Proven Diligent
Joe Slater
	We don’t know his name, but Paul, along with the church at Corinth and several other first-century congregations, knew him both by name and by reputation. Paul called him “our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent” (2 Corinthians 8:22)
	Whoever he was, Paul sent him along with Titus and another anonymous brother to assist the Corinthian church in fulfilling its pledge to help the poor saints in Judea. Significantly, Paul also referred to Titus as “being more diligent” (2 Corinthians 8:17). Obviously, this important work called for people who were diligent (zealous, earnest, urgent). What a marvelous compliment, that these men should be recorded in God’s inspired volume as examples of diligence!
	As death loomed ever larger before him, the aged apostle Paul exhorted Timothy, “Be diligent to come to me quickly . . . Get Mark and bring him with you . . . Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come – and the books, especially the parchments” (2 Timothy 4:9, 11, 13). Here again, the situation was serious and required diligence. Paul was in a Roman prison awaiting execution. What he needed, he needed now; time was of the essence! It simply wouldn’t do for Timothy to delay, forget, become distracted, or otherwise fail to do the job.
	Our circumstances are different from those of Paul or of the Corinthian church. Regardless, we share the need for diligent Christians, and we thank God for those who serve diligently. Much diligent labor is done “behind the scenes”; it may be taken for granted and is seldom publicly praised. We would certainly notice, however, if it wasn’t done. May I take this opportunity to say, “hat’s off” to all of our unsung heroes and heroines!
	Let each and every member of the body of Christ resolve to be diligent. Each member of the body has important functions. Whenever one member doesn’t carry out his/her responsibilities diligently, the cause of Christ is hindered. We should be so diligent that whenever we assume a responsibility, others know it is as good as done. Read again Paul’s evaluation of the unnamed brother at the first of this article: “whom we have often proved diligent in many things.” Would he use those words in reference to you?
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A $50,000 Goal!
	One Sunday, eleven-year-old Nick Smith entered a contest for the chance to win $50,000.00. All Nick had to do was shoot a 3-inch hockey puck through a 3½-inch hole from 90 feet away. Nick took careful aim, hit the puck with his hockey stick, and to everyone’s amazement, the puck went in the hole! It was a one-in-a-million shot that earned this eleven-year-old boy $50,000.00…or did it?
	You see, Nick actually didn’t take the shot; his twin brother Nate did. Why? Because when Nick’s name was called to take the shot, he was not in the arena, so his identical twin brother stood in for him. No one else would have known, except Nick and their father.
	Well, on Monday Nick and Nate’s father let the cat out of the bag, admitting to the officials that Nate, not Nick, actually took the shot. When asked why he would reveal this secret, the father said: “We thought honesty was the best policy, and we wanted to set a good example for our kids.”
	May their tribe increase! Question: Would you forfeit $50,000.00 over a technicality that no one else would ever notice? Or, to cut to the chase, is your integrity for sale?
	--Steve Higginbotham (via Bulletin Gold)
Enjoyment Without God?
For who can eat and can have enjoyment without Him? (Ecclesiastes 2:25).
	Certainly men do eat, enjoying food in abundance.  And men today are enjoying the fruits of unparalleled wealth. So what is Solomon's point?
	First, that true enjoyment of the blessings of life is not possible, in the ultimate sense, without God. While some may feel that alcohol with a meal is "the good life," such is, in reality, shallow and empty. Why? Because one sadly believes that his enjoyment comes purely because of his own efforts and his own abilities. Thus there is no gratitude. It is a failure to recognize that if God didn't send blessings to the righteous and unrighteous they wouldn't have anything at all (Matthew 5:44).
	Second, recognizing the hand of God in one's blessings heightens enjoyment, even in the simplest of blessings. We don't need to live in mansions to be happy, or drive a nice car or to have fancy clothes. Paul says that "if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content" (1 Timothy 6:8).  He also said "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." How can one successfully do this? The key: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:12-13). Solomon, who was blessed with considerable wealth, recognized that having all that one could ever want (see his list in 2:1-11) was "vanity and striving after wind."  Why? Because true, lasting enjoyment is not found in things or worldly pleasures.
	Having God in one's life provides a "peace that surpasses understanding" (Phil. 4:6), and allows one to rejoice and appreciate all of God's wonderful blessings.
	So what is the answer to our question? Can one have enjoyment without God? No, not true enjoyment. Only when we have God in our lives can we fully enjoy all that this life has to offer.
	Denny Petrillo (Denver, CO)