MTP20 That’s Deep, Man

There are some inspirational books doing the rounds for things like management and leadership and that kind of game.  People read it from those who have ‘made it’ and wish to share some of the secrets of their success.  These priceless principles when followed and adapted to the individual’s situation will guarantee success.  On the whole most of these principles are actually re-hashed wisdoms of a bygone era.  Some of it from Eastern philosophies, some of it from the Greeks, some from the great empires of the Ancient Near East others further from the tribes of what we know as South America and others still from the continent of deepest Africa.

For all these words of insight some things are pretty basic to getting along.  With Proverbs being about wisdom and that wisdom being relational (i.e. relate properly to God by fearing Him, then follow the way He makes clear for you) then the extension of that goes for people as well.  Isn’t it the way, though, that what is most basic is often the thing that is often neglected.  Check this proverb out.

The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. (Proverbs 20:5)

Now what does that mean?  Ever been deep sea diving?  Me neither, but if you want to find treasure in the sea that deep sea diving business apparently comes in handy.  Not it’s alright to say on the surface that you’re interested in finding treasure, but when you consider what it will cost to actually search for – get down deep, then often we’re not willing to pay the price.  The problem is that we’re so involved with ourselves, our world, our worldview, our opinion, our prejudices, our preferences that to actually seek to engage with someone else away from all of that is difficult.

The man of understanding is one who takes the time out to endeavour to get to know where the other person is coming from.  One leadership guru repackaged the ethos in saying that before one seeks to be understood, one should seek to understand.  It’s not completely possible to leave all who we are to learn all of who someone is, but if genuine bridges are to be made with others then the focus has to be away from where others fit in our world and what they can do for us, to where they fit in God’s world and how we can serve them.  To serve them is to know them, to know them is to enter their world, know their struggles and motivations, their desires and vulnerabilities.  It is not to embrace their views and beliefs as your own, but it is to take the time to learn all of that to get a hold of the purposes of the man.

This is deep, though – that’s why it’s about understanding.  It doesn’t have to be arduous all the time, but it is about a commitment to get away from the view that wants to the self exalted and understood above all else.

So how does that work?  Have you noticed how interested other people are in you – genuinely?  Have you paid attention to other people for who they are?  Have you considered what it costs to get to know other people, to really understand them?  That is as much about compassion as anything else because it is that approach that can help us to know some of the things that drive people on.  Those inadequacies that prevent them from relating to others.  Those hurts they faced earlier on in life that left scars deep inside.  That need to feel desired that takes them over the edge into doing things that traps them in unhealthy situations.

That dogged, persistent, compassionate approach to find out the person for who they are and understand them is the joyful work of deep-sea relational diving that allows us to draw out the purpose of a person.  When those connections are made – they are made deep, and even if they’re to understand that the other person doesn’t have the capacity to understand others or truly love at that time because of all the mess that lurks within, then at least that compassion that took the time to understand them, will not condemn or judge them.  For that same person who needed to be understood was just like the one that’s seen in the mirror every day who has deep issues that God Himself has brought to the light not to expose for shame, but to show for love’s sake.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd