Shooting Straight, Part 13--Letter Links: Wastefulness

March 22, 2005

Table of Contents

(ML #3536, GN 1127)

FD/MM/FM October 2004

Owe No Man

ML #701:37-38, 56-57; Vol.6

37. (Dad:) I've been teaching you spiritual values for years, now you need to learn a little something about common material values. I'll tell you, if I have ever seen anything you kids are wasteful and neglectful about, it's the way you treat material things. I have even seen it in some of the Homes that I've lived in and I have blown my stack about it. You break a little part and throw the whole thing away without even attempting to repair it.

38. We have blown out more automobiles, I'll bet you, than any organization that ever lived, by stupid idiotic people who didn't remember to put in the water, oil or gas, or air in the tires or something.

56. If you live conservatively, the Lord doesn't mind sometimes giving you a few luxuries, because He likes the way you hang onto your money and the way you conserve things. He knows that He can trust you with it‚ so maybe He can even trust you with a few luxuries.

57. But if you live extravagantly‚ beyond your means, beyond your income, and buy a lot of stuff you don't need, God's apt to take away even your necessities to teach you a lesson.

The Tithe

ML #702:1,3,10-12‚21-23,77; Vol.6

1. ONE OF THE MAIN IDEAS IN OUR WORK FOR GOD'S BUSINESS IS TO LEARN HOW TO ECONOMIZE with the most precious and valuable thing we have.

3. THE MOST VALUABLE THING THAT WE HAVE IS PEOPLE, MAN POWER. It is the scarcest thing and the hardest to get.

10. AT THE SAME TIME WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT WASTEFUL with the material blessings that God gives us any more than we are with manpower‚ that we don't waste our money or materials. Have you tried to economize both on manpower and on the material things?

11. I am anything but extravagant.

12. I AM ONE OF THE MOST SAVING PEOPLE YOU'D WANT TO KNOW. I save on toilet paper. I save on paper towels. I save on tissues.

21. I TRY TO SAVE EVERYTHING. I was so saving that the day came once upon a time that God showed me that a lot of something far more valuable was being thrown away‚ and that was your lives: lives of the dregs of society, the hippies, the drug addicts, the vice addicts, the criminals.

22. SO GOD LED ME TO TRY AND SAVE THEM TOO, things that the System didn't even attempt to save because they felt they were hopeless and impossible.

23. SO ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ME AND HAS LIVED WITH ME KNOWS THAT I AM PROBABLY THE MOST ECONOMICAL SAVING PERSON THAT YOU EVER WANT TO KNOW‚ and a horrible penny pincher, as chintzy as they come. I'm almost as bad as my grandfather, who my mother said would squeeze a dollar, when they still had silver dollars that were worth something, so hard that it would make the eagle scream! So I am very economical, very saving.

77. I COULD TELL YOU MANY TALES OF HOW WE SAVED MONEY, some that you might not believe, but it's the truth. So it hurts me when people are extravagant, hurts me when people waste.

The Ragman

ML #1833 (excerpts); Vol.15

1. WHEN ARE YOU GUYS EVER GOING TO LEARN HOW TO PINCH EVERY PENNY? That's what I'm after & doing right now, pinching pennies!

2. You might say, "Well, why bother over every pinched penny? We're only talking about a few extra packages & a few copies & a few pennies." Well‚ the Lord tested me for 49 years on pennies before He started trusting me with dollars. When He found He could trust me with pennies, then He started pouring on the dollars, because He knew if I was really careful to pinch the pennies I would certainly pinch the dollars!

9. I've been working since I was a little kid & I've been working saving money & making money since I was a little kid & learning the value of a dollar & the value of labor, hard work & doing something & saving pennies & pinching pennies.

11. IF YOU NEVER LEARN THE VALUE OF PENNIES‚ YOU'LL NEVER LEARN THE VALUE OF DOLLARS!

17. … GOD HELP YOU IF YOU DON'T … PINCH PENNIES & KNOW WHERE THE MONEY GOES & HOW MUCH & WHY & WHAT FOR! I'm more like that Jew in that story I told you about the beer, remember? You know the Englishman, the Scotsman & the Jew, each one got a fly in his beer at the bar. So the Englishman‚ he flicked his out, & when you do that you lose a little beer with it. The Scotsman was a little more careful, he blew his out‚ & that doesn't lose so much beer. But the Jew, do you know what he did? He picked his fly out & wrung it out so that he didn't lose any beer! The beer that the fly had absorbed, he wrung it out & wrung that beer back into his beer. Uck! Well, I don't know whether that's a true story or not, it's a little doubtful, but that's just about … how Jewish I am & how saving I am!

