Wednesday, 5 January 2022

I am a Fool for Messiah - 4

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I started a series on fools and foolishness back in December. I have already written parts 1-2, but now I want to pick it back up today with part 4. My one sentence review is this: We have defined foolishness as self-destructive behavior, and a fool as one who engages in such behavior. With that in mind, let's "jump in."

Consider these four words: Ephesians 5:25a Husbands, love your wives.

Rabbi Trail: Just a quick comment here. The context is that a man who does not love his wife is hurting himself (remember our definition of foolish behavior). Do we really need these words in the Bible? Apparently the Lord thought we would need to be reminded, so He put it in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. End RT.

These words do not appear out of nowhere. Consider the context ... the previous 3 verses talk about wives submitting to their own husbands, "as to the Lord" (in verse 22). This instruction is given so that wives will not feel compelled to submit to ungodly demands from their husbands.

Here's a lesson for us all. When we resist authority at any level (parents, government, employers, law enforcement) because of ungodly demands, we can and should do so with respect and honor. We honor what is honorable. The position is honorable, even if the demand is not.

Romans 13:7-8 Pay to everyone what is due them - tribute to whom tribute is due; tax to whom tax is due; respect to whom respect is due; honor to whom honor is due. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the Torah.

Sometimes we get wrapped up in being right and forget that even when we're right, that is never a license to run roughshod over another person's dignity. At all times we are ambassadors for Yeshua. As His followers, we are always called to reflect His character. We are consistently visible to the world as we function in His name and authority.

Romans 13:1-2 Let every person submit himself to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are put in place by God. So whoever opposes the authority has resisted God's direction, and those who have resisted will bring judgment on themselves.

And there it is: "bring judgment on themselves" is a good definition of foolish behavior. Avoid it. The opposite would be wise behavior. The second morning prayer in Hebrew liturgy is the first part of Proverbs 1:7a The fear of Adonai is the beginning of knowledge. But the second part of that verse is where I want to end today. Proverbs 1:7b but fools despise wisdom and discipline. The last word today, "Don't do that."