Friendship Study - Edition #15: I Don't Understand!

June 30th, 2006

Happy Friend’s Day!!!
Friendship Study – Edition #15: I Don’t Understand!

UNDERSTANDING, n. A cerebral secretion that enables one having it to know a house from a horse by the roof on the house. Its nature and laws have been exhaustively expounded by Locke, who rode a house, and Kant, who lived in a horse.

His understanding was so keen
That all things which he'd felt, heard, seen,
He could interpret without fail
If he was in or out of jail.
He wrote at Inspiration's call
Deep disquisitions on them all,
Then, pent at last in an asylum,
Performed the service to compile 'em.
So great a writer, all men swore,
They never had not read before.
—Jorrock Wormley

Just to clear this all up, this all came from the source, thedevilsdictionary.com. I had an itch to check out understanding. I want to take just a small part of a verse and take a look at it… and then look at some other verses… maybe. I don’t know. Just want to check on understanding first and see where it takes me…

Romans 7:15
I do not understand what I do.

Understand:
ginōskō
ghin-oce'-ko
A prolonged form of a primary verb; to “know” (absolutely), in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as shown at left, with others not thus clearly expressed): - allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) known (-ledge), perceive, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.

And for the addicts of the world, I am sure this really helps. I mean think of this: I cannot be sure of what I do (or did in the past, for that matter). I cannot speak of what I do. I do not have the knowledge of what I do. I cannot perceive of what I do.

Oh, by the way, the “not” that I had mentioned in a previous post, if I recall in Colossians… it appears to be acceptable to be in the scripture every bit as much as out. Really, more so to be out than in the translations. Like I said, it makes sense either way you read, with or without the not, so no damage done, I guess.

Ephesians 5:1-21
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a man is an idolater - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

I am just going to focus on the last full paragraph. I put the rest in for context. Well, except for the coarse joking… I really want to check that out. I like a good joke and I like to laugh and it pricks my heart every time I read this scripture.

Ephesians 5:4 coarse joking:
eutrapelia
yoo-trap-el-ee'-ah
(meaning well turned, that is, ready at repartee, jocose); witticism, that is, (in a vulgar sense) ribaldry: - jesting.

Ribaldry (noun):

• Vulgar, lewdly humorous language or joking or an instance of it.

Jocose (adj.)

• Given to joking; merry.


• Characterized by joking; humorous.

Of course, everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. A clean joke is good, but telling sixty in a row while at work… not looking good for the old job security there. Yeah. Unless, of course, your job is telling jokes, then tell away. I know an old lady who lived in a shoe. She got stepped on a lot. She should have moved. I just made that up. That’s a freebie and being that bad, it shouldn’t cost anything anyway.

“Be very careful how you live, making the most of every opportunity.” How about that statement? I need to make the most out of every opportunity. I haven’t. And it’s been difficult. I’ve been having to make choices of late on whether to decide to do this or that, to give here or there, to serve here or there, to clean this room or that room, to go to school and have pain or to take save a pill and miss school. Understanding. Choices. Making the most out of each and every opportunity. “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.” Foolish. Therefore do not be stupid… unfortunately, it can be translated that way. How about the seven year old version. Therefore do not be a pooh-pooh head…

Ephesians 5:17 foolish:
aphrōn
af'-rone
Properly mindless, that is, stupid, (by implication) ignorant, (specifically) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (morally) unbelieving: - fool (-ish), unwise.

Ephesians 5:17 understand:
suniēmi
soon-ee'-ay-mee
To put together, that is, (mentally) to comprehend; by implication to act piously: - consider, understand, be wise.

A different understanding than from Romans. I was thinking today, which actually led to this whole QT, the problem with relationships, friendships, countries, wars, whatever… a lack of understanding maybe? Could it be that simple? I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not. Stupid is the equivilant of being rash, rushing into things. Wise is the equivilant of putting things together and comprehending and understanding and consideration. Just an observation. For some this may be the last, so I bid thee farewell. Alas, Johnny Out.