Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
We’ve all lived long enough to have seen one, and if you haven’t, keep on living, you will see one before life is over. “See what?” you might ask. The president of the One-Up Club. He/she is the person in the room that no matter what the conversation in the room may be, heated or not, they have the “I see you and raise you one” answer. They cannot help themselves. No matter the risk or the gamble, they just have to do it. They open their mouth and say a hateful, horrible, detestable, distasteful remark thinking they have just elevated themselves to the top of the pile. The truth is they just lowered themselves to a degradable pit of disgusting “waller” that even swine try to avoid.
The wise man passes down some advice to those that are following him, “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” OK, you did not get to put them in their place and make them feel lower than an ant’s belly. No, but let me tell you what you did do. You just became a blessed person. Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
What do you want to be known as? The president of the One-Up Club, or would you rather be called a child of God because you are seeking peace? There will always be one in the room inviting you to join in with them, lowering yourself to a level of unparalleled disgust.
Kindness never goes unnoticed. Meekness is not weakness. It is power under control, and peace is not being passive. All of these attributes are simply signs of growing and maturing in grace.
Our prayer for you this week: May you come to realize that the softest of answers usually are the answers that change the world.
