“Example of life and instruction in manners”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Friday, October 21, 2022
Ecclesiasticus 11:2-20 (Forward, p. 84) KJV (online)
The Church, over the many centuries of its existence, has sometimes been at odds or at variance in terms of how to treat that group of books that we call the Apocrypha. While some church bodies have counted them as canonical and included them as an integral and authoritative part of the Scriptures, Protestants—including the Anglican Church—have not. As Jerome and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Article #VI) say, we read them ‘for example of life and instruction in manners’ and yet do not ‘apply them to establish any doctrine.’
Such is today’s passage. It counsels us to beware of outward appearances, whether of clothing or of position, for such things can so easily and quickly come to an inglorious end. And, furthermore, we should not make premature judgments or jump to a conclusion before taking the time to fully examine the evidence. Indeed, there are many matters, weighty matters, that are not our province or business at all, but should be left to others to determine. In all things we should hold back on our own conclusions and rely more diligently upon what God has to say. It is better to be humble in terms of one’s own wisdom, and unassuming, and merely wait upon the Lord for His wisdom and guidance. This, we are told, is the secret to life, to the Lord’s favour, and to prosperity in every realm.
This, most surely, is good and valuable advice, and most definitely would be well to be followed in this day and age, for many people are so convinced in the rightness and truth of their own private opinions that they refuse to listen to anyone else. Indeed, they have sometimes disregarded or rejected the qualified advice of professionals and have set themselves up as the judges and adjudicators of matters ‘too weighty’ for themselves. This is nothing but arrogance and folly, and certainly does not work for harmony in society or the common good. It smacks of nothing of the humility of spirit that is so often enjoined of us in the Scriptures. So, this may not be considered ‘the word of the Lord’, but is still very good advice, and useful for example of life and instruction in manners. Let us, then, pay attention to what it says. Amen.
Forward notes: “The bee is small among flying creatures, but what it produces is the best of sweet things” (verse 3).
“When I was in the workforce, my days started well before dawn, and after reviewing my to-do list, I set about my business. I was, I suppose you might say, busy as a bee. It was generally my intent to be done with the grunt work I had to do by the time my colleagues and supervisor arrived at work and to have completed my list of tasks by the time I ate lunch. The afternoon allowed time for reflection, polishing my work, and planning and ordering resources for future work. I don’t think I thought consciously about it at the time, but in looking back, I see inspiration in this passage from Ecclesiasticus. Sometimes the smallest of acts, the seemingly insignificant patterns of behavior, can yield the sweetest of rewards. I did not know which part of my work would succeed, but I focused on fulfilling my responsibilities. I suppose I can thank my mother for instilling this ethic in me early. ‘Idle hands are the devil’s workshop’ was a favourite and oft-shared commandment of hers.”
Moving Forward: “Read through this passage from Ecclesiasticus (Sirach in some Bible versions). It offers some good, straightforward advice on how to be a faithful follower.”