To Be or Not to Be, that is the Question: The Three Bees, Part One.

There are several applications of The Three Bees concept. For instance, there is a series of educational toddler books by Khaleda Darwicha called ‘The Three Bees’. School teachers will put up brightly colored posters or charts with Three Bees on them to help teach acceptable behaviors to their young students. One list of Three Bees that I found was- Be Safe, Be Kind and Be Careful (With our things). Another list had- Be Ready, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. The use of some cute pictures of happy little bees helps remind and encourages the children. Well, the Apostle Paul also established his own list of Three Bees, (as it were) in 1Corinthians 15:58. Following a long discussion about aspects of the resurrection, he concludes with this statement, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing that in the LORD your labor is not in vain.” Though the word ‘BE’ is not used three times, the idea is there. It is an encouragement to live life with these three acceptable behaviors. The first in the list is, “Be Steadfast.” Once again, ‘BE’, is a second person plural imperative meaning “All of You Must Be!” Steadfast, comes from a word which means ‘a seat’, or ‘a base’ properly, to sit (solidly based, well-seated). In Psalm 1, David speaks of those who are blessed because they DO NOT SIT in the seat of scoffers. This implies that one can only be blessed if they have not established themselves, immovably enthroned along with all others who scoff at GOD’s WILL. Paul reminds us that there will be a resurrection of the truly faithful with immortal bodies to live in GOD’s forever. Therefore, if Christians understand the truth of that message, believes in that message, and have their hope established in that message, why wouldn’t we strive to be ‘Well-Seated, and Solidly Based’ in our behaviors that are acceptable to GOD as mimics of CHRIST. So, check your wings, put on a face, full of joy, busily fellowship with the hive, and live a life of a Steadfast Bee!

Russell Ashby