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| ‘as Wise as Snakes’ DO NOT CONFUSE FRIENDLINESS WITH FRIENDSHIP |
| “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; Embrace her, and she will honour you.” |
you feel that sometimes your sincerity makes you vulnerable, a prey to the unscrupulous – that in our world being a Christian in business is impossible without compromise?
Are Christian ethics idealistic and un-suited to getting-ahead, or even survival, in this world?
read this four-part encouragement.
Read the Scriptures referred to, and discover how God's wisdom has a balanced way for you to thrive rather than just survive.
Read the Scriptures referred to, and discover how God's wisdom has a balanced way for you to thrive rather than just survive.
But first, note how a dishonest manager's exploitive manoeuvring is used by Jesus as an example to us. Jesus said –
| "His master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light." |
said it! Therefore the Lord instructed His disciples –
| "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" |
Being shrewd can seem dishonest and we know that the basis of all God-pleasing behaviour must always be love.
is always the character of Christian behaviour!
Every aspect of our conduct is only right or wrong as it is true to the
character of love – love, as it is real in God and is made known in Jesus.
Yes! But often human sentiment is mistaken for love. We need God's help in separating love from sentiment and other feeling-based behaviour.
Yes! But often human sentiment is mistaken for love. We need God's help in separating love from sentiment and other feeling-based behaviour.
latent hostility of our environment and the unreliability of human nature,
both within the fellowship of the church and in the world, make obedience
to the Lord's command to be 'shrewd' very necessary to a blessed life in this present world.
this regard then, there are 4 valuable principles to practice – for our own sake and for the blessing of those around us.
These 4 principles call us to be –
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2 |
3 |
4 |
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bold
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alert |
wary |
innocent |
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| audacious |
vigilant |
prudent |
ingenuous |
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courageous |
watchful |
cautious |
transparent |
4 special dimensions of godly behaviour belong
together, even though they may seem to contradict one another. They counter-balance
each other,
boldness-to-caution, innocence-to-alertness,
and so develop
a well-rounded character in our practical relationships to the human family.
the promise of holy Scripture:
| "I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. And [then] the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." |
let it be true – for you!
This will not happen, however, unless each of these four dynamic aspects of wisdom are properly understood/implemented as Jesus intended for us –
CLICK THEN ON THE CHAPTER HEADINGS BELOW FOR MUCH MORE
