Today’s fortune cookie is very timely: “He who throws mud loses ground.” I have seen and heard a lot of ground being tossed around lately. Look at the news or on social media. People have surely forgotten the phrase often shared by parents or grandparents – if you have nothing nice to say, do not say anything at all.
Titus mentions the importance of trying “to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (3:2 ESV). We all are God’s creation and we are all valuable in His eyes. He designed each one of us with special gifts, each one of us for a purpose. God loves everyone. God’s desire is that we honor each other—that we value each other. This means you recognize that each person is important, each person matters. Even further from this, we are to love each person – every single person.
Unfortunately, it often seems as if we throw mud instead of extending a hand and two ears. Instead of forming relationships with people that we may not agree with on some or many areas, we point out their flaws, attack them at every turn, and choke ourselves. Yes, we choke ourselves. Proverbs 1:31 speaks of eating a bitter fruit because of living our own way, and even choking on our own schemes. Remember, we always harvest what we plant (see Galatians 6:7). If you are spreading seeds that include name calling, half-truths, verbal tongue lashings, etc., you will enjoy a not-so-uplifting harvest. The question to ask today is: What am I planting? The next question to ask: Is what I’m planting today going to give me the harvest I desire?
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” – Ephesians 4:29 [NLT]
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” – Romans 12:2 [NIV]
Tania Gutekunst 