100% Hamburger or Mystery Meat?

“For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.” Job 34:3,4

Reading the above verses this morning brought to mind my school days and cafeteria food. One not-so-fond memory I have were the days that hamburgers were served. One bite told any discerning eater that what was in their mouth was NOT 100% hamburger. It did not matter what the menu for the day said. It did not matter if the cooks claimed that there was not a misprint. The menu may have “hamburgers” printed on it, but “hamburger” it was not. 

I will admit something right now. When our children were very young, I often had a few tricks to get them to eat their “good food”. One such trick was hiding that “yummy green bean mush” behind fruit. When those sweet, innocent little eyes looked at the spoon and saw that fruit (OK…I’m feeling guilty now), their mouths would open wide, and in would go a rather interesting mix. I remember using this same trick with one of our GRANDbabies and baked beans. This little buddy did not want to eat his beans so I cleverly mixed a few in with a food he liked, only to have him suck off the favorite food and spit out the beans. The minute that food mixture entered his little mouth, his discerning taste buds alerted him to those yucky beans. Oh well…

The Bible clearly warns us to be very discerning in the words we hear. Just because the speaker may claim the words to be 100% true does not guarantee 100% truth. As the above passage says, “…the ear trieth words…”, we are commanded in I Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”  It is the simple person that believes everything they hear – “The simple believeth every word …” but it is the WISE person who exercises much caution in what they believe – “but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” Proverbs 14:15

Words spoken to us may contain “part hamburger”…part truth…but, how careful we must be to not quickly pass judgment until we are able to hear the whole matter. Practicing caution can save us from much shame down the road, “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” Proverbs 18:13  Even then, how very important to pray for wisdom and discernment. I have found that if we want to believe everything that is said to us, we will believe it. But, if we desire only to believe truth, God is very faithful to reveal truth to us.

“Charity…rejoiceth in the truth.” I Corinthians 13:4,6

~ Rachel ~