FromNowUntilForeverBook8.5x5.5 REV.indd

19:21).

Renowned advice columnist Ann Landers received thousands of letters a month.When asked to name the number one problem in her readership’s lives, she answered, “The one problem above all others is fear. People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, and their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself.” No doubt, this is true among believers as well. Many fear the emotional baggage that often accompanies lack of success. When serving on Christ’s behalf, it’s important to remember Paul’s proclamation, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV). Whether it’s literally or spiritually, growing what God has given us involves risk. That doesn’t go over well for most peo- ple in this overly sensitive, security-minded society in which we live. Nevertheless, the Bible says, “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1). Laziness. No doubt the two industrious slaves worked diligently to increase what their master had allotted them. Such was not the case with the third, however, who held on to his mina rather than put it to work. Along with fear, sloth and lack of initiative keep the church from encroaching upon a lost and hurting world, es- pecially in America; which reminds me of a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. “There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what

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