Proverbs Chapter 12: Verse 23 (NIV-UK)
The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,
but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.
Proverbs Chapter 12: Verse 25 (NIV-UK)
Anxiety weighs down the heart,
but a kind word cheers it up.
Today I was reminded in these two verses that as a Christian there is a time to speak up and a time to stay quiet but that it’s important to do both at the right time, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (An appropriate reminder since today is Pentecost Sunday.)
One of my favourite authors is renowned pastor and speaker, Jack Deere, who I have been privileged to have heard teach on two separate occasions. Some years ago, I can recall being quite shocked at a story I started to read in one of his books. He was recalling a time in a church he had pastored where two of his elders started to live together. They were living as a couple but not married. Jack’s first instinct was to speak to them both and counsel them that this was sin and unacceptable. But as he prayed one day about it, he quite clearly felt God tell him to wait. God Himself was going to deal with it. I can imagine how people in the church would talk, both about the couple, and of Jack’s seeming acceptance of the situation. I could feel myself wondering the same as I continued to read. I don’t recall how much time had passed before a special conference was held in his church, but Jack told of how a visiting speaker had delivered a powerful sermon about people putting their lives right with God. Jack explained that he always made a point of not sitting on the platform at the front when a guest speaker was ministering; He preferred to sit in the congregation, and he was on that occasion. The speaker had asked the congregation to close their eyes and be in an attitude of prayer. He had then given an altar call asking for anyone who wanted to come forward to put things right with God to do so now. Jack, eyes closed, could tell from the footfall that quite a lot of people then had done so. The meeting closed and the visiting speaker continued to minister to those who had gone forward. When Jack opened his eyes, he saw that the couple had both gone forward separately from different sides of the church. All was put right. God had, as He had said, dealt with the matter himself. We were discussing with our youth group this morning about Jesus’ teaching on not judging, and judging correctly, so perhaps its that which brought this story back to my mind.
I don’t know why God dealt with the matter the way that He did. Perhaps the individuals concerned wouldn’t have listened to Jack. Perhaps Jack would have been too harsh, but thanks to Jack’s obedience in holding his tongue, God dealt with the matter with the grace that only He can.
On the other hand, there are times when we need to speak a word of encouragement to someone who is struggling. A kind word at the right time might be the very thing that stops them from throwing in the towel.
Of course, there are times when we need to speak out against something that’s clearly wrong, just as there are times when we need to keep our own counsel. The important thing is to do it just as God leads. It’s God’s anointing in the words, or in the silence, that makes the difference, not us.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit as counsellor, guide and teacher. Help me to be sensitive to His nudging or restraining hand, and obedient to His lead. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.