I do some silly things from time to time. There was one time when I forgot to put a guard on my hair clippers and ended up having to go bald for a little while. And, being summer, my bald head got sunburned when I went on a run and didn't even think about putting sunscreen on my head. I voluntarily shaved the very top of my head and my beard one Halloween to look like a 1970's cop with a balding head yet sweet mustache and sideburns (my Facebook bears the proof). A previous Halloween saw me dress-up as Miss Piggy (which was utterly terrifying, and Facebook may or may not also bear the proof). I "lost" my wallet under a pile of clean clothes on the day I was supposed to fly home, so I had to play 20 Questions with TSA for them to confirm my identity. College kids, am I right?
Now, despite my silliness, there are instances where I am downright idiotic and foolish, to the point of sinning. I say things I think are funny but they are really hurtful. I ignore people's needs and demand their attention. I'm a self-depreciater. I'm lazy. I'm apathetic. I'm impulsive. I'm stubborn. I may not be these things all the time, but if one is around me (or anyone for that matter), it is only a matter of time before you see something--either a small faux pas or something tragic and destructive--and say "That's not right."
One of the major mistakes that the Bible lets us see unfold is David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12). David, staying home as he sent his army to war, spied Bathsheba bathing and lustfully demanded to have her, slept with her, impregnated her, and tried to cover it up by having her husband sleep with her, and when he refused, had him killed. After this, God sent Nathan the prophet to go and rebuke and curse David and show him the error and consequences of his ways (2 Sam. 12:15). Nathan bluntly asked him, "Why have you despised the word of the Lord to do what is evil in His sight?" David was crushed. He had sinned against the Lord that established him, the unlikeliest of the sons of Jesse, in a throne that would ever perish (2 Sam 7:4-16). He would soon watch his son die seven days after his birth, nameless and uncircumcised (which would have happened the next day). David would even write Psalm 51 as he grieved his sin.
This is a story we all know. It is something in which we can clearly see the Gospel. Yet, there is a further, deeper lesson we can learn from this, and it is hidden in a somewhat obscure place--Jesus' genealogy in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 3:31):
...the son of Melea, the son of Menna,
the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,
the son of David, the son of Jesse,
the son of Obed, the son of Boaz,
the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon...
Nathan was born to Bathsheba, a full-blooded and younger brother to Solomon. Though this is purely speculation on my part, as I do not know if David had a distant relative named Nathan, it is a quite fair assumption to say that this boy was named after the prophet. Nathan and David had plenty of interaction as David was ruling God's people and Nathan was prophesying God's word and ministering to the King. Surely there was enough mutual love between the two men that David could feel compelled to name his son after Nathan, despite the harsh rebuke Nathan doled out for his adultery. Why is that? Because an open rebuke is better than hidden love, and when you rebuke a wise man, he will love you for it(Proverbs 27:5; 9:8).
The Book of Proverbs has much to say about wisdom and discipline (Proverbs 12:1; 13:1; 17:10; 13:18; 15:5; 15:12; 15:31; 15:32; 19:25; 29:15; 28:23 for examples that are relevant here). It points us to the fact that we are not as wise as we think we may be, that we are in need to discipline and reproof from God and those around us, including our fathers and friends. It does not say that only fools need this discipline, but only a fool would despise it, and "stiffen their neck" in response to it (Proverbs 29:1).
We are all men and women in need to some sort of guidance from the God-given wisdom of others. We are all men and women with God-given wisdom that we must lovingly use to set others back on the right path when they stray. It is never fun to call out a brother for the err in his ways, and it is never easy to be the one that needs to be humbled and repent when our flaws are pointed out. But wounds from a friend are better than the flattering words of an enemy (Proverbs 27:6). This is one of the difficult parts of living in a Christian community. Our sin becomes ever-present before those we live life with, yet do we have it in us to ruffle the feathers when lies are being believed, when relationships are being hindered, and sin is going unchecked and un-repented? And, when we call out others in their sin, do we do it with love and compassion, or harshness and cast shame upon them? Are we humble and wise enough to be corrected, or are we proud and haughty, ignorant of the fall that we are bound to take in our stupidity?
I am surely not one to despise the wisdom of others. I know that my ways are not as straight as they should be and my knees are not as strong as they could be. There are constantly things that we young men face in our walk with the Lord that leave us utterly baffled and confused that older men are capable and called to speak into. I try to hang onto any words of correction and encouragement I can because (spoiler alert) I have no freaking clue what I am doing with my life half the time. Sometimes I pick things up and run with reckless abandon, and need someone to put their hands up and say "Hold up--what exactly do you think you're doing?" Sometimes I am listless and need someone to say "Get up and do something!" Other times, worse and more desperate of times, I need someone to say "Look at the Cross! Repent and believe the Gospel!"
These, especially the latter, are things that we believers need to hear and hear often in our communities. We cannot be stagnant and refuse to "stir one another up to love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24). Even if that stirring comes from a metaphorical kick to the face (even though I probably will need a literal kick to the dome one of these days) when we are steeped in our own ways.
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