"Young women of Jerusalem,
I charge you,
by the gazelles and the wild does
of the field:
do not stir up or awaken love
until the appropriate time." (verse 7)
Here the bride warns young women not to stir up love until the right time.....wait until marriage..that is what God intended. In our culture today sex is not revered, not sacred. In fact, society promotes having as many partners as possible, and if someone waits until marriage, she (or he) is considered a freak.
"Listen! My love is approaching,
Look! Here he comes,
leaping over the mountains,
bounding over the hills.
My love is like a gazelle
or a young stag." (Verse 8)
She uses a simile to compare her love to a gazelle and a stag. A gazelle is an antelope that can run as fast as 60 mph, and a young stag is a male deer. She thinks her man is a STUD. She admires his athleticism.
"My dove, in the clefts
of the rock,
In the crevices of the cliff,
let me see your face,
let me hear your voice;
for your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely." (Verse 14)
Here is her husband comparing her to a dove; doves are symbolic of love and purity. He is enraptured by her voice and her face.
Next: Chapter 3
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Marriage: From God's View: Part 6: The Song of Songs, Chapter 1
The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman,'
for she was taken out of man."
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother
and be united to his wife,
and they will become one flesh,
The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Genesis 2:23-25
God created men and women and designed them to become one in marriage...one in every sense of the word. The Song of Songs is largely ignored in churches today; many people have never even read it so they don't know what it contains. Others try to "spiritualize" the book to refer to Christ and His church (I think, because they are uncomfortable with the details). The obvious interpretation of the Song is God's intention of romantic, sexual love in the context of marriage. I think every couple should read it as they start their marriage; God wrote it for His children (us). The entire book is the wooing, expectancy, and consummation of the love of this couple as God intended.
"Oh, that he would kiss me
with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is more delightful
than wine.
The fragrance of your perfume
is intoxicating;
your name is perfume
poured out,
No wonder young women adore
you.
Take me with you----
let us hurry.
Oh, that the king would bring
me to his chambers.
(Song of Songs 1:1-4)
These are the opening lines of the book, and how beautiful they are. The King's beloved is dreamily thinking of his kisses as more wonderful than wine, and she is intoxicated by the memory of his scent and even by his name. Yes, his name; she is enraptured by him. She can't wait for him to carry her to his chamber.
She goes on in verses 16-17 to say,
"How handsome you are,
my love,
How delightful!
Our bed is lush with foliage;
the beams of our house
are cedars,
and our rafters are cypresses.
I am a rose of Sharon,
a lily of the valleys."
Some interpretations of the above is that they are consummating their marriage outdoors.
Verse 15 has "her man, her love" praising her
beauty:
"How beautiful you are,
my darling.
How very beautiful!
Your eyes are doves."
Next: Song of Songs, Chapter 2
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman,'
for she was taken out of man."
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother
and be united to his wife,
and they will become one flesh,
The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Genesis 2:23-25
God created men and women and designed them to become one in marriage...one in every sense of the word. The Song of Songs is largely ignored in churches today; many people have never even read it so they don't know what it contains. Others try to "spiritualize" the book to refer to Christ and His church (I think, because they are uncomfortable with the details). The obvious interpretation of the Song is God's intention of romantic, sexual love in the context of marriage. I think every couple should read it as they start their marriage; God wrote it for His children (us). The entire book is the wooing, expectancy, and consummation of the love of this couple as God intended.
"Oh, that he would kiss me
with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is more delightful
than wine.
The fragrance of your perfume
is intoxicating;
your name is perfume
poured out,
No wonder young women adore
you.
Take me with you----
let us hurry.
Oh, that the king would bring
me to his chambers.
(Song of Songs 1:1-4)
These are the opening lines of the book, and how beautiful they are. The King's beloved is dreamily thinking of his kisses as more wonderful than wine, and she is intoxicated by the memory of his scent and even by his name. Yes, his name; she is enraptured by him. She can't wait for him to carry her to his chamber.
