Thought for the day
We, the sensible people of South Africa, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid any more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt-ridden, delusional and other....idiots. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that a whole lot of people were confused by the "Bill of Rights", and are so dim that they require a:
BILL OF NO RIGHTS
ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.
ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone - not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc., but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.
ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.
ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. South Africans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.
ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.
ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob, cheat or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big-screen color TV or a life of leisure.
ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an South African means that you have the right to pursue happiness - which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an overabundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the "Bill of Rights".
Here in South Africa, we take a great deal of pride in the rights we have been given. We are frequently known to insist on our rights. In fact, numerous times, we have gone to war to make sure that no one takes our rights away from us. Perhaps that is why it is so difficult for us to understand the humility required of us by God to live the Christian life.
Paul says a lot about "rights" in I Corinthians. He is strong in his affirmation that he and the other apostles had many rights: "Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife....[Do we] have no right to refrain from working?" (I Cor. 9:4-6). Paul's rights were many. But he was ready and willing to give up those rights for a greater cause. "Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ." (1 Cor. 9:12)
So often, problems are caused in the church when two brothers or sisters insist on getting their way. After all, they have a "right" to act the way they do! We don't like to give up our rights for anyone, but as difficult as it may be, we need to learn to do just that. Perhaps it helps to remember that the One who had a right to remain in heaven served by the angelic host gave it all up for your sake and mine. I'm glad that He didn't insist on his rights; I pray that He helps me not to insist on mine..
Verses
1 John 5:4
Everyone who is born of God overcomes the world. It is our faith which gives us victory over the world.
Exodus 23:26
Your women will give birth to healthy children, and everyone will live a long life.
John 13:34
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
John 15:7
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.
2 Corinthians 9:7
I want each one of you to give what he has already made up his mind to give. Do not treat it as though it were a painful or compulsory due you had to pay! No! God loves a giver who gives joyfully.
Prayer
Father, we learn from Paul’s experience that when Your hand is against the evil perpetrator, there are consequences. When you temporarily blinded the sorcerer so that he could not see the light of the sun he came to rely not on his own guidance but was at the mercy of those who would lead him by the hand, perhaps even Paul. You used this harsh experience to bring the government official to faith, for he was amazed at the teaching You brought about. The teaching went beyond just theory but was revealed illustratively. Help us not to fear our enemies, but to boldly speak the truth to them and then commit them to You for judgment. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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