Empty or Empathy?

Empty or Empathy?

How do you handle it when someone approaches you with a problem? Is your response EMPTY of EMPATHY?

James 1:19 says, ““So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;” well this speaks about conversations that may be confrontational, it does advise us to listen first before we speak.

We need to respond in words hat honor God: that speak HIS heart, not OUR wisdom.  So measure your words.

Remember this scripture and all that followed?

“Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’ ” [Job‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬‬ ‭NKJV]‬‬

Don’t be like Job’s “friends” who advised them with their worldly wisdom.

“And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ‘My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. ’” [Job‬ ‭42‬:‭7‬‬ ‭NKJV‬‬]

The letter of James cautions against worldly wisdom, saying, “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”  [‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬]

Wow….imagine that!

Instead, learn to hear from God as you hear the person out. Listen to His voice. Seek His wisdom. Then, as you hear God’s voice, BE God’s voice in response. (Credit to my mentor Dr. Ray Self from the title of his book) 

“The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” ‭‭[James‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬]

Sow PEACE in your response. Perhaps offer to pray together to seek God’s answer to their dilemma. Turn the problem over to the Comforter who is the Holy Spirit, and see what happens!

[Scripture Credit: https://bible.com]