Good evening brethren and happy Sabbath!

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

You've probably heard that phrase a thousand times.  Perhaps you've always wondered which scripture it comes from.  Well, let me save you some time... it's not in the Bible! Knowing it didn't come from the Bible, maybe you're like me and assume your mother invented it.  Well, maybe not invented it, but certainly well versed in using it, especially after she looked in my room.....

Despite a lack of scriptural evidence supporting the phrase, "cleanliness is next to Godliness", I was moved to wash the cars this week.  In large part because my wife washed her van, so I kind of felt guilty about how bad the other vehicles looked.  And while the Bible doesn't say anything about keeping your car clean (although I am a strong proponent of the old adage 'Clean cars run better'), it did remind me of a broader Biblical principle: Take care of what you have.  We all probably heard that one from mom a time or two as well...

Not just the cars

This principle is found throughout the Bible.  Certainly, the parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25 is a strong reminder that God expects us to make good use of the Holy Spirit He grants us, along with knowledge from the Bible itself.  1 Timothy 5:8 (NLT) tells us about taking care of family, "But those who won't care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers."

It applies to our own bodies as well.  Speaking specifically of sexual sin, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, "Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body."

Obviously, they didn't have cars to wash when the Bible was being written, but they did have animals to take care of.  Proverbs 12:10 tells us, "The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel."

(Soon we'll all be...) On the road again!

Besides keeping your car looking nice, now is a good time to make sure it's ready for travel to the Feast!  Whether that's a tune up you do yourself or something you have a mechanic do, it's a good to check the tires, oils, antifreeze, wipers and anything else that comes to mind before heading down the road.  Having car troubles at the Feast is no fun! Ask around and you'll probably find someone who can share a story or two on the subject...

Clean cars do run better.  So do minds, hearts and lives.  Whatever God has provided you with: A car, a house, tools, money, or of course the greatest gift of all - His Holy Spirit, make sure you're doing everything you need to care of it!