Is That Really True?

 

In a tiny coastal Mexican village, a small fishing boat comes into port and ties to a little wooden dock. A nearby vacationing American business executive compliments the lone fisherman on the quality of his catch and asked him how long it took to catch the fish. “Not very long,” answers the fisherman. “Why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” inquired the businessman. The village resident explains that these few fish are sufficient to meet his family’s needs. The American then asks, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?” Well,” said the fisherman, “I sleep late, play with my children, and take an afternoon siesta. In the evening I go to the village to see my friends, play the guitar and sing a few songs. I have a full life.” The executive interrupts, “Listen, I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you. You should start by fishing longer every day and then you can sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat. With the extra money a larger boat brings in you can buy a second one and a third one – until you have an entire fishing fleet. Then you can open your own processing plant.” “And after that?” questioned the fisherman. “When the business gets really good,” continued the executive, “you can start selling stock and make millions!” “Millions?” – “Really?!’ exclaimed the fisherman, “And then what?” The smirking executive said, “After that you’ll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take siestas, spend you evenings playing the guitar and singing songs with your friends!”

Two people were sitting on a park bench discussing what had made them both failures. The first said, “I’m a failure because I never took anyone’s advice.” The second one said, “I’m a failure because I took everyone’s advice.” Among the greatest mistakes a person can make are these: 1) Never listen to anyone; and 2) Accept what others say without investigation and thinking for one’s self. In America today, many believe that there are no moral absolutes. Many hold to a philosophy of a moral relativism. How many times have we heard statements like these: “What is right for you may not be right for me;” or, “If it feels good, do it!” or, “Anything goes;” and, “Nothing is right or wrong – there are just differences of opinion.” All of this is the result of the feeling that there is no absolute truth. “You are entitled to your truth, and I am entitled to mine” is the view held by many in the world today. Polls reveal that around 70% of Americans do not believe in moral absolutes. Among “Baby Boomers” the percentage is even higher, at about 80%. Even a whopping 60% of professing Christians said that there is no absolute standard of right and wrong. Is it any wonder moral decay is ruining U.S.?

[1 Timothy 4:1-10] In religious matters God expects us to listen and He also expects us to think for ourselves. The Bereans were commended because, after Paul preached to them, “…they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). Unlike the Thessalonians, and the two persons on the bench, the Bereans took the information they received and “checked up” on the apostle Paul! The message is obvious. Don’t accept anything, secular or religious, just because someone says it is so. Investigate the facts to enable correct thinking to govern your life in your general affairs. Religiously, neither should one accept anything just because someone says it is so, but check for yourself whether or not it is “true to the Word of God”. Jesus is truth and truth will set you free (John 8:32; 14:6). Free from tyranny and sin which separates us from the love of God.