The Watchman's Diary

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NKJV).

The airwaves are filled with news of the death of the artist Prince; so much so that the 2016 Presidential campaign seems a distant past at the moment and nothing else going on in the world matters. While my condolences go out to his family and friends, I am shocked at the news…….that he was a man of strong faith who knew the scriptures and often discussed them at length with others and that he memorized much of the bible.

Yes, the artist formerly known for provocative music and extremely sexual innuendos – sometimes unclear as to which of the sexes – was supposedly a closet Jehovah’s Witness.

Forgive me for rolling my eyes. I want to make one thing clear before we go on; I am not judging Prince, it is not my place to judge anyone but I am speaking on what was evident to the public and what was not.

What was evident we his satirical lyrics and image; what was not evident is any spiritual inkling whatsoever and God being glorified in his life. All the glory went to the artist himself and even in his death he is being idolized and glorified in the media and the world.

Christian, does the way you live and the things you do and say give glory to God? Is the justification of Christ Jesus evident in your life? Or are you just well-known and respected in the world? What talents have we been given that we have buried in the ground or have decided to use it for our own glory? Do you have influence in the world around and beside you? Use it for the glory of God. Speak life into the brokenness of others and shine light into the dark world around us.

If Prince was a believer in Jesus and held strong biblical beliefs, he misused his opportunity to sow seeds of faith into the world. He will no doubt receive a king’s burial and leave behind treasures for others but what is he taking with him? “As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came” (Ecclesiastes 5:15) but “godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1Timothy 6:6-7).

One thing is sure, “each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). Let us be good stewards of the riches we have in Christ Jesus. Riches not measured in goods and money but the gifts of the Father and gifts of the Spirit which we have for the effective work of the gospel of Christ in this life.

Will you hear the words “Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be a steward?” or “Well done good and faithful servant”?