Wisdom builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down
Proverbs 14:1
There is a popular saying amongst kids at preschool: Hands are for helping, not for hitting. Two things are reinforced in this saying. First, we can use our hands for destructive things or for helpful things. And second, the correct choice is to use them for things that are good. The same thing can be said for the rest of our bodies—our minds, our eyes, our mouths, our ears, our feet. We can use them to glorify God and serve our neighbor, or we can use them to dishonor God and to harm our neighbor.
In our first reflection on “their hands” we discussed the “cuffs” that the clergy wear, and the prayer associated with them. There is another prayer that the clergy offer before celebrating the Divine Liturgy, as they wash their hands. It comes from Psalm 26:6-12:
I wash my hands in innocence, and go about Thy altar, O Lord, singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all Thy wondrous deeds. O Lord, I love the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwells. Sweep me not away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, men in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes. But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. My foot stands on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.
I remember during the Covid pandemic, when people were so concerned about washing their hands thoroughly, I suggested people print out this Psalm/prayer and offer it while washing their hands. It takes more than thirty seconds to pray this prayer, and that insures that hands would get washed thoroughly. And it would also bring God into our lives again, in a ritual that we do multiple times a day.
Why do we wash our hands? Ostensibly, so that they are clean and so that we don’t spread germs through whatever is on them. In washing our hands, we reinforce this idea that hands are for helping and not hurting others.
The Psalm refers to washing hands “in innocence” so that one can go about the altar, sing a song of thanksgiving, and tell of all of God’s wondrous deeds. (Psalm 26:6-7). The human conscience comes into conflict if one enters the altar with dirty hands, either because they have dirt on them or because we’ve done something less than Godly with them. It is difficult to thank God or speak well of God with dirty hands. Keeping our hands clean, whether it means literally washing them, or repenting of the evil things we sometimes do with them is essential if we are to serve God, walk around with an attitude of gratitude, or be able to speak well of God. Our hands have to be clean in order to help and in order to glorify God. If we have done something that makes us feel that our hands are dirty, we must first atone for that, wash them and then return to the praise of God and service to others.
There is virtue in working with our hands. Because of technology, we can now accomplish so much from behind our screens. We’ve almost unconsciously developed a “hands off” approach to work. We don’t want to get our hands “dirty,” and I don’t mean that in a sinful way. Sometimes we hide behind a text or an email because it is easier than having a difficult conversation. Or we have a conversation on the phone because it is easier than doing it face to face. Or we write a check to a charitable cause because it is easier than going and working face to face with the poor. In saying that our hands are made for helping, they are made for manual labor, which might mean serving a meal, and not just donating one. Christians are often criticized these days, especially after a natural disaster, for just “sending thoughts and prayers.” And in some ways, the critics are right. Sometimes, instead of thoughts and prayers, especially when the disaster is near to us as the hurricanes have been in Florida where I serve, we need to roll up our sleaves and pick up a shovel or broom and use not only our minds to think and our mouths to pray, but to use our hands to work.
God has blessed us with great tools to be used for helping, which, if used inappropriately, can be used to hurt others. The same hand that can cook a meal for someone who is hungry, which can lift up someone who has fallen, and which can be used to offer a sign of encouragement like a high-five, can also be used to steal, to push away, and to demean. We must continually evaluate ourselves on how we are using our hands, asking ourselves as we make decisions on how to use our hands, is this gesture one that will help someone, or hurt them?
To Thee, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the Pit. Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to Thee for help, as I lift up my hands towards Thy most holy sanctuary. Take me not off with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts. Requite them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds; requite them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward. Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, or the work of His hands, He will break them down and build them up no more. Blessed be the Lord! For He has heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my son I give thanks to Him. The Lord is the strength of His people, He is the saving refuge of His anointed. O save Thy people, and bless Thy heritage; be Thou their shepherd, and carry them forever. Psalm 28
Hands are for helping, not for hurting, applies not only to children on the playground, but to all of us at all ages.
