Sense of Indecision: Edward
“I never wish to offend, but I am so foolishly shy, that I often seem negligent, when I am only kept back by my natural awkwardness.” ―Edward Ferrars, Sense and Sensibility
"Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” ―Matthew 5:37
Humanity struggles to keep promises. Often, not always out of malice or bad intention, we fail to keep our word to others. Even simple promises can become overwhelming when we don’t get our way. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus preaches on many different subjects, and one of those subjects is the power of words. During the time of the Bible, making vows was a common practice, and oftentimes, people would swear by the name of God or by the temple. Jesus warns against this practice in the verse quoted above.
Edward Ferrars is inconsistent with his words. To be fair, his family hamstrings him in many difficult ways by not allowing him to grow and mature as a person. He wants to make the right decisions, but he does not feel empowered to do what he believes is right. His engagement to Lucy Steele is a young man’s attempt to push back against his family. Unfortunately, this promise is made when he is young and angry about his situation. He makes a promise out of his emotional upheaval instead of prayerful consideration.
Patience is certainly a virtue that needs consistent development. In the instantaneous nature of our culture today, we don’t have to wait for much. Food, entertainment, grades are all at the touch of our fingertips, and we often grumble or complain when things don’t happen fast enough or on our timetable. The same could be said for Edward regarding his proposal to Lucy. He wasn’t patient. He wanted all things to happen on his timetable.
Christians are the same. We don’t want to wait on the good things of God, and we often run ahead of God in order to satisfy our desires and our timetables. This is a natural inclination of the educational process. We are so impatient as young people because of societal pressures to get everything right at such a young age. Get these grades. Get this college acceptance. Get this particular job so that you don’t have to worry about your stability in life. Jesus speaks to this inclination as well: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19, 21). Adolescence can be exciting, yet adolescence can also make a person shortsighted. Unlike Edward and our surrounding culture, we must wait on the timing and goodness of the Lord.