She goes on in verses 16-17 to say,
"How handsome you are,
my love,
How delightful!
Our bed is lush with foliage;
the beams of our house
are cedars,
and our rafters are cypresses.
I am a rose of Sharon,
a lily of the valleys."
Some interpretations of the above is that they are consummating their marriage outdoors.
Verse 15 has "her man, her love" praising her
beauty:
"How beautiful you are,
my darling.
How very beautiful!
Your eyes are doves."
Next: Song of Songs, Chapter 2
Friday, July 12, 2013
Marriage: From God's View, Part 5: Ordained Sex
God is the designer of sex; like an architect, He designed the male and female bodies as miraculous things of beauty. When I really think about that, I do not see how anyone could think we "evolved"
from something else.
Matthew 19:4-6: "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate."
Mark 10:6-9 substantiates the verses above: "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no long two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate."
The two will become one flesh...........My interpretation of that is that spiritually as well as physically they become one; while they are two separate individuals, at the same time they are one unit. God warns that no one is to try to break that covenant.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5---"A husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. A wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. Equally, a husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does. Do not deprive one another--except when you agree, for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control."
In this passage Paul is not only commanding/advising married couples to have sex, but he tells the woman her husband has control over her body, and likewise, the wife has control over her husband's. He instructs them not to withhold sex from one another unless it is for prayer (and fasting) because Satan may tempt them.
Now, I know how some women are ( I say "women" because I have never heard of a husband giving an excuse to beg off sex.). If they are angry, they often want to "get back" at their husbands by withholding sex; thus, the "Not tonight, honey; I have a headache" cliché. That is wrong, wrong, wrong.....and I will go a step further and say they are asking for trouble because they are leaving the door open for Satan to tempt their husband with another woman. God created the male and female bodies to complement each other, and that makes sex a huge part of marriage.
Next: The Song of Solomon....up close
from something else.
Matthew 19:4-6: "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate."
Mark 10:6-9 substantiates the verses above: "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no long two, but one. Therefore, what God has joined together, let man not separate."
The two will become one flesh...........My interpretation of that is that spiritually as well as physically they become one; while they are two separate individuals, at the same time they are one unit. God warns that no one is to try to break that covenant.
1 Corinthians 7:3-5---"A husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. A wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. Equally, a husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does. Do not deprive one another--except when you agree, for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control."
In this passage Paul is not only commanding/advising married couples to have sex, but he tells the woman her husband has control over her body, and likewise, the wife has control over her husband's. He instructs them not to withhold sex from one another unless it is for prayer (and fasting) because Satan may tempt them.
Now, I know how some women are ( I say "women" because I have never heard of a husband giving an excuse to beg off sex.). If they are angry, they often want to "get back" at their husbands by withholding sex; thus, the "Not tonight, honey; I have a headache" cliché. That is wrong, wrong, wrong.....and I will go a step further and say they are asking for trouble because they are leaving the door open for Satan to tempt their husband with another woman. God created the male and female bodies to complement each other, and that makes sex a huge part of marriage.
Next: The Song of Solomon....up close
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Marriage: From God's View, Part 4: A Virtuous Wife
God expends much of the Bible, and especially Proverbs describing a godly wife. I am going to focus on just a few verses from Proverbs that speak to me.
"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31: 10-12
How beautiful is that?! A noble wife is worth more than rubies! What does it mean to have noble character? She should be of high moral character. To me, that means 1) she acts like a lady, 2) she has eyes only for him 3) she obeys God's and man's laws to the best of her ability, and 4)she has a heart for others. Is she perfect? No, but she should bring no shame to her husband.
He is to have "full confidence in her." In other words, he knows he can count on her. She is his rock (as he is hers), his confidante; she completes him. She is to be the "one" person he goes to for encouragement, for baring his soul with no qualms about doing so; he is "safe" with her. She seeks only to do him good.
In Proverbs 12:4, God says "A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones." She is his crown; let that metaphor sink in. She makes him a king, makes him feel like a king because he is her earthly king. (not to be confused with idolatry, but he is "her man").
