Leviticus 24:1-23; Psalms 137:1-138:8; Mark 9:33-50
An idle soul shall suffer hunger. Proverbs 19:15
“Keep yourselves from idols”, warns our holy God. But there are other “idles” we might also come to love. There are idle promises: Commit to something; say “I’ll do it”, then renege. Guaranteeing satisfaction, but in the end it is all talk, no action (Prov. 14:23). Idle habits make me lazy and waste so much precious time. Opportunities to invest in eternity are squandered for brief moments of pleasure (Prov. 19:15). Idle words come so easy. They pour like water from a spout: gossip, crude and godless humour. It is so easy to stir the pot or start a rumour (Matt. 12:36). Idle pride, the flesh arises. Godly counsel, it despises. Marching thus to my own drum, self-absorbed I soon become (2 Thess. 3:6). Yes, dear Christian, this is vital: guard against each subtle “idle”. —Brian Cretney
Idle things their idols make, our souls to bind, our hearts to break. – B.C.