This life offers only a window of time to work for the Lord. Youth and old age both offer their own hindrances to service. In many ways, though not entirely, youth should be spent in learning, middle age in doing, and old age in teaching. Many of the greatest servants of the Lord found in scripture began their journey in youth by learning of the Lord and His ways (1 Kings 18:12; Psalm 71:5; 2 Chronicles 34:3; Job 29:4; Ecclesiastes 12:1). As they approached the prime of life, they put their learning to use by serving the Lord (Numbers 8:24-25). As they passed their prime, they would pass their knowledge on to the next generation in hopes the work of God would go on (2 Timothy 4:1-8).

If the average person were asked whether they would rather laugh or cry, the answer would be obvious. Yet, our thoughts are not always in line with God's thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). According to the Bible, "Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better" (Ecclesiastes 7:3). Laughter is much more enjoyable than sorrow, but we learn very little in laughter. Sorrow, on the other hand, teaches us and molds us into better servants for our Lord. This is by no means to say that laughter is evil or harmful, but that sorrow is better from God's perspective. Solomon spoke of laughter in Ecclesiastes 2:1-2. He gave himself to mirth and pleasure, but in the end found it to be vain.

As believers, we have a God given responsibility in the area of hospitality. In two places we find the phrase "given to hospitality" (Romans 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:2). The passage in 1 Timothy speaks of the qualifications of a bishop, but the passage in Romans identifies hospitality as a responsibility for all believers. We should be "given to hospitality." In Titus 1:8, we find that a bishop must be "a lover of hospitality." Just as with the command to be "given to hospitality," it is God's will that every believer be "a lover of hospitality." It ought to be our joy and our purpose to spend time with others, desiring to strengthen or encourage them in some area of need.

When we think of biting something, we think of doing so with our teeth; but backbiting is a work of the tongue. Backbiting is the act of saying something about someone with the intention of harming them personally. In our passage, we learn that backbiting is detestable to the Lord; so much so, that David said the backbiter would not abide in the Lord's tabernacle. Our tongue is a dangerous weapon that is often used of the Devil to harm others. According to James 3, the tongue kindles a great fire (James 3:5) and is a world of iniquity (James 3:6). The old phrase "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is unscriptural. The Bible says that our tongue is "full of deadly poison" (James 3:8). Backbiting wounds its victims!

Many things change from the Old Testament to the New Testament, but some themes are consistent in both. One such theme is that the Lord desires to use things and people that are pure. The Lord commanded His people in the Old Testament to make sure that the things in the tabernacle were purified (Leviticus 8:15). He also commanded that His servants be purified (Ezra 6:20). In the New Testament, the apostle Paul confirms the continuation of this theme by saying that "pureness" approved him as a minister of God (2 Corinthians 6:4-6). God still requires that those who serve strive to live pure and holy lives. Impurities hinder the Lord's effectiveness in our lives.

God is pure in every way, and as such, it follows that the words He speaks must also be pure. In Psalm 19:8, we read that "the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes." In Psalm 119:140, the writer says, "Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it." Both of these verses speak of the word of God as a whole. In other words, the word of God in its entirety is without any foreign substance that would defile. In Psalm 12:6, we learn that the "words of the LORD are pure words." In case we might wonder which words, the Lord made sure to give us Proverbs 30:5 which says, "Every word of God is pure." The world wants us to believe that the Bible is defiled, but God says otherwise. Who will you believe?

In the context of this passage, the Lord had been dealing with a Samaritan woman in the absence of His disciples. When the disciples returned, the woman left to tell others that she had found the Christ. The disciples had gone to get some food and begged the Lord to eat; but instead of eating, the Lord took the opportunity to teach His disciples. He told them that His main focus was to complete the will of God. In the lesson, the Lord brought the attention of His disciples to a harvest. He emphasized that souls were not to be labored for in the future, but now. The fields were white already to harvest. There was no time for delay.

There are many nations led by many leaders, but there is only one "whose name alone is JEHOVAH," and He it is that is "the most high over all the earth." Unfortunately, the nations of this earth are all too often too nearsighted to recognize that they, nor their leaders, are the highest authority. Deuteronomy 4:39 confirms this truth by saying, "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else." This is not merely a doctrinal truth, but one to be considered in the heart of man. Why? Because every individual, family, community, state, and nation must recognize that God is "the most high."

Nations are vulnerable! At any moment, the Lord could raise up a new nation or destroy one that currently exists. Military might, a sound economy, a good job market, and great leadership will offer no resistance when once the Lord has set His mind against a nation. According to Daniel 4:35, "all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he [the Lord] doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" The Lord does whatsoever pleases Him (Psalm 135:6). At any point He could lead "princes away spoiled" or overthrow "the mighty" (Job 12:19).

It does not take long to learn that the actions of natural men are guided by self-serving motives. Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit because of the perceived benefits they would receive (Genesis 3:6). It was likewise a self-serving motive that drove Cain to kill his brother Abel (Genesis 4:3-8; 1 John 3:11-13). Even when God meted out Cain's judgment, Cain selfishly said, "My punishment is greater than I can bear" (Genesis 4:13). This is all the world knows: self-preservation and self-promotion. This puts the world at the polar opposite of God who gave His Son so that His enemies (Romans 5:10) could have eternal life.