Pigs in Pearls

For the past few weeks, I have been hearing the Lord say, "Do Not throw your pearls to pigs"
Which comes directly from Jesus speaking in Matthew 7:6
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces"

Most people know that pearls are made from oysters.  I decided to look at this process further today.
First of all, pearls take a long time to form...it is a long and uncomfortable process which originates from an irritation or a cut in the oysters mantle (or protective layer).  The oyster's natural reaction is to cover up that irritant to protect itself. The man­tle covers the irritant with layers of the same nacre substance that is used to create the shell. This eventually forms a pearl.  

I find it very 'interesting' that the word mantle is used to describe this organ.  Mantle also describes a cloak or garment regarded as a symbol of someone's power or authority.

Could it be that we have covered these irritants in our lives for too long?  Or that we are sharing our pearls of wisdom (what we learned as a result of the pain) with the wrong people?      
These same irritants that caused us to gain these 'pearls of wisdom' through pain, we turn around and give ourselves right back to them repeatedly? 
We sit silently and watch them take our pearls for granted time after time which in essence, slowly DIS-MANTLES us.
 

Proverbs 26:11 says it like this, "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness"
Yes, as Christians we are supposed to Love...but no where in the Word of God does it state for us to become doormats for people to wipe their feet on or trashcans for them to dump their junk in.  No, it says "Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it"- Proverbs 4:23
You can still love them and forgive them without being used by them. 
The source of your life flows from it...What does that mean?
Paul tells us in Acts 17:24-25, 27, 28 that "God himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.  God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find Him, though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being"

Could it be that God wants us to move out of the way so they can find Him?!  If they are constantly running to us, who is their true source? 
And what about us?  If we are constantly pouring our heart and pearls of wisdom into those who turn around and trample on them, then what happens to us over time? 
We become dismantled.  We are not God, so we end up weakened and feeling used.  We are not built to carry people all of the time.  It just will not work.  We end up depreciated and obtain callouses to our hearts.  Then we wonder what is wrong with us; why are we so tired, and unable to focus on God.

Matthew 13:15 says, "For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.  Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them"

One more thing, Certain pearls are the most sought after gems in the world.  They are defined by their luster (or lustre) which is the measurement of the quality and quantity of light that reflects from the surface and just under the surface of a pearl.  The more lustrous the pearl, the more it shines and reflects light and images (SN: Jesus is The Light of the world & we are made in God's Image).  So let me ask you, what are you reflecting right now?

I love that February is deemed "The Heart Month"; just like we should be taking necessary steps to take care of our hearts in the natural, we should be giving our hearts spiritual maintenance as well.  What I want you to take from this blog space is that first we have to recognize where we are.  I am not by any means saying to stop helping all together or that you were in the wrong by helping.  However, I am saying that you can not go on helping those that do not want to be helped.  I am saying that you can not keep allowing people to drain you and leave you without enough strength to seek God for yourself.  I am saying that you can not do it on your own.  Trust me I am writing this for me and you!  This is not necessarily an easy pill to swallow (I know I have been at this all day as the first partaker); Nonetheless, I have personally deemed this month FREE-bruary and I know that I am not on my own.  Do you desire Freedom in this area?  Then, No More with this Lone Ranger mentality!  If your heart is screaming YES I WANT TO BE FREE, then I want you to first forgive the 'irritants' in your life.  Next, I want you to forgive the 'dogs and swine' who mishandled your pearls.  Lastly, I want you to forgive yourself for trying to give more than you possibly could on your own.  I want you to allow God to heal the damage of these constituents. 
After you've done these things, I want you to ask God to show you where you need to establish Healthy Boundaries in your life.  This is how we are to 'guard our hearts' and protect our mantle (authority).  

Father, I pray for those that are reading this blog right now.  Lord, I ask that you touch them even now and strengthen their hearts.  I ask that you repair and restore all that the enemy has stolen from them in the area of their hearts, Lord.  I ask that you open the eyes of their hearts, and allow them to trust again.  I pray that You would send forth people to help build them back up.  People who will celebrate them and catch the vision that You have given them.  I pray that you will send the Jonathans to your Davids, and that True Commitment and Covenant be established in Your Name.  I pray that you be glorified in their life now and forever more.  In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.  

References:

"How Do Oysters Make Pearls?" HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, 07 May 2001.
            Web. 05 Feb. 2014.

"Mantle." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.

"Pearl Luster." Pearl Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.