HOW TO BE USEFUL TO THE LORD
CHAPTER TWO
WEEK 2 - SUNDAY
Bible Reading: James 1:19-24
Read and pray: “You know these things, my beloved brothers. Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (James 1:19)
KNOW AND MAINTAIN THE PROPER POSITION
In the life of the church, no one is just younger or just older; on the contrary, everyone is both younger and older as well. Despite this, everyone still needs to know their position and maintain it. At work, in the church, and even when everyone is gathered, the younger ones should behave as such and the older ones should behave as such. Each person should maintain their proper position firmly and pay the price to learn this.
Everything in the universe has certain principles. For example, no one who loses their proper position can be blessed. Anyone who abandons their position will certainly lose the blessing that rightfully belongs to them.
In the family, the more children behave properly as children, the more firmly they occupy the position of children, and the more parents behave properly as parents, the more firmly they occupy the position of parents. The same happens in the church: the more the saints develop normally, the more firmly they maintain their position.
The Bible says that the younger ones should be submissive to the older ones (1 Peter 5:5) and the older ones should take care of the younger ones (cf. verses 1-3). We should all know our position without waiting for others to give orders or take necessary steps. We must always maintain our position, paying the price to learn this lesson.
Everyone should clearly know their position. For example, someone who has truly learned this lesson and knows their position would not have the courage to say anything about the food placed before them, regardless of how bad it tastes. Even if the food were poisoned, all they would do is refrain from eating it.
They cannot say what they like because they are not in the position to say anything, and the moment is not appropriate for it. Whoever has truly learned this lesson will make every effort to speak at the right moment. However, if the moment is not right, they will remain silent.
Someone who has truly learned this lesson always maintains their position. When the moment is right to discuss something in a meeting, they speak. However, outside the meeting, once the discussion is over, they refuse to speak. Knowing our position and maintaining it is paying the price to learn this lesson.
We must always learn to pay the price, for only then can we be useful in the Lord’s hands. When we gather, the position of the younger ones and the position of the older ones must be clearly defined. The clearer this situation is, the more blessings there will be.
In the church, the more visible the order, the stronger the church will be. The younger ones should not feel ashamed, and the older ones should not feel proud. We should not think that those who correct us are mistreating us.
We must realize that the fact that the younger ones can listen to the older ones is something extremely glorious and sweet. Our position is to obey the older ones, whether they are right or wrong. We are not in the position to say anything before them. Once we say something recklessly, we lose the blessing.
Noah made a serious mistake when he became drunk and exposed himself. However, when Ham, the father of Canaan, spoke about what happened, he lost the blessing (Genesis 9:20-27). When there are gossip and murmuring in the church, the blessing is lost. Do not think that speaking a little is nothing; in fact, a small spark can start a great fire. In daily life, we need to learn the lesson of knowing our position. To do so, we must pay a considerable price.
Enjoy more: Hymn 264
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