"Short and Sweet"

 

“Short and Sweet”

 

In the classic TV cop series “Dragnet” lead detective Joe Friday was known for his catchphrase, “Just the facts, Ma’am!” He wasn’t interested in wasting time or words but in getting to the heart of the matter quickly. In New York’s Finger Lakes region our rural school district covered a large area with about a dozen churches of various stripes scattered around. The pastors once met to discuss how we could work with the Board and administration under the “short and sweet” name of “Consultation on Parish Development for the Churches of the Marcus Whitman School District”. And consider my blog address: biblenuggetsfortodaysliving.blogspot,com. (Maybe I should read what I write more carefully!) Where’s Joe Friday when we need him? Apparently an insurance company located him for his advice. In a TV commercial from yesteryear the legal gobbledygook of a competitor’s policy was read and compared with the advertiser’s: “If you’re in an accident we will defend you.”

These examples show the advantages and clarity of words and actions that are “short and sweet”. The phrase itself grows from oral tradition from the Middle Ages and was first seen in print in 1539. Essentially it means pleasantly brief. In these days of 24 hour “news” cycles the talking heads would do well to heed Jesus’ words: “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No, No’…” (Matthew 5:37)—in other words, “Keep it short and sweet!”

God is not One to waste words (“Every word of God is flawless….”—Proverbs 30:5, emphasis added). An example is found in Psalm 15 where David lists ten qualities by which we can measure our obedience to Him: “Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to slander others or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise persistent sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who do not charge (excessive) interest on the money they lend, and who refuse to accept bribes to testify against the innocent.” (Verses 2-5, NLT). (Another such passage is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24.) Volumes can and have been written about these traits but God gives His “short and sweet” summary here. We’d all do well to “Give careful thought to (our) ways.” (Haggai 1:5,7).

Many thousands of books and commentaries have appeared mining the riches of the gospel message.  But the “short and sweet” of it is “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). And God’s invitation is “Believe in the Lord Jesus (i.e. this message), and you will be saved….” (Acts 16:31). Trust Him to keep His “short and sweet” word.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan