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Sometimes I feel like I have the spiritual gift of sarcasm! OK not really, but when hear me say that some of you were already formulating your own sarcastic reply, so you know what I mean. If given the option of giving a straight answer or a sarcastic one, too often many of us choose the biting remark.
When it comes to church work it might be veiled even more. Maybe the worship director has just complained about his voice not coming through loud enough. Although you might not vocalize it you're thinking, “Well I'm just doing you a favor but turning your voice down!”
Later when we are talking to some of the members of the church and someone is saying how amazing this worship leader is, and you feel like saying, “He wouldn't sound so good if it wasn't for me running the board!”
Sometimes you may even feel justified in making a fiery remark because the other person was being rude to you. They deserved it! They tried to blame you for something that you didn't do and you aren't going to take that from anyone!
Have you ever felt things like that? Have you ever lets words fly out of your mouth without really examining if they are wholesome and uplifting? Or have you ever commented on someone's Facebook post in a way that really proved your point but it certainly wasn't graceful?
We all struggle with the words that we speak. In fact, James the brother of Jesus compared the tongue to a small spark that has the ability to ignite an entire forest fire. Are the words that you speak starting forest fires or are they helping to put them out?
This really all begins with the concept of “turning the other cheek.”
But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. - Matthew 5:39
This verse does not just apply to a physical slap across the face. Even though we are so familiar with this verse, I am guessing that most of us would still struggle with even the literal interpretation of turning the other cheek after a physical slap. However, if this verse simply applied to facial slaps we could probably get off pretty easily because most of us do not get slapped on a daily basis.
This verse also applies to the words and attitudes that are directed toward us on a daily basis. If someone says a cutting remark to you are you quick to slap back an equally sharp remark to them? How often do you truly turn your cheek and keep that comment to yourself?
Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. - Ephesians 4:29
What God is leading us to do is not to slap back with more destructive words but to only say things that are good and helpful. Some of us often joke that if we couldn't say sarcastic comments we wouldn't say anything at all. I guess that goes along with the old adage “If you can't say something good don't say anything at all.”
Ephesians takes this a step further though. It is not saying to merely keep quiet, but to say works that are uplifting and encouraging to those that hear them. Imagine responding to the worship director asking for more level in a way that assures him that you will do everything in your power to make sure that he sounds as best as possible. He might fall over on the floor!
I challenge you to speak words that are good and helpful this week. Don't use foul or abusive language that only cuts down and destroys. And when someone sends a stinging remark your way and you come up with the “perfect” comeback...well, just turn the other cheek.
