In a rare moment of lucidity, Ernest T. Bass confessed to Andy that people like himself appreciated kindness from others because they were “no account.”  With a sympathetic and pained expression, Andy consoled his nemesis, “You’re not no account, Ernest T. You’re just…ignorant.” Moved nearly to tears, Bass emoted, “You’re just bein’ nice.”  Many there are not lacking in morality but information. Wanting to do well, they but have insufficient knowledge. It is possible for us to confuse the two.

For the most part, people want to do what is right.  They may have to define deviance down to get to the point, but they want to feel they have been correct in their actions.  Now, I believe strongly in the total depravity of man and do not hold with the concept that people are basically good, but folks want to feel good about themselves.  Hence, even people who have done reprehensible things try to justify their deeds. In our confused age, the unthinkable has become acceptable, even embraceable.

There is a difference between those who legitimize their acts through ethical gymnastics and those who are not performing to scale because of deprivation.  By this, I mean that some may not have the tools for their trade of employ. Personally, I have labored valiantly for causes in which I had hardly any chance of success.  More than once…or twice. There is a lot to be said for hard work, but you can accomplish more with a tractor than a mule- even if it’s a prize-winning mule and an old tractor.

The answers to our dilemmas really can be found in God’s Word.  For those confounded by the intricacies of life, let me say that this is not a cop-out.  I am well-aware that the sometimes perceived (or not) tendency to spiritualize everything until it bears no resemblance to real life is a turn-off for many- myself included.  The Bible is a field in which treasures are hidden, and a search is in order for us to find the specifics of our cause. Start looking and keep looking. Seldom do the answers to difficulty come easily.  

God will open His Word to you.  He will. Scripture was given in common language (of the time) to common people and is not reserved for theologians today.  God bless theologians, but theirs is rarified air. The vast majority of those in the Roman world could not read anyhow, and most today will never read a tome- let alone write one.  We can, however, read the Bible incrementally, use eyes of faith and allow God to speak to our hearts. The uniformed can become better informed, and no one knows (or can know) everything anyway.

As we learn, we make better decisions.  Try and base your major beliefs on sound scriptural foundations.  Humanity will confuse the issues best resolved by divinity. Familiarity created by study over time informs to a greater degree than intense, but sporadic, bursts of Bible “cramming.”

You are not nothing.  God made you for a purpose and saved you to enable you to accomplish it.  We all need more knowledge to increase our capacity. And it will come as we spend time in the field.

Sterl