Today's post is by guest writer Keith Ward.

We know the word "righteous" means to be just or morally right.  And insofar as translation is concerned, this word accurately represents the meaning of the Greek work originally used in the New Testament.  We understand that we are righteous because God has forgiven us on the basis of our faith and not because we are morally good and deserving.

But, when all that is said and we've read several illustrations of the use of righteous or righteousness in the Bible and out, we are (or at least I am) still a bit unsure how to go about being righteous.  Of course, I can make a list of "dos" and another of "don'ts" but first that seems Pharisaical and then I still feel somewhat empty and lacking.  Righteousness is a character trait, not just an action.

Somewhere, in a commentary long since forgotten, I read that the English "righteous" came from "rightwise" and thus "righteousness" is "rightwiseness."  I just now confirmed this by several dictionaries online.  We know what "clockwise" means even though we sometimes turn the screw the wrong way and loosen when we meant to tighten. "Clockwise" is the way a clock's hands move.  "Rightwise", then, is the way "right" turns.  A person who has set his heart to be "rightwise" may get some things on THE LIST wrong, but when he discovers it he will turn the "rightwise" direction instead of being "counter-rightwise."

A person who turns his heart "counter-rightwise" too far, or especially if he obstinately ignores the loosening that is happening in his morality, will soon have his heart come apart and fall in pieces, coming under Peter's condemnation, "Cannot cease from sin." (2Pet2:14). It is no accident that righteousness is often set in contrast with lawlessness which is "wrongwiseness."

Be sure you are turning your heart "rightwise."  God is more concerned that your heart is set "rightwise" than He is in how many things you get right on THE LIST.
 
“You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.” (Heb 1:9).
For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification. (Rom 6:19).
 
Keith Ward
 

Many, many years ago we rented an old frame house with rollercoaster wooden floors, leaky, drafty, fifteen foot ceilings, and, unfortunately, a bad wiring system.  We did not know about the faulty wiring until one by one our appliances started going out.  One of the last was the television, an ancient, secondhand model.  When its replacement blew the minute we turned it on, and the next, which had worked fine in the store, did the same, things began to fall into place—the electric skillet, the vacuum cleaner, the washing machine, and the electric mixer all had died in the week or two before.  A friend came with a voltmeter and we discovered that we were getting 145 volts in the 110 outlets and 290 in the 220s. 
 
           A call to the electric company brought an inspection.  It wasn’t the old wiring after all; it was the transformer, which meant the electric company was at fault and paid for all the appliances, at depreciated value, of course, but at least we had a little help.  I’ll tell you this, though—never since then have I had a mixer that could whip egg whites in ten seconds flat.

            Sometimes I feel like I need a little extra voltage, don’t you?  Life has its difficult moments, and it seems the older you are and the less strength your body has to deal with it, the more difficulty it must withstand.  But spiritually speaking, that should not be the case.  Age means experience, which means wisdom, which means things are handled better and more easily, right?

            Lucas recently repeated something he had heard from someone somewhere.  “Sometimes the discretion of wisdom is just the result of being too tired to act.”  I identified with the thought immediately.  I wonder how many times I have been complimented for my restraint in handling things when the momentary lag of weariness just gave me enough time to think first, or maybe when it just plain overwhelmed me enough to keep me still and out of trouble.

            I feel sometimes like I need a spark, that extra voltage that made a stiff meringue faster than I ever had before.  We all tend to become complacent, to take for granted the spiritual blessings we have, even salvation.  It usually shows in our anemic zeal and ho-hum worship.

            And we get tired of the fight.  Yet again someone has belittled the Word of God, or taken His name in vain, or simply treated sin as normal and anyone who thinks otherwise as a bigoted fanatic.  After fighting for God for so many years, feeling like we are making no headway at all in a world dominated by sin, we just sit back and let it happen.  What good will it do anyway?

            You never know.  More than once I have spoken out alone, only to suddenly find several others standing next to me—people who were too fearful to speak until they heard someone else.  I have found out, many days after the fact, that when I stood for the truth, or acted like a Christian is supposed to act in the face of mistreatment, that it helped someone else do the same later on.  And many, many more times, I have been the fearful one who was helped simply by seeing a warrior for righteousness take on Satan and his minions single-handedly.

