Friday, September 21, 2012

Casting Your Pearls Before Swine: How to Prevent Drama in Your Relationships and Life Period


I don't know about you, but though I platonically love all my students, I am sick and tired of seeing the same females talking about how sick and tired of not being treated right and being under appreciated in their relationship. Therefore, I wrote this in response to one of my friends, who like we all at some point or another, experience relationship drama.

There is a key scripture which will help us to not be truly hurt in relationships and here it is,

Matthew 7.6: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

This scripture talks about not giving something precious and valuable to a creature who will not appreciate it. So if you are trying to be a holy child of God, then you are a jewel or pearl to the world and to God and His people. Therefore, you have to make sure that you don't give yourself emotionally or physically, in relationship to dogs (typically horny bad guys) or pigs (greedy and self-serving females), who will only take advantage of you, use you, hurt you, break you, and/or not appreciate you. Ladies if you consider your goodies to truly be that 'good' then stop giving it up to dogs. Boys if you've worked hard for what you have then stop spending it on gold-diggers. We all sadly do this often, because we don't get ourselves in the position God wants us to be in, forfeiting the fact that you CAN have people in your lives who will treat you wonderfully and value you as the godly treasures that you are.

This pain we experience should push us to act and leads us into our next scripture reminding us to ask, seek, and knock.

Matthew 7.7: “[a]Ask, and it will be given to you; [b]seek, and you will find; [c]knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you [d]who, when his son asks for a loaf, [e]will give him a stone? 10 Or [f]if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

We have to ask for godly, righteous, and/or good people to enter our lives, and of course must ask Him to help us be that type of person ourselves. We need to seek God, and He will arrange those people and things to be in our lives, so that we will indeed live that abundant life He desires for us.

John 10.10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Then, finally, we are to knock or take action when we arrive on the doorstep of our blessing so that we can move/enter into that place of blessing/claim it. We have got to be careful and not let
our blessing just look us in the face and be too afraid to take that step. That is truly the tragedy of the ages, to have the opportunity to grasp your blessing just before you and for some reason, likely fear, somehow pass it up. This last step of claiming and stepping into our blessing, is the final stage, because it is that journey of prayer (asking God), and living the righteous life (seeking God), which prepares us to then receive the blessing of God in RIGHTEOUSNESS. For we have to understand that the Bible is indeed a double-edged sword, it not only cuts when you slash at your enemy, but can also cut you as well. Therefore, God brings you through that process to ensure that you are NOT A DOG OR A SWINE YOURSELF, because God cannot break His own Word. HE WILL NOT GIVE YOU PEARLS OR THAT WHICH IS HOLY IF YOU YOURSELF ARE NOT RIGHT WITH HIM!!! So make sure that you think about that next time that you want to claim that God isn't listening to your prayers. You probably aren't ready, because in all honesty, since no one is perfect, we never will fully and/or truly be.

Getting back to the topic, if WE can Ask, Seek, and Knock, and not cast ourselves (His blessings) before the dogs and swine of this world, then we have arrived. Let me assure you, nay, let me allow His word to assure you that it is arduous, tough, and harrowing, but very much worth it.

John 16.33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Let's take some time to ponder the reality of many of our bad decisions in life, and their utter and complete foolishness. Literally, I will wait... Now, after you read the next question, take a moment to again, really analyze the decisions you are making and the results they yield. Which is worse to suffer at the hands and/or will of the devil and/or evil/bad people, only to receive heartache and sorrow in the end; or is it instead better to labor for the Lord and have that pleasant 'growing pain' or God ordained suffering, which brings about blessing? Simply stated, would you rather endure in faith and perseverance, trusting that God knows best and is disciplining you for your profit and benefit, or suffer through someone else's selfish and perverted pleasure only to end with resent and bitterness? You may want to reread that last one.

Here is what the Word has to say about godly suffering.

Hebrews 12.5-11: But you have forgotten that the Scriptures say to God’s children,

“When the Lord punishes you,
don’t make light of it,
and when he corrects you,
don’t be discouraged.
6 The Lord corrects the people
he loves
and disciplines those
he calls his own.”
7 Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats his children. Don’t all parents correct their children? 8 God corrects all of his children, and if he doesn’t correct you, then you don’t really belong to him. 9 Our earthly fathers correct us, and we still respect them. Isn’t it even better to be given true life by letting our spiritual Father correct us?

10 Our human fathers correct us for a short time, and they do it as they think best. But God corrects us for our own good, because he wants us to be holy, as he is. 11 It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.

