What Do You Like? The Cure for Itching Ears

The “wise old owl” has long been associated with wisdom. In the A.A. Milne Classic, Winnie the Pooh, Owl often gave highly regarded advice whether asked for or not. According to Just-Pooh.com, Owl, “is supposed to be the wisest in the 100 Acre Wood and his favorite food is the afternoon tea. His intelligence is often called upon to aid a certain bear of very little brain…”, and although he can spell TUESDAY, he spells his own name “WOL”.

The wisdom of the owl is as old as Greek mythology, with the image of an owl on the silver drachma coin symbolizing “Athene Pronoia, the Greek goddess of wisdom.” (https://www.quora.com/How-did-owls-come-to-be-associated-with-wisdom-and-knowledge Retrieved October 2, 2016) The symbol of an owl has even represented “the wisdom of Christ…appearing in the midst of the darkness of the unconverted” (Saunders 1995), according to one Christian tradition.

It seems Mr. Owl is able to see clearly even in the darkest of night and his wisdom is able to differentiate between what is true and what is a lie, what is right and what is wrong, which could be called “discernment”. By his great wisdom, he is able to lead others to the right path and to help them understand wise sayings, which brings us to Purpose Statement #2 in the book of Proverbs.

Other than Jesus who was fully God and fully man, King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. Solomon began this compilation of inspired-of-God (II Timothy 3:16), proverbial statements with five succinctly stated purpose statements. In a previous month this year, ProverbWise addressed the first purpose statement, “To learn wisdom and moral instruction.” (Proverbs 1:2a, NET) During the month of October, we are dealing with Purpose Statement #2: “to discern wise counsel.” (Proverbs 1:2b)

According to the NET Bible translator notes, to “discern” means to “compare and make proper evaluation of or to discern between moral options.” (p. 1074, 10tn) Within the context of this verse, the phrase, “to discern words of discernment” has to do with the “ability to distinguish truth from falsehood.” (p.1074, 11tn)

Social media bombards us with pithy little statements day in and day out. Some are true, some are not true. Some are humorous; some are heart rending. Some seem very wise; others are ridiculous. Some are sarcastic; others are sugary sweet. Some are trite, while others are deep and profound. Today’s social-media-driven culture is attracted to these little catchy little sayings, much like the “silly women” that Paul warned Timothy about in II Timothy 3. He describe them as “weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (3:6-7 NASB)

It’ really easy to latch on to some of these sayings we find on social media. We “like” them or “love” them, giving very little thought or consider whether the statements are right and true in the eyes of God. They sound right and they seem to fit whatever we are facing on a given day, so we think they must be true. We fail to take the time to “discern” if the words are really “Words of the Wise.” We don’t often stop and consider, if what we are reading is “wise counsel”. We may not take time to reflect on whether the statement is true or not true, according to the Bible (what we Christians say we believe.) Maybe we should ask ourselves if Scripture confirms the statement or if we are being gullible in accepting words that just seem to be the truth.

 

In II Timothy 4, we find people who always listening for more inspiration, more knowledge, something new and sensational.

The Bible calls this dangerous condition “itching ears”.

One version translates this as an “insatiable curiosity” that turns people from sound doctrine to find something that is “according to their own desires”. In so doing, they turn away from the truth, and “turn aside to fables.”

We need to be careful to discern what is true and what is false. It might be wise to take a few minutes to look back over the statements and Words of the Wise on the ProverbWise website. Carefully, read the quote above of each Proverb of the Day. Then note the Scripture that affirms the statement. Maybe find another Scripture that reinforces the statement made.

After that, why not take a few minutes to peruse the statements made on your social media sites over the past day or two and evaluate them based on God’s Word? How many sound good, but when compared to Scripture they don’t measure up? As we review our pages, did we “Like” or “Love” one of those statements that really don’t line up with God’s Word? Maybe we “liked” a statement that was unloving or unkind – even one that might be offensive to someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Maybe we should take a few minutes to “un-like” some statements.

Solomon challenges the readers of Proverbs to learn to discern. Like the symbol of the owl in Christian history who characterized “the wisdom of Christ…in the midst of the darkness of the unconverted,” may we desire truth instead of being plagued with itching ears to hear some new thing. May we seek to love others more than ourselves and our opinions. May we convey to others the grace and mercy that God has shown to us. May we find the cure for itching ears as we apply the salve of Scripture to all that we see and hear, all that we “like” according to our flesh.

The remedy for “itching ears” is  “sound doctrine.”

May we permeate the darkness with the wisdom of Christ to a dark and hurting world.

May we, as followers of Jesus, in love and gentleness,

discern truth,

love truth,

live truth,

and share truth –

In turn, we will find the cure for our itching ears!