Welcome To The Christian Journeyman!

Welcome To The Christian Journeyman!
A CHRISTIAN TEACHING AND RESOURCE MINISTRY!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

FREEDOM IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS

"My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have struck hands in pledge for another, If you have
been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words
of your mouth, then do this my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands;
Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your
neighbor! Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your
eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle, from the hand of the
hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
(Proverbs 6:1-5)
In this passage of Scripture, Solomon talks about a type
of freedom that from time to time, we all long to have.
There are times, when we put our foot in our mouth,
and say things we wish we hadn't. Or we act before we think,
and cause some hurt, and hard feelings. On this fourth of
July, when we focus on the freedom we enjoy in this country,
there is no greater feeling, than that of being at peace with
our fellow man. And when those times arrive, of careless words,
and actions, Solomon tells us that we need to "go and humble
ourselves." We are to set aside our pride, our self-centeredness,
and make it right, with those we have hurt, in word and deed.
To "press your plea"(v.3c) means to strongly and sincerely,
ask forgiveness, and make it right with our neighbor.
Solomon makes this such an urgent thing.
"Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids."
In essence he is saying: "Don't let a moment go by, when you
can make peace with your neighbor. Your heart will be in turmoil
until you do. And when you do, you will feel that freedom that
is like a gazelle, running free from the hunter, or a bird flying free
from the snare, of the trapper.
To be at odds with someone is a terrible bondage. It is worth
all the effort it takes, to make peace, and experience the
wonderful freedom, and blessings, of a good relationship (GP)