'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?

The buzz on "busy"





A busy bee got my attention one day when I looked out my office window at the blooming rhododendrons.  As he floated from one blossom to another, I thought of a children’s book I’ve been reading my grandson Josiah. It follows a diligent bee who says “no” to farm animals inviting him to play with them. “I’ve got work to do,” he says, buzzing to the next flower. The bee finished his work by the last page when he rewarded the farmer with honey—and the book’s electronic cell rewarded the reader with a happy “buzz.” Toddlers love those surprises in their books!

“I’ve got work to do” often comes out of my mouth. The work ethic modeled for me in childhood continued into my working life as a reporter with its stressful deadlines requiring focus and productivity. I still remember the loud clatter of old-fashioned typewriters in the newsroom, the mechanical version of buzzing bees. Now, juggling housework, writing, and care of others keeps me buzzing from project to project.

 Sometimes I think about how busy the Bible’s Martha felt, especially when Jesus dropped in for a visit. What a privilege to have Him come.  But she didn’t have a microwave to zap Him and His companions a ready-made meal, or an “app” to have one delivered from the pizza parlor. In those days, everything about homemaking was labor-intensive. I “get” her desire to serve a meal worthy of this amazing Person.  But I also understand Jesus’ admonition, “Only one thing is needed,” to mean that a simple meal, not a showcase menu, was okay. Yes, she got a bit snippy toward Mary, who wasn’t helping. But stomachs would have rumbled if they’d both sat at Jesus’ feet.

We need the balance of Martha and Mary in our spiritual personalities. In his book The Attentive Life (IVP, 2008), former Graham team evangelist Leighton Ford explained how some of us lean toward the mundane things of life, and some toward the so-called “spiritual,” but both traits are necessary. As an example, he quoted Mother Teresa, talking of the work of the Sisters of Mercy in caring for the dying poor in India: “Do not think of us as social workers,” she said, alluding to the “Martha” side.  “We are contemplatives in the midst of life. We pray the work” (p. 107).

Like Martha, we need to be diligent about serving God (akin to the bee making honey). James 4:17 says we sin when we know what we ought to do, and don’t do it. But we also need the “Mary” side that savors the spiritual nectar in God’s Word, “sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb” (Psalm 19:10).

To bee, or not to bee

See the bee? It's on the right edge of the pink bloom.

My computer faces a window where, in spring, I’m exceedingly blessed by the sight of rhododendron blooms. Recently, I’ve noticed bumblebees working over the blossoms, truly “busy as a bee” as they feed on nectar and gather pollen for their young. I thought about Jesus’ parable in Luke 19 of servants entrusted with ten minas to invest while the master was away.

“Occupy till I come,” the master ordered them (Luke 19:13 KJV). In other words, be busy workers, making good investments. That parable ends with two good workers showing a return on his money, and one sullen worker admitting he did nothing.

The similar parable of the talents (Matthew 25) tells of workers entrusted with various amounts, according to their abilities. Two doubled their master’s money, but one just hid his in a hole. The master was thrilled with the diligence of the first two workers.  But the third, who did nothing, earned only his master’s scorn and banishment to a terrible place. Bible teachers say that we’re that third servant when we fail to honor our heavenly Master with diligence and service with the resources granted us. As 1 Cor. 4:2 adds, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

I think about that as I go about my “computer” work. I’m grateful for this electronic marvel, which helps me write, bank, locate addresses, and keep in touch with hurting people. I’m amazed at how people around the world connect with this blog, which often relies on information ferreted out of Bible study web sites. But I’m very aware of a computer’s potential for addictive behavior. It easily serves up an artificial world that feeds base desires (as in pornography) or lures people into frittering away God’s precious gift of time.

I don’t want to be the sorry servant who did nothing with the master’s resources. When I stand before God after I die, I want Him to look over my life (including my computer time) and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21, 23). And for now, I’ll thank Him for sending a little busy, buzzing bee to remind me “to occupy” until He comes.