A Thought for the Day – 051 – Spring cleaning
Do not be a partner with a thief, even to steal the nickel off the night
stand or to know someone who did. Stealing promotes lying and both produce
death. Maybe not physical death; but the death of TRUTH, of FAMILY trust, of
FRIENDSHIP integrity and of the RELATIONAL values of life. The nickel is not
worth it, since the repair of truth, of family, of friends and relationships
will cost much more than one has. Proverbs 29:24
Comments and challenges
If you
have an attic I am most certain that today would be a good day to visit it. However
if you live in New England where there is a threat of severe weather I am not
suggesting that you go to the attic and wait for the storm to hit so as to be injured
or worse, but quickly go and grab a box or two that has those pleasant memories
of times past.
Or if
you are like me, go put that garden in before the rains come, since it is time
to plant as the time to pluck what was planted is fast approaching. Solomon has
a lot to say about life under the sun, so today if you do not have an attic or
garden you might just run to your Holy Bible and open Solomon’s box of
blessings as he shares with us the God given task of living life. God has made
everything beautiful in its time.
Spring
cleaning promotes memories, so it is not odd that at this time of the year for
those who do “spring cleaning” to be reminded of times gone by; like dads old
shoes, his favorite gloves and other items that bring him into focus. It is not
the dust in the attic or the dusty box that causes the nose to get stuffy and
the eyes fill up, so do not make that excuse and lose the value those of days
gone by.
These personal
histories of times gone by are truly a wealth that cannot be stolen, our mind
and the things in it are protected by God. Yes I know and understand that the possibility
of dementia and that other condition I cannot spell, the one that is even boggling
the spelling mind of this computer; it starts with “a” and has a “z” in it
somewhere. The word can end with any letter unless you make it plural, let me
do that so at least I get three of the letter correct; the “s”.
Now let
me see, it seems I have forgotten my original train of thought? Hmmm? I think I
will call this lapse of memory… “half-timers” instead of “Alzheimer’s”
Take
the moment and read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, everything under the sun has a season,
which is to live life to the full this is the task that God has given to
mankind. In Ecclesiastes 3:9 Solomon adds, “What profit has the worker from
that which he does? In other words if you do not WORK your life… who will work
it for YOU? If you are relying on someone else to work your life; they will
reap the reward. Ask any butler.
Our world
is under the curse of God because of SIN; but note that Ecclesiastes 3:11
clearly explains to you and me that God has made everything beautiful in its
time. How do you suppose that works? If I choose to ignore God and plant and
pluck, live and die, mourn and dance, love and hate and so forth for the gratification
of self like so many in the world do then I miss LIFE under the sun. I have
rejected LIFE by ignoring GRACE.
What is
grace? Grace is found in verse eleven with these words of Solomon. “Except that
God has placed ETERNITY in our heart” and what is unique is that man cannot
find this out alone, He needs to relinquish his or her selfish hold on life by
giving his or her life back to God too find out that to plant and pluck, live
and die, mourn and dance, love and hate and so forth are not for the
GRATIFICATION of our selfish flesh, but for the glorification of our Creator
who RIGHTS the UNRIGHT! As Ecclesiastes 3:12 explains. More tomorrow as we
begin to study again the book of Ecclesiastes.
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