Drawing Lines in the Sand

In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.

Thomas Carlyle 1795-1881, Scottish Philosopher, Author

Eccl 7:8-9
The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools. NASU

It is the hardest thing in the world to remain emotionally detached from a controversy, but in fact that is the best way to handle one. A wise saying that has helped me many times in controversies is to weigh the end. If I win this argument what have I won? Many times we can win arguments, but lose friends that we dearly love and care for, and live with regret over hasty words or decisions.

Paul tells us this in James 1:19-20, “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” Paul is pleading that in the church, in the body of Christ, we are all to be great listeners. We are to ensure that we take the “we” out of our hearing and hear with the mind and heart of Christ, the heart of the church.

Now if your beginning was bad, Solomon says the end of the matter can be better, and it can be, if we let Christ deal with everything in between and keep the mind of Christ, and be wary of our own. I remind myself daily of an important fact, and that is this, His mind, and His thoughts, are so much higher than my own, let’s all who are called by His name, “Christians,” strive towards being “good listeners,” we will hear our Father, and each other…God Bless.
Pastor William