Watch out for Levity and Frivolity
Levity = absurdity, folly, foolishness, silliness
(Webster's' New World Dictionary)
Frivolity = LIGHTNESS,
flippancy, levity, light-mindedness, flightiness, volatility
Amid the
cheerfulness of household gatherings it is easy to slide into
sinful levities,
and to forget our avowed character as Christians. It ought not
to be so, but so it is, that our days of feasting are very
seldom days of sanctified enjoyment, but too frequently
degenerate into unhallowed mirth.
-
C. H. Spurgeon - Morning & Evening (Dec.25th, evening)
We must — some of us
especially must — conquer our tendency to
levity.
A great
distinction exists between holy
cheerfulness, which is a virtue, and that
general levity, which is a vice. There is a
levity which has not enough heart to laugh,
but trifles with everything; it is flippant,
hollow, unreal. A hearty laugh is no more
levity than a hearty cry. I speak of that
religious veneering which is pretentious,
but thin, superficial, insincere about the
weightiest matters. Godliness is no jest,
nor is it a mere form. Beware of being
actors. Never give earnest men the
impression that you do not mean what you
say, and are mere professionals. To be
burning at the lip, and freezing at the
soul, is a mark of reprobation. God deliver
us from being either superfine or
superficial; may we never be the butterflies
of the garden of God!
- C. H. Spurgeon
True earnestness may be greatly lessened by
levity in conversation, and especially by jesting with brother
ministers, in whose company we often take greater liberties than we
would like to do in the society of other Christians. There are excellent
reasons for our feeling at home with our brethren, but if this freedom
be carried too far we shall soon feel that we have suffered damage
through vanity of speech. Cheerfulness is one
thing, and frivolity is another; he is a wise man who by a serious
happiness of conversation steers between the dark rocks of moroseness,
and the quick sands of levity.
- C. H. Spurgeon
"Be ye therefore sober,
1 Pet.4:7"
Sober = Serious;
thoughtful; considerate. Let a fact of so much importance make a
solemn impression on your mind, and preserve you from
frivolity, levity, and vanity.
There are advantages in
seriousness of mind. It enables us to take better views of things, Ec 7:2,3. A calm, sober, sedate mind is the best for a contemplation
of truth, and for looking at things as they are.
-
Barnes Notes on 1 Pet.4:7
Perhaps we are inclined to
levity,
but we need not let our
frivolous
nature reign; grace can overcome it,
and will. “Where sin abounded, grace
did much more abound.” There is no
unconquerable sin; there is no Dagon
that shall not be broken in the
presence of the ark of God, there is
no temple of the Philistines which
shall not fall beneath the might of
our greater Samson. We need not, as
the result of temperament, or
because of any sin that doth so
easily beset us, depart from Jesus,
for grace is equal to all
emergencies.
- C. H. Spurgeon
There are others who are all froth
and levity, who profess to be
Christians, and yet cannot live
without the same amusements as worldlings; must be now at this
party, and then at that;
never
comfortable unless they are making
jokes, and following after all the
levities and frivolities of the
world. Ah! the first is a pardonable
weakness, in which there is much
that is commendable, but this is a
detestable one, of which I can say
nothing that is good.
The Christian,
I think, should steer between the
two. He should be cheerful, but not frivolous. He should be sustained
and happy under all circumstances;
have a friendly and a kindly word
for all, and be a man among men as
the Savior was, willing to sit at
the banquet, and to feast and
rejoice with those that do rejoice;
but still heavenly-minded in it all,
feeling that a joy in which he
cannot have Christ with him is no
joy, and that places of amusement
where he cannot take his Lord with
him are no places of amusement, but
scenes of misery to him. He should
be constantly cheerful, happy, and
rejoicing, and yet at the same time
he should evince a deep solemnity of
spirit which removes far from him
everything that is sacrilegiously
light and trifling.
– C .H. Spurgeon
I shudder when I see any sitting at
the Lord’s table who can indulge in
light remarks or in wandering
thoughts, on so solemn an occasion.
What hast thou to do here, not
having on a wedding garment? There
are some of us whose besetting sin
is levity of spirit.
Cheerfulness we
are to cultivate, but we must beware
lest levity become a cankerworm to
our graces.
- C.H. Spurgeon
Grave; in their
behavior,
speech, and dress; levity of conversation, frothy language, and airy
dress, are very unbecoming aged persons.
-
John Gill Commenting on Titus 2:2 which
addresses the behavior of older men.
Ps.119:113. —I hate vain thoughts.
In those vacant hours which are spared from business, pleasure,
company, and sleep, and which are spent in solitude, at home or
abroad; unprofitable, proud, covetous, sensual, envious, or
malicious imaginations, occupy the minds of ungodly men, and
often infect their very dreams. These are not only sinful in
themselves, indicating the state of their hearts, and as such
will be brought into the account at the day of judgment; but
they excite the dormant corruptions, and lead to more open and
gross violations of the holy law. The carnal mind welcomes and
delights to dwell upon these congenial imaginations, and to
solace itself by ideal indulgences, when opportunity of other
gratification is not presented, or when a man dares not commit
the actual transgression. But the spiritual mind recoils at
them; such thoughts will intrude from time to time, but they are
unwelcome and distressing, and are immediately thrust out; while
other subjects, from the word of God, are stored up in readiness
to occupy the mind more profitably and pleasantly during the
hours of leisure and retirement. There is no better test of our
true character, than the habitual effect of "vain thoughts" upon
our minds—whether we love and indulge them, or abhor, and watch
and pray against them.
—Thomas Scott, 1747-1821.
Ps.119:113. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
Some of our thoughts are specially vain in the sense of vain
glory, pride, conceit, and self trust; others in the sense of
bringing disappointment, such as fond ambition, sinful dreaming,
and confidence in man; others in the sense of emptiness and
frivolity, such as the idle thoughts and vacant romancing in
which so many indulge; and, yet once more, too many of our
thoughts are vain in the sense of being sinful, evil, and
foolish. The Psalmist is not indifferent to evil thoughts as the
careless are; but upon them he looks with a hate as true as was
the love with which he clung to the pure thoughts of God.
- C. H.
Spurgeon
Grave
or serious minded men not given to
levity and frivolity. This is not to be taken as being
grouchy or mean and sour faced.
- C.D. Cole (commenting on qualifications for deacons)
Levity
of conduct in my brethren brings heaviness
of heart to me; - C. H. Spurgeon
