“…making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.” Ephesians 5:16 The Amplified Bible)
I’m still focusing on the story between the Holy Weekend bookends that we wrote about yesterday, Good Friday on one end and Resurrection Morning on the other end. Note that I’m not restricted by the Jewish rules of the Sabbath, as were the women mentioned in Luke’s gospel; the women who saw the tomb where they laid Jesus’ body. They had limitations and expectations regarding the Sabbath. While they could prepare prepared spices and perfumes before sunset on the Friday Jesus died for you and me, in adherence to the commandment given to them in Exodus regarding no working on the Sabbath Day, at that point they had to rest until Saturday, the first day of their week to continue their work. Continuing one’s work, attending to Jesus is still important.
That’s exactly what I am doing. And thank God, I don’t have to wait until our day of worship, Sunday, to do continue my work of keeping you God-conscious and provide a short message to edify you on this Saturday morning, while we are waiting for tomorrow. So, let me make the most of my time, taking advantage of this opportunity, this blessing, for He didn’t have to wake me up this morning. Let me use the time diligently to start you on your way.
Watching one of the Storage Wars episodes on television on a rainy and very windy afternoon this week, one of the characters on the show verbalized a quote that was awesome , assumedly original, and abounding in accurate words of wisdom. Granted, the wisdom was there, but the originality was not. Actually, the quote was borrowed from Stephen Aitchison. The quote: “Never blow out someone else’s candle to try and make your one shine brighter.” Instead of just storing that quote in my mind so that I could pull it out at just the right moment, I decided to see if the word of God would support the quote. This is what I found, inspired words that will help us while we are waiting.
Included was the following. Build up others self-esteem. Don’t always cancel out someone else’s feeling of being okay to show that you are “more okay,” but rather, fight the tendency to blow out somebody else’s candle based on what we find in I Corinthians 12:23, “…and those parts of the body which we consider less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor…” That will benefit the whole body of the Christ. Thus, this word. inspired by the Lord, substantiates the well-spoken quote: “Never blow out someone else’s candle to try and make your one shone brighter.”
I had some more waiting time this Saturday morning, so I looked further into the word to further test the validity of the quote from Mr. Aitchison. As I thought, I remembered Jesus’ words about treating others as you would want to be treated, found in Matthew 7:12. That’s a good one because we don’t like it when people try to burst our bubble and bring us down just to elevate themselves. We should avoid doing this by accident or as a regular habit. Don’t you agree! The quote is still meeting the criteria of sound advice. The quote: Never blow out someone else’s candle to try and make your one shine brighter.”
I still had some waiting time that I could use this morning. So, I wondered if pride often plays a role in causing us to blow out somebody else’s candle. I was led to James 4:6 where it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” This helps us keep from being so focused on “I,” “Me,” and “Mine,” and will help us to allow another person to bask in their moment of sunshine or glory. Again, the quote passes my test from a biblical perspective. The quote: “Never blow out someone else’s candle to try and make your one shine brighter.”
Furthermore, I thought of how the content of the quote pointed to avoiding discord and evading definite negative relationships with others. So, to get a biblical perspective, once again, I looked at Proverbs 17:9 in the Good News Bible. The latter part of that verse says, “If you brag all the time, you are asking for trouble.” We need to let someone else be the star at times! We don’t always have to be the sinner of attention. That’s especially true when the truth is spoken. The quote, one more time: “Never blow out someone else’s candle to try and make your one shine brighter.”
Well, I have taken advantage of my waiting time this morning. I’ll continue my work for the Lord throughout the day. I suggest that you do the same as we await to sit in the sanctuary tomorrow, waiting to hear the good news that shall be shouted across pulpits all over the world, “He has risen!” Enjoy the rest of your day! Oh, as a side note, always check out well-stated quotes and statements you hear people say from a biblical perspective.
As you continue through the day, keep in mind Jesus’ word below too, while we are waiting. Be blessed!
“For He was [engaged for the time being in] teaching His disciples. He said to them, The Son of Man is being delivered into the hands of men, and they will put Him to death; and when He has been killed, after three days He will rise [from death].” (Mark 9:31 Amplified Bible Classic Edition)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King