Proverbs 1:11 “if they say ‘come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason;”
As a young boy, I was brought up in a series of children’s homes and assessment centres in Scotland. In one of the homes, there were another 5 boys all around my age. Often the other boys would have great ideas of what we should do, usually, it meant climbing down the fire escape and dropping to the ground around one or two in the morning. Once we went over the fields at the back of the children’s home, looking for another group of boys that were causing trouble, just because someone said we should – no one can remember who.
The end result was me running for my life and jumping off a railway bridge as I was being chased by a group of angry older boys. I was only there because “they said” I should go.
Who do you allow to speak into your life?
KNOWLEDGE
The use of “they” and “us” in this scripture goes to the heart of the matter – how often people use this in situations “they say” but there is no qualification of who “they” are – but a demarcation is established. A division is created even in people’s thinking by the use of this language. There is another form of instructions to be seen here, leading to another lifestyle. This lifestyle hides its intentions, conceals its motives and works against those who are morally pure.
In its’ original setting, it could be physical violence, or murder, or even taking advantage of the poor in court. In today’s setting in our culture we could recognise this as gossip, where someone’s character is “murdered”, their future impacted, and their position undermined. Beware the “them and us” syndrome, which takes vision and makes it di-vision!
UNDERSTANDING: Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live? That last word “reason” is critical, it is pronounced “hinnam” in the Hebrew language and appears 32 times in the Old Testament. In English it is translated as nothing; no/without reason; without cause; causeless; and, in vain. This word clarifies the issues of the heart, there is no reason that can be established for their behaviour, they are devoid of any excuse.
WISDOM: who is the “they” and “us” in your life, and how can you change that?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Adaptability is a beautiful Relationship Strength – you continually explore competing priorities, dealing with the unexpected along the way. You bring calm to others in crisis, and you being with people in the moment is a source of strength to them. Let people around you know your thinking in times of sudden change, take them with you on the journey, allow them to glimpse your expectations regularly. Draw structured people into your world to help and invite skilled others to question your priorities in times of intense crisis.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version: [we choose to allow others to tell us how to live in an amoral and immoral way and we just go with the flow]
PRAYER: Father Thank you for today! Please help me to live, speak and pray in unity with you and other Christians. Thank you.
Thankfully I can say today that I have no they sin my life who lead me negatively, only they who influence me for good and God! Some personalities are like chemicals that set off a bad reaction, they should never mix as when they do the results are trouble. It’s vital we use wisdom in who we choose to be the influences in our lives because the choices will be life changing.
Great thought. In this season with the whole isolation, it actually has been refreshing just going back to being with family and God. Allowing God to be the friend, the “they” or the “us” in my life. There can be so many voices that pull us away from the truth and what’s really important which is God and what he says is good for me. It’s like hitting a reset button in this area. I’m always thankful for the great God relationships I have in my life, but I’m also thankful for this season where God has drawn us closer to him, the greatest “they”
The message I received is that it our duty to educate the young ones with wisdom and teach them to follow the right path.
Group mentality can be very tempting. It could be very easy to be coerced into doing wrong, just to be accepted as one of “them”
“ Stand your ground with all you have and remember you relationship with me”.
Thank you Pastor Allan.
I had a communication from a relative from India. My late husband’s uncle’s and aunts 7 couples now alive are aged between 85-100 years.
As I am praying for the salvation of family and friends especially those elders I conveyed that I am praying for them that “they “ make peace with God.
The ripple effect of that conversation, and through another member of the family; I was told that I should not be even thinking of “them “or be concerned about as I am considered to be cut off from that side of family!
Since I am a widow and I should not associate with “them “ means that I mind my business!
I am totally misunderstood.
When Phil and Lucinda spoke on how Caleb had silenced the negative voices and chose to listen to the Lord and the right voice he had victory.
Praise God for the Word of God and Holy Spirit empowering us to make the right choices!
Praise God we have an “Offence Free’ Zone over us!
There is always going to be “us “and “them” .
Our position and identity in Christ is so precious!
We need Him and His presence always!
Thank you
Great thought Allan! The idea that as soon as we start to use the words such as “them and us” creates division and has the potential to murder character is such a great reminder to be cautious of my language.
Really great Allan! Love this insight.
It’s a bit sad, but I have had to change the ‘they’ in my life and bad advice has come equally from Christian and non Christian friends. I now have only you Allan who gets to really speak into my life from a leader point of view and then a few other close friends who I trust.
I am a very open person, but learning wisdom of who gets a say in my life and who doesn’t.
Thanks for being so open about everything in this blog Allan. It’s inspiring to hear new snippets from ur life every day!!
Thank you for sharing. I remember here the tempting of Jesus. The devil says a thing, and Jesus knew what to say back to the enemy.
If we knew God’s promise, we can hold our ground whatever ‘they’ say.
