THE ARITMETIC OF LIFE

  Ps. 46:10

         There are three essentials to education: reading, writing, and arithmetic. They were simply designated as “the three ”R’s’ and pronounced as –reading, riting, and rithmetic. Our meditation concerns itself with the third three- arithmetic.

          Arithmetic concerns itself with four basics: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Addition:

Addition is the first thing that we should master.

1. To be successful in the game of life, we must add Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. Paid said:” If any man do not have the spirit of Christ, he is none of his” Romans 8:9.
2. We shall also add: (2 Peter 1:5-8)

Virtue- Moral Excellence    Knowledge- knowing god better

Temperance- self control   Patience- Patient endurance

Brotherly love-Love for other Christians

Charity – Genuine love for everyone.

Godliness- An attitude and style of life that acknowledge god’s claim on human life and seek to live in accordance with God’s  will.  

      The more that we add these things we will be productive and useful. Faith in god will start the ball rolling and our effort to add these things in our own life. We are save so that we can grow to resemble to be like him. God wants to produce his character in us. But to do this he demands our discipline and effort.

Subtraction:

     The second operation is arithmetic is known as subtraction. I can suggest two things we must learn to subtract.

1. Worry- Luke 12:22-34; Mtt. 6:25-34

       Here are seven reasons not to worry.

v. 25 The God who created us can be trusted with the details of our 

       lives.

v. 26- Worrying about the future hampers our effort for today.

v. 27- Worrying is more harmful than helpful.

v. 28-30 God does not ignore those who depend on him.

v. 31-32  Worry shows a lack o0ffaith in and understanding of God.

v. 33- Worry keeps us from real challenges God wants us to pursue.

34. Living one day at time keeps us from being consume with worry.

2. Hurry- Ps. 37:7 Be still in the presence of God.

           Ps. 46:10- Be still and know that I am God.

           Ps. 40:1  “I waited patiently for the Lord and he heard my cry.

           Isa. 40:31 “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their 

                   strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they 

                   shall ran and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Multiplication: (Mtt. 18:21-22)

     The third technique of manipulating numbers is designated as multiplication. Do you remember when Jesus use the multiplication table? Peter asked a pertinent question: “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Christ answered the question by setting forth a multiplication situation: “seventy times seven”. (Mtt.18:21)

Division:

     We must master the principle of division. This technique is perhaps the most difficult of the  ordinary operations of arithmetic. It is also one of the hardest ordeals of Christianity demands of us, and yet we should be willing to divide peace and happiness. These blessed states of enjoyment elude those who for some reason are unwilling to share.

1. Sharing of properties-Luke 12:13-21.
2. Tithing- Malachi 3:10
3. Offering- 1 Cor. 16:2
4. Sharing- Hebrews 13:15

Figure never lies. Learn to master these elemental principles and you will be able to say PEACE.