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A Person Of Faith
Throughout my life I have
been taught some very valuable lessons, statements and
saying that I have had the privileges of using throughout my
life.
One is that you don’t put
snakes in your backyard and expect them to only bite your
neighbors.
Two is you don’t make
moves with snakes, you don’t talk bread with birds and you
don’t talk cheese with rats!
But the most important
lesson I learned is from the Bible and I violated that one
last week by writing an article in response to someone
else’s article and having it published. If we are to truly
be Men and Women of Faith then I ask that you always
remember and practice the following.
He Won’t Work it Out Till I Talk It Out!
St. Matthew 18:15-17
Moreover if thy brother
shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault
between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast
gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take
with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three
witnesses every word may be established.
How do you handle yourself
when someone gossips about you? What about if a close friend
or family member falsely accuses you? Do you try to talk it
out with that one who offended you? Or do you harbor your
hurt and have a “woe is me” party?
Jesus wants us to
prayerfully arrange a meeting with that one who trespasses
against us. We must be open and honest in the conversation
if we want to gain them. It’s not difficult if we’ve prayed
before we privately tell them their fault between us. If
we’re calm and direct in our manner, they might hear us out.
That’s when we’ve settled the difference according to
righteousness and gained that soul!
Brotherly love leads us to
ask the Lord to help us be clear with our words. He’ll open
the heart of the other person to listen carefully. But we
must not hold things in our hearts. It’s imperative that we
get it off our chest. Otherwise, ought, to, anger and rage
will set up in us and Satan will have two victims.
In other words, we must be
quick to “talk it out” and if they won’t listen, we’re told
to confide in a trustworthy, mature Christian. Scripture
suggests that we take two or three witnesses as we rehearse
the matter with that sister or brother in sincere efforts to
establish “the matter.”
If it still isn’t settled
we must seek for God to work things out hoping that He’ll
further counsel us. He’ll lead us to scriptures that detail
acceptable behavior. He won’t fail to work things out when
we emulate Jesus and behave in a righteous manner. Having a
clear mind, we can then confront and pray sincerely for the
trespasser. Humble, obedient prayer, embedded in godly love,
will move the “hand” of the Lord on our behalf. He’ll work
it all out for the good of everyone.
The wisdom we take away
from such an experience will elevate our faith, wisdom and
love. God then expects us to share our experience with
someone else troubled by folk who mishandle others purposely
or unknowingly. Think how pleased He is when obedience leads
us to “talk it out” with Jesus before taking it to the
insulting person.
The gospel song says:
“...if you let Him, Jesus can work it out...that problem
that I had; I just couldn't seem to solve; I tried and I
tried but I kept getting' deeper involved; So I turned it
over to Jesus and I stopped worrying' about it; Turned it
over to the Lord and He worked it out.”
Let us always keep one
another in our prayers.
Larry J. Sykes
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