Read: 2 Timothy 3:16
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness . . .”
Understand:
- What four things is scripture profitable for?
Listen: I just started reading a book by Karen Ehman titled, Keep It Shut: What To Say, How To Say It, and When To Say Nothing At All. The entire time I was growing up, my mother and father taught me and my sisters that if we didn’t have anything nice to say that we shouldn’t say anything at all. When something has been pounded into your head for a number of years – sometimes with not-so-pleasant consequences attached when you didn’t remember – it really sticks when your older. In this book, Ehman gives this statistic: “women use about twenty thousand” words per day-give or take. That adds up to an astonishing “2.5 million words” per year. Wow! That is incredible! I’d like to say that all of my 2.5 million words in a year are always a good thing, you know filled with inspiration and building others up, but, I’d be telling a lie. Most often, my problem is not what I say, it’s what I don’t say. My parents teaching really did stick with me. This isn’t to say that I haven’t lashed out with venomous words before because I can let it fly too. Mostly, I find disappointment in myself because of something I should have said and didn’t. I truly believe this is not a good thing either. As Ehman put it in her book, “my words, sometimes even my lack of words, have caused me much pain over the years.” I get this! My lack of words can truly be identified as one thing that has contributed to much of my self-esteem issues.
For example, there have been times when someone insults or degrades me, even covertly doing so without thinking I caught what they said and what did I do? Absolutely nothing! What? If someone had done that to one of my children or my husband or other people, I wouldn’t have had a problem addressing it-hopefully with the right words, although that hasn’t always been the case either. When it comes to how people have talked to me, I just let it go. You know the old saying, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me.” What a bunch of rubbish! I can heal from bruises and breaks by sticks and stones, but hurtful words I tuck away nicely and retrieve them as needed whenever I would like to kick myself while I’m down.
Ehman discusses the story of Joseph from scripture in the second chapter of this book and something really stuck with me about this story. She points out that Joseph, after being tempted by his employer’s wife’s suggestion’s of immorality, that Joseph tells her that in his master’s house, “no one is greater . . . than I am” but that the only thing withheld from him was his master’s wife. He then asks her the question, “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” He wasn’t mean. He didn’t insult her. He simply said he’d never do such a thing because it wouldn’t please God. Her whole point with this story was that Joseph said “What honors God” and didn’t worry about “what other people want[ed] to hear.” You see, me allowing some people to insult me or degrade me didn’t bring honor to God. Yes, I kept my mouth shut but it could have been handled as Joseph did. The Bible tells us over and over how things like this should be handled. Matthew 18:15 tells us if someone faults us that we are to go tell them. Leviticus 19:17 says “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.” Our scripture for todays says “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. . .” We are not supposed to stand there and take the verbal beating but we are required to honor God with how we handle the situation. Ehman goes on to explain that “We must make it of greater importance to please the Lord” because we can then “trust Him with the consequences” of what happens afterwards. I had never really thought about the fact that I should rebuke someone when their words were hurtful. Instead, I absorbed them just to save them for later to be hurt all over again. That doesn’t bring honor to God when He gives us instruction to talk to the person. In fact, it can do just the opposite. By holding it in and not confronting the issue, the hurt festers and grows and can turn into bitterness and hatred. This is what 2 Timothy 3:16 meant when it said “lest you incur sin because of him.” Not only did I not stand up for myself and correctly rebuke such hurtful words but I also allowed bitterness toward that person to grow, which results in sin. Ouch!
I’m not saying that it’s easy to confront someone when they verbally attack you. It’s so hard to do but there is a reason God gives us instructions to deal with it. Not only is the hurt something you will have to endure but it can also turn into sin. Be careful with this one. Yes, we are supposed to rein in our tongue and think before we speak but don’t let verbal attacks fester. In her book, Ehman explains, that “words are like sparks” and that “they may start small but they can ignite a wildfire of destruction and devastation.” Isn’t that so true? That internal battle from hurtful words is real. Make an effort to learn how to deal with that now.
Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, You have given us instruction to help us live a life that brings honor to You and that is beneficial to us. Help us remember that we do not have to allow others to verbally abuse us. That does nothing more than cause internal devastation. Help us to seek words and use them to stand up for ourselves while bringing You honor. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
Majacka Literary Creations 