Truth Magazine

By Al Sandlin

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men” (Prov. 22:29). “Mean men” in this passage are obscure men; men of no significance in wisdom and power. This passage teaches us that there are many fringe benefits in exercising diligence in one’s business.

The first benefit that comes to mind is that a command of God has been kept. Ecclessiastes 9:10 says, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Then we find in Romans 12:11, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” Paul said in Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Even our business or secular occupation is encircled by Christianity. The more diligent we are in our secular work, the more pleasing we are unto him who provides our daily bread.

King Solomon observed the “industriousness” of Jeroboam and thus appointed him as a ruler. 1 Kings 11:28 says, “Now the man Jeroboam was a valiant warrior, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, he appointed him over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph.” Whether we are business owners or in the employ of a business, it is our obligation to be diligent because we are, after all, working for the Lord (Col. 3:24). Those who are in power in a city, county, state, or nation look at the performance record of a prospect before filling an important position. When a person of proven ability is found, then he/she “will stand before kings.”

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 demonstrates the pleasure of God in those who are diligent with that which has been entrusted to them. The two servants who exercised diligence had this said to them in verses 21 and 23, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou halt been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Jesus spoke this parable concerning the kingdom of heaven of which Christians are a part. Our King is looking at those who are hard working, industrious, assiduous Christians for one purpose — to make them rulers over many things. Does it strike you as odd that God wants to use people who are busy to give them even more responsibilities? That’s the kind of people he needs as rulers in his church upon the earth (elders) and rulers in the home (fathers and mothers). Throughout the Bible God rewarded diligence for things that are right and good. At the judgment those who have been diligent in secular work and in the kingdom will be rewarded.

Another benefit of diligence in business is that personal, self-satisfaction that one has when he has done his best. Proverbs 10:4 says, “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” One who would provide well for his family must indeed be a person of diligence. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, “Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.” As diligent servants in the kingdom of heaven, God would have us to rejoice with a sense of fulfillment in that which we accomplish here “under the sun.” A key ingredient in that contentment, however, is to be ever thankful to God for his blessings which enable us to discharge our responsibilities. Notice that Solomon was careful to give God the credit in the above cited passage. “This is the gift of God,” he said. Diligence is rewarded by God here and hereafter. “There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen, that it is from the hand of God” (Eccl. 2:24).

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 15, p. 6-7
August 5, 1993

By Kevin Autry

On December 11 1968 an unwanted child was delivered in a hospitals Florida,,, The child. was quickly placed into the hands of social workers who then gave him to an adoption agency: A young, married couple who were unable to leave children of their “own adopted the child.” This was just #or years before abortion became legal.

On August 27, 1973 another unwanted child was born. Roe vs Wade had made abortion legal in 1973, but the mother had the child anyway. This child was also given to an adoption agency. She to was adopted.

I was the first child and my sister was the second. Maybe our biological mother was some scared teenager who made a mistake one night. Maybe she was a career woman who felt we might be inadvertent for her. Nonetheless, she made a decision to let her unwanted children live.

I deeply resent those who would deny my right to exist. Despite the fact that my natural, mother did not want live. I shall have a right to live. I also serve a purpose in this world. Without me, my parents would have no son and my sister world have no brother.

Other lives have been touched by me as well. A two old girl drowning in a pool would have died if I had not been walking by. A young man in Memphis might have carried out his threat to commit suicide if I had not been there to talk him out of it.

It is not my purpose to be boastful. I am attempting to show haw an `unwanted’ child has made a different in the world.

Figures by the Alan Guttmacher Instituite show that there were 1.6 million abortions in the United States in 1990 alone. Of all the pregnancies in 1990, 24.6 percent ended in abortion. Since Roe vs. Wade 28 million unborn children have died.

How many o these children could of made a difference? How many couples unable to have children of their own might have had their dream come true. How many of these children might have been President, or congressmen’ or judges? How many might have been famous writers or artists? World class musicians? Men of peace like King or Ghandi? Might one of them have become a doctor wh’o discovered cure of aids or cancer?

This mass genocide. of unborn children must stop, President Clinton’s removal of abortion restrictions and his support of the Freedom of Choice Act must be opposed. Lives depend an it.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 15, p. 7
August 5, 1993

By Kenneth D. Sits

A few weeks ago, the number one ladies tennis player of the world, Monica Seles, was stabbed while playing in a tennis tournament in Germany. During a break between games, an unknown man ran out on to the court and stabbed her between the shoulder blades. This criminal was wrestled to the ground while Monica moaned in the center of the court at the net. Fortunately, Miss Seles will physically recover from her stab wound.

