Don’t Ignore the Red Flags
Matthew 10:16 See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (NRSV)
I think we’d agree that looking for the good in others, seeing their potential, cutting them some slack when they fall short – that’s a good attitude to have, right? The danger is though, that you can take that too far, to your long term detriment.
So, boy meets girl. They fall in love. He proposes. She says yes … although there’s a little inkling in her mind that something might not be quite right. But hey, they’re in love. She can change him. They get married … and not six months later, she discovers she’s married a wife-beater. How many times has that tragic scenario played itself out?
The sad truth is that not everyone is who they seem to be. So yes, it’s great always to be looking for the good in others. It’s an expression of God’s character, of His love. But that love needs to be paired with wisdom. Jesus put it like this to His disciples:
Matthew 10:16 See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (NRSV)
He gave them that warning before sending them out amongst a religious nation, God’s very own people, to share His good news. Those people should have received the disciples with open arms, but He knew they wouldn’t.
And what a sharp contrast there, in that warning – be wise as serpents (in other words see people for who they truly are) and innocent as doves (loving, gentle, accepting) – both at the same time.
As someone else once said … if you ignore the red flags because you want to see the good in people, it’ll cost you later.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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