GOOD BEHAVIORS ARE BETTER THAN RICHES.

The Fundamentals of Good Behavior

FAR more important than any mere dictum of etiquette is the fundamental code of honor, without strict observance of which no man, no matter how “polished,” can be considered a gentleman. The honor of a gentleman demands the inviolability of his word, and the incorruptibility of his principles; he is the descendant of the knight, the crusader; he is the defender of the defenseless, and the champion of justice—or he is not a gentleman. DECENCIES OF BEHAVIOR   A gentleman does not, and a man who aspires to be one must not, ever borrow money from a woman, nor should he, except in unexpected circumstances, borrow money from a man. Money borrowed without security is a debt of honor which must be paid without fail and promptly as possible. The debts incurred by a deceased parent, brother, sister, or grown child, are assumed by honorable men and women, as debts of honor.    2   A gentleman never takes advantage of a woman in a business dealing, nor of the poor or the helpless.       One who is not well off does not “sponge,” but pays his own way to the utmost of his ability.       One who is rich does not make a display of his money or his possessions. Only a vulgarian talks ceaselessly about how much this or that cost him.       A very well-bred man intensely dislikes the mention of money, and never speaks of it (out of business hours) if he can avoid it.       A gentleman never discusses his family affairs either in public or with acquaintances, nor does he speak more than casually about his wife. A man is a cad who tells anyone, no matter who, what his wife told him in confidence, or describes what she looks like in her bedroom. To impart details of her beauty is scarcely better than to publish her blemishes; to do either is unspeakable.       Nor does a gentleman ever criticise the behavior of a wife whose conduct is scandalous. What he says to her in the privacy of their own apartments is no one’s affair but his own, but he must never treat her with disrespect before their children, or a servant, or any one.       A man of honor never seeks publicly to divorce his wife, no matter what he believes her conduct to have been; but for the protection of his own name, and that of the children, he allows her to get her freedom on other than criminal grounds. No matter who he may be, whether rich or poor, in high life or low, the man who publicly besmirches his wife’s name, besmirches still more his own, and proves that he is not, was not, and never will be, a gentleman.       No gentleman goes to a lady’s house if he is affected by alcohol. A gentleman seeing a young man who is not entirely himself in the presence of ladies, quietly induces the youth to depart. An older man addicted to the use of too much alcohol, need not be discussed, since he ceases to be asked to the houses of ladies.      A gentleman does not lose control of his temper. In fact, in his own self-control under difficult or dangerous circumstances, lies his chief ascendancy over others who impulsively betray every emotion which animates them. Exhibitions of anger, fear, hatred, embarrassment, ardor or hilarity, are all bad form in public. And bad form is merely an action which “jars” the sensibilities of others. A gentleman does not show a letter written by a lady, unless perhaps to a very intimate friend if the letter is entirely impersonal and written by some one who is equally the friend of the one to whom it is shown. But the occasions when the letter of a woman may be shown properly by a man are so few that it is safest to make it a rule never to mention a woman’s letter.      A gentleman does not bow to a lady from a club window; nor according to good form should ladies ever be discussed in a man’s club!      A man whose social position is self-made is apt to be detected by his continual cataloguing of prominent names. Mr. Parvenu invariably interlards his conversation with, “When I was dining at the Bobo Gildings’“; or even “at Lucy Gilding’s,” and quite often accentuates, in his ignorance, those of rather second-rate, though conspicuous position. “I was spending last week-end with the Richan Vulgars,” or “My great friends, the Gotta Crusts.” When a so-called gentleman insists on imparting information, interesting only to the Social Register, shun him!      The born gentleman avoids the mention of names exactly as he avoids the mention of what things cost; both are an abomination to his soul.      A gentleman’s manners are an integral part of him and are the same whether in his dressing-room or in a ballroom, whether in talking to Mrs. Worldly or to the laundress bringing in his clothes. He whose manners are only put on in company is a veneered gentleman, not a real one.      A man of breeding does not slap strangers on the back nor so much as lay his finger-tips on a lady. Nor does he punctuate his conversation by pushing or nudging or patting people, nor take his conversation out of the drawing-room! Notwithstanding the advertisements in the most dignified magazines, a discussion of underwear and toilet articles and their merit or their use, is unpleasant in polite conversation.      All thoroughbred people are considerate of the feelings of others no matter what the station of the others may be. Thackeray’s climber who “licks the boots of those above him and kicks the faces of those below him on the social ladder,” is a very good illustration of what a gentleman is not.A gentleman never takes advantage of another’s helplessness or ignorance, and assumes that no gentleman will take advantage of him. SIMPLICITY AND UNCONSCIOUSNESS OF SELF   These words have been literally sprinkled through the pages of this book, yet it is doubtful if they convey a clear idea of the attributes meant.      Unconsciousness of self is not so much unselfishness as it is the mental ability to extinguish all thought of one’s self—exactly as one turns out the light.      Simplicity is like it, in that it also has a quality of self-effacement, but it really means a love of the essential and of directness. Simple people put no trimmings on their phrases, nor on their manners; but remember, simplicity is not crudeness nor anything like it. On the contrary, simplicity of speech and manners means language in its purest, most limpid form, and manners of such perfection that they do not suggest “manner” at all. THE INSTINCTS OF A LADY   The instincts of a lady are much the same as those of a gentleman. She is equally punctilious about her debts, equally averse to pressing her advantage; especially if her adversary is helpless or poor.      As an unhappy wife, her dignity demands that she never show her disapproval of her husband, no matter how publicly he slights or outrages her. If she has been so unfortunate as to have married a man not a gentleman, to draw attention to his behavior would put herself on his level. If it comes actually to the point where she divorces him, she discusses her situation, naturally, with her parents or her brother or whoever are her nearest and wisest relatives, but she shuns publicity and avoids discussing her affairs with any one outside of her immediate family. One can not too strongly censure the unspeakable vulgarity of the woman so unfortunate as to be obliged to go through divorce proceedings, who confides the private details of her life to reporters.

