A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 26b(a)
Topic: Responsibilities IIa: Humility - The Witness
Series: The Flintstones
Episode: My Fair Freddy
Lesson PDF link: 26ba.pdf
Introduction
This part of the lesson is on the witness of humility. This shows how just plain humility can touch hearts and give people the opportunity to have freedom in Jesus Christ. This lesson shows how our Lord doesn't want a show for a witness just a sincere heart that wants to give life to the dead. I am using most of the Flintstones episode "My Fair Freddy" in the form of clips.
Scriptures Used Include: I Timothy 6: 3-21; Proverbs 18: 1, 1112; Proverbs 16: 5, 18-19; Proverbs 3: 1-8; Ephesians 2: 1-10; Proverbs 3: 9-10
What is your definition of humility? There might be a lot of answers to this question, but we are going to discuss the Biblical definition of this word to provide some insight.
I am going to play an introductory clip from the Flintstones episode "My Fair Freddy".
Cartoon Clip: "My Fair Freddy":
What do you think of the ladies' attitude thus far? If you knew that these ladies had an attitude such as this, how would you react? Do you think Dino has a good attitude? Why or Why not?
Bible Study I: I Timothy 6: 3-21
The Bible States:
1Ti 6:3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
1Ti 6:4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions
1Ti 6:5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
1Ti 6:8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
1Ti 6:9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1Ti 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1Ti 6:13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you
1Ti 6:14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Ti 6:15 which God will bring about in his own time'God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
1Ti 6:16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.
1Ti 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
1Ti 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
1Ti 6:19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
1Ti 6:20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,
1Ti 6:21 which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you.
Do you see a direct contrast here between Paul's words to Timothy and the ladies in this clip and what is it?
Yes, these women love their money and think that they are better than everyone else because of it. They are arrogant. Remember, the Bible states:
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1Ti 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Before we go to the next part of this study, what have you learned? The Bible is very clear about what these ladies have done and the consequences of being like these ladies in their arrogant states.
The Bible has this to say about what these ladies are doing. Proverbs 18: 1, 11-12 states:
Pr 18:1 An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.
Pr 18:11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.
Pr 18:12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
Why do you suppose that some rich people are so wrapped up in their money and other wealth that they are arrogant? The Bible speaks strongly about what happens when one is as these ladies and repentance isn't done. Proverbs 16: 5, 18-19 states:
Pr 16:5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
Pr 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Pr 16:19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
The Bible states in Proverbs 3: 1-8
Pr 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
Pr 3:2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
Pr 3:3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Pr 3:4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Pr 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Pr 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Pr 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
Pr 3:8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
First, we will discuss what not to do if you are claiming to be godly men and women. I am going to emphasize verse 5 by showing another clip.
Cartoon Clip: "My Fair Freddy":
Enter "The Great Gazoo". As you can see he has a lot of good intentions, but nonetheless is a lot of trouble. Gazoo represents "Your own understanding" in this proverbs scripture. What do you think of Gazoo's gimmicks? How would you react if you were Fred; would it be a godly reaction?
Cartoon Clip: "My Fair Freddy":
Well, the ladies admitted Fred into their club by mistaken identity. Fred and Wilma are having a heart to heart chat about it Fred says he'll think of something. This, of course, means Gazoo. Gazoo feels really bad right now and tries to make it up by sending Fred and Barney to his charm school so they will pass unnoticed at the ball. "Your own understanding" Gazoo is still at it except he is getting better. Maybe Gazoo is starting to pray some. However, Fred didn't expect getting made fun of.
Have you been made fun of because of taking God's plans instead of 'Your own understanding'? Finally, Gazoo does something right. God worked through Gazoo here (because of the lack of gimmicks something gets accomplished).
God doesn't need gimmicks to make his will a reality (just a willing heart). If we look at our Proverbs scriptures and then our clip here, we see that Gazoo is acting out these scriptures in the way he needed to. Gazoo obviously has a love and faithfulness that he is showing to Fred. Because Gazoo is trying pretty well tested methods instead of magic, he is not leaning to his own understanding. Because Gazoo doesn't anymore represent "Your own understanding", but a person who has learned to pray before acting, he is following what God wants him to do and repents of his "good intentions" and thus has something better. That is found in verses 5-8 of this passage. Gazoo is nourished and knows how to do things the right way. Gazoo's paths are made straight here.
I am going to show the last part of this episode, but first, what have we learned thus far? We are going to study a passage from Ephesians 2: 1-10 here.
The Bible States:
Eph 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
Eph 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Eph 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
Eph 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Eph 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.
Eph 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
Eph 2:7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -
Eph 2:9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Cartoon Clip: "My Fair Freddy":
If we look at the resolution of this episode and look at our scripture in Ephesians, how do they link?
Look at Fred and Wilma as the Christian example here. They came to have fun at this party, not to impress the rich snoots. This was truly a humbling experience because everyone had to put off all inhibitions of what people would think (just like Fred having to let being humiliated for doing the right thing with the ballet go right off his back). Once all chains of pride were off, everyone had fun and friendships were made. Gazoo, Fred and Wilma, did good deeds that they were supposed to do (and if they were in the flesh, they were created to do). Do you think our ladies that were arrogant learned their lesson about being snobs and thinking they were better than everyone else? Do you think this has been a growing experience for both our cartoon characters and us as humans?
There is one last scripture passage found in Proverbs 3: 9-10. The Bible states:
Pr 3:9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;
Pr 3:10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Simply put the above here is God's way.
What have you learned overall and how will you apply this to your life in the near future and beyond?