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| Volume 19 Number 3 March 2017 | Page 10 |
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| Volume 19 Number 3 March 2017 | Page 10 |
Denny Petrillo
“Hey! Get out of the fast lane!” “Move over and get out of my way!” We live in a world that is so busy, so fast-paced and always in a hurry. Many are driven to go, go, go. As the song says, “I’m in a hurry and don’t know why.”
People in Solomon’s day were in a hurry, too. When Solomon talked of two clinched fists, he described a person who is a workaholic, one who works incessantly to gather as much as humanly possible.
A good work ethic is honorable (1 Thessalonians 4:11; Colossians 3:23). However, Solomon was talking about balance. God knew we needed rest. In the Old Testament Law, He instituted a day of rest (Exodus 20:9-11).
So, let us work hard, but let us also acquire balance. Give yourself a break. Take time off—for self and for family. Make sure you have one hand that is full—not full of money, work and strife—but a hand full of rest. You won’t regret it.
Ronald D. Reeves
More important than tradition, biblical principles have historically motivated us to sing as a form of our personal and collective worship of the Lord in Heaven, and they should continue to motivate us. Consider that singing has been commanded (Ephesians 5:19) and is morally upright (Psalm 92:1). It is an obligation of each member (Colossians 3:16) as we sing to the Lord and to one another (Ephesians 5:19). As the church assembles, we should sing (1 Corinthians 14:15, 26) in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). We should sing with grace in our hearts (Colossians 3:16) and with understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15) as we teach and admonish one another (Colossians 3:16).
Among other motivations, we should sing because the Lord blesses us abundantly (Psalm 18:48-49). May we be as the Psalmist and sing “as long as I live” (Psalm 104:33). May we be encouraged to sing in worship and to support our weekly worship services with our valued and regular presence. Our fellow brethren in the congregation may very well be encouraged more so than one may anticipate by the simple but yet profound act of quality worship before and unto the Lord by the full congregation of God’s people in the public assembly of the church. I’ll be looking for you soon!