Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel. Prov 11:17
But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; James 1:19
These were the verses that greeted me this morning in my email, and in a group Bible study. They were important to me, because, yesterday, my soul was “destroyed” because of something “cruel” that I said, because I was not “slow to speak.”
Have you ever done that? Saturday, I was sharing the Wisdom of God with the men at my church, and Sunday, in an open meeting, I violated every facet of God’s Wisdom (James 3:13-18) in a brief remark about the music, which devastated the young music director.
What I said was not pure, because I shared my feelings and spoke from my flesh, instead of trusting God to make me a better listener, and to be slower to speak. What I said was neither peaceable nor gentle, it was not submissive, certainly was not full of mercy or good fruits, it was not impartial, and it was hypocritical!
Why do we do things like this? When I did some soul-searching, I discovered that my attitude was based on my feelings and my senses, instead of my love for God and His people. I allow myself to be frustrated with songs I don’t know and changes in the tempo of songs I do know. Instead of focusing on my relationship with God in this time of worship, I am focused on the negative feelings that I am experiencing because of my discomfort. My attitude is certainly not worshipful, and that needs to change!
God convicted me of my sin in this situation, and I asked Him for forgiveness. I emailed the aggrieved party asking her forgiveness, and forwarded the email to the pastors at my church, asking them for forgiveness, as well. My soul felt much better!
I shared with the pastors that I need to commit to taking God more seriously in every facet of my life, including my activities at church. I ask that His Holy Spirit live the life of Christ through me in everything in which I am involved. It was gratifying to receive gracious responses from the young lady and from the pastors.
It was helpful to share my story in the Bible study this morning, and it is cathartic to share it with you. I hope each of us can learn something from this episode!
Prov 3:5-6 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Heb 10:24-25 …let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, …assembling together, …encouraging one another;…