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Proverbs of a 41 yr. old man
Many politicians like to strain a gnat for you while forcing you to swallow a camel. They resist, criticize, or bemoan something minor or inconsequential while ignoring or overlooking something much more serious or important. Here is an example: The government is letting the housing crisis spiral out of control while they spend millions trying to catch people who rent their apartments without paying taxes. Talk about straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel! Whatever side of the aisle you are in your politics, don't sell your soul to please people or agendas. Live to please God even in your politics. Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. And make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears, he could not change what he had done. So, take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Like the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take. So, should the people of God in each generation not neglect the weightier matters of the law like justice and mercy and faithfulness. These we ought to do without neglecting the others. The Jews had a law that forbade eating any flying insects that did not have jointed legs for hopping (Leviticus 11:20–23), and in this they were strictly observant. Because water could have insects and insect larvae in it, pious Jews were careful to strain the water through a cloth before drinking it. They did not want to accidentally ingest an unclean insect and thus violate the law. Jesus mentions this practice in His proverb found in Matt. 23:23 and then contrasts it with a hyperbolic picture of gulping down a camel. In this way, Jesus accused them of taking great pains (straining out gnats) to avoid offence in minor things of little importance, while tolerating or committing great sins (swallowing camels) such as deceit, oppression, and lust. There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes and yet unwashed of their filth. There is a generation of those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. If a person does not repent, God will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He will prepare his deadly weapons and shoot his flaming arrows. The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. They dig a deep pit to trap others, then fall into it themselves. The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads. I will thank the LORD because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. Amen. Be careful the politics of your heart has not made you an enemy of God and friend to this world. Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain. "Amen. His name is Jesus and at his name every knee will bow, and every tongue confess.
Study Titus 1:15
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