32. (Dad drops his tissue.) YES, I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS TISSUE OFF THE FLOOR & SHAKE IT OUT & HOPE TO SHAKE ALL THE DUST & GERMS OFF & KEEP ON USING IT, BECAUSE I JUST DON'T BELIEVE IN WASTING THINGS!

33. God knows that if you are saving & you hate to see anything wasted that He can trust you with things that are really valuable, but not if you're careless & just throw things away.

34. I probably would have been a good Ragman! When I was a kid they used to go down the street every day‚ a guy who came by & yelled, "Any rags! Clothes! Ragman!"

35. HE WAS A NICE FRIENDLY OLD MAN, some old foreigner who found out he could make money off of old rags & bottles & bits of furniture & other junk people would give him. So I can remember as a little boy that I was always scolding my Mama, making sure she didn't throw anything away & that we saved a little cardboard box full of junk for the Ragman, bits & pieces of everything. I'd make sure that she never threw anything away. I always wanted to save it for the Ragman.

36. WELL‚ I'M STILL IN THE RAG BUSINESS! I'M STILL TRYING TO SAVE THE RAGS FOR THE BIG RAGMAN WHO IS GOING TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERY SINGLE WORD ONE OF THESE DAYS! (Mat.12:36,37) Now if He is going to hold you accountable for every word & every deed‚ He is also going to hold you accountable for every penny & every scrap of whatever you could have saved that might have come in handy or been useful!

37. (TONGUES: ) PYL! HALLELUJAH! TYJ! "LISTEN THOU, HEED THOU TO EVERY WORD OF THY FATHER & KEEP THEM AS VALUABLES & PRECIOUS, PRICELESS MORE THAN GOLD, that thou may know the ways of thy Father David, for they are the ways of thy Lord!" TYJ! PTL! Hallelujah!

41. GOD'S THE RAGMAN & HE'S GOING TO BE VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT WHAT YOU SAVE & WHAT YOU GIVE TO HIM AS A RESULT, & WHAT YOU CAN GIVE TO HIM, YOUR CONCERN ABOUT SAVING THINGS SO THAT YOU HAVE ALL THE MORE TO GIVE TO HIM.

46. GOD SAVES TIME! HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT SAVING TIME AS WELL. God forgive us for the time we waste sometimes‚ but we should be trying to make every minute count. I hope these are counting. I hope maybe it'll help some people to save money, save people & to save time, because some day the Guy Upstairs Who is concerned even about saving rags is going to hold you accountable for any waste of money, people or time.

47. SO WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR THE RAGMAN TODAY? HAVE YOU SAVED HIM ANY MONEY? HAVE YOU SAVED HIM ANY TIME? HAVE YOU SAVED HIM ANY PEOPLE & THEIR STRENGTH & THEIR LABOR?

Show Me the Money

ML #3462:126-133; GN 1047

Pillar 8: Appreciate and Preserve God's Blessings

126. (Mama:) The Lord is a wise Investor! He gives the most to those who are thankful for the blessings He's already given them, and who show their appreciation by praising Him regularly, being good stewards of His material blessings‚ practicing austerity with the funds He gives, and not becoming familiar with His generosity. No benefactor would continue giving aid to someone who isn't faithful, who doesn't take care of what he already has, and who lets things deteriorate or go to waste. So what makes you think the Lord is going to give you His blessings of supply and provisions if you're an unwise steward and/or aren't thankful for what you have? He won't bless unfaithfulness, wastefulness, murmuring, or familiarity.

127. This is a real problem in many Family Homes around the world. You aren't thankful for what our Provider has given you, and you aren't praising Him for His bountiful supply. You aren't taking care of your Homes‚ your vehicles, and your equipment like you should‚ so of course the Lord doesn't feel like giving you upgrades if He knows you're just going to let them go to pot like the rest of your possessions. You aren't thankful for the provisioning you do get, and you even murmur and complain and become familiar and wasteful, so of course the Lord isn't going to increase the supply lines.

