Be a Truth Talker
That is just blarney!
Our visit several years ago to the Blarney Castle, a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland gave occasion to learn of the origin of the epigram.
The Blarney Stone is among the machicolations of the castle. It is located in a precarious place several stories high requiring anyone desiring to kiss it to lean over backwards in space and kiss the stone above them. Legend has it that if you do it will give you the ability to speak eloquently.
Some say the expression was given the place by Queen Elizabeth I, who – after failing multiple times to steal the stone for herself – labeled the stone’s powers useless and utter “blarney.”
A story told me while visiting there was that a man named Blarney lived in the castle. He was known for making promises and not keeping them. Soon any unfulfilled promises by any person resulted in people saying, “That’s just blarney.” Really it is a synonym for a lie.
The Scripture promises a blessing to the person “…who swears to his own hurt and does not change…” (Psalm 15: 4). Such a person keeps his word even if it works in an unexpected way to his disadvantage.
Scripture notes that we are to engage in “speaking the truth in love….” (Ephesians 4:25). Note two principals in that verse. First, the person who speaks must speak the truth. Secondarily he is to do it in love. Even if it is true whether or not it is spoken is determined if it is spoken in love. If it isn’t, don’t speak it.
Shane Claiborne said, “My goal is to speak the truth in love. There are a lot of people speaking the truth with no love, and there are a lot of people talking about love without much truth.”
A worthy byword is: “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).
This requires thoughtful discipline in determining whether or not to speak. Run a thought through the final filter of love. “Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit” (Proverbs 15:1).
Thomas Jefferson said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” Read that book for the sake of your friends.
For, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight” ( Proverbs 12:22).
The great Indian Chief Joseph who was betrayed by many whites left us this apothegm, “I am tired of talk that comes to nothing. It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. There has been too much talking by men who had no right to talk. It does not require many words to speak the truth.”
Concise communication is a virtue. Say what you want to say using the fewest words possible. You will be appreciated all the more if you do.
Live as you pray, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Ps 19: 14).
Temptation’s Appeal
Some major characteristics of temptation are noted in the account of Jesus being tempted by the devil. Jesus had no need to be tempted other than to demonstrate His identity with us. He was the God/man-man God, but He emptied Himself (Philippians 2: 7) of His God nature regarding using it for Himself. He used it for others only. Therefore, He was in all things tempted like us (Hebrews 2:18 and 4:15). The wilderness temptations demonstrate the versatility of temptation and how to deal with it.
The Holy Spirit cannot tempt us (James 1:13), but He often leads us to places of service wherein a sidebar is temptation. Be assured “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” 1 Corinthians 10:13. Jesus had come from the spiritual high at the Jordan and had fasted 40 days and 40 nights. He was physically drained and spiritually isolated “when the tempter came.”
Jesus would later in His ministry miraculously feed 5,000, but He would not do what he had the power to do, command the stones to turn to bread at the behest of the Devil.
Jesus used Scripture as His response. He answered him from the Word of God by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, to show that man does not live by bread alone. We are to live rather by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Next, the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down.” That was about a 200 foot drop into the Kidron Valley. Satan challenged Him to jump and prove Himself. Again Jesus’ responded by quoting Scripture.
Satan pretended to borrow from God’s word as he perverted it. Jesus knew the devil was using a twisted version of Psalm 91. Jesus refused to engage in the spectacle of jumping from the pinnacle. It would have been an egotistical event. Like Him we should avoid feeding our ego.
Then the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. From the mountain top the Kings Highway along the visible mountains of Jordan could be seen. Along this road traveled caravans representing the kingdoms of the world. The offer was great wealth and human preeminence.
Temptation is strong when the improper means are used to get a good end. It is then we are counseled to not do evil that good may come.
Once more Jesus quoted Scripture. We, too, must use Biblical truth to resist sin. It is no sin to be tempted as long as the temptation is resisted as it was by Jesus. Succinctly it has been said, “You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building their nest in your hair.”
Jesus offered us this wise council: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” We are to trust, not tempt, God.
Think About It
For years the technology company IBM had a byword: “THINK.” A humorous parody of which was “THIMK.”
The art of speaking concisely makes many friends. A loquacious individual, that is one given to speaking a lot, loses many friends.
The skill of saying a lot in a few words, called laconic communication, whether verbal or writing, is a worthy aspiration. Lamentably most garrulous people, persons who drone on, don’t seem to realize they are doing it even though others do. Keep it simple, sweet, and short.
Mark Twain is spuriously credited with having said, “Better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.” It is still true.
The origin of the essence is found in Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”
An acrostic using the letters for think afford an admirable form of communicating.
T, is it true? If it isn’t, don’t say it. “For my mouth will utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips” Proverbs 8:7. An abomination means an object of disgust or hatred.
