Stranger Danger
By Grant Gaines
I’ve never claimed to be an expert in the English language. And with all of the different rules, spellings, and punctuation points, how could we expect anyone to fully master this complex tongue? But even more confusing is where the comma goes in a sentence, when to use a semi-colon, and when to use “who” versus “whom,” is the homonym. A homonym is a big word that encompasses both homographs and homophones.
A homograph is a word that has the same spelling as another word but is pronounced differently and has a different meaning. For example, wind (the movement of air) versus wind (the tightening of a cord). Bass (musical tone) versus bass (type of fish). And lead (to guide) versus lead (type of metal).
A homophone is a word that has the same pronunciation but is spelled differently. For example, to/too/two. Prey/pray. And their/there/they’re.
Pretty confusing, wouldn’t you agree?
But these mind-boggling vocabulary tricks aren’t restricted to only the English language. In fact, when you look at the Bible in its original language (Hebrew, Arabic, and Greek) you will find several words that could have multiple meanings based on the context that surrounds that word.
One of these instances is found at the beginning of 1 Peter when the author, the apostle Peter, labels the recipients of his letter as “strangers” (1 Peter 1:1). This word “strangers” in the Greek is defined as a “resident alien in a foreign country.”
So how is this word a homonym? Well, the way I see it, there are two ways that you can view being a resident alien in a foreign country: you can either live like you are on vacation or you can live like you are on a mission.
Have you ever had the privilege of going on a vacation outside of the United States? It’s wonderful! When you’re on vacation the entire trip is built around you and your desires. What time do you want to wake up? What time do you want to go to the beach? What do you want to eat for dinner? Where do you want to spend your afternoon? All of these things are what makes a vacation so fun and relaxing.
On the flip side of the coin, have you ever experienced the joy that comes from a mission trip? Unlike the vacation getaway, a mission trip is built solely around the needs and desires of others. What can you do to help them? What needs do they have? How can you best set them up for success? Everything you do is for the betterment of others, not yourself.
Which of the two do you think God wants us to live like when He tells us to be, “…strangers and aliens in the world…” (1 Peter 2:11, NIV): to live like we are on a vacation or like we are on a mission? I think we could all agree that God desires us to live like we are on a mission, not a vacation, wouldn’t you agree?
But we don’t just live like we are on a mission because that’s what God told us to do. We also see from the Bible that living like we are on a mission leads to WAYYY more personal joy and happiness than selfishly living like we are on a vacation. Need some examples?
Mark 10:17-22 records the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and asked what he could do to earn eternal life. After seeing that the young man had been living like he was on vacation and had a lot going for him, “Jesus looked at [the young man] and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ [Jesus] said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.’ At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth” (Mark 10:21-22, NIV).
On contrast, Matthew 13:44 (NIV) records a story of a man who lived like he was on a mission. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
Isn’t that contrast interesting? One man kept all of his earthly riches and yet the story ends with his head hung and his heart sad. The other story ends with the man selling all he had and yet walking away with great joy. Why? Because one man lived selfishly for himself while the other lived for something greater than himself. And when we start living only for ourselves as if we were on a vacation, we get in danger of missing out on the abundant life that Jesus promised us (John 10:10).
God has called us to mimic the man who sold all he had so that he could inherit a great treasure that, “…moth and rust cannot destroy and thieves cannot break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20, NIV). He has called us to be like a good soldier who does not, “…get entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer” (2 Timothy 2:4, NIV). And He has called us to live like we are a battleship, not a cruise liner.
Are you living as though you are on a vacation or on a mission?
Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
Email me
©Grant Gaines 2013
