Where Does Your Diligence Lay?

 

“Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation’s deserts. All vultures see is rotting meat, because that’s what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of the desert plants. The vulture lives on what was; they live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life; they fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do.” (Reader’s Digest, May 1990)

Do you believe it is true that we find what we are looking for? Is this a Biblical principle? News outlets generally focus on the negative. People watch and listen intently. There are often “gaper” delays on busy highways caused by people slowing and “rubber necking” the scene of an accident. The Bible says that gossip and slander “taste delicious” to many (Proverbs 18:8). Humans do seem to have an affinity for the negative. Negative things are like candy: they taste good, but they aren’t very good for you. The Bible teaches Christians are not to brood, not to worry, not to consume ourselves with negative things, and certainly not to rejoice in the misfortunes of others. But in all instances, we are to give ourselves to the blessing of prayer (Philippians 4:6). The result will be increased peace (Philippians 4:7). Likewise, positive things are nutrition for our spirit. We are to fix our heart upon things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy – things that are positive (Philippians 4:8). So, if you’re a buzzard, it’s probably because you choose to be.

[Matthew 6:19-34] “So (King) Saul died in his unfaithfulness which he committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the Word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did no inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Saul lost his physical life and physical kingdom because of his unfaithfulness. Not knowing how God judged Saul, he may well have also lost his spiritual life and spiritual kingdom for the same reasons. Is there an application for us? I think, yes. God rewards His people for their faithfulness. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that we must have faith to please God and that he rewards those “who diligently seek Him.” Saul had not been diligent  concerning Godly things. We must seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) to stay in the kingdom, today and after death. We must keep God’s Word until the day we die. We cannot treat the Bible as a book of suggestions for good living, but God’s commands for salvation from sin and reconciliation to Him. Saul received commands to annihilate the Amalekites. He was to kill men, women, children, young, old, and animals – basically anything moving. Yet, he kept back the choice animals and their king. Saul did only the parts of God’s commands that he agreed with. That’s not keeping God’s Word. We see it more every day that mankind keeps what they want of the Bible and ignores the rest. Disobedience of God’s Word (sin) is how we alienate ourselves from God. We cannot keep our “kingdom” or our “One Nation Under God” that way (Romans 1:17 - 2:11). It’s our choice. God doesn’t change (Hebrews 13:8). Saul went to a medium for advice and lost his life and kingdom because he was seeking wisdom from mankind instead of God. God will hold us responsible for supplanting human wisdom for His. And because this country and the world are following men instead of God – God may very well give up on mankind. Where is your diligent mind and heart this day?