Proverbs 10:17-18

¹⁷Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. ¹⁸Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.

Fairy

Someone cried: “My social media account may have been hacked or used illegally. The pictures of my friends have been changed; they looked like fairies!”

You may have already viewed some of your subscribers who edited their pictures to make them appear like fairies in the fantasy world. Honestly, have you tried editing your pictures and published them online? Well, not everyone has been tempted or dreamed to be fairy like many social media influencers.

While they may not be tempted by editing their pictures, they also warn their followers of possible negative offshoots of edited pictures. Still, business-minded people find ways to start conversations related to such craze. Whatever may spark controversy in social media can be exploited to cause envy.

Envy is capitalized in the business world. Together, let’s seriously meditate on what it declares in James 3:16-18: ¹⁶For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. ¹⁷But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Appealing and attractive activities in the world may cause confusion even among Christians. We’ve got to pray continually in all circumstances because we do not know the schemes of the enemy of the gospel. Prayerfulness is Christian discipline that we need to take heed and practice regularly anytime anywhere.

1.  Heed

¹⁷Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

The term, “Discipline,” is properly interpreted as, “admonition, instruction, warning, rebuke, reproof or correction.” We need specific instruction when we’re not sure of what to do. We should plan on productive things and adjust when needed. Warnings are useful when we come to uncertain course or pathway. If we heed discipline, it will be productively favorable for us in the long run.

But why is it that many ignore correction as way of life? Don’t they perceive that they are led astray? To heed discipline is not instinctive for human beings.

Even Christians are confused of what they should promote or pursue in life. We can learn from what happened to the first humans. It narrated in Genesis 3:6:

⁶When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

The Lord commanded them not eat fruit of the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden to enjoy life. But the ancient serpent caused confusion when it challenged them to imagine beyond what happen if they eat fruit from the forbidden tree. With limited understanding, they assumed that they can have better experience if they explored beyond what they did not understand. Adam did not rebuke his wife because he was also enticed to explore beyond what he did not know. This is a reality to anyone who disregards discipline from the Lord.

Saw the Wind

Pray for stronger faith to focus on Christ Jesus and not easily distracted. At one time, his disciples saw Jesus walked on the lake. Peter wanted to try it. Peter said in Matthew 14:28-31, ²⁸“Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

By faith, we can personally experience amazing things that only God can do. We just need to trust him. But like Peter, we can be instinctively distracted also when fear of disaster surprises us. Again, the discipline of prayerfulness is very appropriate in all circumstances, especially when we are not aware or prepared.

Yet naturally, we don’t want others to know our critical condition, even if it means that we have to suffer for it. We hide all undesirable condition, if possible.

2.  Hide

^17bbut whoever ignores correction leads others astray. ¹⁸Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.

It is no surprise for anyone to conceal or hide negative feelings. We hide unpleasant behaviors and pretend otherwise. Well, hiding undesirable behavior, disgusting attitude may benefit observers, but performers have to be smart.

If we pretend to have appreciable behavior just to please observers, it can be beneficially smart, if we practice pleasant behavior privately and particularly.

We can start with right attitude to correction and choose friends who can help us.

Someone said, “Tell me who your friends are and I tell you who you are!” This statement suggests that friends we frequently hang around can influence our behavior. Then someone hastily argued, “But Jesus was a friend of sinners!”

Let’s reflect on what Christ Jesus stated in Matthew 11:19, ¹⁹The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.

They argue that Jesus is friend of sinners to assume that he also did what sinners do. Jesus befriended sinners and led them into righteousness. Purposely, he helps sinners turn away from wickedness; he didn’t follow their wickedness. Wisdom from God inspires believers to trust that. So, we should take heed the admonition for believers in Ephesians 5:3-7, ³But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷Therefore do not be partners with them.

            Listen: Don’t use biblical admonitions to rebuke non-religious people, why? Christian lifestyle in the Scripture is practical guidance for believers and not for anyone who rejects Jesus Christ. We trust and follow biblical discipline by faith. So, it is wasted effort to use biblical passage when rebuking unbelievers.

Well, how do you personally interpret what it warns us in Matthew 7:6?

 ⁶Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Pigs want food not pearls. Just as pigs cannot fathom the value of pearls, non-religious people can appreciate kindness but cannot accept the Scripture as crucial in their life. In contrast, we value the word of God like precious pearl.

So personally, how we can practically know that we value God’s word?

We pray for increase of faith and inspiration of the Holy Spirit to grasp and conceptualize the essentiality and importance of the word of God in your life.

We take heed of biblical discipline as our way of life in Christ.

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