“Let the things that are clear in Scripture control your thinking rather than the things that are unclear.”

@johnong2655

2 жыл бұрын

That simplifies things a lot, we don't need confusion. Christians now get into a lot of unnecessary debate, some even try to deconstruct the scripture. I think this also ties in with Romans 14 and Matthew 5:37.

@that_guy_that

Жыл бұрын

12:26

@tomy8339

Жыл бұрын

That's brilliant! And so very true.

@didiernsengiyumva3701

Жыл бұрын

All Scripture is needed to be in full potential against false teachings, deceptions of the enemy and human thoughts. In case something is unclear, I believe with searching in the Bible and asking the Lord Jesus Christ, He will reveal the truth to us.

@eggxecution

5 ай бұрын

nice

I always understood it to mean that we should not be so self-righteous that we think we're so good that we can judge others' deeds. Overly righteous in our thinking about ourselves... thinking that as a born again Christians we are free to condemn others because we got here and they haven't yet.

Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 10:27, “The fear of the Lord prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Another thing I think of when reading that verse is how essential it is to put our faith in God’s mercy made manifest in Christ ahead of our own efforts. We will never be righteous enough on our own, so we should just do our best while fully relying on Him to be our righteousness in the end. “[Christ] rendered virtue subservient to direct faith.” -The Nestorian Stele

I understand these verses to mean: do not fall into the trap of making righteousness or wisdom your aim; do not forsake them as worthless and dive head first into wickedness. That is, do not say, "I will be the wisest, most righteous person possible--knowing more and doing more than anyone else." Neither say "Both the righteous and wicked die the same death so, I may as well do as I please." Rather than seeking these things as an end themselves, fear God and seek him. For the Lord will teach those who fear him both righteousness and wisdom and will keep them from evil.

@xavierthomas5835

2 жыл бұрын

Hallelujah for the righteousness and wisdom of God in you. He sustains and he graces us with his Spirit, thus are we satisfied.

@OragansDAristilde_TheChristian

Жыл бұрын

It's good to be the most righteous and most wisest mere man yet, with faith in Jesus Christ. God helps me to do that through the Holy Trinity especially through God the Holy Spirit. God help us to be like Jesus!

Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books because I find it so relatable. I think it's the kind of thinking I slide to(or held as an agnostic) when I've spent too much time out in the world and it's Godless, hopeless perspective starts to affect me. Everything starts to look silly, like a bunch of people playing arbitrary, interchangeable parts, but there seems to be a preference for one condition over another. Or is there? It doesn't seem that way to me, or the author at first glance. But after all of the writer of Ecclesiastes' musings, he eventually concludes keeping God's commandments are best since He will judge everything that has been done. I think the writer's conclusion basically takes back on his hopeless perspective, though he says all these things can look a certain way and I think they are observations that are hard to ignore.

@xavierthomas5835

2 жыл бұрын

I also have great love for Ecclesiastes. It definitely takes on a more dour, sober world view, though I believe it is only because it mainly talks about the way the things that happen in the world inform our day to day life, rather than how God affects our day to day life. For instance, it talks of a time for everything, which we know is appointed by God. However, it takes that point and shows how every work upon the earth is preordained and must needs come to pass as it has been written. Thus, sorrow ensues because nothing can be avoided and it doesn't matter who you are or how you act. Your point, though, becomes the center point for the entire book, though it is the smallest part.

Amen, and Amen 🙏🏾 And I'll add, if we are truly righteous with the righteousness of God in Christ, we'll never be in a bad sense, as is stated, *excessively righteous* 🙌🏾 The Holy Spirit is our Moderator/moderation

To me, it sounds kinda like, “Don’t be a perfectionist, for it’ll cause you great amounts of pain.” But I could be misinterpreting. I’m no wise woman. 😂

I will have to listen to this many a times... Very Hard to understand...but thanks very much.

@theresaread72

2 жыл бұрын

Piper is always hard to understand. He takes easy to understand scriptures and makes them hard to understand. You have the Holy Spirit and the Bible! Don’t let John Piper talk you out of the clear meaning of Scripture. It’s not you who is misunderstanding. Bible teachers should make the Bible easier, so we can live it, and teach it to others. A straight forward Bible Teacher is Joe Schimmel of GoodFightMinistries KZread and his church, Blessed Hope Chapel KZread, or Just trust the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth!

