Sunday, September 19, 2010

GOD COMMENDS BOTH ZEAL AND CONTENTMENT!

In the scriptures one will find encouragement to be aggressive in our business and, at the same time, to be content with the things that we have. How can we accomplish both?

The prophet Elisha had become sick and the Bible says it was a sickness from which he would not recover. King Joash came to visit and bemoaned the loss saying that the prophet represented the total defense of the country! Or, to put it another way, “What shall we do without you?”

2 Kings 13:15-19 KJV

15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.

16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.

17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.

18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.

19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

We understand Elisha to mean that in war we should fight aggressively, fiercely, unreservedly and fight to win. We are now engaged in a conflict not with a nation or people but with an ideology that is evil. We are in a battle with Satan who is our enemy. If, in our pursuit of pleasure, we have spent our strength on silly things we will have neither the heart nor the hand to engage him. In war, fight to win!

Later, God appears to contradict himself by telling us to be content. Let’s take a look at the verse.

Heb 13:5 KJV

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

The key to understanding the apparent contradiction is to know that this verse is not talking about fighting a battle but about living a life. The word “conversation” refers to lifestyle. We must have a lifestyle void of greedy, stressful, competition for gain. The verse is specifically talking about “such things as ye have.” In life, be content!

Other portions of scripture warn us against laziness. When working, work hard!

Prov 12:27 KJV

27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

Eccl 5:12 KJV

12 The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

Ø     IN WAR, FIGHT TO WIN!

Ø     IN LIFE, BE CONTENT!

Ø     WHEN WORKING, WORK HARD!

Dear Lord, help me to balance the segments of life and pursue them. Let me be an intense worshipper today. AMEN