(Part 2)
We see wise people everywhere. We are so inspired when we are with them. But suddenly we smell rat, no, no, a dead fly and move off. May be we are also such smelly sages. As the Bible says, “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honour” (Eccl 10:1). What are these dead flies and how can we escape them? Last month we saw five of them; this month we’ll see another five.
King Solomon smelt a dead fly while he went for a walk and he highlights it in his proverbs: “I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns, its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I said it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction; A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man” (Prov 24:30-34).
Laziness is an awful smelling dead fly. Each person’s ‘field’ or ‘vineyard’ is different. For students it is studies. You need to master your books from cover to cover. If you always perform your best, you are sure to be the winner. Competition is stiff these days. Parents spend for you and give you all possible comforts so that you shine in your endeavours. Make your parents proud. It was Leonardo da Vinci who exclaimed, “You, O, God, do sell us all good things at the price of labour.”
For your business to flourish you must be a go-getter and only those who work hard can thrive in what they do. Hard workers move up fast. Don’t say ‘No’ to an added
responsibility if you have the time and strength to do it. Earn the name of an indefatigable worker. Update your knowledge on the subject and introduce new ideas in your field. Climb the ladder and keep climbing. Look beyond the stereotypes and consider life’s myriad possibilities. The sky is not the limit these days. Keep improving. Correct your mistakes. Get expert advice. Know the ins and outs of your job.
Those who serve the Lord should do so diligently. “A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord’s work” (Jer 48:10 KJV). No wonder many fields are thorns and thistles. No wonder spiritual poverty has descended like dew in many fields. A man tells his pastor, “Pastor, look at my orchard. It is heavy with fruits. I did it.” The pastor gently corrects, “You should say, you and the Lord did it.” The man replies, “Ah, Pastor you should have seen when the Lord alone was taking care of it.” Funny as it sounds, it has a truth in it. The Lord will not do anything unless we labour. The more we labour, the more we reap. Remember the wicked and lazy servant cast into hell. Those who work without watching the clock will climb the ladder fast.
Housewives should not live in their nighties. Morning they should have a wash, dress up and be brisk. Maintaining a household is a fulltime job. Housewives are expected to do business (Prov 31) and serve the Lord (1 Tim 5:10) in their spare time.
Sleep, TV, Video games, vain chatter, foolish friends, indulgence in pleasures are all time killers. We need them; but a wise man knows how much is enough. Stop sitting around on your hands. Whatever job you are given to do, do it trusting God. Lazy people are sitting ducks for the devil.
A common fly that gives out a bad stench from our aromatic life is rejection of counsel. “Fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov 1:7). God in His eternal wisdom has created us such that we need one another. Iron sharpens iron. If we are closed to counsel we don’t grow and tend to err. Our natural tendency is to feel we are right. It is difficult for us to see from the other’s point of view.
Many young people have fallen to pieces because they rejected the counsel of their parents. “A fool despises his father’s instruction, but he who receives correction is prudent” (Prov 15:5). “A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother” (15:20). Father and mother keep on pounding in your ears regarding TV, studies, friends, love affairs, dress, etcetera. They are atleast 25 years more experienced than you. Listen to them. Consider what they say.
How was Jesus wise? “The child grew and became strong in the spirit, filled with wisdom” (Lk 2:40). That was the God given wisdom. “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men” (2:52). That is the growth of His wisdom on this earth. Sandwitched between these two verses lies the secret. He scooted out to the temple without His parents’ knowledge at age 12. When confronted, He did not apologise. He explained to them the will of God for His life. Was He arrogant? No. He went back home with them and submitted Himself to them. Therefore He grew in wisdom, body, socially and spiritually. Parents taught Him the basic principles of wise behaviour, bodily needs, social niceties and spiritual principles. Obeying God and submitting to parents requires a delicate balance. Sometimes you are in a fix. You need to be absolutely sure of God’s will in your life and at the same time be submissive to your parents.
Isaac was around 33 years when he was taken to Mt. Moriah by Abraham to be sacrificed. He could have easily over-powered his father. But he voluntarily submitted himself to be cut to death.
“Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him” (Prov 22:15). It is a difficult and painful path for children. But it is a safe and sure way to wisdom. “What comes out of a man, defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart proceed… foolishness” (Mk 7:20-22). Foolishness defiles you and makes you obnoxious. Where is its origin? The heart. You can’t trust your heart always. Foolishness needs to be removed from the heart in stages as you grow up. “It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth” (Lam 3:27). Yoke is painful; but that takes you in the right path.
“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isa 5:21). At any age we need counsel. Be open to counsel and be careful to judge if the counsel you receive is Scriptural.
Another pit even seasoned Christians slide into is self-confidence. Even the man after God’s heart did not notice when Satan flung this dead fly in his scent. He wanted to see his military strength by counting the warriors, rejected the counsel of the officer in command and brought great calamity upon the people. Of this he confesses to God, “I have done foolishly” (1 Chr 2 1:8).
King Asa started off well. He cried, “Lord, it is nothing for you to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you!” (2 Chr 14:11). So the Lord struck his enemies. When he grew stronger and stronger he started planning his own strategies. He thought he could do with the help of other kings and sought the help of Ben-Hadad. The prophet Hanani chided him, “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars” (2 Chr 16:9).
“A fool rages and is self-confident” (Prov 14:16). Even so Asa raged against the seer and even in his fatal disease sought not the Lord. If you are loyal to God, His eyes are on you to display His strength on your behalf. Do not rely on your strength and wisdom. Much ink has been spent on conjecture about what Paul’s thorn was. But one thing is sure. It shattered his self-confidence and made him diffident enough to fall back on God.
Too many Christians have allowed the fly of false teaching to fly into their pure teachings of the Scriptures and die and putrefy there. There is no dearth of false teachers and false prophets these days. Their messages spread like wild fire through their literature and media. Even during Paul’s days the situation was no less serious. False brothers subtly injected their teaching into virgin congregations. Innocent converts were confused. Paul was thoroughly upset when he wrote to the Galatian Church, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth. Are you so foolish?” (Gal 3:1-3). He admonishes Timothy to “avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife” (2 Tim 2:23). “O Timothy! Gaurd what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge” (1 Tim 6:20). To Titus he writes, “Avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless” (Tit 3:9).
Do not entertain strange groups in your homes. Do not discuss doctrine with them. Even media is flooded with false teachings. Preachers claim to make trips to heaven and hell as if to Marina beach. Some promise showers of blessings in your business enterprises if you pay them a fat sum. They are liars who wreck the character of the Church by teaching unscriptural practices. Their target is your purse. Don’t fall for their, “God told me this, God told me that” gibber. Check everything against the Bible which is wisdom. Be deeply founded on the Word of God. Don’t allow them to make a fool of you like Darwin made a monkey out of you. “If someone s ho we d up with a good smile and glib tongue and told lies from morning to night—‘I will preach you sermons that will tell you how you can get anything you want from God: More money, the best of wines ... you name it’—you’d hire him on the spot as your preacher!” (Mi 2:10,11—THE MESSAGE).
Being unprepared for the second coming is a doubly dead fly (Mt 25). Whenever I used to read about the 10 virgins, I used to think, “Thank God, I am not one of the foolish virgins.” But after reading the exposition of Dr. Christian Weiss I was shaken up. It seems the Oriental weddings were elaborate. The marriage houses had big doors which would be shut after the groom and the wedding party entered, to keep the unwanted crowd out. A particular wedding garment was worn by guests and huge silver lamps were polished and prepared. He writes of four of the foolish virgins’ assumptions to which I have added three of mine.
First of all they assumed that the groom would arrive on time. Assuming the time of the coming of the Lord is ridiculous after the Lord has clearly told us that He will come unannounced. Be ever ready.
Secondly, they assumed that the oil in their lamps would be enough. You may think you are ready to meet God. But have you thoroughly examined your insides? A little deliberate negligence can put you on the wrong side of the pearly gates.
Thirdly, they thought they had enough time to buy oil and were caught in the last minute. Do not postpone anything. If you have not yet taken baptism, today make arrangements for it. Set right matters with those you have offended. On your mark, get set.
