Proverbs 16:29-30 

²⁹A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good. ³⁰Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity; whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

Robin Hood

Did you ever appreciate the story of Robin Hood? Among the poor, Robin Hood was their hero. Robin Hood would rob the rich and give to the poor. Is it acceptable to God to steal from the rich to give to the poor?

But even in Christian circles, stealing is not unexpected. Christians may even rob the Lord, how? Together, let us reflect on what the Lord declared in Malachi 3:8-9, ⁸Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, “How are we robbing you?” In tithes and offerings. ⁹You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.

God declared that when we rob him of his tithes or right portion from income, the whole nation suffers. God is eternally rich. And tithes are small matters to him. And many won’t give his right portion. They rob the rich God and give to their poor self. Do they pretend or want to be like Robin Hood?

Returning the tithes of God is practice of faith in him. When we return the right portion of God, we trust that our generous God will bless us even more. He keeps us safe including our possessions. He makes sure we are healthy and strong to be efficient in everything we do. He gives us wisdom do accomplish our responsibilities. He ordains great relationship with our boss and officemates. He also sustains us with good night rest.

By faith, we believe that God does more than we could image for us to be productive in everything we do. Returning his right portion is practical means for us to express our gratitude and praise. Many church members can testify that God faithfully blessed them even more so that they gladly return his tithes. Sadly, love for money entice even Christian to ignore God.

1. Entice

        ²⁹A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good.

Faith in God should lead us to choose a righteous path. Instinctively, we are enticed to be independent from God. Other paths that God did not approved for us to take are never delightful. Independence from God can be disastrous choice. We should be aware that neighbors are observing us.

When we obey God, he blesses us to practically prove his gracious love for us. Yet the enticement of worldly trends pressures us most often.

Political Party

When everything is great, we want to be part of it. When events won’t favor us, we are tempted to react negatively. Anywhere around the world, politics had confused even Christians. They can readily see mistakes of politicians who belong to different political party. They are also quick to publish in social but slow to appreciate when things are favorable. Why?

It is possible that they do not want to be counted as supporters of the other political party they hated. If they belong to Liberal Party, it is not easy for them to appreciate even if the Conservatives Party propose favorable legislation or vice versa. Political differences is actually historical.

Together, let us meticulously observe what occurred in Acts 23:6-10,

⁶Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” ⁷When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

            ⁹There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ¹⁰The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

The Sanhedrin was the Supreme Court in ancient Israel. Some Jews accused Apostle Paul of preaching against the Law of Moses before the Sanhedrin. There’s violent confusion in the Sanhedrin when the Pharisees and Sadducees had to defend their political stance about resurrection.

Belonging to a political party can be beneficial. But, we have to be aware of our behavior toward politics. We should be looking beyond what this world can offer us. We should eye for gratifying reward from the Lord.

2. Eye

                        ³⁰Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity; whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

When the eye winks, it signals perversity that won’t be verbally said. When one purses their lips, they may be plotting against probable victims.

Winking can be interpreted as malicious intention. And we have to be careful of winking our eyes. When a man winks his eyes before a woman, it could be interpreted as malicious toward the opposite gender, even if it is not what the man intended at all. Winking can be interpreted malevolently.

Young Adult

A young adult was just excited listening to the testimony of a lady. He did not want to miss a single detail of her testimony but unmindfully blinked his eyes in agreement. Sadly, the lady interpreted that the young adult has malicious intentions, and she told the relative of the young adult about it.

The relative knows how the young adult reacts when excited. So, she explained to the lady that the young adult was not malicious. The relative of the young adult warned him that his blinking eyes were not understood properly. And the young adult tried his best to avoid the lady ever since.

While anyone may not have malicious intent in their expression, we cannot control how others may interpret our good behavior toward others. So how should we behave in a manner that should not be misunderstood as malicious? If we show kindness to our neighbor, they may suspect as some sort of malevolent scheme. We cannot control how they interpret.

If we handshake firmly, they may interpret as malicious abuse or even hatred. Warning others of possible danger of eternal torture is interpreted also as cursing or discrimination. Godly behavior can be misinterpreted.

Reflect on what Prophet Samuel declared in 1 Samuel 12: 23-24.

         ²³As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. ²⁴But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 

Do you interpret that this sin against the Lord for failure to pray for others includes anyone of us and not pastors and church leaders only? Failure to pray for others is sin. Why? We know that it is good to pray, and if we fail to pray for others, then it is sin for us. Can you accept that?

Seriously reflect and memorize what James 4:17 says, ¹⁷ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

We can pray for relatives, friends, church members and neighbors. It costs us precious time praying but God had already prepared blessing for our obedience to pray for others. Even if others interpret otherwise, by faith in Christ, we would rather follow him and hope for our rewards. Amen!

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