A fair mind

1. In recent weeks we have examined some of the ways the Bible uses the word “mind.”

2. We have investigated a closed mind, a broad mind, a double mind, and being high minded.

3. We have looked at the carnal mind, the reprobate mind, an open mind, and a sober-mind.

4. Today we want to look at a “fair” mind.

FOR THIS LESSON I WANT TO DEVELOP THE ENTIRE SUBJECT AROUND A VARIETY OF PASSAGES, MANY OF WHICH ARE FROM BIBLE STORIES.

a) Our first passage is found in Gen. 39.

b) There was a young man named Joseph; he ended up in the care of a man named Potiphar.

c) Potiphar was an important man in Egypt; he was a member of the Pharaoh’s staff.

d) Gen. 39:1 says he was “captain of the guard.”

e) According to Gen. 39:2, God was with Joseph and this young man prospered.

f) God helped Joseph to the extent that Potiphar began to notice (verse 3).

g) Things were going so well that Joseph received a promotion (verse 4).

h) Joseph was appointed over Potiphar’s entire household.

i) Things were running so smoothly in Potiphar’s house that this officail had only one concern – verse 6

j) READ.

2) This verse tells us Potiphar’s biggest concern at his house was what he would eat each day.

3) Imagine living a life like this man had.

4) The biggest concern you would have is what to have for breakfast, lunch & an evening meal.

5) The day came when Potiphar’s wife took an interest in Joseph (verse 7).

a) Joseph was aware of this but he refused the woman’s offer (8a).

b) The verse we have been building towards is verse 9 – READ.

6) Advances were continually made towards Joseph and he refused them each time.

7) His refusals led to him loosing his job as well as being imprisoned.

8) Joseph repeatedly said “no,” and we find two reasons for his refusal in verse 9.

a) First, he said this lady was not his wife. He had no right to be with her.

b) Second, what she was seeking would be a “sin against God.”

c) Joseph was a man who used his mind. He could have used his mind for evil.

d) He could have somehow in his mind justified what Potiphar’s wife was offering.

e) He used his mind to be just and fair.

f) He concluded that he was not entitled to this woman and it would be a sin against God.

9) Joseph thought through a situation, came to the right conclusion, and then stuck to his guns.

10) Today if we are going to have a mind that is fair and just, we can and must do exactly as he did.

11) God’s word will direct our course to the right path if we let it.

12) Our next reference is also from the Old Testament; 1 Sam. 12.

a) Samuel was a prophet in Israel and by this time he was old.

b) He reminded the Hebrews (12:1) of how they had asked for a king and a king had been given to them.

c) Since he had come to the latter portion of his life Samuel wanted those listening to him to ask some questions.

d) These questions were really about Samuel’s life.

e) The prophet wanted the people of Israel to consider if he had been fair and just.

f) Samuel had been around for a long time and many things had come and gone.

g) How did the people think he had behaved over the years?

13) Verse 3 – READ.

a) The prophet’s questions were very pointed.

b) How embarrassing it would have been for someone to have said, “You stole my ox 20 years ago.”

c) “Samuel, you cheated me on a business deal just last week.”

d) No one made a charge like this against God’s prophet.

e) We know that because of verse 4 – READ.

14) In Gen. 39 we have a good standard for a mind that is fair and just.

15) Samuel’s life offers another example of this.

16) We can try to live our lives where we can one day turn to the people we have known and ask,

a) “Who have I cheated? With whom have I ever been unfair? With whom have I been unjust?

b) “Which one has received ill treatment from me? With whom have I been dishonest?”

c) These questions would not be rooted in pride or a haughty spirit.

d) They would reflect the life of someone who was as Jesus once said, “pure in heart.”

e) Pure in heart is not “perfect in heart.”

f) Not one of is flawless, and Samuel was certainly not claiming to be perfect.

g) This prophet of God asked if he had glaring faults, and this is the standard we strive for too.

h) A fair mind and a just mind help us live the kind of Christian life God wants.

17) We know this beyond any doubt because of a third Old Testament passage.

18) People who have been members of the church for a long time are familiar with Ezek. 18.

a) This is the chapter that says “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (18:20).

b) “The son shall not bear the iniquity (sin) of the father nor the father bear the iniquity of the son.”

c) This information is in Ezek. 18:20 and it shows that babies are not born in sin; they are pure.

19) What has not perhaps been taught as often as verse 20 is how this chapter opens.

a) Ezekiel said God’s word had come to him “again” (Ezek. 18:1).

b) God asked His prophet a question; the people in Israel had a saying (proverb).

c) Like today, people can start a saying or a slogan that soon spreads almost everywhere.

d) This is nothing new; it was going on well before the time of Christ.

e) The Hebrews had a proverb that is found in verse 2 - READ.

f) In simple terms the people were saying this: The children were being punished for their father’s sins.

g) The younger generation said it was having to suffer a penalty for what previous generations had done.

h) God said the people were wrong; notice 4b – READ.

20) With this background I now want to look at verses 5-9 of this chapter – READ.

a) God lists several things that will come a person whose mind is fair and just.

b) God said a person following this course of life would “live.”

c) Under the Old Testament Hebrews were told to think and behave in this specific way.

d) If we want to be a Christian who pleases God, some of the basic qualities are still necessary.

e) Fairness and a just mind are still very important because of the actions that come from them.

21) This subject was important enough to God that He included it in the proverbs.

a) Prov. 15:16 makes this point.

b) It is better to have “a little” and be right with God than a lot and not be right with God.

c) If the mind is fair and just, we have obtained the very best that man can have (a relationship with God).

d) If the mind is NOT fair and just, owning everything in the world leaves us dirt poor.

e) We want to develop, no matter how the cost, a mind that is fair, just and right.

22) Another passage from Proverbs goes along with what is said in Prov. 15.

a) Prov. 20:14 refers to someone who wants to buy someone.

b) The wise man described a negotiator. There is nothing wrong with negotiation.

c) Some forms of negotiation, however, are prohibited.

d) In the case of Prov. 20, someone looks at an item and says, “It’s bad. What you are selling is junk.

e) “You have a useless item but I am willing to take it off your hands.”

f) The seller believes the prospective buyer and sells what he has been persuaded to believe is junk.

g) The end of verse 14 says the buyer goes away “boasting.”

23) The fellow who bought the item engaged in a con job and went away and was proud of it.

24) Had the shopper legitimately gotten a good buy, that would have been one thing.

25) The buyer received his good deal by convincing someone that an item of value was really worthless.

26) A mind that is fair and just will not do that.

27) We know the important of fair and just minds in the world.

a) This week we will have another election.

b) Most want officials who will be fair and just in their minds.

c) This is not new; we find this same type of thing in the Old Testament (Deut. 16).

d) God said judges were to be used in the nation of Israel.

e) Deut. 16:18 says the judges were to dispense “just” judgment.

f) In verse 19 God said this – READ.

28) Most of us have heard about PAC money or some type of political contribution.

29) Guess what? God knew about that type of thing long before the United States was founded.

30) God knew that money could “blind the eyes of the wise” and “pervert the words of the righteous.”

31) There are lots of crooked politicians. Maybe most of those in our country are now crooks.

32) People want fairness, justice, and uprightness from their elected officials.

33) If we want just and fair behavior from people of the world, what should we expect of Christians?

a) As the people of God we should be leading the way in minds that are fair.

b) How sad it is for someone to say of a Christian, “He is not fair. She was not just.”

c) Jesus specifically told His people to be careful in this area.

d) Jn. 7:24 – Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

e) It is hard to do what Jesus said to do without a mind that is fair and just.

f) Last night I heard someone talk about “older” politicians (those probably above 55).

g) It was said these officials take great care when they walk; they do not want to stuble.

h) If a 40 year old man falls, people think little of it.

i) If a 60 year old presidential candidate falls, people are prone to think, “He’s old, frail & unqualified.”

j) If this is the conclusion most people would draw, then fair minds are very rare indeed.

34) Next on my list of verses is Jer. 5:1; I give this in advance because I would like you to actually read this verse with me.

35) God gave His prophet an interesting message.

a) He said Jeremiah was to run up and down the streets and look for something.

b) Halloween night has recently passed; on that evening I went our for a walk.

c) I saw children running up and down streets; they were looking for something (candy).

d) God’s prophet was told to engage in a similar mission but it was not for a treat.

36) Jer. 5:1 – READ.

a) God wanted just one man to be located in the search that was performed by the prophet.

b) Jeremiah had to deal with people who were not fair and just in their thinking.

c) There are other verses that we could appeal to, but these are sufficient to come to a conclusion.

37) If we have any desire at all to please God, we must seek a mind that is fair and just.

38) We want fairness and justice directed towards us so this is what we must offer to others.

39) Stated another way, the golden rule requires us to be fair and just in our dealings with others.

40) Are we fair and just in our minds and thus fair and just in our dealings with the others in our lives?

a) Does fairness and justice reign in our homes?

b) Do people at school see us as fair and just? What about in the work-place?

c) Are we regarded as a neighbor who is fair and just?

d) What about our actions in the church? Even our giving is governed by being fair and just.

e) Could we like Samuel call out to a crowd of people we know and say, “Who wants to launch a charge”?

f) A fair and just mind begins by becoming a Christian.

g) We look at the claims of the gospel to see if they are true; when give them a fair hearing.

h) After obeying the gospel, fairness and justice becomes part of who we are.

i) Have we become a Christian, and are we continuing to live as a Christian?