This week we learned about what King Solomon says when we have another option when it comes to conflict with those closest to us. And while his words don’t guarantee we’ll never see rapids in our friendships, they do help us steer around them and find our way to calmer waters.
Scripture: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1 NIV
For the Win – Week 1
Have you ever heard the phrase, “For the Win?” A Game Show host will say it before the contestant answers the winning answer; A Sports Announcer will say it after an exciting finish; sometimes we will say it when we play a game of pick-up basketball in the driveway.
But it’s not just about winning a game, we all want to win at life, too. But how can we set ourselves up for the win in the everyday areas of our lives? And what does the Bible have to say about that?
Take friendships for example. It’s inevitable that, in our interactions with others, we will find ourselves in a disagreement of some sort. And if we were to be honest with ourselves, sometimes our responses are sarcastic, harsh, embarrassing, or just plain mean. Unfortunately, those responses only end up making the situation worse. But is there an alternative? King Solomon, known to be the wisest man to ever live, says in Proverbs, A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1).
When we find ourselves in a disagreement with someone, and we want to respond harshly, Solomon reminds us that our harshness will only make things worse. Gentleness is greater than harshness. So the next time you find yourself in an argument with someone, choose to be gentle and kind, and just see if that doesn’t help diffuse the situation.
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