Author name: Jonathan Bowen

Another man worth considering in this regard is Daniel. He and his friends began life as part of the royal family of Judah (Dan 1:3-4).

When you scour the Bible to examine the lives of men who ‘made it’ in terms of this life, what you find is that those who did, never intended to. Take, for example, the young man Joseph, who shot up to the heights of the Egyptian society (Gen 41:40-45).

We are called to much higher things than the ambitions of this world. The life of the Truth comes at a cost. We must weigh the value of what we are being asked to give up against what we are going to gain. If all we do is think about the present life, our pilgrimage might be over in short order, as we head back to the world:

The Proverbs are full of practical illustrations of how we need to be diligent in our everyday operations

He who does not work, does not eat

While we look to God to be our Provider, it does not mean we sit back and do nothing, waiting for Him to send us manna from heaven today. He will provide, but the principle is that we must also put effort in for Him to bless. The Apostle Paul was an excellent example of this:

“For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.” (2 Thess 3:7-9)

Our calling is to be “a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim 2:3). He is our captain, and we take our orders from him primarily. We take upon ourselves the whole armour of God that we may be able to withstand in the evil day (Eph 6:10-13).

Put not your trust in princes

The Scripture is clear as to where our confidence is to be placed. It is certainly not in ourselves, nor should it be in the rulers of this world, whether political rulers or business leaders:

“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Harden not your hearts

The protection of God and our inclusion in the Lord’s “house” is dependent on our trust in Him: “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” (Heb 3:6).

Ho…