August 01st, 2014

Life as a River
"Familiarity Breeds Contempt"

That old phrase came to my mind ‘at random’ the other day. I am finding that in this ‘season of my life’, there are many ‘random’ thoughts floating through on their way to who knows where?  Anyway, I began to research the origin and meaning of the phrase.

I went to my most trusted source for these type of answers - GOOGLE - and found the following: 

The origin of the proverbial saying “Familiarity breeds contempt” 
is widely credited to the traditional translation of Aesop’s fable “The Fox and the Lion,” 
from @ 620 - 564 B.C., which reads: 

“When first the Fox saw the Lion he was terribly frightened, and ran away and hid himself in the wood. Next time however he came near the King of Beasts he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by. The third time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were, and when he should have the pleasure of seeing him again; then turning his tail, he parted from the Lion without much ceremony.”

Point #1     
Familiarity desensitizes us to danger or evil.

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The most popular or common interpretation of the phrase is:

The more familiar you become with someone, the more you start taking liberties in how you interact with them... less polite, less gracious, more teasing, more rude because you can impose on the familiarity. Or you take them for granted, in ways in which you would not immediately interact with a stranger, until you become more familiar with them. 

Point #2
Familiarity desensitizes us to the positives in the situation or the relationship. 
We either take them for granted, or we are disgusted by them. 

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And your point is?

Let’s do a self-check. 

Check #1 

As we live life, have we become so desensitized 
to Satan, that we don’t even fear him or recognize 
the danger he wishes to impose?

“Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.” I Peter 5:8

Check #2

As we live in relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, 
have we become desensitized to the point that we either take 
Him for granted,  or even are disgusted by His guidance in our lives?

“To obey is better than sacrifice, and to eed is better than the fat of rams…
”I Samuel 15:22

My Prayer Today
“Lord, may my relationship with you grow day by day in every way. Keep me from becoming desensitized to temptation, and may I never take for granted your love for me. Continue to teach me that you desire
 obedience more than ritual or sacrifices. And may I always be aware that the ‘Joy of the Lord is my strength’.”

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