It was never intended that blacks, or anyone, should be lackeys or lacking. The scriptures declare it:
13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 2 Cor. 8:13-14
No one, in fact, is intended to be a permanent underclass, pariah, or caricature. All are made in the likeness and image of God. And all that God made was very good! This means, and includes, you and me.
So, if you now lack, rest assured that your season of abundance looms with the certainty of the new dawn. And if you now enjoy abundance, rest assured that your lean days loom ahead, inexorably.
So, share ratably, with each other, in season, when you may do so in comfort and convenience. You need no risk your own well-being to succor fools, who have caused their own calamity by sloth or inattention.
The Book of Matthew 25 speaks to this, in the Parable of the Bridegroom:
…2"Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3"For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
Life’s uncertainties require some prudential reserve for self-protection.
Thus, those who try, by preparing appropriately; who make the good faith effort, are worthy of our help. Those who do not try, but who bury their talents in the earth in a napkin, out of fear of loss, are unworthy of our help.
They indeed put us at risk, being of little faith, and not striving to gather.
Exodus 16:16-18 says:
16 This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’”
17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less.18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.
“Gathering according to your need” is the divine directive and command. “Some more, some less” recognizes unique differences among men. Under conditions of divine equality, symbolized by the “omer,” no one need suffer.
Yes, there are droughts, famines, floods, fires, earthquakes, storms, and other disasters, which befall men and women from time to time. This includes oppression, subjugation, exploitation, even castration by other men.
This too has come to pass, has been surpassed and may repass in some form for all men on earth. Nevertheless, the word of God yet abides.
For though men may be lacking, for a little while, men need not be lackeys, ever, declares the word of God. To be lacking is no reason to be a lackey.
Faith and work deliver all. More gathering and less blathering also help!
#30
Sunday, December 21, 2014
LACKING NOT LACKEY....
LACKING NOT LACKEY...
Sunday, December 21, 2014
By Rev. Dr. Larry Delano Coleman
It was never intended that blacks, or anyone, should be lackeys or lacking. The scriptures declare it:
13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 2 Cor. 8:13-14
No one, in fact, is intended to be a permanent underclass, pariah, or caricature. All are made in the likeness and image of God. And all that God made was very good! This means, and includes, you and me.
So, if you now lack, rest assured that your season of abundance looms with the certainty of the new dawn. And if you now enjoy abundance, rest assured that your lean days loom ahead, inexorably.
So, share ratably, with each other, in season, when you may do so in comfort and convenience. You need no risk your own well-being to succor fools, who have caused their own calamity by sloth or inattention.
The Book of Matthew 25 speaks to this, in the Parable of the Bridegroom:
…2"Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3"For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
Life’s uncertainties require some prudential reserve for self-protection.
Thus, those who try, by preparing appropriately; who make the good faith effort, are worthy of our help. Those who do not try, but who bury their talents in the earth in a napkin, out of fear of loss, are unworthy of our help.
They indeed put us at risk, being of little faith, and not striving to gather.
Exodus 16:16-18 says:
16 This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’”
17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less.18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.
“Gathering according to your need” is the divine directive and command. “Some more, some less” recognizes unique differences among men. Under conditions of divine equality, symbolized by the “omer,” no one need suffer.
Yes, there are droughts, famines, floods, fires, earthquakes, storms, and other disasters, which befall men and women from time to time. This includes oppression, subjugation, exploitation, even castration by other men.
This too has come to pass, has been surpassed and may repass in some form for all men on earth. Nevertheless, the word of God yet abides.
For though men may be lacking, for a little while, men need not be lackeys, ever, declares the word of God. To be lacking is no reason to be a lackey.
Faith and work deliver all. More gathering and less blathering also help!
#30
It was never intended that blacks, or anyone, should be lackeys or lacking. The scriptures declare it:
13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; 14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 2 Cor. 8:13-14
No one, in fact, is intended to be a permanent underclass, pariah, or caricature. All are made in the likeness and image of God. And all that God made was very good! This means, and includes, you and me.
So, if you now lack, rest assured that your season of abundance looms with the certainty of the new dawn. And if you now enjoy abundance, rest assured that your lean days loom ahead, inexorably.
So, share ratably, with each other, in season, when you may do so in comfort and convenience. You need no risk your own well-being to succor fools, who have caused their own calamity by sloth or inattention.
The Book of Matthew 25 speaks to this, in the Parable of the Bridegroom:
…2"Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3"For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
Life’s uncertainties require some prudential reserve for self-protection.
Thus, those who try, by preparing appropriately; who make the good faith effort, are worthy of our help. Those who do not try, but who bury their talents in the earth in a napkin, out of fear of loss, are unworthy of our help.
They indeed put us at risk, being of little faith, and not striving to gather.
Exodus 16:16-18 says:
16 This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: ‘Let every man gather it according to each one’s need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.’”
17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less.18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.
“Gathering according to your need” is the divine directive and command. “Some more, some less” recognizes unique differences among men. Under conditions of divine equality, symbolized by the “omer,” no one need suffer.
Yes, there are droughts, famines, floods, fires, earthquakes, storms, and other disasters, which befall men and women from time to time. This includes oppression, subjugation, exploitation, even castration by other men.
This too has come to pass, has been surpassed and may repass in some form for all men on earth. Nevertheless, the word of God yet abides.
For though men may be lacking, for a little while, men need not be lackeys, ever, declares the word of God. To be lacking is no reason to be a lackey.
Faith and work deliver all. More gathering and less blathering also help!
#30