By: Juliet Constantine
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Matthew 10:16)
Most persons prefer the comfort zone. But let me ask, what high-risk job would you enjoy pursuing? I would love to be a race car driver or go deep-sea diving - only if I was invincible! Can you see gospel workers’ job as being high-risk? Jesus did. So much so that before sending out His disciples to share the gospel, He cautioned them to be wise as serpents, yet harmless as doves. Realizing the risks associated with their work, He reminded them that they were to behave like prudent and innocent sheep in the midst of people who could destroy them in an instant. How can I combine the wisdom of serpents and harmlessness of doves into one winnable personality?
The personality of a serpent has many negative connotations. You wouldn’t be happy if someone referred to you as a serpent! But do remember that we weren’t told to be serpents; instead we were told to be wise as serpents. There is a vast difference. Even so, though we should not be serpents in our behavior, we can copy the wisdom of the serpent in our personalities. A case in point: Eve was won to the side of wrong, not from the words spoken, but because the serpent appealed to her senses. This is a great sales pitch. How many more wise-serpent tactics can you think of? They perceive and avoid danger. That’s true! Anymore?
To win souls, we must be wise. To be wise (prudent) means to have the power to discern and the ability to judge properly, people and situations, as to what is true or right. What’s even better is a combo of heavenly wisdom (James 3:17) and serpents wisdom! It’s like being book and street smart at the same time! Solomon was right on the money when he said, the wise see danger and take cover, but the foolish passed on and is punished. As God’s witnesses, let us avoid danger as much as possible. There are subtle ways to be more effective in witnessing than to court danger.
Serpent wisdom needs to be tempered with dove harmlessness to keep us humble. To be harmless is to lack the power or desire to do harm; to be innocent of evil intention and motive, giving no provocation. Christian Author John McClain is convinced that doves, known as birds of peace, possessed calm temperaments coupled by their sweet disposition. I concur. Unlike serpents, people are normally not afraid of doves. Therefore, it is easier to get near to them when we possess dove traits. While the serpent will avoid and escape danger, the dove is innocent and will walk right into it. Jesus saw the need for us to have both traits, innocent to care and share, yet prudent enough not to be caged and become someone’s next meal.
Like Christian Author Ellen G. White, I do believe that “much has been lost for want of wise methods of labor. Every effort should be made to give dignity and character to the work. Special efforts should be made to secure the good will of men in responsible positions, without sacrificing one principle of truth or righteousness, but by sacrificing our own ways and manner of approaching the people. … You need not feel that all the truth is to be spoken to unbelievers on any and every occasion.” (4MR 389). As a sales woman, I need this winnable personality. Do you?
Our Father and our God, in our zealousness for Your work we sometimes put our own feet into our mouths and cause hindrance to your work. Please forgive us and help us to be prudent, yet innocent in our approach. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)
