2 Timothy 4:1-5
I cannot impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple. You are going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching but will fill up on spiritual junk food---catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They will turn their backs on the truth and chase mirages. But you---keep your eyes on what you are doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant. 2 Timothy 4:1-5 (MSG)
The message I am getting is that we are to help each other working toward the good and the God pleasing things. It is so easy to start thinking about what I want and forget about others. Farmer Jones teaches us a good lesson. He grew the best corn in the state and won awards every year. One year a newspaper reporter decided it was time for an article on how farmer Jones did it every year. The reporter discovered that farmer Jones shared his seed corn with his neighbors. “How can you afford to share your best corn with the neighbors when they are also entering the competition each year?” the reporter asked.
Why sir didn’t you know that the wind picks up the pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If the neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, it is important for my neighbors to grow good corn.
So, it is with our lives...those who want to live meaningful lives must help enrich the lives of others, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. For those who want to live purposeful Christian lives must help others, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.
Questions for Reflection:
- What was your last memory of spreading some good pollen?
- How did it feel?
- Why not work to have that feeling more often?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for all the good you bring into our lives. Please help us to remember that much of that good comes to us as the result of gifts you lead others to give to us and then please help us to remember to bring needed gifts to others who are in need. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen
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