[Earnest Hemingways striking passport photo 1923]

Harmful effects of:

“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness. –  Exodus 23.1

Making up or spreading false reports [given to the U.S.] was strictly forbidden by God.  Gossip, slander, and false witnessing undermined families, strained neighbourhood co-operation, and made chaos of the justice system.  Destructive gossip still causes problems.  Even if you do not initiate a lie, you become responsible if you pass it on.  Don’t circulate rumours; quench them.

(“Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. “You must give me the firstborn of your sons. – Exodus 22:29.  The Israelites were to be prompt in giving God their offerings.  The first of the harvest was to be dedicated to him.  Since God doesn’t send reminders, it is easy to take care of other financial responsibilities while letting our gifts to him slide.  Giving to God first out of what he has allowed you to have demonstrates that he has first priority in your life).

(“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd, and do not show favouritism to a poor man in his lawsuit. – Exodus 23:2, 3. Justice is often perverted in favour of the rich.  Here the people are warned against twisting justice in favour of the poor.  Justice should be impartial, treating rich and poor alike.  Giving special privileges to either rich or poor only makes justice for everyone more unlikely.  Withstand the pressure of the crowd to sway your decision about a person.  Let the fairness God shows to each of us guide your judgment).

Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbour. – Proverb 25.18

Lying (“false testimony”) is vicious. Its effects can be as permanent as those of a stab wound.  The next time you are tempted to pass on a bit of gossip, imagine yourself stabbing the victim of your remarks with a sword.  This image may shock you into silence.

(Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give. – Proverb 25:14.  Most churches, missions organisations, and Christian groups depend on the gifts of people to keep their ministries going.  But many who promise to give fail to do so.  The Bible is very clear about the effect this has on those involved in the ministry.  If you make a pledge, keep your promise).

(If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. – Proverbs 25:21, 22.  God’s form of retaliation is most effective and yet difficult to do.  Paul quotes this proverb in Romans 12:19-21.  In Matthew 5:44, Jesus encouraged us to pray for those who hurt us.  By returning good for evil, we are acknowledging God as the balancer of all accounts and trusting him to be the judge).

We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.  Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. –  2 Thessalonians 3.11-12

A “busybody” is a gossip.  An idle person who doesn’t work ends up filling his or her time with less than helpful activities, like gossip.  Rumours and hearsay are tantalising, exciting to hear and make us feel like insiders.  But they tear people down.  If you often find your nose in other people’s business, you may be underemployed.  Look for a task to do for Christ or for your family, and get to work.

(In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teachings you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.  We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it.  On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.  We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow.  For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”  We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.  Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.  And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.  If anyone does not obey our instructions in this letter, take special note of him.  Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.  Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.  – 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15.  Some people in the Thessalonian church were falsely teaching that because Christ would return any day, people should set aside their responsibilities, leave work, do no future planning, and just wait for the Lord.  But their lack of activity only led them into sin.  They became a burden to the church, which was supporting them; they wasted time that could have been used for helping others; and they became “busybodies” (3.11).  These church members may have thought that they were being more spiritual by not working, but Paul tells them to be responsible and get back to work.  Being ready for Christ means obeying him in every area of life.  Because we know that Christ is coming, we must live in such a way that our faith and our daily practice will please him when he arrives).

(If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.  Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. – 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15.  Paul counselled the church to stop supporting financially and associating with those who persisted in their idleness.  Hunger and loneliness can be very effective ways to make the idle person become productive.  Paul was not advising coldness or cruelty, but the king of tough love that a person would show a brother or sister).

Dealing with:

I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts – men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. –  Psalm 57.4

At times, we may be surrounded by people who gossip about us or criticise us. Verbal cruelty can damage us as badly as physical abuse.  Rather than answering with hateful words, we, like David, can talk with God about the problem.

(Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. – Psalm 57:1. This psalm was probably written when David was hiding in a cave from Saul (see 1 Samuel 22-24)).

