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Reflections

Fingers, Forks and God's Unfailing Promises

“Fingers were made before forks!” How many times have you heard this cliché at a reception where finger foods were served? Smilingly you nod your head, not thinking that you have just heard a quote from an early 18th century fictional character making a serious social comment.

Forks were not commonly used in England, America or France in the early 18th century. In fact, those who used them were considered ostentatious if not sinful. Jonathan Edwards was known to have 18 forks (when he only had 11 children), a point of criticism for pretentiousness by some of his Northhampton parishioners.

Some people considered forks as “the devil’s instrument,” replacing the fingers which were “God-given tools.” Others considered forks to be crude, shoveling food into the mouth as hay was shoveled to animals by pitchforks. Some avoided using forks because they seemed awkward, perhaps as much as chopsticks do to Westerners.

Colonel Atwit, the character who explained his usage of fingers in Jonathan Swift’s Polite Conversation, may have been covering his own social ineptness at either not knowing how to use a fork or forgetting to use the unfamiliar instrument. He could have been making a statement of conscience, refusing to use the questionable tool.

How things change, we say as we use our forks without thinking about them. It took 60 years for forks to come into common usage in England, but change surrounds us everyday, particularly since the introduction of advanced technology. The hi-tech appliances and gadgets we buy may be obsolete by the time we get them out of the store.

How do we cope with the swirl of change all around us? we frequently ask ourselves because changes in technology have brought changes in other areas of life as well. Traditions and values we have lived with are questioned in light of a changing culture. We constantly weigh the passing against the permanent, searching for that which does not change.

When Jeremiah experienced change all around, he admitted to discouragement; his soul was downcast. But then he remembered what he could count on:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22,23, NIV).

Hebrews tells us God confirmed His promise to Abraham by two unchangeable things: His promise, and His character by which He affirmed His promise. These unchangeable things are the basis for our hope in a rapidly changing world and our source of encouragement:

“God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie we...may be greatly encouraged” (Hebrews 6:18, NIV).

He goes on to say that this hope is an anchor for our souls, giving us something “firm and secure” in a changing world.

If we experience discouragement with constant change, or our soul is downcast as Jeremiah’s was, then it’s time to ask ourselves some serious questions. “Am I bothered by something of eternal significance, or a cultural change like using a fork?” “Is my life buried in the changing sands of culture, or anchored to the solid rock of God’s unfailing promise?”

Points to Ponder:

What values do I have that are biblically based? What values do I hold that are simply matters of personal choice? Do I hold some values because of the culture I live in? Which of my values are non-negotiable?

PEGGY MUSGROVE is a licensed Assemblies of God minister. She is also a speaker, freelance writer, author and prayer group leader. Her latest book, Musings of a Maraschino Cherry was released in 2004.. You can visit her at www.musgroveville.com.

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