“Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.”

Obviously, cutting off your feet or drinking poison sounds like a really, really bad idea. Nobody would willingly do that. I read the first part of Solomon’s message here and realize how vital this was in his day, when there were no cell phones, fax machines, the Internet, or any other way to get a message to someone except through another person. Literally every message sent in those days was delivered, either verbally or in writing, by a person. Solomon knew that if that person was a fool, everybody would lose. In war, sending a message to the front lines could literally determine the outcome for a nation. In other words, it could destroy a nation. I’m always amazed by the fact that God chose to share His most critical message of salvation with the world through broken and flawed people. When I reflect on that, I realize that the beauty of the message is that God uses broken and flawed people. He loves us, trusts us, values us, and, although He could shout His message from heaven Himself, He instead chooses to work through us. I was once told that God considered our flaws and brokenness when He designed our calling. He does not use us in spite of those things; sometimes He actually uses us because of those things. When a lost world that looks a lot like us sees that the one difference is our relationship with Jesus, they find themselves attracted to Him. It is true that we are simply one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread. Solomon does not want us to be foolish with God’s most amazing message, but neither should we be deceived into believing we are any better than those with whom we share it, except for the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is shaping us into the image of Jesus. Today, handle God’s truth carefully. #BeTheEdge

“And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19b NIV