The Bible Edge
Everyone needs an Edge, Believers can have the Bible Edge
I Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
Malice: “Extreme enmity of heart, or malevolence; a disposition to injure others without cause, from mere personal gratification or from a spirit of revenge; unprovoked malignity or spite.” Websters 1828
Children don’t have this in their nature. They do not harbor malice in their heart, nor do they carry it out in their actions. They are children. Mischievous, yes; ornery, yes; selfish, yes, but not malicious. Little children do not normally have it in them to be vengeful, spiteful, or injurious to others. Yes, they bite, they throw tantrums, they take toys away from others that they want to play with, but they are absent of malice.
Several times in Scripture it is recommended that adults become as little children. Jesus even said …Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3) The Apostle John addressed his audience as “little children” in I John 3:7. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. In fact, nowhere in Scripture is it written that children must become adults, that will happen naturally. But rather, numerous times adults are told to become like children. One of those characteristics that children have which adults should emulate is this thing of malice.
Malice seems to sneak in like rainwater sneaks into a house. For me malice seems to creep into my heart, mind and soul while driving on the interstate. I’m in line occupying my space yet an interloper that has not paid the price of patience whips in front of me at the last minute to get ahead of all the other cars who waited their turn. Yep, malice makes an appearance. I want to block them, or whip around them, or even bump into them. Of course, I Corinthians 10:13 tells me that …will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. So, I try to escape by reminding myself to “honor all”, “be willing to be defrauded”, to “prefer one another”, and other similar Bible commands and malice fades.
However, we must trick ourselves, we must trick ourselves to, …in malice be ye children… This is an edge of interpersonal relationships given to us in the Holy Bible. It is a Bible Edge to keep peace one with another. Be absent of malice.
William Howe, Ph.D.
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