Think before you speak

•September 10, 2009 • Leave a Comment

I like pebbles.  They are smooth, and very soothing to touch; they are all different and interesting to look at;  they can be used for decoration; they can create drainage – and many other useful purposes.  Yet pebbles and other stones can also be used for bad purposes.  If anyone were to pick one up and throw it, it would cause damage – to people or property.  Something so beautiful, could also be used to hurt.

And so it can be with words, James reminds us.  The tongue is such a small thing, but the repercussions of what we can do with it are enormous.

A kind word can go a long way.  I can encourage, cheer, build self-esteem, make someone feel loved and cared for.  Equally, the wrong word can destroy or harm.  We can spread good very quickly, and evil just as quickly by what we say.  We can show people God, or turn them away with our words.  Something said quickly and perhaps without thought, can change someones life for good, or bad.

So Isaiah points us to the Lord’s Servant.  Every morning he is eager to hear what God is going to teach him.  He knows that God has taught him what to say – and that those words will strengthen the weary.  God’s words are good words.  Our responsibility is to be his mouthpiece.  To use our words for good.  To use our words for God.

It can be so easy to say what we want to.  Will that strengthen, encourage, and bring people to God?

Let’s listen to him, and each day use his words of love, comfort, strength and hope.

Posted in Lectionary
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Getting Boxed In

•September 2, 2009 • 1 Comment

Yesterday we had to fill in a health/lifestyle questionnaire.  There were some questions on it where no answers exactly fitted – but you had to choose one.  It was very interesting to see how you are being analysed, BUT I hate the feeling that I am being put into a box, be it because of how I dress, how many cars I own, what our household income is, or any other bizarre criteria someone wishes to use.  I always have, and the rebel in me wants to throw in a curve ball every so often, just to make sure I’m not neatly pigeon-holed.

Yet putting people in boxes – quite simply judging them – is something we do all the time.  People we hope won’t come and sit next to us when they get on the bus; people we assume will react in a certain way because of how they look, or where they come from; what we think of someone because of the car they drive (or don’t drive) – the list is endless.  All day we are making decisions about other people.

Prejudice is something James warns us about.  He challenges us about how we respond differently to people we have made snap judgements about because of appearances.  And points us back to God, who sees the hearts and intentions of each and every one of us – not the way we dress them up.  He reminds us that we are not the ones to judge, and to do so is wrong.

If we start trying to make judgements on other people and their lifestyles, where does that leave us?  For that is not the way to behave.  We are reminded there is no such thing as a small sin, or a big sin – a sin is a sin, and if we have done wrong we are as guilty as whatever we might suppose someone else is.  Making a judgement call on someone else is not our role – to help them is.

If we see someone in need, we should not discriminate them, shun them, avoid them, or sit in grand superiority over them.  After all, in any circumstance, there but for the grace of God, and circumstance of life, goes any of us.  Rather if we see a need, we are to respond to it.  What good is it if we have faith, but don’t show it by practical action?  It’s no good saying to someone, “Stay warm and eat well”, unless we’re going to do something to make that happen in their lives.  Don’t judge someone’s life – do what you can to help them.  Not in a patronising, do-gooding kind of way, but in response to what God has done in our lives.

There’s an old saying, “If you were put on trial for being a christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”  What would be the answer for that question in our lives today?

Posted in Lectionary, love
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You’ve got two ears…

•August 27, 2009 • Leave a Comment

…and one mouth.  Use them in proportion

So goes one of Mr Pamsperambulation’s favourite sayings.  Meaning listen more than you speak.

This seems to be a sentiment that the author of James would agree with.  Be quick to listen and slow to speak.  It’s difficult to hear someone else if you’re busy trying to add your two pennerth.  But submit to God, and accept the word he puts in your heart is very wise advice.  Don’t jump in with our thoughts.  Listen to what someone is saying, and listen even more carefully to what God is saying about it.

The only opinion worth sharing is God’s.  That way we stand a chance of meeting the third criteria – be slow to become angry.  Our anger doesn’t achieve God’s purpose.  Hearing what he wants to say, and doing something about it might.

This is reinforced by what Jesus says.  The powers that be are complaining about the disciples eating without washing their hands.  This offends their religious sensibilities about keeping age-old traditions. They are quick to anger, and quick to speak about it.  But Jesus reminds them that they are missing the point.  It’s not about keeping traditions and being seen to do the right thing – it’s about really doing the right thing – what’s going on in your heart.  What comes out of our lives it what makes us unclean, that is what we need to focus on.

So we are called to think carefully before saying anything.  To listen to those around us.  To spend time really hearing what God is saying – and then act on that.

Posted in God, Lectionary
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