Maybe it means that you can have a friendship, but when your friend does something you don't like, you don't "throw the baby out with the bathwater..." in other words, you don't discontinue the friendship because of human error.
Recently I was asked to help with a large project at school. I didn't have to do it, it wasn't my project, it wasn't my kid, it had absolutely nothing to do with me personally, except that I had the knowledge of how to pull it off. I actually found myself saying to the students involved, "I don't mean to be a witch, but .... " I finally washed my hands of the project, it was too taxing. There were holes that ended up needing to be filled, but it was not my responsibility, and I can not dwell on the things that didn't get done, I can be satisfied that I tried my best to help in an unappreciative environment. Wow, that was really a condescending paragraph.
A family member asked advice on a matter that I have studied. I replied in e-mail. Then the family member took the e-mail and argued every point on why I didn't know what I was talking about. I really wanted to take the e-mail again and blast the pants off of the guy, but I didn't. I simply responded with my normal e-mail closing "love ya, K", although I had not written a reply.
Here's another one: "No good deed goes unpunished." Need I go on? How must God feel when He lays out His perfect plan and we "can't see the forest for the trees." He has given us His Word, He has given us leaders with revelation knowledge. He has given us precious saints to speak into our lives, but still, we go the wrong way. Thank God, He is not human. If He were, He would have given up on us long ago.
My friend, Margie, made a good statement a few weeks ago. She said, "I know I can do it, but has God anointed me to do it at this time." Great statement! Even though there will be foxes that steal the berries, or bathwater that is dirty, or unjustified criticism, if we are truly in His will, and He is pleased, then our mission is accomplished.
Next time before I lend a hand that may be emotionally or physically taxing on me, I will say to myself, "You know you can do it, but did God anoint you to do it at this time?" Most of the time, the answer will be "no", but in those rare occasions when the answer is "yes", I will try to remember that I'm not doing it for my glory, but for God's, and that's all He expects of me.
Galatians 6:9 (Amplified Bible)
9And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
K
