Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Temperance: Now or never
Matthew 5:21-30
Vs 22 - “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”
This week we are pondering on the theme Temperance. The word Temperance is usually associated with alcoholism. It means abstinence from liquor and drugs. But today we meditate that temperance is also associated with our day to day life activities.
Temperance: A sign of reconciliation
Anger is one of the common emotions that all human possesses. But the way we express our anger matters a lot. Some people get angry and talk harshly to people and even to family members. That even causes rift in relationship. Some people damage the properties and belonging of others over whom they are angry. Some hurt themselves in the expression of anger. Others just withdraw themselves without further relationship with the other. Often people regret for being angry but it may be too late by then. Jesus says that if anyone is angry towards a fellow human being then he/she is subject to judgement. Because it is equivalent to murder. So we need to abstain from expressions of anger that hurts the sentiments of others and causes divide in relationships. Reconciliation should be the outcome. It is always tough to reconcile. We may argue who should take the first step. V.23 says that the one who is prepared to submit to the will of God would take the first step. Let us get reconciled.
Temperance: A call to beware of the ‘smart’ sin
Adultery is a sin. And it is one of the 10 commandments. Jesus says that the sin committed by just looking at other person with wrong intentions is equivalent to adultery (v.28,29). Here ‘eye’ is the culprit. Jesus also mentions about the ‘hand’ that causes stumble (v.30). In this smart phone age, these two organs are the most active and necessary body part without which we may feel incapacitated. But the word of God warns us of the consequences if they are not used prudently. We may become the victims of ‘smart’ sin. Here we are neither harming anybody, nor causing rift in relationship with others, but we are made accountable for the God given image (our Body). Some may argue that in the use of internet there are pop up windows that may cause our eye to look at the images that we didn’t ask for. The simple advice is a quote that Rev. Dr. Moni Mathew told us in one of our youth conference, “We cannot stop a bird from flying over our head; but we can surely stop it from building a nest on our head”. Let us be aware and abstain from the smart sin of the smart age.
Let us take a step now for the day and time of Judgement is not known. It could be the very next moment.
Temperance: A sign of reconciliation
Anger is one of the common emotions that all human possesses. But the way we express our anger matters a lot. Some people get angry and talk harshly to people and even to family members. That even causes rift in relationship. Some people damage the properties and belonging of others over whom they are angry. Some hurt themselves in the expression of anger. Others just withdraw themselves without further relationship with the other. Often people regret for being angry but it may be too late by then. Jesus says that if anyone is angry towards a fellow human being then he/she is subject to judgement. Because it is equivalent to murder. So we need to abstain from expressions of anger that hurts the sentiments of others and causes divide in relationships. Reconciliation should be the outcome. It is always tough to reconcile. We may argue who should take the first step. V.23 says that the one who is prepared to submit to the will of God would take the first step. Let us get reconciled.
Temperance: A call to beware of the ‘smart’ sin
Adultery is a sin. And it is one of the 10 commandments. Jesus says that the sin committed by just looking at other person with wrong intentions is equivalent to adultery (v.28,29). Here ‘eye’ is the culprit. Jesus also mentions about the ‘hand’ that causes stumble (v.30). In this smart phone age, these two organs are the most active and necessary body part without which we may feel incapacitated. But the word of God warns us of the consequences if they are not used prudently. We may become the victims of ‘smart’ sin. Here we are neither harming anybody, nor causing rift in relationship with others, but we are made accountable for the God given image (our Body). Some may argue that in the use of internet there are pop up windows that may cause our eye to look at the images that we didn’t ask for. The simple advice is a quote that Rev. Dr. Moni Mathew told us in one of our youth conference, “We cannot stop a bird from flying over our head; but we can surely stop it from building a nest on our head”. Let us be aware and abstain from the smart sin of the smart age.
Let us take a step now for the day and time of Judgement is not known. It could be the very next moment.
PRAYER
Good Lord, give me the humility to reconcile with whom I have remorse and the wisdom to realize and abstain from the sins of the new age.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“There is no difference good knowledge and temperance; for he who knows what is good and embraces it, who knows what is bad and avoids it, is learned and temperate.” (Socrates)
Rev. Shiju Thomas, Mar Thoma Church of Baltimore, MD
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church
Rev. Shiju Thomas, Mar Thoma Church of Baltimore, MD
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church