Proverbs 3:29-30 

²⁹ Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. ³⁰ Do not accuse anyone for no reason—when they have done you no harm.

Potentiality

All of us, we have our share of disobedience. Why do we disobey authorities?

We want freedom to do things we wish to do and to choose what we like or desire.

Freedom is most desired when restricted. Restriction limits exploration possibilities.

To explore and reach possible potentiality, we need freedom. Can you agree?

Well, whatever we do, there will be consequences to every action made. We could be rewarded, or we just wasted our efforts. You may have heard of this story:

On the day of examination, test questionnaires are distributed. It doesn’t matter if students are prepared or not; they may decide to take the exam or not. Students who are well prepared for the exam may easily pass the exam but students who did not prepare well may find it difficult to answer test questions. Others may have prepared but still confused by instructions on the questionnaires.

Try to answers these questions:

1. Bob has 50 candy bars; he ate 45. What does he have now? A: “Diabetes”
2. What comes after 10? A: “Question mark”
3. What can you see in the middle of the sea? A: “Letter E”

Truly, temporal life on earth includes a lot of questions that may confuse anyone. Confusion is also temporary predicament. Many believers are confused about Christian lifestyle. Have you heard someone argued, “We are free to do what we want to do!” Now, remember that everything we do will be judged, whether it is good or bad.

King Solomon testified in Ecclesiastes 3:12-13, ¹²I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 

Many believers struggle and cannot find satisfaction in everything they do. Why?  It is gift from God. Do you believe that God wants us satisfied in our job or studies? Yes! When you’re satisfied, do you wish others to be satisfied just as you have experienced? We don’t plot anything to harm our neighbors, do we? Instead, we ponder on how we may tell and share with them how they may also find satisfaction from God.

1. Ponder

²⁹ Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.

We hear of reports that garages were vandalized. Others complain of destroyed flower gardens. Reports of stolen or vandalized cars are compiling in the police office. It was reported that a mayoral candidate planned to reduce bike theft and got his bicycle stolen 85 minutes later. The government sent amber alert to warn possible dangerous individuals roaming in the area. What undesirable circumstance troubled you lately?

Security cameras are selling like hot cakes. Buyers may hope to stop or prevent robberies and thefts. There will always be bad elements in the society. Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? Why do people plot harm against their neighbor?

We can easily enumerate a number of reasons why bad elements cause terrible problems to unsuspecting victims. Expect that all sinful mankind is inclined to be wicked. We, ourselves have our share of naughtiness from time to time. Do you reject wicked lifestyle naturally? We reject wickedness only with Christ’s help and empowerment.

Don’t wait until you’ve got everything you need before pondering on good things you can do. Don’t miss your opportunity to earn your eternal treasures in heaven. Pray and consider sharing your abundance to missionaries of your choice. It’s commendable!

Apostle Paul had commended in Philippians 4:15-20, ¹⁵You Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; ¹⁶for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. ¹⁷Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. ¹⁸I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Philippian church was not very privileged in terms of finances, but they were the only church who sent financial support to the mission ministry of Apostle Paul, not just once but each time Apostle Paul was in need, the Philippians sent him gifts. Apostle Paul assured the Philippians that God will supply their needs because they supported his mission ministry. Someone said, “If you can open the heart of God, you’ll see mission.”

Individuals or churches that support mission ministries are blessed in many ways.

Have you discovered your mission purposes that God had prepared for you, yet?

While exploring the ministry that God may want you to get involve with, you may start with anything good and kind that may come to your mind. It says in Philippians 2:13-16: ¹³For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. ¹⁴Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶as you hold firmly to the word of life.

Someone said, “What may occupy our mind most of the time has controlled us.” If we ponder on goodness and kindness to our neighbor, God will bless us more. When kindness and generosity to others overflow in your life spontaneously, you will sense that God is pleased with you. When you sense that God is pleased with you, you praise him spontaneously. Generosity and kindness inspire recipients to praise God.

2.  Praise

³⁰ Do not accuse anyone for no reason—when they have done you no harm.

The term “accuse” translated in English by NIV is translated by other respected Bible versions as “contend, argue or quarrel.” To contend, argue or quarrel implies that, the accuser suspects that the other person is someone who is bad. Would you accuse anyone who is harmless? Instead of accusation for no reason, find something to praise.

Does anyone accuse anybody for no reason? Does anyone accuse anybody when they have done them no harm? When a godly command says “Do not,” the natural sinful reaction is to do exactly what God has prohibited to be done.

When the Scripture warns, “Do not accuse anyone for no reason—when they have done you no harm,” there must be terrible consequences for violators.

Do you know someone who was accused for no reason? We can easily think of the accusers of Christ who charged him with unproven accusations before Pilate, right?

It narrated in John 19:4-7, ⁴Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” ⁵When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

⁶As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” ⁷The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

Reflect: Jesus was innocent, but they accused that he deserved to die for claiming to be the Son of God. How can believers relate to such undesirable situation of Jesus?

By faith, our old self died with Christ and we resurrected to new life in Christ.

So if by faith we obey the Lord’s instruction, some individuals will be offended still and may charge or accuse us of anything just to make our life difficult. If you are accused for no reason, praise God. Why? It validated that you are true Christ’s disciple. Moreover, others are envious and not appreciate it when you’re good and kind to others.

In Romans 8:16-17, ¹⁶The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

In suffering, we can identify with the suffering of Christ as his co-heirs of God.

We can never escape suffering in this world. Life without suffering is reserved in heaven for believers. But suffering for doing what is biblically good and right in the eyes of God is commendable that can translate to eternal praise. God may allow sufferings to test our faith or to draw us nearer to him even as we pray and ask for his help.

We can also pray for others we know who are suffering from something. Amen!

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