STABILITY IS TO BE PREFERRED ABOVE POPULARITY

Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi
Isaiah 33:6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.
    The word 'stability ' is the Hebrew word  'emuwnah ' which means  firmness;  security; morally fidelity, steady, truly, truth, verily. This defines the character of the believer in Jesus Christ needed for a victorious life in the world.  Christian growth  is marked by major changes and demands ,thus , the older we get the more of a liability we become to our individual communities.
       A teenager is more of a liability to his or her parents than a toddler, and more is expected of a teenager by his or her parents such as helping  out with house chores .therefore accountability comes with growth , Luke 12:48 says " But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. " this means if God has invested so much in health, knowledge,  wisdom, finances, honour,  on a person,  He expects a higher degree of commitment to duty from such an individual.
          One of the reasons relationships are strained  is that we sometimes have unreasonable expectations from persons whom we've invested little or nothing on. The fact that a person is an acquaintance of ours doesn't mean they are morally obligated to always bear our burdens,  life gives back to us according to the measure of our investments (luke6:38)  therefore people respond to us according to our  investments in their  lives. We cannot out-give God, the scriptures says 2Thess 3:10 "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." .  There is no reward in acting contrary to this scripture , doing so leads to the destruction of the recipient's capacity for self development and frustration on the part of the giver. This is the origin of unrealistic expectations which is the bane behind many a failed relationship.We should encourage others to be generous, it guarantees a prosperous future. 
         In a bid to be popular ,some persons have gotten themselves burnt-out by striving to do more than was expected of them in relationships, ministry, business, jobs etc. Popularity is not the same thing as stability. Popularity often demands we give to society more than what it gives to us, this leads to an emotional deficit and  the loss of the passion to live. It is out of this frustrations that many persons seek solace in psychotropic substances and abusive relationships .This leads to a life of misery. It is ironic that a person could attain celebrity status and yet be misguided , the world is full of examples of prominent figures who became casualties of their supposed acts of kindness .Proverbs 16:25 says "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
        This is the trajectory of the world's system and it is the complete opposite of God’s system. He seeks stability first. A stable family,  relationship, community,  economy is to be preferred to a popular but failing system. Stability gives peace. The scriptures says in (Isaiah 33:6) that wisdom and knowledge shall be the source of stability in our times, and shall be the source of our strength for breakthroughs.  Instability in homes, businesses, jobs are caused by the lack of divine wisdom and the requisite knowledge needed for sustainability.  This wisdom comes from God's word 2Tim.3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."  Therefore, it is the absence of the word of God that leads to instabilities.
          Instead of seeking wisdom some Christians would rather opt for religious rituals which promise short cuts to solving life's problems. The scriptures says in Psalm 107:17" Fools because of  their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted." this means that the afflictions suffered in marriages ,businesses, relationships etc are caused by the lack of wisdom . It is for the purpose of stability in our homes  that the scriptures says in Proverbs.4:7" Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."
       The long period of waiting for the manifestation of a dream should be for the development of a stable christian life. That's why Jesus said we should seek first the kingdom of God and His ways of doing things and all shall be added unto you (Matt.6:33)stable couples, ministries,businesses, relationships end up being popular as those that went ahead of them in the pursuit of popularity soon become obsolete and relegated to the background. The scriptures says in Mark 1:28 "And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee". This came about after over thirty years of developing a stable relationship with His earthly family and the community. There is no such thing  as an 'anointing to be famous' in the Holy Scriptures. We are not called to be famous but to be stable and be examples of Christ on earth that the world may see and glorify God.As you make Jesus your saviour and read this now receive grace for stability and prosperity in Jesus name.
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