Today’s Devotion
Topic: Let Your Words Be Few!
Text: Proverbs 10:19 (NKJV)
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise. Amen.
From natural instincts, man has always valued communication. In a world full of sprouting communication technologies, it has become much easier to express how we feel, what we want to do or are presently doing, and what we have just heard that we want others to know about.
This, in many ways, has given us more than enough platform to keep talking and, in most cases, saying things which others do not need to hear about.
Technology also allows us to display to thousands whatever we capture with our cameras within seconds of post. Due to this, people have videos and pictures all over the place; telling the world everything they are and want to be, informing everyone of where they currently are and showing everything they’ve got. They do this, forgetting that man only has complete control over those things that are preserved and concealed with his God. Once he exposes them, it attracts both the good and evil. But evil cannot support or be happy until you’ve lost it all.
Once upon a time as is recorded in 2 Kings 20, there lived a king; Hezekiah, who was sick and was near death. After his fervent prayer for God to spare his life, the Prophet Isaiah who brought the news of his impending death and had barely left the palace, brought word to him again. This time, it was about how God had heard his prayers and was adding fifteen more years to his life span.
At that time Berodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters of consolation and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. In hosting them, Hezekiah showed the delegation from Babylon all the treasures in his house — the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armoury.
In fact, there was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” So Hezekiah said, “They came from a far country, from Babylon.” And he said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord.'” (2 Kings 20: 13- 17)
It is true that when God blesses us, we would love to declare His goodness. However, most times, it is better to keep our words very few on those blessings. By all means, seek counsel because plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed (Proverbs 15:22). However, let the counsel be from godly people.
Begin to pray and ask God for a spirit of discernment and of the wisdom to say only that which has to be said, and to show nothing to impress anyone except the Jesus who lives inside of you.
Although we are covered by the blood of the Lamb, it is important that we by our will remain under the cover of the blood. Therefore, apply godly wisdom in all you do because, often, all that we say or show others is in a way an act to make us feel good about ourselves and to let them know we are also ‘there’ and must be respected. And that could easily translate as pride or boasting; none of which brings glory to God.
Stop pretending that you displayed your blessings for all to see as a testimony of what God has done. Also, stop professing that you displayed your assets to give glory to God. This is because, God knows your heart and knows that giving Him glory from your heart and with life choices that honour Him, is all that’s important. The virtues you exhibit are all others need to see in order to honour your God; not your assets. Be careful not to take glory for yourself; never! For it all belongs to God. HE IS THE KING OF GLORY!
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