Throwing Pearls

Some passages of Scripture are so often quoted that you kind of stop hearing them. You assume you know what they mean and you just breeze right past them when they appear. And then, God reminds you that you don’t know everything and that you need to just stop and take a moment, because He has something He wants to say to you with these words.

So, the other day this happened to me. I’m reading the Gospel from Matthew, chapter 7 and I see,

“Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6

Yea, yea, yea. Maybe I’m wasting my time trying to help someone who has no interest in Godly things. They just can’t appreciate it right now and it’s falling on deaf ears. When I have something valuable and people tear it apart, it’s a waste of my time and theirs. In fact, their disdain for what I’m sharing may even cause me or my faith to be hurt. I get it.

No, wait. What if I’m the one who is the swine or the dog? What if I’m taking something that is holy and valuable and making it something ugly or hurtful? Am I creating the stench of lies instead of the fragrance of truth?

Is this a stretch or did the Lord just make me take a second look at this passage and myself?

God has given me the ability to think and reason. He has blessed me with a love for that which is of Him and a desire to know Him better and help make Him known to others. So, in that effort, He wants my attention, thoughts, words, and actions to reflect Him and be holy and valuable.

But, when I allow my thoughts and words to become negative and full of gossip, it’s like I’m taking that which He gave me that should be holy and throwing it to the dogs. I am taking what is valuable and casting it out where it can be trampled underfoot. And I also tear myself and others apart.

I am holding within myself that which is holy and my words and actions are to be pearls of His wisdom and grace. But, when I allow myself to entertain thoughts of others and situations that take me from compassion and understanding to judgement and anger and those thoughts become words spewed out on others, what I often find is that everything around me becomes ugly.

My mood.

My attitude.

The mood and attitude of those around me.

It all gets trampled and I begin to feel torn up inside. What was once a peaceful and joyful day becomes darkened and ugly and it takes real effort to get back to where I had been.

Why do we think we will feel better if we just get it off our chest? Why do we not see that gossip and negative talk only hurts and tears us and others apart? We rip up what’s inside of us and separate ourselves from each other. How radical would it be to guard our tongue and be quiet and prayerful more than vocal and vengeful?

So, my new challenge. To keep my thoughts and words holy. To not let the good that God is trying to do in me become trampled under the foot of negativity. It may be a narrow gate, but it leads to life.

XOXO,

Barb