Don’t Ask For Whom The Bell Tolls

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6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7, 12, 15

A short video on social media shows a pretty young girl, a pastor’s daughter, in an extra-tight and short pair of shorts and a sleeveless show-it-all top. A couple of young men meet and engage her in a chit-chat. Then one enquires about her choice of clothes, being a pastor’s daughter. Quickly, she fires back, “God called my father o! He didn’t call me. So don’t bother me!”

Well, she is right, isn’t she? Unlike her father, she never had a vision or anything like that from God. She was just born into that family. That’s all, right? Think again. Our key text above ties in with Isa 54:13, which reads, And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Living right has to spill over and continue in subsequent generations in your family. In his most famous poem, Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and Seuerall Steps in my Sicknes (Meditation XVII, 1624), the metaphysical poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself”[1]. In other words, we become complete with the support we receive from each other[2]. We were created gregarious beings who thrive on the fellowship of others. Read the ending of Donne’s lines…

In effect, all are connected socially and spiritually. We all are affected by each other’s demise. No plant lives to itself; no river flows into itself; even animals pollinate plants as they move along foraging. While each person will be rewarded according to his/her actions, each person’s good (or bad) influence and deeds rub off on those close. And technology can increase that influence more. Social media, for instance, can quickly spread anything like wildfire across the globe. Leaders must live right lives. But followers must live right too. Integrity is everything with God. All the people in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews11) were people of integrity. God gave them second, third, fourth, and fifth chances to show integrity when they failed. He preserves the way of His saints (Proverbs 2:6-9).

The family bears the brunt when a parent is arrested as a criminal. It is the same with an irresponsible child’s irresponsible choices. Therefore, each must choose to the right thing. Clearly, our good deeds benefit even our community. The consequences of growing up in a godly family but choosing the opposite way of life can be grave. Think again! No person is an island. The human was created gregarious.

Here is the poem:

No Man Is an Island

1.

No man is an island,

Entire of itself;

Every man is a piece of the continent,

A part of the main.

2.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less,

As well as if a promontory were:

As well as if a manor of thy friend’s

Or of thine own were.

3.

Any man’s death diminishes me,

Because I am involved in mankind.

And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;

It tolls for thee.

–John Donne [1572-1631][3]

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[1] No Man Is an Island by John Donne – Famous poems, famous poets. – All Poetry

[2] ‘No man is an island’ – what does it mean? (phrases.org.uk)

[3] No Man Is an Island by John Donne – Famous poems, famous poets. – All Poetry