Monday February 05th, 2024
« A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have »
1 slaves (workers) should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and His teaching.
2 If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers who are well loved. Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them.
3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life.
4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.
5 These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.
6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.
Today, we shall look at some more lessons we can draw from the life and times of prophet Elisha. The first one is based on today’s memory verse, which says, (1 Timothy 6:6 Easy to read version)
« What makes our life really rich? We should serve God in a way that pleases him and be happy with the things that we have »
- Elisha was a contented man of God.
He understood true prosperity according to Proverbs 23:5 which says that worldly riches are temporary and fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
- Elisha had total consecration and was not given to materialism.
This was attested to by his refusal to exchange his double anointing for the gift brought by Naaman after the latter was healed of leprosy (2 Kings 5:16, 26).
- One striking virtue of Elisha that we must imbibe is his heart of sincere service.
This was so obvious that it was well known in Israel.
Little wonder that when King Jehoshaphat was looking for a genuine prophet to consult, one of his servants testified of Elisha thus in 2 Kings 3:11 ISV
« Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet who belongs to the LORD and through whom we can ask the LORD a question?” One of the king of Israel’s attendants replied, “Shaphat’s son Elisha lives here. He used to be Elijah’s personal attendant »
- Elisha was forward-looking.
He didn’t allow the present to blur the view of his future.
He left a lucrative farming business to become a famous national prophet.
Many are so short-sighted, like Esau who sold his birthright for a plate of pottage (Genesis 25:29-35).
The cumulative virtues of Elisha made him become a man of a double-portion anointing.
He performed miracles – double of what his master Elijah performed.
For example, he raised two dead people whereas his master raised one.
May the Lord make us disciples of a double-portion anointing, so that we may do greater works than Christ did, in Jesus’ name (John 14:12)
Prayer focus – Father, please give me a heart of genuine service and fill me with the Holy Spirit so I can do exploits for You, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Author – Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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