I HATE TIES

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

I hate wearing ties. As I was dressing for church this morning I was reminded once again how much that decorative piece of clothe around my neck seems to be a noose to me. Every chance I get I slip out of it to find comfort, still knowing that the day and hour will come again when I must put it on.

So one might ask, “Pastor Groves, if you hate it that much, why do you continue to wear a tie? Many others have forsaken this fashion in favor of a more comfortable attire. What would be wrong in your doing the same?” The response to a question like that is found in our text today. I am to mortify the flesh (v5) and put off fleshly desires (v8) so that the new man in Christ Jesus may be put on (v10).

Now, I am not suggesting that the wearing of a tie makes one holy or righteous. I am quite aware that the business world and political world have a uniform they wear to present themselves in a repertorious fashion. They desire to build trust by outward means. This must never be our motive or means of representing Christ to the world. Others are to see Christ in us which produces a change upon us.

However, I refuse to give the flesh the advantage in any situation that would involve my respect and honor of my Saviour. If the new man is to mature and grow into what God desires it to be, then I must remind myself that Christ is my life. For the short time I remain on this earth, I will gladly suffer the discomfort of “the noose” to show my love and gratitude for my Saviour and the suffering He bore on the cross. The important thing is to mortify the flesh and put off the works of the flesh so that “old man” is brought under subjection and the “new man” is controlled by the Holy Spirit.

By the way, it is a manly color of blue, most of them are.