Legalistic Toes

(Pro 25:17 KJV)  Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

When my granddaughter was even younger than now I would tell her not to go into my closet.  Since the dividing line was marked by transition from tile to carpet it devolved into “don’t let your toes cross the line.”  I am not sure if you would call her a legalist, literalist or smarty pants but she would inch her toes right up to the line and stick her nose beyond it.  At my closet it was cute.  In my living room it could be a problem.

The issue is not your “foot” (7272).  In those days I could see a reluctance to go out in the yard because your neighbor would insist on long gossip sessions over the fence.  Today we can “step” into people homes by all kinds of electric devices.  I marvel at how long my wife can talk on the phone.  I often wonder if the person on the other end wants to hang up.  Of course, I am a bit of a loner and an isolationist but still....  

So?  If you want people to be ready to listen to your love of Jesus you might want to not make your appearance a dreaded event.  If it is to gregarious individuals, that is one thing, but keep in mind that everyone is not that way.