You May Be Ruining Your Reputation

Even though we have a whole market of products available to repel insects, flies, and mosquitoes – any insect for that matter – can still be quite a nuisance. Now imagine a time, thousands of years ago, when the same market of repellant products did not exist. Flies and other pests were overwhelming, not just as an aggravation to leisure times but also as a liability to valuable merchandise such as food, drink, or even fragrances.

With this context in mind, Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, provides this insight, "As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor."

Solomon clarifies that little foolish things that slip into our lives can dramatically affect us. Moreover, little foolish choices can outweigh big wise decisions. Envision this Scriptural reality: foolishness weighs more than wisdom when one's reputation is on the scales!

When Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, there was no indoor plumbing, meaning people bathed less than once a week. The atmosphere was ripe with fleshly stench, and perfume helped mask the smell of disgraceful body odor. Because of the great need for perfume, the apothecaries held a position of honor in Jerusalem. The guilds belonging to them had special bazaars where they made their essential products available.

Understandably, the sweet-smelling perfumes sold in the marketplaces attracted flies. And if the flies succeeded in accessing the products, they could ruin the entire batch, causing it to smell bad through such effects as fermentation.

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench… -Ecclesiastes 10:1 (ESV)

But, even more interestingly, "dead flies," as directly translated from the Hebrew text, actually means "flies of death." This variation in understanding brings us to a greater level of clarity. It suggests these flies are considered to be CARRYING DEATH – transporting dangerous bacteria from dead carcasses to society. So Solomon is not referencing flies that flew into perfume and died. Instead, he is warning of a type of fly that carried death! These "flies of death" poisoned and contaminated anything they contacted. They may have been little things – just flies – but they caused massive destruction and loss.

Why is all of this important? Because it is a spiritual metaphor. King Solomon is revealing a spiritual truth through a natural occurrence. Therefore, it is helpful to read Ecclesiastes 10:1 in conjunction with Ecclesiastes 7:1.

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. -Ecclesiastes 10:1 (ESV)

A good name (or reputation) is better than precious ointment…-

Ecclesiastes 7:1 (ESV)

The point is that the enemy wants to bring dead flies – the flies of death – into your life so he can destroy the sweet-smelling things in it. In this context, the sweet smell in your life refers to your reputation. It is the good name God is trying to give you in your community, business, and relationships – especially your meaningful connections.

Take a minute and think about this: What is your reputation?

There is no one you want a better reputation with than the people who know you the best. But unfortunately, this is often not our reality because, too often, the people who know us the best respect us the least.

We are all wrestling with little things, but these little things become significant over time. Therefore, we must be cautious about the little things – the little follies in our lives – because, as Christians, we must never be a stumbling block to someone in need of Christ. Of course, we can't always get it right, but please acknowledge this reality. If sin doesn't bother you any longer, there's something wrong in your heart, and you probably need to have a come-to -- or, back to -- Jesus moment! It's time to repent before the Lord.

Unfortunately, hypocrisy starts small. It's the little things in our lives that can lead to becoming a thoroughly hypocritical person, and no one wants this to be their reputation. The Pharisees were prime examples of this failure. They looked great on the outside, but they were still a mess on the inside. Don't let this be your story. Don't appear to be one thing when you're something else. One of the most powerful things the Church can do is stop trying to live in a realm of pretense and start living out authenticity.

My encouragement is for you to hear what Solomon tried to teach us: dead flies – little foolish sins – can creep into your life in one place and begin to outweigh the wisdom you are displaying in other areas.

If you're struggling with hypocrisy in the church, you're probably not alone – we all come short of our goal at times. But, if you are a follower of Jesus, you must take time to evaluate and acknowledge your reputation. Are you a hypocrite? Have you unknowingly allowed dead flies into your life that are now poisoning your meaningful relationships and bringing a stench to your walk with God? Perhaps, even stopping someone else from stepping into their meaningful relationship with God and others?

The people who know you the best should respect you the most.

Allow this to be your story.

