It never ceases to amaze me how easy some people fall into conflict and then can’t return out of it. It’s like they must stick to the defeated notion of their own way and pride. It’s an ‘I win, everyone else loses’ approach. It’s a foolish approach because in reality nobody wins.
s
The words of a sage command attention:
The words of a sage command attention:
s
“I take pleasure in three things,
and they are beautiful in the sight of God and of mortals:
agreement among brothers and sisters,
friendship among neighbours,
and a wife and a husband who live in harmony.
I hate three kinds of people, and I loathe their manner of life:
a pauper who boasts, a rich person who lies,
and an old fool who commits adultery.” (Sirach 25:1-2 NRSV)
“I take pleasure in three things,
and they are beautiful in the sight of God and of mortals:
agreement among brothers and sisters,
friendship among neighbours,
and a wife and a husband who live in harmony.
I hate three kinds of people, and I loathe their manner of life:
a pauper who boasts, a rich person who lies,
and an old fool who commits adultery.” (Sirach 25:1-2 NRSV)
s
When siblings agree and get along in love, and without pretence, what a soothing living portrait is presented. How often does it occur, however -- rarely, it is sad to say. It only takes one rotten apple to spoil the bunch -- keeping all the children sensitive to one another is a major task. This is where the parents come in; to minimise the friction as much as possible. It’s about engendering love from birth and focusing on teamwork within the family, and being quick to enforce and reinforce love actually in the relational setting on a daily basis. Parents of children who have an innate love for their fellow siblings throughout their lives are blessed. Sadly, in our culture of materialism parents often either exacerbate the issue by their own incorrect values, or don’t stand a chance in competing with th culture.
When siblings agree and get along in love, and without pretence, what a soothing living portrait is presented. How often does it occur, however -- rarely, it is sad to say. It only takes one rotten apple to spoil the bunch -- keeping all the children sensitive to one another is a major task. This is where the parents come in; to minimise the friction as much as possible. It’s about engendering love from birth and focusing on teamwork within the family, and being quick to enforce and reinforce love actually in the relational setting on a daily basis. Parents of children who have an innate love for their fellow siblings throughout their lives are blessed. Sadly, in our culture of materialism parents often either exacerbate the issue by their own incorrect values, or don’t stand a chance in competing with th culture.
s
Switch the television on during current affairs programs and you see it every now and then: quarrelling neighbours. There’s almost nothing worse than quarrelling neighbours. The sad thing is the attention-hungry Press Media love to sensationalise what should be sorted out through other means. How great it is on the other hand to find cooperative neighbours -- the sentiment is: ‘We scratch each other’s backs.’ Even better are neighbours who’re genuine friends, and this is unfortunately again very rare from my experience. People tend to want to be left alone. So, perhaps we settle for ‘friendship among neighbours’ i.e. friendly relationships with neighbours.
Switch the television on during current affairs programs and you see it every now and then: quarrelling neighbours. There’s almost nothing worse than quarrelling neighbours. The sad thing is the attention-hungry Press Media love to sensationalise what should be sorted out through other means. How great it is on the other hand to find cooperative neighbours -- the sentiment is: ‘We scratch each other’s backs.’ Even better are neighbours who’re genuine friends, and this is unfortunately again very rare from my experience. People tend to want to be left alone. So, perhaps we settle for ‘friendship among neighbours’ i.e. friendly relationships with neighbours.
s
The final beautiful sight is but one indicator of a good marriage. Living in harmony is the goal of most if not all sensible human beings. Now, it’s not always easy to achieve harmony is it? It can require some work, particularly when there’s another person involved as in marriage. We know from Proverbs that a ‘quarrelsome wife’ (or husband) is like a constant dripping on a rainy day, and that it would be better to live in a desert or on the corner of a roof than to be with her (or him).[1] Those with good marriage partners might be inclined to take them for granted. It’s so wonderful to see a close elderly couple -- that’s the end point.
The final beautiful sight is but one indicator of a good marriage. Living in harmony is the goal of most if not all sensible human beings. Now, it’s not always easy to achieve harmony is it? It can require some work, particularly when there’s another person involved as in marriage. We know from Proverbs that a ‘quarrelsome wife’ (or husband) is like a constant dripping on a rainy day, and that it would be better to live in a desert or on the corner of a roof than to be with her (or him).[1] Those with good marriage partners might be inclined to take them for granted. It’s so wonderful to see a close elderly couple -- that’s the end point.
s
The sage also points out three things he detests. Falsehood of deceit is common to each the pauper how boasts, the rich that lie, and the old two-timing fool. Who do they fool? Mostly themselves, but they also entrap the simple. Many lay in wait to be burned by such people, particularly the latter two. With these people, we steer well clear and admonish those close by us to do the same.
The sage also points out three things he detests. Falsehood of deceit is common to each the pauper how boasts, the rich that lie, and the old two-timing fool. Who do they fool? Mostly themselves, but they also entrap the simple. Many lay in wait to be burned by such people, particularly the latter two. With these people, we steer well clear and admonish those close by us to do the same.
s
By far the superior notion of thought and action is to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God,”[2] which could be the underpinning attitude of heart in being a good brother or sister, neighbour, and husband or wife. Let’s be just, kind, and humble in our relationships.
By far the superior notion of thought and action is to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God,”[2] which could be the underpinning attitude of heart in being a good brother or sister, neighbour, and husband or wife. Let’s be just, kind, and humble in our relationships.
s
Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Copyright © 2008, S.J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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