worthy pursuits

Today there were so many precious lessons from the bible study with hlc. I shall share some. Our study was from 1Tim6. One of lessons teaches us to "flee" and "pursue" - the Christian life is active and not passive - it is not static, apathetic nor inert. The Christian fights battles on many fronts - apostle Paul warns Timothy of the many temptations and dangers that are destructive and injurious, if we are not aware of and alert to them - the lure and enticement of materialism - the desire to want more and more. Flee from such desires. Counter to that, we should focus on and actively seek after "worthy pursuits"

1 pursue righteousness - is having a right attitude towards GOD and man

2 seek after godliness - is a persistent awareness of the presence of GOD, in nature, in circumstances

3 desire faith - is to remain loyal to GOD through all the ups and downs of life, wholly trusting in Him

4 covet love - is responding to affection from GOD

5 possess endurance - is to bear with difficulties, victoriously and cheerfully

6 put on gentleness - is not being docile but not be easily offended and angered

Such are worthy pursuits for the Christian.

Finally one last sharing from a deep-thinking Christian as she expressed her thoughts on what is contentment - how to arrive at a state of contentment. It is not spouting deprivation, deprivation is not contentment, absence of things is not contentment. Rather, contentment requires one to be godly, pursuing godliness and focus on the presence of GOD in everything, for without godliness it is difficult to find contentment. It is a "twinning" concept, there cannot be one without the other. Thus apostle Paul says "now godliness with contentment is great gain".

Indeed, godliness is the persistent awareness of the presence of GOD, as we increase and develop this mindset, and be more and more conscious of GOD and His workings, we will learn to strive less for our selves and grow to be more content with what we want for ourselves. To learn contentment, it has to start with the pursuit of godliness.