Scripture Reading: Psalm 26
"Where You Stand Depends On Where You Sit"
Intro.
1. An insightful political analyst said, “Where you stand depends on where you sit.”
2. The phrase is sometimes called “Miles’s Law,” as it is attributed to Rufus Miles, a US government official in the early 20th century” (idoms.thefreedictionary.com).
a. This compact and illuminating phrase essentially states that your position or job can affect how you will look upon a certain event or solution.
b. “Your view of a situation is shaped by your personal relationship to it.”
3. Perhaps the phrase oversimplifies the bureaucratic political process, but it amplifies the tendency to see and evaluate things based on our relationships to them, cf. John 8:44-45; 10:26-28.
I. OUR RELATIONSHIPS IMPACT OUR BELIEFS (CONVICTIONS).
A. Family and Friends, Matt. 10:34-39.
1. Godly respect in and influence of family is important.
2. Family can be distorted into the premium relationship (before God). That is sin (Lk. 14:26).
a. Plan of salvation.
b. One true church (or no church at all).
c. Doctrine: MDR, LGBTQ, church discipline, immodesty.
d. Religious traditions, cf. Paul, Gal. 1:13-14; But, Phil. 3:7-8.
B. Your Job, Matt. 6:25, 33 (Ps. 37:25); 1 Tim. 5:8.
1. Cannot pit providing for family against obeying Christ.
2. Some do that with worship, other vital responsibilities.
C. The Problem is Not Being Converted to Christ, Luke 9:23.
1. What is the anchor of your beliefs? (Where do you stand?)
a. Word of God? 2 Tim. 3:16-17 (2:15).
b. Confidence in and relationship with people? Luke 3:8-9
c. Fear of repercussions? John 12:42
d. Love being accepted by others? John 12:43
II. WHEN WE SIT WITH CHRIST WE WILL STAND WITH CHRIST.
A. When We Sit with Christ in Heavenly Places We Will Stand Against the Wiles of the Devil, Eph. 2:6; 6:11, 13, 14.
-We will set our minds on heavenly things, Col. 3:1-4.
III. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU SIT, BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL STAND, Ps. 1:1-2; 26:3-5, 11-12.
A. Sit with Unbelievers in Faithlessness and You Will Stand in Darkness and Spiritual Death, Eph. 4:17-19.
B. Sit with the World in Immorality and You Will Stand Condemned in Sin, Rom. 1:32.
C. Sit at the Feet of Jesus (Learn His Gospel) You Will Stand Up and Obey Him, cf. Acts 22:14-16.
D. Sit With Christ in Salvation and You Will Stand in Grace, Rom. 5:1-2, 3-4.
E. Sit with Christians in True Worship and You Will Stand Together in Common Faith and Devotion, 1 Cor. 14:26; 1:10 (Eph. 4:5); Jude 3; 1 Cor. 16:13 (2).
Conclusion
1. Truism: “Your view of a situation is shaped by your personal relationship to it.”
2. View every situation based on our relationship with Jesus, His words of truth, and His people (John 6:68; 1 Cor. 12:25-27).
3. Sit with Jesus now so you will stand with Him in eternal security and victory, Rev. 17:14 (14:1-5).
Illustrations
Miles’s Law
“Where you stand depends on where you sit. So you don’t see the urgent need for a security guard in our building because you don’t live here and aren’t dealing with all these break-ins.”
A: “Naturally, they support a policy change that directly benefits their department.”
B: “Of course. Where you stand depends on where you sit.”
“Where you stand depends on where you sit. So you don’t see the urgent need for a security guard in our building because you don’t live here and aren’t dealing with all these break-ins.”
By: Joe R. Price
Posted March 23, 2021