What Else?

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15,16 NKJV

“Circumspectly” is a word not often used, but simply means “Heedful of circumstances and potential consequences”. Oh dear it’s that word ‘consequences’ again, and we don’t like to think of that, even as Christians.

The UK news is filled with the story of horsemeat finding its way into the food chain, when it is never listed on the label. I don’t think the problem is with horsemeat  itself, just that we are misled into thinking the main ingredient is beef. So the question I hear being asked is, “What else is going on in the food industry that we don’t know about”? Then there was the fiasco of our elected parliamentary officials fleecing the public purse by abusing their expenses. Then the same question is asked, “What else is going on”? When there is a scandal in any church involving priests, ministers, or pastors (yes it does happen) then the non church population asks the relevant question, “If they are doing THAT, what else are they doing”? What a good question, and one we should not try to sidestep. It comes down to a question of trust.

Back to the wisdom of the verse in Ephesians. Only a fool ignores the consequences of their actions, and that holds true for everyone whether inside or outside the church. The trouble comes when Christians fall prey to their own misdeeds, and the onlooking world is first to say... “What else”? Can you blame them? I can’t, because none of us are in the clear of doing things which are stupid, and where we don’t look ahead, but and it is a BIG BUT, we do untold damage when the children of the most High, behave in a way that brings disrepute to the Holy Name of God. I trust no one will be able to look at our lives and say, if they are doing THAT,“what else are they doing”?

But let me try to end on a positive note. Some consequences of our actions are good. When we do a good service, even in a small way, in Jesus name, we lay up for ourselves a treasure, although it comes with a warning. Paul said to Timothy, but it applies to us too:

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge. 1 Timothy 6:18-20 NIV