            So take some spiritual vitamins today.  Pray, read the scripture, meditate in your break time, call a brother or sister and revel in their love—that’s why they are there, that’s why God gave us each other.  Put a jolt of extra voltage in your spiritual life and don’t give in to weariness.  You do make a difference for the Lord.
 
You are righteous, O Jehovah, and upright are your judgments.  You have commanded your testimonies in righteousness and very faithfulness.  My zeal has consumed me because my adversaries have forgotten your word.  Your word is very pure, therefore shall your servant love it.  I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.  Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and your law is truth.  Psa. 119:137-142.     
 
Dene Ward

We tend to think that legalism and emotionalism are the only dangers we need to be wary of in our worship to God.  We must be careful that the ritual aspect of our group worship be neither heartless in thought nor perverted by passion.  But in 1 Samuel 4-6, God’s people found yet another way to distort their spiritual worship.
 
           As was so often the case, the Philistines once again troubled them.  They went to battle and promptly lost 4000 soldiers.  What should they do?  Talk to God about it?  No, they said.  Instead, Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh that it may save us, 4:3.  Not that God may save us, but that IT may save us, treating it like some sort of magic charm.

            When the ark was brought into the camp, the people roared with such a shout that it scared the Philistines.  A god has come into the camp, 4:7, they said.  Note that there was little difference in the way these pagans thought about the ark and the way the Israelites did.  During the next battle 30,000 Israelites lost their lives and the Ark of the Covenant was captured.

            The story of how the ark was returned to Israel is an interesting one that would take too much time for this little essay.  Suffice it to say that when it found its way home, the Israelites who greeted it said, Who is able to stand before the Lord, this Holy God? 6:20. At least a few people had learned a lesson.

            Surrounded by paganism on all sides, they had become tainted by its beliefs, many of which were bound up in sorcery and witchcraft.  They equated Jehovah with the idols, and the rituals of His worship with the rituals of the heathens.

            Do you think that cannot happen to us today?  I have lost track of the number of times I have heard a fallen Christian end his litany of faults with the disclaimer, “But I’ve been baptized!”  Somehow that is supposed to keep him safe from the wrath of God, no matter how much he has deliberately provoked that wrath and willingly continues to do so with no intention to change.  Baptism, instead of a union of the believer with the sacrifice of his Lord and the resurrection to a new life, has become to such people a ritual performed to break a curse.  “Pour the ashes of a rat’s tail on a bird’s wing, and hop on one foot three times with your eyes closed,” would have had as much meaning.

            Then there is the matter of the Lord’s Supper.  Rather than a memorial feast we celebrate with the Lord and our spiritual family, it is treated as a magic potion.  “At least I got there in time for the Lord’s Supper,” is uttered with a “Whew!” and a sigh of relief.  Visitors come in late and demand to be served even if the assembly worship is finished.  Some members show up only for those “magical” few minutes as if nothing else were worth their trouble.

            The same sorts of things happen with prayer, as if it were some magic formula that can only be repeated in certain ways, rather than a pouring out of the heart to a loving Father.  And we think we don’t have the same problems as those Old Testament Israelites?

            Treating God as if He were on the same level as a pagan deity and could be appeased the same way earned those people some of the most scathing indictments in the Old Testament.  The danger is that one will think Jehovah can be swapped out in a fair trade.  God took care of that notion in the book of Hosea.  Israel actually thought that those pagan gods were her source of blessings, 2:5, and so God said, For she did not know that I gave her the grain, and the new wine, and the oil, and multiplied unto her silver and gold, which they used for Baal. Therefore will I take back my grain in the time thereof, and my new wine in the season thereof, and will pluck away my wool and my flax which should have covered her nakedness, 2:8.9.  Suddenly, she figured out where it really came from.

            Attitudes that treat God and His worship in such a pagan manner are no better.  Rather than reverencing God they demean Him.  Rather than showing awe for an all-powerful Creator, they minimize that feeling into nothing more than pacifying a petty, capricious tyrant.

