A Thought for the Day – 022
How important is wisdom to the average person?
Silver and gold, now that is the goal! Okay, so here is a dollar, go and spend
it wisely and later tell me of your success. Without wisdom we will never have
a good report; without understanding our effort is in vain. Proverbs 16:16 and
Matthew 25:25
Comments and challenges
I
was just looking at one of the pictures of the Chief’s quarters on the last
submarine I was stationed on. Surely it is typical of most of the quarters of
other ships, even the surface ships of our United States Navy or other navies.
Having been aboard some of the British boats, these too resemble a commonality,
the only noticeable item these quarters have that ours do not (in those days)
the seating were kegs of beer with cushions on the top.
In
the picture that is on my desk there are six of us chiefs, we are listening to
the Executive Officer who is briefing us on the patrol we are engaged with and
some other subjects that are of interest. What is unique about the picture
(nothing) it is typical, six men who just before the XO showed up were playing
cribbage, drinking coffee, smoking and just hanging around. We were in the
North Atlantic heading for the North Pole Region.
If
you are not a chief then you are not a member of the chief’s quarters, thus
everyone who comes into the quarters must knock and request permission to come
in. this includes all of the crew and the officers. Reminding me of the section
of scripture in Luke 11:5-8; truly the Executive Officer of the ship has access
to all of the ship and can enter any space without permission, but out of
respect for his chiefs will knock and wait for the call to enter.
He
can come at any time including midnight; time on any military platform is never
an issue; however vigilance is. Now there is a slight difference in the XO’s
arrival and a friend in need but both do have a mission to complete. The friend
in these verses is looking for subsistence in material things while our XO is
looking for subsistence in leadership.
Now
the thoughts of us chiefs may well have been negative at the knock on the door
and it would be foolish to say that there were not negative comments under the
earshot of the XO, but his persistent knocking would have eventually turned
into just opening the door and walking in. Enter! Comes the response of the
Chief of the Boat and in walks a familiar face and friend. Needs are spoken,
challenges given and the mission is completed to that point.
Is your
mission in life unfulfilled? Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed with life and
your relationship with God? Does your religion seem empty? If any of these or
other questions in your life about God and His Son Jesus is bouncing around in
your mind, it may be your very mind that is failing to hear, that God is still
knocking at the door, for you to let Him in; that is if you go to church at
all? The church may be lukewarm, causing you to be lukewarm as well. Notice
Revelation 3:14-22; especially verses 20-22.
No comments:
Post a Comment