Commentary on "Life"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 2: Sunday, April 19, 2009

The Gift of Physical Life

This lesson focuses on the debate of the origin of the universe and the source of all life with primary concern given to our physical life.

 

Problems

Within creationist circles, this is not a very controversial topic. However, there are some secondary points of concern:

By focusing on the physical, not enough attention is given to the fact that God created man in his image with both a soul and a spirit, along with the physical. This would have been an excellent time, within the body of the lesson, to point out that we died spiritually the instant sin entered into the human race with the resulting sickness and death of our physical bodies that followed. The key to our physical lives is to accept the gospel message of Jesus Christ and receive the restoration of our spiritual union with God.

While the following passage is directed towards having money, it includes the thought that our focus should be on seeking righteousness instead of being centered on our physical needs.

"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' "For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matt. 6:31-33 ESV).

In the introduction, the statement is made that those who believe in God as the Creator; "do not have all the answers either". Knowing that God is the one who is our Creator is an answer, even for the things we can not know. Knowing how God did certain things may be a mystery but the results are clearly evident.

The lesson summary, with reference to Jesus speaking to Nicodemus (John 3:1-21), asks the student to "start each day reborn in Christ". Since this lesson is about our physical life and the rebirth Jesus is talking about concerns our spiritual life, one has to wonder what the author is talking about. Furthermore, our spiritual birth occurs once and is not something that happens each day when we awaken. We will come back to this topic more on Tuesday.

 

Summary

1. The Bible teaches us to seek righteousness and not focus on our physical needs.
2. Certainly, it is OK to make appropriate provision for physical needs.
3. But having done so, leave the ultimate plans and concerns of the unknowable in God's hands.

 

 

Copyright 2008 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised April 11, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 4

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 4

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Week 4

Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings