The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
January 25, 2004
In
This Issue:
Parrots
by
Steve Klein
When
Having it All Gets You Nothing
by
Philip
Mullins
Parrots
This past week, there was a news story circulating about a 104 year old parrot that supposedly belonged to Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain during World War II. As the story goes, the parrot, a Macaw named Charlie, is alive and well and still cursing Hitler and the Nazis from his home in a garden center. Allegedly, this is a habit the parrot picked up from Churchill himself. Churchill's surviving daughter, Lady Soames, was quick to deny that her father ever owned Charlie; but the current owner of the bird is sticking by his account. Whether or not the story of Charlie is factual, it is incredible to think that it is at least possible that a parrot could be repeating things it learned over 65 years ago.
People can be a lot like parrots. They will repeat over and over what they have learned, even long after the source they learned it from is gone, has been proven wrong, or repented of what was said. Children are especially like parrots. But so are coworkers, classmates, spouses and even brethren in Christ. For this reason it is so very important for each of us to watch what we say; our words might be in circulation for a long time. The Psalmist prayed, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalms 141:3).
Unfortunately, it is often the worst things that are said that take on a life of their own and spread like wildfire. As James says, the tongue is "a fire" and a "world of iniquity" -- a small member that boasts great things (James 3:5-6). It is like a spark that succeeds in destroying an entire forest. Some of the sins of the tongue that are the hardest to stamp out once ignited include the following:
1. Lies. Oddly, it was Churchill himself who said that, "A lie can make it half way around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." We should be very careful to always speak the truth, because once a lie gets started, the ruin it works will usually be very far reaching. The Scriptures teach us to refrain our lips from speaking deceit if we want to enjoy a pleasant future here on earth. "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit" (1 Peter 3:10).
2. Rumor & Gossip. Reputations and relationships can be harmed irreparably by the simple repetition of a tale. Spreading negative, juicy or unfounded stories about others is the work of the ungodly and the evil. The Proverbs teach that "An ungodly man digs up evil, And it is on his lips like a burning fire," and that "An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue" (Proverbs 16:27; 17:4).
3. Cursing. Curse words directed at another in anger will often ring in the ears of those they hurt for years. Children may hear such words and repeat them their entire lives. Those who praise God with their tongues should never curse men with them (James 3:9-10).
4. False Doctrine. How many countless millions believe false doctrines like "we are saved by faith only" or "once saved always saved"? These teachings are not found in Scripture. At some point, someone who was evil or ignorant spoke them for the first time. Listeners parroted what they heard, and the situation grew "worse and worse" as men continued "deceiving and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13). It is vital that members of the body of Christ speak "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).
The Scriptures compare God's people to eagles (Isaiah 40:31), and to doves (Matthew 10:16), but never to parrots! Let us be cautious, for truly, "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise" (Proverbs 10:19).
by Steve Klein
There is a man in the Bible who went on a hunt - a search for the best that "this life" has to offer. What he found though was not what he was looking for.
The book of Ecclesiastes records for us the experiences and observations of an ancient king in Israel. In chapter 2 he tells us how that he launched out to find the meaning and profit to life through pleasure and possessions. Verse 1 says, "I said in my heart, 'Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure..."' Verse 2 tells us how that he experimented with wine. In other words, the man decided to live it up and drown himself in fun.
Verses 4-8 of Ecclesiastes 2 tell us how that this wealthy king built great houses, vineyards, gardens, orchards and waterpools. He acquired servants, herds, flocks, and musical entertainers to satisfy and soothe his flesh.
This man held nothing back in his pursuit for happiness. In Ecclesiastes 2:10 he says, "Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them, I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure." Indeed this man had it all and did it all.
Yet, where did it get him? "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). What did he get out of this mad pursuit for goods and fun? Nothing. Obviously if you live this kind of life you will have a few laughs along the way and some temporary gratification. Yet as far as any lasting good, earthly wealth and pleasure do not pay off. Why is that the case? Usually the fun and frolic of this life are brief. The goods you gather and money you sock away are sometimes taken from you. For sure there is one fact that cannot be ignored. You are going to die and this life's riches and enjoyments will all end.
It is no wonder that those in our society who become so successful that they can have anything they want and do anything they want become so miserable. Most celebrities, pro athletes, and powerful politicians have a private life that is in shambles. Broken marriages, drug and alcohol addictions, gambling problems, and serious mental illnesses are characteristic of their lives. It must be frustrating and down right depressing to realize that, after you have all that this life has to offer, you are still left with nothing.
The main reason why earthly goods and pleasures do not satisfy is because of the nature of man. We were not designed to be fulfilled with a pocketful of cash, a garage full of cars, a closet full of clothes, and a party every night. Listen to this wise and experienced man pass on what he had learned after hunting for profit by living in the fast lane and walking on easy street. "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13). We all have a spirit or soul that yearns to know and be close to our Creator. Until we feed it with fellowship with God, no mater how much stimulation and comfort we give our bodies, we will always feel empty.
Don't waste your time trying to find happiness in things. Don't think that living it up with fun and frolic will fill you up on the inside. For the more you pursue this life's pleasures and possessions, the more frustrated you will become, for you will still be empty of a real and lasting satisfaction. Only in God can you find what truly satisfies. Only in God can you find what truly lasts.
By Phillip Mullins
in The Manslick Road Speaker