Heralds Digest

  “I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭ 3:14 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/ecc.3.14.nkjv Purpose and time are the two parameters that reveal the wholesomeness of God. Finding His purpose in life and understanding the accuracy of God’s timing make the heart relax. However, the fear of man and a focus on their activities does readily distract the heart from the purpose of God. And the prevailing ways, wisdom and wickedness of man are easily feared to override the purpose of God. Whereas, only the wholesome works of God are unchangeable, untarnishable, and unmovable. Therefore, the heart that truly trust in God can sincerely rest assure that the purpose of God in life, family, career and ministry is wholesome and holy. Since whatever God does is forever, whatever man does in the life and affairs of God’s winsome people is submerged within God’s w...

  “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.” ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭ 2:11 ‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/ecc.2.11.nkjv Self-satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment in life’s preoccupations are not always sustainable, as evident by the experience of the Preacher. Even the much ado about career development or mentoring, family devotions and parenting, and project engagements can start with great enthusiasm and end with great disappointment. The true question is “what differentiates a worthwhile engagement from a worthless expenditure”? And the simple answer is the purpose of God versus the plan of man. Even when we are aliens by our relationship with God, that does not remove the fact we are created for the purpose intended in the heart of God. As long as man operates within the gyration of God’s purpose, his engagement in life will be meaningful...

  “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29:25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/pro.29.25.nkjv Sometimes, there is nothing (no ‘something’) wrong with faith in man. It’s just not a sustainable idea, as it turns quickly to fear of man. Although there is always dignity in faith and not in fear, man often labour to attract fear rather than faith. Why are we often tempted to seek position, prosperity and privileges in life in order to intimidate and not to inspire? The fear of man brings a snare (intimidation); but faith in man brings safety (or inspiration). And if consistency and safety in relationships at home, workplace and the society are desirable, absolute faith in God and trust in the LORD that holds the breath of every man are more secured. Actually, the fear of man is the wrong ‘something’ with the faith in man.

  “A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:15-16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/pro.27.15-16.nkjv Consistent focus on a fruitful mission in all project, work, and family life is easy in an atmosphere devoid of contention, contradictions, and conflicts of interest. After all, a self-centred man would rather focus on his lofty dreams, often without regards or considerations for the lazy aspirations of minions around. After all, the world revolves around big dreams and the expression of creativity, until the fellowship begin to entertain the contributions of a contentious woman. However, when the scriptures compare her contentious confrontations to a continuous dripping on a very rainy day, it simply advised the consistent focus of a wise man against contagious complaints. The focus of a wise and purpose-driven man is always on God’s mission, and never...

  “For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/pro.24.6.nkjv There is no doubt that safety is found in the multitude of counsellors. Nevertheless, multiple of counsellors generate multiple of strategies and confusion, until the mind is favoured with the wise counsel. Unfortunately, many people have often misplaced the difference between ‘by wise counsel’ and ‘in a multiple of counsellors’. Starting by the latter but not proceeding to explore the necessity of the former leads to the engagement of life’s resources in wasteful wars. Multiple of counsellors from the vast field of science, philosophy, and experience will create the wealth of alternative choices and the boundary of safety nets. Notwithstanding, the purpose of God for everyone in life is not the same and cannot be cast only from the standpoint of safety nets (e.g., economical, financial, and logistical consideration...

“Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:24-25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/pro.22.24-25.nkjv  Recent experience on Dana from Abuja to Lagos taught a useful lesson about how to stay clean in a contaminated cabin. Being sandwiched at the middle seat against social distancing, I was supplied with a face shield in addition to the compulsory wearing of face mask. When the scriptures say “Make no friendship with an angry man”, it does not rule out the possibility of finding yourself in a friend zone with an angry man. What if the angry man is your spouse, superior at workplace (or even subordinate), siblings, etc? Therefore, here is what was learnt: “Just put on your face shield against possible contamination”. Anger is cancerous! Friendship with the spirit of anger starts softly, like the subtle engagement in foolish discussions, the entertainment of useless criticisms, complai...

  “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/114/pro.22.6.nkjv Every parent is a certified trainer. Whether or not he choose to attend a training school, his training curriculum is well cutout for him: “Train up a child in the way he should go”. Unfortunately, many parents will rather train up a child only in the way the child wants to go, and remove the essentials from the curriculum, if the child doesn’t like them. And there is nothing wrong in training up a child in the way the child wants to go, as long as the chosen extra- curriculum is not at the expense of the classified essential curriculum. Whereas, the generation of today’s parents are falling away from the most essential ingredients of life, because yesterday’s parents refused to emphasize on the fear of the LORD and the priority of His help towards character building. When unplanned parents focus on the development of soft s...