257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105
(262) 763-3021
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We have purchased land on Highways A & W and are planning to build soon! Drive by and take a look at our future home!
“Wise sayings often fall on barren ground, but a kind word is never thrown away.” Arthur Helps
October 18 th, 2009
When Joe arrived at the Pearly Gates there was hardly any line and he didn’t have to wait more than a minute before his interview. Naturally, he was a little nervous about getting through the gates and into the heavenly city. Very quickly he found himself standing before an impressive angelic being with a clipboard, who started getting his entry data down. After name, address, and a few other particulars, the Angel said, “Joe, it would help the process if you could share with me some experience from your life on earth when you did a purely unselfish, kindly deed.”
Well, Joe thought about it for a minute and then said, “Oh, yes. I think I have something you might be interested in. One day I was walking along and I came upon a little old lady who was being mercilessly beaten up by a huge motor cycle gang type of fellow. He was smacking her back and forth. Well, I just stepped right up and first I pushed over his motorcycle – just to distract his attention. Then, I kicked him real hard in the shins and told the old lady to run for help. Finally, I hauled off and gave the guy a great shot right to the gut with my fist.”
The Angel looked at Joe with a great deal of interest and said, “Wow, that’s quite a story. I’m very impressed.” Then taking his clipboard in hand he said, “Could you tell me just when this happened?”
Joe looked at his watch and said, “Oh, about three minutes ago.”
Sticking up for others does not always require such self-sacrificial action. But it does take some sacrifice and risk to stand up for someone else. When a co-worker is being gossiped about, you risk having the tables turned and the backbiter starting in on you, if you take a stand. And we often simply risk the punishment of not “fitting in” by saying something when another person is being condemned.
I’m glad Joe was willing to take the side of that elderly woman, even at great personal risk. I am sure many of you would have been willing to stick up for her as well. But what about the times when another is being jabbed from behind, verbally assaulted by a venomous tongue. There really is not near as much at risk. But would you still be so brave?
What if the person trash talking someone is a friend of yours? Are you willing to hold a friend accountable, when they are sinning by gossiping or bad mouthing someone else? Would you encourage them to stop...and if they have a problem, to go to that person?
This past week I sadly saw the firsthand effect on someone who was brutalized by the words of another. I wish I could say that seeing that is rare...for any of us, but it’s not. Sadly, even in the family of God, even among believers, hearing another believer being gossiped about or even ridiculed behind their back is all too common. I wish that I could say that I never participated in this sinful behavior, but far more than I want to admit, I find myself talking far more than I should.
All of us should know better. We all know firsthand how hurtful it is to learn of things being said behind our back, whether they are true or not. So why would we do that to someone else? Why is it so much easier to criticize someone than it is encourage them?
If we saw someone physically hurting an innocent person, we would either step in and intervene or we would call the police. As a family of believers, you and I need to be our own police department. We need to seek to protect the hearts and reputation of those who may be being talked about when they are not present. We need to also hold those who do that accountable. And we who have so much and are so blessed by God, need to first work at being a thankful people for our innumerable blessings. As the practice of praise becomes a normal part of our lives, it will be so much easier then to encourage and edify others with our words. May we write Paul’s words on our hearts, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29).
