Good Seed Can’t Change Bad Soil

I used to believe you couldn’t really know a person until you lived with them or worked with them for a long period of time.  That’s because I wasn’t aware of my own need or God-given ability to test the soil: I wasn’t aware of ways to find out what kind of people they were without fully investing my life into them.

The soil is as important as the seed.  We can’t change anybody!  Look at how Judas and John were both under Jesus’ ministry – Jesus poured himself into the lives of both, but one was bad soil.

Lesson Learned & Still Learning: Good seed planted in bad soil will not change that soil, but only reveal whether that soil is fertile or sterile: Same is true when we invest our T.I.M.E. (Time Influence Money Energy) into the lives of others…

Lord, Grant Me The Wisdom To Know The Difference Of People & Situations That I Can And Cannot Change!

Wisdom is the study of difference, and James 1 says “If any man lack wisdom, let Him ask of God”  Sounds to me like God wants us to know His Wisdom; that door is wide open and if we don’t enter that open door we really don’t want to be in there.

I found out that We don’t have to spend years and years investing our time, influence, money and energy into somebody just to discover their heart.  The last time I spent years and years doing that, I got the shock of my life and I don’t like unpleasant surprises!

For those who know me personally, don’t bother trying to figure out who I’m talking about, it doesn’t matter because whoever I’m talking about they are still God’s children Whom He loves very much and so do I; the fault is not theirs but mine over and over again for not exercising proper wisdom, and I’m tired of the pain associated with butting my head against the wall!

Your Inner Circle

When it comes to our inner circle of people we associate with; those who we allow to be close and even intimate with us in personal relationships, business relationships, neighbors, friends, etc. (those whom we form covenants with)–>  We need to assess the soil we are planting ourselves into, evaluate the results of our efforts, study the results of our investments – we must study the reactions of others.

The following are biblical principles as shared by Dr. Mike Murdock, one of several uncommon mentors of whom I am a protege.  As a scaffold to this Note, the questions are Dr. Mike’s and the comments following are what I prayerfully discerned from studying his material.

7 Reactions That Expose Or Reveal The Character Of Others

Studying these 7 reactions in others will blow your mind, and show you how to see red, yellow and green traffic lights when it comes to letting others get close!  These are ways to help test the soil before you plant, and I know from experience that applying these principles will save the one using them much time, frustration, and help prevent the unnecessary pain associated with having unrealistic expectations on others.

1) What are their reactions to the laws of God, the Word of God?

Is it wise to trust somebody who doesn’t make the Word of God and their obedience to God their number one priority?

Do they pay tithes to the Lord’s ministry, believe in pro-life vs. abortion, abstain from inappropriate relationships and gossip, exercise wisdom? Do they worship God, have a prayer life, talk to God and about God spontaneously without you prompting them?

If they do not live by biblical standards, if they show a disinterest and lack of trust in God how far should you show interest and trust them?  Should a young single man who loves the Lord get with a common woman who wants sex before marriage?

Show me who you associate with, and I’ll get a picture of your character and your wisdom.

2) What is their reaction to authority?

We want to know what kind of relationship they have or had with their parents, boss, pastor, etc. what is their view of law enforcement and government? Do they sneer at the chain of authority God has established on the earth?

I met a woman once who I really liked and still like.  Back then, I was checking her out to evaluate whether she would be a potential candidate for a closer relationship and one day the discussion of her father came up.

Having just met me, the first words she was willing to leave impressed on my mind about her father was that he was a “wussed-out wimp.”  Even though this was her reality and she was hurt by her experiences with him, the odor of dishonor gave me an unmistakable clue as to why things weren’t going well in her life.

Despite his faults and failures (which we all have to some degree or another), it was clear to me why this woman was struggling in her finances and other areas of her life.

The first commandment with a promise came in the 10 Commandments when God said “Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Deuteronomy 5:16″

We are not responsible for how others treat us, but how we respond to them. (I’ll refer to this same incident in principle #7 below.) What kind of honor do they believe in showing those in authority, parents and elder relatives, government officials, the laws of the land, traffic laws, etc.?

