'BEE' THERE

See the bee? (It's on the bottom of
the second blossom clump down)

Oh, the sayings we borrow from the apiarian (bee) world: “busy as a bee,” “buzz-word,” “bee's knees.” “don't worry, bee happy,” “as cute as can bee,” and more. If you're really into this “bee” thing, visit this site: Bee Mottos and Slogans, Quotes and Sayings - Bee Real Honey

But a recent day, working near blueberry bushes where bees were crawling in the plants' blooms, I mused, “Thanks for BEE-ing there, little winged friends.” I knew their hovering over the bushes' tiny white blossoms could mean a crisp, tasty blueberry in a few months. Last year I didn't have many blossoms (and nearly zero berries) so I stirred some concoctions into the soil....and waited. This year the bee battalion came. Check with me the end of the summer to see if these black-and-yellow hovering insects did their magic.

I know I'm not the first human to stop and consider the bee. And probably not the first to pause a moment whenever I encounter “bee” or “honey/nectar” references in the Bible. These amazing insects and their golden, edible product have been around a long time! Probably the best known ”honey verse” comes in the conclusion of Psalm 19:7-10—that all the laws and ways of God are “more precious than gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.” Others:

“How sweet are your promises to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)

“Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul.” (Proverbs 24:13-14)

Love-sick King Solomon had a different analogy for his beloved: “Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, my bride; milk and honey are under your tongue” (Song of Songs 4:11). I don't think he was referring to the menu for the wedding reception! Or a flavored lipstick.

Oh yes, strong man Samson also ate honey from a hive he found in a lion's corpse (Judges 14). I'm sorry, but, UGH!

A negative analogy: “The lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as gall....” (Proverbs 5:3-4). In other words, “bee” careful (sorry). Flattery that seems sweet can be bitter if it comes from a cloyed heart.

Could Jesus have Jesus enjoyed some raw honey while on His earthly rounds? Why not? No doubt He saw bees swarming around a hive. Though it's not in His recorded words, those bees certainly illustrated one of His final admonitions. Through a parable of a departing landowner giving instructions to his workers, the Lord gave this poignant command: “Occupy until I come” (Luke 19:13). “Occupy”--be at diligent work. Dare I say, like bees?

DO IT!

Diligence. That word came to mind when I saw this iron sculpture of spear-fishing in a park near the Columbia River in Washington. In days of long-ago, those who didn’t fish, didn’t eat. Fish was an important part of their diets! Actually, the apostle Paul said that, too: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thess. 3:10). There’s both truth and common misinterpretation in that quote.

First, the “way off” stuff. Paul was writing a church that could hardly wait for Jesus to come back and start the new world order.  Some were so sure He was coming soon that they had quit their jobs or suspended their businesses to just “wait.”  They’d become “busybodies” with not enough Christ-worthy things to occupy their time and energy. They’d become a burden to the church, which felt it needed to support them—at least to feed them. 
Their inactivity was depleting the church resources, to no good. So Paul wrote, “Keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us” (2 Thess. 3:6). In other words, quit mooching.

He held himself, Silas and Timothy as examples. Even though they were traveling evangelists, when they landed somewhere for a while, they paid for their own food. They found what work they could—Paul likely in tent manufacturing.  They didn’t want to burden the church community with their support. More important, Paul said, “We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat’” (vv. 9-10).

My husband helps deliver donated potatoes to ministries that help the needy. They come from a generous grower about 40 miles away who donates multiple 50-pound sacks of spuds. When my husband pulls his loaded truck up to a ministry office, he’s very thankful when they send out people to help unload. It’s a big job for somebody who’s in his mid-seventies. In some cases, the unloading crew is people who are being helped by that ministry, like a shelter for homeless men. They may not be able to hold a for-wage job yet, but they are working as helpers for the shelter. The shelter’s ultimate goal is to move them out as responsible community members who can support themselves. Work has dignity and purpose.

I find the last chapter of 2 Thessalonians instructional, yet disturbing.  It’s very sad that Paul had to deal with lazy Christians. But it’s a reminder that every day should count for God.  Or, as Jesus expressed it in the Parable of the Ten Minas, don’t slough off in using the abilities God has given you.  “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13 KJV).