H, is it helpful? Is it edifying? The word edifying and the word edifice (building) come from the same root. To edify a person is to build them up. Become a master craftsman, a good verbal builder. “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” Ephesians 4:29.
I, is it inspiring? “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” Proverbs 16:24.
N, is it necessary? This is a challenge for some. The term “chasing rabbits” graphically describes some conversationalists as well as public speakers. A running rabbit dodges on and off a trail. Some persons get off the subject chasing side issues rather than being succinct, stay on track. Discipline yourself to use the fewest words to tell your story. “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil” Matthew 5:37.
K, is it kind? “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” Colossians 4:6.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” Prov. 15:1. Respect others, listen and think before speaking. It shows respect for them. Choose your words discreetly, they create either a barrier or a bridge. Give thought to what you say, is it true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, or kind… and brief?
Peace Y’all!
“Peace,” do you have it or do you feel like the man who had a sign on his desk that read: “I’ve got so many troubles that if anything else happens to me, it will be two weeks before I can even worry about it.”
The New Testament speaks of two kinds of peace—the objective peace that has to do with your relationship to God, and the subjective peace that has to do with your experience in life.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (John 14:27).
His peace is not like the peace of the world. The world’s peace is worthless. Since 36 B.C. there have been nearly 15,000 wars. Before World War II the world had an average of 2.61 new wars every year. But since World War II despite all of mankind’s “enlightenment,” and organized efforts for world peace, there have been an average of three new wars every year. The New York Times once observed that “peace is a fable.”
The peace Jesus is speaking of enables believers to remain calm in the most wildly fearful circumstances. It enables them to hush a cry, still a riot, rejoice in pain and trial, and sing in the middle of suffering. This peace is never by circumstances, but instead affects and even overrules them.
It is a supernatural, permanent, positive, no-side-effects, divine tranquilizer.
The peace Jesus spoke of is further defined as “… the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
The word for “guard” does not mean to “keep imprisoned.” It is a military word, meaning “to stand at a post and guard against the aggression of an enemy.” When peace stands guard, believers have a citadel from which nothing or nobody can dislodge him. Jesus is that sentinel.
Most worry and stress comes from either the past or the future. The defense against them is that the provision Jesus offers covers both. He is committed to caring for our future needs and forgiving our past misdeeds. Therefore, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15). The word translated “rule” is the Greek word ‘brabeuo,” which means “to act as umpire.” The appeal is to so depend on the peace of Jesus that it becomes an umpire in the decisions you have to make in life, ruling them safe or ruling them out; to do or not to do.
Shalom is the Hebrew word for peace. It is a greeting often heard in Israel whether greeting a person or bidding one a farewell. Practically it means “I hope you have the very best coming your way.” The peace Jesus provides is the very best. With confidence in Him and reliance on Him you can have that peace. Rejoice and enjoy it. Shalom.
Know the Time
“A time to keep silence, And a time to speak…” (Ecclesiastes 3:7).
This verse is an extraction from a poem related to the appointed times of life. It is a faith statement inspiring confidence in God. Contrasts are used to indicate there is a time and place for the variables of life. We are to respect the fact there are contrasts in life, in simple summary, there are highs as well as lows in life.
This Bible passage is one of the most referenced in the Bible among Christians as well as non-Christians. It is distilled wisdom, wisdom in bite size phrases.
This part of the poem contrasts silence and speech. Each has a time and place. To confuse them is to disrespect both. Mark Twain frames it this way:
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
In conversation if you allow the other person to do most of the speaking they will leave the conversation feeling you are a wonderful conversationalist. If you dominate the conversation they might well feel you are boring. Don’t speak because you have to say something. Speak because you have something to say.
When you can improve on silence… speak.
Many speakers must have been absent in speech class when a “dramatic pause” was discussed. A brief pause clearly dramatizes the thoughts it separates. So, in personal conversation it ties thoughts together. A brief pause is indeed a valuable time of silence.
Conversation is like a tennis match, your opponent hits the ball to you and you return it to your opponent. A conversationalist is not an opponent, but the analogy is simple. Even if you don’t know as much about the topic as the other person you can keep the conversation going by asking simple analytical questions. Avoid questions needing a simple yes or no.
The most important conversation is called prayer. It is simply mentally if not vocally talking to God. He does not answer orally, but He does lead a praying person. He invites us, “Be still and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46: 10). This verse invites us into the presence of God, reminding us of His love and peace.
The Hebrew word for “know” is “yada” signifying deep, relational knowledge. It’s the same word used to describe intimate relationships. It reveals how vital God considers our relationship with Him.
Knowing the setting of a Scripture often helps us to understand its relevance.
This verse was written by Moses when the Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea. In this moment of crisis, Moses reassured them that God would guide them. We, like they, need to stop struggling, rely on and respond to the Lord. When we do our conversation of prayer will come full circle.
It is then our fear is overcome by faith, our panic is replaced by His peace.