@Music-tf1yn

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve been listening to John Piper for 15 years and I have to agree, however his earlier works like danger of drifting or running with the witness are classics also Tim Keller is friends with John Piper but easier to understand

@Monke_boi13

10 ай бұрын

@@theresaread72I’ve never understood none of his teachings and I’ve watched many vids I think he needs to get straight to the point

@Saintdoux

27 күн бұрын

@@theresaread72Hello, I think It is not a good Idea to tell people to stop listening to piper, we have to Know that Some men are given a gift to Explain scriptures easily, others are Given to explain scriptures Hardly, all of those gifts are from God. 2 Peter 3:15-16 : And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, (2 Peter 3:15, ESV) as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:16, ESV)

This question is a reminder to not read and try to interpret any book, chapter, and verse on its own, but to read the Bible comprehensively and compare verses so that you can understand what's written in one place by applying what's written in another place because God inspired ALL of the Bible so nothing is contradictory but it is all consistent and useful for wisdom in our daily living when we apply it correctly. Ecclesiastes is a book written by Solomon from the observations, perspectives, and lessons he learned from having tried to find meaning and fulfillment in life apart from God, and in that sense, it's one of the most practical and helpful books in all the Bible in steering you away from worldly hedonism and idolatry, but also insanity, hopelessness and self-dependence. Therefore, while God did inspire it in providence by teaching Solomon these things, it is not a book of commands in which we do this or that, but rather it is a book of principles to think deeply about and apply to the commands we see throughout scripture. That being said, in the context of Ecclesiastes 7:15-18, the issue is the futility of human wisdom and Solomon is responding to his observation that everybody dies, both the righteous and the wicked, the young and the old, with not his own mindset and suggestions but with the mindset and suggestions of someone who is worldly, who is only living with their mind on preserving their life on earth, and who doesn't believe in the total sovereignty of God, which Solomon does. (Ecclesiastes 6:10-11 NLT- 10) Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny. 11) The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?) Such a person would respond to the inevitably and suddenness of death by trying to maneuver in a way that they think may best preserve their life which seems something like trying to find a gray area when it comes to behavior in society and dealing with the law and people. So Solomon says verses 17-18 sarcastically or in the form of a question from their point of view: "If I'm only concerned about preserving my life and I don't think God is sovereign over that but rather I myself ultimately decide when I die, shouldn't I do my best to not walk in a straight line but live instead with situational ethics like dodging obstacles? Should I try to be not "too good" (which biblically and logically is not even possible because no one is sinless or can make their self such) but also not "too bad" so I don't get the death penalty or something? Yes, I should go through my whole life trying to appease and avoid whoever I need to in a situation so that i don't get on the wrong person's bad side. That way I will live longer." Solomon understands that such a person is ungodly and unwise, which is why he says in verse 18 to pay attention to what he said at the beginning and his instruction throughout the book so that you will avoid those extremes or that worldy, illogical way of thinking. The truth is, God is sovereign and has already decided when you will die and we cannot know for sure when that will happen in order to maneuver ourselves out of it, so since we know the day is coming at some point and after that we will stand in Judgment, we should do as Jesus said in Matthew 6:24-34, and interestingly enough, Solomon is mentioned in that passsage. Don't be obsessed about trying to meet all your material, physical needs so as to preserve your life to enjoy more pleasure on earth, but trust the Lord, seek to obey him and advance his Kingdom as much as you can, and he will give you everything you need to serve him and complete your assignment on earth and finally die at your appointed time with no need for fear, regret, shame, or disappointment because you will die with eternal life. If you seek to preserve your life for your flesh's sake like the person with the mindset in Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 then you will lose it, but if you surrender your life to follow Jesus, you will gain it. Sorry for how wordy this response is if you read it, but hopefully it is compelling and helpful to you as it has been to me. 🙏

@xavierthomas5835

2 жыл бұрын

This is so true and I love the way you've interpreted this scripture. By interpretation, I would rather the mean the dispensation of God toward you in this word. This qould be one of those situations where God is talking about the wise and prudent, as Christ said when he was talking about those who recieved the Kingdom. Wisely enough, God also speak about the Pharisees, and with how they made themselves more righteous than everyone else, yet were more unrighteous than all.

