Word of Prophecy

Fellowship

November -- December 2004

THE

GOOD

NEWS - LETTER

THE TRAGEDY OF TRIFLES

INTRODUCTION

This message that was written many years ago by my Dad is more important now than it has ever been. The devil would lead Christians to believe that since Bro. Ray Pringle Sr. has gone on to glory, his teachings are no longer vital, but that's not true! Do not let any one neither the devil nor his surrogates steal these great Holy Ghost anointed messages and revelations from your heart, or erase them from your memory: As a matter of fact, we all need them now more than ever. The devil is trying his best to wipe out these wonderful and powerful lessons, and we should unite in defeating his efforts. Remember! "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 18:19).

Bro. Ray Pringle, Jr.

"For who hath despised the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4:10) Jesus declared: "He that is faithful in that which is least [or trifles] is faithful also in much [very important matters]: and he that is unjust in the least [careless in trifles] is unjust also in much" (Luke 16:10). Also, we are further warned by the Holy Scriptures the danger of ignoring this seemingly unimportant subject: "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes" (Song of Solomon 2:15). Little matters, little sins, little failures thought so seemingly insignificant, so non-relevant to life's situations that could affect one's present or future, bring the greatest distress, heartache, and defeat to professing Christians.

LIVING OUR BEST AT ALL TIMES

Happiness is the quest of each and every Christian. To be truly happy, a Christian must live his life the best he can at all times by all the light of God's Word he has undisturbed by the prosperity of the wicked or the malice of the envious.

The Christian who is striving to do his best at all times is ever active, alert, and aggressive he is ever watchful of himself in trifles and that determination is visible in every moment of his living. NO trifle in his life can be too insignificant to reflect his high principle of living.

No rule for better living will help a Christian in the slightest, however, until he reaches out and appropriates it for his own use; until he makes it practical in his daily life until that seed of theory (many call it faith) blossoms into a thousand flowers of thought and word and deed.

SEEK GOD'S WISDOM

The Holy Bible exhorts Christians to "be thou an example of the believers" (I Timothy 4:12) Also: "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works" (Titus 2:7).

In God's Book of Wisdom, we are advised thusly: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding" (Proverbs 4:7). Also: "When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge [of God's Word and Ways] is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee" (Proverbs 2:10-11). "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10).

A Christian that truly fears God will observe trifles that will affect them and their families and make the wisest decisions resulting from their effect. How? "Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long … And thine expectation shall not be cut off" (Proverbs 23:17-18).

"TRIFLE" has two important definitions and meanings:

1. "Something of little value or importance; a trivial thing; a paltry matter."

2. "To treat without earnestness, without full attention, without definite purpose."

IS INTEGRITY A TRIFLE?

Honesty, integrity, moral purity, and self-reliance are really not trifles, because these virtues that define a true Christian's principles of life, ignored and rejected by most, elevate a person into godliness and true happiness.

High ideals and honest efforts by a Christian will make seeming failures but trifles. Honesty is not failure; truthfulness is not a failure though both are passed over by so many as seeming trifles, because success does not immediately come to their honest efforts. A saint of God, living with high ideals as best he can, in continuous harmony with the Truth, is a success no matter what statistics of failure a blind and dishonest group of critics and commentators may lay at his door.

FAILURE AS SUCCESS

Failure is one of God's educators a trifle not to be despised by Christians great or small! Failure is often the rock-bottom foundation of real success. Our highest hopes are often destroyed to prepare us for better things. Many of the rivers of our greatest prosperity and spiritual growth those which give us the most happiness today have had their source and trickling increase into volume among the dark, gloomy recesses of our failures of the past. The Biblical records of Moses, Joseph, Daniel, and Jonah illustrate this Truth.

Failure is often the turning point, the pivot of circumstances that swings us to higher levels of success. That success may not be fame or financial acquisition it may be new draughts of spiritual and mental inspiration that will change us for all the later years of our life to be a better Christian, a more effective minister, a more successful steward of Jesus Christ.

DON'T FEAR FAILURE!

Let us fear only the failure of not seeing the "trifles" of responsibility that are laid at our door and of not living the best that our inner strength will afford, leaving the results to the guardianship of our Infinite Creator God. The honest, faithful struggling Christian should always realize that failure is but an episode in a true saint's life, never the whole story.

SEEK HUMILITY

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God" (Micah 6:8). Trifles? Neglect these orders from the Lord and tragedy will always result. Here's another vital warning of a "trifle" that we should not neglect: "Holding faith and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck" (I Timothy 1:19).

No matter how humble the calling of a Christian, how uninteresting and dull his job and duties, he should always dignify the trifles under his hand with all his ability and best mind, in order to prepare himself to be equal to higher privileges and opportunities when they come to him.

Living at one's best is constant preparation for instant use when that opportunity for honor or promotion from the Lord comes to us.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes [don't be a smart aleck]: fear the LORD, and depart from evil" (Proverbs 3:5-7).

KEEP DOING YOUR BEST

Steadfast courage to master conditions instead of complaining of them will help a Christian to overcome trifles that have become tragedies. It will ever enable him to get the best out of what power he has, or the ability or energy or opportunity he might have, to prepare himself to be equal to higher privileges and abilities that God desires to give him. The Christian who has a pessimist's doubt of all things, who demands a certified guarantee of his future who fears his work will not be recognized or appreciated will never live his best! Remember: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). Beloved, you can overcome, through Christ, those neglected and underrated trifles that are ruining you that keep you from doing your best at all times, and keep you from receiving God's best for you!

