SCRIP-BITS

2 Corinthians 13:11.    Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of LOVE and peace shall be with you.
 
Oh Friends, it’s February, imagine that nuh! The first month of 2012 has certainly passed rather quickly, and I sure hope that you’ve paid off your Christmas debts, because the greedy commercial money making machine is about to start on us with the Valentine’s Day spiel. Ah Lord eh! There’s always something every few weeks to try and relieve us of the funds we don’t have, thus we end up constantly in debt. And I guess that’s good for the ones who hold our debt, but definitely not for us, the debtors. Anyway people, as believers we have to be wise and be good stewards with God’s money, cause it’s not really ours, we’re just here on earth to manage it for a short time in His name. So please, let’s be prudent and try to pay down our considerable debt this year. Every so often we do need to buy gifts, but don’t allow the world to browbeat us into buying what we cannot afford. And if someone feels slighted that we didn’t buy them gifts, especially if they know of our reduced circumstances, then simply pass on them. Like Jesus said: ‘shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.’ (Mark 6:11) For they don’t really care about your well-being, just what you can give them. And the sad part is that if we would live like our Bit says, we wouldn’t have these selfish and petty confrontations or disagreements. ‘Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect (complete), be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of LOVE and peace shall be with you.’ Now Bruh Paul wrote our Bit as a conclusion and benediction to his second letter to the Corinthians, but believers today would be wise to use it as our opening parameters rather than closing ones. Instead of saying finally, we should possibly say: ‘Greetings, brethren. Here’s how we ought to live: First and foremost be perfect…’ then go on and name the other parts that he highlights. Oh Friends, if we lived just one iota of the way Bruh Paul specifies here, life on this troubled and directionless planet would be so great. As Bruh Paul said to the Romans: ‘Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not (do not set your mind on) high things, but condescend to men of low estate (associate with the humble). Be not wise in your own conceits (estimation). Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in (depends on) you, live peaceably with all men.’ (Rom.12:14-18) That Friends, in a nutshell, is how we ought to live here on earth: in peace, harmony, LOVE and understanding with each other. For if we are one body in and of Christ, then all the parts of that body should be treated with respect and honour, working together for Christ’s good, not the tearing apart and destruction, the strife and selfishness that’s actually taking place in Christ’s church today. Oh my people, we all know that living for Jesus is not easy in this sinful, ungodly world, but we also ought to know that if we sincerely turn to Him and stick steadfastly with Him, He will enable us to live a life that’s pleasing to Him. We just need to build up our faith and stay the course, even when trials and tribulations want to knock us down. Don’t despair, Jesus promised that He’ll never leave or forsake us, and if you believe His promise, then He will faithfully keep it. The problem is that we need to rise above the ordinary world and all the distractions that it brings. Our focus should constantly be on Jesus, through prayer, through reading and meditating on His Word, then putting it into practice through helping, building up and encouraging each other, rather than tearing down and demoralizing, as we tend to do. Oh Friends, without us being of the same basic mind set and travelling in the same general direction – towards Jesus – we can never be unified and thus do a good job in Jesus’ name. That’s because for any organization to be successful, the builders must have the same basic principles and be going along the same basic paths. Therefore, I’m imploring us today, to start setting our sights on unity within Christ’s church, for that’s the only way it will survive and eventually grow. It’s simple common sense Friends, as Jesus so wisely pointed out: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.’ (Matt.12:25) So if we’re serious about furthering God’s kingdom, let’s begin by uniting, making peace amongst all the different parts of the church, living in LOVE and contentment, helping and encouraging each other, so that the God of LOVE and peace will be with us. So till next time, my people, as Bruh Paul said to the Ephesians: ‘Peace be to the brethren, and LOVE with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that LOVE our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.’ (Eph.6:23-24) Much LOVE!…only as believers sincerely and diligently work towards unity…will Christ’s church stand strong and evolve…