Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: (22) For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
Solomon makes an interesting point in this portion of Scripture that I have summarized this way: What Goes Around Comes Around. Solomon is warning the reader to not spend all your time trying to find out everything everyone is saying about you and not to get too worked up over the negative things you hear. Why is that - because you yourself have said negative statements about others.
I believe this is helpful advice for all born-again believers, but especially preachers. There comes a time when we must stand up for the truth and name names and set the truth in order, but that is not what I am talking about today.
I wonder how many preachers reading this get so worked up when someone in the congregation makes a negative statement about them, yet they see no problem spending the week publicly and privately criticizing other good, fundamentally sound preachers? We teach our people of the "dangers of dishing dirt," yet how many blogs, discussion boards, etc. are filled with those same preachers typing negative comments of others.
When we ourselves are always negative about others, we cannot be shocked when others are negative about us. What goes around comes around.
When we ourselves are always negative about others, we cannot be shocked when others are negative about us. What goes around comes around.
This is good brother. We should all be careful not to devour one another.
ReplyDelete"What goes around comes around" is why we should cast only positive and constructive word to others.
ReplyDeleteWell stated. This is not confined to preachers -- negative and argumentative discussions abound when we should be thinking -- and speaking -- as Paul wrote:
ReplyDeleteFinally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
(Philippians 4:8 KJV)