Proverbs 12:14
We are rewarded or punished for what we say and do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I read an article recently about a young man in our area who died of a drug overdose, and now his mother wants the friends who were with him to be held accountable – perhaps even legally – for his death. I have to believe that this young man’s friends are suffering greatly already. To think that something you said or did might have led to the death of a friend would be incredibly horrific.
I’ve heard more than one person say, “Oh, I wish I had said such-and-such,” or “I wish I had done this or that, and now it’s too late.” And we all deeply regret certain things we have said and done. So what are we to do? How does God want us to manage such things?
In The Message, this scripture passage says, “Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward.” It seems to me that God wants us to strive to choose well-spoken words and well-done work. We know that we will fail in these areas from time to time, and that’s where the blood of Jesus comes into play – covering us when we make mistakes, admit them, and ask for forgiveness and redemption.
But we can all work harder at choosing our words and deeds wisely. We can all look for more opportunities to encourage, bless, support and serve. We can ask God to show us how to handle difficult situations – and how and when to step in and offer a hand or an opinion to someone else. There have been times when I so wanted to stay at home and ignore what was happening – to skip a funeral or visiting someone who was sick or in need. There have been times when I wanted to tell someone just how I felt – or to “set them straight” on a few things. And there have been times when I plunged ahead and realized later, “I should have talked to God about that first!”
Don’t let this be said of you. Talk to God … ask Him to guide your steps and your words. In challenging situations, always consult Him before proceeding … especially when you feel God is telling you to say or do something difficult or outside of your comfort zone. If you feel He is in the lead, it’s the right choice. To follow Him will lead to rewards you can’t even imagine, and to choose to go it alone will most certainly bring consequences. Ask God to lead you in the direction of well-chosen words and deeds. And thank Him for His grace and mercy when you momentarily lose your way.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
©2010 Debbie Robus
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