July 7, 2008
Pigs and Dogs
In
one or two words, a picture of human nature can come across if you relate us to
an animal. If we speak of a wolf in sheep's clothing the image of danger comes
to mind. Weasel brings a different picture to mind, as does fox. If I compared
you to a turkey, you would probably not think of it as a flattering remark. If I
said "She was a real cow" you wouldn't think that I thought highly of
her. How about snake or chicken?
The
Bible uses many animal metaphors for people. Of course the biblical metaphor
seen most commonly is that of sheep, with Jesus being the shepherd. It isn't
really all that flattering an image, as anyone who has spent time with sheep
knows.
Sheep
are not really bright in many ways. They have a tendency to stray off and get
themselves in trouble. They will follow other sheep even to their own peril. To
make the image even less pleasant, I know that sheep can stink. I know they bite
one another. It's not a flattering picture, but there is a lot of truth in the
comparison.
Of
course, there is the flip side to the coin. Sheep know their master and they
respond to Him. If we are sheep we will respond to Jesus and when we stray we
will bleat out to him to rescue us.
The
Bible even uses the terms pigs and dogs to describe people.
Matthew
7:6 NIV
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do
not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their
feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Dogs
are great companions and I love them dearly, but dogs can be vicious. They bite,
fight, growl and snarl. They have even been known to turn on the hand that
provides for them. They fight for dominance and power. There are a lot of humans
out there that fit this picture well. We can quickly and viciously turn on those
close to us. We can devour them.
Giving
dogs something sacred can lead to you being torn apart. Hardened, unrepentant
sinners are like those dogs. You bring biblical truth to them and the message of
hope through Christ and they will tear you limb from limb. They don't care that
it is exactly what they need instead you are perceived as dangerous and attack.
Pigs
are not very discerning. Either they simply eat the pearls and they pass through
the other end or they'll think you're throwing things at them. A pig doesn't
know the difference between a pearl and a rock and doesn't care what you are
throwing. We know that the love of Jesus is a pearl but to a pig it is just
something you are throwing. Either way it is the waste of a perfectly good
pearl.
That
makes me stop and think. I wonder how often I have shared the precious love of
Jesus with snarling vicious dogs and undiscerning pigs. I know that God's heart
is for all people to accept His Son and be set free, but I also know that only
relatively few will do that. Wide is the road that leads to destruction and
narrow the gate that leads to Him and only a few find it.
How
do we balance the tension between the need to tell everyone and the fruitless
efforts of throwing the sacred to dogs and pearls to swine? After all, none of
us know who is going to be saved in the end and who will reject Jesus. Only God
knows that.
For
me it comes down to two things. Firstly I try (not always with success, but
always striving) to live my life as much like Christ as I can and pray that His
light shines through. Doing so will bless others and may even draw some to the
light.
Secondly,
I try to listen for Holy Spirit's nudging. Sometimes he wants me to speak the
truth boldly and other times He wants me to keep my mouth shut. Since He is the
one responsible for the results I try and do what He wants, not what I want.
That means there are times I will share the gospel boldly to what may be pigs or
dogs in the hope that there will be a seeking heart in the midst. It also means
that there are times I do not say something even though I want to.
God
knows who the pigs and dogs are. Sometimes the most vicious anti-Christian is
primed to hear and respond to the truth. We need to look no further than Saul of
Tarsus (who became the apostle Paul) to see that demonstrated. Sometimes the
most receptive seeming of people will respond to the truth by biting the one who
brings them the message. God sees the heart of a person and we need to learn to
trust and follow His leading.
Oftentimes,
in a crowd, as in a farmyard you might find sheep, pigs and dogs all together or
at least in close proximity. You might be called to share the truth for the sake
of the sheep in their midst. Do not overlook the possibility. Holy Spirit will
guide you to speak or hold your tongue.
Until
next time, may you walk the talk and follow the Holy Spirit about the who, when
and where to share the truth of Jesus with.
Darrel
Mason