his demands in religion. The hypocritical Pharisees laid heavy burdens or commandments on men but they would not lift their finger to do them (Matt. 23:3). One cannot tell how pious and devout a person is even though he is lifted high before the congregation and placed in a high seat (Matt. 23:4-6).

You cannot tell how devoted to God a person is by his religious vesture or clothing (Matt. 23:5). This can be clearly seen by the Roman Catholic hierarchy. We cannot tell how deeply devoted one may be by the humble, pious sound of one's voice (Matt. 23:14). Some judge preachers for their low tones and beautiful speeches while in the pulpit. They seem to think that goodness is in the tone of one's voice. But this is not so (Rom. 16:17-18). You cannot tell how serious and good one is by tears shed. Jimmy Swaggart is a good example of this as well as Judas Iscariot (Matt. 26:49-50). Some are quick to say, "He is a good man and everyone loves him." Is this one way to know of the goodness of an individual? What did Jesus say (Luke 6:26)?

Some folks go around talking about God's faithful preachers and teachers. They say: he has the sweetest voice, or he is so humble, or he is so kind, or he never raises his voice, or everyone loves him, or he is a good community worker, or he talks about church, or he never gets into controversy in religion, or he believes religion is a personal thing and each person should decide for themselves, etc. How did Jesus say we would know about a person? "Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matt. 7:16).
—Malcolm L. Hill

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