Can You Dig It?

"If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within."-- John 7:38, NLT

"That year Isaac's crops were tremendous! He harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the LORD blessed him. He became a rich man, and his wealth only continued to grow. He acquired large flocks of sheep and goats, great herds of cattle, and many servants. Soon the Philistines became jealous of him, and they filled up all of Isaac's wells with earth. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham. And Abimelech asked Isaac to leave the country. "Go somewhere else," he said, "for you have become too rich and powerful for us." So Isaac moved to the Gerar Valley and lived there instead. He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham's death. Isaac renamed them, using the names Abraham had given them." -- Genesis 26:12-18, NLT

We are called to be flowing vessels of living water; flowing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes our well gets clogged up and stagnant. Sometimes, as in the case of Isaac, it's our enemies who fill in our wells with dirt. But as Isaac did, and so should we, he continually re-dug them. There are five things in particular (although there are others) that will cause our wells to clog up: 1) legalism; 2) opinion; 3) debate; 4) judgment; and 5) criticism. When we engage in these five activities, I believe we are the ones throwing the dirt into our own well. Let's take a brief look at each one:

1) Legalism opposes grace. It is rule bound. Legalists believe in and demand a strict literal adherence to rules and regulations. The apostle Paul warns us of legalism in Colossians 2:20-23: "You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world. So why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, "Don't handle, don't eat, don't touch." Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires." Legalists may appear to be righteous and spiritual, but legalism ultimately fails to accomplish God’s purposes because it is an outward performance instead of an inward change.

2) Opinions (and their cousin "preferences") are subjective statements or thoughts about an issue or topic, and are the result of emotion or interpretation of facts. I've always heard "no responsibility = no opinion" and I kind of like that statement. If you don't have responsibility in an area then you probably haven't earned the right to an opinion.

3) Debate: Matthew 7:6 "Don't give what is holy to unholy people. Don't give pearls to swine! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you." Sometimes the priceless jewels of Christianity cannot be appreciated by those who have not yet tasted of the goodness of the Lord. In fact, the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 3:14 that "... the people's minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ." I refuse to debate theology with people. In the first place I don't have the knowledge to do so and I've never heard testimony of a debate converting anyone to Christ.

4) Judgment: Matthew 7:1-2 tells us "Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged." Clear enough and yet most of us don't adhere to this verse.

5) Criticism: Several verses in Proverbs tell us to listen to constructive criticism as a tool for correction, but I haven't found a verse yet telling us to dish it out.

Legalism - Opinion - Debate - Judgment - Criticism
Let's make a decision to dig out the well so that rivers of living water will flow.