@iahmarielle

2 жыл бұрын

hi i’m responding to this so i can go back to your comment:)

@brave4not

Жыл бұрын

@@iahmarielle me too

@xXDamolaXx

Жыл бұрын

Me three

@phieble

Жыл бұрын

@John 3:19 Yahweh, who is THE only God is sovereign and perfect and therfore will not and CANNOT change his plans. To do so would mean that something happened that didn't go according to his plan and was outside of his authority, power, or wisdom to stop, or he later thought of something that he didn't know before in order to make an improvement which would make him not sovereign and omniscient (all-wise). God has revealed loudly and clearly who he is in the Bible, so I beg you PLEASE read it comprehensively and get to know him more rather than making presumptions about who he is and what he will and won't do. There are some things that God in fact cannot do because they would essentially make him not God. 19) God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? - Numbers 21:19 10) Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny. - Ecclesiastes 6:10 9) Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. 10) Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. - Isaiah 46:9-10 30) No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the LORD. 31) The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. - Proverbs 21:30-31 13) “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.” - Isaiah 43:13

Thank you for the learning experience

Basically what Jesus said I think fits here, and these two laws sum up the law and the prophets, love the Lord thy God with all thy heart soul mind and strength and love your neighbor as thyself, don't focus so much on what not to do, submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you, think more on God's righteousness, and then in doing so you'll become more righteous.

I read overly righteous like this "do not take credit for your wisdom and righteousness" as its all a gift from God and not of your own doing which easily becomes prideful and you start thinking yourself better than others which is what Jesus warned us about (Pharisee intentions)

Great one :) ! Amen

I believe this applies to individuals in the church who make it their aim to correct every flaw/sin in other believers. There's a type of believer that has to correct every error, even if minor, in a preacher's sermon or give a rebuke to a believer who confesses a fault of theirs that they are working on. Because this type of person, other Christians don't want to be around... thus "destroying themself".

@rhiko7

Жыл бұрын

Here's where I can't draw a line between rebuking someone and being overly righteous? How'd I know if I'm acting in a manner that pleases God or not?

🙏🏾✝️🦁🩸 LIVE HOLY AND KEEP ALL JESUS COMMANDMENTS

It mean’s candidly that righteous people can get sick and die early before their time while an evil doer goes on to old age…. I have seen that even in my 45 years.

I think he meant "do not aim to be perfect, nor let yourself be overcome by wickedness"

@devionl5487

Жыл бұрын

Basically saying be balanced. Seek the spirit rather than the flesh, lining up with God’s will

I think it highlights the real danger of death and pain associated with trying to live a righteous life. Many people who try to do the right thing end up hurt and it is a lie to deny that. It's not bliss, and many people know that they have cut corners to avoid death or serious injury. Samuel asked permission. To use deception when he wanted to anoint David. If he wanted to be totally straight forward, there was a real risk of death for him and David, maybe more for him because David survived the attempts on his life. I think while we aim to be perfect in righteousness, we should acknowledge the risk, like Daniels three friends, God might want you in Heaven.

@johary2966

6 ай бұрын

Makes sense

help us to be righteous in you Lord

Hey When I hear that verse and look at it from the perspective that Ecclesiastes was written by the preacher king solomon who realized when you are overly righteous there is not much benefit on this earth by being one. because on this earth bad things happen to the righteous just like it happens to the wicked, so he is dreading the fact that the righteous die and also the unrighteous, and alot of times it seems as if the righteousness go through alot while the foolish and the unrighteous are having a blast . Also the wise gets sick and meets tribulations and turmoil just like the fool does and when your righteous you also face alot of scrutiny and pain while trying to resist the flesh and follow the commandments of God by fellow humans and yourself while the unrighteous seems to be enjoying his lust. But still chance happens to them both. But then there is benefit in being wise and righteous because you dodge alot of worldly problems that are avoided because of your righteousness and wisdom but you still go through alot on the other hand, so the preacher looks at it from the perspective as he is speaking from the heart of a distressed spirit like why should he try so hard to be super righteous anyways but he answers himself in the end by saying we will all be judged so better be overly righteous…thats how I understand it. Hope this helps!! Remember Ecclesiastes is a moment of king Solomon venting, haven’t we all vented before and said thing like man whats the point of all this but then you answer your own self at the end of your venting. Thats whats happening to King solomon at the moment Ecclesiastes is book of wise venting, so don’t take everything as a command to follow tho its God breathed not every thing in the bible is for you to directly follow you have to be careful to understand the purpose of why the verse is there and the true purpose it serves to the reader. May christ Give us understanding always!! Amen 🙏

@COMMANDERY11

2 жыл бұрын

Wow this is an amazing eye opening comment! The way you explained it made so much sense! God bless you, I too believe that's what the passage means. Too often we take things in the Bibe too literally, we have to also look at context and read in-between the lines.