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/bybm_0IrRE8

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

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This May Be Limiting Meaningfulness in Your Relationships

When we evaluate Samson’s life, we can quickly conclude that he had a problem saying “no” to his desires. When he became attracted to someone, all of his common sense went out the door. Overcome with lust; he repetitively pursued his fleshly desires. Ultimately, the enemy used this weakness to destroy his life.

The Book of Judges reveals that Samson entered three significant relationships over the course of his lifetime. Each time, the women were not right for him or a part of the plan God had for him. Yet, Samson ignored the Nazarite covenant and his parents' wise counsel. Instead, he entered into each relationship based on personal attraction and lust – living in the mindset “what I want I get.” Samson was determined to have his way no matter how foolish and destructive his choices were!

I’m willing to bet that you know people just like Samson. People who are attraction-driven and act on lust more than wisdom. Maybe you’ve looked at this person and thought to yourself or even voiced your opinion, “What are you doing? This is not the right relationship for you!” But your concerns fall on deaf ears, just like the pleas of Samson’s parents to him.

Maybe I should also ask, are you “Samson”?

Regardless, the problem is that these attractions can enter into one's heart, becoming more important than the relationship the person has with God. And when someone is more interested in what he is attracted to than what God is calling him to, he will settle for less. As a result, romance starts to look like love falsely, and sex becomes more important than a meaningful relationship.

Our world’s obsession with romance and sexual activity can be seen as an addiction. And addiction can make us do things we wouldn’t normally do, as we don’t realize how immature our actions are becoming. However, in an article for Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology journal, authors explain a difference between MATURE and IMMATURE love.

• Immature love “is typified by power games, possessive thoughts and behaviors, obsessive concern over the partner’s fidelity, ‘clinging’ tendencies, uncertainty, and anxiety.” (1)

The rush of fleshly romance can be similar to an addict's reaction to their drug of choice. Researchers James Burkett and Larry Young write,

“At first, each encounter was accompanied by a rush of euphoria—new experiences, new pleasures, each more exciting than the last. Every detail became associated with those intense feelings: places, times, objects, faces.

Other interests suddenly became less important as more time was spent pursuing the next joyful encounter. Gradually, the euphoria during these encounters waned, replaced imperceptibly by feelings of contentment, calm, and happiness. The moments between encounters seemed to grow longer, even as they stayed the same, and separation came to be filled with painful longing and desire.” (2)

Is that quote about romantic love or about taking a drug? (3)

Both substance abuse and romantic relationships light up the same area of the brain. Of course, there are differences between these two things, but most simply, they both work like a reward system. That is why the attraction becomes something you crave, and it starts to rule and own your heart, even when you may realize it’s not right. You may be telling yourself, I know I don't want to be on this path. I know I should have dealt with this issue a long time ago… but it feels like an addiction. This is a tactic of the enemy! He wants to prevent you from having meaningful relationships in your life. He wants to keep you stuck in the cycle of attraction and lust.

When we pursue unhealthy connections in unhealthy ways, we are prone to abusing and mistreating the objects of our affections. This behavior then prevents us from ever stepping into meaningful relationships with others.

Samson struggled with this his whole life because he never gave his heart to God before giving it to someone else. Because of this, he made one foolish decision after another based on attractions and lust. As a result, he never got his relationship with Heaven straight, so it caused him issues with all of his earthly relationships… and it ultimately cost him the power of God in his life and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

This scenario is not God’s plan for anyone. That’s why it is so important that we give God our whole hearts from the beginning.

Have you given God your whole heart?

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.” -Matthew 22:37–38 (NKJV)

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/c_DPzy71VBc

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

5. Subscribe to EricGilbert.org using this link:https://www.ericgilbert.org/subscribe. You'll be able to receive updates directly to your email inbox as we post blogs every Monday, Thursday, and Friday morning.

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1) Earp, Wudarczyk, Foddy, and Savulescu, “Addicted to Love”.

2) James P. Burkett and Larry J Young, “The behavioral, anatomical and pharmacological parallels between social attachment, love and addiction.” Psychopharmacology vol. 224,1 (2012): 1-26.

3) Earp, Wudarczyk, Foddy, and Savulescu, “Addicted to Love”.

