Thought for Saturday, January 19th

January 19, 2013

A Word Fitly Spoken

Which would you prefer; a word of praise or a word of reproof?

   Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Proverbs 27:1-5

“Praise undeserv’d is scandal in disguise.”

-       Alexander Pope

Given the option, most, if not almost all of us, would rather have someone tells us all the things we are doing right and all the things they like about us; rather than to have them point out those things we might be doing wrong or that they don’t particularly care for.  And this is probably not a bad thing: at least not to a point, as long as it does not become a way of life.

Sadly, in today’s society we are encouraged to only be positive and not to set expectations to high: never to quantify winners or losers and to make absolutely certain everyone is always on the team; regardless of aptitude or ability.  We live in a world where it is not politically correct to define a definitive standard or to have exacting expectations; and it would appear that this approach to life has not served us well.

God doesn’t seem to have a problem calling a sin, just that.  He often was very forthright in defining wrong and calling out those who were guilty; and He does the same with us; but often we scoff at the idea of feeling conviction and contest and protest loudly when a sermon steps on our toes or we feel that the lesson is less than comforting and uplifting to our fragile little egos.

God has warned that we need to be careful of those who only desire words that will satisfy their itching ears: and those who only want their self esteem stroked so that they will feel better about themselves.

The road to spiritual growth is not paved with only encouragement and pats on the back; it also requires some reproof; some correction and some instruction in righteousness.

  While it is always good to give credit where credit is due we need to be equally willing to give and receive both correction and instruction in love and according to God’s word.

Today’s Prayer

Father, we all need encouragement from time to time and to feel we are doing something good and right: but we also need guidance and direction as well as correction from time to time as well.  Help me to be willing to receive both in humility and love as well as give both when there is a need for them.