SCRIP-BITS

Proverbs 13:25.     The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
 
Nine more days Friends! Only nine more days to one of the biggest celebrations and most eventful occasions in the annals of mankind; Christmas Day! That special, special day when our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was born, causing the angels and shepherds to fill the night with song and heartfelt rejoicing and those three kings to come from afar to pay homage to one greater than them, bringing their best earthly gifts of frankincense, gold and myrrh. Wow! Can you imagine that Friends? In those days of camel and donkey travel, those three wise and powerful men must have received a very powerful and compelling message to make them travel all that distance to see what many considered an ordinary baby boy of low earthly estate, lying in a rough, crude stable surrounded by dirty animals. But Friends, through the mighty Spirit of the Most High God, those three men, led by that unusually bright and shining star, knew that they were going on a most worthwhile mission, to be a part of history, to see God personified. They ventured so far from their homes because the righteousness of their hearts propelled them to that humble stable in Bethlehem, where a momentous occasion in history was being played out, and they desired greatly to be a part of it. And they have been immortalized, both in the Good Book and in song: ‘We three kings of Orient are. Bearing gifts, we traverse afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star…’ And just like those kings, my friends, we ought to feel a bubbling up, a wellspring of joy rising in our souls to celebrate this awesome season of our Saviour’s Birth. And as Cousin Sol so rightly points out in our Bit: ‘The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.’ Oh Friends, we can take that both literally and figuratively. Literally, meaning that the righteous eat till they’re satisfied, while the wicked are greedy and gluttonous. And figuratively, as we shall take it, the righteous is satisfied and contented with whatever they have at any particular time, while the wicked are never satisfied, but always desire more. As Bruh Paul states: ‘Not that I speak in respect of want (in regard of need): for I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content.’ (Phil.4:11) Yes my people, that’s one of the many instances where the righteous lord it over the wicked; we’re not greedy and ‘gravalicious,’ but know how to be satisfied with whatever we have. That doesn’t mean we’re not supposed to want more, but simply until more comes, we’re contented at that level. And furthermore Friends, the righteous have strong support from the Lord, as Cousin Sol proudly proclaims: ‘The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance (desire) of the wicked…Blessings are upon the head of the just (righteous): but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.’ (Prov.10:3,6) Oh mih breddren, how much more encouragement do we need eh, to see that the righteous lead a much better life than the wicked? We shouldn’t need anymore. But just in case, (smile) here’s some more. ‘For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.’ (Ps.84:11-12) And for good measure, hear Bruh David, who’s talking from personal experience, not hearsay. ‘The steps of a good man are ordered (established) by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever (always) merciful, and his seed (descendants) is blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for ever more.’ (Ps.37:23-27) Oh my people, there’s no way to dispute those soul-deep words, for Bruh David was both righteous and sinful and consequently experienced God’s blessings but also felt His wrath and punishment. However, because overall he was a righteous man who sincerely sought his God, Jehovah could call him His Friend, and a man after His own heart. Wow! Oh my brethren, that’s the acclamation we should all be seeking from the Lord; to be worthy enough to be called His Friend and a man after His own heart. That’s what I pray everyday my people, because when you’ve reached that stage, it means you’ve earned God’s trust in friendship, and that your heart operates as close as possible to that of the Creator Himself. What an awesome experience that must be mih people! It certainly can’t get any better than that! But Friends, we can never attain to such glory unless we practice true righteousness, because that’s what it takes to come to God and earn His trust and Friendship. And we’ll close with some more incentive to work towards that glorious goal. Listen to these words of Bruh David when he narrowly escaped death and changed his behaviour before Abimelech the priest. (1 Sam.21) The Psalm’s rightly entitled, ‘The Lord hears the righteous.’ ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want (lack) to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want (lack) any good thing.’ (Ps.34:8-10) That’s self-explanatory my people. All I can add to that is a loud, sincere, AMEN! Oh Friends, let’s smarten up and begin choosing righteousness over wickedness nuh, for wickedness doesn’t pay in the long run, and Jesus’ people are long term believers. Much LOVE!…the unrighteous will spend a rough eternity in Hades with Lucifer…while the righteous will enjoy the comfort of salvation and eternal life with Jesus…your choice…