Here Is Why God Wants Your WHOLE Heart

The Book of Judges is an Old Testament book. Perhaps, you’re not overly familiar with its teachings and haven't heard it taught very often. Nonetheless, it is a book filled with many truths. It can teach us many lessons from the lives of others, specifically, how to live right and how to avoid making wrong decisions. The overall context of the book of Judges is, not surprisingly, all about “wise judgment” in life, religion, and politics. Moreover, Hebrew judges, at the time of this ancient writing, were the final authority for the religious and political governance of the nation of Israel. Their job was to counsel their country towards wisdom and godliness – to help them collectively KEEP THEIR HEARTS RIGHT!

Samson was one of these judges. This historical reality might surprise you, especially if you’ve been following our Meaningful Connection series closely.

Samson was a powerful man and effective warrior, but he made many foolish choices and NEVER established a meaningful relationship with God -- or anyone else for that matter. He lacked wisdom and godliness. It’s easy to conclude Samson’s heart was not right. This reality, despite God having a meaningful life planned for Samson!

Samson arrived when his nation was under bondage to another nation, Philistia. In fact, for 40 years, the Philistines had domineered the Israelites. But God intended for Samson to be a means of deliverance for his people. He was ordained to help create change and make things better in his society and for his culture. But after twenty years of being a judge, Samson had done nothing for anyone other than himself. You could sum up Samson’s leadership in one sentence, “a judge with no judgment.”

WHY?

Because Samson was a man who struggled with having the right heart, he missed the essence of the greatest command from God.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37–38 NKJV).

Here’s why God wants your heart – all of it. Because your heart ultimately determines the course your life will take and the issues you will battle. If God has your heart, your whole heart, your life will be vastly different than if He does not, because the issues you face, and the path you are on will be different. The sooner you give Him your whole heart the better:

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23 NKJV).

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23 NLT).

Tim Keller, a man considered to be very wise in modern-day Christianity, provided commentary on that verse in this way with a tweet (July 27th, 2013):

“What the heart trusts, the mind justifies, the emotions desire, and the will carries out. Everything follows the heart.” (1)

The question is does God have your heart?

And, if so, how much of your heart does He have?

The heart is a very difficult place to conquer and surrender. Maybe you're not sure if you’ve given your whole heart to God or if you're holding a piece back from Him. Take a good look at the path you are on and the issues you’re facing in life, this may offer you some insight.

The poem, Invictus, has been read and quoted by Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, the Oklahoma City Bomber Timothy McVeigh, and all through literature and film. It echoes the pride of Samson and confidence he finds in looking to himself rather than to God. (2)

“Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. (3)

In Latin, the term Invictus means unconquered. This poem is an ode to men and women, like Samson, who refused to be conquered specifically in their hearts and souls. And as motivational as it might sound, it is a declaration that we all must avoid making because the one thing God wants from us above all else is our hearts! It’s the one place we must be willing to allow God to conquer us! If we refuse, the unconquerable becomes unnecessarily conquered.

Again, God wants your heart! He wants to conquer and own it. He wants to fill the whole space with not just his power but his presence!

So, the question you must answer: Have I given God my WHOLE heart?

Have you given Him your life, your ambitions, your plan, your vision, your gifts, and your talents… Have you given Him all of you?

Samson never arrived at this level of surrender -- this place of meaningful connection with God. The result: an unconquerable man was conquered by the things of this world. Samson was a man of incredible strength, but his greatest weakness was his inability to surrender to God, and it caused him to lose the meaningful life God had planned for him.

Don’t allow this to be your greatest weakness too. You can choose to surrender your whole heart to God. When you allow this to happen, you step into a truly meaningful relationship with God!

This change may be the course correction your life so desperately needs.

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/c_DPzy71VBc

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

5. Subscribe to EricGilbert.org using this link:https://www.ericgilbert.org/subscribe. You'll be able to receive updates directly to your email inbox as we post blogs every Monday, Thursday, and Friday morning.

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1) Timothy Keller (@timkellernyc) Twitter post, July 27, 2013, https://twitter.com/timkellernyc/status/361154443921735680?lang=en.

2) Anders and Phillips, Holman Old Testament Commentary, 228.

3) William Ernest Henley, “Invictus”, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51642/invictus.