The flip side to that is "a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones." That kind of wife tears him up, destroys him. What woman wouldn't want to be of "noble character"?
Next: Sex as God created
"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31: 10-12
How beautiful is that?! A noble wife is worth more than rubies! What does it mean to have noble character? She should be of high moral character. To me, that means 1) she acts like a lady, 2) she has eyes only for him 3) she obeys God's and man's laws to the best of her ability, and 4)she has a heart for others. Is she perfect? No, but she should bring no shame to her husband.
He is to have "full confidence in her." In other words, he knows he can count on her. She is his rock (as he is hers), his confidante; she completes him. She is to be the "one" person he goes to for encouragement, for baring his soul with no qualms about doing so; he is "safe" with her. She seeks only to do him good.
In Proverbs 12:4, God says "A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones." She is his crown; let that metaphor sink in. She makes him a king, makes him feel like a king because he is her earthly king. (not to be confused with idolatry, but he is "her man").
The flip side to that is "a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones." That kind of wife tears him up, destroys him. What woman wouldn't want to be of "noble character"?
Next: Sex as God created
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Marriage: From God's View, Part 3: Submission
If there is one word that sets the feminist movement on its head, it is probably "submission."
I was a teenager of the '70s, but I never believed the feminist crap being espoused. God created men and women differently and with different roles.
Unfortunately, feminists are not the only ones who don't get God's model. There are many men who hear "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord," (Ephesians 5:22) and stop there. Their caveman-like mentality hurts not only their spouse and marriage but also their testimony. To quote a friend, "Jesus weeps." I think he does more than that. I think He is furious when He sees men misrepresenting Him.
Yes, I said it: misrepresenting HIM. Let's look at a few key verses in their totality. Ephesians 5:22-23: "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church, his body of which He is the Savior."
Let's look closely at what God is saying. Yes, wives submit because if you both are trying to lead, you end up with a two-headed monster.
What simile does God use to compare the husband? "...as Christ is the head of the Church." The husband is being compared to Christ. They are similar becaue their roles are similar. Does Christ abuse the Church? Of course not. So, a husband is not to abuse his wife. He is to behave like Christ.
Few husbands pay heed to Colossians 3:18-19:
"Wives, submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives
and do not be harsh with them."
I see two things here. One: God knows us women and our tendencies to control. I think that is why He says this in more than one place. Second: He is making sure men don't get the wrong idea here
and think they have a license to abuse their wife.
Now, it is important that a man be the kind of man a woman wants to follow---to submit to. I will say unequivocally, I don't believe most women want a weak man; I certainly don't. I've been there with my ex. A woman wants a man who can lead her. He needs to foremost have a heart for God and have his eyes trained on Him. He needs to be her spirtual leader and encourager. If he can't always point her to Christ, what good is he? Proverbs 20:6-7 says, "Many a man claims to have an unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? The righteous man leads a blamelss life. Blessed are his children after him."
So, he needs to be faithful.....faithful to God and his wife.
Is it always easy to submit? No, but it is what God commands us to do. And, He commands the husband to lead his wife and not to "be harsh" for the husband is representing Christ to his wife.
Next: Being a godly wife
I was a teenager of the '70s, but I never believed the feminist crap being espoused. God created men and women differently and with different roles.
Unfortunately, feminists are not the only ones who don't get God's model. There are many men who hear "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord," (Ephesians 5:22) and stop there. Their caveman-like mentality hurts not only their spouse and marriage but also their testimony. To quote a friend, "Jesus weeps." I think he does more than that. I think He is furious when He sees men misrepresenting Him.
Yes, I said it: misrepresenting HIM. Let's look at a few key verses in their totality. Ephesians 5:22-23: "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church, his body of which He is the Savior."
Let's look closely at what God is saying. Yes, wives submit because if you both are trying to lead, you end up with a two-headed monster.
