TODAY IS…

a good day for the best form of flattery.

“For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.”  2 Thessalonians 3:7 NIV

Most of us are familiar with the expression, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

Of course, we always want to be sure the behavior being imitated is good behavior. This means, if we are following the behavior of someone else, their behavior should be such that it would meet with God’s approval. The same thing goes for our behavior. We want to make sure the examples we set are good ones.

In 2 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul was writing to the members of the church of Thessalonica. He wrote on behalf of Timothy, Silas, and himself to remind them of the examples of service the three of them had set while in Thessalonica. He praised those who had learned the lessons they were trying to teach and encouraged them to continue to work tirelessly doing things God would find pleasing and would strengthen the church and their faith. Those who exhibited laziness or unwillingness, he tried to motivate and he reminded them of the examples they had been given.

Leisure time is not something God frowns upon, but laziness is. So many of us feel once we have finished work for the day, the time left is ours. The truth is we need to give some time in service to God by working to help those around us and setting a good example for them to follow.

“But I work hard all day!” we claim.

Perhaps we should remind ourselves that people all over the world spend their entire day just trying to get enough to eat and drink and stay safe from harm. For many people the term “leisure time” does not exist.

Many of us have a hard time pulling ourselves away from our television sets and our computers and other gadgets with all of our connections to other people through “social media.” Hundreds of millions of people go to bed hungry and we sit and fixate on the petty goings on in other peoples’ lives, most of whom we don’t know and will never meet. Somehow, what they have to say in 150 characters or less is more important than living lives of service trying to help other people just trying to live another day.

Somehow, adding our name to their list of followers is more important than following the examples of Jesus Christ.

It is the responsibility of the people who develop these “social media” outlets, video games, and television shows to take your attention away from things you could be doing to alleviate another human being’s pain and suffering. They have a responsibility to their shareholders to sell you shallowness, self-centeredness and self-indulgence.

We have a responsibility as Christians, to imitate the behavior of Paul, Silas, and Timothy, and work to make God’s world a better place for all to live in.

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Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson