I’ve always gotten a twisted joy out of watching small children try for a ridiculous amount of time to get a square block into a triangle opening. What I find especially funny is when the really strong kid figures out that if he pushes hard enough he can actually get the circle block into the square hole.
I think I laugh because I’ve been on both sides of this game. I’ve been the counselor trying to shove my square advice into another persons triangle situation. And I’ve felt the pain of being on the receiving end of painful shoves of misapplied counsel, where each inappropriate jab feels like a Macho Man Randy Savage elbow to the face—the “helper” convinced that if he just keeps pushing hard enough he’ll make his counsel fit my situation.
Different Strokes For Different Folks
1 Thessalonians 5:14 lays out for us the truth that certain counsel is fitting for certain people. Here Paul gives us three types of people: the undisciplined idle person, the faint-hearted, and the weak.
The undisciplined idle person is not merely a lazy bum. This is a person that has rejected counsel. The idleness is a settled rebellion. Such a person, we are told, is to be admonished. Admonishing someone is to strongly warn them that the way they are living is contrary to the gospel.
The faint-hearted person is one that has gotten discouraged. They are “small-souled” because they no longer believe they have what it takes to make it. Perhaps it is because of persecution or life circumstances, or maybe it is just a disposition. Such a person we are told should be encouraged. To encourage someone means to come alongside of them. The picture here is of a person crying on a park bench and someone else coming beside them, putting there arm around them, and communicating to them that they can indeed make it.
The weak person might refer to one that has a physical handicap. The word that Paul uses essentially means that they are legless. They can no longer stand on their own legs. We are to help such a person. To help them means to get underneath of them and support their weight. What Paul is saying here is that when our brothers and sisters in Christ “lose their legs” we are to become their legs for them.
Terrible damage would be done if we tried to admonish the weak or the faint-hearted. Likewise if we tried to help or encourage the idle we’d be enabling their sinful attitudes—such a person needs rebuked not encouraged. The wise believer will do whatever he/she can do to assess the standing of the other person and give appropriate counsel.
The Counsel of Jesus
But you know what, we blow it. You’ve blown it. And people have blown it in their counsel with you. You’ve had people hurt you because they tried with all their might to push square counsel into your triangle situation. You were damaged because of that. Can you have a posture of forgive towards that person? Can you let go of the bitterness? No matter if the person was prideful or merely ignorant, are you able to cover it in love?
I am encouraged by 1 Thessalonians 5:14. I’m encouraged because I know that Jesus is perfect in his counsel. He knows my heart fully and he knows the counsel I need. If I need a rebuke and if I need reshaping he isn’t afraid to do it. If I need encouraged he encourages. If I need help he helps. Jesus is perfect in his care for our souls.
And because he is working in my own heart he is making me better at giving appropriate counsel in the lives of others. Take heart, friends, we are being sanctified completely—and by a loving Shepherd that doesn’t elbow drop a square piece into a triangle hole.
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