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  SHOULDEST THOU HELP THE UNGODLY, AND LOVE THEM
  by F.B. Meyer
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Summary: The sermon warns against the dangers of worldly alliances and
the importance of maintaining a personal attachment to Christ.

Topics: "Love for Christ", "Worldly Alliances"
Scripture References: 2 Chronicles 19:2, Matthew 6:24, John 15:19, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 6:14, Galatians 5:17, Hebrews 12:6, James 4:4, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 2:15-17

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DESCRIPTION
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F.B. Meyer addresses the dangers of compromising our faith by aligning
too closely with the ungodly, as exemplified by King Jehoshaphat's
alliance with Ahab. He warns that wealth and worldly success can weaken
our character and lead us to adopt the values of those who oppose God.
Meyer emphasizes the importance of maintaining a distinct identity as
followers of Christ, urging believers to cultivate a deep love for Jesus
that will protect them from worldly influences. He challenges the
congregation to reflect on their own lives and relationships,
questioning whether they are inadvertently saying, 'I am as thou art' to
the world. Ultimately, Meyer reminds us that true engagement with Christ
is essential to avoid the pitfalls of worldly alliances and the
resulting divine discipline.

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CONTENT
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Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them

that hate the Lord? 2 Chron. xix. 2.

THIS looks back to xviii. 1, where we learn that Jehoshaphat, though he
had riches and honour in abundance, joined affinity with Ahab. Riches
and abundance are dangerous things. They usually weaken our character,
and incline us to worldly alliances; and it was to their subtle and
pernicious influences that Jehoshaphat fell a victim. Ah! what a fall it
was to hear him saying, "I am as thou art, and my people as thy people."
Well might Jehu take up the role which his father had filled before Asa,
and protest. But let us seriously question whether, though there are
good things found in us, we may not be falling into the same mistake,
and sin. Are there not ways in which we say to men of the world, with
whom we mix, "I am as thou art "?

There is a great tendency in the present day to boast in the closeness
with which we can approach the world without injury. We join in the
social life, read the same books, go to the same amusements, talk of the
same themes; and it is almost impossible in a drawing‑room to tell
the difference between the Jehoshaphats and the Ahabs. So also, in our
methods of doing good. The real difficulty lies away back in our want of
engagedness with Christ. It is of little use to find fault with the
outward, as long as the heart is wayward. Love to the Lord Jesus is our
only safeguard. The love of Christ must constrain us. Personal
attachment to Christ will wean us away from this close identification
with the world. But if we persist in identifying ourselves with the
world, which God has doomed, we must not be surprised to find that wrath
is on us from the Lord: and He will chasten us for love's sake.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/fb-meyer/shouldest-thou-help-the-ungodly-and-love-them/
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