A Snake In The Grass Or Meek As A Lamb

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16

Have you ever been in a situation where you were taken advantage of and were left with that sick, 'why did I do that' feeling inside? Or, maybe you were disappointed with yourself for being so gullible and perhaps even felt some anger inside. Well, the Bible has a surefire solution to this all too common situation we sometimes find ourselves in. It is called wisdom, and it is given to us in good measure.

The verse tells us that we are to be 'wise as serpents'. Does this mean we are literally supposed to be like a snake and go around biting people who might want to take advantage of or cause harm to us? The answer is no, at least not in a literal sense. A snake knows when to proceed or not based on the 'vibrations' it feels by activity around it. It knows when to move ahead, stay put, or back away to a safer location. It usually does this without causing harm to anything.

So also, as the snake, Christians should be aware of what is going on around them in the world. We have been provided with wisdom, the equivalency of the snakes "vibration radar', to 'feel out' a given situation wisely and act accordingly. As the second part of the verse instructs us, we should do this with a gentle spirit. As Proverbs 15:1 tells us "A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger."

In any given situation, especially when sharing the Gospel with unbelievers, we always want to leave the door open to return at a time when the individual might be more willing to hearing what we have to say. So, just as Jesus did, use your gifts, talents and opportunities wisely, while at the same time, be aware of using gentleness to either defuse or proceed in a given situation.