Do all things in moderation – Part 1

The coming of the Lord is imminent. It is closer to us today than it was to saints in the Bible. Thus, Apostle Peter sounded a warning to believers that “the end of all things is at hand: be… sober, and watch unto prayer.” As we look forward to the great event, we should let our “moderation be known unto all men” in all things and refuse to be distracted by the pleasures and pursuits of “this world (that) passeth away” or make them our priority. We must avoid excesses and focus on preparing for the coming of the Lord. The end-time virtue of moderation should reflect in all we do.

The command to “let (our) moderation be known unto all men” is a charge to be modest even in our ambition. Unfortunately, some people allow unchecked ambition to consume them. This is because they want to impress society or someone other than God, or exalt themselves above everyone. Without realising it, such people choose Lucifer as their role model. He had only one ambition: to be like God. He would do just about anything to realise this ambition.

It was this tendency that made him to deceive Eve to eat “of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden.” Eve’s ambition to “be as gods, knowing good and evil” caused the Fall, brought wrath upon humanity and made us sinners by nature. But God sent His Son to redeem us from the bondage of sin. While the people who built the tower of Babel were scattered throughout the face of the earth, Pharaoh and Absalom manifested dreadful ambition that consumed them. To avoid a similar fate, we must be moderate in our aspiration and accomplishment.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” We should not be so ambitious that we forget that the coming of the Lord is imminent. Christ wants us to be content with what we have because
“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver … but godliness with contentment is great gain.” Our moderation should be practical because the world watches to know if we practise what we preach.

We can only convince them that we are true Christians if we reflect moderation in our marriage, burial, house-warming ceremonies and other events. Through this public comportment, we prove that we are not distracted by the passing pleasures of the world. The Lord wants us to pay more attention to things that are spiritual, eternal and profitable. As His coming draws nearer, we must flee covetousness and pursue “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness” (1 Timothy 6:10,11).

• Further reading (King James Version): Philippians 4:5; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, 35; Philippians 4:5; Isaiah 14:12-17; Genesis 3:1-6; 11:3-7; Exodus 15:9-13; 2 Samuel 15:1-6; 18:9,10,15; Ecclesiastes 5:10; Hebrews 13:5,6; 2 Peter 3:10-14; Philippians 4:5; 1 Peter 3:3-6; Genesis 35:1-5; Deuteronomy 22:5; Zephaniah 1:8, 9; Isaiah 3:16-24; 1 Timothy 2:9-11, 15; Judges 8:22-27; Psalm 73:6-12,16-26; Jude 1:21-25; 2 Kings 2:8, 9; Acts 19:11,12; Isaiah 52:1, 2; 10:27; Esther 6:6-13; 8:15-17; 10:3.