Middot U'Mitzvot: Character Qualities and Commandments
G-d, Not Man


G-d's Torah is the best source of instruction
in character qualities and holy living


God Not Man - Trusting in the Power of God

“So that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:5

Who do you go to when you need an answer to an important question? Or, who do you look to when you need help with something? Is your first response to check out the latest scientific discovery or to grab the encyclopedia? Do you spend hours surfing the internet searching for and learning from the knowledge and the experience of others? Or, do you look to God? You know, God has promised to take care of and provide for us in every way. No matter what situation or circumstance we find ourselves in – no matter what problem or challenge we are faced with – God has the answer. Other people, just like us, are going through this life trying to do the best that they can. But, they are just as lost as we are if they don’t have God at the center of all that they do. God created us – He knows us better than we know ourselves – so, don’t you think it’s time that we completely put our faith and our trust in Him? So, go ahead! Let the power of God fill your faith with confidence!

Actions Speak Louder Than Words - Walk the Talk

“For such is the will of God that your doing good should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” 1 Peter 2:15

Did you know that many times actions speak louder than words? That sometimes one little thing that we do can shine brighter and mean more than hundreds of well-spoken words? It’s true. Sadly, we are all too used to hearing people say things or promise things or preach about things that, in the end, become empty words—hollow and without meaning. People say we should “do this” but then they don’t do it themselves. Or, they say “don’t do this” but then they go ahead and do it themselves. Can you think of an example of this kind of behavior? And, how does it affect those who experience it? It makes them untrusting and uncaring about God’s standards and values. But, if we walk our talk, then nobody—NOBODY—can say that we are hypocrites—nobody can accuse us of saying one thing and doing another. Sometimes the best witness that you can be for the truth and the love of Messiah is in how you live your life. How you live your life will attract the attention of others and it will lead them to Messiah—the One who dwells within you. So, walk the talk because actions speak louder than words!

Doing God's Will - Yielding to God

“Who are you, a mere human being, to talk back to God? Will what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me this way?’ Or has the potter no right to make from a given lump of clay this pot for honorable use and that one for dishonorable?” Romans 9:20-21

There will be times in this life when God will ask us to do something that we will not want to do. He may ask us to give of our time, our money, or our talents to a cause that we don’t really have any interest in or feel that we can really contribute to. During those times, we must remember that God is the One who created us and that He knows us better than we know ourselves. God always has a reason for asking us to do something or for ordering our steps a certain way. Just like the lump of clay we make into a pot cannot tell us what to do, we are not to tell our Creator what to do with us. That means yielding to Him and that takes trust. That means setting aside our own desires to do God’s will. Now, we will always have a choice – we can either bend or break. We can do things our way or God’s way…but, God’s way is always the best way. So, what will it be? When He asks you…will you bend or will you break?

Helping Those in Need - Giving, Giving, Giving

“At present your abundance can help those in need; so that when you are in need, their abundance can help you—thus there is reciprocity. It is as the Tanakh says, ‘He who gathered much had nothing extra, and he who gathered little had nothing lacking.’” 2 Corinthians 8:14-15

Did you know that, no matter how hard you try, you can’t “out-give” God? That the more you give, the more God gives you more to give? God blesses us so that we might bless others. We are not to keep God’s blessings to ourselves. God will provide everything that we need – not everything that we want – but everything that we need. And we, in return, are supposed to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. That is how God reaches out to others – He reaches out to others through us. And, sometimes it works the other way around. Sometimes we might be in need of help and it will be through others that God will reach out to us. Giving is a joy. Giving is an obligation. And, giving blesses both the one who gives and the one who receives. So, how can you give to someone in need?

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