A Word For Thought

(Please read part one first)

Gaining knowledge fills the brain, but not the soul—“the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Education may help to prove one is smart—intelligence does not need to prove anything, speaks for itself.  “Do not let your education exceed your intelligence.”

Many assorted adjectives can describe a politician—statesman never has an adjective because the word stands alone just as the statesman stands alone.

Man makes religion(s)—Jesus makes possible our relationship with God.

The lawman’s gun gives him power—his badge gives him authority.

For the ham and egg breakfast, the chicken made a contribution—the pig made a sacrifice.

One can have boldness and yet be foolish—courage requires a righteous cause.

“Only one life will soon be past . . .”  temporal—“Only what’s done for Christ will last”  eternal.

Praise of man is temporary glory for temporary accomplishments—praise of God is permanent for things done for eternity.

“Do not fear him who can only kill the body, and that’s all . . .”  fear of man—“Fear Him Who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell”  fear of God.

Financial security on earth is an oxymoron, and only a few can even try—eternal security is a sure thing, available to anyone.

“Do not store up treasure on earth, where moths and rust corrupt it, and thieves break in and steal it”—“Store up treasure in heaven, where moths and rust do not corrupt it, and where thieves do not break in and steal it.”  (Bonus fact, “Where your treasure is, your heart will be also.”)

The toddler says, “Mine,” and we all want to own stuff, and ownership is good, especially for motivation—far better to add the attitude of stewardship, and hold loosely all the stuff that is not permanent, in order to gain and hold what lasts and cannot be lost.

People say you are successful if you have a good job or business, make a certain expected amount of money, and have a certain expected amount of stuff and prestige—God’s definition is different, with only one requirement, faithfulness, regardless of how much you make or how much you’ve got or how people rate you.  (And the benchmark that says you have ‘arrived’ is contentment.)

Jesus does not have a very high view of anyone who boasts about what he accomplishes and what he gains—if we daily acknowledge God in every single detail of our lives, and delight in Him, He is delighted to direct every single one of those details.

I guess we could add one more to summarize the list:

. . . like the difference between pride and surrender.

The difference between knowledge and wisdom is like the difference between education and intelligence.

. . . like the difference between politician and statesman.

. . . like the difference between religion and relationship with Jesus.

. . . like the difference between power and authority.

. . . like the difference between contribution and sacrifice.

. . . like the difference between boldness and courage.

. . . like the difference between temporal and eternal.

. . . like the difference between praise of man and praise of God.

. . . like the difference between fear of man and fear of God.

. . . like the difference between financial security and eternal security.

. . . like the difference between storing treasure on earth and storing treasure in heaven.

. . . like the difference between ownership and stewardship.

. . . like the difference between success and faithfulness.

. . . like the difference between “I did it” and “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” because “without Me you can do nothing.”