A Proverb for Today — Proverbs 18:13

Posted on 18 July, 2011 by Jon Gleason

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him” (Proverbs 18:13).

We could restate this in just two words:  SLOW DOWN!  We always get in a hurry to talk, to answer, to proclaim our great knowledge and wisdom on the matter at hand.

Some of us were talking about interrupting yesterday after our church meeting.  Very simply, this verse says we shouldn’t interrupt.  We think that we know what is being said, and so we answer without hearing. 

If we are more polite, we wait until the other person’s lips stop moving, but we didn’t really listen all the way, and we might well have missed the point.  (It doesn’t matter, because I already know what he was saying, and what I should say in response, right?  I’ll plan how to say it while he blathers on, and he’ll stop in a minute.)  We’re answering before we’ve heard, even if we let the other person exhaust his breath first.  That’s all that’s happening, a little bit of lung exercise.  It’s not communication, because I’ve stopped listening.  We may not be answering before the person finished speaking, but we certainly do answer before we heard.

Or maybe we’re better listeners than that, but we jump to conclusions, and respond based on those conclusions, without asking if we’ve understood properly. We KNOW why she did what she did, and we’re answering the “why” of it.  (“I can do this all the time, because I know so much about everyone and their motivations.  I’m really, really smart that way.  Aren’t you?  I don’t need to ask why someone did what they did, I can just answer it!”)   We’re answering a matter before we’ve heard it, showing what fools we are.  We think we’re so wise about people’s motivations, and we’re just wrong.

We don’t check to make sure we’ve got all the facts before we pronounce our great wisdom on a  matter.  It is folly and shame to us when we do.

We hear what someone has said, but don’t consider the possibility that they might not have communicated well, and that what they said might not be an accurate reflection of what they are really feeling and thinking.  Instead of making sure we really understand, we respond, and sometimes in doing so we’ll make fools of ourselves.

Why must we be in such a hurry?  Why must we shame ourselves, revealing our own folly?

The answer, of course, is pride.  What I think is what is important.  My words are what matters.  It’s all about me.

When I find myself answering before I’ve heard, I know my pride has kicked in again.  The preceding verse, perhaps not coincidentally, says, “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty.”  When I let my mouth run too soon, it reminds me of my pride, and that I deserve destruction.

I thank the Lord for another verse I read in this chapter today, verse 10:  “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”  I can run to a merciful God, trusting in Him to forgive me of my pride and folly, trusting in Him to teach me to be humble, and be quiet.  His name is a strong tower for me.  The Proverbs teach us, over and over again, how much we need that refuge from our own sin.

Posted in A Proverb for Today | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The “One Another’s” for Believers

Posted on 16 July, 2011 by Jon Gleason

I passed this out on paper in our church a few years ago, but it’s been a while, so I thought I would put it out here.  It’s a pretty simple concept.  I found all the verses in the New Testament that use the words “one another” to tell us how we, as Christians, are to treat each other.

That makes for a very long post.  I make no apology for that.  One of the benefits of the exercise is to see just how much the Bible has to say about our treatment of each other.

As you read this, I hope you will prayerfully consider how God would have you improve in the way you respond to your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Click here to be challenged!

Posted in Daily Christianity | 2 Comments

Is Inter-faith Dialogue the Answer?

Posted on 16 July, 2011 by Jon Gleason

The Courier had a report about a Leslie drug addict convicted of assaulting a Muslim woman by pulling a burka from her head in the Glenrothes town centre.  The article contained the following intriguing quote from Imam Manzoor Zaman:

What we need in Fife is more inter-faith dialogue to raise awareness of differences between religions and cultures. This will ensure that these kind of rare acts do not harm community relations in Fife.

I wonder what the imam means.  Does he think inter-faith dialogue is going to change the behaviour of drug addicts?  I don’t know how many drug addicts attended earlier inter-faith meetings, but I would be surprised if a significant percentage of the drug users in our town would choose that way to spend an evening.  If the imam thinks that the things said in these meetings are going to have any discernible impact on the behaviour of drug addicts, I really don’t know what to say.

Is he suggesting that Christians don’t understand Muslims well enough, and so might support this man’s thuggish actions?  The Bible condemns law-breaking (I Peter 2:13) and commands us to love our neighbours (Romans 13:8-10).  That is enough for any Christian, for anyone who even pretends to be a Christian, to condemn this attack.  Surely the imam does not think Christians endorse what Mr. Gandy did, does he? 

Mr. Gandy did not do what he did because of Christian faith or Christian teaching.  He made his own decision, for whatever reason, but it has nothing to do with faith.  To suggest inter-faith meetings in such a case is to suggest that “faith” somehow has something to do with what he did.  If the imam is concerned about community relations, perhaps he should consider that slandering the faith of others, by suggesting faith is involved, won’t help relations. 

What Christians Need to Say:  God condemns behaviour like Mr. Gandy’s. 

That’s not inter-faith dialogue, that’s proclaiming God’s truth.

What Christians Need to Hear:  people like Mr. Gandy need to be given the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They need to be told that He can set them free from the slavery of addiction, and they can be rescued from a path that is obviously harmful to them and to others.  Mr. Gandy, and others like him, don’t have to live like this anymore.  There is hope for them. 

