| | Had some fun with Jeremiah (well, with Baruch and a bunch of doomed nations) last time, so let's go back to Proverbs. Chapter 15.
1 A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Jeez. One of the best lessons you will ever learn, and one that is responsible for my having any friends at all. If an argument is starting, and you resist the urge to raise your voice and retaliate with something snappy, even if what they said was horrible and you have the perfect comeback to their obviously flawed criticism of you, you will save yourself from a nasty exchange. You can almost see their wrath deflate when you don't retaliate; there will be disappointment, because deep down both of you were probably looking forward to this fight that had been building for ages, but in the long run, it's so worth it.
For the record, I like the NLT's translation of this:
" 1 A gentle answer deflects anger,
but harsh words make tempers flare."
"Deflecting anger" is a perfect term for what that does. They get pissed, snap at you, you calmly answer back, anger over.
Also, if you answer gently and peacably (without sarcasm lacing your phony gentleness) and they still flare up and keep wanting a fight...they're dangerously close to falling into "Fool" territory that you may just want to walk away from.
5 A fool despises his father’s instruction,
But he who receives correction is prudent.
Once again, this is about your attitude when you're criticized; not whether or not you do what they say.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
But the heart of the fool does not do so.
After talking with a wise person, you just feel smarter. There are also those who you just feel like your brain hurts from comprehending their stupidity after spending five minutes around them. Watch how people react to you.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight.
If someone's not living right, but is doing all the right stuff...God doesn't care. But someone who is in right standing with God, God loves just talking to them. I actually like the Message version of this:
8 God can't stand pious poses,
but he delights in genuine prayers.
Not quite the same, but I like "God can't stand pious poses." If you're living like a heathen, just be one.
11 Hell and Destructionare before the LORD;
So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.
God even knows what's going on in Hell - do you really think you're fooling anyone?
12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,
Nor will he go to the wise.
This one works better in NLT...
12 Mockers hate to be corrected,
so they stay away from the wise.
Stupid, arrogant people want to go their own way. If you start trying to pour into their lives, they'll get mad and start avoiding you. Watch out though - you may just be a dick and they don't want to be around you - watch who they also avoid; if they avoid all the decent people, it's them; if it's just you...it's probably you.
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that's all I have right now; I have to work on my small group's flag. I'll finish this later.
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| | Posted 3/30/2009 7:18 PM - 4 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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