            Serving our God is a duty certainly, but not one we can fulfill in a slapdash, haphazard fashion just so we get it done in time to avoid the consequences.  It is a service He wants us to willingly offer in a careful, obedient, heartfelt manner—an obligation certainly, but also a privilege.
 
For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek me in vain. I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right. "Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save. Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; From my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance. "Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him. In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory," Isa 45:18-25.
 
Dene Ward

My neighbor does not take good care of his livestock.  The horses, donkeys and cows all have ribs that show through their skin and sores on their hides, unfortunately, just below the level that the animal control people consider criminal neglect, so they will not intervene.  I often think to myself that I would like to see those people have to endure the same things as these animals and then decide if it is abuse or not, particularly after those poor creatures have broken through the fence yet again and we must dodge them as they wander the road looking for something to eat..  We have even thrown some of our garden refuse over the fence to try to help them out.
 
           As I walked up to unlock the gate one morning for an expected visitor, a donkey and a cow stood just across the west fence.  The donkey evidently saw a meal on the hoof, walked up to the cow and started chewing its left ear.  The cow was not pleased with the situation and turned around.  So the donkey started chewing its right ear.  The cow yanked its head away and trotted off, with the donkey trailing behind.  As soon as the cow stopped, the donkey headed straight for her head and grabbed an ear again.  Once again the cow turned around only to have the other ear chomped on.  She took off again.  I watched this for nearly five minutes before the cow finally headed for the fencerow and quite purposefully stuck her head in a bush. 

            The donkey tried to get to an ear and found himself struck in the face by the limbs and branches of the wild myrtle and unable to get to the cow’s ears.  I am afraid I could not help myself—I laughed out loud and cheered for the cow.  After a few minutes, the donkey gave up and left, trotting across the field straight for another cow, braying loudly as he went.  I had to go about my own business then, but I assume that cow had success as well since, while I still see the outlines of ribs and spines, I have yet to see any of those animals earless.

            Sometimes some braying donkey of a human comes along and tries to chew on our ears.  I am afraid that too often we let him when we should be turning aside and, if he is persistent, finding a bush to stick our heads into.  As long as there is a market for gossip and slander, there will be people to fill the need, and when we listen we are no better than they because we find pleasure in their sin. 

            Gossip can accomplish a lot, and none of it good.  It can ruin friendships, break up families, divide churches, and permanently stain reputations.  It has been going on since Satan, the “slanderer,” told Eve that God was just a selfish tyrant who did not want to share.  Look where that got all of us.

            Today, when someone comes to you with the latest “dirt,” find a bush and stick your head into it.  Don’t let that person chew on your ears.  Sooner or later he will get the message and move on.  
 
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore company not with him who opens wide his lips. Prov 20:19.

Dene Ward

Even in the book, That's Mine Thelma is not a cute child.  Her short, curly brown hair could have made her another Shirley Temple, but the scorn on her face as she snatches a book out of another child's hands is just plain ugly.  No one else can play with her toys.  She is the epitome of selfishness that we all try to teach our children not to be.  Some do better than others.  Sometimes That's Mine Thelma grows up with exactly the same name.

              She is unkind, miserly with others, and always worried about "my rights."  She won't give up anything for anyone else, even in the name of saving souls.  (Can we mention pews and parking places here?)  Keith was once told that the articles he placed in the newspaper were a waste of the church's money (it was a pittance), even though we had the results of those articles sitting on the pews!  Unfortunately, the bulk of that congregation, except for those new converts, was made up of Thelmas.

              Thelma even views the church as her property.  When new people come in, she sits in judgment as to whether they deserve to be greeted and shown the gospel.  If they do not match her status in the community, if they have any problems at all in their lives, they are rejected.  Yes, Keith actually had a men's business meeting tell him he was bringing the wrong class of people to church (failing to mention that he was the only one bringing any guests at all).  He, like Jesus, was preaching to the publicans and sinners, while they wanted a few more Pharisees among them.  They believed the church was theirs instead of the Lord's, and they should decide who could come in.  "It's mine!"  they all thought.

