*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*JESUS THE PIPER.*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Matt 11:16-19 *But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,*
*And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.*
*For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.*
*The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
We must never be unmoved to solutions offered us, especially when every effort made to us requires our appropriate and appreciative response.
*Scripture Treasure.*
It is right to say that every wise action offered us requires a wise discretion to react wisely.
While life may frustrate us, we must never frustrate those who hope to help us.
While unbelief remains a menace in our world, we must never frustrate the means offered us to believe.
As generations today have become unpredictable and not understandable so it was in the days of Jesus.
Jesus rebuked the people in His days asking "to what shall He compare them?"
His statement appeared frustrating, but He could never be frustrated because He eventually found the best way to illustrate their deplorable state. Jesus can not be frustrated as we are. He will never lack a solution to our difficulties.
The generations were too complex that, in spite of the music played for them, they could not decide what to dance to.
No music played seemed to please them.
This, meaning that nothing seemed good enough to please them.
Jesus in Matt 11:17 said that the generation at His time was like little children who sat in the markets, and called unto their fellows that they have played pipes, flutes or instruments of joyful sound but their fellows, mates and friends had not danced to their music.
On the other hand, they also played songs of lamentations and mourning, but they had not shown they were moved or consoled by their music
The idea was that if they played joyful music, their fellows should dance. If anything was wrong, at least a song that reflected their sad mood should be welcomed instead, but they would have none of these.
It was parabolic because John the Baptist was sent as a forerunner they did not believe him. Jesus came after still they did not believe Him.
While the maxim 'whoever pays the piper dictates the tune or dance" says that the person who pays for the music gets to decide what kind of music is played, Jesus in His message was saying that since the people lacked direction they should not reject the message that hopes to address their lack of direction.
Jesus teaches us a few things from His illustration of the little children, the piper, and the people.
First He teaches us about attitudes.
Second, we must be good proof of what we preached to others
Third, He teaches us we can be vindicated by the good choices we make that are given us and/or given to others.
Fourth, making wrong choices or not accepting the right choices offered us can lead to wrong consequences.
Today, we will look at the first.
Our attitudes in life are strong indicators of how well we could receive favour or help.
A lot of people have mood swings that often affect their predictability. There are sudden changes in how they feel at a particular time. Oftentimes, they may not know why they behave as such. One moment, they are happy and, in a surprising twist, they are sad.
Solomon tells us that God regulates our moods and emotions.
You can not both be happy and sad at the same time.
Eccl 3:4 says there is *"A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;*
Bad attitudes and unregulated moods are unsatisfiable.
The people had a bad attitude to Jesus' teachings and so also to the solutions proffered by Him.
We must never come to a point where we remain unsatisfied with what hopes to meet our needs or what hopes to proffer a solution to our problems.
If we hope that our expectations are to be met in life, we must never behave as if we do not care about what hopes to meet such expectations.
The generation Jesus was referring to were unmoved in both instances, and the pipers/players point out the inappropriate non-response to those they played for.
Your lack of response to possible alternatives you are offered may indicate you lack the decision to receive or accept help.
Some people are ready to help, but they can not place where to find you emotionally.
They play the exciters and/or play the comforters. All to see if they could fit into your mood.
Jesus was assuming the role of the little children sitting in the market playing the pipe.
He was not a hired piper who was paid to play a pipe.
He was the piper who chose to play it at no cost. He knows your mood, and He chooses both tunes to encourage and/or comfort the people to whom He was sent.
While He offers you what is most suitable to your needs, He expects you to show appropriate and respectful responses of appreciation.
If people offer you what may half solve your problem, it is wisdom vindication to accept rather than reject it all together because the offer does not solve all.
The words of Jesus were saying that it is wisdom to listen, consider, and act upon what He says.
We must never be affected by life's problems that we fail to reason or accept the solutions to them.
When Jesus plays the pipe, dance to His joyful and celebratory pipe.
He knows the right pipe to play for you. There is no pipe He plays that is not without Him, Is 53:3, Heb 4:15. Whichever He plays, He is good for all situations.
*Remorse corner.*
Job 6:14 *To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.*
*Call to Word action.*
John 15:13 *Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
The children sitting in the market playing the pipe and playing different tunes was Jesus' way of calling us to be supportive and understanding.
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me to yield to Your compassion and kindness. Let me respond to Your compassion in Jesus name.
Today begins our 100 days of fasting and prayer. Let us respond to the call to pray together.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day.
God bless you.
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