Monthly Archives: December 2014

What?????????

Proverbs 18:13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.

I spent about five years in the car business just out of high school, and in sales we were taught to control the conversation. If a customer was going down a road you didn’t want to go down, interrupt and take it where you wanted it to go. You could also sometimes build rapport with the customer if you knew what you thought they were talking about, or going to say. Let’s just say I believe the success rate was in the lower percentile. It was simply rude and a manipulative sales technique that haunted me for many years. Being a poor listener and interrupting continued well past the car-biz. Thankfully as a part of sanctification the Lord is teaching me to shut up and listen more.

The Message translation of this scripture simplifies it even more; 13 Answering before listening is both stupid and rude. So many times we think we know what people are going to say, so we finish their sentences, or maybe even answer before they even ask. If we were not so consumed with ourselves we would see the disgust in their facial expressions at our rudeness. We are saying to them, what we have to say is more important. Solomon also wrote about the prideful sinner who wouldn’t listen; Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. (NIV) There are countless errors in life, that have led us astray in life, simply from not listening to advice, or someone who God had placed before us. God may have placed his servant before us for exactly what we needed to hear, but we interrupted them, and never heard the word from God.

This is even a trait that I believe is rooted in our sin-state from birth, rooted deep in sin and pride that came from the fall of man. I believe pride is the root of all sin, traceable from when Satan was cast from heaven for wanting to be like God. We see it in our children as they grow up; constantly reminding them to be not interrupt, or to shut-up and listen for lack of a better word. This is a character-trait that God will work on for you if you will pursue him like Solomon did. God granted Solomon to be the wisest man who ever lived. Don’t you think it is good advice to shut up and listen to the Holy Spirit inspired words that he wrote?

OH no! They’re back early!

Luke 12:48b For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

There is so much context in this final part of a passage where Christ was speaking to his disciples in a couple parables about responsibilities. He had used the context of those that were left in charge, those that responsibility had been placed on there shoulders when the master was away. Did it become a time of “mice will play while the cats away?” I think back of my testimony like many of yours in our youth, when we had a party when our parents were gone. Jesus is speaking of our preparedness for their return. Peter had asked Jesus about the parable, and Jesus had spoke of the punishment that came to those who had forsaken their responsibilities left them.

This second part of verse 48 can also stand alone out of the context of the passage; it reads clearly of the responsibility we have laid on us in any situation in life, or even more directly our responsibility as a Christian. Do you claim Christ and then return to sin? Do you claim Christ and then never pray or read your Bible? Do you not seek to become a disciple and live for him as He commanded us with his parting words as he ascended into heaven? Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Living your life for Jesus, sharing Jesus with those you meet, the pursuit of righteousness is not an option as a Christian; all of these are responsibilities as a Christian.

There is always that dread when you are failing in your responsibility that the one who gave you will return before you can right your ways. Do you know that is where this answer above came from? Luke 12:40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Begin to live your life for Jesus today as if he might return today. Can you imagine how great it would be if his return found you deeply in kingdom work? Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. Don’t think about how bad it would be for him to find you failing in your responsibility as a Christian; think about what you can do today to prepare for his return. Our goal in our lives as a Christian is found in another simple statement; Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’