Vanity of Vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? (Eccl.1 :2-3)
Timothy was told: “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of life that now is, and of that which is to come…For therefore we labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe”
(I Tim. 4:8,10). Thus, we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day [through prayer and the reading of God’s word and fellowship]. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (II Cor.4:16-17).
What’s our priority?
Do we have our hopes and ideals set on being godly? What do we consider to be our priorities in life? I remember one evening after dinner, my Dad came to my bedroom door and called out that it was time to do the readings; I was laying on my bed, belly full from dinner, half asleep not wanting to move. My first thought was, “I’m too tired, I’ll catch up on the readings tomorrow morning.” As usual the call came again and again, until I was forced to pick my lazy self up and participate in reading God’s word. Of course, once the readings were done, I was energized and quite happy Iliad chosen to join the family.
Part of our discussion was on current events and how exciting it would be if our Lord came that very night. I thought to myself, what a disaster it would have been if my Lord had come and I had chosen not to join in reading God’s word! Perhaps next time it will be an angel knocking at my door. What will my answer be? We are reminded by Timothy that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
It is by reading God’s word that we can be renewed each day. Taking time every day to read God’s word, to refresh our minds, is very important in our walk toward the kingdom. We all know this, but how often do we practice it?
We often find ourselves in situations very similar to this one. Perhaps we have just got home from a hard day at school, work, or a busy day of playing some sport at a tournament, our legs are weak and we are having trouble keeping our eyes open. You say to yourself, “There is just no way I’ll be able to stay awake for Bible class tonight. I should stay home and get some sleep. Besides, I have a very busy day tomorrow, and I need the energy.”
Perhaps we are working harder and giving more of our time and energy to school, the job, hobbies, or entertainment, instead of using our precious energy for God in fellowship.
We need discipline
It is through discipline that we schedule our time appropriately. Where are we spending most of our time? In front of the TV, at school, at work, partying, and with whom? Where is the time for personal Bible study, Sunday school, memorial service, preaching, CYC, midweek Bible class, visiting brothers and sisters on a regular basis? We have all heard this time and time again, but how often do we forget to schedule in time for God?
Because our lives are so busy, we tend only to accomplish what we set out to be our priority. What do we cherish in life? Is it money, fame, possessions, cars, food, sleep, sports, health? “For after all these things do the Gentiles seek” (Matt. 6 32). We have a higher calling to seek “first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1,2).
Jesus exhorts us in Matthew to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: [we need to have a vision of the kingdom] if therefore thine eye be single [simple, whole, sound, without complexity of character & motive], thy whole body shall be full of light. but if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! [see II Cor. 4:6]. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (see Jam. 4:4). What treasures have we set our hearts and minds on?
Do we put our trust in our possessions (idols), or in other people (princes), as those in Isaiah 40 did? As young people, do we put our trust in our own strength? For, “even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa. 40:30-31).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One