Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Oh Friends, it’s the weekend! Time to play and party, in moderation though, to fellowship, worship and rejuvenate our spirits after a hard week of spiritual warfare. We need that refreshing break so we can be ready to face the rigours of the workweek on Monday again. Hn! What a hard scrabble life! But that’s how the Lord ordained it, so we’ll just have to grin and bear it till whenever He chooses to call us home. Today we look to Cousin Sol for some words of wisdom to help us carry our crosses. And he does give us something wise to keep us on the straight and narrow. ‘A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous (harsh) words stir up anger.’ (Prov.15:1) And isn’t that the truth my Friends? Anger is curtailed by a calm and gentle response, while a comparatively heated response just fans the flames. So in the heat of the proceedings, when tempers flare, it is wise for at least one of the participants to know that saying and adhere to it, else things can get quickly out of hand. When all the participants get hot and bothered, then the road will most likely lead all downhill from there, with the escalation of verbal hostilities, which can easily progress to physical confrontation, to injuries and medical assistance, even to police presence and judicial proceedings. And it’s so easy for small disagreements to escalate into major problems, all because of insensitive words. That’s why James made the important declaration: ‘If any man among you seem to be (thinks he is) religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain (useless).’ (James 1:26) The sad part my people is that many of us believers today are too often guilty of that failing. We can’t, or have much trouble controlling our tongues, especially if we think we’re right. And as James went on to say about big ships being turned around by small helms and rudders, ‘Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter (forest) a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature (existence); and it is set on fire of hell…But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.’ (James 3:5-6,8) Yes Friends, we all know what a powerful tool or weapon out little tongue can be. It can start wars or bring peace. It all depends on who’s using it, and for what purpose. So Bruh David advises: ‘Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (deceit).’ (Ps.34:13) Oh my people, the Good Book warns against the evil of the tongue, one of the smallest organs of the body, more than any other part. Let’s hear some. Sol himself offers more. ‘There is that (one who) speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is (promotes) health.’ (Prov.12:18) ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that LOVE it shall eat the fruit thereof.’ (Prov.18:21) The sad fact is that too many of us fall under those last two admonishments. A lot of us just have a harsh, unforgiving manner that only breeds anger and contempt in others. Our words always have an edge to them, which makes others more often than not, feel offended, criticized and/or put down by them. This doesn’t help the situation at all, consequently anger is currently running rampant in our world. Everybody is angry at somebody or something. But hear Sol again: ‘By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft (gentle) tongue breaketh the bone.’ (Prov.25:15) Yes mih breddren, patience is usually more persuasive than impatience, and a gentle answer more often than not, gets the desired response. As they say, you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. So we’ve got to learn to first bridle our tongue, then to curb our haste to get angry, because those hasty words spoken in anger can have dire consequences which sometimes cannot be undone. ‘He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty (impulsive) of spirit exalteth folly.’ (Prov.14:29) It’s all well and good to say you’re sorry afterwards, but as the old people maintain, ‘sorry doh make it cool.’ It doesn’t take away the hurt. We have to learn instead to be proactive, not reactive, learn that ‘prevention is better than cure.’ And having said all that, let’s check an example of the hasty tongue and angry spirit that almost brought a very sad backlash. It concerns Bruh David, who, after Samuel died, went down to the wilderness of Paran to get away from Saul. Now there were shepherds in the area looking after the flocks of a rich man, Nabal, but Bruh David and his men did them no harm. Sometime later, when food was possibly running short, Bruh David sent ten men to Nabal’s home to ask for some supplies. Here’s how the Good Book describes Nabal and his wife Abigail. ‘…and she was a woman of good understanding and of a beautiful countenance; but the man was churlish (harsh) and evil in his doings…’ (1 Sam.25:3) That sets the tone for the proceedings right there. Obviously when Bruh David’s men approached Nabal, his churlish attitude surfaced as he asked: ‘Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants nowadays that break away every man from their master. Shall I take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?’ (1 Sam. 25: 10-11) Friends, we all know the rest of the story (1 Sam.25) where Bruh David’s men go back and tell him of Nabal’s rude, unkind reply, which angers him and he sets out to pay back Nabal. But the Lord was, and still is in His heaven, and caused one of Nabal’s men to go and tell his wife Abigail what had transpired. She being a sensible woman, got some victuals together, rushed down the road and fell before Bruh David, entreating him to hear her. ‘Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he: Nabal (fool) is his name, and folly is with him:’ (1Sam.25:25) Abigail realized the tragic results that could come of Nabal’s hasty and foolish actions, and she managed to talk Bruh David out of doing further wrong. But the Lord, in his wisdom, eventually got rid of Nabal and Bruh David married Abigail. Wow! What a good piece of drama for Hollywood from the Master Dramatist. Oh Friends, let’s learn from all of this nuh. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus, though harassed and threatened and beaten and scourged did not retaliate in anger, but in peace and LOVE. ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34) I know it’s often difficult to reciprocate with LOVE and not anger, but that’s what Jesus would have us do. So let’s try and do it for His sake, so we can truly be called His followers. Much LOVE!…to return anger for anger is foolish…stop…think…and listen to the Spirit’s guidance first…