              That's Mine Thelma does not believe Eph 4:28:  Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.  No sir.  Her money is for her and hers alone.  She is quick to quote …if anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat, 3 Thes 3:10, and to spout off about stewardship.  She would much rather err on the side of selfishness than generosity.

              And Thelma's selfishness isn't only about tangible things.  She will not yield her rights or her opinions.  Let me give you a good example this time instead of a bad one.  I once knew a man who would sit near the back so he could quietly get up and leave when the Lord's Supper was served on Sunday evenings for those who could not make it that morning.  He did not believe that was right, but he did not cause an uproar in the church over it that might lead to division.  He simply did not participate.  There may have been other things he did not do as well, but in that instance at least, he was a good example. 

              My own father was also a great example.  When he heard of a need, he quietly filled it as best he could.  He bought pews and hymnals for small churches.  He helped support gospel preachers.  He gave away his own belongings if he knew someone else needed them worse.  He also opened his wallet on many occasions.  Once he was told that a man he had helped had used that help in a bad way.  "That's his problem," he said.  "I did what my God expected me to do."

            I have been blessed to have known some of the kindest, most generous brothers and sisters in this world.  Generous Joyce would be a better name for all of them, and that is how we should be raising our children, and the example we should show them too.
 
The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath.  ​One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.  ​Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Prov 11:23-25
But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.  1 Cor 8:9
Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.  1 Cor 10:24
 
Dene Ward

This has become almost laughable on Facebook.  Someone tries to make a legitimate point and someone else manages to find an objection to something that was not even addressed.  They wrap themselves in an aura of godliness by creating a major out of a minor and end up ruining the address of a real problem that would have benefited many.  It isn't godliness, folks; it's arrogance.

              Recently I saw a quote from someone many of us would disagree with theologically.  However, it was an excellent quote and it answered a real problem that many we do agree with may have.  Almost immediately a comment came in about not taking anything by this man seriously because of some of his other beliefs.  That turned a profitable discussion into one designed to repudiate anyone who does not fall into place down the line doctrinally.  I wonder how many who needed that quote missed its beneficial point, and how many went on their way in an error this quote might have helped, and all because someone out there had to look so righteous.

              Rather than just have my think-so about it, let's approach this scripturally and see what we can find.

              Paul quoted pagans at least twice to prove his points. 
              …for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man. (Acts 17:28-29)
              One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.  This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, (Titus 1:12-13)

              The apostle John quoted one of the instigators of the murder of Jesus, in which he said his statement was not only true, it was prophecy.  But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.  Now this he said not of himself: but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation; and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad.  So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death. (John 11:49-53)

              The book of Proverbs was Divinely preserved for us all these centuries later for the good advice within it, even though the writer, as we say these days, went off the deep end.

              And Jesus himself tells us that the sons of this world…are wiser than the sons of light.  (Luke 16:8).  In other words, learn from them.

              All of that tells me that I am allowed to make judgments about what is and is not profitable, who is and is not worth listening to, as long as I am careful.  John also tells us to "Prove the spirits whether they be from God," (I John 4:1), and if I understand the context of that epistle correctly, he had a few baptized believers in mind first.

              Even good brethren who loved him gave Paul some lousy advice (Acts 21:11-14).  That means that even a "baptized, non-premillenial believer" can be wrong.  That includes commentaries and other books by our brethren.  I have found so many mistakes in children's Bible class literature that I am appalled.  I have seen well-respected gospel preachers write that God made an exception for the Ephraimite Samuel to make sacrifices, when it only takes a few minutes of research to find out that Samuel may have lived in Ephraim, but he was indeed a Levite (I Chron 6:16-28).  And I am told that Zerr's commentary on Genesis says that Gen 3:16 means that women should not take pain killers during childbirth.  I am glad that man was nowhere near me when I needed an emergency C-section!  So much for the brethren's commentaries.

              So what does all of this mean?  You can find good, common sense advice anywhere.  You can find people you may not agree with entirely who have the ability to open your eyes to something you do agree with.  How many times have you heard our denominational neighbors used to put us to shame when it comes to zeal and spreading the gospel?  Whether friend or foe, whether pagan or believer, be open enough to hear what "the sons of this world" have to say that might help you.  And don't be so arrogant as to think you know best what others need to hear, including yourself.
 
