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NO TOWER OF BABEL!
Prov. 18:24; John 15:10;12-15
August 12, 2007
Friend’s Day

One of the oldest Bible stories concerns the Tower of Babel. At that time, rivalries were springing up. Warfare was being waged. Some argued that since the gods they worshiped lived beyond the clouds the tower would make a bridge between earth and the sky, so that the gods could come down and visit men —and men could walk up into heaven whenever they chose.

The people began the erection of a tower, dedicated to the newest and most popular idol among their gods, a deity they called Marduk.

Unfortunately, among the thousands of laborers there began to be a confusion of tongues. When the workers couldn’t communicate and cooperate the unfinished Tower of Babel had to be abandoned.

So, what’s the lesson in this story? Well, as human beings we’re never satisfied. We seek fame and success and victory. We step on others as we climb the ladder of success. We want what we want and disregard anyone who gets in the way.

This alienates us from our friends and loved ones. We don’t “speak their language“. We become frustrated. We don’t really “hear” each other. The natural brotherhood of man gets lost in selfish, greedy, ruthless competition.
Fortunately, the Christian message tells us how to overcome this problem. Jesus said, “you are all brothers” (Matt. 23:8b)

Paul said, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love . . .” (Rom.12:10, kjv)

The writer of Hebrews said, “Keep on loving each other as brothers” (Heb. 13:1).

The story of Babel describes how a unified group can disintegrate into an unproductive mob through lack of understanding. This sin of alienation is infecting our society today. The Ku Klux Klan, the skin heads, the neo-Nazis, the Christian extremists and Moslem fundamentalists all represent division and hostility. These dangers are especially destructive in a small world full of nuclear weapons.

In addition to these open aggressions, we have a growing apathy. Our relationships are breaking down. Divorce and child abandonment and teen runaways and neighborhood riots are evidence of this. The unconcern, the lack of empathy, the absence of a helping hand are all combining to destroy our kindredness.

Many years ago, W. H. Auden said, “We must love one another or die.” Cooperation is what makes that love possible. That’s the opposite of alienation.

It is disturbing that so often we as Christians are guilty of intolerance toward the views of others, especially on issues where there are no clear, definite moral guidelines. Too often we say, “Either you believe as I believe or you don’t believe.” Sometimes we don’t even understand the questions; yet, we choose up sides and throw accusations at each other. The world’s problems go unsolved while we waste our energy fighting amongst ourselves. This is alienation.

Yet, over and over we are admonished to have patience and compassion. David said, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity” (Psa. 133:1).

Jesus said, “Be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:50b)

Paul said, “Live in harmony with one another . . .” (Rom. 12:16a);

Later, he said, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought” (I Cor. 1:10);

“Be of one mind, live in peace. . .” (II Cor. 13:11).

There is an old legend about a herd of mules that was attacked nightly by a pack of wolves from a nearby forest. Every time the wolves came the mules would began kicking viciously in all directions. Consequently, the mules maimed and injured each other while the agile wolves escaped unharmed. Many families and churches and organizations and communities do this.

So, how can we learn to cooperate and support each other? Well, there are three magic A’s to developing good relationships:

The first magic “A” is acceptance.

We all want to be accepted as we are. So, don’t set up rigid standards of how you think other people ought to act. If he’s a little peculiar, let him be. Don’t insist that he do everything you do and like everything you like.
You must accept the other person as he is. Practice the words of the marriage ceremony, “I take you . . . for better or for worse . . . .”

A critical person, who always sees where others fall short and usually suggests a remedy is never going to have many friends.

The second magic “A” is Approval.

Approval goes a little further than acceptance. It goes beyond just tolerating another’s faults and foibles, and finds something positive to like. You can always find something to approve of in the other person and you can always find something to disapprove of. It depends upon what you’re looking for. If you are a negative person, always looking for flaws, you will never have many friends.

The third magic “A” is appreciation.

The word appreciate really means to raise in value. It’s the opposite of depreciate, which means to lower in value.
We are always looking for people who will raise us in value, rather than lower us in value. If you put people down, you will never have many friends.

In fact, there’s no record that any Pharisee ever changed the conduct of a single sinner. Now, the Pharisees were good people. They were law abiding and moral; but their very goodness separated them from other men and women. They were horrified when Jesus ate with “Publicans and Sinners.” They were aghast when he told the woman taken in adultery, “Neither do I condemn thee.” Jesus had a way with people. He accepted them! He approved them! He appreciated them!

So, accept, approve and appreciate people and you will have friends and make this world a better place to live in.
Peter said, “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble” (I Peter 3:8).

The famed doctor and humanitarian, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, was right when he said, “We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness.” That’s why friendship is so important. Solomon said, “A friend loves at all times . . .” (Prov. 17:17).

An anonymous poet says:

If there’s someone you can talk to
That no other can replace;
If there’s someone you can laugh with,
Till the tears run down your face;
If there’s someone you can turn to,
When you need a helping hand;
If there’s someone you can count on,
Just to hear and understand;
If there’s someone you can sit with,
And not need to say a word;
If there’s someone you can count on,
To keep secrets he has heard;
If there’s someone you think more of,
As each year comes to an end;
Then, you are a lucky person,
To have such a special friend.

So, how high is your tower of Babel? Are your ambitions alienating others? How can we apply this story in our lives today? Well, most of us get wrapped up in our own agendas. We manipulate events and use other people. We must win at any cost. Furthermore, we don’t have time to listen to the problems of our loved ones and friends. We cause hurts with our thoughtless words. We become hostile when we take statements in the worst possible way. Misunderstanding separates us. We take things wrong. We misinterpret. We take offense too easily. When the other fellow exhibits a certain behavior, he’s obnoxious! When I act the same, it’s nerves. When the other fellow is set in his ways, he’s obstinate and stubborn as a mule. When I am like that, it is just firmness. When the other fellow doesn’t like my friends, he’s prejudiced and narrow minded. When I don’t like his, I am simply showing sound judgement of human nature. When the other fellow tries to be accommodating, he’s apple polishing; When I do the same thing, I’m using good public relations and tact.” You see, we give ourselves the benefit of the doubt, but we don’t do that with our associates. In short, we don’t “speak the same language” as our fellow man. We hear what we want to hear, rather than what is being said. Misunderstanding causes divorce and crime and war. It keeps us apart. It sabotages progress.

Let’s learn from the Tower of Babel and work together with acceptance, approval and appreciation. Let’s be friends.

(WC1432)

Miles E Wesner