Why was Monica Seles stabbed? Has she been involved in some outrageous crime worthy of death? No! Has she been on the fringe end of some political or religious group, making people violent from controversial viewpoints? No! Monica is quite reserved, seemingly as harmless as a fly. The man who stabbed her told the media why he did it. He stabbed Miss Seles because he wanted Steffi Graf, the number two ladies tennis player of the world from Germany, to once again be the number one player. Can you believe that! This man was willing to kill Miss Seles for Miss Graf to be number one again. He was willing to kill in order to have what he wanted. I am sure that every superstar in modern athletics has been checking his back-side since this incident has occurred.

Friends, these kinds of incidents continue to escalate around the world. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (NKJV). When men turn their backs on God’s inspired Word and determine to live only for themselves, society deteriorates to the level of “every man out for himself.” When immorality runs unchecked, when standards are ignored, when “kill or be killed” is the motto of the day, death and destruction will always be the catastrophic result.

I have heard several people say, “Why has God given man all those laws? He must be a mean God, ordering people around like that!” Why you ask? To protect us from ourselves. Moses told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 6:24, “And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is this day.” When man hates God and his laws of righteousness and morality, he often turns into a brutal, selfish, uncontrolled maniac who will have his way, regardless of who or what is standing in his way. What else could possibly explain the infamous L.A. riots last year? Over 50 people lost their lives because total selfishness and ungodliness was on parade.

When you consider that listing in 2 Timothy 3:1-4, you can find a lot of people who fit those wicked character descriptions. You don’t have to look very long to find many who live only to please their passions and pleasures. They have lost respect for authorities figures and reject the Bible as God’s word. Even within some churches of Christ, strife, contention and worldliness have become the order of the day. Paul told Timothy to turn away from such people (v. 5). The church of Christ must stand up against those who are filled with themselves, serving only them-selves. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me.” If people would follow after the King, society wouldn’t have to carry guns for self protection. It wouldn’t have prisons filled with rebellious, evil people. It wouldn’t have Monica Seles with a knife wound in her back.

That evening, most of the sportscasters that I saw seemed visibly shaken and unsettled by this incident. Steffi Graf went and saw Monica Seles in the hospital, obviously an emotional wreck over what happened. Many shake their heads and wonder what this world is coming to. Jesus has been trying to tell us for almost 2000 years. Isn’t it time that all of us take his words of heavenly wisdom to heart? Now is the time to examine ourselves in light of the wickedness revealed by Paul in 2 Timothy 3. How do we compare? It’s not too late to change with Jesus’ help.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 15, p. 11-12
August 5, 1993

By Connie W. Adams

A Baptist preacher in Pensacola, Florida has devised a compact 22 minute service to overcome what he calls “an outdated tradition.” An AP report date-lined Pensacola said, “In 22 minutes, Ford plans to deliver a sermon, lead hymn singing, read the scripture, say prayers and have his congregation out the door and on the way to the beach or wherever. To squeeze all that into 22 minutes, only two hymns will be sung and he will limit his sermon to 8 minutes.”

I doubt that the hymn “Take Time to Be Holy” will ever be included in this whirlwind service. This all reminds me of Jeroboam’s religion when he told the ten tribes which followed him, “It is too far for you to go to Jerusalem” and gave them altars at Dan and Bethel.

I had some reluctance in reporting this because I think I know some brethren who might think this is a great idea.

 

The Pie Ministry

The following item appeared in the Paragould, Arkansas paper recently:

“Center Hill Church of Christ has developed a unique program for welcoming visitors to the church.

“The People Involved in Evangelism (PIE) ministry is a ‘sweet outreach for visitors to the church’s worship services,’ said Michael Cox, pastor of the church. ‘The church was wanting to come up with an idea to show how much we cherish our visitors and the PIE ministry was born.’

“During each Sunday service, the names of all visitors are collected and teams of church members deliver fresh baked pies to the visitors on Tuesday evenings.

“Cox noted that the church is growing rapidly and the PIE ministry may be one reason why. ‘The PIE ministry is just one way that we show the love of Jesus to our community,’ said Cox.”

Would someone explain to me how baking and giving pies can be classified as “evangelism”? This is part of the social gospel concept of ministering to the whole man, this time including his sweet tooth. Read on.

 

African Christian Hospitals

This publication has a lead-in “Promoting Medical Evangelism” and then a subheading “Ministering to the Whole Man in Nigeria  Ghana.” This publication regularly reports on the activities of those referred to as “medical missionaries.” It tells of various churches who financially support doctors and nurses and who regularly fund medical clinics. Our institutional brethren have long supported church-related hospitals in foreign fields but have been slow to push from them here in the U.S.A. Why? If it promotes evangelism outside this country, then why would it not promote it here?

I am neither anti-pie nor anti-hospital care for the sick, but I sure do wonder where the passage is that authorizes the church to involve itself in ministering to either the medical or culinary needs of mankind.

Guardian of Truth XXXVII: 15, p. 3-4
August 5, 1993