Friday, May 30, 2014

Beware Of Extremes


Ecclesiastes 7:15-17 -  In this meaningless life, I have seen everything, including the fact that some good people die young and some wicked people live on and on.  So don't be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself?  On the other hand, don't be too wicked either -- don't be a fool! Why should you die before your time?

 

Solomon warns us here about the dangers of extremes.  He says don’t be a fool that goes too far in any direction.  The consequence of being too wise or too wicked is total destruction of what God intended for us.

 

Fixing our hearts completely on rules will transform our hearts into pious hypocrites…like the Sadducee in Luke 18. The heart becomes a judge of others wrongs…instead of the humble servant Jesus modeled for us during the 33 years of he walked the Earth. Abolishing rules completely leads our hearts to believe we control our lives. Then satan uses the time we rebel to work his evil in our heart. 

 

We need to strive for a balance in our lives. Romans 12:2 says …. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. It is the only way to prevent the wisdom we are blessed with from becoming righteous piety.  It is the only way to prevent satan from tricking us into extreme sin that will eventually lead us to death and hell.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to be careful to find the perfect balance of rules and love for others.  Forgive me for the many years that I was a hypocrite. Help me to be more like your son…who humbly walked upon the Earth….and listened to you tell him how to become the perfect model for me to learn how to love others more than himself. Amen.

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