Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Saturday, February 6, 2010
THE TYRANNY OF TRIFLES.
For News Review, August 8, 1992 by Glenn Smouse, Chaplain McMinnville Community Hospital.
Most of us are too much concerned about too little. The curse of our lives is that we have too much 'stuff.' We spend so much of our time concerned about the 'stuff' that we no longer have time for that which is important. Richard Foster, in a fine book, Celebration of Discipline, writes, "De-accumulate! Masses of things that are not needed complicate life. They must be sorted and stored and dusted and re-sorted and re-stored ad nauseum. Most of us could rid of half our possessions without any serious sacrifice."
Jesus had very little 'stuff.' He said that he didn't have a regular sleeping place. Yet his life stands out above all others as an example of success and contentment. Small wonder that he would say to his followers, "Seek first God's kingdom and righteousness and all these things (the 'stuff") will be given to you. The difference is that with this outlook and lifestyle the 'stuff' will no longer control us and we will be able to give our lives to the service of God and others. Then and only then can we escape the tyranny of trifles.
Most of us are too much concerned about too little. The curse of our lives is that we have too much 'stuff.' We spend so much of our time concerned about the 'stuff' that we no longer have time for that which is important. Richard Foster, in a fine book, Celebration of Discipline, writes, "De-accumulate! Masses of things that are not needed complicate life. They must be sorted and stored and dusted and re-sorted and re-stored ad nauseum. Most of us could rid of half our possessions without any serious sacrifice."
Jesus had very little 'stuff.' He said that he didn't have a regular sleeping place. Yet his life stands out above all others as an example of success and contentment. Small wonder that he would say to his followers, "Seek first God's kingdom and righteousness and all these things (the 'stuff") will be given to you. The difference is that with this outlook and lifestyle the 'stuff' will no longer control us and we will be able to give our lives to the service of God and others. Then and only then can we escape the tyranny of trifles.
Monday, January 25, 2010
LOVE IN ACTION
McMinnville OR News Review August 29, 1992
Perhaps a better title would be, "Love is Action," for that's what true Biblical love is. One writer used the theme, "Love is a verb." John wrote, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18) Such love is not an option for the Christian, it is an obligation. We are commanded to love!
John Wesley exemplified this love in his life by doing good to all. He once wrote, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
Paul wrote to the Galatian churches, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." And the letter to the Hebrews has this plea, "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
It's not enough to talk about love. Love must be demonstrated. Stanley Mooneyham wrote, "Love talked about is easily turned aside but love demonstrated is irresistible."
A question asked in the vernacular of the world might better be applied to the Christian. What would my answer be if asked, "How's your love life?" What would your answer be?
Perhaps a better title would be, "Love is Action," for that's what true Biblical love is. One writer used the theme, "Love is a verb." John wrote, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18) Such love is not an option for the Christian, it is an obligation. We are commanded to love!
John Wesley exemplified this love in his life by doing good to all. He once wrote, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."
Paul wrote to the Galatian churches, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." And the letter to the Hebrews has this plea, "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
It's not enough to talk about love. Love must be demonstrated. Stanley Mooneyham wrote, "Love talked about is easily turned aside but love demonstrated is irresistible."
A question asked in the vernacular of the world might better be applied to the Christian. What would my answer be if asked, "How's your love life?" What would your answer be?
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