
James and Lavern Robinson had a saying on Facebook the other day that is designed to set you to thinking. We live in times that demand wisdom prior to acting. Moderation is the in word for Jesus and His work, but to be a zealot in our loyalty to sports and all things temporal. The Robinson’s statement is taken from the pen of Thomas Paine, a patriotic joy and religious pain.
Consider This: "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a good virtue; but, moderation in principle is always a vice." Thomas Paine, The Rights of Man.
Moderation in principle…
It is a well worn axiom that truth in moderation is the death knell of trust relationships. Take the principle of romantic ties which are rooted in trust of the other. To be moderately truthful leads to serious deterioration of the trust, and thus the relationship becomes something else, and among the sensible does not survive, save for the revival of trust. Trust and truth ride together.
Solomon stated in Proverbs 23:23, “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”
We are taught by wise teachers that truth, wisdom, along with teaching and understanding, come at a price, and thus are as precious as the cost. While it is true that standing for truth may be costly, the price of watered down truth is much higher.
Copyright © 2013 Larry Lilly