Do Not Exceed

# Do Not Overdo It

"There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his harm. Those riches were lost through a bad venture; then he fathered a son but had nothing in his hand. As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand." - Ecclesiastes 5:13-15

Many of us believe that when washing clothes, using more laundry detergent will clean away dirt more thoroughly. But in fact, using more detergent than necessary will not clean your clothes better; it will make them dirtier. Mr. Richardson, author of the bestselling book "Laundry Love," explains that we "only need about two tablespoons of laundry detergent per wash, and your clothes will be clean. There's no need to use more detergent to clean your clothes." Mr. Richardson compares using too much laundry detergent to using too much salt when cooking. He says: "When you cook a dish and the recipe calls for half a teaspoon of salt and you add it, it tastes very good. But if you say, 'I like it saltier,' and you add two tablespoons of salt, the result is that the dish becomes too salty and doesn't taste good at all. So this is how to think about detergent: a little is really good because it does what it's supposed to do. If you add more than that, you're actually ruining it." (1)

There is also a scientific explanation for why using too much detergent can actually make your clothes less clean. Mr. Richardson explains: When dirt and germs get on clothes during washing, they go into the water. They get caught in the compounds in the detergent that help remove dirt and stains from clothes, and then when rinse water flows in, all these compounds wash down the drain. If you use too much detergent, the detergent cannot be rinsed clean, so these compounds actually remain and stick inside your clothes, and the dirt will stick back to your clothes mixed with these compounds. So when you use more detergent than recommended, your clothes will actually still be dirty. (1)

Even good things become harmful when we use them excessively. The same is true for the Christian life. If we do not know how to live with moderation, the day will come when we fall into exhaustion, become immersed in the temporary things of this world, and cannot escape. Living with moderation—having measure, practicing self-control, not exceeding necessary limits—is the key to enjoying the blessings God gives us with contentment. In his letter to Titus, the Apostle Paul instructed Titus to "exhort the older men to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance" (Titus 2:2), and to "likewise urge the young men to be sensible" (Titus 2:6). Indeed, in our daily lives, we need moderation in all things. Here are several areas in which we need to exercise self-control and restraint each day.

First, regarding daily work and livelihood, we must also have measure and not overwork ourselves or store up temporary earthly possessions. God's Word says, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (Exodus 20:8-11)

Second, we must control our speech. "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity" (Proverbs 21:23), and "He who guards his mouth preserves his life; but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin" (Proverbs 13:3).

Third, we must learn to control our anger. If we do not, we will lead to regrettable things, as the ancients said, "Excessive anger causes loss of wisdom." "A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back" (Proverbs 29:11).

Fourth, we must be temperate in eating and drinking. God's Word says, "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap" (Luke 21:34), "Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy" (Romans 13:13), and "It is not good to eat much honey, so seeking one's own honor is not glory" (Proverbs 25:16).

Fifth, we must be moderate in rest and sleep, which can lead to laziness. Sleep is necessary, but sleeping more than usual is not good. As God's Word warns us not to be lazy, we should practice proper moderation in rest so we have time for work and caring for our lives: "How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man." (Proverbs 6:9-11)

We must be careful in all our daily activities and live with moderation. We must "treat your body roughly and make it your slave" (1 Corinthians 9:27), just as the Apostle Paul was strict with his own body, so that his life always glorified God's name. May the Lord teach us to practice moderation, guard our hearts, and control all our actions, thoughts, and behavior, so that we may always live in a way pleasing to God and bring glory to His name! Amen!

Practice moderation, I urge you, With measure and restraint, life becomes better, Each day examine your steps, Do not go to excess and make it a habit, All things in this world are temporary, A place of decay and deterioration... Only Holy God remains eternal, The One who bestows blessings greater than this life!

Repent and transform your heart, Ask for God's strength day by day to help us, Live according to God's Word given to us, Love doing good works, avoid worldly pursuits, Walk beside God without departing, Let the Holy Spirit guide our flourishing lives, Living in a way pleasing to God as He has taught us, Living a life of moderation is truly best!

Topics