Things Not To Do In Any Year (Part 2)

By: Richard Mirpuri

 

4. Self-pity -There’s one party no one ever wants to attend or even be invited to. . .it’s a pity party. There are seven reasons to never attend a pity party. First, the environment andmostof thepeople areugly.Yes, Iknowsomeof the attendeeshave tobephysically attractive. . .but prolonged self-pity makes you look like you were weaned on a dill pickle. Second, the prevailing attitudes of negativity at a pity party are contagious. The “Whoa isme” attitude will jump on you faster than amosquito at a nudist colony. Third, there’s no music. . .at least nothing you’d want to hear. “Gloom, despair and agony on me. . .deep dark depression and excessive misery” was a funny song when sung on the oldHeeHawTVshow. . .but not in real life.Fourth, happiness at a pity party is as rare as common sense among politicians. I don’t want to be anywhere I can’t be happy. Even in themidst of trials and adversity, happiness pulls us through. Fifth, there is no entertainment value in hearing people commiserate among themselves about how bad things are. Sixth, nobody will feel sorry for you at a pity party because they’re too busy feeling sorry for themselves. Seventh, the people at a pity party will drain you of your energy quicker thanDracula can clean out a blood bank.

You may have the biggest pity party in the world. . .but God will never feel sorry for you. God is not moved by your needs…only by your faith! Matthew 9:29 says: “Be it done according to your faith.” Doesn’t say. . .it will be done according to your needs.

Doesn’t say. . .itwill be done according towhat you’re going through at the moment. Doesn’t say. . .it will be done for the one with the most depressing story at the pity party. God enables and empowers us to turn things around by and through His Word. So here’s the bottomline onwhy you shouldn’t host or even attend a pity party. . . you know God has His eye on you. Not only that, but He deeply values you and He don’tmake no junk. . .sowe shouldn’t act like it.

Howdo you overcome self-pity?The answers are found in 1Thessalonians 5:17-21 in theAmplified Biblewhich says: “17 Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; 18Thank [God] in everything [nomatterwhat the circumstancesmay be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. 19 Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit; 20 Do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets [do not depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise inspired instruction or exhortation orwarning]. 21 But test and prove all things [until you can recognize]what is good; [to that] hold fast.” Big surprise. . .there are seven keys in these verses to overcome self-pity.

5. Disillusionment -There are numerous scriptures which point out the peril (sometimes deadly) by following an illusion of truth they perceive to be a self-image reality. Proverbs 12:15 in theNewLivingTranslation says: “Fools think their ownway is right, but the wise listen to others.”We’re to follow God’s direction giving Him the praise, honor and glory for all of our successes. Proverbs 14:12 in the Amplified Bible says: “There is awaywhich seems right to aman and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is theway of death.”

The truth in this verse is to powerful that it’s repeated word for work in Proverbs 16:25. Proverbs 30:12 in theAmplified Bible says: “There is a class of peoplewho are pure in their own eyes, and yet are notwashed from their own filth.”An illusion of our own self-importancewill cause us to lose focus. . .not only endangering our lives. . .but also our place in eternity. Proverbs 26:12 in the Amplified Bible says: “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes and conceit? There is more hope for a [self-confident] fool than for him.” Everyone has illusions about themselves. . .in fact,we often judge others bywhat they do and ourselves bywhatwe intend to do.

We judge ourselves bywhatwe think instead ofwhat theWord ofGod says. Consider Luke 6:46 in theNewLivingTranslationwhich says: “Sowhy do you keep callingme ‘Lord, Lord!’when you don’t do what I say?” Obeying His instructions in theWord. . .leads us in thewaywe should go.

1 John 5:13-15 in theMessage Bible says: “[The Reality,Not the Illusion ] My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadowof a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure thathe’s listening.Andifwe’re confident thathe’s listening,weknowthatwhat we’ve asked for is as good as ours.”

6. Idleness – If you ask the averageChristianwhat sin is . . theywould probably say that it’s something you shouldn’t do. That’s true. . .but there’s another dimension to sin. Here are the seven sins of idleness. First, knowing to do right and not doing it. James 4:17 in the New Living Translation says: “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” Second, being lazy. Proverbs 10:4 in theAmplified Bible says: “He becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand, but the hand of the diligentmakes rich.”

Third, sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 in theAmplified Bible says: “Indeed, we hear that some among you are disorderly [that they are passing their lives in idleness, neglectful of duty], being busy with other people’s affairs instead of their own and doing no work.” Fourth, not taking care of your personal business. Proverbs 24:30-34 in the New Living Translation says: “I walked by the field of a lazy person, the vineyard of one with no common sense. I sawthat itwas overgrownwith nettles. Itwas coveredwithweeds, and itswallswere broken down.

Then, as I looked and thought about it, I learned this lesson: Alittle extra sleep, a littlemore slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.” Fifth, meaningless, if not harmful conversation. Matthew 12:36 says: “But I say unto you,That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”Matthew12:36 in the Amplified Bible says: “But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.” Sixth, sowing trouble. Proverbs 16:27-29 in The Living Bible says: “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece. An evil man sows strife; gossip separates the best of friends. Wickedness loves company— and leads others into sin.” Seventh, failing to be about His business.Luke 19:13 says: “And he calledhis tenservants, anddelivered them ten pounds, and said unto them,Occupy till I come.”

God doesn’t want us idle. . .just bidding time. . .Hewants us increasing all that He’s entrusted to us. The New Living Translation of Luke 19:13 says: “Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this formewhile I amgone.’”

Ten pounds of silver at today’smarket pricewould be near- GOD’S ECONOMICS (The Biblical Principles of true prosperity) Rev. Richard Mirpuri ly $1,600. God never intended for us to be couch potatoes but rather world changers, destiny shapers, mountain movers and wealth accumulators. This should be our mindset for 2015( and in all the years to come).

7. Good intentions – John 13:17 in theAmplified Bible says: “If you know these things, blessed and happy and to be envied are you if you practice them[if you act accordingly and really do them].” People judge you by your actions not your intentions. If you agree to do something and don’t. . .itmeans you didn’t believe inwhat you said you’d do. . .or you didn’t want to do it in the first place.What you intended to do. . .doesn’t cut it. It’s what you do with what you’ve got. The late, former British PrimeMinister,Margaret Thatcher, once said:

“No onewould remember theGood Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions—he hadmoney too.” 1 John 3:18 in theAmplified Bible says: “Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).” Once again, it’s notwhatwe talk about doing. . .it’swhatwe do. JamesBoswell, the 18th century Scottish lawyer and author, once said: “Hell is pavedwith good intentions.”Actionsmust be taken and followed through in order for the intention to become a reality. Boswell’s quote is a summary of human nature when we don’t follow through on doing what is right. In the Bible, James tells us this is sin.

James 4:17: “Therefore, to onewho knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to himit is sin.”Theremay be somewho think they are going to heaven but are not.We don’twant to be caught unaware ofwhat theWord says. (H.Herring)