Proverbs 18:13-14 

¹³To answer before listening—that is folly and shame. ¹⁴The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

Hot Weather

         Who can benefit from hot weather? Summer fruits are sweeter. In the past weeks, the very high temperature was not pleasant at all. Hot weather exemplifies unpleasant things we cannot change. There are problems we cannot solve. Why does God allow difficulties? Together, let’s learn from what Apostle Paul testified in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10? ⁷In order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

         God arranged hot summer and cold winter. He also designed glorious experiences as well as unpleasant struggles in his proper timing. By faith in Christ, we explore the sufficiency of God’s grace to overcome difficulties in life. Whether in good times or bad times, whether we succeed or not yet, whether good health or sickness, we depend on Christ our Lord always.

         What was the most difficult moment of  your life? Death of love ones, laid off from job, not able to pass exams, sickness, relationship problems, church-related issues, many of us have gone through those challenges. If in some of those trials you sensed peace from God, you are blessed. Why? God’s grace was active in you. The Holy Spirit has empowered you.

         Few days ago, someone came and asked about our vacant lot. They hope to build a larger gym. Interestingly, he mentioned names of people who left their church and started this church. I told him, “Those who left your church and started this church, left this church also and started another church. Possibly, their calling is to start a church and then leave.”

         Indeed, unresolved conflict in the church is very painful experience. Leaving with unresolved issues, is it a shame in the body of Christ?

1.  Shame

     ¹³To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.

         It’s shameful foolishness to comment without knowing the real issue.

And many carefree characters would join rallies without knowing what they are demanding. Some of them are just looking for trouble to burst out their anger. Others would join rallies just to have some fun time with their peers.

         Conflicts in politics are often exaggerated. Some politicians just voice out their opinions without listening what the other party demands or claims. To be mindful and internalize what we should say or how we could express our opinions to any matter could help build better relationship.

Mary

         Let’s learn from Mary how we could listen to Jesus in Luke 10:38-42. ³⁸As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

            ⁴¹“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

         Martha chose to prepare for dinner. Then she told Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” That disrespect implies limited knowledge of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Surely, Christ cares for Martha but she chose to serve. Jesus said, “Few things are needed—or indeed only one.” Mary chose the only one thing that is needed at that time, that is to listen to the Master.

         Martha did not ask Jesus how she may serve him. She assumed that serving dinner was proper. Anyway, creative minds suggest that if Mary helped, the dinner was prepared faster and then together listen to Jesus.

         Christ is the Lord of lords. He knows what’s best for everyone. Rather than voicing out opinion that we assume as important, it’s smart to listen to the Lord. The story implies that Mary was smart. She preferred to listen. What we considers as important is not necessarily important to God. Let’s reflect on 1 John 2:3-6, ³We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. ⁴Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

         Opinion is important to us but God values obedience to his command.

         We love God because he first loved us. God prefers obedience to him as testimony of love for him. We have to listen first to know how he wants us to serve him. As witnesses for Christ, we are also martyrs for Christ. The nearest illustration of the love that God prefers is comparable to the love of husband and wife: in riches or poverty, in good health or in sickness.

2.  Sickness

      ¹⁴The human spirit can endure in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?

         At their wedding, husband and wife promised to love each other in good health or sickness. Husband and wife must grow old together, even after one of them could have dementia, love continues. But it may crush the spirit when their relationship fails for whatever reason. Will relationship be stronger, if couples adhere to what it advised in Ephesians 5:22-29?

            ²²Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

          ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church.

         Her submission to husband exemplifies her submission to the Lord. Husband loves his wife just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. How is that? Husband sacrifices for his wife including his ego.

         Love is not perfected instantly. Many times we fail to love the Lord. But when we obey God, our love for him is made complete. So, we listen to him first. Similarly, we listen attentively to our spouse to clearly understand them and not vaguely guessing. When relationship is at stake, it’s far easier to understand a clear message than vague insinuation or guessing game.

         We also depend on the Holy Spirit to love each other with agape kind of love, to be patient and kind to each other, to always trust each other, to always protect each other, to hopes and perseveres always.

         By God’s grace, we avoid crushed spirit and appreciate joyful peace.

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