It was Easter and a young bride had been asked to bake the traditional ham for dinner. She had taken the ham from the refrigerator and the roasting pan from the cupboard. Her groom of only a few months was in the kitchen watching.
His bride took a large butcher knife from the drawer and cut the end off the ham and set it aside. He asked “Why did you do that?” To which his wife replied “Well, my mother always does”.
But why?
She called her mother and asked, “Why do you always cut the end off the ham before placing it in the oven?” Her mother was quick to answer, “That’s what your grandmother always did”.
The young bride called her grandmother. “Why do you always cut the end off the ham before you cook it?”, she asked. Her grandmother chuckled and said, “My roasting pan was too short and the ham wouldn’t fit”.
Tradition. For years these women had been following a routine, not knowing why, it was just something that had always been done.
For the past number of days these morning blogs have been focused on the importance of having God’s word rooted in our lives. God’s word often times upsets our traditions.
“You must depend on Christ only, drawing life and strength from him. Just as you were taught the truth, continue to grow stronger in your understanding of it. And never stop giving thanks to God.
8 Be sure you are not led away by the teaching of those who have nothing worth saying and only plan to deceive you. That teaching is not from Christ. It is only human tradition and comes from the powers that influence this world. 9 I say this because all of God lives in Christ fully, even in his life on earth. 10 And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.” Colossians 2:7-10 ERV
The Bible is our final authority for life. God’s word is truth giving us everything we need. It will bring the light of correction to our lives – spotlighting those things that need to be corrected. The Holy Spirit is our teacher – He doesn’t condemn but He does correct.
“ You died with Christ and were made free from the powers that influence this world. So why do you act as if you still belong to the world? I mean, why do you follow rules like these: 21 “Don’t eat this,” “Don’t taste that,” “Don’t touch that”? 22 These rules are talking about earthly things that are gone after they are used. They are only human commands and teachings. 23 These rules may seem to be wise as part of a made-up religion in which people pretend to be humble and punish their bodies. But they don’t help people stop doing the evil that the sinful self wants to do.” Colossians 2:20-23 ERV
Am I saying that all tradition is bad or evil? No! But if it doesn’t point us to Christ and the freedom that His death purchased for us then it is man-made and unnecessary. Jesus told the Pharisees that their traditions were causing people to be disobedient to God’s word.
“You are putting away the Word of God to keep your own teaching. You are doing many other things like this.” Mark 7:13 NLV
God wants us walking in the freedom that we have in Christ. The Bible gives us all the instruction we need for godly living.
Spiritually speaking, don’t cut off the end of the ham without knowing why. It may just be man’s tradition.