“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” Prov.15:1
A simple trip to the store today provided not physical food, but food for thought while I stood in the checkout line. A man sitting outside the store was trying to sell small American flags. He claimed he was raising donations for organizations supporting veterans of war, but when challenged by a customer about to enter the store to show proof of which organization he represented, no evidence was forthcoming and the argument escalated. After a very loud, very prolonged debate, the irate customer entered the store still ranting, now seeking others to agree with him that the flag seller was a fraud planning to use donations for himself. One lone voice said, “So what?”
Finding no one willing to join his complaint, he became even more enraged, threatening to get the police involved because citizens obviously were not interested in defending the honor of our country. Still he raged on until someone yelled, “Shut up!” Another reminded him he didn’t have to give the guy any money and then things devolved into a
profanity-laden shouting match between him and a woman who threatened to punch him out. Aye yai yai!
The incident left me feeling depressed because so much acrimony had been stirred up in just a few minutes’ time. One doesn’t have to read the newspaper or watch tv news or social media to be aware how potent and easily spread poisonous words are these days. So is the tendency to point fingers as we look for someone to blame. As I got
back into my car, the song “I Can Only Imagine” came on the radio and instead of bringing comfort, it only made me sad at the thought that we have to live in a world so corrupted by sin until the Lord calls us home or returns to establish His new heaven and earth. It’s draining to fight daily on so many battle fronts—socially, politically, morally,
spiritually. Admittedly, it’s hard to control the words that come out of my own mouth under pressure and to monitor the meditation of my own heart so that my conversations are acceptable in God’s sight! Where does my help come from?
Thankfully, I found refreshing help in today’s devotional by Steven Furtick in a sermon
titled, “Am I Fighting the Wrong Enemy?” In I Sam. 17:30 David is confronted harshly
by his brother Eliab when David is curious about the reward Saul is offering for killing
Goliath. David dismisses his brother’s disdain with a confident assertion that he has the
right to speak, and then turns away to someone else. Pastor Furtick calls this a
strategic move, which put David in position to face Goliath. Although it is tempting to try
to control someone else, the reality is we are far more successful when we practice self-
control as we nurture the fruit of the Spirit in the garden of our heart. Prov.2:21 offers
encouragement that “...the upright will live in the land...”so next time I am out and
about, I will not let the occasional shadow distract from all the beautiful signs of life and
light.