August 30
Job 34:1-36:33 | PS 44:1-8 | Prov 22:10-12 | 2 Cor 4:1-12
The whole is not true just because certain parts are true. This is often the case in media. Lies or almost truths are placed alongside truths, but this does not make the entire statement true. Charles Spurgeon said: "Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right." We must have a line item veto when discerning what is being put forth, if not, we can all be led down a very dark path. We must also be very careful in discussing others using the same principle. If we sprinkle some truth alongside some exaggerations, then the end result is we are slandering one's character. It is very frustrating when we hear one place words in our mouths that we never said, or ascribe certain feelings or stances which we don't have. A half-truth is a lie.
Elihu, like Job's other friends had much truth to say, but also stated some things which were not true. In Job 35:6-8, we read, "If you sin, how does that affect God? Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on Him? If you are good, is this some gift to Him? What could you possibly give Him? No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans." Though God is much higher than us, and His ways much higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), we can not speak as though God is devoid of emotion. Just as our young children can not really offer us anything tangible which will directly affect us, it is love, it is this real relationship which allows everyone to affect one another. Throughout Scripture the emotion of God is revealed. We also read in Job 34:11, "He repays people according to their deeds, He treats people as they deserve." This goes completely against the concept of both mercy and grace. If our sinless God gave us what our sins deserve, none of us would be standing right now. In his mercy He does not give us what our sins deserve, and in His grace He continues to lavish us with gifts that we have done nothing to deserve.
We read in 2 Corinthians 4:2-4, " We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this. If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." God doesn't need our help to make His statements more palatable to others. His Word is His Word and we should move forward boldly in it. We should not splice some here and pull another part there to make God state things that He would otherwise not say. This is the danger with topical messages. This is the danger when we try too hard to mix God with human persuasion. God's Word is perfect, our debating words are not. May we approach the words of God with humility and in the power of the Holy Spirit convey Him, as His ambassadors to a world that largely does not know Him.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: