Popping the Balloon
Today’s scripture selection: First Corinthians 7-8
Key verses: First Corinthians 8:1b
When the apostle Paul set out to counsel some fellow believers on the Christian life he had his work cut out for him. Not only did he have to deal with all the cultural influences that might sway new believers from their newfound life of faith; he had to deal with plain old human nature.
And so it’s no surprise that at one point he had this to say:
“We know that ‘We all possess knowledge.’ But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”
How true.
One of the surest ways we can get in trouble with each other is by trying to prove how much we know about any given situation.
Sure, it’s helpful from time to time to share our “know how” with each other. We all can use a helping hand.
I, for instance, don’t know a carburetor from a radiator. Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration – but you get my drift. I’m no mechanic. So when my van starts making weird noises – which it does frequently – I head straight for the mechanic I trust. I highly value his knowledge about engines.
On the other hand – too often we offer each other un-solicited advice – when what we really need to offer is a helpful, loving, listening ear.
“Knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”
We need to pop the balloon of building ourselves up by sharing how much we know (or don’t know) about life. Instead, we can do much by simply offering ourselves to one another – as listening ears; as supports; as fellow pilgrims in the walk of faith.
Prayer: Lord, help me to quietly listen to others in need, without trying to “fix” their problem. AMEN.
By Paul Simrell
The Reverend Paul W. Simrell has served for over thirty years in a variety of congregational and institutional settings. He is a recognized minister with standing in the Virginia region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and is nationally endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for specialized ministry in both pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Ordained in 1982, he has served congregations in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. He currently serves as the pastor of Elpis Christian Church, a small, historic congregation located just a few miles west of Richmond, Virginia. Elpis is the Greek word meaning “expectant hope.” He also serves on the associate clinical staff of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Richmond, Virginia, both as a pastoral counselor and a ministerial assessment specialist, specializing in executive, clergy and relationship coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary and has done advanced clinical training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, an ACPE Practitioner, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a Certified Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and skills-building program and served as a volunteer chaplain for over twenty years with the CJW Medical Center campuses in Richmond, Virginia. His avocational interests include playing the piano and drawing. He is very happily married to his wife Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell, a free-lance writer, who is also a Certified Facilitator for the Prepare-Enrich program.
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
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