Keeper And Shade

Everyone needs a Keeper and a Shade at some point in time or the other. The Keeper to protect, guard and watch out for you in order to ensure your welfare. The Keeper ensures your welfare by giving you fish. This is the reason why the responsibility of authority is vested upon the Keeper. This is the category of kings, rulers, bosses and leaders.
The Shade guides and teaches you how to fish for yourself in order to ensure your welbeing. Shade refers to virtue and an empowerment given to you by God for you to be fulfilled in life. This is where education comes in as an important factor for the well-being of an individual.

It is when the purpose of a thing is known that the right use of its essence can be enacted and appreciated.
On the social levels, when the purpose of a keeper is not known, the abnormal use (abuse) of its authority results in the making of a bully, dictator or sociopath. When the purpose of a teacher is not known, the resultant is a rebel or serial terrorist.

It is the responsibility of shades, mothers and teachers to raise their children to be keepers not bullies; To inculcate virtues and not vices. 
For the clue on how to raise a keeper, king or leader, i would like to refer us to Proverbs 31: 1 -10. (The Message and Kings James version).

The words of King Lemuel, the strong advice his mother gave him.

"Oh son of mine, what can you be thinking of!

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine;
nor for princes strong drink:
Lest they drink and forget the law,
and pervert the judgement of any of the afflicted.

Leaders cannot afford to make fools of themselves,
gulping wine and swilling beer,
Lest, hung over, they don't know right from wrong,
and the people who depend on them hurt.
Use wine and beer only as sedatives, . . . . . . . . .

Speak up for the people who have no voice,
for the rights of all the down-and-outers.
Speak for justice!
Stand up for the poor and needy."

For the clue on how to raise shades, teachers, managers and business people, Proverbs 31:11-31 gives us pointers to that effect. We find out that the price of empowering people to fish for themselves is far above rubies and a desirable goal. A compromise in the welfare of a society affects the well-being of its citizen and vice versa. There has to be a healthy balance between being given fish and learning to fish. This is a challenge for every facet of the social strata including the government, NGOs, families, schools, politics, capitalism, corporate entities and the rising need for organizations to pay attenion to CSR - corporate social responsibility.

Haven talked about the social aspect of keeping and shading, lets look at it from an individualistic standpoint. Who keeps and shades you?
Yes, you have all these fantastic responsibilities to either be a keeper perhaps as a father in the home or as a leader in your community but is the Lord your keeper?
Perhaps you provide succor as a mother or teacher in your home and community but is the Lord your Shade upon your right hand?"

Colossians 2:10 (King James and The Message versions) makes us understand that we are complete in Him, which is the head of all principalities and power. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without Him. When you come to Him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

The Lord is my Keeper; The Lord is my Shade: Psalm 121:5, Therefore the supplies for my welfare and well-being are guaranteed sufficiently. Praise God!

In conclusion, rather than seeking for what you would eat, drink, wear, where you would live and the other aspects of welfare, seek to make the Lord your keeper. When you make the Lord your Shade, the virtue and power that guarantees your well-being are supplied.

Make the Lord your Keeper and Shade today!