In your quest to live an honorable life and to show honor where honor is due, your success will depend on others you associate with; do you want somebody who is ‘anti-honor’ in your inner circle?

3)  What is their reaction to past favor?

David had a love for his favorite child Absalom, but Absalom scorned his father’s love and did not appreciate David’s mentorship. Meanwhile, David’s other son Solomon learned all he could and became King after his father. Check out the prodigal son who got sick and tired being under his father’s leadership and provision while the older brother stayed home protected and did not lose his substance.

Somebody has blessed us and invested in our lives. How have we treated those who’ve been good to us?  Gratitude is a BIG deal with God.  Gratitude is the seed for receiving more and an ungrateful heart is the seed for lack.  Romans 1 teaches us that God turns people over to a reprobate mind because they refuse to give Him thanks and glorify Him, and all kinds of iniquity are the result of God withdrawing Himself from those who don’t appreciate Him.

Our reaction to God’s unmerited favor (His Grace) towards us determines whether we receive more of it or not; attitude decides access.  If we are ungrateful, God withdraws Himself from us and if we are careful to show gratitude towards Him, we don’t want to be in covenant with somebody who is working a counter-agenda.

4) What is their response to the voice of a proven Mentor?

Somebody helped us get where we are: father, mother, teacher, pastor somebody who has invested in our life- what is our reaction to their love, their pains, their losses, their lack and their persecutions?

Right in line with #3 above: What is their response to a mentor who is constantly working to renew their mind, intercede to God on their behalf and doing their part to hold back the darkness in their lives? Can a PRICE even be placed on such a gift?

Do we celebrate the gift of Mentorship in our lives?  If we do, then and only then will we be able to properly discern if the person we’re considering to let get close to us qualifies.

You appreciate God’s Word being taught and preached by a God-sent Mentor because you understand that God’s thoughts and His ways are as high above human thoughts and human ways as the heavens are above the earth; but the one you’re with couldn’t care less? (Check yourself before you wreck yourself Baby!)

The Bible teaches “Be not deceived: evil communications (relationships) corrupt good manners. I Corinthians 15:33″ It’s just like a little roach corrupting the entire bowl full of cereal. We don’t want unequally yoked relationships with others walking in the opposite direction; they will surely bring conflict in the midst of our intimate love-walk with God.

5) What is their reaction to an instruction?

Let’s break this down in the simplest, shortest and sweetest way possible.  An instruction will reveal their passion or lack of passion; whether they are on-board with your agenda or not, and disinterest is a conversation about their character – not just their willingness or competence.

The Bible says that a person’s response to an instruction reveals whether they are wise or a fool.  “When somebody shows you who they really are, believe them.  Believe them.” –Dr. Mike Murdock

Our Purpose For Living Can Be Found Here: “Out of heaven He made thee to hear His voice, that He might instruct thee” Deuteronomy 4:36(a)

An instruction is an invitation to explain who we really are: reaction to an instruction reveals: intelligence, knowledge of leadership (how one fits in the chain of command), competence, caring, passion and character (humility or arrogance).

6) What is their response to an opportunity?

What happens when we stop enabling people by making things easy on them all the time and we give them an opportunity to change, an opportunity to learn something new, an opportunity to sow a seed of something they already have in order to reap a much needed harvest for themselves?

Some want money, but aren’t willing to work for it.  Some have money and need more money, but won’t sow a seed into God’s ministry to reap a hundred-fold harvest that Jesus promised according to Mark 10:30 (Yes, that’s a 100 fold return on whatever has been donated! Read God’s promise for yourself!)

God is SERIOUS about providing opportunity! Look at the biblical examples of God sending Jonah to Nineveh for them to repent of their sins, a city of over 120,000 at that time.

Jesus hung between two thieves and in their dying breaths one grabbed hold of the opportunity to receive eternal life.  God constantly provides opportunities to change, to be be mentored, to experience the abundance in Life He promised us.

