4Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves.G4159G4171G2532G3163G1722G5213G3756G1782G1537G5216G2237G4754G1722G5216G31962You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it. You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you?G1937G2532G2192G3756G5407G2532G2206G2532G3756G1410G2013G3164G2532G4170G1161G2192G3756G1223G5209G154G33613And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.G154G2532G2983G3756G1360G154G2560G2443G1159G1722G5216G22374You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way.G3432G2532G3428G1492G3756G3754G5373G2889G2076G2189G2316G3739G302G3767G1511G1014G5384G2889G2525G2190G23165And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover."G2228G1380G3754G1124G3004G2761G4151G3739G2730G1722G2254G1971G4314G53556And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."G1161G1325G3187G5485G1352G3004G2316G498G5244G1161G1325G5485G50117So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.G5293G3767G2316G436G1228G2532G5343G575G52168Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field.G1448G2316G2532G1448G5213G2511G5495G268G2532G48G2588G13749Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious.G5003G2532G3996G2532G2799G5216G1071G3344G1519G3997G2532G5479G1519G272610Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.G5013G1799G2962G2532G5312G5209G531211Don't bad-mouth each other, friends. It's God's Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You're supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it.G2635G3361G2635G240G80G2635G80G2532G2919G846G80G2635G3551G2532G2919G3551G1161G1487G2919G3551G1488G3756G4163G3551G235G292312God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?G2076G1520G3550G3588G1410G4982G2532G622G5101G1488G4771G3739G2919G2087
Nothing but a Wisp of Fog
13And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money."G33G3568G3004G4594G2532G839G4198G1519G3592G4172G2532G4160G4160G1563G1520G1763G2532G1710G1710G2532G2770G277014You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing.G3748G1987G3756G3588G839G1063G4169G5216G2222G2076G1063G822G4314G5316G3641G1161G1899G85315Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."G473G5209G3004G1437G2962G2309G2532G2198G2198G2532G4160G4160G5124G2228G156516As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil.G1161G3568G2744G1722G5216G212G3956G5108G2746G2076G419017In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.G3767G1492G4160G2570G2532G4160G3361G846G2076G266