Question 1:
What are some ways you show others they are valued?
THE BIBLE
MEETS LIFE
It’s almost universally accepted that killing others is wrong, but cultures and governments legislate different ways to interpret that. Life — and the value of life — has never been more debated than they have in recent years. Whether the topic is late-term abortions, euthanasia, or human trafficking, life is demanding to be noticed and defended.
As we will see in this session, the Bible is clear: life begins at the moment of conception and retains its value from the womb to the tomb. All life. Unfortunately, believers within the body of Christ have not always agreed on this, and we have failed to unify on this all-important area. But God wants us to realize that all life is valuable. We are to see life as He sees life.
WHAT DOES
THE BIBLE SAY?
Exodus
20:13
13 “You
shall not murder.”
Human life is precious to God—and it should be precious to us. Yet we often give in to the false notion that, just because we do not take part in physical murder ourselves, we are above this command: “You shall not murder.”
Jesus made it clear in His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount that murder can take other forms. We also are not to destroy another’s life through hate or defamation.
Hatred and defamation typically come rooted in bitterness and unforgiveness. When we allow these two things to fester in our lives, it produces a damaging stench of death. Left unattended, it not only affects others around us in many ways but can also lead to our own spiritual and emotional death.
Question
2: What are some ways our society devalues human
life?
Christ has
called us to live a life of love. When you and I live absent of love for God
and one another, we are living in disobedience to God’s highest command: to
love.
Yet, love becomes difficult to experience in the stench of unforgiveness. Kind words become biting criticisms. Giving gestures begin to be tied to demands in return. The debris of rotting regret, shame, anger, and doubt flood the air producing difficulties in relationships, careers, ministry, and virtually every other sphere of life. That’s why finding the ability to forgive is about so much more than forgiving the person who hurt you, or even forgiving yourself for what you now regret. It’s also about regaining the life God intended for you. All human life is precious—including your own. When you choose to remain bitter, you are also hurting yourself. As has been said, bitterness is an acid meant for someone else, but instead it eats you alive.
We all know people who seem to overreact to issues that come their way. They overreact because hatred and bitterness are rotting the soul, causing those issues to be tender. This points back to Jesus’ words on murder.
Our hate is a form of murder of the other person, but it also affects our own lives negatively. To release any hatred and bitterness, look to the cross and what Jesus did for you. We are all even at the foot of the cross. Jesus died to forgive you, but He also died for the ones you’re tempted to murder with hate.
Question
3: What are some benefits for society when we value
human life?
1 Samuel
26:7-11
7 So David
and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside
the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers
were lying around him. 8 Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your
enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the
spear; I won’t strike him twice.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him!
Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the
Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come
and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the Lord forbid
that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water
jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
Question
4: What do David’s words and actions reveal about
his relationship with God?
VALUE FOR LIFE
God values all human life. As His children, we reflect His
character when
we value all human life as well. List some ways you see our
culture
devaluing life and some ways we as Christians can intervene.
“The difference between the way of life and the
way of death is great. Therefore, do not murder
a child by abortion or kill a newborn infant.”
THE DIDACHE
Although Saul was currently the king, it was clear that God’s hand was on David and he would become king. Saul not only stood in the way of David’s rightful ascension to the throne, but he had also made it his mission to make sure David would never become king.
On this night, as Saul and his men slept, David was nearby. Circumstances were definitely in David’s favor; here was an opportunity to easily kill Saul if he chose to do so. Based on Saul’s actions against David, many people would not have condemned David if he took Saul’s life. It would be seen as an act of war or self-defense: “Kill or be killed.”
But David knew better. David knew that to lift a hand against the Lord’s anointed would leave a stain of bloodshed and guilt on his own life. So David chose instead to take the spear and the water jug by Saul’s head to let Saul know how easily he could have killed him.
David’s choice to honor life shows up clearly in this account. Life is sacred. No one has the right to take a life other than the Creator of life Himself: God. The reason why none of us has the right to take another life is because we are each made in the image of God.
God made a critically important statement to Noah, which helps inform the foundation of life’s sacredness: “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind” (Gen. 9:6). The willful shedding of human blood is murder. The reason why the unauthorized taking of life is wrong is not merely because it is an attack against another person; murder is also an attack on God by assaulting the epitome of His creation.
Humanity was made in the image of God. To destroy humanity is to declare war on God. Every life is held in God’s hands. The Lord determines who lives and who dies. To decide whether or not someone lives or dies is to step into a role that only God has the authority to do. We don’t create life, and we cannot choose to take life.
David’s refusal to take Saul’s life acknowledged God’s ultimate authority over life and death. He left the matter in God’s hands. “As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed” (vv. 10-11a).
As kingdom disciples, we must not grow complacent in a world where life continues to be devalued. We have been called to speak up for the lives of others—including the most vulnerable—in any and every way that we can.
1 Samuel 26:22-25
22 “Here is
the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get
it. 23 The Lord rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The
Lord delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s
anointed. 24 As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life
and deliver me from all trouble.” 25 Then Saul said to David, “May you be
blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.” So David
went on his way, and Saul returned home.
Every
single life bears the stamp of God. Granted, we have marred that image through our
sinfulness, but His image is stamped in each of us. This reality gives life its
value. This truth ought to dictate not only how we view and treat ourselves but
also how we view and treat others. We are to respect life by treating every
life as equally valuable. David modeled this in his interaction with Saul.
Saul had a momentary heart change. He called David his son and spoke of great things that David would go on to accomplish. In fact, David’s refusal to kill Saul when he had the chance encouraged Saul to return home and stop the chase, at least for the time being.
David displayed an attitude that valued life. Throughout much of his life, David modeled words the prophet Micah would speak centuries later: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6:8). Consider how we can live out this truth in how we honor all life:
- Acting justly includes doing so toward the vulnerable, seeking to protect their lives.
- Loving faithfulness involves consistently and faithfully pursuing life and liberty for those who are at risk of losing both.
- Walking humbly means we consider others more important than ourselves.
When we do these three things, we will both honor and value life as God intended. We will also position ourselves for the blessings and rewards that come from doing so, as we witnessed in David’s own situation with Saul.
Question
5: What are some practical ways we can lift up the
value of life before others?
LIVE IT OUT
How will you actively
seek to show value to all life? Choose one of the following applications:
- Check your attitude. If you
privately consider some people more important than others, confess that to God and
repent. While the world deems countless people as inferior or less important,
we are called to see all people as God sees them.
- Check your words. Examine
your involvement in devaluing life through the words you speak to others or about
others. Words of anger, malice, bitterness, or even apathy do not honor the
lives of those God loves, so repent and determine to speak only that which
lifts up.
- Check your actions. Look
for concrete ways you can affirm the value of life in your spheres of
influence. Practical actions can include counseling at a pro-life pregnancy
center, helping a parent with a disabled child, or bringing joy to the
forgotten in a nursing home.
All life has value. It’s up to each of us to validate and affirm this value in what we think, say, and do. This requires us to get out of our comfort zones and be more active in affirming the value of life—just as God has commanded.
Hope everyone has a great week and we will look forward to seeing you on Sunday.
God Bless!!
David & Susan
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