Man proposes – God disposes
Scripture reading: Isaiah 55:6-13. Text: “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'” Isaiah 55:8-9.
Many human predictions have proven to be correct but many of them were wrong. I wish to tell you about an email message that was forwarded to me. I do not know the source or author of these predictions; however they were not copyrighted so I can share them with you. You can have your opinion about how true these predictions are;the future will be the judge. I can mention only the main points due to space limitations; however, if you wish to read the full text I will e-mail it to you.
“10 things that will disappear in our lifetime: 1. The post office – 2. The check – 3. The newspaper – 4. The book – 5. The land-line telephone – 6. The music – 7. The television – 8. The ‘things’ you own – 9. Joined (cursive) handwriting – 10. Privacy.” – No. 8 refers to what you save on your computer. These predictions belong to the realm of technology and culture.
FOLLOWING THE PREDICTIONS MENTIONED ABOVE WHAT COULD WE EXPECT CONCERNING OUR SPIRITUAL AND MORAL LIFE IN TIMES TO COME?
I hope these will never take place, and finally our text will be correct; however, the recent senseless shootings and criminal actions force us to think and ask, what is going on? Even if these moral and spiritual values or traits do not disappear they may decrease and as they do, that will affect our lives in a negative and harmful way. What might decrease?
1. Faith and sacrifice (motherly love always remains an exception). Science challenges
faith, and the self-centered view is against sacrifice.
2. Spirituality and organized religion. Less people are praying and attending worship
services. The statistics show that congregationsare losing members nationwide.
3. Charity and generosity. The economy is a contributing factor too, people have less
money to spend, yet if more people would give only a little, it would help.
4. Honesty and sincerity. When the competition is great in the business world, try be
honest and profitable. The following question was presented before, is it possible
today to enjoy a decent living while being honest?
5. Friendship and fellowship. When we have hardly enough time for our family how much time will remain to be with good friends? I read this somewhere: “When we were
young we did not have money for psychologists, we had good friends.”
6. Trust and dependability. Can a company, business, or institution function well when
the workers and employees are not dependable and cannot be trusted. Advertisement:
“We are looking for a new treasurer (and for the old one too).”
7. High moral standards and clear conscience. The two are indirectly related. Often
this is the excuse: “Everybody is doing it, why shouldn’t I also do the same?
8. Community spirit. Please try to live in a big city and then move to a small
community in a rural area; you will experience the difference.
9. Kindness and politeness. Where are these noble traits taught? At home the parents
do not have time because the father and mother are gainfully employed, and in the
school none of the subjects covers these topics.
10. Empathy and sympathy. Empathy, according to the Webster Dictionary, means:
“The projection of one’s own personality into the personality of another in order
To understand him better.” Or as the Indians said: “Do not criticize your friend
unless you walked a mile in his moccasin.” Sympathy is: “Your pain in my heart.”
Apostle Paul wrote: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”
Romans 12:15.
One of the secrets of life is to know what should be increased and what should be decreased. And the other secret is: Do we have the good intention and the strong dedication to carry it out? This is what John the Baptist said concerning Jesus and about himself: “‘He must increase, but I must decrease.'” John 3:30. As our text says and what is encouraging is that the final outcome is not up to us but up to God.
The Rev. Alexander Jalso is a retired United Presbyterian minister living in Ligonier.