The context of this Proverb is also found in Deuteronomy 19:14, as well as Proverbs 23:10. The concern is the infringement on another’s land that would be unjust, especially that of the fatherless. Injustice is something that God hates; the oppression of the helpless and weak by the strong. Sadly, it’s not only the world that is guilty of this, but the church as well. Boundary stones were used to mark out land and fields. When they entered the land, they placed boundary stones to mark the lands each would possess. Their forefathers established these boundaries and they were not to be changed, especially when they were changed to take advantage of someone unable to defend their rights or land.
When we as the church fail to see the hurting and needy among us, we are guilty of what Solomon here warns of. When we want more personal visibility and prominence at the cost of someone else being pushed further “back” we are guilty of moving an ancient boundary. When we are only impressed with the prominent and strong and fail to see the vulnerable and weak, we are guilty of what Solomon here speaks of. When we are “super star” and “super ministry” driven, when we run here and there seeking the next great “move of God”, and fail to appreciate and honor those who labor faithfully among us without any fanfare, we are in danger of not discerning the ancient boundaries.
Paul encourages the Corinthian to give “greater honor” to the “less seemly” members. When the church functions as a business or as a worldly enterprise rather than as a community and spiritual family, we run the risk of moving ancient boundaries. Paul says, “The parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it…”
Individualism is not Biblical; individuality is. To live first for ourselves and our betterment is contrary to the heart of God. We must begin to see ourselves as only a part, first understanding and then believing that we truly need one another. We have all been given an inheritance, the Holy Spirit being the deposit. We honor Him when we honor one another. Let that be our heart and desire in this day. Let’s break away from the world’s values and pattern that has been so embraced by the church in the western world, and let’s pray that a genuine honor for each member will in fact be more and more evident in our churches. Let’s learn to love the ancient boundaries that God by His Holy Spirit has set in our midst.
R.Martinez
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment