2003-05-29 - Things that Pass for Wisdom

1 Tim 6:20-21 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"-- ²¹ which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith.

Grace be with you (NAS)

I remember my Dad and I having a conversation about music. My Dad enjoys country music. The real stuff with the pedal steal guitars and three and four part rustic harmonies. I am not the biggest fan, but I can appreciate the abilities of the musicians and singers without enjoying the style. My brother made such a fuss and a racket blustering about how awful the music was while we were talking that my Dad finally waved his hand in my brothers direction and said, "Ignore him." The comment was not made angrily or rudely. But I was impressed with the affect of the dismissal. My brother's words were empty chatter and had been dismissed as such. We finished our conversation without any additional interruptions.

What about the man who falls overboard in the middle of the ocean and drowns? If his body is eaten by the fish, how can he have his body restored in Heaven when it would be part of the fishes body too?

This and other questions like it drive me to distraction. I want to grab the person by the shoulders and shake them asking, "How on earth can you possibly think this is crucial?" "Who cares?", comes to mind. How big is God? Is He big enough to solve this problem if He created the universe from nothing by the simple power of His will? Yes. Then don't worry about it. God will take care of it.

How is it possible? In ways that you and I quite possibly can not imagine. Or perhaps in ways that are so simple they pass right under our noses. Do I need to know the exacting details of this problem to solidify my relationship with my Lord? No. How about something more critical like salvation.

We are told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. These questions that pick at nits and details based upon assumptions that may not even be correct are the business of people who are trying to find an excuse to not need to recognize God or to make believers appear foolish. If there is no God, no need to fear Him. The fish may not be resurrected. Assuming that the man and the fish would have to share the same atoms and tissue is an assumption that may not hold water.

Just because a question is asked does not mean that the question is valid. Having the question asked a thousand times does not make it any more valid. Some of the things that pass for wisdom are foolishness or outright lies and deception. Do we always have to be totally 100% serious in our conversation? No. Sometimes what-if games can be fun, even thought provoking. But avoid the smoke screen of a question that can only have the purpose of derailing a conversation on topics of faith.

Titus 3:8-11 But shun foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law; for they are unprofitable and worthless. ¹⁰ Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, ¹¹ knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. (NAS)

Lord Jesus - give us wisdom to deflect and avoid these pointless questions so that the important news that you have for mankind gets the time and consideration it deserves.

Grace & Peace,
Mike

mhoskins@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org