@johary2966

6 ай бұрын

Makes sense

I think the message of that passage is vague precisely to make people think on it. It's a complex issue being tackled and it has no one proper answer. If Solomon had clarified only one, none other would ever be found that someone needs. In thinking on it myself, I had the thought that mercy IS part of righteousness. What he is getting at made sense from that perspective, or maybe that's just my flaw that I know I push myself much too hard. When I think more, the second one made more sense. It's a faceted message with no one answer. Sort of ask.. when does righteousness become unrighteousness? There's probably a lot of ways to do that. Like depending on yourself to source righteousness rather than letting it come from God. Wisdom and righteousness only come from the LORD. That would also be a valid answer to Solomon's writing. I absolutely think it's just one of those things meant to provoke the reader to thinking about the issue.

Don't be pious and puffed up

Thank you Father God ✝️ So good Paster John.🙏🏻 Hope it's OK I share but 2 words came to mind. religious teachers & The word pious Hypocritical. the word Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. And As Jesus taught on the sermon on the mout. Matthew 5:16 Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” We are to do good works so that people will see what you have done and glorify God. But there is a danger in this and the Pharisees and people of the day had fallen into a particular sin. Matthew 23:13 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.thank you Father God And Pasters 🙏🏻

Perhaps it means don’t be a monk or similar recluse that is “so sanctified” (or attempts to be so righteous) that one cuts off all contact with the world. “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.” (1 Corinthians 5:9-10) “If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations- ‘Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch’ (referring to things that all perish as they are used)-according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:20-23)

@commonsense4993

2 жыл бұрын

Great verses to support that concept!

Can we compare it with false humility mentioned in Colossians 2:16-23 ?

If you're overly righteous you cant stand the sin in yourself or other people. Being puffed up, a know it all. I believe that God is far bigger than we can ever imagine. The Bible is incredible but it's not everything. If we look to it for ALL of the answers we will become overly righteous. It's about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We are individuals. With our own individual sins that need healing. Everyone has their own path that Jesus sweeps up as we walk along it to glory. We must want it. Having faith as small as a mustard seed. If we believe that our paths are too clear for him to clean then how can he work in our lives?

@theeternalsbeliever1779

2 жыл бұрын

The part where you say "If we look to it for ALL of the answers we will become overly righteous" is absolute nonsense. A Christian is supposed to look in the Bible for answers because it _does_ have all the answers, hence Paul's words in 2 Tim. 3 where he says that the Bible equips every Christian for _every_ good work.

@xavierthomas5835

2 жыл бұрын

Well he himself says I am the way. If we follow your logic to its end, we say that there is darkness in Christ, in which we have a clear rebuttal by James where he says that God has no darkness and will not turn from his purposes, one of which is specifically our sanctification in one of the books of Thessalonians.

@xavierthomas5835

2 жыл бұрын

Now of course I also understand that is kot what you are trying to say, but I also know that it is entirely possible.to walk sanctily before God perfectly.

@xavierthomas5835

2 жыл бұрын

@Chris O'halloranBe ye therefore perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew ...once and for all perfecting then which believe... Hebrews Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not give any occasion to the flesh. These are just a few of the many, many commands and promises of God for spiritual perfection thatche gives to those qho believe. If I may be blunt, people make up alot of theological reasons why they cannot ACTUALLY do this, even though God has given it to us to do it. It is nothing more than doubt and unbelief that allows people to not lay hold on this

@xavierthomas5835

2 жыл бұрын

@Chris O'halloran The Holy Spirit is come to lead us into all truth so that it isn't any longer impossible to understand what God is saying.

Honestly I am unsure too. When I think of the verse in eccl. I'm reminded of Rahab's lie to hide the men. Had she been "too righteous" she wouldn't have lied and they'd be captured. Anyways I'm open to hear interpretation or opinions 🤔

@j.8655

2 жыл бұрын

Also pastor John mentions our righteousness better exceed the scribes and pharasees... is not my belief in Jesus and Him dying for my sins already exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharasees? I love pastor John and his love for God but I don't agree with his belief that it's our faith in Jesus ((as well)) as our deeds that gets us unto heaven.

@Brenoskywalker77

2 жыл бұрын

@@j.8655 Only our faith can get us to heaven, the faith in Jesus´s work in the cross, even our works are made by the Lord as it is stated in Ephesians 2:8-10, if we have works, it is a symptom of being saved, not the cause, the cause is Christ and his work alone

Maybe it means be humble. if others see your sin and a changed life it encourages another sinner yo repent. If they see that youve never sinned. They think i could never reach that point so why try.

2:00✔

My least favorite book in the Bible is Ecclesiastes!

I was thinking these verses were written by Solomon when he was lusting after his wives and their gods and so had a defiled heart... Just my thought...

