GROW UP!

GROW UP!

Sunday, February 28, 2016

1Corinthians 13:1-13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [G26ἀγάπη; agapē; ag-ah'-pay From G25; love, that is, affection or benevolence; specifically (plural) a love feast: - (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed thepoor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. [Underling mine]

  It was the late sixties and early seventies, a period of retirements and replacement hiring. A large number of the new young employees kept asking for a psychiatrist or psychologist to be added to the medical staff. The union and management were supportive. So it was done.

  Fresh off the assembly line, the young male psychiatrist was eager to help individuals. The company off-the-record was hopeful that personnel problems would diminish and productivity would increase. The medical department was pleased that their kingdom had expanded and its influence had increased.

  All went well for a few months . . . and then the counselor was struck with a dose of reality. Many of those he was dealing with were blind to the fact that personal decisions involve personal responsibility for adverse results. Example: Lateness is the company’s problem because of their arbitrary rigid rules.

  Eyes wide open, the young doc began telling counselees their basic problem is immaturity, they needed to grow up. Within weeks the medical staff let a fine young professional resign.

  I Corinthians 13:11 Class 101 includes truth that free will is not disconnected from results and responsibility therefore.  EBB4