Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom."
She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she answered.
At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head.
The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Read My LipsIt is way too easy to make foolish promises to people. Our emotions overwhelm us and we impulsively give our word. In retrospect we regret what we have promised, but we are forced to go through with the promise or lose face. Herod chose to go through with a promise; George H. W. Bush lost face. Either way, we are manipulated into doing something we don’t want to do by our own impulsiveness.
I think this rush to please others shows up in the church in the way we promise to help out people in need. As a pastor I am often tempted to overextend myself by volunteering to do more than I possibly can. I hear myself saying, “I can drive you to your appointment,” “I can stop by and visit you this week,” or “I can cover your Bible Study on Wednesday night” when my week is already trespassing into my day off.
The foolish choices I make, the promises that over-extend me, hurt others. Other people have to pay, and most often it is my wife. I sacrifice my closest relationship to help others. I rationalize my workaholic attitudes with holy zealousness and mature spirituality. I postulate that I would spend more time at home if others would do their part, but alas I must become a martyr for the Gospel of helps.
I have nothing against helping others, (in fact if you have been following this blog I advocate for actively coming alongside others), but there is a place for limits. Who do I hurt when I ignore my family? What type of example am I giving to others in the church? Am I best able to minister to others when I have no time for rest or enjoying God’s creation?
Pausing to think before making promises is critical. I can trust God to prompt me when to extend myself into the life of others, and also trust him to meet people’s needs through someone else.
God, help me to think before I speak. I desire to be available for those who need my help while not abandoning my family. Give me courage to enforce boundaries in my life. – Dan Jones
A Cocktail of Sorrow
The scene was as tawdry as it was sad.
The beautiful daughter of Queen Herodias does what Queen Vashti in the Old Testament story of Esther would not do, sensuously parade her georgeous body before the leering, drunken, and powerful men of Galilie – and her step father, King Herod. Controlled by his sexual excitement and libation, he rewards her with an offer of anything her heart desires.
Imagine the dungeon scene. Dank and rat infested, a wild looking man in camel hair clothes lays his head on the chopping block because a king, who, strangely enough, feared and respected him, was ruled by his liqueur and his pants.
Alcohol and sexual drive have always combined to create life altering decisions, and sometimes, as in this story, life ending decisions. From date rape, STDs, or unplanned pregnancy to HIV/AIDS or murder, this powerful cocktail affects a vast portion of humanity. The scenes very widely. But beneath the passion and pleasure of the moment, at least for one of the parties –the ruling men in this story - lay the sadness of persons used and debased.
Almost certainly this is one of the reasons why the biblical proverb warns, “Wine and beer make people loud and uncontrolled; it is not wise to get drunk on them.” (Proverbs 20:1 New Century Version). And the Bible places the boundary of life long monogamy around sex. These boundaries do not guarantee that tragedy will be avoided any more than being sexually faithful to a spouse guarantees a healthy marriage. But is goes a very long ways toward accomplishing its purpose.
Combined, these two boundaries provide an increased sense of self-esteem to those who observe them, the likelihood of healthier and happier relationships, not to mention a significant contribution to a longer life with fewer wounds to bear.
Giver of wine and sex, grant that I would enjoy them as you intended and, in doing so, stack to deck toward a fuller life for myself and a being a blessing, rather than a curse, to those around me. I will rely on your strength when these boundaries are difficult to maintain so that I may enjoy life as you intended. - Mike Leamon
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