When man is born, he is helpless and needs 24 hour care. Ex 2:1-10. As man grows into his teens and adult hood, he will not be ashamed to say that he doesn’t need anyone and he will do what he pleases. Gen 6:1-7. Yes, the middle of life looks nothing like that cute, little humble bundle of joy, which was rocked to sleep in a crib. What is seen in the middle of life is a “know it all” “I don’t need you” “don’t you mess with me” person. Sound like anyone you know? At the end of life, man returns to a helpless soul who again needs help and care. It comes to that because the body ages and cannot remain healthy anymore. Eccl 12:1-8. 1 Kng 1:1-4.
All the living are going that way some day, so let us not be mean and ugly in the middle of life. Be good to those around you and especially if they are younger, because they are the ones who will probably have to take care of you. Pro 23:22. In Gen 4:9, Cain's reply to the Lord's question was. "Am I my brother's keeper?" In other words, Cain was telling God, "it's none of my business where he is, or what he is doing." This was the origin of, "I don't want to get involved." This attitude is still being practiced and that is why a man did nothing, after seeing a little girl being murdered in an casino bathroom several years ago. In the last episode of Seinfeld, the four stars were sent to prison for not helping a man who was being robbed. They felt it wasn't their problem so why concern themselves? Though the TV program was fictional, it still showed a strong message. The bible teaches people to care and not be like the two guys who refused to help a injured man as he lay in the road. Lk 10:30-37. Ezk 3:16-21. 1 Sam 3:13. Pro 21:13. Deut 22:1-4. Gal 6:1-2. Matt 25:26-28. 1 Cor 10:24.
This lesson isn't teaching one to play super hero and rush up and fight an armed thug. But there is something we can do. We can call the police or provide some other type of information, publicly or anonymously. We must take the time to cheer the sad, give food to the hungry, visit the sick. etc. Gal 6:10. Jas 4:17. Jas 1:27. 1 Tim 5:9-10. Acts 9:36-43. Singer, Sheryl Crow has a lyric in song which is, "If it makes you happy it can't be that bad." Such is typical of the thinking of many people, they don't care what they do or who they do it to, as long as they have happiness. "I gotta be happy" they say. Now man isn't put on this earth to obtain his own selfish happiness, but to do the will of God. Matt 7.10. Acts 10.35. Phil 2.21. But when one obeys the will of God he will walk in the way that is righteous and that will automatically produce happiness in that persons life. 1 Pt 3. 8-14. Psa chapter.1. Gal 5.22-26. Phil 4.4. In the bible, we read of two Kings who committed evil in order to make themselves happy. These sins cost one king his life and the other king was driven from his empire by his own son. 2 Sam 11 & 12 chapters. 1 Kings chapter 21. But we can avoid the fate which these men suffered, if we learn to please others as well as ourselves.
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