The Bible Edge
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Luke 6:26
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
No one can make everyone happy all the time. Close friends, family members, co-workers and society in general will sometime or another speak not so well of you. It is a fact of life. Two people will not always agree on everything. If a person is unwavering in that which they believe, others who do not believe that way will make it known. Perhaps not directly to the one with which they disagree, but to others. They will say stuff like: “I like that person, but…” After that little three letter conjunction they will state their complaint.
Jesus even warned about this. Saying that if all speak well of you there is a woe upon you. Now, the word woe…that’s not a good word. Who wants woe? No-one, right? Given the choice between having woe in life or having a life absent of woe, which one is preferred? Absence of woe, right? However, Jesus tells us that if your life is absent of those who speak not well of you, you are no better than a false prophet. Wow!
What is this all about? Sometimes a person must speak that which another does not wish to hear. Jesus did. He was the most gracious of individuals, yet when He spoke the truth, some hated Him, and ultimately put Him to death for His words. For example in John 8:58 Jesus stated clearly: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. This was true. Jesus is saying that the I Am that spoke to Moses from the burning bush, preexisted Abraham, and that He, Jesus Christ, is that Great I Am. Those who heard him say this took up stones to stone him. Paul also faced similar circumstances. In one place he wrote to the church members in Galatia: Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? (Galatians 4:16) Sometimes speaking forth the truth of a matter creates enemies. But speak the truth we must. In love, yes, but speak the truth. In compassion, yes, but speak forth the truth. In tears, yes. With a troubled spirit, yes. With fear and trembling, yes.
Speaking forth truth about anything always causes opposition on behalf of those who do not hold to the truth being communicated. Such opposition is oftentimes manifested by not speaking well of another.
The Lord likened those of whom none speak evil about as false prophets in the Old Testament. So, if you dare to proclaim Bible truth and live in light of it, do not be taken by surprise. Others who do not see things through the lens of simple Bible belief will speak evil of you. In this rejoice! After all, Jesus also said: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matthew 5:11-13
Blessing or woe is within the power of the tongue to obtain or lose.
William Howe, Ph.D.
TheBibleEdge.org