JESUS SPEAKING

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Matthew 7: 6)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Like expensive pearls, the gospel message is a sacred treasure; holy and divine. Jesus likens those who have no taste for salvation to dogs and pigs; both of which were considered filthy animals in the Jewish culture. He thus implores every believer to exercise discretion when spreading the gospel. As Christians, our efforts must remain efficient; and so presenting fools and God haters with the truth is an unacceptable waste of time, energy, and resources.

For many years I mentored a young man who was struggling with issues related to sin. He proclaimed to be a Christian, and so I offered him my time, my resources, and my biblical knowledge. And yet despite brief periods of repentance, he failed to overcome his demons. One day we met, and much to my dismay, he informed me that he had converted to atheism; apparently he no longer believed in Christ or the bible. After refuting his flimsy arguments and contending for the faith, we parted ways. I was shocked and saddened by his decision. However, that very instant God revealed to me that my friend was an apostate. Thus the Lord no longer wanted me to spend any of my time or resources on him. So we stopped speaking. I knew that reaching out to him and attempting to maintain our friendship was an absolute waste of God’s time; my efforts would be better spent spreading the gospel to other lost souls.

As Christians, our time and energy is valuable. We must therefore use discretion when spreading the gospel. If we encounter a foolish and antagonistic person, the precious words of salvation are wasted on them. We can better serve God by abandoning them and moving forward. There’s no shortage of souls in this world that need saving. May we choose wisely and not squander the gifts that we have been given.

“Lord Heavenly Father, may we spread Your message of salvation with efficiency and wisdom. May we avoid those who are unwilling to receive the truth and pour our resources into those who might submit to Your will and be converted. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, guide us in all things. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You. And we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.” God bless all of you!