In biblical terms, the concept of "trifling" refers to treating something of importance with a lack of seriousness or respect. This notion is not directly mentioned in the Bible using the word "trifled," but the idea is present in various passages where individuals or groups fail to take God's commands, wisdom, or presence seriously.

Biblical Context and Examples:

1. Disregard for God's Commands:
The Israelites often demonstrated a trifling attitude towards God's commandments, leading to severe consequences. In the book of Judges, the Israelites repeatedly turned away from God, treating His laws with contempt. Judges 2:17 states, "Yet they would not listen to their judges, but prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commands."

2. Mockery and Scorn:
The prophets frequently warned against trifling with God's messages. In 2 Chronicles 36:16 , it is written, "But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy." This passage highlights the serious consequences of treating God's word with disdain.

3. Jesus' Teachings:
Jesus addressed the issue of trifling with spiritual matters in His teachings. In Matthew 22:5 , during the Parable of the Wedding Banquet, some invited guests "paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business." This indifference to the king's invitation symbolizes a trifling attitude towards the kingdom of heaven.

4. Warnings in Proverbs:
The book of Proverbs often contrasts wisdom with folly, warning against a trifling attitude towards wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." Here, despising wisdom is akin to trifling with the divine guidance that leads to life.

5. Apostolic Admonitions:
The New Testament epistles also caution against trifling with spiritual truths. In Hebrews 2:1-3 , believers are urged to pay careful attention to what they have heard, so they do not drift away. The passage warns, "How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" This neglect can be seen as a form of trifling with the gift of salvation offered through Christ.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, trifling with God's word, commands, or presence is seen as a grave error that leads to spiritual peril. It reflects a heart that is not fully committed to God and His purposes. The Bible consistently calls believers to approach God with reverence, seriousness, and a wholehearted commitment, recognizing the weight and significance of His divine will.

Practical Application:

Believers are encouraged to examine their own lives for areas where they may be trifling with God's commands or His call. This involves a sincere commitment to studying Scripture, engaging in prayer, and living out one's faith with integrity and seriousness. By doing so, Christians honor God and align themselves with His purposes, avoiding the pitfalls of a trifling attitude.(imp. & p. p.) of Trifle.

The Awakened Sinner Urged to Immediate Consideration and Cautioned ...
... No, it is only where the life of the soul is concerned that men think thus wildly:
the life and health of the body appear too precious to be thus trifled away. ...
/.../chapter iii the awakened sinner.htm

Israel and Britain. A Note of Warning
... The nation had so long been fickle towards God, and had trifled so long with God's
truth, that it was at length given up to a judicial hardness of heart, so ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 31 1885/israel and britain a note.htm

The Honoured Guest
... feet. In like manner they who would receive Christ must receive him now.
This is not a call or a counsel to be trifled with. The ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/the honoured guest.htm

Our Father in Heaven
... Holy Scripture is too wisely written, and too awful a matter, to be trifled with
in that way, and cut and squared to suit our own fancies, and explained away ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon xiv our father in.htm

The Sun Rising Upon a Dark World
... They remember a time when they were afar off, without hope and without God in the
world; and they remember how carelessly they then trifled upon the brink of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon viii the sun rising.htm

Argument: Besides Asserting the Future Conflagration of the Whole ...
... All such figments of an unhealthy belief, and vain sources of comfort, with which
deceiving poets have trifled in the sweetness of their verse, have been ...
/.../the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xi argument besides asserting the.htm

The Persecutions of the Church.
... Multitudes, who might otherwise have trifled with the great salvation, were led
to think of it more seriously, when they saw that it prompted its professors to ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the persecutions of.htm

The Fifth Letter.
... sake of disputing, (for besides the particular disagreeableness of this to my own
temper, I should surely have chosen another person to have trifled with;) but ...
/.../a discourse concerning the being and attributes of god/the fifth letter.htm

Chapter xliii
... situation is encountered. Judah had rightly gathered from the tenor of Joseph's
demand that he was not to be trifled with. He expressed ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xliii.htm

Elucidations.
... 1. The Phrygian enthusiasm, like the convulsionism of Paris [413] in the last century,
was a phenomenon not to be trifled with; especially when it began to ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/elucidations.htm

Trifled (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Trifle. Multi-Version Concordance
Trifled (1 Occurrence). Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, finding ...
/t/trifled.htm - 6k

Neighbourhood (9 Occurrences)
... Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious,
and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and ...
/n/neighbourhood.htm - 9k

Furious (28 Occurrences)
... Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious,
and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and ...
/f/furious.htm - 14k

Finding (57 Occurrences)
... Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious,
and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and ...
/f/finding.htm - 23k

Trifling (1 Occurrence)

/t/trifling.htm - 7k

Trifle (2 Occurrences)

/t/trifle.htm - 7k

Date (5 Occurrences)
... Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious,
and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and ...
/d/date.htm - 9k

Massacred (1 Occurrence)
... Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious,
and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and ...
/m/massacred.htm - 6k

Boys (15 Occurrences)
... Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious,
and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and ...
/b/boys.htm - 10k

Carefully (76 Occurrences)
... Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious,
and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and ...
/c/carefully.htm - 31k

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Trifled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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