Reverend Dean Rudloff
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
ESV: Proverbs 9 vs12.
Another version of this is If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer” (NIV). We take these words of instruction into living in this wonderful and wacky world of ours.
If there’s any place we need to be wise it’s here—in the society and culture in which we live. The young need to be wise in planning for their future, the middle agers need to be wise in securing their future–their job and financial picture, and seniors need to be wise, having the care needed to finish “the race.” And all of us are warned to be wise to scams and rip-offs.
Since the beginning of time, the world in which we live has gotten smaller. We live in a global atmosphere and community since technology has made it so, with instant messaging to even the far reaches of the earth. And Christians understand that even though we are in the world, we are not exactly of the world. (Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer: John 17:16)
But this is easier said than done. The world around us bombards us with ungodly and godless advice, philosophies, temptations, opinions, moral judgments and on and on.
All we have to do to be aware of all the things just mentioned is to watch TV for a half hour. The world mocks our Christian faith and can lead us to doubt and unbelief. We, too, could end up becoming “mockers,” who neither believe in God nor respect His truth. To do otherwise leads to suffering –in this life, and, if there is no repentance, in the life to come.
But there is a way to combat the negative influences of the world and the waywardness of sin: fill your mind with Godly thoughts. To the Christians in Philippi the Apostle Paul wrote: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praise worthy–think about such things.”
When you fill your mind with these kinds of thoughts, you’re not going to have the time or the room for godless thoughts. Set aside Bible reading time; memorize passages that are important to you; attend Bible studies; put Scriptural notes on your refrigerator or on your bathroom mirror at home with the verses that enlighten your day in order to be wise in the Word of God. Contrary to human thoughts and ways that are unjust, God says: My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. (Isaiah 55:8).
Still, we know that no matter how hard we try, we still falter and fail. There are times when the world manages to get the best of our thoughts and actions. And to our embarrassment, it happens daily.
That’s why it’s so good to know we have something really special to think about– or rather—somebody. That somebody is Jesus. To think about Him is to think about God’s love and forgiveness in spite of our sins. To think about Him is to think about the one who has overcome the world for us.
As a favorite hymn of mine sings: “Jesus the very thought of Thee with sweetness fills the breast; but sweeter far Thy face to see and in Thy presence rest.”
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Reverend Dean Rudloff, Life In Christ Lutheran Church in Grand Marais.
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