I doubt Muslims want an inter-faith dialogue so they can tell Christians to spread the Gospel.

Christians know how we are to behave towards Muslims.  1) We are to love our neighbours as ourselves (Galatians 5:14).  2) We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).  3) We are to do good to all (Galatians 6:10).  4) We are to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone (Matthew 28:18-20), including Muslims.  In an inter-faith meeting, Muslims may agree with the first three things, but they certainly won’t agree with the fourth.  Since it is a clear command of Jesus Christ, there is an impasse. 

In general, we must treat Muslims with respect and kindness, but our faiths at the core are diametrically opposed.  If we are to speak the truth in love, the truth is that the very foundations of our faith are contrary to the teachings of Islam.  Thus, inter-faith dialogue is at best unprofitable, because it will founder on irreconcilable differences, if both parties are honest about their beliefs.  It is at worst dishonest, if it instead minimises the differences. 

In any event, I do not know why Imam Zaman thinks inter-faith meetings will help with the aftermath of the assault.  It makes no sense.  We do not call for inter-faith meetings when vandals damage our church hall.  Muslims have nothing to do with drug and alcohol fueled vandalism against Christian churches, and Christians have nothing to do with a drug and alcohol fueled attack against a Muslim woman in the Glenrothes town centre.

Posted in Thoughts on the News | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

A Proverb for Today — Proverbs 16:32

Posted on 16 July, 2011 by Jon Gleason

“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32).

The fruit of the Spirit is self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  Others may vent their feelings, but God wants us to be people who rule our own spirit, who exercise self-control.

In this verse, we’re told that the toughest enemy to defeat is inside us.  You may be strong to refute error, maybe even a good preacher, a faithful witness to the lost.  You may sing, “Onward, Christian soldiers!” and spiritually be able to “take a city”.  If so, praise the Lord!  Yes, praise the Lord, and then go on to the really difficult task of defeating yourself.  If, by God’s grace and the work of His Spirit in your life, you learn to practice self-control and rule your spirit, you have become mightier than the mighty.

Christians tend to talk about the devil as our spiritual enemy.  This verse provides the uncomfortable message that the hardest enemy to defeat is a little closer to home.

The hymn writer said:

My foes are ever near me, around me and within; But Jesus, draw Thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.

I’m thankful that the Lord does shield us, and that this work of self-control is a work of the Spirit.  I could never do it myself.  We’ll trust our God to complete His work in us (Philippians 1:6).

Posted in A Proverb for Today | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Le Tour — The Image of God Made an Appearance

Posted on 15 July, 2011 by Jon Gleason

Check out the video in this report from the Tour de France.  A car driver reportedly ignored instructions from race authorities, and he hit Juan Antonio Flecha and knocked him over into the path of the Dutch rider, Johnny Hoogerland.  The next we see, Hoogerland is turning airborne somersaults into a barbed-wire fence at a speed probably well in excess of 40 km/h. 

From the official Tour website (near the page bottom):

Forgiveness is a wonderful trait. It’s hard to understand how, only moments after weeping on the podium after receiving the polka-dot jersey for his efforts in stage nine, Johnny Hoogerland refused to lay blame on anyone for an accident that sent him flying off the road and into a barbed wire fence… but the Dutchman has a remarkable attitude even when his future in the race is uncertain.

(Hoogerland) “We can still be happy that we’re alive. It’s horrible. I can blame everyone but I don’t think anyone does this sort of thing on purpose. I think the people in the car will have a very big guilty feeling and they will surely apologize to me and Flecha.

“Juan Antonio came to me and he apologized.

“It should not happen but it’s always possible that this sort of thing happens.

“Nobody can be blamed for this. It’s a horrible accident and I was in it. But I said to Flecha, ‘We’re still alive and Wouter Weylandt died in a crash.'”

Riders train for years for the chance to win a stage of the Tour de France. The pack had been left behind, and Johnny Hoogerland was one of five in with a shout. With his dream in sight, someone’s wrong actions stole his chance.  He responded, not with anger or bitter accusations towards the driver whose carelessness could have killed him, but by saying that it was just an accident and that he was thankful it wasn’t worse.

Is Johnny Hoogerland a Christian?  I can’t find any indication he is, but in his response we see evidence of the image (or likeness) of God.  The Bible says we were made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27; James 3:9), made to be like Him.  This is true of every person on the face of the earth.  Those who are not believers will do things that are good and right.  Christians do not have a monopoly on the image of God.

Of course, man goes his own way, and the image of God is often obscured by our sin.  It may be present in all of us, but too often we have made such a mess of ourselves that God’s image is hardly recognisable.  Ephesians 4:23 says we need to be “renewed in the spirit of your mind,” and the next verse says, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”  “After God” — we are to be patterned after God, to be like Him.  Colossians 3:10 says almost the same thing. 

The goal in renewing our minds, in being transformed, is to restore the image of God.  Renewal is the process of moving towards what we are supposed to be, and a vital part of what we are supposed to be is that God’s goodness is seen in our lives.

