May 30, 2008
Build Your Fence
”Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?” Job 1:10
Satan recognized that Job was untouchable. What a great place to be in life. Few people will pause and recognize this fact concerning Job, the fact that he was protected by a hedge.
Without attempting to answer all of the questions of the book of Job, I do want to point out a few things that we should learn about establishing a hedge.
1. Build a hedge around your relationships. Be very careful to enter into relationships. The Bible is very clear in its warnings concerning who you “walk” with. The older I get, the more I realize how valuable this truth is. I can look back on some relationships as absolutely disastrous for me.
2. Establish a barrier between you and temptation. Most temptation is off limits to me simply by the choices that I make in life. I have created barriers to distance myself from certain lifestyles.
3. Don’t give ear to ungodly manipulators. What you listen to effects you. We’re influenced by what we allow to “entertain” us. Certain music changes your mood. Certain television shows suggest ungodly lifestyles. Be willing to walk away from some conversations. Don’t laugh at crude and vile humor.
4. Negative conversation. Words have power both for life and death. There are some conversations that are over. Don’t revisit them. The argument is settled. I have made a conscious choice to simply not speak of certain topics or people. Most of the talking points on television is “godless chatter.” Avoid it. Turn it off.
5. Distance yourself from bitterness. I have found that gratitude is the answer for bitterness. We’ve all been hurt. Ok. Go on.