Here’s another gem/conundrum from our writer of ecclesiastical wisdom:
Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?
What? Isn’t being good the best way to be, and wise the wisest? Can one go over the top and make things worse?
Here’s more:
Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?
What? Is the Bible implying that a little wickedness is okay, at least if it doesn’t threaten early death?
Here’s the summary:
It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other.
The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.*
Ah, it’s the extremes that are to be avoided . . . on both sides of the equation. Come to think of it, I have seen examples.
Some decades back I was in an adult Bible class where a guest stated his belief that it’s possible for a person to achieve a state of ongoing sinlessness. It was clear he was using himself as a prime example. The teacher, either by dint of different theology or a knowing perception of human nature, took umbrage with it all and said, “Sir, you are sinning right now!”
I don’t remember what followed, only that afterward the teacher was removed. Apparently for a lack of diplomacy.
Which one, I ask myself, was acting overrighteous?
Here’s another, illustrating the other side: A friend once told me how he’d been working on a movie set and had been told not to make waves. In time he discovered that the director was embezzling. He reported it to higher management and he, my friend, was promptly chastized for making waves.
Strange, but apparently for them a little wickedness was less hassle than too much righteousness.
As for the “overrighteous,” I’ve never known a true perfectionist to be either realistic or happy. One only destroys oneself.
As for “overwicked,” it’s easy to see how the big wrongs will kill us; but we might as well admit that we all live with little wrongs all the time. (And even they eat away at us until they’re mastered.)
In any case, it’s moderation that’s prescribed, and balance.
You can die from either, gluttony or anorexia. Same in all areas.
The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.
______________________
*Ecclesiastes 7:16-18
Next: About Patience. Coming Thursday.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
10:05 am
Good stuff. Like the gluttony/anorexia comment at the end. I’ve seen the same examples of the overly righteous–sadly ending in failure and a big dose of humility.
Definately good advice and not one touched too often in church. Would be a good sermon series (things to not be extreme about).
Makes me wonder if there is anything we should be extreme about? :)
Pastor Adam Barton
Akron, Ohio
12:49 pm
Good stuff to chew on.
1:39 pm
“Do not be overly righteous and do not be overly wicked” This statement makes me think of my daughter Lauren. She definitely isn’t worried about being overly righteous. That’s probably the farthest thing from her mind. And she isn’t capable, at least not now and hopefully not ever, of being overly wicked. So I think about the humility and innocence of a child in avoiding extremes. Okay…however she is pretty extreme about Elmo. And she’s certainly good at grasping and not letting go.
2:06 pm
Given we are the eve of an election and emotions are running so high, I thought the timing of this post appropriate.
Righteousness and Wickedness – funny how all the ads indicate an extreme of one or the other, be it candidates or issues. So wrong headed, leading to nothing but a tearing apart of the fiber of our collective being. Hopefully “we the people” can see beyond the rhetoric. We all want what is best, we may differ on what road we think we need to take to get there…but if we can keep that in mind as we go to the polls- it will help us all stay in balance.
A wonderful post as always, Hyatt.
3:09 pm
I heard a missionary say, “I would rather burn out than rust out in my service for God.” I thought it a rather stupid remark at that time and even more so after your words about moderation today.
On the other hand the famous quote from GK Chesterton “Christianity is all about extreme opposites which are both true, and which each believer is to hold and defend vigorously.” states the opposite. Christians need to practice both the discipline of Solitude and that of Fellowship. We practice both Faith and Works, Prayer and Service, Evangelism and Social Action.
There is also the graphic illustration in Revelation about God spitting a church out of his mouth because they were neither hot nor cold.
Hmmm.
6:30 pm
My husband made waves at a job once, he no longer works there. You are right, a little wickedness was less hassle than too much righteousness.
I like “I’ve never known a true perfectionist to be either realistic or happy. One only destroys oneself.” So true, I say perfect is boring.
9:51 pm
With my history of restoring older cars, my favorites have always been the “plain Janes.” These are the non-deluxe models, not hot-rodded, but restored to factory original. While some folks have said, “What a waste of time, he should have restored a high-end Super Sport” or some such advice, I prefer the few who’ve commented, “Now, he could have easily taken the over-the-top option, but I rather like the restoration of the ordinary … it’s like power under restraint.” True, there are times when we’re called to step into something sensational and radical in our day to day, but walking with God in the ordinary, every day stuff, doing in moderation what we could do a bit more extravagantly (mostly to garnish a bit more attention), is gold, I tell ya, gold.
10:51 pm
Hyatt, I loved 2 things that you said in this weeks blog. I loved the discovery from this verse’s study that we are to avoid extremes. That takes a lot of heat off of trying to be perfect, doesn’t it. I do aspire to try to be perfect and I always fail which leads me to the second thing I liked about this blog and that was what you said about a true perfectionist that you have never know a true perfectionist to be either realistic or happy—-ever! And when I am in this mode which I have to work on not being in that mode, I truly am never realistic or happy! Not a great place to be! ;) I laughed when I read this because it was so true! Thank you once again, Hyatt! Lisa
6:25 am
Hyatt, I thought of a workaholic or a lazy person also in the same category. You make me contemplate.
10:15 am
I like these words Hyatt. I have been extreme and dogmatic in some of my views, but I’m softening in my old age. However, I was extreme in my voting this morning. :-)