YOU ASKED FOR IT – SETTING THE GUARDRAILS IN LIFE

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

One of the most sought-after topics for our series to address was the issue of addictions, or more accurately, the establishment of boundaries to safeguard ourselves against addiction. There are numerous forms of addiction prevalent in our society, including drugs, alcohol, sexual activities, social media, video games, and excessive eating. Becoming addicted to any substance or behavior is detrimental to one’s well-being, but it also leads us to violate the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20). Consequently, it is crucial that we implement protective measures in our lives to mitigate the risk of succumbing to such addictions. 

Psalm 119:9–16 (CSB) How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word. 10I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands. 11I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you. 12Lord, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes. 13With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth. 14I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches. 15I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways. 16I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. 

1. Following the rules of the road

Vs 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.

“How then, can he be pure who is born of a woman who is herself sinful? How can we, who are impure, be the parents of pure children? Such a thing is not possible.”[1] – Charles Spurgeon

Warren Wiersbe said, “But he knew that it is easier to make promises than to keep them, a lesson Paul learned when he tried in his own strength to obey God’s law. Paul learned, as we must also learn, that the indwelling Holy Spirit enables the child of God to fulfill God’s righteousness in daily life.”[2]

Requirements for everyone’s journey through life:

• Notice the need for purity
  • Psalm 119:1–3 (CSB) How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s instruction! 2Happy are those who keep his decrees and seek him with all their heart. 3They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.
• See the dangers
  • 1 John 2:16–17 (CSB) For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does the will of God remains forever. 

• Do all you can to avoid them
  • Proverbs 4:14–15 (CSB) Keep off the path of the wicked; don’t proceed on the way of evil ones. 15Avoid it; don’t travel on it. Turn away from it, and pass it by. 

2. Knowing the signs along the way

Vss 10-11 I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands. 11I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.

• “sought you” (dāraš) – investigate, seek with care
• We must know what the commands are for a pure journey
• This starts with “treasuring” His Words
• This is what helps us avoid sin 

3. Getting help when you need it

Vss 12-13 Lord, may you be blessed; teach me your statutes. 13With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from your mouth.

• We are told to seek out instruction. In a way, this could tell us we probably can’t do this all on our own.
• Verse 13 gives us a picture of us knowing His Word and rules so well, we can recite them without trouble. This is not really possible without teaching.

Matthew Henry said, “Those who would have the blessings of God’s testimonies must come under the bonds of his statutes.”[3]

4. Celebrate your arrival

Vss 14-16 I rejoice in the way revealed by your decrees as much as in all riches. 15I will meditate on your precepts and think about your ways. 16I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

• Loving His Word leads to celebrating His Work
• Understanding the joy of following Him is so much greater than the deception of following the world

Eph. 5:11–14 (CSB) Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13Everything exposed by the light is made visible, 14for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.  

[1] Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 2,200 Quotations: From the Writings of Charles H. Spurgeon, (Baker Book House, 1995).

[2]  Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Exultant, 1st ed., “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004), 107.

[3] John Blanchard, The Complete Gathered Gold: A Treasury of Quotations for Christians (EP Books, 2006).