Behaving Wisely

Most of us can remember hearing the common parental admonition: “stop carrying on and behave!” as we were growing up. The word “behave” is the intensive form of have meaning “Have yourself”. Instead of letting yourself be carried away you control yourself. After all, our behavior determines who we are. It is not “do” havior, but “be” havior. Our “being” is what is under consideration

Let us consider four men of the Bible who knew how to behave wisely.

David – Behave Wisely With Your Enemies

David teaches us how to behave ourselves wisely with regard to those who are our enemies. When King Saul honored David with leadership over the men of war David behaved wisely (1 Samuel 18:5). The result was acceptance by the people and even Saul’s servants. When given an important opportunity and responsibility do you behave wisely? His wise behavior was so influential that it caused King Saul to be afraid of him (14,15). Good behavior troubles some people. Saul was troubled because he knew that his own behavior was lacking. Later, when Saul came to hate David, David behaved himself even more wisely (30). Saul’s hatred for David grew out of envy and led to cruelty and subtlety. Even when David had the opportunity to kill Saul he chose to behave wisely and not seek personal revenge. Jesus tells us how to behave with our enemies. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (Matt. 5:44). Revenge for the Christian can be sweet. “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:19-21).

Daniel – Behave Wisely With Regard To Your Convictions

I’ve never been a big fan of lima beans or sweet potatoes. On the other hand, I’ll take a good hamburger or a T-bone any day. When Daniel found himself a ward of the Babylonian palace, it posed a great dilemma for this devout Jewish youth. King Nebuchadnezzar’s requirements for the diet for Daniel and young men like him was unclean. “Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine” (Daniel 1:8). Daniel didn’t choose his menu on his own likes and dislikes.  Instead, he based his eating habits on his deep-seated convictions. He decided to be a vegetarian while in the service of Nebuchadnezzar because it was the only way he could obey God. The meat was either prohibited by Jewish law or not prepared as God had instructed the Israelites to prepare their food. Daniel’s culinary decisions demanded courage. He could have been killed. Daniel not only had convictions but the courage to stand for them.

Do we behave wisely with regard to our convictions? Do you say “no” to smoking? Do you say “no” to drinking? Do you say “no” to speeding? Do you say “no” to forsaking the assembling of the saints?

Joseph – Behave Wisely with the Opposite Sex

A newspaper reported an unusual incident at a fast-food restaurant. The manager had put the day’s cash in a paper bag for deposit that night, but an attendant mistook it for an order and gave it to a couple at the drive-through window. A short time later, when the man and woman opened the bag in a nearby park, they were shocked by its contents. They immediately drove back to return it. The manager had reported a robbery, so police cars and a TV crew were on the scene. How relieved he was to get the money back! He said to the couple, “You should be featured on the evening news for your honesty.” “Oh, please, no publicity!” replied the man nervously. “She’s not my wife.” Here is a man who had honesty with his money, but not with his honey.
To be honest with another’s money but dishonest with another’s spouse isn’t being consistent. Joseph was honest with both before God. After Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery he ended up in Egypt in the household of Potiphar. Joseph behaved himself so wisely that soon Potiphar had entrusted all he owned to Joseph (Gen. 39:6). And when Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, Joseph maintained his integrity by refusing her advances. “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).It cost him dearly, but ultimately it yielded great rewards (41:37-50:26)

We must look beyond cultural standards and, instead, see that ultimately we are responsible to God! God has set the standard on sexual integrity. “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Heb. 13:4). Just think of the great damage sexual immorality can do to you, to others, to your reputation, to your relationship with God, to your lifetime love. No moments of sexual pleasure can possibly be worth all that loss, plus the shame, plus the loss of the blessing of God. Living together is a SIN. Pornography is not integrity. Immodesty shows off ones lack of integrity. To behave wisely one must flee all forms of fornication.

Timothy – Behave Wisely in Church

Paul told Timothy in his first epistle to this first century preacher, “These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:14,15). Several apparent truths are revealed. First, we cannot live any way we want. There is a way we “ought” to behave. We are not left to guess how we are to behave. Paul wrote Timothy in such a way that he would know how he ought to behave. We have an objective standard of wise behavior. Paul put it in writing. We must have a standard on moral behavior. Paul needed to write these things in case he was delayed. Timothy needed this right then, because of its importance. We have a dignified standard. It is one that originates with Deity. It is the Truth pertaining to God’s House.

Are you behaving yourself wisely in God’s House? Do you attend as you should or forsake? Do you pay attention or let your mind wander? Do you worship or sleep? Do you prepare by studying ahead or do you come unprepared? Keep in mind that this passage is not limited to the church building or assemblies. Your behavior reflects upon the bride of Christ and her purity seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.

You may be all grown up now. Yet, your behavior with regard to your enemies, your convictions, the opposite sex, and in the Lord’s Church is still very important. Are you wise enough to behave yourself?

– Daniel R. Vess