Vol.VIII No.III Pg.4
May 1971

Given To Change

Jim R. Everett

Sometimes, when I come home, nothing is where it used to be. The furniture has been rearranged, my books and papers have been stacked neatly away somewhere, and everything is so orderly that I cant find anything. Margarets kinda that way —given to change — and you might even say that, at times, I am a companion to such change. And now that Spring cleaning time is here, I try to stay away from the house as much as possible.

Solomon said, My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king; and company not with them that are given to change: for their calamity shall rise suddenly; and the destruction from them both, who knoweth it? (Prov. 24:21- 22). But he is not condemning me when I reluctantly agree to change the furniture. Woe be it unto me, If I agree not!

The direct application of his proverb to our present time would be this: A Christian should not be a companion to a revolu- tionists. The proof of that conclusion is the context and the definition of its words.

The context of this proverb is a call for the student of wisdom ( my son) to fear Jehovah and the king. Keil translates it: My son, honour Jahve and the king, and involve not thyself with those who are otherwise disposed, (Keil and Delitzch, Proverbs, Vol. II, p.137). Quite obviously there was a need for this proverb because then, as now, there were some who had no respect for God or civil authority.

Companion here literally means to mix oneself up with, and is much more intensive than just friendship. To mix oneself up with is interpreted as to make common cause with one. The companion of one given to change, then, becomes a party to anothers goals and a sympathizer with his aspirations.

Those given to change are those who are disposed otherwise than to fear God and the king. They respect no authority and recognize no law that would restrain them. This particular class of men are dissidents, oppositionists, or revolutionists. Revolu- tionists do not lead peaceful lives nor do they normally die of old age — sudden calamity and destruction come upon them.

A Christian is to seek a peaceful and quiet life (1 Tim. 2:2). He cannot make common cause with a revolutionists because he is a subject of Gods law and is, therefore, to be obedient to civil law. Peter said, Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake, (1 Pet. 2: 13). Pauls revelation was no different: Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers, (Rom. 13:1).

If you have a hankerin to be a revolutionist, if you want to turn the world upside-down, then try your hand at elevating mans values and ideals by turning him to Christ. You will meet all the opposition you could possibly want, but its a real challenge and its constructive too. Such change will naturally make a better world, but most important it will save souls from the calamity of eternal destruction. ——verett