"By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through." (Ecclesiastes 10:18 KJV)
""Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds his house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."" (Matthew 7:24-27 NLT)
Back to the beginning, when we first started this journey through this very strange and interesting Book, I shared about this being meant for those that are secular humanist; and yet, there are those within the church, at all most every level, who in their hearts are no different than the average secular humanist, with the way they obey and follow everything that the Lord tells them to do. It is almost as if they don't need to listen; either because they serve within the church; or they give enough money that don't need to listen or are immune to having to obey.
Besides that, there are those who see the Bible as just a book that has stories and allegories of things which didn't really happen or are more about things to make us think. When in the real and perfect world in which God has given us this Love Letter for, it is not so much about thinking, but about His Word changing the persons heart!
We are told in God's word, by this same Preacher: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones." (Proverbs 3:5-8 NLT)
You see, the text, which is so popular, is just the beginning of what is meant to be; we must make the choice to put what we have been told, to work. If it isn't put to the test, then there is no reaction; if there is no reaction, then there is no real connection with the Source! Yes, He gives us the peace we need to get though every situation; but it is His peace, which means that it reflects back to Him...
"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:3-11 NLT)
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