Fourthly, they assumed that their friends who had enough and more would pitch in. They were shamefully mistaken. Their dear friends entered the wedding house without looking over t their shoulders. You may be in a godly family or a spiritual church or a full gospel mission. But as an individual you have to face God.
Fifthly they assumed that their preparation was enough though they were aware of their lack. They might have spent the day polishing the lamp and getting their wedding attire ready. A “little” lack of oil kicked them out. A “little” carelessness. A “little” assumption. A “little” folly!
Sixthly, they assumed that the groom will be gracious enough to let them in—a very gentle groom as they knew Him. Terror struck them as He denied even “knowing” them (Mt 25:12). May be there they remembered Matthew 7:21,22 – “I never knew you” and understood that they had not done the will of the Father in heaven. May be 2 Timothy 2:19 flashed across their brain — “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord “knows those who are His,” and ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” “Hard man” indeed (Mt 25:24). They knew the rules that they could not enter without burning lamps but did not play by it.
Seventhly, they assumed they had the passport to heaven. None of us have a confirmed ticket to heaven. Washed by the blood of Christ and by the grace of God we are walking the narrow way. There are many cross roads connecting the narrow way to the broadway. Any time any one can exit. More than 99% of those who started off from Egypt exited to the Broadway. You have a passport alright but do you have the visa? Keep the narrow way till the last.
All gone waste! They were not prepared for the once-in-a-lifetime event. They did all —took leave, primped up, polished their lamps, even waited till midnight. Outwardly all the ten were the same till the last minute. Both had oil in their lamps too. They prepared themselves, but not enough. How sad. Standing outside the gates they look around stupefied to see themselves standing with atheists, adulterers, liars and murderers. How terrible, how heart wrenching! Good Christians but a little careless. Only a few more c.c.s. to get them in – from the arrival of the groom to the entering in. For that they must go to eternal doom. Why? Because they knew it, they were given fair warning and plenty of time; yet they did not take it seriously but deliberately disobeyed after receiving the knowledge of the truth.
Are you 100% ready?
Shall we mercilessly pick out the dead flies and throw them out of our life?
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
(Part 2)
We see wise people everywhere. We are so inspired when we are with them. But suddenly we smell rat, no, no, a dead fly and move off. May be we are also such smelly sages. As the Bible says, “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honour” (Eccl 10:1). What are these dead flies and how can we escape them? Last month we saw five of them; this month we’ll see another five.
King Solomon smelt a dead fly while he went for a walk and he highlights it in his proverbs: “I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns, its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I said it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction; A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man” (Prov 24:30-34).
Laziness is an awful smelling dead fly. Each person’s ‘field’ or ‘vineyard’ is different. For students it is studies. You need to master your books from cover to cover. If you always perform your best, you are sure to be the winner. Competition is stiff these days. Parents spend for you and give you all possible comforts so that you shine in your endeavours. Make your parents proud. It was Leonardo da Vinci who exclaimed, “You, O, God, do sell us all good things at the price of labour.”
For your business to flourish you must be a go-getter and only those who work hard can thrive in what they do. Hard workers move up fast. Don’t say ‘No’ to an added
responsibility if you have the time and strength to do it. Earn the name of an indefatigable worker. Update your knowledge on the subject and introduce new ideas in your field. Climb the ladder and keep climbing. Look beyond the stereotypes and consider life’s myriad possibilities. The sky is not the limit these days. Keep improving. Correct your mistakes. Get expert advice. Know the ins and outs of your job.
Those who serve the Lord should do so diligently. “A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord’s work” (Jer 48:10 KJV). No wonder many fields are thorns and thistles. No wonder spiritual poverty has descended like dew in many fields. A man tells his pastor, “Pastor, look at my orchard. It is heavy with fruits. I did it.” The pastor gently corrects, “You should say, you and the Lord did it.” The man replies, “Ah, Pastor you should have seen when the Lord alone was taking care of it.” Funny as it sounds, it has a truth in it. The Lord will not do anything unless we labour. The more we labour, the more we reap. Remember the wicked and lazy servant cast into hell. Those who work without watching the clock will climb the ladder fast.
