A Biblical lesson of old reminds us of our priorities and what happens when one is “…busy here and there.” Are we too busy? Are we busy here and there with the wrong things? To support this ministry financially, go their show page on KLTT
An Old Testament account warns us of what happens when we are busy here and there. Let’s realign our focus. That’s coming up from the International Gospel Hour. Our study is just ahead.
SPEAKER 03 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
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Well, thank you always to our J-Web, and greetings and hello everyone. It’s good to have you with us for our study of the Word of God today from the International Gospel Hour, on air or online since 1934. And we thank you for helping us be where we are today. From 1 Kings chapter 20, we read of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, engaging in a treaty with Ben-Hadad, the king of Syria, and an enemy of Israel, one of which it is said in 1 Kings 20 and verse 42 that the Lord appointed to utter destruction. Ahab, if you will, overruled God, which of course led to his downfall. Of interest is this lesson taught by the prophet of God as we pick up in 1 Kings 20 and verse 38. When the prophet departed and waited for the king by the road and disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes. Now as the king passed by, he cried out to the king and said, Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and there a man came over and brought a man to me and said, Guard this man. If by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver. While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone. Then the king of Israel said to him, So shall your judgment be. You yourself have decided it. and he hastened to take the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets, then he said to him, Thus says the Lord, Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people. Friends, the application here, Ahab was simply not focused on God’s will concerning Ben-Hadad. He was, as stated in verse 40, busy here and there. Other things took Ahab’s focus. This is a lesson that we need today. And we’re going to consider things that take our focus from God and His will. Things that have us busy here and there. And we’ll look at that in just a moment.
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SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, let’s think about some important things which we may lose while being too busy here and there with trivial matters. You know, we may get too busy and lose our health. In 3 John 2, John said, Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health just as your soul prospers. It’s a good thing to be in good health indeed. And sometimes we can get too busy and lose our health. We need to abstain from things that are harmful, moderately indulge in things that are wholesome, and to make certain that our bodies are cared for. In 1 Corinthians 6, beginning with verse 15, Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not. Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For the two, he says, shall become one flesh. But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. Flee sexual immorality or fornication. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were brought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. Also, friends, there’s a danger that we may, while busy here and there, lose good opportunities. In Galatians 6 and verse 10, we’re taught how we should do good unto all men, especially those of the household of faith, to take advantage of good opportunities, to get an education, a happy marriage, to rear a good family, an opportunity to be a great leader in the church. And friends, sometimes we get too busy here and there, and we find where individuals will lose their companions. In Ephesians 5, 22-32, we note how Paul used the marriage vows in order to teach the beauty of Christ in the church. How that marriage began in the eyes of God as he joined Adam and Eve together in Genesis 1 and 2. And friends, when you think about it, in Matthew 7 and verse 12, whatever we would that others do unto us, we need to do unto them. How are we treating others? When we think about many marriages that have come to an end with what some would call an innocent drink together, maybe innocent flirting that goes into adultery to create jealousy or nagging or some other things that keep us busy here and there, and one winds up losing their spouse. You know, we can get busy here and there and lose our children. Sometimes we’re too busy to pray with them, to study with them, to spend time with them with Bible time, and to talk about the things that be of God. In Proverbs 22 and verse 6, we’re taught, Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he’s old he will not depart from it. Or the New Testament teaching of Ephesians 6 and verse 4, You fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. We want to be busy with things for their lives, busy with them to engage in this, that, and another. But we’re too busy to take them to Bible school and to church. We’re too busy making money. We’re too busy having pleasures in little things that move us away from our children before we realize it. We submit to you that many become too busy here and there and will lose their good name or reputation. Proverbs 22 verse 1 says that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. Cornelius was noted as one who was of good report among the Jews. Acts 10 and verse 22. We need to make certain that our reputation is addressed and not get busy with things here and there. Man gets busy here and there and will even lose his influence. Let’s build on that previous thought with this one. If one neglects good works, one’s light will no longer be effective. Matthew 5 and verse 16. To hold the confidence of others and to do something to lose our influence sometimes can never be returned. When we’re warned of doing things in 1 Thessalonians 5, 22 and 23, things that are questionable, things that are doubtful, We can lose our influence by being busy here and there. And then, friends, let’s consider, we may get too busy and lose our very souls. In Matthew 16, 26, what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his souls? There are so many individuals that will exchange this world for their soul. They’ll take the here and now and they’ll use everything up. They’re too busy here and there. In James 1 and verse 21, James says, I love that thought, especially from 1 Peter 1 and verse 22. How the Word of God will live and abide forever. How that is how we are converted by obedience to the Word of God. How we should hold to those things that we learn, lest at any time we let them slip. Hebrews 2 and verse 3. In 1 Peter 4 and verse 17, a very humbling statement. that judgment begins at the house of God. If it begins at the house of God, what will be the end of those that are not obedient to God? That answer we do know. Sometimes we get too busy to obey the gospel, to worship regularly, to read, to pray, to be personally devout, to teach others the gospel of Jesus Christ. We become so busy with the world that church is just the place to where we show up rather than to allow it to lift us up and to serve God. Just like Ahab of old, he was busy here and there. He focused on the things of this earth and conceded things to Ben-Hadad that God would not have done. Friends, we must make certain that our lives follow after God in Christ and not be busy here and there with things that can lead us from Him. Friends, nothing is more important than a faithful relationship with God. Through our studies here at International Gospel Hour, we are seed-sowing individuals. We want to share things with you that will help you in that study and to help you be what you need to be. I’m going to defer to our J-Web. He’s going to share with you about our Bible course that’s available by mail.
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Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, we are privileged today to reach back almost 60 years and bring forth a wonderful sermon of the past, our Turn Back the Clock broadcast, as we consider the lesson today from the late Brother Gus Nichols. Brother Nichols passed in 1975 at the age of 83. After preaching the gospel for 59 years, he conducted training classes, preached on the radio, penned many articles, and was a great influence among those within his area. And we’re thankful to share this lesson today for us to think about busy here and there. We hope this study has helped you today, and we’ll continue this study together at another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com God be with you till we meet again.
