There is a website on the internet called “Cake Wrecks.” Found there are pictures of cakes, made by professionals, which have gone horribly and hilariously wrong. Having your cake displayed on this site is not a badge of honor for the baker. At times I feel embarrassed for the creator of some of the cakes as I think, “They are professionals? I could have done that good!” But of course, being “that good” is still embarrassing, even for me.
We have all done things for which we were embarrassed, many accidently. How many times has a person been humiliated in an attempt to accomplish a feat that someone else made look simple? Shame and embarrassment are especially heaped upon the person who before their attempt smugly said, “I can do that!”
How might a person avoid embarrassment? First and foremost, know that you are capable before speaking and acting. To correctly exhibit such confidence takes preparation and experience. The man who has built a house correctly can confidently say, “I can do that, again.”
The same is true in the realm of speech. There are people who have mastered the King’s English, and then there are those who, on a regular basis, slaughter it by their misuse of words. Others, who should be embarrassed, but are usually too arrogant to admit their ignorance, misspeak on a regular basis. With authoritativeness they share incorrect information and deliver misquotes from varying sources. Sadly, they believe they impress us with their knowledge and vocabulary.
Most shameful are those who use God’s word incorrectly. It was reported in the news that one of our nation’s Presidents said, “I think the good book says don’t throw stones in glass houses.” He went on to say, “make sure we are looking at the log in our eye before we are pointing out the mote in other folk’s eyes.”
No, the Bible does not say anything about glass houses. However, George Herbert did in 1640. And when it comes to logs and motes kept in context, the Bible says to make sure you remove the beam (log) before trying to help your brother remove the speck (mote) from his eye (Mat. 7:3-5). Jesus taught that we should rid our life of sin, not just acknowledge we have sin.
Have you ever heard someone quote the Bible as saying, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” or, “God helps those who help themselves,” or, “Spare the rod and spoil the child?” Those sayings are not in the Bible as well as the regularly misquoted, “Money is the root of all evil.” Look it up; (1Tim. 6:10).
Paul instructed Timothy on how to prevent embarrassment over the use of God’s word. He wrote, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).
A faithful child of God will diligently prepare/study to be approved to Him. Because of their preparation they will not be ashamed or embarrassed by their usage and application of God’s word. Their knowledge of the Bible will make it possible for them to rightly/correctly divide/use the word of truth.
What kind of workman are you when it comes to your knowledge of the Bible? Are you being diligent to present yourself approved to God? Or do you keep your mouth shut because you do not want to be embarrassed? Or maybe you SHOULD keep your mouth shut because your usage is embarrassing. Neither is acceptable to God.
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