S I M P L E   T H I N G S

A Matter of Opinion

© Copyright. Simple Things. Mark E. Holmes

Author: Mark E. Holmes

 

"Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.  But he answered her not a word.  And his disciples came and besought him, saying Send her away; for she crieth after us.  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  Then came she and worshiped him saying, Lord, help me.  But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.  And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table.  Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt.  And her daughter was made whole form that very hour." ~Matthew 15:21-28

 

This woman is one of only two people in the bible that is said to have had great faith.  Her words were neither a quotation from the Old Testament nor were they the words, to my knowledge, of the philosophers of her day.  This woman spoke her own opinion and Jesus recognized that her opinion was true.  Many times a ruler will fail in his purpose because he does not recognize one of the greatest resources available to him.  That resource is the true opinion of others.  Though "the package" that delivers the true opinion be unattractive, distasteful, or even of another culture, the ruler cannot afford to disregard it.  Whether ruling as a father, mother, supervisor, C.E.O., politician, or pastor, you will need the true opinion of others to succeed in your purpose.  The ruler must have "big ears"; for in the words of others lies great faith.  

 

....And that's a matter of opinion.