An opportunity is an invitation to an experience. What is the response to an opportunity presented, is it even RECOGNIZED as an opportunity?

If we are in the habit of carefully evaluating moments of opportunity, then and only then will we be able to discern the ability and willingness of others to do the same.

There’s no sense in being with somebody who refuses to recognize and take full advantage of golden opportunities when it’s your heart’s desire to do so.  If you have an extreme hunger for and interest in God’s Word, and the one you’re considering a closer walk with has very little or no interest in the same; Know where they’re coming from ahead of time – Watch And Pray.

7)  What is their reaction to correction?

A vital factor in determining whether somebody should be close to you or not is their reaction to correction. Are they defiant?  Do they just want to justify without receiving correction?  Are they demanding how that correction should come to them?

Dr. Murdock says “Correction is a gift; an opportunity to be restored, to recover, to change.”  When somebody corrects us, it’s their investment into our lives; the way we honor that investment decides our future, and reveals our character.

In principle #2 above, I mentioned a conversation I had with a woman who dishonored her father;  one of many women I have had such conversations with.  She was holding bitterness, resentment and unforgiveness towards her father, plus she bad-mouthed him to me (a preacher who has never met him) in an attempt to make me feel the same way she felt about him.

I run into this situation often and because of my understanding of biblical protocol, I immediately understood how to begin reversing her situation.  I wanted to help her heal and move beyond that which was holding her back, and was quickly reminded you can’t bless what God has cursed and you can’t curse what God has blessed.

When I talked to her about looking beyond her father’s faults, loving him unconditionally, forgiving him and honoring him anyway in order to set herself free and position herself to STOP poverty and receive prosperity, like many others before and after her, she argued rather than received.

Right then, I got a picture of her character and a preview of what a closer walk with her would be like.  It’s not to say she was a bad person unworthy of my association, but only an indication as to how close I should let her get…

Our parents are the first decision God made about us entering this earth realm; When we honor them, we honor HIM!  Even though I sowed good seed, I could not change her life – that is something she had to want for herself.

I heard the story of a person saying,’You mean I should honor my father who raped my mother and I was born from that?’ The response was “YES! Where there was a thorn, God left a rose, and that rose was YOU!”

Dr. Murdock teaches and it is my belief as well, that if we honor somebody the way God instructs us to honor a parent or some other person in God-ordained authority despite the way they dogged us out, mistreated us, neglected us, etc. –God will respect that HONOR and He will appreciate and reward our obedience even more than the ones who never had to go through what we went through; it’s only a test.

What is the response to correction?  We can’t push anybody beyond their willingness to be corrected. Study the people around you and see how far they will be able to grow, change and expand in your relationship.

Know the people you’re getting close to or are already close to. Again, this is not to judge or condemn anybody – but simply to observe where they are: People can not grow without obeying an instruction.

Conclusion:

These 7 steps are not meant to be all-inclusive.  In other words there are many other ways to discern who should and should NOT be in our inner circle, but these seven ways will get us off to a GREAT start.

With the understanding that we all have areas we need to grow in, without judging or condemning people we need to evaluate them closely without challenging them about where they are – just OBSERVE and take note.

Then talk to the Lord about what we see to find out what He has to say about their level of trustworthiness and what level they should be invested in or whether they should be invested in at all.  God may have a purpose for somebody who is completely untrustworthy being in your life: Jesus allowed Judas in the circle of 12 but not His inner circle of 3 (Peter, James & John).

There can still be something valuable in somebody God doesn’t want you to get too close to, and some people we need to stay away from like the plague that they are!  We need God’s wisdom to recognize what’s gift-wrapped in a moment; We need God’s wisdom to know the difference of things that exist right in front of us.

In this world of deception, deceivers and master-deceivers, we need a fool-proof way to expose the real character of others and even evaluate our own character to eliminate our own flaws:

Know God For Yourself, Talk To Him OFTEN, Listen For His Voice, Learn His Principles, Study Your Bible.

Rev. David J. Dill — Blessings Beloved!

Copyright 2010 –The Fount

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