This is the 11th post in the series. To read the introduction and for all the posts, click HERE.
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not cast your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:16
I really like what David Nevue has to say about this verse: The picture here is this: If you give pearls to a pig, the pig will try to eat it (because what else is a pig going to do?) and then, finding it distasteful, spit it out and trample it. A hungry pig is not concerned with the true value of a pearl. It doesn’t know any better. The pearl in this illustration, I believe, represents the message of the kingdom of God – the good news of salvation and God’s intervention to save men from sin. (Matt 13:45-46). The dogs and swine are those who simply cannot understand the value of the kingdom, who outright reject the gospel because they are more concerned with feeding and satisfying their flesh than they are hearing the truth. Jesus gives us a warning here: there are people who want nothing to do with the kingdom. Don’t force the issue with them, because if we do, even if we mean well, they will tear us to pieces. Remember, it’s the Holy Spirit that works on hearts, not we ourselves. Just speak the truth and then let the Spirit do the work. Sometimes we feel like it’s our job to “get people saved.” It’s not. Our job to demonstrate Christ to others and to speak the truth. God is the one who does the saving.
So how can we make this applicable to motherhood and raising children? First off, I believe we have to set the proper example in not only how we witness to those that are not saved, but in how we deal with even those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Such as, when they have a different conviction or opinion on something in Scripture, a circumstance in their life, or even (dare I say it) politics.
We need to teach our children by example the proper way share the gospel, discuss convictions and Scripture with others. It’s not always easy, especially when you feel like you are 100% right and “why can’t you just see it, it’s right here in front of your face!”. But we have to learn to reign it in, speak from the Spirit and know when to let go of our words and just let God do his thing! (or perhaps even take a moment and look at something from a different perspective and maybe realize it’s our hearts that need to be changed and not the other way around!). Regardless, we need to help our children understand when to back off and let go, otherwise our words just get trampled on, and sometimes, even, relationships can get hurt.
❤ Heart questions to ponder:
Do I know how to recognize someone who is not ready to hear Truth?
How can I prepare my heart and that of my child(ren) before sharing the Truth of the Gospel with someone?
Have I asked the Lord to show me the needs of others around me so I can effectively share Truth with them?
How can I avoid (and teach my children to avoid) getting in fruitless and endless arguments?
Linking up today with: Our Simple Country Life, Intentional Me, Serving Joyfully, Cornerstone Confessions
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Very thought-provoking,Chelsey! I’m going to have to ponder over those questions….
Yeah… I have a couple of these I REALLY need to work on myself!
This is so true! Thanks for sharing with us at Thriving Thursdays. I completely agree that being forceful w/ our message when someone isn’t ready to hear it can damage relationships and turn someone away from God…at the same time, it’s a necessary message. We definitely need to be in tune with the Holy Spirit to follow His prompting and walk the delicate line!