Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 (A Double-Whammy)

²¹ Do not pay attention to every word people say,
    or you may hear your servant cursing you—
²² for you know in your heart
    that many times you yourself have cursed others.

This was a double-whammy today.  

Verse 21 -- People are going to say mean things about you to others.

Verse 22 -- You've done the exact same thing, too.

And both are true.  Do you know why?  Because both of you are sinners.  We all are sinners.

This reminds me that I have to go beyond just saying I'm a sinner, to really believing at my core that I am so far from where God wants me to be that I am 100 percent dependent on God's grace.  Without Him, I'm nothing.  Left to myself, I'm ruined.

With all this "self-esteem" talk these days, I wonder if we have glossed over the Truth of ourselves: Yes, we all have something to give and we needn't walk around with our head between our legs all the time, but we also must remember that we are worth very little, except that Jesus crowns us with righteousness.  A sinner, crowned like a queen.  Now, that's grace.

In fact, I can pretty much guarantee that you read this blog because you want to grow.  You know you're not perfect and that there's always more to learn.  And I can also guarantee that if you knew about me what God knows, you wouldn't be reading this blog.  We're all sinners...there but for the grace of God.

So, when I hear that someone is talking about me (as I just heard this week, in fact, what perfect timing), I can let it go.  I, too, have cursed others, slandered them behind their back, complained about them, and torn them down when they weren't there to defend themselves.

I'm not proud of those moments at all.  But remembering them reminds me that I'm no better than anyone else, and who cares about anyone else, because I know that I need a Savior.  I'm a sinner, too, just like the worst of 'em.

Solomon shoots it straight: people WILL talk badly about you, so expect it.  But remember that you have done the exact same thing.  So, don't be surprised when it happens.  Instead, extend grace.



Molly Monroe