Presenting ...

Net Profits - Dwight Hill

... a weekly letter of encouragement.

7 May, 1997 - Singapore

Good Morning!

TWO MEN OF PASSION:

King Solomon and the Apostle Paul.

The difference between them lay in the focus of their passion:

Solomon's passion was directed away from God by his affection for unbelieving foreign women:

"...His wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God...(I Kings 11:4)

Paul's passion, by contrast, was re-directed from self-righteous legalism toward knowing Christ:

"I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:7, 8)

Solomon expended his life on pleasure:

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure." (Ecclesiastes 2:10)

Paul, by comparison, invested his life in making Christ known:

"We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom. To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy...." (Colossians 1:28, 29)

HOW DID THESE TWO MEN OF PASSION END UP?

Solomon became bitter and disappointed in his old age:

"...I hated life...[and] I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun..." (Ecclesiastes 2:17a, 18a)

Paul, however completed his life with a profound sense of accomplishment and anticipation:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day..." (2 Timothy 4:8)

TWO QUESTIONS:

(1) WHERE IS THE FOCUS OF YOUR PASSION? On yourself, or on the Glory of God?

(2) HOW WILL YOU END UP? Like Solomon, or like Paul?

My prayer is that you are having a great week.

Dwight Hill

(c) Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.

Back to Antioch's Well

Back to Antioch's Home Page