SCRIP-BITS

Matthew 6:33.    But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
 
Morning Neighbuhs, morning! It’s a brand new day, and we’re alive and kicking! Wow! What a blessing! I sure hope that we all gave thanks and praise to our great and glorious God when we awoke to another eventful and exciting day, because that is absolutely necessary if we are to function well in these evil and turbulent times. Anyway, yuh know how I’m always telling us to look for and admire the small, simple, everyday miracles that God does in our lives? Well listen to this one that happened to me yesterday. You read how I was lost yesterday, not knowing what to write in the Bit, but I persevered, as I should, and eventually something decent came together. Now usually when I struggle with the Bit, it ends up wowing me, through God’s hand obviously. But for some reason yesterday’s Bit didn’t end up wowing me. Though I knew that it was decent enough, since the Lord would never allow me to put out something not worthy of His name, I still felt a strong thread of doubt running through my being. But lo and behold, I don’t even think it was quite ten minutes after sending out the Bit, that I got an e-mail from a friend, in fact a surrogate sister, telling me how the Bit was good, and how much she enjoyed and appreciated it. All I could say was ‘Wow! Thank you Lord!’ Thanks a whole lot too Cher! I’m glad that He used you as His messenger. Now Friends, tell me that that wasn’t the great, all knowing hand of our merciful, kind and LOVING God moving on my behalf. He knew that if I hadn’t gotten some affirmation regarding the Bit, I would be doubtful and not happy, so therefore He inspired someone whose opinion I trust to contact me and dispel my doubts. What really amazed me though was the speed with which that affirmation came. So Friends, if we want to be happy on a day to day basis, we have to be concerned about and pay attention to the small things in life, for oftimes that’s where the Lord works His wonders. That means we have to value the uneventful, everyday occurrences as well as the big, eventful occasions. And since we have so many more small matters to deal with, than large, if we don’t pay attention to them, we’re liable to not see a lot of God’s good hand working on our behalf. Oh Friends, other believers can give you all the glorious testimony they want, but until you try it and experience it for yourselves, you’ll never appreciate it as much. That’s exactly why Jesus says in our Bit: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ‘Yes mih people, God’s kingdom work, doing the things He desires, should always be first on our list! Granted we have other things to do on this earth, like work and look after our families; get clothes, food, and shelter for them, but the wonderful thing about all this is that Jesus explicitly promised that if we put the things of God first, our heavenly Father will ensure that whatever we need to live a successful, prosperous earthly life will be forthcoming to us in some way or other. And all we old fogeys saw it in action, because when we were growing up, many of us didn’t have much worldly possessions, but we never lacked the necessities of life, like food, clothing and shelter. That’s because our parents style of living was much simpler and godlier than today. Back then, people shared without having to be begged, beseeched and badgered. It just came naturally, in fact, was expected. Today though, that’s almost impossible for the young generation to fathom, and that’s the fault of us old fogeys, because we never taught them the unbelievable, intrinsic value of sharing. Now perhaps the best example of someone seeking God’s kingdom first, and then being overwhelmed by His blessings is Cousin Sol. When he became king of Israel, after Bruh David’s death, God asked him in a dream what he wanted. Cousin Sol asked for wisdom and understanding to rule God’s people. That pleased God so much that He granted him his wish: ‘Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.’ (1 Kin.3:12) Now it’s obviously great to have our wishes granted, but because Sol’s focus was on God, rather than earthly possessions, God was even more generous: ‘And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honour: so that there shall not be any (anyone) among the kings like unto thee all thy days.’ (1 Kin.3:13) Oh Friends, what a wonderful God we serve and worship! I never tire of saying that because I see it everyday, and you can too, if you look for it. And the Lord further promised Cousin Sol: ‘ And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.’ (1 Kin.3:14) Now Friends, that’s the same basic thing Jesus is telling us today: If we walk in His ways, seek His kingdom first, then all our everyday needs will surely be met. And Cousin Sol did follow God’s way for most of his life, till today, thousands of years later, he’s still known as the wisest and richest man who ever lived. Those accolades came because he set his sights, his focus on God’s work above all else. Oh my people, in these uncertain and troubled times, we too need to focus ever so much on God’s work, the eternal things of heaven, rather than the passing fancies of this world, if we hope to be blessed and made to overcome life’s inevitable difficulties. That’s wisdom at it’s zenith! Much LOVE!…he who listens, will prosper…but he that is disobedient, will suffer great hardship and loss…