READ: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; A TIME TO KEEP SILENCE, and a time to speak; – Ecclesiastes 3:6-7
There is a natural decline that is built into everything we do. From the moment you complete your house and move into it, it begins to decay. From the first day you use your new kitchen, it begins to deteriorate. Your marriage begins to decay from the moment you say “I do”. Your church begins to decrease from the day you have your highest attendance. You must rise up and defend yourself against all forms of attrition.
Defend yourself against the decay of the church by starting more branches and doing more outreaches. Defend your marriage by doing all the exciting things in the marriage books.
Defend your house from decay by constantly repairing,
renovating and improving things. Defend yourself against poverty by being a diligent hard worker who works more than eight hours a day. Poverty comes like a traveler who has nowhere else to stay. Financial problems come like armed robbers who are bent on harming you. “So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and
thy want as an armed man” (Proverbs 6:11). You must rise up to defend yourself against poverty that is determined to overwhelm you.
Defend yourself against poverty by working hard. Defend yourself against poverty by paying your tithes and avoiding the curses of those who do not pay their tithes. “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10).
Defend yourself against poverty by building your own house. One day, you may not earn enough money to build a house. By then, you should have a roof over your head. “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established” (Proverbs 24:3). Be wise in your day of plenty and build a house as early as you can.