In recent days, multiple parts of the globe have experienced searing temperatures and devastating fires. Currently, deadly fires have claimed lives, destroyed homes and scorched thousands of acres in California, western Canada, Greece, Sweden, the Netherlands and Britain, and heat is even searing Finnish Lapland above the Arctic Circle.

Contrary to popular belief, the AIDS crisis is still with us. The media seems “comfortable” with the epidemic and thus has paid it little attention over the last decade. In 2016, the most recent year with complete global AIDS statistics, nearly 37 million people were living with AIDS and nearly two million new cases were contracted each year (AIDS.gov).

When I was young, “He who…” jokes were popular. For example: "He who runs in front of a car gets tired; he who runs behind a car gets exhausted." Or this one: "He who leaps over a cliff jumps to a conclusion."

As a child, I found these amusing, though not particularly wise. 

I later learned that the Bible has many truly wise sayings, and by studying the scriptures about “He who” we can become wiser. Let’s look at a few examples.

Cupidity is acquisitiveness, avarice, covetousness, or simply greed. We need money to buy necessities, but the question is, “Just how much money is enough?”

We need food, clothing, and shelter to sustain life. There are other “necessities” in this modern age: transportation, communication, education, health care, etc. We also have wants that enhance our well-being. We can enjoy material things in a balanced way.

The year 1963 is remembered for significant events that occurred in the United States and in Southeast Asia. The world was aroused by the Pulitzer Prize-winning photo of a Buddhist monk setting himself ablaze in Saigon to protest the government oppression of Buddhists. The rest of the year would be no less grim.