This week's Bible Study - November 18, 2007
20/20 Vision
 Background Scripture:
Matthew 7:1-12
Quote of the Week:
“People only see what they are prepared to see.”--
Ralph Waldo Emerson
How important is 20/20 vision? Have you ever been to the eye doctor, only to find out that your vision has gotten so bad that you require the equivalent to coke bottle glasses? Generally, we let our vision go for a while and we become accustomed to squinting and not seeing clearly. After a while, we may visit the eye doctor to find that we need a drastically different or new prescription. Once you see, have you ever wondered why it took you so long? As one comedian said, upon getting new glasses - 'I coulda been seeing things!'
It seems that we have this mode of behavior in many areas of our lives. While we may keep current on certain things, involving technology or our jobs or news or our favorite sports teams, there are generally other areas of our lives that seem to get neglected for a while. They tend to atrophy over time. Although you may not have ridden a bike for a long time, you are likely able to pick it up on a whim and ride until the bicycle seat causes issues. However, if you used to play a sport a long time ago, you will find that your skills atrophy greatly over time. I used to play at a fairly high level of tennis. I would be fooling myself to enter a tournament anymore.
When we are passionate about things, we stick with it over time and grow as time goes by. We learn new things and adapt as we go. This is how some people stay current in technology or in their careers. As believers, we need to continue to seek God's will, as it applies to our lives.
The Bible tells us that we should not judge. I believe this to be one of the things most people like to do most. We are more or less taught at any early age to make judgments on different things - which is better, which is worse, etc. However, many continue to judge people - based upon areas of their lives. It is very easy to sit back and cast stones at other people - how could they do such a thing? However, this passage is clear in telling us that as we judge others, we too will be judged. We don't know everything about anybody, but we tend to look at areas and play the role of judge. However, we know all about ourselves - our failures and successes - we know our own tendencies and we know the areas of sin that we all deal with. Would you like to be judged in the same manner you judge others?
Jesus talks about the inordinate amount of attention we tend to pay to the speck of sawdust in our brother's eye, while disregarding the plank in our own eye. As one person put it recently in my Bible Study class, many people tend to take their own plank out to smack somebody else, and then replace it in their own eyes. What would be different if we policed ourselves in the manner that we police others? We need to remove the areas of sin in our own lives so that we can help others remove sin in theirs. The point is not to become clean so that we can more clearly point out problems with others, but that we can help others overcome their own issues.
Another area of our lives that tends to get out of focus is how much or how little we believe that God wants to give to us. There are extremes to this. Some believers believe that God intends to bless every believer to the point of health and wealth - no real problems to speak of and every need (and desire) fulfilled. They say if you follow God and you will always be blessed, with no problems coming your way. There are others who believe that God does not intend to bless them in any manner and that anything that they get is based upon what they do on their own.
Jesus tells us to ask and it will be given. How often do we ask? I would contend that we neglect to ask from God as much as he would desire. We tend to fall back on our own self reliance, thinking that anything God gives is a bonus. A child seldom has problems asking a parent for something. As they grow, they know that they are unlikely to get everything they ask for, but it doesn't stop them asking. If they ask, at least the desire is known.
Jesus said to knock and the door would be opened to you. What in your life is going on right now that you need to ask from God? Is there direction that you are seeking in a job or a relationship or a decision? Have you really stopped to ask God for direction? He wants to give it.
We tend to think of our earthly parents when we ask. As children ask for things that they need, a good parent will provide for their needs. If they are hungry and ask for bread, a good parent will not give a stone. If they ask for a fish, they will not get a snake. Now, perhaps you can think of something you asked for, as a child, and got something totally different. As parents, sometimes we blow it and give what we want to give, as opposed to what our children need or have asked for.
We know that, in relation to God, we as parents are not good. However, we also know that we, as parents, want to give good gifts to our children. If we give good gifts to our children, how much more so will our Father in heaven, who truly is good, give good gifts to those who ask of him? We need to recall who our Father in heaven is. He is the Almighty Creator and Provider of life. He made you - so he knows what you need. He does not want to give you a bare existence on this earth, as he does want to give you good things. However, he wants a relationship with you so that you will spend the time to communicate with him and ask him for those good things.
This last verse of this passage is a great verse to sum up our relationships with other people. "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." What changes when we take this philosophy? How might this change the way we deal with our friends? Our neighbors? Our children? Our spouse? Others in our lives?
Think of the person that causes you the most grief - what changes if you treat them in this manner?
I know in some cases, this may not work. There are some people who appreciate jokes of all kinds. If they would like to be treated like that, it's a pretty safe bet that others would not like that. The intention of treating others fairly, and considerate of their personalities is what is intended. You would want the same for you.
Closing
Just like our vision changes over time, we need to realize that we drift as people, as well. We need to remember to be considerate of others. Even if it seems easy to judge somebody else, we must remember that we are guilty of much as well. Rather than judge others, we should be coming together to help each other out. We all have struggles and we all experience disappointment from time to time.
We need to remember that God wants us to ask of him. Rather than shouldering everything on our own, we should remember that God intends to give to his children. Are you asking for where you need help right now?
Lastly, are you treating others as you would want to be treated? Think of the problem areas in relationships with others. Are you treating them with the same consideration you would want to have?
The Christian life is less like climbing a mountain, where you can stop and rest, than it is paddling upstream. You can certainly stop paddling and put the oars in the boat. However, you will start to drift backwards. We need to take a look at our lives at different points in time and make the changes that are necessary, so that we can live the fullness of life that God has called us to live.
|