Proverbs 26:6:
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet [of satisfactory deliver] and drinks the damage.
What exactly is this saying? I have heard it said that you can teach skills to a faithful person, but you cannot cause a skilled person to be faithful. Faithfulness is a choice! Make sure that you are led by the Spirit of God as to who YOU trust; with delivering a message or anything else of importance to you! It is also vital that YOU choose to be a faithful person! Can others count on YOU to: be on time; finish what you start; do what you say; keep confidences; tell the Truth; be consistent; pray every day; be in the Word of God every day; be a tither; be a giver; walk in love; stand in faith? BE FAITHFUL and you will be surrounded with faithful people! God will see to it! Amen!
Ephesians 4 is speaking of the unity that is found in the Body of Christ as the individual members do their individual part with the whole in mind! I like this from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
Unity is not uniformity. Unity comes from within and is a spiritual grace, while uniformity is the result of pressure from without. Paul used the human body as a picture of Christian unity (1 Cor 12), and he adapts the same illustration here in this section (Eph 4:13-16).
Each part of the body is different from the other parts, yet all make up one body and work together.
Many people today attempt to unite Christians in a way that is not biblical. For example, they will say: "We are not interested in doctrines, but in love. Now, let's forget our doctrines and just love one another!" But Paul did not discuss spiritual unity in the first three chapters; he waited until he had laid the doctrinal foundation. While not all Christians agree on some minor matters of Christian doctrine, they all do agree on the foundation truths of the faith. Unity built on anything other than Bible truth is standing on a very shaky foundation.
Ephesians 4 also shows us God's plan for the maturing and unifying of His church! Verses 11-16:
11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave to us] some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers. 12 His intention was the perfecting of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), 13 [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that[ we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. 14 So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. 15 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things unto Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 16 For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
We CANNOT mature without being involved in a good local church where we are exposed to all of the various ministry gifts; taught the Word of God boldly, confidently, uncompromisingly, precisely and accurately; and given the opportunity to practice the Word among a church family! THAT is God's plan and it will not work any other way! Here is Hillsong United with "Go", because we really DO want to GO His Way!
Nehemiah 4-5 tells of the on-going work to rebuild the city walls, with much opposition. The people of God were ridiculed and mocked for believing God and beginning the work. Their enemies even plotted to try and stop the building, but Nehemiah encouraged the people. Nehemiah 4:14-15:
14 I looked [them over] and rose up and said to the nobles and officials and the other people, Do not be afraid of the enemy; [earnestly] remember the LORD and imprint Him [on your minds], great and terrible, and [take from Him courage to] fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes. 15 And when our enemies heard that their plot was known to us and that God had frustrated their purpose, we all returned to the wall, everyone to his work.
Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord in this same way when you are facing tests and trials and you will be able to stand strong on the Word against every attack of the enemy!
