“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Have you ever had one of those conversations with someone and
thought, “Well, that was not very helpful.” A simple hello turns into an hour
rant about how they wished things were different, the way they used to be. No
answers to the twelve-hundred problems they raised, just empty grumblings.
In my years of ministry there is nothing more disheartening
than one of these rants. “How come that young man wore a hat in church?” “That
mother allowed that baby to cry the entire service.” “When I was growing up
people had respect.” “This generation is just a bunch of snowflakes who care
about nothing but themselves.”
Although some of the complaints might be true, there is
nothing helpful there.
It is easy to complain about how people are acting around
you. There are many days all you can do is just shake your head at how people
are acting in the world. The issue is that ranting and screaming will never
actually change anything and it will not get your thoughts heard.
Most complaints, at least in a church setting, seem to come
from the older folks in the congregation. The question that needs to be asked
about these complaints is what are you personally doing to give direction? What
are you doing to disciple the next generations?
The Church needs our older saints and we must always make
sure that they are valued in the life of the body. Job 12:12 says, “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in
length of days.” All generations of a church should lean into what the older
saints have to share. We desperately need it.
Although, no one should expect to be listened to if what is
said is harsh for harsh sake.
Let us all seek to speak the truth in love. Wisdom is hard
to come by these days, even harder to come by without a grumbling heart behind
it.
Application and Things to Think About
1. Before
bringing a concern or issue to someone, ask yourself what your motivation is.
2. Do
people hear you complain more than they hear you encourage?
3. Pray
that God would give you a heart of compassion. That this world won’t make you
stale and bitter, but that your hope in Jesus makes you joyful and merciful.
