A Thought a Day...
Thursday, June 10, 2004
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces." Matthew 7:6
Marcia and I have a puppy... Well, she's almost an adult now... But she still acts like a puppy a lot of the time. She loves to destroy things by chewing on them... Especially if there is paper or cardboard involved. Marcia and I are constantly making sure that nothing of value, shoes, papers, books, etc. are left where she can get a hold of them. Why? Because she will absolutely destroy them.
When I was just a kid, there was a man in our church at Fisher that was killed by the hogs on his farm. I was too young to know all the details. He may have had a heart attack or stroke while in the pen... I just don't know. But I do know they had to have a closed casket. Why would those hogs do that? After all, this was the man who fed them everyday. Who had nurtured their piggishness every moment of their lives. But to the end they retained their pigness as they destroyed the life of the one who gave them care.
As I read this, I can't help but think about its meaning. This follows in the same breath as "Don't judge" and "You'll be judged the same way you judged others". So is Christ saying that I am to withhold from unbelievers? Who are the dogs and the pigs? Surely not the church... Well, unless you've seen a me at a dinner on the grounds... So who is left? Unbelievers? But I am to let our lights shine to them... I am to be salt... Aren't I?
Christ was not always a sweet, nice guy. My brother pointed out this morning in his blog that Christ didn't always do the popular thing. He destroyed a herd of pigs in Decapolis, overturned the table of the moneychangers in the temple. He would call the pharisees of the days snakes in the grass. Is he telling me to be willing to give up on those who do not accept the good news? I think he may be. He does tell me (in previous verses) to judge discriminatingly. He will later tell his disciples when they go into a town, if the town does not respond positively to their message to shake the dust off their feet at them. I think he is saying here, that if people do not respond to Christ, move on!
My niece, Jessica, used to work telephone sales. She was good at it. I don't see how she did it. The rejection rate in this job had to be horrible. But she had the knack of being able to take the rejection, forget about it and move on to the next call. I think that is what Christ is saying here. There are MANY who will not listen. If they won't, forget about it and move on.
Father, I'm not sure I fully understand your intent here. And if I'm wrong in my interpretation, I know you will present a teacher or else there will be more comments on this blog than I've ever had. You were never one to mince words. You were never one to coddle those who rejected you. You never worried about being popular. I don't think you are saying not to care for the lost. You showed persistence in your love to me and your people Israel. But you eventually had your fill. I think you are telling me that I should spend my time building up the body, and sharing your word to those that will listen. You have told me to go out into the neighborhood and invite everyone to a sit-down dinner. But you have also said, many won't come. I think you are telling me to get over it and move on. Now, Father, give me the courage to hand out the invitations.
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Matthew 7:3-5
I once read a book called "The Humor of Christ" by Elton Trueblood. It's pretty dated now, and I wouldn't really recommend it, but this passage was a central premise of the book. It is pretty funny when you first hear it. A guy with a 2x4 sticking out of his eye is offering to help someone with a speck of dust in their eye remove it.
Marcia wears contacts. During the day, she often has to take one of her contacts out and clean it. I can't think of anything that is more irritating than having something in my eye... And I can't imagine anyone really being helpful in trying to remove it. There are times when it's helpful, but most of the time its just an added irritation when someone offers to help. Just like well-meaning friends who want to offer me water when I'm having an asthma attack... Like what are they wanting to do? Drown me? I'm already struggling to take in a breath and they want to add copious amounts of fluid into the mix. I don't think so!
This verse follows on the heels of the "Don't judge" verses. And the point is pretty simple. I've got to clean up my own act before I can help someone else. Otherwise I'm going to be doing more damage than good. But isn't that the way life is? I try to correct someone (spell that criticize / judge) and the reaction is, "Who do you think you are... I'm not as bad as you. Why you.... (fill in the blanks)." It's the old cliche' of when you point at others, there are three fingers pointing back.
So the only real way to help is by showing love, being vulnerable and letting others see my seamy underbelly. By sharing that I can't do anything on my own... In fact I screw up pretty badly at times... But I have a great brother. A brother who loves me so much that He was willing to do anything for me. That brother has taken the speck of dust out of my eye by washing it out with His blood.
