The Dash

WHAT DOES THE WORD ‘DASH’ MEAN?

• Race (track and field) a short-distance running race
• Rushing movement – a quick purposeful movement by a person or a group of people in a particular direction
• Small quantity added – a small quantity of something added to something else, e.g. to improve the flavor of food or drink or to enliven speech or writing
• Punctuation mark – (grammar) a short horizontal line (-) used as a punctuation mark, often in place of a comma or colon, or as a sign that a letter or word has been omitted
• (also used negatively — to smash something, ruin something, or to discourage somebody)

A SHORT DISTANCE RUNNING RACE; A QUICK PURPOSEFUL MOVEMENT BY A PERSON OR GROUP OF PEOPLE IN A PARTICULAR DIRECTION – (implies a start and a finish)

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize?  So run to win!  All athletes are disciplined in their training.  They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.  So I run with purpose in every step.  I am not just shadowboxing.  I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.  Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting Him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.  Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.  Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people, then you won’t become weary and give up.

A SMALL QUANTITY OF SOMETHING ADDED TO SOMETHING ELSE (ie. Improve taste)

Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth…”  (salt used for flavor & preservation)

Colossians 4:6 (NIV)
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

TO SMASH OR RUIN SOMETHING – (“dashed to the ground”, “my hopes were dashed”)

Ecclesiastes 12:6-7
Remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken.  Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well.  For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

PUNCTUATION MARK

Ecclesiastes 5:13-20
There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun.  Hoarding riches harms the saver.

(Israelites, manna, and “daily bread”…)

Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. 

(economy, fear, & uncertainty…)

In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children.  We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born.  We can’t take our riches with us.  And this, too, is a very serious problem.  People leave this world no better off than when they came.  All their hard work is for nothing — like working for the wind.  Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud — frustrated, discouraged, and angry. 

(millions are spent on advertising…)

Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good.  It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life.  And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it.  To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life — this is indeed a gift from God.  God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.

(… but…)

Luke 12:15-21
“Beware!  Guard against every kind of greed.  Life is not measured by how much you own. “

(in enjoying the provision and gifts of God, be careful not to neglect the Giver…)

Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.  He said to himself, ‘What should I do?  I don’t have room for all my crops?’  Then he said, ‘I know!  I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones.  Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.  And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come.  Now take it easy!  Eat, drink, and be merry!”‘ 

But God said to him, ‘You fool!  You will die this very night.  Then who will get everything you worked for?’  Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”…

(God wants a relationship with us… what is evangelism but sharing that great news… and what is ministry but demonstrating His love and investing in the lives of other people…)

Luke 9:59-60
He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”  But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”