Good Morning.
The opening of the Old Testament reading today (from Ecclesiasticus) says:
“Pleasant speech multiplies friends,
and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.
Let those who are friendly with you be many,
but let your advisers be one in a thousand.
When you gain friends, gain them through testing,
and do not trust them hastily.”
I think that today, in the midst of the communications revolution known as “social media,” there is serious advice here for us.
The book of Ecclesiasticus is not well known to Protestant readers. It was an important book in the early church, but when the 16th Century reformers established the importance of independent reading of scripture by all Christians, this book was omitted from the “Protestant” canon. It most closely resembles the book of Proverbs. Like Proverbs it stresses wisdom teachings: proper speech, wealth and poverty, honesty, choice of friends, judgment and retribution, sin and death. Today’s verses speak of whom we should trust. It has three pieces of advice for us.
The notion of “pleasant speech” covers a lot of territory. It advises us to speak positively about other people, showing acceptance of who they are. It is echoed later in Paul when he advises us only to speak to build up one another in the church and not to tear each other down. In this way you will build a large group of people who will want to be “friendly” to you. We all tend to gravitate to pleasant people. However, the writer advises us to be much more selective in choosing those people whom we trust; from whom we accept advice and counsel. He suggests that only one in a thousand is likely to be that trustworthy.
And he adds one more bit of warning about choosing your advisors. Take your time in deciding whom you should trust. The writer says: “When you gain friends, gain them through testing, and do not trust them hastily.” In other words, let experience tell you who is reliable and trustworthy.
When this book was written, if you needed to make an decision about something you would probably talk it over with a friend. If it were a really important decision, you would choose your advisor carefully based perhaps on that person’s history with you. Is this someone whose advice has proven to be good advice in the past?
These days we have all sorts of strangers offering us advice. If we see it on television, hear it on the radio or read it on the internet we jump to the assumption that it must be true! We want the news to be another source of entertainment and advice little more than biased opinion. In a way we often make decisions in the way that has ruined many a leader: we look for someone on television or radio or the internet who agrees with us, thereby seeking confirmation of our decision and then proceed to exercise that opinion “supported” by these “expert” opinions. We surround ourselves with the electronic version of “Yes Men!” The idea of independently verifying the facts upon which the advice of these media wise men is based is something that we don’t want to be bothered with.
“…let your advisers be one in a thousand.
…those who fear the Lord will find them.”
Whether you are considering a uniquely personal matter, a public political matter, or a matter of faith, take the time to understand it for yourself. Find a truthful and faithful advisor who will help you confront the truth; dig into the public record and search out the facts of a situation; return to scripture and seek out the truth that Christ has given us for all generations.
Let us pray: Lord God, You have created us with the ability to think. You have told us that we must love You with all our being – including the exercise of our minds. Lead Your people away from false prophets and glib commentary. Show us Your truth in our lives this day. Help us to see that Your advice and wisdom even clothed in seemingly old ideas speaks to us today, if only we will take the time to listen. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Ecclesiasticus 6:5-17; Revelation 7:9-17; Luke 10:1-16; Psalm 26, 28, 36 & 39.
Blessings.
Pastor Jim
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