Crazy Times

Ed McClanahan

Does it seem to you like the world has gone absolutely mad? Crazy? It seems like it to me. I’m amazed at the current frequency of chaos happening all around us. Do you wonder sometimes why the Lord doesn’t get angry and just extinguish some of this foolishness?

As I was pondering this recently, I happened to be maneuvering through my bible reading and landed in the book of Ecclesiastes. In chapter 7, the author (probably Solomon) states In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: The righteous perishing in their own righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness. This doesn’t seem fair, does it? Yet I’m also reminded that fair is a week in August. We were never promised that life would be fair, and it most certainly isn’t so.

How is a follower of Jesus supposed to respond to unfairness? As I was pondering this, I came to Ecclesiastes chapter 10. Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness--and fools multiply words.

The first directive here is graciousness. This should be a strong characteristic of a Jesus follower. We should be kind even if we disagree with someone. The second is we should have a filter and limit what we say. If fools multiply words, then Lord, help us set limitations.

Don’t let an ungracious response be your calling card. Those in your Oikos or your social media page who might be considering Jesus’ offer of salvation won’t be impressed, and you might lose an opportunity to expand the kingdom.

Lord, let our words be few!