THE WISDOM OF CHRISTIAN MODERATION

Brethren, we are called to be sound Christians, but not alarming ones; bright saints, not blinding ones. Therefore, let us live with discernment and balance. A tasteless soup disappoints the taster, yea, a salty one even condemns the soup and injures the taster altogether. Have Christ within you but don't flaunt your Christianity to the irritation of others.

Only a thin line exists between boldness and arrogance; be careful not to miss the mark and cross over the border. Be confident, yet, stay humble and meek. Be proactive, yet, not proud. Don't boast about God when He has already left you, for God has respect for only the lowly but is against the proud.

Men will always regard love than law; be the first to show kindness and cheerfulness. Speak the truth, yet with love and solemnity; shun slander. "Speak evil of no man" in your quest for truth and justice. In fact, be just, yet merciful; criticize constructively, and seek redeeming solutions then proffer the same. While you seek to help in a circumstance, be careful not to hurt the situation. Never lead a rebellion, rather be a righteous revolutionary. Never let your emotions travel without your reasoning. In fact, subject all mental and emotional forces to the leadership of your spirit.

A solemn righteous man increases in wisdom and never loses potency and power. Listen before you speak; and speak to communicate truth, not ego. Avoid stains of ‘self’ or ‘flesh’ in your speech. Never impose yourself on people. Keep your opinion to yourself if it is not for a righteous cause. Be discerning; know when to speak and when to withdraw. Yes, winners quit and quitters win when they act with blessed wisdom. Be wise and prudent, but not crafty, cunning or deceitful. The difference is yet the ‘self’ factor – the quest for personal satisfaction and gain at the expense of others.

Be the change you want to be. Let it start first with you and great shall be your influence. Your character shall persuade others to accept your views and your change shall spread beyond the borders of your imagination. Don't just say it and try to convince others with it; do it and be it. What you believe, you should behave and eventually become. By so doing, you attract others to belong to your school of wisdom.

By all means shun hypocrisy: not every white crystal is a salt. Don’t try to look like what you are not. Your appearance really has no eternal consequence if it does not match your inward parts. For, "Behold, God desires truth in the inward parts". Let your will, words and works align with one another, even so their respective authors - your heart, mouth and hands. Be careful to say what you mean and mean what you say. Let your mouth copy your heart to others. Don't get ridiculous or mischievous; a good name is better than riches.

Trust is hard to gain, harder to retain and hardest to regain; don't lose it before you realize its value to life. Be slow to make promises, but fast to fulfill them. Be responsible to your commitments and committed to your responsibilities.

Be not hasty at all. Those who hurry in often hurry out. Don’t start what you can’t finish. Patience is a universal and eternal rule of life. It is an ultimate instrument in the laboratory of wisdom. Look before you leap, plan before you press. Any sequence otherwise shall turn grace to disgrace and bring damage, destruction as well as shameful regrets. But He who plans well enough travels almost automatically on wings of grace to his expected destination.

Don’t live in suspicion, however, avoid suspicious actions yourself. Live with honesty and integrity; such facilitates authenticity of your life. Avoid giving in to temptations of temporary pleasures and don’t cut corners. Temporary pleasures are threats to destiny. A straight line is the shortest distance between two points, so honesty is the shortest route from where you are to where you ought to be; any other crooked path shall turn fields to forested regions and confuse the explorer. Seeming shortcuts will surely turn simplicities into complexities and leave you with a label of folly.

Deceit denies the deceitful of his heart’s expectation; and it eventually robs him of joy and peace, leaving him in the swamp of regret. Be true to God and to yourself, and then be true to others also.

Don’t crave for what is not your own. Let your eye be single, lest you pierce yourself with many sorrows. Mind your own business and be not tempted to roam about with unsanctified compassion for others. Take heed to yourself and others will learn from you. Then you will not need to adjust their deeds for them for they would do so by themselves, using your life as a mirror to reveal their wrongs and conform to the righteous standards you portray.

Don’t take what is not your own: avoid wickedness. Don’t take what is not given to you: understand privilege. Don’t withhold what you can give freely and purposefully to another: shun selfishness. Don’t give without the consent of your heart: eschew hypocrisy. Don’t fight for what is taken from you: show mercy. Don’t boast about what you don’t have: flee vanity!

Pleasure is not entirely happiness and pain is not entirely hardship. But contentment is what brings balance to both in a life, yea, it facilitates real peace and joy while one lives in equanimity. Now contentment is a choice, though comfort is not. Therefore every man must choose to be content, and then find comfort in his contentment.

Strive to certify that Christ is in you, and then endeavour to see Christ always in others. Love God above all things, then love all men and things through God; then you can point men to God and use those things to fulfill His purpose; for He is the very source of the love with which you have loved them.

Finally, remember that life is about you, but not all about; therefore, you have to live, but not for yourself, neither by yourself.

Beloved, keep yourself in the love of God and rest in the blessedness of His divine peace.

With brotherly affection,

Bright UKWENGA.