Housewives should not live in their nighties. Morning they should have a wash, dress up and be brisk. Maintaining a household is a fulltime job. Housewives are expected to do business (Prov 31) and serve the Lord (1 Tim 5:10) in their spare time.
Sleep, TV, Video games, vain chatter, foolish friends, indulgence in pleasures are all time killers. We need them; but a wise man knows how much is enough. Stop sitting around on your hands. Whatever job you are given to do, do it trusting God. Lazy people are sitting ducks for the devil.
A common fly that gives out a bad stench from our aromatic life is rejection of counsel. “Fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov 1:7). God in His eternal wisdom has created us such that we need one another. Iron sharpens iron. If we are closed to counsel we don’t grow and tend to err. Our natural tendency is to feel we are right. It is difficult for us to see from the other’s point of view.
Many young people have fallen to pieces because they rejected the counsel of their parents. “A fool despises his father’s instruction, but he who receives correction is prudent” (Prov 15:5). “A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother” (15:20). Father and mother keep on pounding in your ears regarding TV, studies, friends, love affairs, dress, etcetera. They are atleast 25 years more experienced than you. Listen to them. Consider what they say.
How was Jesus wise? “The child grew and became strong in the spirit, filled with wisdom” (Lk 2:40). That was the God given wisdom. “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men” (2:52). That is the growth of His wisdom on this earth. Sandwitched between these two verses lies the secret. He scooted out to the temple without His parents’ knowledge at age 12. When confronted, He did not apologise. He explained to them the will of God for His life. Was He arrogant? No. He went back home with them and submitted Himself to them. Therefore He grew in wisdom, body, socially and spiritually. Parents taught Him the basic principles of wise behaviour, bodily needs, social niceties and spiritual principles. Obeying God and submitting to parents requires a delicate balance. Sometimes you are in a fix. You need to be absolutely sure of God’s will in your life and at the same time be submissive to your parents.
Isaac was around 33 years when he was taken to Mt. Moriah by Abraham to be sacrificed. He could have easily over-powered his father. But he voluntarily submitted himself to be cut to death.
“Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him” (Prov 22:15). It is a difficult and painful path for children. But it is a safe and sure way to wisdom. “What comes out of a man, defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart proceed… foolishness” (Mk 7:20-22). Foolishness defiles you and makes you obnoxious. Where is its origin? The heart. You can’t trust your heart always. Foolishness needs to be removed from the heart in stages as you grow up. “It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth” (Lam 3:27). Yoke is painful; but that takes you in the right path.
“Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isa 5:21). At any age we need counsel. Be open to counsel and be careful to judge if the counsel you receive is Scriptural.
Another pit even seasoned Christians slide into is self-confidence. Even the man after God’s heart did not notice when Satan flung this dead fly in his scent. He wanted to see his military strength by counting the warriors, rejected the counsel of the officer in command and brought great calamity upon the people. Of this he confesses to God, “I have done foolishly” (1 Chr 2 1:8).
King Asa started off well. He cried, “Lord, it is nothing for you to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on you, and in your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you!” (2 Chr 14:11). So the Lord struck his enemies. When he grew stronger and stronger he started planning his own strategies. He thought he could do with the help of other kings and sought the help of Ben-Hadad. The prophet Hanani chided him, “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars” (2 Chr 16:9).
“A fool rages and is self-confident” (Prov 14:16). Even so Asa raged against the seer and even in his fatal disease sought not the Lord. If you are loyal to God, His eyes are on you to display His strength on your behalf. Do not rely on your strength and wisdom. Much ink has been spent on conjecture about what Paul’s thorn was. But one thing is sure. It shattered his self-confidence and made him diffident enough to fall back on God.
Too many Christians have allowed the fly of false teaching to fly into their pure teachings of the Scriptures and die and putrefy there. There is no dearth of false teachers and false prophets these days. Their messages spread like wild fire through their literature and media. Even during Paul’s days the situation was no less serious. False brothers subtly injected their teaching into virgin congregations. Innocent converts were confused. Paul was thoroughly upset when he wrote to the Galatian Church, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth. Are you so foolish?” (Gal 3:1-3). He admonishes Timothy to “avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife” (2 Tim 2:23). “O Timothy! Gaurd what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge” (1 Tim 6:20). To Titus he writes, “Avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless” (Tit 3:9).
