A boy put his hand into a pitcher full of filberts. He grasped as many
as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull out his hand, he
was prevented from doing so by the neck of the pitcher. Unwilling to lose
his filberts, and yet unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears
and bitterly lamented his disappointment. A bystander said to him, "Be
satisfied with half the quantity, and you will readily draw out your hand."
When I read this fable, I thought about how we as Christians are very
much like this little boy when we thoughtlessly attempt too much at once,
throwing both moderation and caution to the wind! The Bible says in Proverbs
25:16:
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou
be filled therewith, and vomit it.
What does this verse mean? That self-control must be in full view at all
times!! Have you found honey, dear lady? Have you found something in life
that is sweet to you, something you really enjoy doing or being a part
of, an especially rewarding experience you'd like to replicate? Many things,
even those that are good for us, such as honey or even the filberts the
little boy craved, will have an ill effect upon us if taken to excess.
Too much, even of a good thing, is bad. As a matter of fact, verse 17
of Proverbs 25 follows with another illustration of this truth…
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee,
and so hate thee.
You see ladies, even too much time spent in the home of a friendly neighbor
may turn that good friend into an adversary. The sweet relationship that
you've both gorged yourselves on will eventually become nauseating. Later
on you'll find that you can't stomach one another's presence anymore because
of the excess quantity of time you've spent together! Familiarity may
breed contempt; therefore we need wisdom to know how much of a good thing
is enough…
Proverbs 23:8
The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet
words.
Just like the immoderate little boy in the story was unwilling to let
go of the quantity of filberts he desired for himself, we too, are unwilling
to let go of the large quantity of good things we snatch to fill our lives!
And God in His great design and love for us has placed the narrow neck
of the pitcher there, forcing us to have to let go of some of that good
stuff if we ever want to get our hand back out! However, it's when we
are unwilling to let go of the large amounts that our misery and frustration
- and even panic begins.... Ladies, we must be ready to make moderate
use of all our enjoyments. (Even the computer!!) And when we can become
satisfied with half the quantity, we are able to pull our hands back out
of the pitcher and gain control of ourselves again…
Philip. 4:5
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Ladies, do you display a reasonable form of government over your passions?
God is at hand to enhance your equilibrium! By our behavior, others should
be able to clearly observe our self-restraint, coupled with a sincere
and willing desire to yield to the Lord's design of a balanced life for
His children. How rare this example is among believers! Many of God's
children have no rule over their own spirit…
Proverbs 25:27-28
It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory
is not glory. He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city
that is broken down and without walls.
Is it possible that you have been eating too much honey of late, having
lost rule over your own spirit by doing so? Perhaps today you've got your
hand involved in something you absolutely love but have found that you
cannot withdraw it now; you've taken on more than you can manage, you've
made a large commitment and now you are at the point of panicking, wondering
how you are going to get out of the situation in which you are trapped!
Today's illustration holds the answer for you - let go of some of the
quantity! As keepers of our homes, we must be careful that we don't indulge
in pleasurable pursuits to such a degree that we can't get our hand free
to serve our own family. Your husband and children need - and deserve
- both your hands…
Proverbs 14:1
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down
with her hands.
Frustration sets in when people want more than they can handle or should
have. If your hands are full of the things that are sweetest only to you,
what does that leave for your family?? Your loved ones will have to wait
until you have let go of something before your hand will extend its way
in their direction again. Maybe what you are involved in is a good thing,
but if it is too much honey, it will eventually put your whole home in
poor health! Can't you be satisfied with half the quantity, exercising
moderation?? If not, you'll be sick for the excess of a good thing, and
your family will be sick for their shortage of a good thing! To want what
you want, you must also be prepared to want what your want leads to.
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap.
Proverbs 1:31
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled
with their own devices.
Are you feeling full of your own way yet, dear lady? Where have your wants
led you? In our attempt to "do it all", women fall out of a proper balance
as does their home life. Due to over indulgence, an unsettled stomach
and an unsettled life wind up the same way - you'll naturally begin to
vomit. An upset individual vomits unpleasant complaints toward those that
are blocking their desire for more honey! Likewise, their family will
begin to vomit too - vomit resentment and unkindness toward one another
as life in general falls out of balance for everyone.
Proverbs 11:1
A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
Thank God for the design of the pitcher! We need that narrow neck of discipline
to force us to do right and rethink the portions of good things we are
choosing for ourselves, thereby developing mature judgment and healthy
habits. Ladies, if we are only alive to the sense of pleasure and not
also to that of duty, then truly we have fallen out of balance and have
begun to displease the Lord who is close at hand! It's time to trade in
some of that honey for real sweetness, don't you think?
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003