128. When our Husband sees that you're taking good care of what He supplies, that you're being good stewards, and are thankful and praiseful for His blessings, that moves Him to want to supply even more—over and above even your basic needs. He wants to spoil you. He wants to give you His financial and material blessings in abundance. But He's not going to let His riches and blessings go down the drain or land in ungrateful laps. His Word says, "It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful" (1Cor.4:2)—faithful to appreciate and care for all the Lord's blessings, and to invest them in His service wisely. As the parable of the talents and the wise and unwise stewards in Matthew 25 shows, you who care for what He gives wisely, prayerfully and faithfully, will receive more and be blessed.

129. While we're on the subject of being good stewards of the things the Lord blesses us with, let's also remember to be good stewards of our brethren's belongings and the Home's goods. This is something that's often sadly lacking in our Homes, and it's not only a sad reflection on our faithfulness and diligence, our love and consideration for others, and our sample to outsiders, but it tears down Home unity and tends to encourage selfishness. One CO who read an advance copy of this Letter commented:

130. One reason for people not wanting to share things is bad stewardship. People tend to be careless with communal items. And some people are careless with personal belongings as well, so it's difficult to trust them with expensive equipment such as computers, cameras, etc. It's not a distrust of their motives, but of their ability to handle the equipment with care. I'm sure many people have this concern‚ having seen many communal items or loaned items damaged by mishandling, or even totally misplaced and lost. So then you wonder why you should let them use the equipment when the Lord doesn't bless bad stewards.

131. (Mama: ) When you're poor stewards, it also discourages others from giving to you. Outsiders notice such things, as another CO commented:

132. Rich people observe a lot more than we think they do, and if they come to our Homes and see us be wasteful, careless, reckless and negligent with what we already have‚ you can be sure they will know right away that we are not a good investment. Not only will we miss out on the financial help that they would be to us if they saw a sample of diligence and faithfulness with what we already have, but the greatest loss will be in their lives. The Lord won't be able to bless them for their giving, and we won't be able to give them the riches of the spirit that they so desperately need.

133. (Mama:) Please, dear Family, be good stewards of each other's belongings and treat them as you would your own! That's part of loving others as yourself, the Law of Love. "Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful" (1Cor.4:2).

Show Me the Money

ML #3462:404–433, GN 1050

Verses

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? (Luk.16:10,12).

Quotes

404. (Dad:) Let's be good stewards of God's gifts. When God finds He can trust you with tiny little things like a few pennies' postage, He'll give you more! (ML #60:16, Vol.1).

405. (Dad:) If we are willfully or woefully ignorant, careless, negligent and slothful stewards, then He will sometimes allow us to suffer for it by learning a bitter lesson as a result of it! (ML #110:8‚ Vol.1).

406. (Dad:) There are a lot of things God could give us if we could be trusted with them! But if you can't be trusted as a good steward with a ministry, a responsibility, a message, a method‚ money, health, popularity, power, or freedom, etc., God's apt to take these things away from you entirely until you learn your lesson! … The special privileges of His service and these other things are a privilege, a blessing, and a reward, and can be withdrawn from you at any time by the Lord if you are abusing it, instead of using it for His glory! So beware! (ML #143:32, Vol.1).

407. (Dad:) You're supposed to take care of … those things God has given you to use for His glory‚ and be good stewards of them‚ as they belong to the Lord! (ML #155:24, Vol.2).

408. (Dad:) Let's also be more faithful stewards and diligent caretakers of the materials, resources, properties, provisions, vehicles‚ etc., which the Lord gives or loans to us for His use! Let's have no more of the slothfulness, neglect, wastefulness, carelessness, negligence and downright foolish extravagance of which some of you have been terribly guilty! Let's take much better care of what God has already given us so He will be able to trust us with more so we can do a better and bigger job in the future! He that is faithful in a few things He will make ruler over many things, but he that is faithless in that which is least will also be faithless in that which is much, and cannot be trusted with more! (ML #197:23, Vol.2).

409. (Dad: ) Financial problems are often due to the fact, besides many other things, that when you had it you didn't use it wisely, but were wasteful and extravagant.