Do not entertain strange groups in your homes. Do not discuss doctrine with them. Even media is flooded with false teachings. Preachers claim to make trips to heaven and hell as if to Marina beach. Some promise showers of blessings in your business enterprises if you pay them a fat sum. They are liars who wreck the character of the Church by teaching unscriptural practices. Their target is your purse. Don’t fall for their, “God told me this, God told me that” gibber. Check everything against the Bible which is wisdom. Be deeply founded on the Word of God. Don’t allow them to make a fool of you like Darwin made a monkey out of you. “If someone s ho we d up with a good smile and glib tongue and told lies from morning to night—‘I will preach you sermons that will tell you how you can get anything you want from God: More money, the best of wines ... you name it’—you’d hire him on the spot as your preacher!” (Mi 2:10,11—THE MESSAGE).
Being unprepared for the second coming is a doubly dead fly (Mt 25). Whenever I used to read about the 10 virgins, I used to think, “Thank God, I am not one of the foolish virgins.” But after reading the exposition of Dr. Christian Weiss I was shaken up. It seems the Oriental weddings were elaborate. The marriage houses had big doors which would be shut after the groom and the wedding party entered, to keep the unwanted crowd out. A particular wedding garment was worn by guests and huge silver lamps were polished and prepared. He writes of four of the foolish virgins’ assumptions to which I have added three of mine.
First of all they assumed that the groom would arrive on time. Assuming the time of the coming of the Lord is ridiculous after the Lord has clearly told us that He will come unannounced. Be ever ready.
Secondly, they assumed that the oil in their lamps would be enough. You may think you are ready to meet God. But have you thoroughly examined your insides? A little deliberate negligence can put you on the wrong side of the pearly gates.
Thirdly, they thought they had enough time to buy oil and were caught in the last minute. Do not postpone anything. If you have not yet taken baptism, today make arrangements for it. Set right matters with those you have offended. On your mark, get set.
Fourthly, they assumed that their friends who had enough and more would pitch in. They were shamefully mistaken. Their dear friends entered the wedding house without looking over t their shoulders. You may be in a godly family or a spiritual church or a full gospel mission. But as an individual you have to face God.
Fifthly they assumed that their preparation was enough though they were aware of their lack. They might have spent the day polishing the lamp and getting their wedding attire ready. A “little” lack of oil kicked them out. A “little” carelessness. A “little” assumption. A “little” folly!
Sixthly, they assumed that the groom will be gracious enough to let them in—a very gentle groom as they knew Him. Terror struck them as He denied even “knowing” them (Mt 25:12). May be there they remembered Matthew 7:21,22 – “I never knew you” and understood that they had not done the will of the Father in heaven. May be 2 Timothy 2:19 flashed across their brain — “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord “knows those who are His,” and ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” “Hard man” indeed (Mt 25:24). They knew the rules that they could not enter without burning lamps but did not play by it.
Seventhly, they assumed they had the passport to heaven. None of us have a confirmed ticket to heaven. Washed by the blood of Christ and by the grace of God we are walking the narrow way. There are many cross roads connecting the narrow way to the broadway. Any time any one can exit. More than 99% of those who started off from Egypt exited to the Broadway. You have a passport alright but do you have the visa? Keep the narrow way till the last.
All gone waste! They were not prepared for the once-in-a-lifetime event. They did all —took leave, primped up, polished their lamps, even waited till midnight. Outwardly all the ten were the same till the last minute. Both had oil in their lamps too. They prepared themselves, but not enough. How sad. Standing outside the gates they look around stupefied to see themselves standing with atheists, adulterers, liars and murderers. How terrible, how heart wrenching! Good Christians but a little careless. Only a few more c.c.s. to get them in – from the arrival of the groom to the entering in. For that they must go to eternal doom. Why? Because they knew it, they were given fair warning and plenty of time; yet they did not take it seriously but deliberately disobeyed after receiving the knowledge of the truth.
Are you 100% ready?
Shall we mercilessly pick out the dead flies and throw them out of our life?
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
