For or Against?

Occasionally you can remember a dream quite clearly because it conveys to you an important message.  This one of mine goes back many years, but its message is so relevant today.

I was questioning a selection of local dignitaries as part of the preparation for a ‘Brains Trust’ performance where one of the panellists would be {Mr. ‘X’}, a local politician.  Two of the questions were these: “Would you like to meet {Mr. ‘X’}?” and “Would you be prepared to talk to him about the deputy-master relationship?”  I hadn’t heard the expression ‘deputy-master relationship’ prior to this dream but I think its meaning is obvious.

Most people I’d asked had readily answered ‘yes’ to both questions.  One man responded aggressively to the first question: “No, I don’t want to meet him, I don’t particularly like the man.”  Then to the second came a blunt and very forceful “No.”  I pointed out that everyone else had said ‘yes’ quite willingly.  He realised that his manner belied some foreknowledge of the celebrity and explained - off the record - why he had refused.

“A few years ago,” he began, “I was standing in for my boss at an important meeting.  One of the matters being discussed was a new scheme put forward by your celebrity.  I was in favour of it and, knowing this, he was confident that, with my support, it would be approved.  However, I was aware that my boss disagreed with the proposal so, since I was deputising for him and not attending the meeting in my own right, I spoke in opposition to the motion and voted against it.  The matter was dropped and, as a result, the man lost popularity and quite a bit of money.  He’s never forgiven me.”

It could happen anywhere.  Life is full of situations where there are conflicting pressures, what are popularly called ‘difficult decisions’.  Some, like public spending cuts or remaining in the EU, are resolved at a single stroke affecting the whole nation.  Others, like choosing between going to church and relaxing in the garden, or between paying our tithe and buying those smart new shoes, are matters for the individual.  I make a personal decision which, although perhaps swayed by what my neighbour might say or do, will affect only me.  I can do what is easy, what fits in with my personal interests or desires, or I can opt for what, in my heart of hearts, I know to be the right thing to do.  In one case my life might be easier, or more enjoyable; in the other, I might be uncomfortable, ridiculed or even persecuted, but I should have an easy conscience to rest on.

As he followed in the footsteps of ‘Moses, the servant of the Lord’ (Joshua 1:1), Joshua had to make many difficult decisions and was sometimes uncertain whether the people would respect and be led by him as they had Moses.  Perhaps one of the greatest decision he made is recorded in Joshua 24:14-15, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

May God guide the decisions you have to make today.

Fruity

Once you’ve enjoyed that hearty meal, you might reckon a pudding too much and feel some relief at being offered the fruit bowl instead.  Whether that’s you or not, I think you’ll agree there’s something very attractive about a well-laden bowl with the bright colours of bananas, grapes, oranges and those lovely rosy apples. Whatever fruit we choose, though, to be enjoyed most it must be grown in ideal conditions, picked at just the right time, packed properly, and transported carefully. 

In our delight at the juice and fine flavours, it’s easy to forget that these examples are only part of a far greater process ... that of life itself ... a process that mirrors our spiritual lives as well.  The Bible is quick to expand the meaning of fruit: as early as the first chapter of Genesis, in fact, where verses 28-29 draw out the contrast admirably.  The big picture comes first, “Be fruitful and increase in number”, and then God’s provision for our bodies, “I give you every seed-bearing plant ... and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.” 

In one of his most famous verses, St Paul listed what he called ‘the fruits of the spirit’ (Gal. 5:22-23).  Jesus talked to his disciples about good fruit coming from good trees and bad fruit coming from bad trees; he warned them about false prophets, and told them that these could be recognised by their ‘fruit’, i.e. by their behaviour and what they said (Matt. 7:15-20).

Paul concluded his list of spiritual fruits with the exhortation, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Gal. 5: 25-26).  Transporting this into the vision of the fruit bowl, we can draw the conclusion that, if we are to successfully offer good fruit, then we have to look after those we possess and also to exercise regularly the act of sharing them.

Before my recent retirement, it was often necessary to have lunch while on the way somewhere and bananas offered the best combination of nourishment and convenience.  However, having done my shopping at the weekend, by Thursday or Friday they were noticeably much older; the lovely firm flesh of Monday had given way to an almost liquid and easily bruised mush that wasn't nearly so tasty.  I wouldn’t have felt comfortable offering fruit like that to anyone!

If we choose to neglect our fruit – whether material or spiritual – there are serious consequences.  The book of Deuteronomy explains over and over the laws God gave to the Israelites in the desert before they entered the Promised Land.  It lists the many disasters that would befall those who ignore His commands, including “You will have olive trees throughout your country but you will not use the oil, because the olives will drop off.” (Deut. 28:40). The Hebrew nashal refers to the olives dropping off before they ripen; Jesus told a parable about making use of what we are given (Matt. 25:14-30), which illustrates these consequences perfectly.

Think  deeply, dear reader: what do you have in your fruit bowl?