"Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds." Proverbs 27:23
Many people today including Christians seem to live healthy, fine and normal lives to all appearances. From an outward point of view, they seem to have achieved success, praise, happiness, and fun. In other words, the American dream. They don't seem to be suffering from want or neglect. Their children seem to be doing fine; they're well cared for; they're well dressed; attending the best schools. They are definitely enjoying the fruits of their labor. Sadly, they are spiritually bankrupt. Their inner heart and soul are malnourished, neglected, lonely, empty and unfulfilled. Obviously, their souls are crying out and declaring a form of bankruptcy.
"As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because My flock has become a prey, My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock." Ezekiel 34:8
Unfortunately, beneath all that outward success there is the inner man who is unsuccessfully fulfilled and satisfied. His inner life with His Creator is a total failure leading to a devastating bankruptcy of the soul. Let's never forget that God sees and weighs the hearts of men. The way He measures growth and success is very different than how we measure it. He does not count or consider our possessions, material achievements and success as His sole norm of achievement for us.
"For the shepherds have become stupid and have not sought the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered." Jeremiah 10:21
God wants us, his children, to place Him above all else. He wants first place in our heart, mind and soul. He is a jealous God who hates to be replaced by anything else. We must be careful not to let our lives and hearts become bankrupt before God. He knows when we lay up treasures inside ourselves. He sees when we are storing away riches in our soul for His kingdom's sake.
"In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night." Luke 2:8
Again, as I mentioned before, we can be very successful and be puffed up in our ego or self esteem and become very proud of our outward success, but be completely bankrupt in our souls. Do we know the state of our flocks, that is our children, our spouses, our brethren and other special people God has placed in our lives to watch over? Do we care if they know God and His plan to save men? Do they know us for being the salt and light of this world? Are we reflecting Christ in our lives, letting our light shine before men? Are we using the riches God has provided for us such as our children and families? Did you know that teen depression along with loneliness are at an all time high among those that seem to have it all? More often than not it is the affluent children that are the most neglected and lonely. These children long for something more: a satisfied and fulfilled soul. There are no gadgets, nice cars or perfect image that will take the place of the riches of our souls. Parents, we must be aware and pay attention to the state of our flock, our children. We must not go astray; we need to make sure that our flock, our children, remain together. It is our duty to be truly shepherds who watch over our flock by night.
"WOE to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture! declares the LORD." Jeremiah 23:1
Pursuing only our goals of achievement and success, wrongly thinking that it is for the welfare of our families, even though it might be well intended, is bankruptcy of the soul. It is total failure!
"I shall also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing, declares the LORD." Jeremiah 23:4
True happiness is not the pursuit of outward success only. Our main priority should be that of the needs of our souls as well as the souls of families and neighbors. Let's be wise and not be fools and not pursue the wrong things, goals and interests and neglect our flocks. Let's make it our main goal before our Father in heaven to pursue our flocks' success; to be with them and spend time with them; to watch over our God given riches, our flocks, more than our earthly success. What godly legacy are we leaving behind for generations to come?
"I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." John 10:11
May we always remember to store up riches in the bank account of our souls in heaven; the only one we truly are going to be able to take with us. May we and our children never have to suffer from bankruptcy of the soul and lose our souls for eternity.
Luci
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