Father, it's easy to want to have all the answers. It's a real temptation to want to be helpful and tell everyone else what they have to do to get their act together. The problem is, I don't have my own act under control. I'm on a tight rope without a net. No, that's not right. I do have a safety harness... That is the love you have shown me through my Savior and brother, Jesus Christ. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for helping me clear up my eyesight.
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7: 1,2
Uh-Oh... Here's one of those tough sayings. In fact, in my humble opinion, it is one of the most misunderstood and misused verses in the New Testament. "Don't judge or you too will be judged." What does this mean? Am I to go through life turning a blind eye to everything that is going on around me and not speaking up? Am I to allow everyone to just do their own thing and it's all ok?
I think the key to this verse is found in verse 2: "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." How many times have I looked at someone and thought... Look at that. How ... Whatever! But then found myself doing the same thing! I remember in Psychology 101 learning about projection... Projection is the only movie you take with you wherever you go! It's a defense mechanism that puts on others actions that are our own. It's easy for me to project when it comes to right and wrong. It's easy to condemn because I don't see eye to eye with someone else. And rather than discuss rationally my belief system and attempt to understand the other person, it's much easier to criticize and to judge. The real question is, would I want to be measured by my own standards of judgment?
Marcia and My stepson was recently sentenced to 7 years in prison for violation of parole. During the hearing, the defense team presented all sorts of reasons why he should not go to prison that long. The reality is, he could have gone for much longer. The judge had to look at the law (an absolute) and make a decision based on that law. As a Christian I'm required to look at the law, and the new law given by Christ that says, "A new command I give to you, Love one another". Hmmmm. I have to make judgments of actions all the time... But am I applying that judgment using the law of love? I've got to look at that one a lot more.
Father, You've hit me today where I live. I can be very critical. I can be very pointed in my criticisms of others. I can cut people so low that their ankles bleed. But this verse tells me that judgment using a lop-sided standard is wrong. Let me apply your rule, let me love others as I love myself... And then I'll know that that same standard will be applied to me. Thank you for loving me. Allow me to let that same love reflect off me to those around me today.
Monday, June 07, 2004
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
Out of context sound pretty stoic. It also seems to fly in the face of some of the advice given in the book of Proverbs... Like "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." or the lazy person doesn't prepare for winter, etc. But in the context of the last half of this chapter, it's much more than "Don't worry, be happy" (Said in my best Bobby McFarrin, Jamaican accent).
To me this is telling me that I need to live in the moment. And that is not easy for me to do. I live in a world of schedules, plans and contingencies. I've read that some Master Chess competitors can actually see an entire game in their head before the first move is ever made. Marcia tells me that my mind is always engaged... That I'm always thinking about something. It's not a bad thing... I just try to make every moment count. So how is that in conflict with this verse? My pattern conflicts with this verse because my thinking patterns keep me from taking advantage of opportunities right here and right now.
I made a deal with Marcia that in our marriage I'd handle the big stuff. All she had to do was handle the little stuff. I'd take care of working on things like World Peace, the Terrorist Threat, Balancing the National Budget... Stuff like that. All she had to do was take care of the house, cooking the meals, doing the laundry and paying the bills... You know... The little stuff. While that's an old joke... The reality is that God is telling me he'll take care of the little stuff, if I'll take care of the big stuff... Like creating world peace through sharing the Love that God has for us, Erasing the threat of Terror that Satan holds over us, being responsible for the resources of an entire universe that God has put in our charge.
I love working hard. I like to play hard. But it's not going to do any good if my priorities aren't in alignment with what God has planned for me. I once heard that 80% of the things we worry about never happen anyway. I need to more focused on what's on my plate right now. To be ever vigilant on what is available for me to do for the cause of the Kingdom... And less focused on what's up tomorrow.
Father, thank you for this lesson. I spend way too much time think about the what ifs. Oh, I'll still have to do it, it's a legitimate part of what I do for a living... But I need to chill a bit. To quiet my thinking so I can hear your still voice... And maybe in that still voice, I'll hear what you have planned for me tomorrow. Thank you for taking care of the little things. Make me aware of the big ones.