Thanks for this as I am leading my children through a time of peer pressure but guiding them to be the leaders not the followers. This will equip me with more wisdom. Amen
Thank you Pastor Allan! Today’s devotional very much blessed me.
“Beware the “them and us” syndrome, which takes vision and makes it di-vision!” This is such a powerful thought.
To “live, speak and pray in unity with other Christians” is a lifestyle I believe the father would be so proud of. A beautiful way to live.
I am blessed to have allowed a small number of people I trust to speak into my life. I have learnt the hard way over the years by making mistakes,( some costly ) through listening to the counsel of others including well meaning Christians.
I’m really enjoying getting to know your journey Pastor Allan & understanding how you have such compassion empathy & the fruit of the Spirit flowing out of your life.
This verse speaks to me of the importance of choosing mature Godly companions in my life who will help me grow more like Christ. Our sin nature lacks wisdom & is easily tempted particularly in the youth & inexperienced ones if they don’t listen to good wise Godly counsel. Often their ambition is to achieve success wealth & fame without having the Godly character to deal with the challenges they bring.
Reserving our judgments of others will preserve us
Seeing the bigger picture in difficult times or situations is imperative as believers
I guess ambushing someone could look like verbal assault/ ambush or character assassination also . Blood can be on our hands in these situations also . Being careful to speak in love , to have the best interests of that person in our heart is the way to communicate concerns or support for change perhaps bringing along another to mediate a conversation is a wise thing to do
My Thoughts on Proverbs 1:11
This is basically telling us don’t listen to “they”(people who are from the world), especially if it comes from a bad place…….It will only lead to sin and a place where God can’t be present.
We live in a very diverse fallen world,we will often times have people from different walks of life cross our path,who may not always share our beliefs and values.
In these times I think it is wise to always consult a close friend you can trust or your pastor for some advice ,before committing to something your not sure will have a positive outcome.
Speakingto my younger self
I could have avoided so many unnecessary drama in my life ,if only I had chosen to seek wise council. it would have saved me from making some poor choices in my life .
Thanks again for sharing Ps Allan.
Peer pressure is a common thing and the need to belong makes people easily influenced. I have always resisted the ‘them’ ‘they’ syndrome in that I push back and don’t go along with the ‘majority’ to the extent where it feels like I am missing out.
Standing firm to what is right and not always popular is the way to go. They come and They go
“Beware the “them and us” syndrome, which takes vision and makes it di-vision!“.. very powerful statement. Love the business breakthrough .. challenge accepted.
I feel truly blessed to have some of the greatest people as mentors and voices into my life and future. They have invested into me and I believe it’s no coincidence that God has put these people into my life. “They” have been the ones that have guided and directed my steps. And I look upto respect and value them immensely and i hope to be able to offer the same guidance to others around me in my life.
Workplaces are notorious for this type of ungodly thinking. “They say “ is a way of gaining weight to the I say/I think. Something to hide behind when a person wants their say noticed but is not brave enough to own it!
How different when a godly voice is heard in the midst of all of this. To think nobly and above reproach! To speak the truth in season, What an honourable way of serving our God!!
There are many examples I can think of for saying “they” and “us”. Divisions made by ethinicy, religion, status, ability… I think a great thing to do is to remember what all people have in common. We are all created by God, and made in His image, we are all imperfect humans, Jesus died & conquered death for everyone, and everyONE is loved by God.
Strong word as it shows how God advices who to listen to but also what if we are the victims what if the enemy is targeting us and has us in his eyes to destroy us to destroy the word of God to destroy the Child God made us to be to destroy that innocence that kept our hearts pure and focus on our saviour.
Lord thank you for this word that show us the way that we should not take but that we learn to love others with a pure heart.
In Jesus name.
Amen!
I praise you for constantly sharing your story with us
As I’m sure all have been through stuff
We are hopefully able to guide others not to make the same mistakes
Sometimes a person needs to see that
They aren’t the first to be going thru something and the nature of the world tells us they won’t be the last
We can try to guide and to influence but shouldn’t push our opinions and beliefs
If someone’s mind soul and body is that badly damaged it’s hard for them to accept straight away
You lose a few on the way that’s only natural doesn’t mean we should stop pressing on and in
Us vs them can easily be the mentality of believers when we don’t understand the grace God has for all humanity. I fall into the trap of fighting against the wrong enemy for a good reason and I end up getting distracted from the battle I have grace for. But Jesus prayed the Lord’s prayer asking the Father to for forgive our sin not their sin. I pray that I will follow the example of Jesus who has heart for all of us.
They/them and us…it’s a great insight explained of this verse. Early days in my Christian life I struggled with this battle a lot and through the grace of God and the people he placed in my life I learned to understand that whom I am letting to speak in my life and whom I am doing community together.
I am still a work in progress but thank God for His wisdom and the people He placed in my life.