As we advance through the centuries, light and life begin to decrease in the Church. Why? Because the torch of the Scripture begins to grow dim and because the deceitful light of human authorities begins to replace it. ~Merle d’ Aubigne, Reformation historian, (1794-1872)
The Letter of the Law…
Reuters reports that an Israeli girl has been married and divorced — all at the young age of 14.
It began as a joke at school, where a 17-year-old declared the girl his wife by reciting a Jewish ritual vow before witnesses. In response, she received his ring.
The Rabbinical Courts of Israel indicated that this was the consummation of marriage for the two of them and that they were man and wife.
Later, the couple was granted a rabbinical divorce.
That is following “the letter of the law.”
The Value of the Self-focused Life…
From a practical standpoint, the self-focused lifestyle simply doesn’t work. It won’t make you happy. In fact, it will make you miserable. But you probably know that. Thousands of years ago, Solomon also found this to be true. He pursued every possible earthly avenue to find happiness: scientific studies, musical achievements, literary accomplishments, and education. He poured himself into his work, amassing a huge fortune, which he spent on great social projects, public works, and real-estate developments….
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.— Solomon in Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
And then he added, “So I hated life” (verse 17). So much for the self-focused life! The price of getting what you want is getting what you want. — Patrick Morley, A Man’s Guide to the Spiritual Disciplines, pp. 155-156.
Yeah — we all need to hear that.