LIFE AS A WHOLE

As we all know, this world is not the way it used be. It has become a toughened, curious, pressurized, depressed, devastating, cruel and wicked world, all these came about from the Spiritual and Physical realm.

The spiritual realm-the main character of life being in existence alongside the Physical realm. The Spiritual being the driving force of the physical, controls everything in the physical realm, everything we see today in the physical has already been ordered to be from the Spiritual, many people get sacred about their dooms approach. But what matters are

The physical realm on the other hand, is a world we humans dominate, a world  enslaved to the spiritual realm; it accepts anything that is loaded into it with no resistance to the force. Its’ been enslaved is a very important fact we-the inhabitants must overcome, so as to be able to cope with life as it comes, a life without Christ, Is as living in hell. So therefore,

1.    The history or the origin of materials we see in the physical realm.

2.    Where were the materials in the physical created?

3.    Why were they created and sent to the physical?

4.    Who ordered or gave a confirmation for the things in the physical to be in the physical?

5.    Of what use are the materials to us Believers?  

6.    What are the positive and negative effects of such materials in the physical?

7.    If negative, how do we-occupants of the physical make the best out of it and for the works of our God?

8.    What are the consequences of not making it better?

9.    How do we-believers, gain power to control and make the physical realm better for Gods’ work in everyday of our lives?

These are some of the questions we ought to ask ourselves when we need guidance or when we think things aren’t right.

 The best solution to all sorts of problems is found in CHRIST, THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END, THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR, THE LILY OF THE VALLEY, THE ROCK OF AGES,-He alone is worthy of our praises.

