Last week, following a seemingly puzzling quote by the prime minister, lots of people Googled the meaning of the old proverb “A stitch in time saves nine”. It actually means that a bit of effort early on at the start of a problem prevents a lot of effort later on when things have deteriorated. Anyone who has tried to mend a ladder in tights or a tear in the leg of a child’s pair of trousers will appreciate the wisdom of the proverb. There are many such sayings which capture wisdom succinctly in a word picture. But, of course, if they aren’t familiar or understandable then they don’t convey the message!

Jesus often used word pictures to preach his messages. One of those was also about mending clothes.

“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse”

Mark 2:21

Of course, this is true. But Jesus was not talking about sewing. His disciples had just come under criticism for not following the pious customs of the religious leaders of the day. In particular they did not practice fasting, which was a ritual sign of unhappiness. Before his quote about the patch, Jesus asked:

“Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast”

Mark 2:19

Jesus’ disciples were happy that Jesus was there, and so did not fast. They had recognized who he was – the promised Messiah. The religious leaders did not acknowledge Jesus in this way, and so carried on with their traditions, many of which Jesus said were false religion. So Jesus’ words contained a warning. He also meant that following him was not just a matter of making small modifications to old customs. That would be like sewing pieces of new cloth onto old garments. It would not work: it was not what God wanted. Jesus asked his disciples, then and now, to listen to him and to try to do what he said. This requires accepting new priorities in life, and giving up old habits and practices even if they have been important to us.

In this life things can go from bad to worse, much worse. Reading the Bible is far more important than a ‘stitch in time’. It can give us true meaning to our lives now and amazing hope for the future.

Abstract photo created by Racool_studio – www.freepik.com

The UK government has been under scrutiny for stating its intention to break international law for the sake of a greater principle. It is not our place to criticise, but we do well to examine our own personal attitude to ‘trust’.

The Bible says that it is better not to promise than to break a promise.

Better not to vow than to vow and not pay

Ecclesiastes 5:5

But which of us has never broken a promise, sometimes even knowingly. And worse still, have we made ‘fake promises’?

One of the ten commandments is:

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour

Exodus 20:16

In contrast to us, God is

‘the God of truth’

Isaiah 65:16

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He

Deuteronomy 32:4

And He cannot lie, so His promises are sure and certain:

…in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began

Titus 1:2

So whether we can trust ourselves or trust other people, we can have no doubt whatsoever that we can trust God. In this world of uncertainty and ‘fake information’ that is surely something to cling hold of.

Image by Lisa Caroselli from Pixabay

What an outcry against Ofqual about the recent exam results. There are always surprises and disappointments, but not like this. The use of an ‘algorithm’ to modify teachers’ grades has caused outrage. Some students claimed that their dedication and diligence were futile and their futures wrecked. Hence the dramatic U-turn.

Predicting or forecasting is always difficult and often imprecise. Human judgement is fallible, and algorithms like the one used cannot be fair to everyone.

But God knows everything and His judgement is always perfect. He never makes a mistake.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He (Deuteronomy 32:4).

He is no respecter of persons:

For there is no partiality with God.

Romans 2:11

So geographical location, sex, ethnicity or status make no difference to His justice.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28

He is the judge, through His son Jesus. He is the ultimate decision-maker. In the final analysis human opinion will count for nothing and there will be no right of appeal.

But there will be surprises and disappointment, nonetheless.

Jesus warned that he would reject some people and say:
‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity’. And added that ‘There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out’.

Luke 13:27-28

To others, exquisite joy, when he says

‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’.

Matthew 25:23

Serving God is never futile, but the way we do this determines our eternal future. Let us read His word, the Bible, and try to please Him.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing [correctly handling] the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

Image by tjevans from Pixabay