“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” – Matthew 7:6
We try to shield our son from the news as often as possible, but if he does read about or hear about particular news stories, we try to use them as opportunities to discuss Biblical wisdom.
Last year, my family came upon a news story out of Egypt, in which a Russian tourist was killed by a tiger shark while swimming in the Red Sea. A tourist captured the moments on video, and it was a tragic event to witness. Despite the gravity of the incident, we used the story as an opportunity to explain to our son that when a beachgoer chooses to swim out farther than the warning signs recommend, they run the risk of a shark attack.
Sharks live and feed in deeper waters.
We live in a sinful and fallen world, full of selfish, careless, and evil individuals. And more often than not, these types of people give us warning signs before we get too close to them.
As followers of Christ, we are called to sacredness. 1 Peter 1:15-16 tells us, “Be holy in all you do, for it is written, ‘Be holy, because I am holy.'” Additionally, we are commanded to be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16). It was never God’s intention for Kingdom-people to allow the world unlimited access to that which is pure and sanctified within us. It was never God’s intention for us to be so naive as to be unable to recognize the wicked intentions of others.
When we knowingly and willingly dissolve our boundaries and allow other people access to the most genuine and intimate parts of ourselves, we must ensure that we have first sought the wisdom and discernment of the Father before doing so. Proverbs 2:6 explains that, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” If we let down our guard without first seeking God’s blessing, we run the very real risk of permitting others to use us, abuse us, or mistreat us.
These Scriptures are not meant to be used as a way to shame victims. There are absolutely times when a person will fall under attack or be harmed without any wrong doing or any unwise choices made on their part. But rather, these Scriptures serve as a warning for believers to not enter the lion’s den without the Lord’s consent and oversight. We will be held accountable for our actions and our choices. Proverbs 19:3 states, “A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord.” Meaning, it is easy to blame God for the consequences of our choices, when in fact our own foolishness led to our results.
It has been over 30 years since I was in elementary school, but I still remember a particular lesson so vividly. During afternoon rest time, our teacher would often play records (yes, that’s how old I am) with various, narrated stories for us to listen to. One story was about an individual who was traversing down a mountain one evening after a day of hiking. He came across a snake in his path. The snake begged the man to pick him up and take him down the mountain, claiming he had been injured, and that he would surely die if no one came along to help him. The man argued back and forth with the snake, stating that the snake was trying to trick him, and that he would bite him if he picked him up. Repeatedly, the snake rebuked the man’s fears and promised not to bite if he helped. Finally, the man decided to pick up the snake to carry the rest of the way down. As soon as the man did so, the snake bit him. “Why did you bite me?” the man shouted. “You promised me you wouldn’t!” The snake replied as it slithered away, “You knew what I was when you picked me up.”
Through a relationship with Christ, we have this knowledge, as well. We know that snakes bite. We know that sharks feed in deeper waters. We know that if we give what is sacred to dogs, they will devour it. We know that if we give our pearls to pigs, they will trample them.
During moments when we feel enticed to let down our guard to the things of this world, may we be reminded of and hold fast to the wisdom and promise found in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”