Oh Friends, it’s the weekend! Time to play and party, in moderation though, to fellowship, worship and rejuvenate our spirits after a hard week of spiritual warfare. We need that refreshing break so we can be ready to face the rigours of the workweek on Monday again. Hn! What a hard scrabble life! But that’s how the Lord ordained it, so we’ll just have to grin and bear it till whenever He chooses to call us home. Today we look to Cousin Sol for some words of wisdom to help us carry our crosses. And he does give us something wise to keep us on the straight and narrow. ‘A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous (harsh) words stir up anger.’ (Prov.15:1) And isn’t that the truth my Friends? Anger is curtailed by a calm and gentle response, while a comparatively heated response just fans the flames. So in the heat of the proceedings, when tempers flare, it is wise for at least one of the participants to know that saying and adhere to it, else things can get quickly out of hand. When all the participants get hot and bothered, then the road will most likely lead all downhill from there, with the escalation of verbal hostilities, which can easily progress to physical confrontation, to injuries and medical assistance, even to police presence and judicial proceedings. And it’s so easy for small disagreements to escalate into major problems, all because of insensitive words. That’s why James made the important declaration: ‘If any man among you seem to be (thinks he is) religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain (useless).’ (James 1:26) The sad part my people is that many of us believers today are too often guilty of that failing. We can’t, or have much trouble controlling our tongues, especially if we think we’re right. And as James went on to say about big ships being turned around by small helms and rudders, ‘Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter (forest) a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature (existence); and it is set on fire of hell…But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.’ (James 3:5-6,8) Yes Friends, we all know what a powerful tool or weapon out little tongue can be. It can start wars or bring peace. It all depends on who’s using it, and for what purpose. So Bruh David advises: ‘Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile (deceit).’ (Ps.34:13) Oh my people, the Good Book warns against the evil of the tongue, one of the smallest organs of the body, more than any other part. Let’s hear some. Sol himself offers more. ‘There is that (one who) speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is (promotes) health.’ (Prov.12:18) ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that LOVE it shall eat the fruit thereof.’ (Prov.18:21) The sad fact is that too many of us fall under those last two admonishments. A lot of us just have a harsh, unforgiving manner that only breeds anger and contempt in others. Our words always have an edge to them, which makes others more often than not, feel offended, criticized and/or put down by them. This doesn’t help the situation at all, consequently anger is currently running rampant in our world. Everybody is angry at somebody or something. But hear Sol again: ‘By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft (gentle) tongue breaketh the bone.’ (Prov.25:15) Yes mih breddren, patience is usually more persuasive than impatience, and a gentle answer more often than not, gets the desired response. As they say, you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. So we’ve got to learn to first bridle our tongue, then to curb our haste to get angry, because those hasty words spoken in anger can have dire consequences which sometimes cannot be undone. ‘He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty (impulsive) of spirit exalteth folly.’ (Prov.14:29) It’s all well and good to say you’re sorry afterwards, but as the old people maintain, ‘sorry doh make it cool.’ It doesn’t take away the hurt. We have to learn instead to be proactive, not reactive, learn that ‘prevention is better than cure.’ And having said all that, let’s check an example of the hasty tongue and angry spirit that almost brought a very sad backlash. It concerns Bruh David, who, after Samuel died, went down to the wilderness of Paran to get away from Saul. Now there were shepherds in the area looking after the flocks of a rich man, Nabal, but Bruh David and his men did them no harm. Sometime later, when food was possibly running short, Bruh David sent ten men to Nabal’s home to ask for some supplies. Here’s how the Good Book describes Nabal and his wife Abigail. ‘…and she was a woman of good understanding and of a beautiful countenance; but the man was churlish (harsh) and evil in his doings…’ (1 Sam.25:3) That sets the tone for the proceedings right there. Obviously when Bruh David’s men approached Nabal, his churlish attitude surfaced as he asked: ‘Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants nowadays that break away every man from their master. Shall I take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?’ (1 Sam. 25: 10-11) Friends, we all know the rest of the story (1 Sam.25) where Bruh David’s men go back and tell him of Nabal’s rude, unkind reply, which angers him and he sets out to pay back Nabal. But the Lord was, and still is in His heaven, and caused one of Nabal’s men to go and tell his wife Abigail what had transpired. She being a sensible woman, got some victuals together, rushed down the road and fell before Bruh David, entreating him to hear her. ‘Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he: Nabal (fool) is his name, and folly is with him:’ (1Sam.25:25) Abigail realized the tragic results that could come of Nabal’s hasty and foolish actions, and she managed to talk Bruh David out of doing further wrong. But the Lord, in his wisdom, eventually got rid of Nabal and Bruh David married Abigail. Wow! What a good piece of drama for Hollywood from the Master Dramatist. Oh Friends, let’s learn from all of this nuh. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus, though harassed and threatened and beaten and scourged did not retaliate in anger, but in peace and LOVE. ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ (Luke 23:34) I know it’s often difficult to reciprocate with LOVE and not anger, but that’s what Jesus would have us do. So let’s try and do it for His sake, so we can truly be called His followers. Much LOVE!…to return anger for anger is foolish…stop…think…and listen to the Spirit’s guidance first…
SCRIP-BITS 