THESE THINGS BELONG TO THE WISE

The world we live in today is, so drastically different, from a couple of decades ago. It is as if, we have woken up from a bad night, in a “different” world altogether. Strange as it may seem, we have changed so much, in such a short period of time. 

We are living in times, where everything is politicised. Even emoji’s are not spared. There used to be only one colour earlier. Now we have brown, black and yellow [please read it as ‘blonde.’] I still use the original colour, because, I see emoji, as an emoji, and not some political statement, that I wish to make.

Secondly we see everything through legalistic and litigational perspective. The law and legalism, give us no room for a different opinion…a via-media. Everything is seen through the binary – right and wrong – good and bad – us and them – with us or against us. There is no middle ground…the positions are absolute – “WE” can never be bad or wrong, and “THEY” can never be good or right…never ever. It is coercion at its refined form, to make us confirm to a predetermined position. What a tragedy it is, to see the world and the human beings, through this legalistic binary.

Thirdly, we see the legitimisation of lies, manipulation and cheating as normal and natural behaviour, in the present world. The logic being, we are the good guys, and for us to beat the bad guys, which is “always” the other person, we have to make this moral adjustment. It is a classic case of “Ends justifying the means” – where the ends are defined by us, with no possibility of anyone questioning the correctness of our position. The minute we question, we are called the “enemy.” What a pitiable state that we have embraced. Would we like someone lying, cheating and manipulating us, so that they may benefit? We do not like it, neither will we agree to it. If so, how can it be right for me to do the same, to the other?

These are the principles by which the world swears and lives by today. The first two trends have barred all scope for an individual to have his own opinion, and still be respected by the others in the group. The last trend has blurred forever, any scope for a moral right and wrong. Everything I say as right, is right to me, and it has to be so, for everyone. ‘If you do not agree, then it is your problem, not mine’ is the popular line. This is the sad reality of life.

The LORD, writes it down for us in Proverbs 24:23-25, about how we are expected to live…
“23 These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him.
25 But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, And a good blessing will come upon them.”

Seekers of the LORD, are expected to live by the righteous standards of the LORD…not by the whims and fancies of the world. The LORD’s call to Christian life is not easy. As the days pass by, it will become even more difficult. May the LORD help us to live by His righteous standards, and not allow the contamination of the world to seep into us. May we truly be the salt and the light in this ever darkening world.