We don’t have to know anything about Johnny Hoogerland, good or bad, believing or unbelieving, to recognise what happened a few days ago:  the image of God showed up.  It shows up when neighbours help each other out; when someone holds a door open for someone else, or gives a stranger a friendly smile, or tells the truth even if it costs something; when drivers considerately take turns merging in traffic; when someone picks up a piece of litter that they didn’t drop.  It is all around us, if we would only look for it. 

WHEN WE SEE THE IMAGE OF GOD IN OTHERS….

We should be grateful.  We can so easily focus on the sin and problems that have marred this world, but think what a place it would be without the image of God in people.  We would do far better, rather than looking for the faults of others, to look for the image of God in them and give thanks for it when we see it.  God is good, and it can be seen everywhere if we choose to look for it.

We should give the glory to God.  Johnny Hoogerland may have earned a podium spot that day in Le Tour with his mountain climbing exploits, but there is no reason to put him on a moral pedestal.  He has undoubtedly done many things wrong.  As with all of us, whatever good is in him comes because of the good way in which God made him.  His response in this particular case is commendable, but ultimately God is the source of all good (James 1:17).

We should also be challenged.  The image of God should be visible in believers, especially.  If the image of God is seen in Johnny Hoogerland’s refusal to cast bitter accusations at those who wronged him, that should challenge us to check our response to wrongs done.  How much of God’s image can be seen in us at such times?

Posted in Thoughts on the News | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Proverb for Today — Proverbs 15:10

Posted on 15 July, 2011 by Jon Gleason

“Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die” (Proverbs 15:10).

The sense of the first half of this verse is that those who do wrong, who “forsake the way”, are going to receive “grievous correction.”  The warning here is that if we disobey the Lord, He will not just let us continue down that path with no response.

Hebrews 12 tells us that the Lord chastens (disciplines) His beloved children.  That discipline seems “grievous” or unpleasant to us, but we’re told to recognise it as an act of His love.  As a  loving earthly father uses discipline to protect children from self-destructive behaviour, so our loving Heavenly Father uses discipline when we “forsake the way”.

Years ago, our family took a tour of one of the caverns in the Great Smoky Mountains.  We were enjoying the stalactites and stalagmites, all the interesting rock formations and varied colours, when one of our small children “forsook the way” and began to fall into a deep crevice.  A disaster was averted, but loving parents learned from their mistake and restricted that child’s freedom of movement for the rest of the tour.  Those restrictions may have been “grievous” to the child, but forsaking the way is far more grievous.

If we forsake the way, we can expect correction, and the correction may be unpleasant.  It isn’t because God delights in “zapping” us when we do wrong, but because He doesn’t want us to fall into the deep shafts in the cavern.

There is a second warning in this verse, building on the first.  If we hate reproof or correction, we will die.  The sense of “hate” in this verse is to oppose or reject, to treat as an enemy.  If we refuse to accept correction, we treat correction as our enemy, whether we have the feelings that we normally associate with hatred or not.  The result of such a refusal is death.

A drowning person may resist the lifeguard who has come to rescue him from the water.  If he succeeds in his resistance, he will die.  We need to recognize that the Lord’s correction is like that lifeguard.  We must not be so blinded by the deep water into which we get ourselves that we fail to recognise help when it is at hand.

Thus, we have a double warning:

  • If you forsake the way (do wrong), you should expect unpleasant correction.  You are heading for the crevice, and God is correcting your direction. 
  • If you resist that correction, you are trying to drown yourself.

What should we take from this verse?  1) Don’t sin, because the correction may be “grievous”.  2) When we do sin and correction comes, accept it as the loving hand of God, and let Him carry you out of the deep water in which you are sinking.

Posted in A Proverb for Today | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A Proverb for Today — Proverbs 14:9

Posted on 14 July, 2011 by Jon Gleason

“Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour” (Proverbs 14:9).

The Hebrew wording in this verse is somewhat difficult.  The word translated “sin” often refers to a sin-offering.  In Leviticus 5:6 it is the trespass offering someone brings, while in the next verse it is the trespass a person has committed.  The translators used the context to determine the translation, but in this verse, either translation would have fit well.

Some commentators see this verse as saying that fools mock offering for sin, while others see it as saying that fools mock sin itself.  From a practical perspective, it is the same thing.

If someone treats sin as a joke, they are also treating the death of Christ on the cross for that sin as a joke.  If sin is no big deal, if it is just something to be treated as funny or entertainment, then they are really mocking the sacrifice that was made on our behalf to pay the penalty for our sin.  If you mock the sacrifice of Christ, you are also mocking the sin itself.  The exact Hebrew may be difficult, but it makes no difference to the real message of our proverb.  Neither sin nor its sacrifice are to be mocked.

God made us with a sense of humour, but we need to use it rightly.  When we join in with others in mocking sin, we mock our Saviour.  “Among the righteous there is favour.”  The contrast is clear — mocking sin and the Saviour is foolish and not righteous behaviour, and when friends, neighbours, or entertainers do this, we need to opt out.

Posted in A Proverb for Today | Tagged , , | Leave a comment