Page 15 - January 2026 - Truth & Tidings

at all; and take leadership roles in the which became a pattern for the rest of his
church or among the churches. We can life (Act 9:6 NKJV). Paul was concerned
pretend these mindsets cannot infiltrate about what the Lord desired, then busily
an assembly, but they can. We need godly obeyed without getting caught up in what
men who will redirect a sister’s ambition he wanted. If necessary, redirect your ac-
to the sphere where she is much needed, tivities with your assembly to match the
or disaster will follow, as in the days of gifts and pursuits the Lord has for you.
Judges when “every man did what was
right in his own eyes” (Jdg 21:25 KJV). The Danger of Materialism
Paul exalts widows for good works, The pursuit of wealth and comfort can
bringing up children, service, hospital- easily overtake us. James warns us that
ity and care (1Ti 5:9-10). The Proverbs believers become worldly by pursuing
31 woman is busy and productive for material goods and power (Jas 4:1-4).
the benefit of the family. Western society Likewise, Paul warns Timothy of false
generally pressures women out of the teachers who suppose “gain is godliness,”
role that God presents to them. Balancing while “the love of money is the root of all
proper roles of family and marriage will evil” (1Ti 6:5,10 KJV). As believers, we
require faith, love and holiness with clear responsibly provide for our families, yet
thinking (1Ti 2:15). the goal of material wealth, even with
The Danger of good intentions, can cause us to drop
responsibilities in the assembly or neglect
Overcommitment our families. Ironically, providing for our
Overcommitment can throw us out of family beyond what we should can actu-
alignment. How much time should we de- ally rob our families and marriages and
vote to each aspect of life? There are times deplete our assembly.
at the end of the day when you may wish The Danger of Distractions
for more hours, yet God created a 24-hour
day in which we also need appropriate We once lived in the information age;
rest to be refreshed enough to accomplish we now live in the distraction age. Ev-
the next day’s tasks. God’s work in the eryone and everything clamour for our
days of creation was never sluggish or in attention. Social media algorithms target
a rush, but He completed exactly what every trackable movement. Genitive
was good for the day. It is easy to over- AI produces customized distractions to
commit at work or take overtime, but we please your every fleshly desire. We lose
need to seriously consider before the Lord balance when we lose minutes staring at
whether this time is profitable for eternity. a screen in our hands, mindlessly scroll-
Further, we need to ask ourselves ing, playing games and swiping. Paul
whether we are committing to matters challenged Timothy not to be entangled
that the Lord never asked us to do, even with “the affairs of this life” (2Ti 2:4 KJV).
in the assembly. Some assembly work We could all pause and question whether
can become busy work, as not all service we are redeeming the time or whether
is worship, and service may not be done work or something else is contributing
in faith. Paul’s first words of faith were, to an unbalanced life, and then seek the
“Lord, what do You want me to do?” appropriate solution (Eph 5:16).

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