Friday is my day off so I am late to this party. I wrote this early Friday morning in my journal but am just now able to post it. I hope you have a great weekend and all you ladies have a great Women’s Day.
My title is Going off half-cocked or Listening Wisely.
Sunday is called Mother’s Day. I’m not preaching on mothers for several reasons.
#1- I’m a man and can’t presume I know what is best for women.
#2- There are some there who will have empty wombs and I am becoming more and more aware how devastating that is to some.
#3- I am in a series on Romans 8 and want to continue on with that.
Today’s OT reading was from I Samuel 25. Ironically, it is the story of a woman named Abigail.
David is running from Saul. Tired. Hungry. No home. He and his men want to celebrate some feast (and I suspect eat a good meal) so they approach a wicked man named Nabal. They ask him for some sheep in return for helping his shepherds keep his sheep safe. Nabal’s wickedness is evident in what he says and how he responds. So David tells his men, “Every man strap on your sword!” [v.13] But Nabal’s wife, Abigail, gets wind of Nabal’s foolishness and intervenes with tons of food and also a word with David. In her intervention she also spares David from doing something stupid: acting out of anger and taking not just one man’s life, but a lot of innocents as well. The next day as Nabal is recovering from being smashed, Abigail tells him what happened. He has a heart attack or stroke (the Bible just says his heart was like cement), and dies about 10 days later.
A wise woman spared David from doing something he would regret the rest of his life. Responding in anger is never wise. It took a very wise woman to calm down an angry young man and avert disaster all around.
“Father, help me not to lose control and lose sight of what is good and right. Help me to listen to calm and reasonable voices.”
No, responding in anger is never the answer, Bill. When we feel our blood beginning to boil, that’s precisely the moment we need to step back and pray – hard!
Blessings!
You are so right Martha. I know you are heading out to see your mom. Have a great week away. Will miss your comments but certainly know where your heart is. She needs your love and attention.
I have lost my cool a time or two. In a quick moment one can lose their credibility and influence. I can feel when it is coming on and can usually step back and calm down before it escalates. Sometimes I have a wise woman step in as well.
Unfortunately, your scenario is all too common Ryan. So easy to lose our cool and with it our positive influence. You show a lot of wisdom by being able to step back .
Oh man… I can’t count how often I’d respond to things in life with anger and without thinking.
It’s a life long lesson…
Yes it is a life long lesson Floyd. One I wish was all completed (the lesson learning not life).