Scripture and Truth

I would like to take a short but meaningful look at a vastly overlooked scripture today: "Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life" (Prov. 4:13). Most people probably look at this scripture and think that it means that everyone should want to be a teacher. The truth is that it isn't about teaching, but rather it is about LEARNING. The ability to BE instructed is as valuable a trait as one can possibly have. Everyone claims to be taught by the Spirit of God, but somehow the holy Ghost forgot to teach them anything about being able to listen. There is simply no way that one can be taught by God whom they cannot see, when they are not able to be instructed by their brother whom they can see. Everyone wants to teach, but nobody cares anything about learning. There just seems to be something wrong with that picture. My experience is that the best teachers are those who have proven to be the best listeners and learners, and remain so. One thing you can be certain of: If someone is talking when they should be listening, or teaching when they should be learning; they will ALWAYS be saying or teaching SOMETHING WRONG! Not many folks give any heed to the wise and sobering admonition of James: "My brethren, be not many [teachers], knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation" (Jas. 3:1). Solomon's wisdom on the matter has also been shunned: "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels" (Prov. 1:5). He had another good saying on this topic also: "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few" (Eccl. 5:1,2).

Jesus had something to say that is being overlooked by all of the teaching and talking pundits today as well: "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak , they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Mat. 12:36,37). Those are some really serious words my friend, especially considering the source. There simply is so much more rest in being quiet, and in not striving for so much responsibility, as James noted. But for some strange reason so many folks today are just hell-bent on having unrest and putting themselves in a dangerous position with God, having absolutely no fear of his judgment against their long winded heresies and speeches against his truth. But it's all the same to me really, because I DO love rest, and I do know and love the simplicity of God's truth: "The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" (Jer. 23:28,29). And the same rule applies today that applied in Jeremiah's day, in regard to who is truly speaking for God, and who is not: "But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings" (Jer. 23:22). That is the bottom line my friend. What is it that is being produced in the lives of those who are listening to whatever it is that is being taught? Jesus simplistically said it like this: "But wisdom is justified of all her children" (Lk. 7:35). Everything produces after its own kind, and the same is true with God's word. Those who are truly hearing and abiding in the true word of God are going to bear the fruit of God's true love and holiness. And everything that is NOT truly from God is going to produce after its kind as well; so let be what will be. Myself, I find a whole lot of rest in that. God bless.