OVERCOME TRIFLES WITH QUALITIES OF EXCELLENCE

A Christian can select and attain the qualities or virtues that he desires to be radiated through the influence of his life. He can cultivate sweetness, calmness, trust, generosity, truth, justice, loyalty, nobility and make these virtues vitally active in his character. These "trifles" are usually neglected or rejected and this rejection always leads to tragedy. A Christian's personality, his conscious influence, the effect of his words and acts, the trifles he never considers, are always changing the world around him for good or evil.

REJECTING DEGRADING QUALITIES

Have you ever wondered why some Christians are so depressing and weakening by their very presence, while others by their very presence bring warmth and life and the glow of sunshine, as joyous and stimulating as the breath of Spring?

Many Christians by their very character of doubt, fear, self-pity, and hopelessness radiate the spiritual attributes they have "selected" in their conceit and unbelief, and these attributes and qualities are degrading and oppressive: Complacency, apathy, carelessness, impatience, selfishness,

rudeness, morbidness, cynicism, arrogance, pride, egotism, deceit, self-confidence and self-pity.

Many weak and discouraged Christians become vain and contemptible in their self-pity, affirming constantly, "No one ever had it as hard as I have. You just don't understand how much suffering, sorrow, poverty, and disappointment I've had. If you did, you'd be just like I am." Ladies and gentlemen, Christians do not have to suffer such a shameful defeat. "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (I Peter 5:6).

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation [trial] also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13). Trials and temptations come equally to all Christians. "Yeah, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (II Timothy 3:12). Also: "Knowing that the same afflictions [from the devil] are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (I Peter 5:9).

This is not a trifle, this promise and command of the Lord: "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let [your] patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting [in want for] nothing" (James 1:3-4).

TRUE HAPPINESS

Jesus Christ came to give Christians power over circumstances even when caused by trifles they have ignored. Some trifles are often the stumbling blocks that thwart our best efforts. True happiness for the Christian results from victory over other trifles that stifle their best impulses and activities. The blending of the qualities of excellence into repose and calmness and true love results in lasting happiness. However, those degrading trifles encountered by Christians must be overcome or they will spell ruin to any happiness, present or future.

Happiness is the greatest paradox in Nature. It can flourish under any outward or physical condition. Happiness is paradoxical because it may coexist with trial, sorrow, and poverty. Happiness results from a perfect attunement with God's will. Happiness is the joy of the soul in perfect harmony with its Creator in possession of the intangible, the unseen. It is the warm glow of a heart at peace with God.

that a king on his throne may envy.

Unhappiness is the hunger to get; happiness is the hunger to give. The basis of happiness is the love of something outside self.

HAPPINESS: NOT ON BARGAIN COUNTER

You can buy pleasure, you can acquire contentment, you can become satisfied, but the good Lord never put happiness on His bargain counter. It always results from steadfast love for others, for true living! It is calm and peaceful it never lives in an atmosphere of worry or of hopeless struggle or useless regret. Happiness is the voice of faith and optimism, of simple, steadfast love. No cynic or pessimist can ever be truly happy, but a Christian should never be pessimistic or cynical, but full of love and faith, the greatest qualities of true happiness.

THE SMALLEST OF TRIFLES

It has been said wisely, "Most unhappiness in the home begins with a piece of burnt toast!" A wife's carelessness a husband's rudeness or harshness these are

often the ignored "trifles" that wreck the individual's true happiness, the family, and marriage. The Christian man and woman who are wise will ever be watchful of themselves in trifles seeking to do their best at all times.

The tongue and temper of a Christian must always be under his control by the help of God's Spirit. The Apostle aptly declared the right objective and conquest necessary for every Christian in his quest for happiness: "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection [the mind, tongue, temper]: lest that by any means … I myself should be a castaway [a reject]" (I Corinthians 9:27). O, the majesty of calmness and self-control!

WATCH THOSE TRIFLES!

The dear Lord, in His beautiful love and tenderness, says to His dear child, weakened and worn and weary with the struggle: "Do in the best way you can the trifle that is confronting you at this moment and do it in all the light of knowledge you have from God's Word and past experience do the best you can with that trifle in your best attitude in preparation for the future. Turn all the past, with its sad hours, weaknesses and mistakes, and wasted opportunities back to Me and accept My compassion and forgiveness."

From this point, determine to make each trifle of your present a new past it will be a joy to look back to make each trifle in your life a grander, more joyous, and more perfect preparation for your future happiness and success. The present and future you can make from the trifles to which you observe and wisely attend are yours the past has gone back, with all its messages, all its records to the God who will now loan you the golden moments to use in obedience to His laws.

The End

Word of Prophecy Newsletter

Published by: Word of Prophecy Fellowship
P O Box 10200, Jacksonville, FL 32247
WWW.WordOfProphecy.org
Editor Bro. Ray Pringle, Jr.
an ordained minister of the
Calvary Chapel Church of God, Inc.
Associate Editor ... June Carpenter
Copyrighted - All rights reserved

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