DISCUSSION:
Verse 4
of 1 Timothy 1 says, “Give no heed to fables and endless genealogies,
which cause disputes.”
The truth
about babies: A new mother said, but we need our rest. So, we started him on
formula so he’ll sleep through the night. Sounds logical right? We’ve been told
this for years by our parents or others we love and respect. The problem is
it’s not true. It’s what we might call an old wives tale, handed down through the
years.
An
article in the Detroit News added these common fables about babies.
§ A child
will catch cold if he’s chilled. They actually catch colds from germs spread by
people.
§ Babies
need to be kept warmer than adults. Actually we are all the same.
§ A baby
that stands too early will be bowlegged. Not true.
§ Cow’s
milk is best. Actually it’s harder to digest and doesn’t have as much iron.
It’s the
same with spiritual matters. What sounds right may be all wrong. For example:
§ God will
make you rich if you give a lot to the church; actually God shows no favoritism
to the rich, only spiritual things matter.
§ If our
good deeds outweigh our bad ones, we’ll make it to heaven.
§ It
doesn’t matter what type of religion we believe and practice, God loves us and
will save us anyway. What does the Bible say?
How can
we tell myth from reality, truth from fable? Well, when it comes to babies we
can check with the pediatrician. But when it comes to spiritual matters we must
check with the Bible. When we hear something new, no matter how logical it
sounds, we need to compare it to the Word of God. If it agrees with the
principles found there, it’s the truth; if not, it’s a lie.
I guess
I’d be hard pressed to count the number of times I’ve been ask, “and what do
you think?” The truth is, it doesn’t matter what I think, only what God
thinks. Our Bibles reveal the mind of God and He alone reveals the truth.