A youth ministry initiative by RBC Ministries
where you can find devotionals and resources for youth.
A youth ministry initiative by RBC Ministries
where you can find devotionals and resources for youth.
February 10, 2010
How distinguished the king of Israel looked today (v.20).
READ: 2 Samuel 6:16-22
Recently, I read an article about a 38-year-old guy who offered his wife for sale. I wondered, what would drive a man to sell his spouse to the highest bidder? Then, I read his advertisement: “Nagging wife. No tax, very high maintenance—some rust.”
That’s when it clicked; it must have been the nagging. No marriage is perfect, but our communication patterns have a lot to do with the level of harmony in our homes. While some of us nag, other sinful speech habits include lying, harshness, or even sarcasm.
David’s wife, Michal, had a thing for sarcasm. When Michal saw David dancing before the Lord as the Ark was being brought back to Jersualem, “she was filled with contempt for him” (2 Samuel 16:16). She sneered, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today” (v.20), when she really meant, You looked like a total goofball! Sarcasm hurts the ones we love twice—once with the original insult, and again with the sting of our delivery.
If Michal’s cutting communication wasn’t enough, this drama queen accused David of dancing to impress the servant girls. Her venomous lie proved that “harsh words make tempers flare” (Proverbs 15:1), and it caused David to retort, “I was dancing before the Lord. . . . Those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” (2 Samuel 6:21-22). Like David, our spouses will move into defense mode and possibly even seek affirmation elsewhere if we continually fling false accusations their way.
Our words have the power to hearten our partners or discourage them. May everything we say “be good and helpful, so that [our] words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29).
—Jennifer Benson Schuldt
(Check out Our Daily Journey website!)
Filed under Devotional, Our Daily Journey and tagged with Christian Living, daily devotional, difficult relationships, Faith, Forgiveness, humility, Marriage, Peace, Relationships, Submission, Unity.
Harsh words sometimes came out spontaneously. It’s usually driven by our hurt feeling or our high emotion. The best way to control our tongue is by controlling our emotion and don’t forget to say “I’m sorry” after we accidentally wound other’s heart by our words.
God Bless You All ^.^
I was just wondering, how do you actually respond to people who hurt us with their sinful patterns of speech? I mean what should a Christian do? Are we supposed to defend ourselves or do we just keep quiet? I’m not really sure, but I would like to know(:
Hi Peggy
For me when someone hurt our heart with their sinful pattern, the real issue is not whether we have to defend ourselves or do we just keep quiet. We have to think the impact for our response, specially in that situation. Is it will make everything better or worse.
I remember what apostle Paul says in Rom 12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Some times when someone mad, they often used words that wound our heart; and defending ourselves directly at that moment usually will drive the situation become worse for both party. It will not bring “peace” for us nor for them. Because when someone mad they usually want to be listened not debated or argued. That’s why when someone mad at us the first response we have to make is accept and listen them. Then evaluate ourselves and after that try find good time to tell to them that we have been thinking about what they said, we thank you for it, but explain to them that the way they expressed their thoughts and emotion were hurting us. This steps of response will bring “peace with everyone.”
Now some times there are people who really loves to hurt other people with their critical mind and harsh words. They tend to make themselves superior above everyone else by “attacking” other people. These people is always be like thorn in our flesh. They will always criticize, easily to be angry or offended, and think that they are always right. These people will never listen to anybody else except they want something in return. The best way to deal with this kind of people is by following what God said in Lamentation 3:26 (NKJ) “It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD;” and also in Romans 12:19 (NIV) “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”
The conclusion is, in our daily life some times we have to deal with people who accidentally or worse wounded our heart on purpose. In that situation remember that God have promised: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5 NIV). If we trust Him, we will see that He will always before us, guiding and keep us from all things that might destroy us. For He has said: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:9-10 NIV).
It’s nice to have this discussion with you Peggy. God Bless You.