I came across this quote by Pastor Mark Dever the other day, and it got me to thinking…“So many times I’ve seen men, particularly young men, act as if real leadership is shown in correcting others. That’s why young men’s sermons often scold. What they haven’t figured out is that you can often accomplish more by encouragement. There are times to scold. But 80 to 90 percent of what you hope to correct can be accomplished through encouragement.” ~Pastor Mark Dever

…to which I have added this supporting Scripture I’ve often thought about and aimed to follow: “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5.11); and the keystone exhortation “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10.24).

…and also this caveat to the Dever quote… [Although I dare to say that ‘scolding’ is not exclusively the proprietary domain of ‘young men’s sermons.’ Some older ones, also, seem to have not outgrown it!]  

…then I wrote this little parable…

DON’T BE THE PESKY LITTLE GNAT

There was once a pesky little gnat who lived on a far-off savannah along with the other neighbors who lived their own lives in that same habitat [but pesky little gnats are everywhere, really].

The pesky little gnat decided it would attack the local neighbor Rhinoceros because it [the pesky little gnat] resented it was so small, thought it was being overlooked, was not being recognized for the influence it thought it had, and should be getting more attention and respect than it was. In its little mind, it thought every neighbor on the savannah should recognize and consider it to be the overlord of them all and do everything the ways it thought they should.

And, more personally, it was so envious of Rhinoceros’s size, stature, standing, strength – and especially that formidable snout-horn! [Even though neighbor Rhinoceros was actually encouraging to his smaller, weaker neighbors since his very imposing presence discouraged many would-be predators.]

So, it began attacking its neighbor Rhinoceros, who was just minding his own business, feeding on the same savannah. [Well, maybe the pesky little gnat was minding its own business, too – because I guess pestering other neighbors is the pesky little gnat’s ‘minding its own business.’]

It repeatedly harassed, attacked, dive-bombed, buzzed the ears, and tried to bite the hide of Rhinoceros – all to no effect. Anything and everything it could think of to do just to needle, irritate, provoke, or try to distract…. And when its lone attacks didn’t deter Rhinoceros from grazing – or even get his attention, for that matter – the pesky little gnat recruited its small swarm of fellow pesky little gnats to come and help it.

Of course, Rhinoceros wasn’t harmed, and didn’t even feel the attacks. In fact, Rhinoceros wouldn’t have even known he was being attacked had not his friendly neighbor, Brother Gazelle, told him:

“Brother Rhinoceros, are you aware that the pesky little gnat and its cohorts are trying to bite you?”

“Well, no, Brother Gazelle, but thank you for your concern. No matter … I have just been minding my own business, doing my usual grazing – what us rhinoceroi are created, called, and gifted to do – and I will continue.”

The only thing the pesky little gnat accomplished was just getting itself all worked up in a swivvet and bent out of shape in every way in its attempts to harm thick-skinned Rhinoceros.

Don’t be the pesky little gnat.