What simile does God use to compare the husband? "...as Christ is the head of the Church." The husband is being compared to Christ. They are similar becaue their roles are similar. Does Christ abuse the Church? Of course not. So, a husband is not to abuse his wife. He is to behave like Christ.
Few husbands pay heed to Colossians 3:18-19:
"Wives, submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives
and do not be harsh with them."
I see two things here. One: God knows us women and our tendencies to control. I think that is why He says this in more than one place. Second: He is making sure men don't get the wrong idea here
and think they have a license to abuse their wife.
Now, it is important that a man be the kind of man a woman wants to follow---to submit to. I will say unequivocally, I don't believe most women want a weak man; I certainly don't. I've been there with my ex. A woman wants a man who can lead her. He needs to foremost have a heart for God and have his eyes trained on Him. He needs to be her spirtual leader and encourager. If he can't always point her to Christ, what good is he? Proverbs 20:6-7 says, "Many a man claims to have an unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? The righteous man leads a blamelss life. Blessed are his children after him."
So, he needs to be faithful.....faithful to God and his wife.
Is it always easy to submit? No, but it is what God commands us to do. And, He commands the husband to lead his wife and not to "be harsh" for the husband is representing Christ to his wife.
Next: Being a godly wife
Monday, July 8, 2013
Marriage: from God's View, Part 2: Being Equally Yoked
2 Corinthians 6:14...."Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?"
Paul is speaking here about keeping company with nonbelievers, but it can certainly be applied to marriage. A believer should not marry an unbeliever...period. In fact, I will go one step further and say a believer should not even date an unbeliever. What would be the point? Certainly a believer would not think she could change/convert the unbeliever. She should not be "unequally yoked" with an unbeliever, or even the wrong christian. . She should wait for the "one" God has planned for her. Let's take a closer look at what the "yolking" means first.
"The word "yoke" means a coupling as when two oxen are coupled or yoked together by a pulling beam to do work such as plowing a field or pulling a wagon. Therefore you can not just put any old ox under the yoke, it has to be the ox that the yoke was fashioned for or the yoke won't fit properly...the oxen won't be able to work together because the yoke will not be level...the oxen will be mismatched. The yoking of oxen speaks to the yoke builders choosing of the team and fashioning the yoke for that specific team so that they can perform the task that he called them to accomplish. You have to be under the yoke yourself first then wait for the chosen team member that the yoke was already designed for...perfect match by the yoke builder himself.".....God!
I stated earlier that a believer should wait for the one God has planned for her.....if He wants her to
marry. While I have known one couple who met through a christian singles website and married, I would not recommend that. If the God of the universe brought Eve to Adam, can't He handle bringing two people together today? When we try to arrange/force things, that is when disaster strikes. God tells us in Isaiah 55:8, "My ways are not your ways," and the way of God is foolishness to man.
Our culture tells us we have the "right" to something when we want it...instant gratification. God has His own timetable, and He is not concerned with ours. If he brought Adam and Eve together, surely He can handle us today. He is the same God.
While this is not biblical, I personally think a woman (or man) should ask God for one who can help him or her advance the Kingdom. I think a marriage should be two people who can do more for God's kingdom here on earth "together" than they can apart.
Next in the series: Submission
Paul is speaking here about keeping company with nonbelievers, but it can certainly be applied to marriage. A believer should not marry an unbeliever...period. In fact, I will go one step further and say a believer should not even date an unbeliever. What would be the point? Certainly a believer would not think she could change/convert the unbeliever. She should not be "unequally yoked" with an unbeliever, or even the wrong christian. . She should wait for the "one" God has planned for her. Let's take a closer look at what the "yolking" means first.
"The word "yoke" means a coupling as when two oxen are coupled or yoked together by a pulling beam to do work such as plowing a field or pulling a wagon. Therefore you can not just put any old ox under the yoke, it has to be the ox that the yoke was fashioned for or the yoke won't fit properly...the oxen won't be able to work together because the yoke will not be level...the oxen will be mismatched. The yoking of oxen speaks to the yoke builders choosing of the team and fashioning the yoke for that specific team so that they can perform the task that he called them to accomplish. You have to be under the yoke yourself first then wait for the chosen team member that the yoke was already designed for...perfect match by the yoke builder himself.".....God!
