Job 13:7

Do you speak falsehood for God’s sake,

   On His behalf that you utter lies?

 

God is great. Let me tell you all the ways I know. Not all at once, ‘cause there are so many, but slowly over time as they come out. That is the basis of a relationship. Lies, not so much.

I have bought many Astros cards from one guy over the years. He often seemed to have a little run that I would be interested in. I sometimes wondered why he would have such particular runs that I would want. Well now I know. It turns out he had a gambling problem and was so enamored by the chase that he had to sell what he got to get more. I often wanted to set up a deal where I got first dibs on what he was selling, but I always felt held back. Not only did it keep my expenditures within reason, it prevented me from being a direct enabler of his problem.

‘Falsehood’ was ‘falsely’, ‘wickedly’, deceitfully’, ‘unjustly’, and ‘crookedness’. ‘For God’s sake’ was also ‘on God’s behalf’. I can see a difference in the two, but I think the one I used captured the essence better.

‘Utter lies’ was ‘speak deceitfully’ or ‘false things’. ‘On His behalf’ was also ‘about Him’ and ‘for Him’. I figured the balance of using both and similar terms was most applicable.

I started this piece on Job 13:6 but moved it after I could not track the draft down and found the draft unfinished when I did. Back before the pandemic, baseball cards were priced so that you pretty much got your value even if you did not hit something big. After the pandemic, the prices soared to the point it you did not get something big, you lost value. It was really evident in big breaks of the most popular brands. I enjoyed 256 cards of the same guy and little else before, but I got outbid when the cost got so high that you had to beat the odds.

I offered unsolicited advice that the guy would only find resolution in his relationship with Christ. I felt like I was going out on a limb, but it wasn’t public. He was receptive to it, but I have no way to know if it will have any real impact. I can only pray it does.

I have two big relationships in my past where I wanted the other person to come to know Jesus. I tried never to make it a big deal, but I let it be known where I stood, and that I wanted them too as well. My dad died before I ever really knew if my efforts made a difference. The other relationship ended almost 20 years ago when my actions did not align with his expectations. Looking back, I could have lied to smooth it over, but I owned up to the fact I did it for Jesus and that I would do it again. I might have been wrong in my action, but I try to use it as a guide for how to balance loving my neighbor and making sure they heard the gospel.

Written 4/17/24, Posted 6/18/24 Job 291