410. When you find yourself in a financial bind‚ and you haven't got the money ... you're either: (1) not desperate, (2) wasteful, or (3) disobedient!

411. God is sick and tired of giving you things you don't take care of! Your attitude often seems to be: It doesn't matter! I can wreck it and tear it up, and God will just give me another one! Nothing will turn off your donors more than to see what poor care you take of what they give you! But nothing encourages your donors to give more than to see how meticulous you are—to see what excellent care you take of things!

412. The attitude some of you have is: The more you spend extravagantly, the more God will give! Some people have the attitude: That's what it's for! Spend it! God's got lots of it! But saving money is a part of good stewardship.

413. If you have to buy food, you should look for bargains. Never get out of the habit of pinching the pennies. ... Keeping things clean is [also] a part of your stewardship. (ML #212:16-17,21, 23, 27, Vol.2).

414. (Dad:) [God] works largely on rewards, on a merit system as to whether people can be trusted with it or not. If they're faithful in a few things, He gives them many things. But if they are not even faithful in a few things, He's not going to give them any more! He's apt to take away the few things they've got if they're not faithful with them.

415. God goes by who deserves it the most, even if they may have more than the other fellow who has less! Because often the fellow who has less‚ has less because he hasn't been faithful with what he had, like the fellow who buried his talent. Or he hasn't worked as hard as the other fellow.

416. God just doesn't believe in giving to people who are just a waste to give it to them, who won't get as much accomplished with what you give them, even the little you give them or even the much you give them, as the guy who no matter how little you give him or how much, he'll invest it wisely and make it pay commensurately. (ML #1028:3,4,28‚ Vol.9).

417. (Dad: ) No more wastefulness! If you're not saving enough and trustworthy enough, a good steward of God's material blessings and thankful enough, grateful enough and not murmuring and complaining and bellyaching about it, then you don't deserve it! (ML #2460:54, DB 7).

418. (Mama:) It's especially important to keep an attitude of praise and thanksgiving flowing through your Home and not allow murmuring and discontent to go unchecked. Murmuring can cause the Lord to dry up His fountains of supply real quickly, so keep praising!

419. Be a good steward. Remember God's principle, if you're faithful over few things, He will make you ruler over many! Besides your praise and thanksgiving, how do you show the Lord that you're appreciative and thankful for what He's already given you?—By taking good care of it‚ by being a faithful steward.

420. Another way of being a good steward is to be saving, to practice the principles of frugality that Dad has taught us in so many Letters.—To avoid waste, to always look for the best deals, to try to get the most for your (the Lord's) money. (ML #2813:20,22–23‚ Lifelines 20).

421. (Jesus: ) Be My priests, faithful with My blessings, for these provisions that I bring to My house are to grow and prosper My work. They belong to Me, and you as My servant should be faithful with the things of My house, for it is the house of God and you are as servants in the household of God. (ML #3245:92, GN 847).

New Message

422. (Jesus speaking:) Many of you, My brides, have become so familiar with My blessings. For many‚ many years now you've been used to Me supplying finances, provisions‚ equipment, housing, and so much more, but you forget to thank Me. You overlook many of My little blessings and gifts that I bestow upon you every day. You take My miracles for granted and don't praise and thank Me nearly enough. How do you think this makes Me feel? Unappreciated, unnoticed, and like you just don't care! It doesn't make Me want to give you more when you're not even grateful for what you have.

423. You brush aside My blessings, always wanting more, demanding bigger and better blessings and more money for your needs. But what you're forgetting is that praising Me pleases Me—even when you're abasing. Praising Me for every blessing, no matter how small, compels Me to give more to you. When I know you're thankful and giving Me the glory and honor for everything‚ I want to give you more, I delight to give you more, and I can't help but pamper you with My care‚ for I love to give of My wealth to you.

424. I also look to see how you care for the material blessings I've given you. Do you trash your vehicles and overlook their upkeep and maintenance? Are they a reproach to your Home and My Name? Are your Homes dirty and unkempt? When things are broken and a bad sample, do you fix them or let things deteriorate to total ruin?

425. What about the provisions I supply for you? Do you murmur and complain because it's not your favorite food, or because you have an abundance of one thing and not as much variety as you'd like? Or do you waste what I give you—whether food, money, or time? Are you extravagant with the money I supply, thinking that because I own the cattle on a thousand hills and the wealth in every mine that I will always have more to give you? Have you forgotten what it means to be thrifty?

