Colossians 2:8
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
World’s philosophy will generally stop with the heart. The attitude of happiness and it’s fullness is the litmus test of satisfaction. We have found ourselves failing to attain the deeper, meaningful, relationship with God and others. Our foundation leaves only to serve ourselves.
This is the weakness of the foundational ground laying that many Christians cease to build upon, or they build without precious stones (1 Corinthians 3:12). 1 Corinthians 3:1, 2 mention leaving the milk of the Word and moving to maturity.
Who can forget the immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who dreamt of a day when his children will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. We are a people who judge others on the surface. To have a “color blind” society, we have to judge others by a deeper character. Those of color must understand they are not limited by the amount of melanine of their skin just as whites are not “privileged” based on the unequal portion of melanine in their skin.
Marriage is less understood when divorce is so easily attained and the elementary counsel of friends is so easily followed. People divorce because they are unhappy, or the emotion of love ceases to bind them. The false hope in seeing others who have done it only betrays our immaturity further.
Life’s remedies would be best served in having the deeper understanding of why such things divorce is wrong. We will understand why such things as the need to forgive, show grace, have mercy, be compassionate, and love others will solve so much of our cultural issues and offer healing to ourselves and others.
We are taught byu society to be limited and shallow. It is our habit not to grow. It is our shackle from which we must be freed.
2 Peter 1:5ff states that every Christian must be in the process of maturing. We must work in the faith of our perfection. We must exercise the eternals of faith, hope, and love.
We flounder with thinking God is LOVE and God is GRACE and that simply is not deep enough when the limits of that understanding demands no change on our part.
Beware of phrases like, “Follow your heart,” “Love is feeling,” “Your happiness matters most.” “You deserve your just rewards.”
The heart is desperately wicked and deceitful in all things (Jeremiah 17:9). Guarding it is of the utmost importance since the appeal at the emotional is the fertile ground of temptation.
“Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died.” (Mark 4:5-6)