Page 2 - Good News February 2012 paper
P. 2
FIRST THINGS FIRST
FIRST THINGS FIRST
FIRST THINGS FIRST
FIRST THINGS FIRST
here is a story told of a King Solomon in all his glory was
bishop who had the not clothed as beautifully as they.
Theaviest work load of any And if God cares so wonderfully
priest in the diocese. He was a for flowers that are here today and
good man, a holy man, they said, gone tomorrow, won't He most
and it was well known that he rose surely care for you, O men of little
at five o'clock in the morning and faith? So don't worry at all about
spent two hours in prayer before having enough food and clothing.
his day began. All the different Why be like the heathen? For they
organizations and groups he take pride in all these things and
spearheaded, prospered spirit- are deeply concerned about them.
ually and materially. But your heavenly Father already
However, many of the younger knows perfectly well that you
clerics thought the old man was need them” (Matthew 6:28-32
overworked and secretly won- TLB).
dered when he would cave in from Then, I imagine that Jesus paused
exhaustion. and looked each member of the
Their surprise was great when a crowd in the eye so that each
conference of bishops gave him, would understand the importance http://www.hem-of-his-garment-bible-study.org
in addition to his other duties, the of what He had to say next. Father. “Come,” Peter said,
responsibility of co-ordinating “And He (the Father) will give “everyone is asking for You.”
the overseas Missionary Society. them to you if you give Him FIRST Jesus replied, “We must go on to
He threw himself into that work as PLACE in your life and live as He other towns as well, and give my
if he were a young man and that wants you to. So don't be anxious message to them too, for that is
society prospered like everything about tomorrow. God will take why I came” (Mark 1:38 TLB).
else under the old man's ministry. care of your tomorrow too. Live He knew what was ahead of Him
One day his colleagues could one day at a time” (Matthew 6:33- that day. He had three options:
bear it no longer. Taking him 34 TLB). One was to get some badly
aside, they asked him his secret. Just as surely as Jesus was needed sleep and trust that the
“How could you possibly take on speaking to those people and to Father Who had sent Him on His
such a large undertaking without their needs, He is speaking to us mission would give Him the
sacrificing just a bit here or a bit and also to our quest for time strength and the time.
there of your other duties?” today. If we give Him first place in The second option was, in view of
The old bishop looked amazed at our lives, and live as He wants us all that had to be done, to get up
their question. “Why, the answer to live, He has promised to give us early and get going.
is simple. The more I have to do, all that we need. The third was to take time to be
the more I pray. I rise an hour Not only did Jesus tell us we can alone with His Father before His
earlier in die morning for prayer trust God for everything when we work began. Of the three, should
and everything else I must do put God first, but He gave us the we choose less than He did?
during the day just seems to mind example through His actions. Paul wrote, “...redeeming the
itself.” One particular morning His time, because the days are evil”
How he learned this I never heard. disciples woke up at the usual (Ephesians 5:16), upon which
But it seems safe to guess it was time and found Him gone. He had Wesley commented, “With all
from the Scriptures, for Jesus spent the day before preaching, possible care redeeming the time
Himself gave the words and the healing, walking and mixing with - saving all you can for the best
example. He was talking to the the people who closed in on Him. purposes; buying every possible
people who followed Him and His disciples yawned and moment out of the hands of sin
recognised Him as a great stretched and said to one another, and Satan; out of the hands of
Teacher because He spoke so “He is no doubt close by. We'll just sloth, ease, pleasure, worldly
compassionately about their look for the nearest crowd and business; the more diligently,
concerns. We can picture Him find Him there.” because the present are evil days,
standing in the midst of these But everywhere they went the days of the grossest ignorance,
ordinary people, every eye riveted crowds who had gathered to see immorality, and profaneness.”
on Him. Jesus, asked them, “Have you Let us choose - every day - to put
“And why worry about your seen Jesus of Nazareth today?” first things first, and God will do
clothes? Look at the field lilies! At last Simon found Him out in the the rest!
They don't worry about theirs. Yet wilderness alone, praying to His -Selected
Die plek om gelukkig te wees is Ek lees onlangs in 'n verhaal dat Dit kan nie gekoop word nie en
HIER. Die manier om gelukkig te daar twee soorte geluk is: dié wat beloof ook nie om te hou nie.
wees, is om ander mense gelukkig aan jou gegee word, en dié GELUK IS JOU INGESTELDHEID
te maak. waarvoor jy moet werk. Wat 'n TEENOOR DIE LEWE.
- Robert Green Ingersoll groot waarheid! [Met Goue Ink geskrywe, Junita
'n Ander onvergeetlike wysheid Joubert, Daan Retief Uit-
Almal soek geluk. Ons verwag dit wat ek gelees het, hou ook 'n fyn gewers,1986].
en voel dit kom ons toe. vermaning in: blom op die plek
waar jy geplant is! “You have put more joy and
Ons dink so dikwels: as ek nou dít rejoicing in my heart than [they
of dát kon hê, sou ek gelukkig know] when their wheat and new
wees. As ek dáár gebly het, sou ek wine have yielded abundantly”
gelukkig wees. (Ps. 4:7, Amplified Bible).
Natuurlik is daar dinge van buite
wat die lewe van 'n mens kan “You will show me the path of
versoet: 'n mooi omgewing, goeie life; in Your presence is fullness
hulpmiddels by die verrig van 'n of joy, at Your right hand there
taak. Maar geluk as sulks kom van are pleasures forevermore”
binne. (Ps. 16:11, Amplified Bible).