426. Yes, it's true that I am a rich and blessing–laden Husband‚ but I don't give into purses or pockets full of holes. I give the most where I know it will be used and invested in My work to the maximum—where I know every cent will count and be used wisely. I give to those who I know will be good stewards and caretakers of the things you need in your service to Me.

427. How are you taking care of what I've given you? How much are you praising Me and thanking Me for My miracles of supply? Have you become familiar with receiving from Me‚ to where you no longer appreciate or acknowledge My generosity? Have you become like a spoiled child who wants to take, hoard, and receive, and hardly ever says, "Thank You"? Take a good look at your life and your Home. Are you going to appreciate and care for what I give you, or will it waste away, rot, deteriorate‚ be destroyed, and end up in ruin?

428. I'm not in the business of pouring money down the drain, or dropping gifts of supply into a bottomless pit. I'm interested in building works that will last, investing in Homes that are really doing the job of winning the world, and raining blessings down upon those who appreciate every drop. (End of message.)

New Keys Promises

429. Call on the keys of good stewardship, to be faithful custodians of the gifts and blessings I have given you, and then I will see fit to bless you with more.

430. When you praise Me, thank Me, and actively show your gratitude and thanks, I am compelled out of love to turn the keys of My supply and open to you the vaults of heavenly riches.

431. When you prove to Me that you're a worthy investment and that you treasure and care for what I give, I will grant you your needs and wants through My powerful keys of supply and provision.

432. I am in control of the riches of this world, and My keys of supply will unleash as much of that cash into your hands as you need, if you are faithful, diligent, and wise with what I have already given you.

433. Call on the keys to be faithful, diligent and praiseful, and I will bless you financially, materially, and spiritually.

Word Topics: Austerity

Definition: In the context of Lord's service austerity is a manner of life characterized by simplicity, moderation and restraint in material concerns.

1. Austerity-mindedness means valuing what the Lord provides and not being wasteful.

* Proverbs 12:27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

* Proverbs 21:20 [It is wise to be saving‚ foolish to be wasteful.] There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

* Proverbs 29:3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.

* Luke 15:11-13 [The parable of the Prodigal Son:] And He said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together‚ and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

* John 6:12 [Jesus set the example by not being wasteful with material things.] When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

* 1 Corinthians 7:31a And they that use this world, as not abusing [misusing] it.

2. Being austerity-minded helps to you to be prepared for difficult times.

* Genesis 41:29,30,34,36 [Joseph instructs Pharaoh to prepare for coming drought and consequent famine at a time when things are going well:] Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. [See Genesis 41: all.]

* Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

* Proverbs 21:20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

* Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished [suffer for it].

3. Austerity is part of good stewardship.

* Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

* Matthew 24:45,46 [God blesses faithfulness with material things.] Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over His household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.

* Matthew 25:21,29 His lord said unto him, Well done‚ thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 29 For unto every one that hath [things gained through faithfulness and good stewardship.] shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not [through laziness and waste.] shall be taken away even that which he hath.

* Genesis 41:38-41 [When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream, and warned him of hard times ahead and advised him to appoint a faithful steward as economic czar:] Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this‚ there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. [See Genesis 41: all.]

* Luke 16:1‚2 [Those who are wasteful lose God's blessings.] And He said also unto His disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him‚ and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

* Luke 16:10-12 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?

* 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

4. Austerity-mindedness requires a sense of moderation.

* Proverbs 25:16 Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee‚ lest thou be filled therewith‚ and vomit it.

* Proverbs 30:7-9 [Solomon prayed:] Two things have I required of Thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the Name of my God in vain. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me.

* Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

* Philippians 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

5. To be austerity-minded, it helps to be content with what the Lord supplies.

* Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

* Philippians 4:11,12 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

* 1 Timothy 6:6-8 But Godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world‚ and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

* Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

7. Time is our most valuable resource, so redeeming the time is also part of austerity.

* Proverbs 18:9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

* John 9:4 I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

* 1 Corinthians 7:29a But this I say‚ brethren, the time is short.

* Ephesians 5:15,16 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

* Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

* James 4:14-15 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

* Romans 13:11–12 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent‚ the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

Copyright © 2005 by The Family International

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