Again, whether you suffer for right or wrong reasons, it will be tough at the time, but with God, the results are blessing and with the Devil, the results are the regrets and disappointments of a pitiful life.

To put a close on the topic of suffering, consider the following.
Romans 5.3-5: Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Let me take some time to build upon and reinforce that previous reference. That scripture refers to the process or cause and effect relationship in a chain reaction when we endure godly suffering instead of worldly suffering. The Word says that as a result of godly suffering we develop perseverance. God then builds character in us SO LONG as we endure in humility and focus on the lesson God has for us, not being bitter at our circumstances in contrast to others, but staying in the creations place and praising the Creator, our Father, who is helping us and loving us, even during our growing pains. THAT is how you develop character, by being faithful and honorable to God even when, NO, ESPECIALLY when times are tough. Then, at last, the character that we have and live out, becomes hope. Hope not just that all of our pain was for a greater good, but hope that we will do as I am now and will bless others with the knowledge that all pain is not bad. And, moreover, that there is a godly pain that results not in bitterness, but blessing; there is a weeping that yields joy, not jadedness; there is a God who loves you through that pain and sustains you, holding your hand through it all like a loving Father should and will. Only letting you fall so far, be cut only so deep, or scratched just enough that you learn, know and as a result, use that redemption and growth as a testimony for all who see you and marvel at the transition or the change in your life all through Him. After all, Solomon said in Proverbs 27.6: Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. God is the greatest and our true “Best Friend Forever”, therefore give the One we claim as “All-Knowing” the credit He is due.

What is the result of this godly suffering again? Matthew 5.16: Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.

Though the answer is simple, many times we fail to choose the right path and then act surprised when we knew/know full well where our actions would lead us to eventually. Don't fall for the hype ladies and gentlemen; God does not want us to suffer, be upset, sad, or be in pain unnecessarily. Take for instance John 3:16, many know it, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life.” But not many know

John 3:17-19: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

In those scriptures following that most quoted verse, God explains why He allowed that drama in His Son's life and moreover, shows us just how important we are to Him; how much He loves us. Verse 17 reassures us that God's desire is to help and save us from the horrors and pains of this world. GOD MADE THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING IN IT; HE EVEN MADE THE DEVIL AND ALL HIS CHUMPS WHO SERVE HIM. Therefore, God knows that drama abounds here. He knows that there is sorrow, pain, heartache, and disappointment on Earth. And here, He says EXPLICITLY that He Himself, came to save us from it. This is almost like Him saying "My bad, this is way too tough for you; here, let me come down there and help you with that; let me show you how it's done."

God Himself knows our struggles because in Christ He became man and was tempted in all ways with hunger, weakness, anger, lust, greed, jealousy, etc. But again, He overcame the world and has literally shown us how to do it in the flesh Himself (Christ's life), provided written instructions (Bible), given us guides and helpers in many different forms (pastors, teachers, parents, guardian angels, etc.), and in His sovereignty, even stops us many times from hurting ourselves in our stupidity/sin, all because He loves us. Verse 18 and 19 then explain the only reason that we can be condemned, it is this; that light is come into the world and people instead choose the darkness over the light because they love evil or bad things (drama) too much. That is to say, God has literally done everything that we could ever want or need to prove to us that there is a better way of life, and that we can live and operate in love and happiness, joy and peace, blessing and success, if we would only choose Him over the world, choose the light over the darkness.

The relevance of choosing light over darkness to the first scripture about "casting your pearls before swine" is this. How many times does it take for us to give our bodies, our minds, our hearts, our time, our gifts, our money, and our lives to the world, to the evil one with his schemes and minions, to lust, greed, and sin before we come to our senses? How many times are we going to get on Facebook, Skype, Twitter, etc. and complain about how we have been hurt, taken advantage of, broken, disappointed, trampled upon, stood up, neglected, abused, used and thrown away; and be left to sulk with nothing but pain, wounds, tears, and sorrow? How many times are we going to pass up the light for the darkness and then confirm what God has already told us here so clearly; the end/fruit/wages of that darkness (SIN) is death, i.e. that is death to joy, love, our hearts, innocence, peace, relationships, bodies, etc.), yet the fruit of the spirit (LIGHT) are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5.21-22: God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.

We hurt ourselves when we choose darkness over light. But more importantly and sadly, we hurt the heart of God when we refuse all that He longs to offer us when we choose drama over love and understanding, sin over righteousness and self-control, pain over joy and peace.

