Prv:18:2 A Fool Receiveth Not The Words Of Prudence: Unless Thou Say Those Things Which Are In His Heart
So what does that say about us? We all like to be told we're right. We all like to hear how smart we are. We all want confirmation. Most of us hate it when someone points out when we're wrong.
If you pick up the Bible, and don't come away thinking yourself a fool, you're not paying attention. Because every book of the Bible is full of passages that show us how foolish we are. The book of proverbs particularly points out our intellectual limitations.
Does God really have a fetish for identifying our flaws? Like a father who can never admit his son turned out all right? Yes and no. It all hangs on that quote from Christ: "Mk:10:15 Amen I say to you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter into it."
A lot of people misinterpret that to mean learning and understanding our faith is fruitless. They confuse the word "childlike" for "simplistic", but the two have very different meanings. Anyone who has children realizes that they aren't simple at all. But what about them are we suppose to imitate?
The Father / Son Relationship
Remember that Christ compares God's relationship with us to the relationship between a father and son. In this case, the son would be a child. And a child has to rely on the wisdom and knowledge of his father for everything he has (remember that when Jesus is speaking, the father was the common provider in the household).
Providing is only one of the father's functions. A good father guides his son to safety, and sometimes forces him there. Why? Because a child doesn't always know what will harm him and what won't. The child thinks he wants cookies for supper?the father knows that this would harm him. The obedient son accepts his father's authority, even if he doesn't understand it.
But the ignorance doesn't release the child from responsibility. The father might use his authority to lay a foundation, but expects the son to some day understand the reasons behind his actions. The father expects his son to grow and mature?but always realize his own inferiority to the father. Always ready to accept his father's direction.
It's the same with God and us. We're not so much commanded to accept our foolishness (or simplicity) but to realize it and accept the Christ's authority when we disagree. Sometimes this means accepting the rule of Christ's Church, and is an act of will. Sometimes, it's forced upon us. Like when we face some disaster and wonder "How could God let this happen to me?"
This is what it means to have child-like faith. This is how we'll enter into heaven. And this is why the Bible constantly points out our foolishness. Because in the shadow of God, our own intellect and knowledge of what's good for us isn't always focused. And the more we realize it, the more it becomes our duty to gain that understanding, but accept authority until we do.
This article was written by Eric Engel from http://copyforsale.com where you can find free religious articles for your newsletter and website.
The story of Joshua and Caleb is one of the... Read More
The Dead Sea Scrolls continue to be found and there... Read More
As you will see in the Scripture verses listed below,... Read More
Revelation 8:8-8:9What will you be doing? How many people have... Read More
You all know the big dogs that carry rum to... Read More
Most people put a lot of effort into being like... Read More
This, in my opinion, is the #1 "secret" for getting... Read More
The Americans themselves billed the vote for now President George... Read More
In part 1 of this series of end time articles,... Read More
Jesus won't come until the Jewish people are saved.Why the... Read More
What does your church teach regarding the subject of Widows... Read More
... Read More
The question is not whether terrorism is now a world-wide... Read More
The other day I had a meeting on the web... Read More
There is a greater sin than not obeying Jesus; it... Read More
This next event will be a major one! The Bible... Read More
Over the last few months hundreds of thousands of people... Read More
Isaiah 65:17-65:25In Divers Places. A Look at prophecy and today's... Read More
I find it funny that one of the oldest concepts... Read More
I think most people who will read this will not... Read More
We are soon to celebrate once again the National Holiday... Read More
A familiar phrase used in Bible prophecy is the term... Read More
There's another "move of God" that's sweeping the nations. Have... Read More
I remember hearing a minister years ago as he quoted... Read More
Part Three continuedIt is important to recover and relearn the... Read More
The American theologian Horace Bushnell also played a vital role... Read More
When we think in terms of what it means for... Read More
During World War II the government realized that the majority... Read More
Today, sitting in my pink armchair, reading about how a... Read More
Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel.....it is the city... Read More
DÉJÀ VU (Where have I heard this before?)(Note: May I... Read More
DEAD SEA SCROLLS: - Dr Norman Golb is a top... Read More
As you will see in the Scripture verses I will... Read More
Once you start to receive the knowledge and wisdom of... Read More
As you will see in the Scripture verses I will... Read More
Again, let's call attention to our text: "Let her be... Read More
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized ?in the name of... Read More
CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE: -MacDari was a Mason but his Masonry deplored... Read More
The Tears of Lord Shiva that are Rudraksha, are the... Read More
Revelation 20:1-20:10Politics and Christianity - there has been many an... Read More
God is God and besides Him, there is no other.... Read More
The Rapture of the Church will be the most startling... Read More
We have been learning to think Biblically and speak Scripturally... Read More
Jeremiah 51:6-51:18 Babylon is Fallen. Is the United States, Spiritual... Read More
And the matter of who is doing the abusing is... Read More
To learn who you are in Christ, you must know... Read More
The internet is a great resource of information on all... Read More
Does Jesus Christ live in heaven today in the flesh... Read More
The Emmaus Journal What Kingdom Are You Looking For?The awe... Read More
Today, sitting in my pink armchair, reading about how a... Read More
Hindus are concentrated in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka and... Read More
"With regard to the ancient Egyptians we have it on... Read More
Isaiah 43;19 declares: "Behold, I will do a new thing,... Read More
This article, on the mark of the beast, will be... Read More
Dear Readers, I received a letter this week that is... Read More
French & Dutch Reject EU Constitution & British Table It-We... Read More
You are now inside one of the top theological schools... Read More
Anyone who has read their Bible would have to concede... Read More
Part Three continuedIt is important to recover and relearn the... Read More
Have you ever wondered how exactly would someone find out... Read More
For it is written in the book of 2Timothy 3:16... Read More
As I was doing my studies, the Lord put something... Read More
Church retreats are an excellent way to involve the church... Read More
Several weeks ago, while shopping in a grocery store, my... Read More
(Channelled)Roy? this week you learned something about yourself. You learned... Read More
Why MeAs a Christian I feel the need to say... Read More
Religion |