| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “How to inhabit time” Our Bible verse for today: “In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” For we hear there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies. Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Make the most of your life” I love reading biographies about successful people. I find them inspiring and motivating. Recently some friends gave me the autobiography of Dr. Ming Wang. The title is “From Darkness to Sight”. Dr. Wang was raised in communist China during the dark days of the Cultural Revolution. He hated the oppression, the poverty, the lack of opportunity, and the utter hopelessness of it all. Finally, as a teenager, he escaped and made his way to America with only $50 in his pocket, a Chinese-English dictionary, and with a big American dream in his heart. But success in America didn’t come easily. It required hard work, discipline, perseverance, and a determination to never, ever give-up. Long story short, in America Ming became a Christian, earned a PhD in laser physics from MIT, and an MD from Harvard Medical School. He became a world-renowned eye surgeon and a friend of high-ranking elected officials. He published eight books, he has written hundreds of articles, and he has recorded music with Dolly Parton. Over and over again in his autobiography Dr. Wang comments on the amazing amount of freedom and opportunity available for everyone in the U.S.A. This is a sentiment I’ve heard expressed more times than I can count from those who have immigrated to America from other places around the world. America truly is the land of opportunity! But contrast that attitude with the one evidenced by so many of our natural born citizens today. Ours is increasingly becoming an entitlement society. Rather than being excited by the vast array of opportunity all around us and being willing to work hard to achieve our dreams, our citizens are adopting an attitude of entitlement and expecting things to be handed to them for little or no effort on their parts. In short, the communistic/socialistic/Marxist nightmare that Dr. Wang risked his life to escape from, is looking more and more attractive to young Americans today. And immigrants like Dr. Wang stand amazed and confused, wondering why our people are unable to see the absurdity in their perspective. Why can they not see the opportunities all around them, and why are they not willing to do the hard work to achieve success? In 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 the Apostle Paul articulated the Biblical perspective regarding the work ethic we are to have and the productive lives we are to live. It’s a perspective that God repeats numerous times in both the Old and New Testaments. We are to take advantage of our opportunities, work hard, take care of ourselves and our loved ones, and honor God by doing so. So, happy Monday! It’s the beginning of another glorious week filled with great opportunities. I encourage you to get out there and make the most of your life. God bless, Pastor Jim |
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