July - 11
(MIS)USING GOD’S NAME
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God.” Exodus 20:7
Maybe you’ve heard the story about a boy who was tending sheep in the fields. The villagers told him to call for help in case a wolf came prowling. After some time the boy thought he would test the system. He yelled out, “Wolf!” and the villagers came running. But there was no wolf.
After the boy pulled this prank a few more times, the villagers didn’t trust him anymore. Eventually a wolf really did come, and when the boy cried for help, every¬one ignored his calls—with devastating results.
The point, of course, is that if you cry “Wolf!” make sure you mean it.
What does this have to do with using God’s name? Just this: words can be used to manipulate. If we misuse God’s name or use it loosely, we will end up losing something. God intends for us to use his name with integrity so as to know him and connect with him.
This challenges the easy way some people use God’s name to express their feelings. We also need to be careful about how easily we grow accustomed to listening to others use God’s name as a swear word. In addition, those of us who sing religious songs or participate in religious readings must make sure we are sincere when we use God’s name.
If you use it, mean it; it’s not just a name, it’s God’s.
PRAYER
Lord, we don’t want to use your name loose¬ly or wrongly, even when we use it religious¬ly. Help us to use your name only with re¬spect in connection with you. Amen.
你或许已听过这个在野地放羊的男孩的故事，故事中村民告诉男孩，若有狼来侵袭，他可以大声呼救。过了一段时间，为了试试这方法是否可行，男孩便大声呼叫：「狼来了！」村民于是急忙跑到来，但是根本没有狼。
男孩多次重复这恶作剧后，村民便不再相信他了。有一次狼真的出现了，男孩大声呼救，但人人都不理会他—— 结果是悲剧收场。
故事的重点是，你一定要真的有需要，才可呼叫「狼来了！」
这与称神的名有甚么关系呢？简单来说，话语可以操纵人，如果我们妄称或随便使用神的名，我们将会招来损失，神的原意是要我们真心使用祂的名，好叫我们藉此更认识祂和与祂联结。
这指责那些动不动便使用神的名来表达他们的感受的人，而我们亦需要留心，听到别人把神的名用作脏话，我们则不可以逐渐习以为常。此外，唱圣诗或诵读宗教仪文时，若有提到神的名，我们必须字字当真。
用神的名务要真心，因为这不只是一个名字，这乃是神的名。
祷告
主啊，我们不想随便或误用祢的名，就是在宗教用途上也要小心。求祢帮助我们，只在与祢的关系上满有尊敬地使用祢的名。阿们。