In this world, there are three kinds of persons,

Natural Person (Self-Directed Life)

1. (Someone who has not received Christ.)
   Self is on the throne, directing decisions and actions (represented by the dots), often resulting in frustration. Jesus is outside the life.
   “A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

2. Spiritual Person (Christ-Directed Life)

   (One who is directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.)
   Jesus is in the life and on the throne. Self is yielding to Jesus. The person sees Jesus' influence and direction in their life.
   “He who is spiritual appraises all things...We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:15).

3. Carnal Person (Self-Directed Life)

   (One who has received Christ, but who lives in defeat because he is trying to live the Christian life in his own strength.)
   Jesus is in the life but not on the throne. Self is on the throne, directing decisions and actions (represented by the dots), often resulting in frustration.
   “And I brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to carnal men, as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still carnal. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshy, and are you not walking like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).

                    

God has promised and provided for us an abundant and fruitful Christian life.

Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22, 23).

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Sam

The Spiritual Person

Some spiritual traits which result from trusting God:

• Christ-centered
• Empowered by the Holy Spirit
• Introduces others to Christ
• Effective prayer life
• Understands God's Word
• Trusts & obeys God
• Experiences love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness & self-control

The degree to which these traits are manifested in the life depends upon the extent to which the Christian trusts the Lord with every detail of his life, and upon his maturity in Christ. One who is only beginning to understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit should not be discouraged if he is not as fruitful as more mature Christians who have known and experienced this truth for a longer period.

Why is it that most Christians are not experiencing the abundant life?

Carnal Christians cannot experience the abundant and fruitful Christian life. The carnal person trusts in his own efforts to live the Christian life:

1. He is either uninformed about, or has forgotten, God's love, forgiveness, and power (Romans 5:8-10; Hebrews 10:1-25; 1 John 1; 2:1-3; 2 Peter 1:9; Acts 1:8).
2. He has an up-and-down spiritual experience.
3. He cannot understand himself - he wants to do what is right, but cannot.
4. He fails to draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life.
   (1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Romans 7:15-24; 8:7; Galatians 5:16-18)

The Carnal Person

Some or all of the following traits may characterize the Christian who does not fully trust God:

• Unbelief
• Disobedience
• Poor prayer life
• No desire for Bible study
• Legalistic attitude or critical spirit
• Impure thoughts, jealousy, guilt
• Frustration, aimlessness
• Worry, discouragement
• Loss of love for God and others

(The individual who professes to be a Christian but who continues to practice sin should realize that he may not be a Christian at all, according to 1 John 2:3; 3:6, 9; Ephesians 5:5).

NOW LETS TALK ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS

Jesus promised the abundant and fruitful life as the result of being filled (directed and empowered) by the Holy Spirit.The Spirit-filled life is the Christ-directed life by which Christ lives His life in and through us in the power of the Holy Spirit (John 15).

1. One becomes a Christian through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, according to John 3:1-8. From the moment of spiritual birth, the Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit at all times (John 1:12; Colossians 2:9, 10; John 14:16, 17). Though all Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, not all Christians are filled (directed and empowered) by the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit is the source of the overflowing life (John 7:37-39).
3. The Holy Spirit came to glorify Christ (John 16:1-15). When one is filled with the Holy Spirit, he is a true disciple of Christ.
4. In His last command before His ascension, Christ promised the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:1-9).

   How, then, can one be filled with the Holy Spirit?

   We are filled by the Holy Spirit by faith; then we can experience the abundant and fruitful life which Christ promised to each Christian.
   You can appropriate the filling of the Holy Spirit right now if you:
   1. Sincerely desire to be directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:6; John 7:37-39).
   2. Confess your sins. By faith thank God that He has forgiven all of your sins – past, present and future – because Christ died for you (Colossians 2:13-15; 1 John 1; 2:1-3; Hebrews 10:1-17).
   3. Present every area of your life to God (Romans 12:1, 2).
   4. By faith claim the fullness of the Holy Spirit, according to:
      • His Command: Be filled with the Spirit. “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
      • His Promise: He will always answer when we pray according to His will. “And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14, 15).
   Faith can be expressed through prayer..