WHO DESIRES LIFE AND LOVES TO SEE GOOD AGES?

Ps.34:12

This has to do with the ages which is not a mere pile-up of seconds, minutes, hours, etc. A generation which passes through it, the good and the evil, the war and the peace, etc. are also part and parcel of the age.

Ages are God’s for a of performing his deeds. It is through the ages that he does what He wills to. He has set a time for each and every thing He does. The age is a  special gift of God for us to do  what is peasant in the eyes of God and man. Thus “you crown (give) the year with your goodness,” say the Psalter. Ps 65:11.

Incidents in an age make it good or  bad otherwise, the age can’t be either by itself. When Jacob, for instance, says,….. few and evil have the days of the years of my life been,” he is indicating the bad incidents of his time that affected his attitude toward the age.Gen.47:9.

Be that as it may, no one wills to live in horrible ages. He longs for good ones. For this to happen, i.e. if he wanted to see a good age, there are responsibilities he should discharge of which some are the following:-

Though intangible it is, time is one of the things God has created. Being a God- given asset, there fore, time has its own value 1cor.15:40.

Time plays a big role both in the secular and the spiritual world Education, work, birth, growth, etc. are all performed through time-Solomon the wise has reprimanded those who sit idle and keep every thing they need to descend into them as was the case in the old Testament Manna of Israel under exodus. “How long will you sleep o sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?...... so shall your poverty come as one that travels and your want as an armed man,” he says  prov.6:9-11.Thus, poverty is rooted in laziness which primarily manifests itself in squandering a priceless asset, time.

Whatever wealth God gives us, He gives us to do good with it. When we trivialize a gift, we are trivializing not just the gift but the giver.

We are undermining God by undermining the role of time since “he that despises, despises not man but God who has also given us his Holy spirit.” 1Thes. 4:8.

One should work to the vest of his ability as long as he is mentally and physically healthy. Now is the time to do our job with all honesty, industry and accountability because a time will come when we are denied such a safe working situation. This is what we learn from St. John who says," I must work the works of  Him that sent me while it is day; the height comes when no man can work.” Jn.9:4.

God performs His work in the framed time. He never procrastinates that of today for tomorrow nor does He prematurely act today when it has to be done by tomorrow. Each and every split second belongs to God who expects us to do something noble. David underscores this saying, “ It is time for you, Lord, to work.” Ps. 119:126. St. Paul also tells us how punctual God is. When the time set arrived, God sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Gal.4:4.

As believers, we shall learn the value of time from God Himself. Unless we exploit each and every second He has given us and if we wait for comfortable situations of work, we are only crating burden for the future-plus, we are allowing poverty to take root in our life . we shall work more in truth and peace whenever God adds one more second in our life.

The Lord has taught us through the parable  of the Ten virgins. Matt. 25:1-11. Ever since they were total of the coming groom, five of them remained extremely vigilant when the others were reckless. The vigilant ones were ultimately rewarded by partaking the jubilation when the others were shut off.

2. Knowing one’s Responsibility

There is a responsibility given to each of us. It is not enough to just wish for a good time to come. We all have to contribute our share for that good thing to happen without looking for reaping what the others have sown of laboured  for. For a country to develop, for the generation to be nurtured ethically, for the church to provide effectively the services expected of  her, ect. We all have to execute our share of responsibility. A farmer should plough. saw, nurture, harvest and mown at the opportune time; a student shall concentrate on his studies; etc.

For our entire body to be healthy, the different body parts  (the eye, ear, nose,skin,limbs,etc) need to function properly. St. Paul has dealt with this issue at length in the following manner:-
1cor.12:14-31………………..!!

As it could be understood from this, individuals have their own talents. A good time comes if each does his share with out waiting for others. The farmer shall farm, the merchant shall trade; the teacher shall teach, etc. because it is his role. If he fails to do so, his society loses its health and will be under turmoil. As each member shows commitment to live for his call, he will be rewarded even mote. “ for unto every one that has shall have given, and he shall have abundance; but, for him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has.” Matt.25:29.

3. Avoiding Greed

Greed is one factor which makes an age bad. God has created main his own image to live in love with his fellow partaking the God-given communal resource amicably. “ you shall love your neighbor as yourself,” God commands man.Lev.19:18. When man transgresses this, he disturbs the peace of himself and his fellow . It is to avoid seeds of strife that God speaks through Mosses as follows: “you shall not covet your neighbor’s  house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife nor his manservant, nor anything that is your neighbor’s !! Exodus. 20:17. cain killed  Aber due to greed; Judah betrayed the Lord Jesus due to greed. Yet, neither cain nor Judah saw a time of peace.

That greed is a cause of peace lessens is also reflected  in an epistle of St.James." From whence come wars and fighting’s among you? Come they not hence even of your lusts that war in your members? You just and have not; you kill and desire to have and can not obtain; you fight and war, yet you have not because you ask not”. James 4:1-2.

Throughout history, wars  harass mankind due to greed. A lust to plunder others has caused and is still causing wars. Yet, the word of god says,”  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” Phil. 2:4-5.To see the noble age, therefore, we need to humble ourselves following the example of the Lord who humbled  himself for the source of glorifying the down trodden Adam.

In general, to see a good age we have to live with God. This is demonstrable in living with virtues such as sensitivity for time, discharging one’s heavenly responsibility and living for others safety. If we are so virtuous,  God is trusted to offer us whatever is basic and even more otherwise, his face will be away from us and we attain little. As we are conscious beings. We do not feel at ease in remaining in vain. Thus, let us heed the following message and enjoy a good age an age of peace, prosperity, harmony and other virtues that are felt both in the secular and spiritual lives .
Isaiah 1:10-17      ……………….. !

O God, help us live with you to see your blessed age- Amen!!!

Praise be to God. Amen!!