[Biblemat] B> Gospel Observer 1/21/07
tedwards at onemain.com
tedwards at onemain.com
Tue Jan 23 17:51:23 CST 2007
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THE GOSPEL OBSERVER
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"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20).
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January 21, 2007
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Contents:
1) What Is Happiness? (R.J. Evans)
2) Potential (Stacey E. Durham)
3) News & Notes
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-1-
What Is Happiness?
by R.J. Evans
How many times have you reasoned, "I'd be happy, if only..."?
And then the dream usually continues with "if only I had more
money," or "if only I had married someone else," or "if only I had
more friends, a better education, a better job, a bigger house,
better health," etc. The breakthrough into happiness for many
hinges upon those two words, "if only."
What Is Your Concept?
Most of those of the world have little trouble coming up with
their own formula for happiness. It usually consists of wealth,
status and power, and freedom from frustration of any kind. If this
is similar to what you have conjured up in order to be happy, then
you need to consider whether this is a worthwhile goal or not. The
best way to find out is to consider others who have lived in such
conditions. King Solomon is a prime example of one who "had
everything." According to 2 Chronicles 6-9, Solomon had enough
wealth to make some of our modern-day "tycoons" seem like paupers.
Consider Solomon's Wealth
On a yearly basis, Solomon received six-hundred sixty-six
talents of gold (2 Chron. 6:13), "besides that which chapman and
merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the
country brought gold and silver to Solomon" (2 Chron. 6:14).
Six-hundred sixty-six talents of gold would be about 960,000
ounces. Comparing that with today's standards (say at $300 per
ounce) it would amount to something like $288,000,000.
There was no need for Solomon to purchase certain items. He
made two hundred targets of beaten gold and three-hundred shields
made of beaten gold (2 Chron. 9:15-16). His throne was made of
ivory, overlaid with pure gold -- "There was not the like made in
any kingdom" (2 Chron. 9:17-19). All of the drinking vessels of
King Solomon were made of gold, in fact, "none were of silver; it
was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon" (2 Chron.
9:20).
In 2 Chronicles 9:21-22, we read of Solomon importing finery
from all parts of the world. Then, those who visited him, seeking
his wisdom, brought "vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and
raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by
year" (2 Chron. 9:23-24). When the Queen of Sheba came "to prove
Solomon with hard questions," she brought spices, gold in
abundance, and precious stones (2 Chron. 9:1-2).
But wealth was not everything. The Bible says that Solomon
"loved many strange women" (1 Kgs. 11:1). Of course, this is an
understatement, for "he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and
three hundred concubines" (1 Kgs. 11:3). A total of a thousand
women!
But Was Solomon Happy?
Being king, Solomon could do just about anything he desired,
and that is precisely what he set out to do. He wrote about this in
the book of Ecclesiastes. He experimented with almost everything
under the sun, but this non-stop entertainment grew tiresome (Eccl.
2:1); he mentions drinking wine (Eccl. 2:3); he built elaborate
houses, temples, vineyards, gardens, etc. (Eccl. 2). He stated, "So
I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in
Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever mine eyes
desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy;
for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of
all my labor" (Eccl. 2:9-10).
In consideration of the aforementioned, one would be almost
certain that Solomon was a very happy man. But was Solomon
genuinely happy? Unfortunately, Solomon was miserable. "Therefore I
hated life; because the work that is wrought under sun is grievous
unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit" (Eccl. 2:17).
Consider Paul
At this point another man comes to mind who, to some, would
have had every right in the world to be miserable. This man is the
apostle Paul. At times he had to go back to his old trade of tent
making. He did much traveling under adverse conditions by foot or
by ship. His life was one of constant danger. Paul catalogs many of
his sufferings, perils and anxieties in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28.
Also, there was a great deal of worldly honor given up by Paul "for
the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:4-11).
Then, on top of all that, Paul had what he referred to as a "thorn
in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7).
Yet Paul Was Happy
True abiding happiness is not derived from earthly wealth,
position, sexual freedom, or unlimited power. Paul was a contented
man. A "contended" man is a "happy" man! "Not that I speak in
respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am
therewith to be content" (Phil. 4:11). "Rejoice in the Lord alway:
and again I say, Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4).
Did Paul know something about happiness that Solomon didn't?