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (Prov 26:12)
 
Dene Ward

August in Florida—the grapes are coming in.  Every evening after dinner, Keith and I sit in the shade of the grape arbor in the green swing Lucas made in high school shop class, munching grapes.  In Florida grapes are large, thick skinned muscadines and scuppernongs, bronze or a purple so dark it looks almost black.  We spit out the more bitter skins, and Chloe and Magdi wander around under our feet scarfing them up like little furry scavengers.  When we are too slow to suit them, Chloe wanders back to the vine and picks her own.

            Sometimes I think grapes must be God’s favorite fruit.  The symbolism in the scriptures begins in Genesis where both Judah and Joseph are described as grapevines, and travels on throughout the scriptures.  The promise of the Messiah is pictured as a time when shall sit every man under his vine…and none shall make them afraid, Micah 4:4.  Both Old Testament Israel and New Testament spiritual Israel, the church, are called vineyards (Isa 5:1-7; Mt 20:1-16).  Jesus says, I am the vine in John 15, and in the memorial feast we partake of every first day of the week, we drink the fruit of the vine, grape juice, which symbolizes his shedding of blood—not that he simply cut himself and bled one day, but that he died for our sins.

            But the symbolism is not always pleasant.  In a prophecy about Judah’s coming destruction the prophet Zephaniah says, And their wealth shall become a spoil, and their houses a desolation; yes, they shall build houses, but shall not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine thereof, 1:13.

            One of the most terrifying prophecies in the Old Testament also contains the symbolism of grapes and grape juice.
           Who is this that comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? He who is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength?  
            I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
            Why are you red in your apparel, and your garments like him that treads in the wine vat? 
            I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yes, I trod them in my anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment   For the day of vengeance was in my heart.. . And I trod down the people in my anger, and made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.   Isa 63:1-4,6.
 
           Every evening I once again have the opportunity to reflect on how I want the symbolism of the grapes to manifest itself in my life.  Do I want it to be my blood sprinkling the robe of an angry God, who tramples the wicked like grapes in a winepress, or will I accept the blood of the spotless Lamb of God, who died for me, so I can sit under my vine and not be afraid? 

            Don’t ever forget that the choice is ours to make.
 
I am the vine; you are the branches.  He who abides in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and they gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.  If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it will be done unto you.  Herein is the Father glorified:  that you bear much fruit; and so shall you be my disciples, John 15:5-8.  
 
Dene Ward

Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.

There are so many ways that my study of the Minor Prophets informs my reading of the New Testament. One thing I noticed in Hosea involves a difference between Hosea’s original meaning and how Paul makes use of the passage. Here’s the quote in Hosea:

Hos. 13:14 “Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.”

This comes in the midst of a declaration of judgment by God. As He gets to this verse, God seems to question whether he should forgive them yet again. His answer is clear from the last line “Compassion is hidden from my eyes.” Despite the pain punishing His people brings God – as seen throughout this book – the time for judgment has come. He calls to Death and Sheol to gather their tools and join Him: “where are your plagues? . . . where is your sting?”

Paul quotes this passage in 1 Cor. 15:55. His usage, however, is very different. Instead of calling for Death and Sheol to gather their tools, Paul is taunting them for being powerless. Instead of using this in a declaration of judgment, Paul is in the midst of a paean to the victory won by Christ for us.

How can this expression of destruction become an ode to victory? There is one tiny thing that occurred between the time of Hosea and Paul: Christ came. Through Christ, a promise of destruction became a promise of victory. And that is our reason and our hope.
 
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” ​“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Cor 15:54-57).


Lucas Ward

Keith got a reprieve yesterday—I woke up with laryngitis.  A deaf man and a woman barely able to utter a whisper do not make a compatible couple.  We struggled through the evening after he came home from work.  He would ask a question then walk away until I finally threw something at him to get his attention so he could read my lips as I answered.  We would sit at the table together and I would talk without first making eye contact—I had to throw something at him then too.  You get the picture.  Most of the time a pillow or napkin was within reach, otherwise we might have had a real mess to clean up.

