The Bible is the most influential book in the world. Yet, sometimes even Christians don't realize just how much it has influenced our culture. There are many well known sayings that come directly from the Bible ("A house divided against itself..." Matthew 12; "A little leaven... 1 Corinthians 5:6; "The salt of the earth" Matthew 5:13). Notice some saying most of us have heard, yet, many of us don't realize came from the Bible.
"The Skin of My Teeth"
"My bone cleaves to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth" (Job 19:20). Do you ever feel that life is overwhelming you? Job knows how you feel and then some. He didn't even know how he was still alive. However, God will see us through even though we don't know how.
"A Fly in the Ointment"
"Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so does a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor" (Eccl. 10:1). One moments sin can cause a lifetime of heartache. We must be careful that we don't "sacrifice the day for the hour." Don't let one moment's indiscretion wipe out a lifetime of righteous living.
"A Drop in the Bucket"
"Behold the nations are as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the small dust of the balance; he takes up the isles as a very little thing" (Isaiah 40:15). Here the insignificance of the nations of the earth are compared to the immensity of God. How many times have nations tried to destroy God's people or overthrow God's purpose? The only success the nations ever had was when God allowed it because His people brought it on themselves due to their disobedience. Remember, God is in control and He is able to accomplish His will.
"The Leopard Cannot Change Its Spots"
"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may you also do good, that are accustomed to do evil" (Jeremiah 13:23). When all is said and done, people are still prone to sin. Temptation plagues us all. Yet, this does not mean man cannot change. It means we will always have the same struggles. Therefore, we must never let our guard down.
"The Apply of My Eye"
This is found in Dueteronomy 32:10, Psalm 17:8, and Proverbs 7:2. The apple is a metaphor for the pupil of the eye, and it is associated with a person or thing that is highly valued. In other words, you are the apple of God's eye, and that means you are precious to Him. We in return must make His law and His will the apple of our eye.
Don't live your life by the "skin of your teeth" because of the "flies in the ointment" of your life. Remember that the powers of this world are but a "drop int he bucket" compared to God's power. Furthermore, just as the "leopard cannot change his spots," we may stumble along the way, but we can always rejoice that we are "the apple of God's eye."
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