Amen 🙏🏻

Ecclesiastes 7:20 answers it

Or don't have your own form of righteousness?

i would say that being overly righteous means trying to punish others for their wrongdoings. it *doesn't* mean "don't be completely righteous"

@kaboom9081

2 жыл бұрын

I think its in line with "do not take credit for your wisdom and righteousness" as its all a gift from God and not of your own doing which easily becomes prideful and you start thinking yourself better than others which is what Jesus warned us about (Pharisee intentions)

I think Piper is way off here, and I think I know why. Piper has no category for things that happen "under the sun", which is why he admits he doesn't understand this verse or even the book as a whole. Piper recently said about 1 Timothy 2 that it can't be about praying for peace and tranquility in this life for its own sake, it must be about advancing the Gospel. But why can't it? Only because Piper refuses to allow anything to be about this life. Of course, all things ultimately are about God's glory and eternity, but that's true of eating a cheeseburger, too, and I don't have to sit down and say, "I'm going to eat this cheeseburger so I have the strength to speak the Gospel today." Verse 15 repeats a similar theme as elsewhere in the book: the righteous does not prosper over the wicked. Verse 15 doesn't sound like false or pharisaical righteousness. But Piper can't grant this because he refuses to accept the this-world, under-the-sun focus of Ecclesiastes' negativity. But it's verse 15, which is speaking about actual righteousness, that gives the context for the following statement in verse 16. So the author is not really saying not to be righteous, or "excessively righteous" (as if that's a thing). Really, the author is just reflecting on the vanity of this life and how being rich or wise or righteous often provides no benefit over the wicked and foolish. Of course, in eternity, righteousness is fully rewarded and justice is fulfilled. But under the sun, why be overly righteous when you'll go the same way of the wicked (see 3:19; 8:14; 9:2, etc). "This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all." In short, I think the text is speaking about the vanity/evil of how true righteousness often goes unrewarded in this life, so at a practical level, the author is being negative about its value. And I think Piper cannot see this because he his "excessively pious" in his views and cannot allow Scripture to speak about this life itself, rather Piper is constantly viewing things in terms only of some ultimate spiritual good or purpose. Piper needs to go eat a cheeseburger. Not because He wants to glorify Christ in his cheeseburger, but just because it tastes good and he wants one.

@Aqua-pl8qw

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for typing this. I think it helped confirm some of my inklings. Maybe you overstated John Piper's way of thinking - I think he does see that our earthly good matters. But I see the same tendency you pointed out. With much love and respect for John Piper I basically agree with your analysis.

@johary2966

6 ай бұрын

Makes sense

Honestly, and I'm not saying it as to suggest that I am for sin, but I think this verse in fact _should_ be taken literally. I don't think your explanation has much standing, frankly.

Why do you always upload your videos at 3am?

@georgebradley4583

2 жыл бұрын

It’s 11am here in England. :)

@deivymaybe7554

2 жыл бұрын

Here is 6:20

@rodrigobecerra4072

2 жыл бұрын

5am for me and it’s perfect for my Night Shift ending at the same time

@thenoisemakingbillionaires

2 жыл бұрын

13:25 East Africa 🇰🇪

So what was your goal in telling prolifer’s you were baffled and thought it presumptuous for them to think more highly of the unborn than your personal assessment of Trump’s pride? Don’t you think you hindered the gospel message?

"What Does It Mean to Be ‘Overly Righteous’?" Wow kind Sir...there is NO such thing; of a real meaning of Overly Righteous...as your question said... ..."What "Does It Mean to Be ‘Overly Righteous’? For there has NEVER been a 100% Righteous person (not even Moses*) that was ever "Overly Righteous". Because we are: all WAY down of being even righteous. Sad, but Oh so; and here's the proof in... Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. That says it all! However, IF you meant "colloquial righteousness"; then yes, that could be. Where a person that is way down in righteous; is bragging that they are as righteous as they can be. Of course that is pure HOGWASH! Because one sin, let alone of our sins ALL the time; proves that we ALL are WAY down when it comes to righteousness. And we ALL (since Creation to the End) deserves to go to hell! Because Jesus Himself said this in... Luke 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Sad, but OH so true... ...In any case kind Sir, Please Pray OFTEN and Praise Jesus OFTEN; for He is the ONLY true "God Almighty"; there will ever have been. And may Jesus bless you and yours always. AMEN! * It has been said, that Moses was the most righteous person; there will ever be. And the only person (Moses); that God put in their grave. (I do not believe that "grave" scenario! For I believe God took Moses right into Heaven, when he died. And why NO one has ever found Moses' grave. Even the Israelites tried for yrs to find it; until this very day. AMEN!)