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NASB | Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Proverbs 3:5 Trust in and rely confidently on the LORD with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. |
Bible Question (short): Doesn't it say that? |
Question (full): Jesus was known for the kindness of his words. “All bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth (Luke 4:22). He said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29) . Listen to some of our brethren talk and we seem to be characterized by pride and arrogance and impatience. Someone asks a question and the grammar is not quite there and we snap at them. Jesus would have us go the second mile, I think, and help them out, and be kind to them when we answer. This is not a matter of machismo. Paul says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). Let us hope that those who know the Bible well enough to answer questions will also demonstrate that they are willing to obey the Bible by answering with grace. It is evident, Makarios, that your Bible knowledge is at a high level. I would hope that you could ask a question, even when you know the answer, in order to benefit those who might not know. But if you have to fear a sharp or condescending answer, I can understand why you would not take that route. It may also be the reason that people from the cults and others with shaky doctrine choose not to ask questions, don’t you think? They may come on with accusations or with bluster in order to protect themselves from the expected response. I still don’t know why we ask people, “Are you a Jehovah’s Witness?” What if they are? We can still speak to them with kindness, I think, and maybe win them over with the word. I am still thinking of turning all of this into a question, but for now I think I’d rather say, a little dose of humility might do us all some good. Jesus was meek and we can imitate him in that. Somehow a rough manner, for me, seems ill-fitting on a Christian. I am tempted to say, “Ye have not so learned Christ”. In any case we would not want to discourage a person who comes here with a question (Would we?) especially when we can sense that the person is unsaved or newly saved. I am not sure we should accustom ourselves to rough answers. The servant of the Lord must be gentle to all men. Doesn’t it say that? |