A Life in the Pursuit of What?
A Life in the Pursuit of What? "Partiality in judgment is not good. Whoever says to the wicked one, “You are righteous,” Will be cursed by the peoples and denounced by the nations." Prov. 24:23, 24. And yet, "I passed by the field of the lazy one, By the vineyard of the man lacking good sense. I saw that it was overgrown with weeds; The ground was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down. I observed this and took it to heart; I saw it and learned this lesson: A little sleep, a little slumbering, A little folding of the hands to rest, And your poverty will come like a bandit, And your want like an armed man." Prov. 24:30-34. So: "Prepare your outside work, and get everything ready in the field; Then build your house." Vs. 27. "By wisdom a house is built up, And by discernment it is made secure. By knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious and pleasant treasures." Vs. 3, 4. *** "True wisdom has built its house; It has carved out its seven pillars.". "True wisdom cries aloud in the street. It keeps raising its voice in the public squares. At the corner of the busy streets it calls out. At the entrances of the city gates it says: “How long will you inexperienced ones love inexperience? How long will you ridiculers take pleasure in ridicule? And how long will you foolish ones hate knowledge?" Prov. 7:1, 20-22. Should a life in the pursuit of pleasure be one's foremost ardent endeavor? To butcher the cow; slaughter the sheep; toast with wine; swallow the meat? Most consistently this repeat? Endure the work? Forego the sleep? Festivals often in the streets? "My son, eat honey, because it is good; Honey from the comb is sweet to the taste. Likewise, know that wisdom is good for you. If you find it, you will have a future And your hope will not be cut off." Prov. 24:13, 14. Yes: “True wisdom" also "has fully prepared its meat; It has mixed its wine; It has also arranged its table. It has sent out its female servants to call out from the heights above the city: “Whoever is inexperienced, let him come in here.” She says to the one lacking good sense: “Come, eat my bread and share in drinking the wine that I have mixed. "Leave behind your inexperience and live; Walk forward in the way of understanding."" Prov. 9:1-6. *** "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, And knowledge of the Most Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be many, And years will be added to your life. If you become wise, you are wise to your own advantage, But if you are a ridiculer, you alone will bear it." Prov. 9:10-12. For: "Truly, those keeping far from you will perish. You will put an end to everyone who immorally leaves you." Ps. 73:27. "For there is no future for anyone evil; The lamp of the wicked will be extinguished." Prov. 24:20. *** "My son, fear Jehovah and the king. And do not associate with dissenters, For their disaster will arise suddenly. Who knows what ruin both will bring upon them?" Prov. 24:21, 22. *** "Therefore, subject yourselves to God; but oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you." James 4:8. If the dead are not to be raised up, “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we are to die.”—1 Cor. 15:32.
The apostle Paul may have been quoting Isaiah 22:13, which refers to the attitude of the Israelites. Instead of drawing close to God, they pursued a life of pleasure. Basically, the attitude of those Israelites was “here today, gone tomorrow,” a view common even today. Clearly, the fact that Jehovah can resurrect the dead should affect our choice of associates. The brothers in Corinth needed to guard against associating with those who denied the resurrection. There is a lesson for us today: No good can come from choosing as regular associates those who have a live-for-the-moment outlook. Being with such ones can ruin a true Christian’s viewpoint and habits. In fact, it might lead him to have a lifestyle that includes what God hates—sin. Thus, Paul strongly urged: “Come to your senses in a righteous way and do not practice sin.”—1 Cor. 15:33, 34. © 3 hours ago, Lucretia McCloud society • hope • teen • coronavirus • christian
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