No, Solomon knew the basic formula for happy living, but he ignored
it and it literally ruined his life. As an old man, reflecting over
the wasted years, he gave wise advice to the young: "Remember now
thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not,
nor the years draw night, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure
in them" (Eccl. 12:1). Then his closing words, "Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his
commandments: for this is the whole duty of man" (Eccl. 12:13). And
these same principles, if you obey them, can make you happy, no
matter what your situation in life may be. If you choose to ignore
these principles, then the results will be otherwise.
Conclusion
Christians can be happy! Christians should always be happy!
What an occasion for rejoicing a Christian has with all the joys
and blessings that are ours as children of God. We enjoy all the
spiritual blessings which are in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3). We enjoy
the peace of God which passes all understanding (Phil. 4:4-7).
Happiness is obeying and faithfully serving God. If you have not
yet obeyed the gospel of Christ, we encourage you to do so now.
-- Via Guardian of Truth XXXII: 20, pp. 627-628, October 20,
1988
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-2-
Potential
by Stacey E. Durham
The word "potential" means "possible as opposed to actual" or
"capable of being or becoming." When we say that someone has
potential, we usually mean it in a good way. It means that we
expect great things from this person. Some sports teams invest
millions of dollars in an athlete based upon his potential alone.
Every person has a potential for something good. However, not
every person has the same potential. Consider the parable of the
talents (Matt. 25:14-30). All three men who were given talents had
the potential to make a profit with them. Each man's potential was
different because of the number of talents given to him by the
master, but the master expected each of them to fulfill their
potential with what they had.
With potential always comes expectations. These expectations
are reasonable according to what one's potential is. In the
parable, the man who received five talents and the man who received
two talents fulfilled their potential with those talents. The
master was equally pleased with both of them and gave them the same
reward even though one had profited more than the other (verses 21,
23). However, the man who received one talent failed to reach his
potential, and the master rebuked him and punished him for not
meeting expectations (verses 26-30).
The point of the parable is that God has given each person a
potential to do good, and He expects the same effort from
everybody. Effort is what turns potential into reality. In the
parable, the master calls the man given one talent a "wicked, lazy
slave" because he did not make the effort to do his master's will
(verse 26). The achievement of fulfilling potential will not
happen unless the one to whom God has given potential works to meet
God's expectations.
Every person has the potential to obtain forgiveness of sins
and salvation from death. God has made this possible through the
giving of His own Son on the cross. However, God still has
expectations for every person in order for that person to achieve
eternal life. Just as the three men in the parable knew what their
master's expectations were (verses 24, 26), we also know what God's
expectations are because he has told us through His word. So, we
have no excuses for failing to meet our potentials.
Young people must especially keep in mind that potential is not
achievement. Often a young person who has a tremendous potential
for doing good will receive bountiful praise and encouragement from
others for his potential. If he becomes satisfied with this
praise, he may never accomplish his potential. He must remember
that the fact that he has potential means that he has not done
anything yet.
When opportunities have passed, potential is remembered as a
burden if it was not accomplished, and it is remembered as blessing
if it was achieved. When your opportunities have passed, how will
you remember your potential? Make it a blessing, and achieve what
God expects of you now while you can, before He comes to settle His
account with you.
-- Via Creekview church of Christ bulletin, Gallatin, TN
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-3-
News & Notes
Let those of us who are Christians continue to remember R.J.
Evans in prayer. He is still in the hospital, and the doctors are
trying to figure out what has been causing his problems. They
think it might be either an ileus (in which the intestine doesn't
work as it should in pushing the food through) or adhesions caused
from his abdominal surgery. Right now they are helping him to
avoid nausea by keeping a stomach pump hooked up to his stomach.
If it is an ileus, the doctors say it will eventually mend itself;
but if adhesions, they will have to do additional surgery. He is
not feeling up to having visitors at this time, but the prayers of
the saints will be greatly appreciated.
Kelli Fleeman is scheduled for a C-section January 26. She has
had a ruptured disk since July, and a few weeks ago had to start
taking insulin for sugar diabetes. Her husband Rick is hoping
these problems will pass as soon as their baby is delivered. Let
us pray that things will go well for her and the child.
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MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST
1022 Myrtle Street
Denham Springs, LA 70726
(225) 664-8208
Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 PM
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520
e-mail: tedwards at onemain.com
web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go
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