I stated earlier that a believer should wait for the one God has planned for her.....if He wants her to
marry. While I have known one couple who met through a christian singles website and married, I would not recommend that. If the God of the universe brought Eve to Adam, can't He handle bringing two people together today? When we try to arrange/force things, that is when disaster strikes. God tells us in Isaiah 55:8, "My ways are not your ways," and the way of God is foolishness to man.
Our culture tells us we have the "right" to something when we want it...instant gratification. God has His own timetable, and He is not concerned with ours. If he brought Adam and Eve together, surely He can handle us today. He is the same God.
While this is not biblical, I personally think a woman (or man) should ask God for one who can help him or her advance the Kingdom. I think a marriage should be two people who can do more for God's kingdom here on earth "together" than they can apart.
Next in the series: Submission
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Marriage: From God's View, Part 1: The First Wedding
Some people may think it is odd that a divorced woman would be writing about marriage from God's perspective, but I have learned much in the thirteen years I have been divorced. To begin with, while I was raised in the church, I was not saved back then. So, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come." I received a rebirth in Christ, so it as though my prior life does not exist any longer.
For "Christians", and I want to emphasize I am only speaking to Christians, God has much to say about marriage. For that reason, I am approaching this as a series. We see the first marriage in Genesis 2. God had formed Adam and placed him in charge of the Garden of Eden. He brought him all the animals and whatever Adam called them, that was what they were. But God saw there was a problem. None of the animals was a "helper" suitable for Adam. So, God placed Adam in a deep sleep and took a rib from him to fashion Eve. We don't know how long God let Adam sleep before presenting him with his wife Eve. When God awakened Adam, Adam said,
"This one, at last, is bone
of my bone,
and flesh of my flesh;
this one will be called woman,
for she was taken from man."
This is why when a man and woman are joined in marriage they leave their fathers and mothers and bond together. They become one flesh....symbolically and physically. Eve was created to be a "helper" to Adam. I may be bashed for this, but she completes him. They are one flesh, and as one flesh, one should not be warring against the other lest he destroy himself.
For "Christians", and I want to emphasize I am only speaking to Christians, God has much to say about marriage. For that reason, I am approaching this as a series. We see the first marriage in Genesis 2. God had formed Adam and placed him in charge of the Garden of Eden. He brought him all the animals and whatever Adam called them, that was what they were. But God saw there was a problem. None of the animals was a "helper" suitable for Adam. So, God placed Adam in a deep sleep and took a rib from him to fashion Eve. We don't know how long God let Adam sleep before presenting him with his wife Eve. When God awakened Adam, Adam said,
"This one, at last, is bone
of my bone,
and flesh of my flesh;
this one will be called woman,
for she was taken from man."
This is why when a man and woman are joined in marriage they leave their fathers and mothers and bond together. They become one flesh....symbolically and physically. Eve was created to be a "helper" to Adam. I may be bashed for this, but she completes him. They are one flesh, and as one flesh, one should not be warring against the other lest he destroy himself.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Prepping
As I stand here prepping onions, garlic, and peppers for tomorrow's chili, I think how God similarly preps us. He (if we allow Him) leads us and prepares us (and our hearts) for what is to come in our lives. I remember almost 3 years ago having a restlessness in my former church; I wanted to do something with community service. Because I was open, He lead me to be able to cook for the downtown disadvantaged/poor for over a year. I have done the sole cooking for almost 11 months. Now I feel He is prepping me again for something else....something that is down the road and around the bend, maybe over that mountain. He is teaching me to listen and wait.....as He preps me.
Friendship
I have been thinking about what constitutes a friend.....I mean a "true" friend. There are acquaintances, friends, and then there are Friends with a capital "F". I have a very small group of friends, and an even tinier group of Friends.
I will focus on a Friend.....the elusive one with the capital F. And, since I was reared in the era where we used the singular third person masculine pronoun, I will refer to such a friend as a "he".
