Thought for the day
The wife was busy frying eggs, when her husband came home. He walked into the kitchen and immediately started yelling.
"CAREFUL!!! CAREFUL! MORE OIL! TURN THEM! TURN THEM NOW! WE NEED MORE OIL! THEY ARE GOING TO STICK! CAREFUL! CAREFUL! TURN THEM! TURN THEM!!! HURRY UP! ARE YOU CRAZY! THE OIL IS GOING TO SPILL! USE MORE SALT! THE SALT!!"
The wife was very upset, "What is wrong with you? Why are you yelling like this? Do you think I don't know how to fry an egg?"
The husband calmly replied, "I just wanted you to know what it's like for me when I am driving the car and you're sitting next to me."
Without making specific judgments about wives giving advice to their husbands while driving (or about husbands giving advice to their wives while cooking!), let me simply say that we all need to be conscious of how we give advice to others. The author of the book of Proverbs has much to say on the subject. In fact, the words “tongue”, “mouth”, “lips” and “words” are mentioned in Proverbs almost 150 times!
Consider these words of advice about giving advice:
Know all the facts before you give advice – “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.” (Prov. 18:13)
Give advice in a calm manner – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Prov. 15:1)
Be careful about giving unsolicited advice – “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” (Prov. 10:19)
But when advice is needed, be prepared to give godly advice – “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.” (Prov. 15:28)
Above all, give advice out of a sincere love for your friend – “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Prov. 27:5-6)
When you give advice, may it be "a word fitly spoken" (Prov. 25:11) because "a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" (Prov. 15:23)
Verses
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Matthew 9:35
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Proverbs 28:25
He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.
Prayer
Father, we thank You for workers in Your vineyard who helped to build a firm Biblical foundation in our lives over the years. They obeyed Your leading; they prayed, prepared, and delivered Your divine truths in an age appropriate instructional manner so that we could grow in the ways of the Lord from our youth into our adult years. Thank You especially for their loving devotion and faithful service. There is a difference in those who are motivated solely by duty rather than conviction and devotion. May our sense of duty be a direct result of our devotion to Your great cause; the salvation of souls, love toward the body of Christ, and discipleship through instruction of Your Holy Word and by our godly example. May we be counted among the faithful, in our relationship to You and in our relationship to others. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
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