Reading for
Today: Proverb Chapter 26
Gold Nugget
Verse 12: “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope
for a fool than for him.”
Commentary
I’ve watched several
episodes of a television series with the title, “Intervention”. The show is a
documentary that follows an addict of drugs or alcohol. The user is aware of
the cameras, but is told that it is just a documentary about the life of an
addict. They do not reveal that the real intent of the show is to have a
climactic end with an intervention from family and friends. Being a Christian
and someone who takes the rescuing of someone’s life and soul seriously, I take
a real interest in observing how people react to others that try to intervene.
My heart breaks for the families and individuals who are suffering from the
effects that sin has over the user. The description of sin and it’s power over
a non-believer is illustrated explicitly through these situations. I say that
because of how important it is that we know and understand that the bible
clearly describes the work of the cross and the power of the blood and
sacrifice of Jesus as sufficient to not only forgive us of sin, but set us free
from its power over us. I will proclaim with that last statement, that as with
anything in our lives, there are growing “processes” and that although we may
be struggling with something, we can by faith believe that we ARE free from sin
and WILL grow in that freedom. As the television show reaches that moment of
intervention, it breaks my heart to see so many episodes where the person
listens to the family’s plea and watches the children’s tears and refuses to
turn from their addictions. Often even those that may “accept” the help while the
cameras are rolling revert quickly after. When I watch those families plead
with their loved one who is in bondage to the addiction, I can’t for the life
of me imagine my kids pleading with me to stop using drugs and me just refusing
them. The reality is the effects of drugs will change your standards,
conscience and sensitivity towards your pain and others. Although, drug and
alcohol addictions demonstrate this with a magnifying glass, this is the effect
that sin in general has in our lives. Whether it is the family member that
forsakes sobriety, the spouse that abandons loyalty, the teen that rebels or
the parent that's a workaholic - not having a Christian foundation and principle
will all have the same end result. Don’t let the fact that they may be on a
different scale excuse any of us from acknowledging sin in our lives and making
the necessary changes. If we don’t, we are as foolish as the man in today’s
“gold nugget” that sees everything with His own perspective without regard for
others. “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for
him.”
Prayer
Lord, help us to be mindful of the power the sacrifice you made on the cross is in or lives. Help us to avoid being "wise in our own eyes", but allow a true reflection of who we are to provoke change. Amen
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