To Be or Not To Be It Is No Longer A Question But Instruction

   Today I want us to consider how much we have learned from the experience of being told what to do, or what not to do over the past several months.  How much have you disliked a life of restrictions?  How much have you pushed back on being told what to do?  If social media gives us any indication, many adults have been behaving badly with resistance to the voice of authority:  1.)  some have been obedient with resentment, 2.) others have been disobedient, and 3.) some have complied.  Which group do you most resemble?

     Can you remember being a teenager living under your parents roof being told what you should and shouldn't do?  Some rules were difficult to swallow.  Many of us have moved through the stage of wanting to be left alone, rather than told anything.  Or at least we would like to believe we have moved past that stage.  Have you ever resisted opening your ears to the voice of authority?      

     As I am studying the Wisdom books alongside some familiar Old Testament letters, I was encouraged to see wisdom in a new light.  Specifically this article came to fruition through the reading Ecclesiastics chapters 7 and 8, alongside Ephesians chapter 4.  With the simple activity of highlighting passages, I came across what was for me, a new discovery.  If you like, take out your Bible and read through these few chapters with a highlighter, try to discover how many instructions we are given from a negative perspective.  Look for wording like, 'do not, be not, let no.'   You will find a few additional words like 'put away' or 'give no' as you pass through these verses.  Then likewise, as a student accepting instruction from the writers (Solomon and Paul), look for words like 'do, be, and let.'  I have posted my findings in a table below to help illustrate my findings.

Negative	Positive
Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.	In the day of prosperity Be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?	And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and Be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.
Be not overly wicked,  neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.  Be not hasty to go from his presence.  Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.  For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

     In these eight short verses, I have highlighted the things we are not to do on the left side of the chart in red.  On the right in blue, I have listed instructions given from an encouragement perspective.  Read one column then the other.  Does one side of this chart sit better with you?  Can you count the occurrences of when instructions were given from either prohibition or encouragement?  Seven times we read what not to do or be, whereas only twice do we hear what to pursue.  This writing above came from Solomon.  

     Likewise let’s look at Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus.  Take your highlighter and mark any wording that looks like rules or instructions on what to do, be, or allow, while also recognizing things that we are told not to do, not to be, let go of, put away, or give no opportunity for.  Yes I have dangling participles in that last sentence, but I’m sure you will forgive me.

Negative	Positive
Therefore, having put away falsehood,	Let each of you speak the truth with his neighbor.
do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,	Be angry and
and give no opportunity to the devil.
Let the thief no longer steal,	but rather let him labor
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,	but only such as is good for building up,
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander Be put away from you, along with all malice.
	Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

     Here we see similar guidelines from Paul’s who instructs the church both from prohibitation and encouragement.  He is giving eight instructions of what not to do, and half as many on what to do or be.  I notice as I read through these verses, that I have less aversion to be gold what I can do, than hearing what not to do.  Could this be because the sin nature inside us wants to believe we don't need correction?  How do you feel when you are being corrected?  Do you, like me, feel like a naughty child that needs to be scolded? Doesn't it create resentment?  

     During this pandemic, how do you feel about the instructions you've been asked to follow from governmental agencies and authorities when they have restricted your movement?  your freedoms?  How well did you listen?  Did you discount their advice?  Did you decide independently what to do?  Did you do what was right in your own eyes?  Did you respect advice, even when there were more unknowns than answers?  Did you recognize the voice of authority as something good?  Or as something to be resisted?  How did this make you feel?   My questions are not coming from a place of judgment, but as an offer to evaluate what this season has the ability to reveal to us if we will let it.

     A few things that I could easily extract from today’s reading:  
(1)  Instructions (or rules) are given in one of two dimensions, a.) what to avoid, or b.) what to pursue.  
(2)  Certain words should capture my attention as I read Scriptures, if I intend to follow God’s instructions.  Words like, do, be, have, let, put-on, put off, put away, don’t, let not, be not, etc.  
(3)  Not everything we are told to do may sit well with us; are we willing to take Scriptures as they were written, or do we wish to modify them to fit our situation?      
(4)  Since the Bible contains instructions, it is good for our training, and  
(5) It becomes necessary to evaluate how well our hearts accept instruction, if we wish to be pleasing to God.    

     When I look at phrases like, “be kind or be joyful,” it is much easier for me to submit to the voice of authority than when I’m told what not to do.  Does one approach feel better than the other?  Not all of us will be the same.  I asked my husband what he preferred, being told what not to do, or being told what to do?  He knew I was doing research for this article.  He was quick to say, “I don’t like being told what to do.”  Less than a second later he said, “I also don’t like being told what not to do.”  Then he said, "I guess it depends on whose telling me."  What a great answer.  This illustrates that our nature does not easily submit to either.  We are not willing to equally submit to all authority, just the ones we respect.  Take time to consider what this might tell us about the personal relationship we hope will listen when we communicate.  How should we communicate in a way that creates both respect and cooperation?  Do we speak appropriately to our spouses while parenting children?  Does our language indicate that we understand how to give instruction when desired?    

     Here is what I learned today, first, we will never outgrow the need for instruction, nor may we outgrow our tendancy to resist it.  Second, we may have a preference on how we like to hear instruction, the Bible offers both do's and don'ts.  Third, it might be human nature to resist anything that points out or flaws, more so, than something that changes our direction through encouragement.  As many good parent realizes, rules are necessary.  When instruction motivates good behavior it is meant to protect us and bring security.  When instruction discourage bad behavior, it may be an opportunity to reflect and repent.  God wants to keep us safe.  He has established the Universe and placed boundaries around our behavior so that it will go well for us.  If we resist His voice, we will stumble and fall.

     I would have never placed these two passages side-by-side to evaluate had it not been for my daily reading plan.  When we open our hearts to instruction, sometimes we will be absolutely amazed at what is there in plain sight than has not yet become apparent to us.  I feel gratitude each time the Holy Spirit gives me something new to ponder, because for me that means He is still investing in my Sanctification!