Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you.
Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.
The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace. Proverbs 3:29-35
Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.
The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace. Proverbs 3:29-35
Lord, it’s not that I can’t do this thing, but that I’m convicted not to do this thing. What is this thing? Does it really matter? Master, I thought long and hard about offering a concrete example of my struggle in these difficult times, but I believe the struggle I’m going through is more universal than one personal conflict can convey. It will probably be fairly easy for my friends and family to figure out the issue with which I wrestle―the date and current events should be enough to extrapolate. But another time, under different circumstances, will come, when these words might encourage other people to seek Your wise council. I pray for those future times, and so my context will be broad.
Why am I so conflicted? Is not Your word clear; that I’m to try to do good and avoid the bad stuff? If my efforts are well intended, is that not enough and won’t You forgive me if I act in ignorance? A very unusual thing is taking place; a threat, a force that tempts me to forsake my theological beliefs in trade for the overall “good” of others. Yikes, would I do that willingly? I’d like to think not.
On the other hand, some say a reasonable alternative solution exists. All the right words are being used to suggest hope in the popular solution, and many people I know seem convinced that the “fix” has great merit. I too would sign up, but for a warning You once offered, that keeps bouncing around in my head.
Beware of false prophets, they come to me in sheep’s clothing, but within,
they are treacherous wolves…by their fruit, I’ll recognize them.
The fruit is right there to see. It has been there for many years, now ripe to be plucked, but I can’t seem to convince myself that the bad tree has somehow become a good tree. So, for the first time in my life, I find myself having decided I cannot exercise a freedom I would typically be honor-bound to see through.
Friends and foes alike criticize me, some saying, “Yes, following our lead may not be the righteous choice, but if you don’t follow, then the consequences will be terrible.” Others respond to my supposed inaction with derision, “Good. If you don’t take action, then our actions will win out.”
There are those who suggest I’m behaving sanctimoniously, looking down on those who don’t agree with me. Sovereign God, yet another friend asked me to consider, “What would Jesus do under the same circumstances?” That raises a deeper question…is my choice similar what Solomon had was forced to consider when the two women approached him claiming the same baby as their own? Or is this the same kind of pressure you, Jesus, faced when you walked the earth? I’m certainly not in the same league, but when your family and friends insisted that you behave one way, not considering the Father’s way, in order to fulfill their wants and desires―you took an unexpected and painful path.
You, Lord, have taught me not to react proudly, but with humility, scriptural study, patient prayer and seeking out wise council. By these means, You have reminded me of my own past follies. Too often I have ignored the difficult choice; not to be conformed to the world, but to be spiritually transformed by You. I’ve been guilty of not trusting Your words― doubting Your ability to resolve a conflict―instead trusting in my own skills.
Over and over, I’ve paid a stiff price for ignoring that trust, and now looms another opportunity to walk instead, in Your footsteps. I believe I have to make a very specific choice. In this particular and very unique situation, I can’t be obedient to the demands of my country, community, my family, my friends and still serve You. The worldly choices I’m presented with clearly (in my heart) would steer me off the path You’ve lit for me.
A question posed by one other fellow believer has helped to confirm a better course. He asked simply, “Does your faith in your invisible God, demonstrate visible evidence of God? If I’m honest with myself, too often, I want to justify my action by claiming that my choice is the “lesser of two evils,” but if that’s true, am I not participating willingly in dark matters?
Lord, You are fully capable of using any worldly circumstances for Your purpose. I have peace and confidence in that. But I’m convinced there is more to this place-in-time, than meets the eye. I believe You are listening for my heart, and longing to hear it beat in sync with Yours. So really, it’s not a matter of what Mark should do, nor how my actions compare to the example of my Lord and Savior. What does matter is how I respond to Your call. So, Lord, what would you have me do?
My wife and I are making preparations to travel back to Israel for a ministry trip (Praise You!) and, though my current dilemma seems as far removed, as Your holy land is from my current dwelling place, they share a common string. We want to believe, that our trip is one that is for Your purpose. It seems a righteous cause and we are being encouraged by others to pursue it. But why is that event by any means different than the other I have spoken about? Lord, in humility, I’ve approached You with this question, I have sought scriptural understanding, patiently prayed and heard from wise council. You’ve provided the answer that settles my soul regarding both situations―all situations:
I can argue all day long that the welfare of others is important to me,
but am I truly willing to sacrifice my personal popularity and wellbeing to
actually do for them, what I would have them do for me?
―You did.
And I have peace, that in this moment, during these difficult times, with You strengthening me―I can do the same.
Your will be done.
Mark C.
