How to Deal with Greasy People

Nothing beats the word of God for good comedy relief, especially when God knows you need a reminder that He’s got your back, front and both sides in this game called life.

Psalm 119 is the longest book in the Bible with 176 verses. And while every verse in scripture has depth and purpose, there are those that are easier to remember and come quickly to mind when you’re in need of a sound word of advice. Such as Psalm 119:11 – Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Or Psalm 119:89 – For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. And then there’s Psalm 119:70 which says “Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.” That one didn’t necessarily roll off my tongue but it sure made me giggle.

Needless to say, that is where my mind stayed this morning.

When I think about the times I’ve heard people say that a person’s really “greasy,” it’s usually describing someone untrustworthy, a con artist or in general a backroom dealer. Let’s just say that I’ve had my fill of those kind lately, so that when this scripture came across in my reading today I have to admit, God’s humor was right on time.

Taught never to take scripture out of context, we have to read what’s happening around verse 70, so that we can understand what it is that God wants us to know about the Greasy people.

The Truth is Not in Them

Psalm 119:68-76

[68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. [69] The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

God is so Good!!! But sometimes we can lose sight of God’s goodness when the world is falling apart around us and there never seems to be any shortage of people who want to drag you into their drama and away from God’s purpose, especially if you’re the type person to call sin out. The Psalmist said that the proud had formed a lie against him. It should not surprise us when the world lies to us or against us. They did it to the Lord!

John 8:12-13 says
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. [13] The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.

If, as a child of God, you shine the light in a dark world you’ll find some pretty disturbing things. And those who are involved will not be happy you’ve uncovered it, so the attack will begin. The Psalmist said in verse 69 that the proud had forged a lie against him, but he would continue in the word of the Lord. He knew that the Lord was only good. While evil may abound around us, God is Good. Why He allows things to happen… we sometimes struggle to find the answer for that. But we have to believe that the end result will be for His glory. We have to keep trusting in His Word. That is where He is. In His word. He speaks to us through the scriptures and as I discovered this morning, He provides just what we need, when we need it. Right now I’m dealing with some pretty greasy people. And I heard God say, “stay in my word.” Satan is a liar and liars will all have their day of judgement.

John 8:44 says it very clear when Jesus told the Pharisees:
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

He called them out. It didn’t make them happy either.

Compassion is Not in Them

Psalm 119:70-71
[70] Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. [71] It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Commentary said that a fat heart is the heart of a proud person, abounding with things of the world who become so fat in themselves that they lose the ability to feel, they have no desire to know the law of God, no sense of duty or conscience for sin. But a child of God will delight in the law, even if afflicted, because they realize that there is a lesson God wants them to learn.

I’ll just tell you, I’m not a fan of learning a lesson through hard times. I often go kicking and screaming but I go. I also try to handle things on my own which inevitably gets me into trouble.

Have you ever watched a greased pig contest. Those doggone things are slippery. But somebody eventually hangs on for dear life and brings them to a stop. You’re better off to let God catch’em, it will keep a lot of the mud off of you.

[72] The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. [73] Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. [74] They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. [75] I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. [76] Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

The Greasy People May not Care, But God Does

The more I fight this battle that I am in, I learn that it’s not mine to win. Just like the guy who tries to catch that greasy pig and keeps falling in the mud, the same occurs when you fight with greasy people. They’re known mudslingers. They don’t care if it’s true or false, or that you’re hurt in the process. Greasy people look at those against them as collateral damage. Even children. But the Psalmist said that even in affliction we’ll find comfort in his Word. And in verse 74 he said that others that fear the Lord will be glad when they see us, because our hope will shine through. We have to believe that God will be victorious. We have to let the hope of Jesus Christ shine through us even when times get tough. Especially when times get tough! because our friends in the faith are watching to see how we handle it all.

I know it always seems as though I’m going through something and I never tell you what that something is. Perhaps that allows you to put yourself and your problems into my story line and we can both see that victory is in the Lord Jesus.

This post actually began yesterday, and today I made it through Psalm 119 and onto a few other chapters. When it comes to fighting battles, the only weapon a child of God has that is worthy of their time is the word of God. The giggle and the art work didn’t make my worries go away. But what the Word of God did was give me the strength to continue on and know that God will take care of the Greasy people.