READ: JOB 14:1-10
Psalm 90:10 puts the
average life spam of man at 70 years. This is split into several phases.
Childhood takes up at least the first 13 years. Sleeping six hours daily takes
up another 17 years. The remaining 40 involves schooling, work, leisure,
religious activities, and so on. If you are not careful, you will waste more
years than you profitably use. For instance, on leisure such as watching
television, some people spend as much as 10 years out of the remaining 40.
Ardent newspaper readers spend about 10 or more years reading the tabloids.
What time do you have left for God? In Genesis chapter one and two, God gave us
a blueprint for life. First, He identified the problem of the earth. Then He
planned and carried out His plan in six days. Thereafter He rested on the
seventh day. Today, many of us reverse that order. Many Christians have no
place for planning or effective work. All they do is rest; where possible they
want to rest without work. This attitude defies God’s order and brings along
negative consequences.
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). How do we throw away precious time? By not correctly identifying a problem. They say, A problem well identified is half solved. If you go about solving a problem that is yet unclear, you are most likely to take care of the peripheral, not the main cause. Solving a partially identified problem would make you adopt the wrong measures, inadequate attempts and end up scratching the surface without getting to the roots. If you treat malaria with pain relieving tablets, it will suppress the symptoms for a while but the problem will persist. Many pray against human enemies but leave out the demons who operate behind the scene.
So much time and money have been wasted in solving problems in the family, church or nation. Many buildings, streets and other projects collapse for this same reason. In resolving the problem at hand, have you considered the various dimensions of the problem? Have you identified the root of the problem? Have you determined the likely effects the problem will have on those it affects? Never solve a problem you have not clearly defined. You cannot be wiser than God. The Holy Spirit personally came for an on-the-spot assessment of the problem of the earth before planning and work took place (Genesis 1:2). Are you suffering from prayerlessness? Have you cared to dig into the root cause? If you don’t, whatever situation you apply will amount to a waste.
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). How do we throw away precious time? By not correctly identifying a problem. They say, A problem well identified is half solved. If you go about solving a problem that is yet unclear, you are most likely to take care of the peripheral, not the main cause. Solving a partially identified problem would make you adopt the wrong measures, inadequate attempts and end up scratching the surface without getting to the roots. If you treat malaria with pain relieving tablets, it will suppress the symptoms for a while but the problem will persist. Many pray against human enemies but leave out the demons who operate behind the scene.
So much time and money have been wasted in solving problems in the family, church or nation. Many buildings, streets and other projects collapse for this same reason. In resolving the problem at hand, have you considered the various dimensions of the problem? Have you identified the root of the problem? Have you determined the likely effects the problem will have on those it affects? Never solve a problem you have not clearly defined. You cannot be wiser than God. The Holy Spirit personally came for an on-the-spot assessment of the problem of the earth before planning and work took place (Genesis 1:2). Are you suffering from prayerlessness? Have you cared to dig into the root cause? If you don’t, whatever situation you apply will amount to a waste.
MEMORIZE: JOB 14:1
–Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
