When Does The Village Stop? 10/15/2021

 Good Morning,

Friday came in roaring like a lion and I is a welcome sight. I just started drinking my hot cup of Door County Bourbon Pecan Pie Coffee and I am headed into the day head on. 

You've heard the expression "it takes a village to raise a child". Yes I truly believe that to be the case. We are all responsible in some way or fashion to watch out for children, ours, yours, and strangers. We should be providing a safe environment for the kids in our neighborhood. This means we need to drive slowly, protect,  and keep an eye out for kids that need something. We have the responsibility to teach in limited fashion at times to our own and others not living with us. It does take a village.

But not the point of the day. What happens when the child becomes an adult who has failed to learn to love and fear the Lord? Despite great potential to be a leaders (he or she) they cannot function as an adult should and need constant attention to keep their train on the tracks. You see this type of behavior worsen over time and have a trickle effect on the whole family. I find this often to be the case with highly intelligent people. Somewhere along the way the village did not equip these poor folks with the basic skills of relationships, honesty and integrity. So my question is this. When it starts to harm the village around them, when is enough, enough?

I petitioned God and here is what I found. John 15:1-2 I am the true vine and My Father is the vineyard keeper, Every branch in me that does not produce fruit, He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so it will produce more fruit.

It is not unbiblical to prune toxic relationships from your life. God does that Himself. Although the Scripture refers to "produces fruit". If there is any fruit being produced He keeps pruning. This will be painful at times to the one being pruned.  

But when does the village stop? Answer, when the actions of the person or persons begin and continue to impact the village and the health of the village, spiritually and mentally. 

God is clear on that.  2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this, in the last days there will be times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self control, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying it's power. Avoid such people.

Friends, these are harsh words, taken right from Scripture. So before avoiding people, pray and be certain to be following God's leading. It is a terrible thing to have to do this. You might also have to return to the task when you see signs of lasting fruit. 

Here is a warning for all of us.  Love and fear the Lord. True love and fear produces lasting fruit, not dung. Beware, even God has limits on how much is enough and He begins removing those who cannot produce, love, fear and respect for Him and others. 

Marty