PEARLS BEFORE SWINE

Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your peals before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you," (Matthew 7:6). Notice that Jesus' statement follows immediately after the condemnation of judging ­evaluating some as "dogs" or "hogs" necessarily requires making a judgment about character and heart! Some kinds of judgment are entirely necessary. But there can be no reference to the poor, oppressed, burdened, or despised in this statement.

"Give" and "cast" are consistent with re­spective figures of dogs and hogs. Dogs cannot tell differences in meats. If the Jews had taken a part of the sacrifice that was holy and given it to a dog, he would have had no appreciation for its holiness - give a piece of meat to an old hound dog and he swallows it with one gulp without any discrimination about sacred­ness. Furthermore, it is incongruous to cast pearls before swine. They cannot dif­ferentiate value or appreciate beauty. Ex­quisite white pearls would simply be trampled into the filth of the sty while the pigs look for what satisfies their bellies. Then, being disappointed because the physical appetite was not fulfilled, they would turn against the one who offered something of far greater value than food ­there is danger in giving people what is holy, when they only want the sensual.

Jesus' charge to disciples simply means that we should not waste the precious words of Christ on those who are unfit and unworthy of priceless treasures - not only are they unappreciative of eternal valuables, you will suffer the conse­quences of their resentment.

Evaluating a person as a "dog" or a "hog" can be an excuse for our indifference to necessary instruction. We should never look down on others as though we are so much better. It is only after great patience has been exercised and a hardened heart evidenced that we should conclude a per­son to be unworthy of our efforts (cf. Acts 13:46 ). And, we should always re­member that our judgments are not al­ways God's.

However, we do need to be discriminat­ing in our teaching. Time is a valuable commodity. Some make it evident that they are not about holy things. They are bored by its presentation. Lovers of sin resent the reproving of their behavior. While it is true that we should exercise the greatest degree of patience in dealing with the weak and ignorant, when the weak prefer weakness and will not apply their minds to acquire critical knowledge, a time comes for dealing with them more firmly. If they are treating holy things as common, Jesus says, “don’t waste the word on them” – effort would be better spent with souls that are thirsting for the waters of life. “do not reprove a scoffer, lest he you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instructions to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Pro. 9:8-9). – Jim Everett

 

 

 

                                             USELESS FRETTING

“Fret not thyself of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity” (Psa. 37:1). To “fret” is “to be vexed or irritated; agitation of mind” (Webster). The word as used by the Psalmist is a reflexive verb, meaning that the action is performed by one upon oneself – “fret not thyself …” Hence, it is something that may be controlled by the person himself. Aristotle said that man has a special emotion implanted in his nature which causes him to “fret” when he sees undeserved prosperity. If this is true, we should learn to control it, with the determination to not let it control us. 

 

This fretting over the prosperity of others is found in the very best of men and their nature. The Psalmist possessed it, for the said, “I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (73:3). Job possessed it, for we see him freely speaking of it (21:7-15). Jeremiah records such an attitude concerning the wicked (12:1-2). Malalchi criticized his hearers for saying, “and now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered” ( 3:15 ). Such feelings toward the prosperity of the wicked need to be kept in check. 

 

Neither should we be envious “against the workers of iniquity.” This is so because their position is not really enviable at all! To be envious of them may well lead us to be desirous of imitating them (Pro. 24:1). After the warning of Psalms 37:1, the writer then goes on to say that their “enviable position” would not last. They would seen be “cut down like grass, and wither as the green herb.” When you see the wicked and their prosperity in this world, don’t be fretful, for that prosperity is only transitory. Don’t desire to be with them, for they shall not stand! 

 

Let us consider one more verse from Psalms 37 – “trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed” (v. 3). Note the vivid contrasts between this verse and the first two. Don’t be envious (of evildoers), but be trusting (in God). The evil would be cut down, but the good would dwell in the land. The evil shall wither as the green herb, but the good shall be verily fed. These contrasts alone should convince us which way to choose! The righteous have no reason to be envious of the evildoer. He has no cause to fret because he may not have the same things – but he has something better than the material, perishable things that the workers of iniquity are interested in. He ha the promise of being fed by God!” – Bill Moseley

 

 

 

                                         AND ANOTHER THING...  
                                         (Smokescreens)

 The fellow got a letter from an “educated cousin” which said: “Your uncle James, being debilitated, physically and intellectually, by reason of the frailties that attach to the encroachment of senility, and having suffered serious financial reverses, in a moment of temporary dementia, precipitated his own demise.”

Not having the slightest idea what all that meant, he went to the town sage to ask what it all meant. “Wal,” said the old fellow, “I’m not real sure about this here letter, but I think it means your uncle Jim got old, lost his wad, went nuts, and bumped himself off.”

All of which goes to show there are at least two ways to say things. We need to consider this when helping folks understand the scriptures. How do you do it when you explain a Bible passage to them? Do you leave them in addled consternation, wondering what you said? If so, all you have done is throw up a “smokescreen” that says: “I don’t know the answer to your question.”

Seems to me it would be a heap better just to say, “I don’t know the answer to your question – how ‘bout us both looking into the scripture and finding the answer together?” Most folks recognize a smokescreen when they see one! – Bill Moseley