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Vol. 12 No. 5 May 2010 |
Page 9 |
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Vol. 12 No. 5 May 2010 |
Page 9 |
I would suppose that our present generation does not know “Fibber McGee and Molly.” James “Jim” Jordan (16 November 1896–1 April 1988) and Marian Driscoll (15 April 1898–7 April 1961) played the parts of Fibber and Molly. In real life they were married in 1918. They were very poplar on ole time radio and movies.
The reason I thought of these ole performers was because of Fibber McGee’s name. To be a fibber is to fib or lie. Have you ever known a person that always embellished this and that? To embellish is to over state and exaggerate a story even though it may be based on the truth. Such type of folks because of their constant fibbing begins to believe their embroidered stories. Now that is sad! As I write this, I have one person in mind. He was basically a good person, but he sure could fib and embellish whatever he was talking about. It does not take too long to recognize a fibber. I have known too many fibbers over the years. How can one put full trust in one that fibs?
The Word of God Condemns Lying
“A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that speaketh lies shall not escape” (Proverbs 19:5). “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds” (Colossians 3:9).
The very sad part about fibbing is that it is so widespread. It is bad enough when everyday average folks are fibbers. What really hurts is when such fibbers occupy high positions in the business world and in the governmental realm. Now that’s a great problem, is it not? Are we not reaping many problems because of such fibbers?
The Solution
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17).
For information about “Fibber McGee and Molly” see:
https://www.radiohof.org/comedy/fibbermolly.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibber_McGee_and_Molly
Steve Higginbotham
While I was recently in Israel, I quickly realized how many cultural changes there are between our countries. In Israel, when one goes to the marketplace, he is expected to bargain for his purchase. You never pay for an item without first bargaining. I was terrible at that, and the merchants had to love to see me coming. Yet, most people like to think of themselves as good bargainers. Many take great pride in running across a good deal, saving a few dollars and coming out on top in a transaction. Whether it’s yard sales, the purchase of an automobile or the purchase of a house, we like to be able to say, “I made a good deal.”
That almost universal desire to “make a good deal” has caused me to think. I began to wonder if people are as shrewd as they think they are. Consider the following proposition. What would it take for you to exchange your good health? If someone had the ability to give you anything in the world in exchange for your good health, what would it take? Would you exchange your health for a new car? A home? 100 million dollars? How about fame and universal recognition? The list of offers could go on all day, and yet, I dare say that no one would accept this offer. Why? Because it would be a foolish trade? What good would it do us if we should gain the whole world and lose our health?
I guess you can see where I’m going now, can’t you. As careful as people are about making good deals and finding good bargains, they are often so careless with their most important possession, their souls. What would it take to sell your soul? Here’s what I find amazing about this proposition. You don’t have to start out offering the world, because people will sell out for much less than that. People will sell their souls for the contents of a bottle, a grudge, gossip, hatred, sexual relations, a lie and the list goes on.
So you see, I’m not so sure that people are as shrewd as they think they are. When we place more value on our physical health than our eternal well-being, we’ve made a poor decision. When we wouldn’t trade our physical health for the whole world, yet would trade our spiritual health for the smallest of matters, we’re not the good bargainers we thought we were.
Friends, the Devil has made and continues to make a proposition to you every day. His proposition is for the sale of your soul. Will you sell out? Seriously, give it some thought; what would it take for you to sell out? “What shall a man profit if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul; or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26).