by: Dr. Laurence A. Mascay A lot of men and women, young and old, rich and poor consider themselves godly or holy because of good attitudes, good works, and for not doing the “big sins” like adultery, murder, robbery, and the like. However, when a person thinks evil thoughts against their neighbors they are akin to murderers. Likewise, when a person entertains lustful thoughts about another person, they are engaging in immorality. Furthermore, if a person places a high priority on things like work, studies, relationships, or hobbies, they are essentially committing idolatry, as anything valued more than God constitutes idolatry . Consequently, no one is truly godly or holy.
A brilliant lawyer by the name of Paul said in anguish: “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?” As a person realizes his real condition that he is neither godly nor holy and is inevitably doomed to eternal punishment leads him to desperately seek an answer and help as Paul did. The answer is Jesus Christ for an ungodly person to become genuinely godly. With this, every person must admit his ungodliness and ask God for forgiveness. God is the only One who could make a person in His likeness because if anyone is in Christ he is a new person as the ungodliness has gone and godliness has come. A “godly” man named John Wesley was traveling by ship to the United States for charitable work. While amid the journey the sea broke over, split the main sail into pieces, covered the ship, and a terrible screaming began among the passengers. A group of people, however, calmly worshiped God. John asked one of them afterward, “Were you not afraid?” The person answered, “I thank God, no.” John then asked, “But were not your women and children afraid?” He replied, mildly, “No; our women and children are not afraid to die.” His response struck John Wesley when he realized that he feared death and lacked assurance of heaven despite his “godliness.” He then repented from his sins and his own “godliness,” put his trust in Jesus, and lived for Him a life of holiness or a life set apart for a greater purpose and eternal significance.
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by: Micah Tecne In the early years of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, he faced sleepless nights haunted by unsettling dreams. Troubled, he summoned the kingdom's learned scholars - magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers - hoping they could decipher the meaning behind his dreams. When they stood before him, Nebuchadnezzar demanded not only an interpretation but that they reveal the dream itself. Failing this, dire consequences awaited them, including destruction and ruin.
In this high-stakes scenario, we encounter a valuable lesson in navigating life's challenges with wisdom. Wisdom, drawn from a reliable source, offers three essential benefits: Protection When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, embarked on a mission to execute Babylon's wise men, a young man named Daniel intervened with wisdom and diplomacy. Rather than rushing to judgment, Daniel inquired about the king's harsh decree. This action not only spared lives but also allowed time for a solution to be found. The adage “Ang taong nagmamadali, nagkakamali,” highlights the importance of wisdom in handling pressure and challenging circumstances. It shields us from exacerbating problems and making impulsive decisions. Wisdom, rooted in an authentic source, encourages us to seek guidance and understanding from a higher power. Provision Turning to his friends for support, Daniel urged them to seek divine intervention from the God of heaven. In a moment of clarity during the night, Daniel received a vision that unveiled the mystery of the king's dream. Grateful, he praised the God of heaven, acknowledging the divine wisdom that had been bestowed upon him. Wisdom derived from a reliable source expands our perspective, enabling us to make informed choices and decisions. As the Apostle Paul noted, divine wisdom surpasses human understanding, revealing hidden truths. It elevates our discernment and empowers us to stand out in challenging situations. Promotion With newfound insight, Daniel persuaded Arioch not to execute Babylon's wise men and was brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar, astounded by Daniel's wisdom, recognized the presence of a higher power at work. As a result, Daniel received not only honor and respect but also a high-ranking position and abundant gifts. Daniel's pursuit of wisdom from an authentic source propelled his rise and brought about his promotion. When we rely solely on our limited human wisdom, we find ourselves constrained. However, by seeking wisdom from a trustworthy source, we tap into boundless possibilities. In moments when we feel confined by our limitations, the key is to seek the right source of wisdom. By doing so, we can unlock the power of wisdom, allowing it to guide our decisions, protect us from rash actions, provide us with clarity, and ultimately promote our growth and success. by: Nathaniel A. Saquiban When discussing trust, we always think of that famous statement in our Constitution: “Public office is a public trust.” This statement will never be fulfilled without the civil servants meeting the requirement of being trustworthy and accurate representatives of the public office concerned. In the past, we heard some stories that some clientele lost their trust in government offices due to bureaucratic inconveniences, illegal schemes, and taxing procedures in availing their services. It is more alarming to hear on a broader scale when investors refuse to invest their resources in our country because of a loss of trust. Allegedly, some are being unduly required to pay a sum long before the contract is executed or as early as in the proposal stage. It is a sad story in our local jurisdiction.
In the above situation, trust should be earned. Before we can expect others to trust us, we should exert effort that we deserve that trust in integrity and reliability. We should ensure that we are trustworthy enough to assume the office assigned to us and committed to performing the duties and responsibilities attached to it diligently. Thus, our laws prohibit any civil servant from having a financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract, or transaction in which he/she intervenes or takes part in his/her official capacity. In like manner, it is required that public officials and employees shall perform and discharge their duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism, intelligence, and skill and shall enter public service with utmost devotion and dedication to duty. If we belong to government service, do we deserve the trust of others, both from our colleagues and clientele? Are we building the trust of the people transacting in our office? Do we remain on guard in our conduct and character to preserve the dignity of public office? If part of the corporate world transacts with the government, do we comply with the standard requirements imposed? These are reflective questions we must answer and contemplate if we are to preserve public trust in any public office. It is a must for all who believe that trust is a non-negotiable value. It cannot be compromised, nor can it be downgraded. Know how valuable trust is. Due to trust, opportunities will be opened. It is the foundation for promotion, rewards, grants, appointments, elections, and other favors or benefits. On the contrary, if trust is lost, opportunities will be closed. As mentioned by Invajy, “Trust is fragile, don’t break it: Once broken, it will never come back to its original shape.” We concede to that statement. Similarly, it further states: “Trust takes many years to build, few seconds to break, and forever to repair.” It is indeed vital yet delicate and must be handled with care. Trust is a vital ingredient in all forms of relationships, partnerships, and engagements. It is a stepping stone to unity and progress. |
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