A Friend is one you take as he is....warts and all....and do not try/expect to change him. If you try, how is he your friend and vice versa?
A Friend transcends race. One of my Friends is African-American. She recently told me of a new AA lady at our work who called her "sista". My Friend told me she is not her "sista"; I am the only person at our work she considers a "sista".
A Friend is one you know you can rely on.....a listener, and you listen; a confidant.....and you don't blab what he tells you in confidence, and vice versa. Someone you trust without reservation.
A Friend is one who feels at ease borrowing money from you....and vice versa. I don't mean the usual $10 or $20; I mean hundreds of dollars.....no timetable to pay back.... but you know he will/you will.
A Friend is one who will help you when you need it.....maybe doing mundane errands...maybe climbing on your roof to trim your limbs so the insurance won't drop you.
A Friend makes no demands on you....has no expectations of you.....doesn't use you financially, emotionally, or in any other way.....he values you for you....warts and all.....and vice versa.
I will focus on a Friend.....the elusive one with the capital F. And, since I was reared in the era where we used the singular third person masculine pronoun, I will refer to such a friend as a "he".
A Friend is one you take as he is....warts and all....and do not try/expect to change him. If you try, how is he your friend and vice versa?
A Friend transcends race. One of my Friends is African-American. She recently told me of a new AA lady at our work who called her "sista". My Friend told me she is not her "sista"; I am the only person at our work she considers a "sista".
A Friend is one you know you can rely on.....a listener, and you listen; a confidant.....and you don't blab what he tells you in confidence, and vice versa. Someone you trust without reservation.
A Friend is one who feels at ease borrowing money from you....and vice versa. I don't mean the usual $10 or $20; I mean hundreds of dollars.....no timetable to pay back.... but you know he will/you will.
A Friend is one who will help you when you need it.....maybe doing mundane errands...maybe climbing on your roof to trim your limbs so the insurance won't drop you.
A Friend makes no demands on you....has no expectations of you.....doesn't use you financially, emotionally, or in any other way.....he values you for you....warts and all.....and vice versa.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Holding our tongues
I have let this little blog die over the last year because I didn't have the interest in writing and it had become "just another thing to do." Lately I have found a new interest in writing, so I will give it another shot, though with my schedule, I am not sure how often it will be.
Lately, I have been doing a lot of self-reflection and seeking God. I try to consult Him everyday for guidance and revelation. Like most people, my life is inordinately stressful, and I hate that. Why does it have to be that way? I told someone recently that it seems we are the rats on the proverbial wheel and we just keep spinning, spinning, and spinning, and getting nowhere. There has to be more, and so I am seeking Him for that "more".
One of the byproducts of that stressful life is complaining, which is rampant in my circle. Proverbs 10:19 tells us that "Where there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise." In my supplemental reading I have encountered, "Never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut," and this one has gone around for years: "Keep your mouth shut and show your good sense."
All this brings me to this question: is it wrong of us to "vent" to another person, say a best friend or a spouse? Isn't that what spouses are for (as an example)? Or, should we solely spill our guts to the One who already reads our minds, knows our hearts?
Lately, I have been doing a lot of self-reflection and seeking God. I try to consult Him everyday for guidance and revelation. Like most people, my life is inordinately stressful, and I hate that. Why does it have to be that way? I told someone recently that it seems we are the rats on the proverbial wheel and we just keep spinning, spinning, and spinning, and getting nowhere. There has to be more, and so I am seeking Him for that "more".
One of the byproducts of that stressful life is complaining, which is rampant in my circle. Proverbs 10:19 tells us that "Where there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise." In my supplemental reading I have encountered, "Never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut," and this one has gone around for years: "Keep your mouth shut and show your good sense."
All this brings me to this question: is it wrong of us to "vent" to another person, say a best friend or a spouse? Isn't that what spouses are for (as an example)? Or, should we solely spill our guts to the One who already reads our minds, knows our hearts?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)