(Matthew 7:6)
6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.TODAY'S TAKEAWAY
In that culture, pigs and dogs were considered unclean animals which had zero appreciation for valuable things. Pigs ate the vilest foods, and dogs were scavengers, even eating human blood. And stray dogs growled at anyone, whether people were ignoring them or trying to give them something to eat.
I didn't fully understand this verse until fairly recently. I was getting to know a woman who came off very sweet, compassionate, smart and fun-loving. I love and care for her, and still pray that she will realize her need to have her sins forgiven and have God in her life as her Lord and Savior.
At first, when the topic of Christianity came up, this friend appeared to listen attentively, and even asked questions. As time progressed, I soon realized that she would only hear what she wanted to hear, and only asked questions in order to gain ammunition to use on me later. The relationship turned very contentious, and biblical principles that I had shared with her, were distorted and twisted and then used against me, to falsely accuse me of various things. There just wasn't any reasoning with her, or finding a way to proceed within a relationship of respect, so I finally had to distance myself from her.
(Proverbs 23:9)
Do not speak to be heard by a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Hindsight - I should have recognized the futility of our convoluted conversations much, much sooner. While we are to love all people, it doesn't mean that we have to be friends with everyone. If a relationship isn't healthy, we need to learn to know when to move on, especially as a single who is dating. One can see the importance of a committed believer dating and marrying another committed believer. Therefore, while we should have interactions and acquaintanceships with those who are unbelievers (otherwise how are we able to share God's love and gospel message), these relationships should stay in proper perspective.
Therefore, these are things to pray about, asking God to send opportunities our way, as well as pray that He gives us wisdom to understand the differences. There are those people (unbelievers) who will be open to hearing God's word (or not), and then there are those people (believers) who will make excellent mentors, close friends, and/or spouse. With believers, we should even be able to encourage and challenge one another towards growing closer to the Lord in our personal relationship, because we will understand the value and benefits in what is being shared, in accordance with God's love and His will. And as believers grow closer to the Lord in a personal relationship, we will grow closer to one another.
(John 15:12-17) “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 This I command you, that you love one another.
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