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NASB | Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 15:1 A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath, But harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger. [Prov 25:15] |
Subject: Bible lesson for nosy neighbor |
Bible Note: Hi The point behind the story is that if we put up signs declaring that we belong to Christ, if we fail then to live up to them we bring Him into open disrepute. For example should you put in your window, 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself' you are setting a standard for yourself which you may well be unable to maintain. You are declaring 'this is how I live, and by this I wish to be judged'. I certainly believe that we should all be living in that way. But I would hesitate to display myself continually under such a banner because I am too much aware how often I fall short. By making it the measure by which people judge me I would constantly be bringing myself under its judgment in the eyes of all. And I would at the same time by any failure be bringing Christ into disrepute. From the moment I put up the notice much better things would be expected of me. Your neighbour will indeed then be in the unusually strong position of being able to point out that you are not loving him/her as you love yourself, and are therefore a hypocrite. The likelihood that he will think that it is he who is at fault is minimal. That could then remove any shame that he/she feels about his/her own actions. Indeed he/she might become even more extreme on the grounds that you have declared that you will put up with anything. Of course if you are sure that you can totally live up to that standard then by all means do so. But from that moment on all your neighbours will rightly expect you to be an exemplary neighbour, more than the norm. Thinking back to the illustration I have never known a car driver who drove in such a way that they never caused offence to anyone. I have often driven behind a car driver who had 'Trust in the Lord' in his window, and have realised that with his driving I will certainly need to. Best wishes. |