Emphasis Preaching Journal

Verse one states that we should be faithful, not to serve God, but that we may live and have a population increase. A well-known Old Testament theologian some years ago said that if we did not have faith, the land would cease to be fertile. Living as I do in the Midwest, I can assure him that there are many people -- and corporations owned by us and foreigners -- who have no regard for God and yet they are prospering. If you mean by having faith persons who are stewards who care for the land, I would agree with you. This is a serious matter. In the area reaching about 100 miles south of St. Louis running along the Mississippi River, each acre loses 24-30 tons of topsoil per year. An estimated 160 million tons of topsoil a year is forever washed away in Missouri. The director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources stated, "The best soils in the world are in the Missouri and Mississippi Valleys. But in Missouri, half of the soil -- half -- has been lost in the last 60 years." Missouri loses an average of 160 million tons each year, an average of 12 tons of topsoil yearly is lost for each tilled acre. Only Tennessee loses more soil.

I want to hear of those who remained faithful even though their crops did not increase nor did their longevity. Susanna's family were Christian convents. She had consecrated herself to Jesus and vowed never to marry. The Roman emperor Diocletian chose her to become the bride of his son-in-law. She refused and was executed on August 11, 290. A church, St. Susanna's, was established on the site of her house where she was executed, and it is one of the most important churches in Rome.
-- Richardson