Heralds Digest

  “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 It is true that not many are privileged to experience affluence, authority, and material prosperity; and that is why many would readily desire the prospect of satisfaction with these privileged experiences. Notwithstanding, the very few who have looked or reflected, after attaining these experiences cannot agree less about the preacher’s acclaimed vanity and the grasping for the wind. Those who have education are not satisfied until they get a career. Those who have a career are not satisfied until they get to the highest heights of their career progression. Then, they become unsatisfied with wanting a family. Those with family are worried about the extension of their possessions with family members. These concerns and the lack of a sustained satisfaction in the exten...

  “The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29:25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ If fellowship with man and God can be treated separately or mutually exclusive, relationships in life will be less complicated. Even among believers in God, it is much more easier for anyone to treat the diverse interests between God and man in isolation. And there are always grave consequences for anyone who dare to either fear man above God or trust God at the expense of man. While the consequences of the fear of man include snare, sin, corruption, and unrighteousness, the consequences of trusting in God alone include persecution, evil speaking, and wickedness from men. How then can a man find true freedom and fellowship in life’s affairs? It is simply by damning the temporal consequences from men in preference to the everlasting safety in the choice of trusting God. Even in the apparent guise of free fellowship with men, only free fellow‘s heart is safe from the snares o...

  “Like the cold of snow in time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Faithfulness and fruitfulness are not compatible if self is the focus. That is the reason why the faithfulness of a messenger will only be conceived as a service in futility, if the definition of fruitfulness is reserved for the refreshments of his own personal soul. But then, the honest concern always is ‘where lies the satisfaction of a faithful messenger? ’. Of course, the refreshment and glory of his worthy master. While many masters in our world are unworthy, the Master of our masters is always worthy of His glory, honour and adoration. Like the cold of snow in time of harvest, a faithful messenger is called to bear the discomfort, displeasures, and disappointment of the weather in order to focus on the time-sensitive task of faithfulness. After all, the harsh environment is not really a targeted evil of the master on...

  “For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Prospect in life, career, and business engagement is the determinant of successful accomplishment. Unfortunately for most people, the strategy is focussed on the possession instead of the procession. Those who ply the paths of hasty possessions are careless with the pursuit of due process, integrity, and patience. No matter the artificial collection of wicked counsels toward an hasty possession in life, career, and business engagement, the prospect will be void of peace and safety at the end. Therefore, believers are admonished to thread the path of wise counsel in the pursuit of peaceful prospect. This is a prospect that focuses on learning the process, rather than landing on the possession. Most times, the learning path is slow and boring; but the experience and the multitude of counsels along the way guarantee safety and peace of mind. When the scriptu...

  “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 In public relations, it is generally conceived that there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interest. Unfortunately, the people’s permanent interest is mostly the pursuit of a snack for the body that sets a snare for the soul. Therefore, the scriptures admonished believers against this unfriendly fellowship, particularly when it is with a man or woman whose temperament is not tamed by the Spirit of the Lord. Anyone who introduces marriage, business, or project proposals to an angry man or woman on the basis of the mundane interest, like beauty, wealth, power or position opportunities, is bound to chew more than the mouth can swallow. Precisely, the dirty politics and lifestyle of malice, bitterness, envy, and animosity, which are the variants of anger, will be nurtured in all unfriendly fellowsh...

  “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 The scriptural pedagogy of parenting is clear on the combination of learning and culture for all parties involving in the execution of the training curriculum. While the “ Train up a child in the way he should go ” underscored the learning portion of the curriculum, the “ when he is old he will not depart from it ” emphasized the culture. Unfortunately, the emphasis on culture has been dangerously downplayed by those who are divinely engaged in the business of parenting today. And in order to adjust the curriculum to adopt the new mindset, the learning portion has to be interpreted differently, as merely ‘guide along ’, ‘counsel smoothly' , ‘educate softly’, etc; but not necessarily ‘train up’. Obviously, training up a child involves a call to learning up for parents. In fact, the ‘learning up’ of parents is always a strong motivation for the ‘training up ’ of a...

  “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭21:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Advances in the field of investigative journalism have provided solutions to many problems in life, particularly the misleading judgement from hasty generalization. Otherwise, the diverse human perspectives on all subject matters in life are easily exploited by the privileged people in our world against an honest pursuit of the truth. And although the products from investigative journalism are admirable to people; in most cases, the penalty of time, talents and treasure for the exercise is often on the high side and mostly discouraging. Whereas, the righteous children of the Lord can also explore the privileges of searching the hearts; not on the field of investigative journalism, but on their knees in prayer. Rather than harping on the human knowledge from surface discretion, deep discretion is leveraged by those who care to seek the face of the Lord for guidance and clearer...