A Boost for not Boasting!!!
Probably you have heard this story before but here it goes again...a tale involving a frog prone to self-boasting and his two crane friends who planned to “live happily together ever after” inhabiting as they were an pond overflowing with rich flora and fauna but that was sadly not to be (sic). In due course, on account of a severe drought the pond was on the verge of drying up leaving the three friends with no option other than of migrating to a different place. But there popped up a problem. While, it would be easy for the feathery duo to happily flyaway to “greener pastures”, so to speak, it would be improbable for their hopper friend to cover miles to reach the same “safer zone”. Now as the inseparable friends pooled their minds together on reaching yet another pool of water safely together, hey presto...the one of the webbed feet weaved together a brainy plan. While the cranes would carry a stick in their beaks whilst flying Mr. Brilliant would latch onto the stick with his “big” mouth.
So on the appointed day, the trio took off and all was going well till they flew past a nearby drought-hit village. The people on seeing this strange sight wondered aloud as to who was the “Mastermind” behind this Masterly “Great Escape” plan and no prizes for guessing...mindlessly the “high-flying” boastful hero opened his mouth to become... to put it mildly...a big zero thereafter.
Even as we smile at this story, doesn’t honesty compel us to admit that we too are prone to blowing our own trumpets at times? In this message Yours Truly endeavours to give a boost as it were for not boasting unnecessarily by bringing out the Biblical mandate on what we need to need to boast about (through some Biblical illustrations) and what we need to be silently thankful to the Lord for, as He alone is the source behind every spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3). Now consider this Scripture...
Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”- Jeremiah 9:23-24
Firstly, let’s see what we ought not to boast about...and then towards the end what we need to be trumpeting about. As ever, the best wine in the spiritual realm always is reserved for the last (John 2:10 TLB)!!!
Prudence...
Welcome to Mr.Judas of the OT times (Psalm 55:12-14). If Judas betrayed the Son of David in NT times, who then was his predecessor who betrayed the original David in the OT Dispensation. Meet Mr. Ahithophel who the infallible Scripture says was so wise that he not only to occupied the highly responsible post of being one of the Counsellor’s of King David (1 Chro 27:33) but would also always speak words brimming with the Lord’s wisdom (2 Sam 16:23).
If the good Lord can raise and depose Kings depending upon their humble submission to Him (Dan 5:17-28) then by the same token it follows that the good Lord can use a person’s wisdom to further his career’s ambitions or even frustrate them depending upon the concerned individual’s humble relationship with Him.
What happened to Ahithopel’s famed wisdom, when it was used wrongfully in trying to settle scores with the Anointed One-King David- peeved as he was with the latter’s lamentable affair with his granddaughter Bathsheba (2 Sam 11:3/ 2 Sam 23:34)? His wisdom became folly in the eyes of the very one (Absalom) he had joined hands with in rebellion against King David for he was now counselling in flagrant violation (2 Sam 17:14) of the Lord’s will. I reiterate going against the anointed ones’ even if they are in the wrong would invite the Lord’s wrath. We need to let Almighty handle the matter for He is able to punish them justly- 1 Sam 24:6/ 1 Sam 26:9-11/ Romans 12:19. The end result of Ahithophel’s betrayal of King David by switching sides??? Very much like Judas, frustration led to suicide-there too we see a distinct similarity- by hanging (2 Sam 17:23)!!!
Beware folks...wisdom minus the right relationship with the Giver of it can lead to one’s doom.
Power...
Of Samson, it has been said jocularly and truthfully that he is “the Biblical He-Man with the distinct She-weakness” (Judges 16:1). As long as the God-given might was used in line with the Lord’s will of delivering his people from the cruel Philistine subjugation (Judges 13:5), everything went on well, what with the Biblical Mr. Universe coming up with some heroic feats which would make a Hollywood stuntman like Schwarzenegger proud (Judges 14:6/ Judges 15:15). However, once he started courting the unbelieving Delilah in transgression of the Lord’s will (do not yoke yourselves with the unbelievers-2 Cor 6:14/ Judges 16:1-22), he ended up courting trouble-a big one at that. Consequently with the presence of the Lord departing from him his enemies would ruthlessly bind and blind him. It is another matter that he eventually triumphed in death finally realizing at the end that he was a zero by himself but could be a hero only by the Lord’s empowerment. Still his life carries a ring of “if only...” normally associated with tragedies.
Dear Mr. Active of the Church instead of boasting about your strength and stamina be humbly thankful to the One who has given them to you lest He expose your own weakness to yourself.
Prosperity...
Was it not curtains that very night for the complacent rich guy who priding in his riches envisaged an oh-so-bright future for himself (Luke 12:13-21) caring a hoot for the One above all. His end was not very dissimilar to that of a starry-eyed John Logie Baird (the inventor of Color TV) who died the very night before the first colour transmission in Television history was to go on air. Sadly the very first colour transmission turned out to be the one which featured his funeral.
Says wise King Solomon the journey taking one from prosperity to poverty can be quite fast (ask the existing clan members of erstwhile Nizam of Hyderabad- Pro 23:4-5) as such we need not put our anchor where our riches lie but rather in our relationship with the good Lord...which brings me to the subject...on what we really need to boast about whether we are worldly wise, strong or rich...or lacking in them all in the eyes of the near-sighted World.
Progeny...
If there is one thing, we need to trumpet about as Christians’ in this World, it is in the fact that we are God’s children in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:26). We enter into that intimate relationship with the Almighty even as we “know” Him and the Saviour (John 17:3) at the point of spiritual regeneration. The Hebrew word “Yada” and it’s Greek equivalent “Ginosko” depicting most intimate of relationships is used in Jeremiah 9:24 (both in Original Torah and the Septuagint) which has comprised the cornerstone Scripture portion of our meditations so far. The same Greek word “Ginosko” is employed in the context of John 17:3 also.
A disclaimer here please...while it is indeed orderly to "boast" about our "Sonship"....we need to remember that barring our faith nothing else such as physical efforts or good deeds mattered to bring our "relationship with the Almighty" to life, for the Son of the Almighty had completed what all was needed on the Cross (John 19:30). To us belonged taking the "step of Child-like faith" to accept what was graciously on offer...so no self boasting please about "efforts" to procure that ethereal "Father-Child" relationship (read Salvation- Romans 10:8-11/ Eph 2:8-9).
In conclusion, let me reiterate that there is no replacement for our relationship with our Creator, Redeemer and Teacher (Trinity) for if we have that relationship, we have EVERYTHING else, Period. Pal, it would serve you well not to blow your own trumpet but certainly it would serve some eternal purposes, if thou choseth to trumpet about the goodness of your Maker who richly gives you everything you need (Isaiah 63:7/ 1 Tim 6:17).
By the way when we have anchored our hopes on THE WAY (John 14:6) ...another bonus (social respect) comes our way amongst people who are not averse to the Way (Hey, Christian faith is also referred to as the Way in Acts 9:2/ Acts 19:9,23 etc- KJV)!!! Heard of this saying? “The strong are feared, the rich are respected, the intelligent are admired but it is only the Godly who are trusted”. How true!!! Hallelujah!!!
Yours in His service,
Suresh Manoharan
An Unworthy Servant
Ps...this same message replete with pics is also available at the following URL...
http://www.jandsmministries.com/message_oct1_16.asp