            Our biggest problems in life are usually caused by speaking when we should have been quiet.  On the other hand, there are times we should speak that we do not, times we get a case of spiritual laryngitis.  The more I think about it, the more I realize that my only motivation for having kept quiet at those times was fear.

            We preach to our young people about peer pressure, encouraging them to speak up about friends doing wrong, about believing unpopular beliefs, or to simply stand up for those everyone else is picking on as if these were easy things to do.  Do we do any better when certain subjects arise among our own peers?  Is it so easy to risk losing a friend, losing a sale, losing status in the community, losing the good opinion of people we want to impress?  No, we don’t do any better most of the time.  We are just as afraid to speak out as our children are.

            The thing we need to convince our young people of—and ourselves—is that we are afraid of the wrong thing.  With knowledge comes responsibility. 

            If I see you about to do something I know will hurt you and do not say anything, I am guilty of hurting you as much as if I did that hurtful thing to you myself. If I say to the wicked,  'You shall surely die,'  and you give him no warning,  nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life,  that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. Ezek 3:18.

            If I fail to tell others that I am a Christian, if, like Peter during Jesus’ trial, I am afraid of the consequences that might bring me, I have denied my Lord,  Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven, Matt 10:32,33.

            If I see a wrong and fail to speak out, I am nothing more than a coward.  I have become a friend of the unjust man rather than a champion of his victim, and will be included in his curse.  (Prov 29:24.)

            Truly, fear gives you spiritual laryngitis.  It totally disables you.  You become useless to the Lord.  That is the thing you should fear more than anything else. 
 
What I tell you in the darkness, speak it in the light; and what you hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops. And be not afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell, Matt 10:27, 28.
 
Dene Ward

If you missed it, see last Monday's introductory post about this series

              Look-at-me-Louie is a debonair little guy in the book.  Blond, well-dressed, riding a skateboard, a satisfied smile on his face, and his hands on his hips.  Louie will always be showing off and demanding attention.  He is sure he is great at everything, and no one can tell him otherwise.

              I am sure that you have seen grown-up Louie.  He talks constantly—about himself and his accomplishments.  Kind of like a neighbor I once had who told us often of all the money he made before he retired.  It was plain what he was proud of—his wealth, and he was happy to tell us again and again how he had gained it. 

               Grown-up Louie now sports a SELF-satisfied smile.  He can be loud at times, demanding attention not just from the one he is talking to, but the whole room.  He believes he is always the best choice for whatever position or honor comes along and can get downright ugly if he does not get it.  Kind of like a man I knew long ago and far away who started a smear campaign against an eldership because he himself wasn't chosen.
 
             Grown-up Louie does not take correction well at all.  "Why, how dare you try to tell me something when I am so much better than you are."  We once tried to help a young man whose name might as well have been Louie.  He already knew everything he needed to know, thank you very much.  "Why, I am used as the good example to everyone else!  No one can teach me anything."  He knew more than people thirty years older with decades more experience.  There was no way we lowly people could possibly help him.

              He was right, actually.  We could not help him--because he did not believe he needed to be helped.  And that is the sad truth about all the Louies you may know.  The elders cannot help them.  Preachers and teachers cannot help them.  No one can help them until they learn to see themselves clearly in the mirror of God's Word.  The only thing they will hear is praise because that is all they think they deserve.  Once you stop that, they become deaf to you.

              Some of the Louies out there will actually grow up and learn to listen, but some not.  I know a few in their 60s who still cannot stand to hear that they have made a mistake.  Suddenly, you become the enemy instead of a friend.  But sometimes something happens to wake them up.  That's wonderful, but think of all the wasted years, the things they might have learned, and the progress they might have made if they had not been a Look-at-me-Louie in the first place.

              Don't waste your life looking for praise and spurning instruction.  You will wind up being so much less than you could have been for the Lord.
 
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.  Prov 9:9
A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.  Prov 13:1
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.  Rom 12:3
 
Dene Ward