Though no one in their right mind would do such a thing, we have to retrain ourselves in the Word (renew your mind, Romans 12.12) and develop discernment so that we will be able to tell right from wrong, a poser from a friend, a booby-trap (men sometimes literally) from a blessing, and a Mr./Ms. “Right now” from an life-long committed, mutually beneficial investment. The Word begs that we study to show ourselves approved, so that we can then rightly divide the Word of truth.

2 Timothy 2.15: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

This simply means that as a result of reading the Word and by studying the Word, we learn and develop the gift of discernment and are then able to apply the Word rightly, knowing when to bless and speak life onto and into godly relationships and situations, while at the same time learning how to bind and remove/destroy ungodly spirits and problem areas in our life which prevent us from living the abundant life we as well as God desires us to have.

John 10.10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

A short/easy application and example of this Scripture is where the Word teaches us that we can tell or judge a tree by the fruit it bears.

Matthew 12.23-25: “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

That is to say, a orange tree produces oranges, apple tree apples, pear tree pears, etc. So then when you are trying to figure out whether you are dealing with a godly person or in a godly situation look at the fruit it bears. We know that the wages of sin is death, Romans 6.23. Notice the plural noun (wages), though the direct object of that noun (death) seems singular. Please note, that death comes in many forms, severeties, and can manifest itself in various areas, so be on guard.

Furthermore, we know that the devil comes to or bears the following fruit; steal, kill, and destroy, contrasted against Christ offering abundant life.

John 10.10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Noting this then, we should understand that God and His people should do/create or produce opposite fruit. Therefore, combining all these we understand that the results of obedience/righteousness is life or that the wages/fruit of God are giving, creation, and edification. In regards to a relationships...

  1. If your relationship steals your innocence, peace, health, love, joy, etc., let it go. If it kills your future, success, family ties, faith in God, etc., cut it lose.
  2. If it destroys your heart, your generosity, hope, passion for God, etc., then move on.
  3. All these signify that your relationship is of the devil.

On the contrary,
  1. If your relationship gives you innocence, peace, health, love, joy, etc., help it grow.
  2. If it brings life to your future, success, family ties, faith in God, etc., strengthen it.
  3. If it builds your heart, your generosity, hope, passion for God, etc., thank God for it and keep it holy, because these are of God.

Simple! But you have to have studied to have known the scriptures, so that you can put them together and then live it out. Study, study, study. David's writing in Psalms, declares that His delight was in the Word of the Lord and that he read and meditated on it day and night. This doesn't make him a fanatic or out of touch with the world, it instead provides the guidance for a fantastic life and ensures that you stay in touch with God and out of the reach of the Devil and relationship drama.

Psalms 119.16: I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
Psalms 1.2: But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Brothers and sisters, in closing, I desire for us all to be able to, as often as possible, choose the light over the darkness. To have the wisdom to see things as they really are, to have the discernment to know right from wrong, to have the strength to choose the light over the darkness, to have the patience to endure the transition, and to have the grace to be thankful and help others do the same. I made the decision to live in Him in the 10th grade because I was tired of the pain, disappointment, drama, and sorrow which swarms around the drama of this world like angry and malicious hornets bickering around a wounded hive. I hate to be stung, and I would assume that you do too. I beg and implore you to trust Him the way that I have and always will, because He loves you and wants the best for you. I am sent here to testify to you as proof. You reading this proves all that He has spoken through me: He is alive; He is here; He loves you; He wants you to be happy; and He is begging you through me right now for you to turn to Him. Haven't you cried enough? Haven't you been hurt enough? Haven't you learned that this world has nothing for you but pain and sorrow at last?

Well if that is the case then read this aloud, "God You are so true and honest; this world has nothing for me but hurt and misery, and I don't want any more of those any longer. I want You. I want Your peace, Your love, Your forgiveness, Your presence, and most of all I want us to be together in the greatest relationship, forever in harmony. I accept the gift of your Son Jesus Christ, and today I choose His light over the darkness of this world. I need your help so that I no longer cast myself, your precious and holy pearl, your beloved child before the dogs and swine of this world. I have in past chosen sin over salvation, but from this moment forward, I choose you as my God and as my Guide always and forever, in Jesus' loving and precious name, Amen!"

My friend, there is no greater joy than the joy you feel right now, knowing and trusting that so long as you are following Him, that everything, EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE is safe and guided and protected by Him.

Romans 8.28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

From this moment on, may His love hold you, may His peace surround you, may His power strengthen you, and may the Son dwell in you, that you would indeed have abundant life now and ever after. My people, I love you; I rejoice in your decision; and I praise God for your time and your eyes. God bless and keep in touch.

Let me know about your relationship journies below.

Peace and blessings,

CEH :-) <><

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