Matthew 5:43-45 (NLT)
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”

James 1:19 (NLT)
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Sound advice to today’s world. Pretty amazing for an “ancient” book that many claim has no relevance today. I question why, if we’ve come so far that this “ancient’ book is irrelevant, is it still so relevant? I’m thinking that 1) it’s because we haven’t come so far, and 2) we’ve never grown into it, and 3) it’s more than a book of wisdom and history.

I often wonder when reading the news, watching people interact at work and in town, neighbors, how much time is wasted on oneself and not invested in others. I think the general consensus of the world is that we invest in ourselves and shouldn’t waste time on others. Look at the results that world view is generating.

Proverbs 11:28 (MSG)
28 A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.

Matthew 7:12 (NLT)
12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)
20 Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”