Familiarity Breeds Contempt

10-19-2009
Familiarity Breeds Contempt

The term “familiarity breeds contempt” basically means we put less value on the people or things we are most familiar with. I guess this is why kids never listen to their parents, and in time, why parents never listen to their children. Both parties are too familiar with each other. I’ve coached many baseball players over the years, and many times we will tell a kid the same thing their parents told them, but coming from us they listen. I’ll never forget the first time I saw one of “my kids” on television…playing Major League Baseball! Even though this young man is an All-Star in the Majors, I can’t help but look at him as a teenager. It’s crazy to think he’s all grown up. Just as we face the “familiarity breeds contempt” issues in our lives, Jesus Christ did as well.

Matthew 13:53-58 says the following:

53When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."
58And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”

Here we read that Jesus was rejected in his hometown, therefore, Jesus didn’t perform many miracles. Imagine if the Savior of the world were from your home town, yet no one had faith in him because they knew him and his family too well. Do you listen to the wisdom from people you know well? We should all be intent on seeking truth whether we know the person speaking well or not. Let’s not allow our pride to keep us from listening to those around us or we may fall victim to the “familiarity breeds contempt” diseaseJ.

Application:
1. Read Matthew 13:53-58
2. Whom should you lend an ear to that you may have pushed to the side?