Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor in the second century, once said that we should never value anything as profitable if it requires us to: Break a promise, hate our neighbour, curse, set aside modesty, play the hypocrite, or act behind walls and veils.
What Marcus Aurelius (drawing from common sense) put in the negative, Paul (drawing from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) stated in the positive when he said,
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are modest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
In any given situation, we should be asking, what virtue is required of me at this moment? Is it truth? Is it modesty, courage, humility, brevity, justice, silence, mercy, or correction?
This, of course, is difficult to do if you are always in a hurry, always rushing. The saying, “fools rush in wear angels fear to tread”, is a truism – and an obvious strategy of our enemy – an enemy that loves it when we rush about, reacting to this or that and not asking the question: “What virtue does God require of me at this moment?”
As followers of Jesus, we are not obligated to move at the pace of the world around us. This is one of the lovely things about the Gospel. Jesus invites us to rest. Our enemy wants us always busy. Busy, busy, busy. Either that or bone lazy. He doesn’t care, so long as we are not thoughtful, not deliberate, not circumspect.
For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength… (Isaiah 30:15)
Jesus was a man who knew how to sit still (Luke 5:16).
Out of His many hours of solitude in the wilderness, Jesus came clear-headed, focused, in tune and at peace with His Father’s will.
Jesus was a man who knew when to speak up and when it was time to throw furniture into the sky (John 2:14-16). He also knew when to steer clear of the mob – and its peer pressure (John 7:3-10).
Look at your own circumstances just now. Are you being pressured to lay aside modesty? For what profit? To win whose favour? Are you tempted to set aside the truth? For whose benefit? To save whose skin?
Do you have to go behind veils and walls to have the conversations you want to have? To what end? Are you being rushed into something that requires you to lay aside your conscience, morality, courage, or faith in Christ? Are you setting aside truth, justice or mercy in order to avoid suffering?
This is not the way of the Gospel. This is the way of devils, hypocrites and scoundrels.
Someone once said that the worst thing that can happen as a result of telling the truth is the best thing that could have happened in that situation.
This saying is true. Suffering in this life is inescapable. But you get to pick your poison. Do you want to suffer for whatever is true, modest, lovely and pure, or would you rather suffer for what is untrue, weak, ugly and ultimately unprofitable?
Jesus suffered a string of sufferings for the truth. And it was the best thing that could have happened. Not only for Him (Philippians 2:8-10), but also for us.
But it was the prior string of “no’s” in Jesus’ life (Matthew 4:1-11; 12:38-39; 16:1-4; 26:62-63, Mark 8:11-12, Luke 12:13-14; 12:49-53, John 7:1-9) that led Him to say “Yes” to the things that really matter.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-13).
So sayeth the Shepherd, so sayeth the flock.
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