(My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. – Psalm 57:7. David’s firm faith in God contrasted sharply with his enemies’ loud lying and boasting.  When confronted with verbal attacks, the best defence is simply to be quiet and praise God, realising that our confidence is in his love and faithfulness (57.10).  In times of great suffering, don’t turn inward to self-pity or outward to revenge, but upward to God).

What they believed:

A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?”  Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.”  They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. – Acts 17.18

The Epicureans and Stoics were the dominant philosophers in Greek culture.  The Epicureans believed that seeking happiness or pleasure was the primary goal of life.  By contrast, the Stoics placed thinking above feeling and tried to live in harmony with nature and reason, suppressing their desire for pleasure.  Thus they were very disciplined.

EXTRA

(‘ When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.  Then they put Jason and the others on bail and let them go. – Acts 17.8, 9   Jason put up the money to buy their freedom.  By doing so, he promised that the trouble would cease or his own property and possibly his own life would be taken.)

(‘   Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.  – Acts 17.11 How do you evaluate sermons and teachings?  The people in Berea opened the Scriptures for themselves and searched for truths to verify or disprove the message they heard.  Always compare what you hear with what the bible says.  A preacher or teacher who gives God’s [Wall’s] true message will never contradict or explain anything away that is found in God’s word.)

(The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. – Acts 17.15 Athens, with its magnificent buildings and many gods, was a centre for Greek culture, philosophy, and education.  Philosophers and educated men were always ready to hear something new, so they invited Paul to speak to them at the meeting of the Areopagus (17.18, 19).

(Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? – Acts 17.19 For a time the Council or Court (here called the Areopagus) met on a low hill in Athens near the Acropolis.  As Paul stood there and spoke about the one true God, his audience could look down on the city and see the many idols representing gods that Paul knew were worthless).

(‘ Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. – Acts 17.22 Paul was well prepared to speak to this group.  He came from Tarsus, an educational centre, and had the training and knowledge to present his beliefs clearly and persuasively.  Paul was a rabbi, taught by the finest scholar of his day, Gamaliel, and he had spent much of his life thinking and reasoning through the Scriptures.  –  It is not enough to teach or preach with conviction.  Like Paul, we must be prepared.  The more we know about the Bible, what it means, and how to apply it to our lives, the more convincing our words will be.  This does not mean that we should avoid presenting the gospel until we feel adequately prepared.  We should work with what we know, but always want to know more in order to reach more people and answer their questions and arguments more effectively.)

(17.22ff Paul’s address is a good example of how to communicate the gospel.  Paul did not begin by reciting Jewish history, as he usually did, for this would have been meaningless to his Greek audience.  He began by building a case for the one true God, using examples they understood (17.22, 23).  Then he established common ground by emphasising what they agreed on about God (17.24-29).  Finally he moved his message to the person of Christ, centring on the resurrection (17.30, 31).  When you witness to others, you can use Paul’s approach: use examples, establish common ground, and then move people towards a decision about Jesus Christ.)

(Wedgie) Novelists

Foolish to chase them:

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth – NIV PROVERBS 17:24

While there is something to be said for having big dreams, this proverb points out the folly of chasing fantasies (having eyes that wander “to the ends of the earth”, see 12:11). How much better to align your goals with God’s, being the king of person he wants you to be!  Such goals (wisdom, honesty, patience, love) may not seem exciting, but they will determine your eternal future.  Take time to think about your dreams and goals, and make sure they cover the really important areas of life.

[A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones – Proverb 17:22.  To be cheerful is to be ready to greet others with a welcome, a word of encouragement, an enthusiasm for the task at hand, and a positive outlook on the future.  Such people are as welcome as pain-relieving medicine..]

[A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue –  Proverb 17:27, 28.  This proverb highlights several benefits [culture] of keeping quiet: (1) it is the best policy if you have nothing worthwhile to say; (2) it allows you the opportunity to listen and learn; (3) it gives you something in common with those who are wiser.  Make sure you pause to think and to listen so that when you do speak, you will have something important to say.]