The Days of Our Life on Earth
Deuteronomy 17:19
The days of our life are measured by our accomplishments. There are people that do not use the days of their life on earth and waste them. The wasted days of their life are not counted. St. Antony said: "Don't count the day of your life in which you do sit down with yourself (in the presence of God)." The Lord Jesus said: "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" Luke 14:24.
"Or what king, going to make war against another king, sits not down first, and consults whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?" Luke 14:31. Therefore, sitting down and counting the cost, and consulting yourself are important during our life before the coming of Christ to judge the world and reward everyone according to his deeds.
You have to sit down with yourself everyday and count the cost and check if you are on the right path. Check if your good deeds are done for the sake of love or you do them because you have to do them. There are some people that start with the Spirit and end up with mechanical way or duties. "…not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching," Hebrew 10:25
Listen to what the Lord said to the angel of the church of Ephesus: "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love," Revelation 2:4, although the Lord told him: "I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you cannot bear them which are evil: and you tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have them liars. And have borne, and have patience, and for my name's sake have labored, and have not fainted," Revelation 2: 2-3. Notice that the Lord told him that he did not faint. Which one of us even not faint of doing good deeds. Every deed without love is worthless. St. Paul said: "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing," 1 Corinthians 13:3. Notice that giving to the poor is a good deed. Martyrdom is a good deed. But, if they were empty of love, they are worthless. It is important to sit down with yourself and check if your deeds are done for the sake of love and count the cost of acceptable deeds. Check if you do the good deeds for personal gain or as a custom or to be showy in front of other people. Check if you do good deeds in order not to be embarrassed or because you do not like that the people say that you have changed and stopped doing your good deeds. Remember what the Lord Jesus said: "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple," Luke 14:33. Counting the cost is not about materialistic things. Money, as a tool only, is not the factor that can build spiritual matters or good deeds. Even ties to money may hinder the spiritual building. Therefore, we have to sit down and check our target and destination continually.
The right spiritual fruits come out from good deeds that are accompanied by love prove that we are walking towards spiritual growth. "Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit," John 15:2.
The Lord gave us talents to trade with them and gain everyday, Matthew 25:20. Do we trade with the talents and gain? Let us follow the example of the Lord Jesus. It was said about Him: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man," Luke 2:52. Do not count the days of your life that are without gain. Use the time and opportunities that are given to us by the Lord to use and gain. Sit down everyday with yourself lest you lose the days that are wasted and in which you do not follow the right path. Pursue the right path all your days to gain, and save treasures in heaven, Matthew 6:20. Use everyday to grow and increase in wisdom and stature and to find favor with God and man.
Copyright © 2007 Saint Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery, California, U.S.A. The above article may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Saint Antony Coptic Orthodox Monastery, California, U.S.A. |
