Reach Out

I just can’t help but get back to the topic of heartfelt communication between God’s people. The degree of lacking in this arena is truly something that grieves the Spirit of God, which the scripture tells us not to do (Eph. 4:30). I see it continually; people purposely evading what is right in front of them, which is either their own need or the need of someone they are around. Just throw up a subtle roadblock here, and a subtle roadblock there, and we can be good and certain that we don’t get around to what it is that you or I really need to address. I’m talking about roadblocks of small talk and meaningless speech when what is really needed is to get down to the things of the heart, whether they be my things or yours. The scripture tells us with eloquent simplicity the value of sharing our burdens with one another: “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel” (Prov. 27:9). In order to obtain that ‘sweetness’ there has to be at least two people together who are willing to come and go directly from and to the heart with openness, honesty, and humility. I have to tell you, I know a whole lot of people in Christ, but I don’t know many who are able and willing to do this simplest of all things. It’s a really grieving experience to be able and ready to this task on either end, and not be able to find any givers or receivers on the other end. Unless there are nothing but wicked people around us, then we are without excuse to go around in turtle mode and not be willing to give 'hearty counsel’ to a friend in need, or to receive it. And if that is the case then shame on us for hanging out with the wicked instead of the righteous (Prov. 24:1).

If we don’t have anyone that we can share our trouble with, or if someone else simply refuses to let us in on their problems; then we should either be looking for new friends and brethren to be around, or our friends and brethren should be looking for someone other than us to connect with. It’s the wicked who are afraid of honesty and openness of heart, because the wicked are hiding things in their hearts that should’t be there. No wonder they don’t want to open up to anyone. Anyone who is matured in God’s love is always going to be open and willing to hear about the needs of someone else’s heart, or be willing to divulge their own. It is certain that the very same can be said for God. He seeks diligently and continuously to open his heart to his people, and to get them to open theirs to him. Jesus said the following to the congregation of Laodacea in Asia minor: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock : if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20). Unless we are willing to be open and honest with someone about the things that are troubling us, and until we can we will never fulfill the following proverb: “Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out” (Prov. 20:5). It is either fear or extreme negligence that keeps us from being able to come or go straight from or to the heart of the matter, and according to the Bible neither of those faults are acceptable (Rev. 21:8; I Jn. 4:18; Prov. 24:11,12; Mat. 25:41-15). We would do well to be real with one another and stop playing the senseless game of evasion when it’s time to give or receive “[heartfelt] counsel.” Amen.