森林,火花和智慧的言语
雅各是个实干家,他的文字充满了描述性的、很有帮助的画面。在这段关于有智慧言语的经文中,他谈到了训马、驾船、引发森林大火、驯服动物、检测泉眼的水、比较果树等。这里的各种图画,帮助我们从多个角度探讨智慧言语的重要性。
也许你已经注意到,在对话中或社交媒体上,哪怕是一句简单的失语或误解,也会带来痛苦而直接的反弹,破坏信任,瓦解关系。这就像一场巨大的森林大火,被一个小小的但时机不对的火花点燃了。有时,为了避开麻烦,可能觉得什么都不说会更安全,但雅各书中的信息是,我们纯净的言语是创造基督般的社区所需要的。
林业专家有时会说,森林大火可能是必要的——把种子荚果掰开,用灰烬的养份喂养土壤。重大、艰难的对话有时也是必要的,但我们还是要有智慧。我们的言论不应该是为了建立自己是聪明的批评家的名声,也不应该是为了偏袒和分裂。要知道什么是真正需要说的,唯一的方法就是通过圣灵和话语扎根和连接于基督。
主啊,有时很难知道该说什么。世界上有那么多的争议和痛苦,我们不想因为说错话而使事情变得更糟。帮助我们知道如何和何时说话,使我们的话语能够带来平安和医治。阿们。
雅各书 3
1我的弟兄们,不要多人做师傅,因为晓得我们要受更重的判断。
2原来我们在许多事上都有过失。若有人在话语上没有过失,他就是完全人,也能勒住自己的全身。
3我们若把嚼环放在马嘴里,叫它顺服,就能调动他的全身。
4看哪,船只虽然甚大,又被大风催逼,只用小小的舵就随着掌舵的意思转动。
5这样,舌头在百体里也是最小的,却能说大话。看哪,最小的火能点着最大的树林!
6舌头就是火,在我们百体中舌头是个罪恶的世界,能污秽全身,也能把生命的轮子点起来,并且是从地狱里点着的。
7各类的走兽、飞禽、昆虫、水族本来都可以制伏,也已经被人制伏了;
8唯独舌头,没有人能制伏,是不止息的恶物,满了害死人的毒气。
9我们用舌头颂赞那为主、为父的,又用舌头咒诅那照着神形象被造的人。
10颂赞和咒诅从一个口里出来,我的弟兄们,这是不应当的!
11泉源从一个眼里能发出甜苦两样的水吗?
12我的弟兄们,无花果树能生橄榄吗?葡萄树能结无花果吗?咸水里也不能发出甜水来。
13你们中间谁是有智慧、有见识的呢?他就当在智慧的温柔上显出他的善行来。
14你们心里若怀着苦毒的嫉妒和纷争,就不可自夸,也不可说谎话抵挡真道。
15这样的智慧不是从上头来的,乃是属地的,属情欲的,属鬼魔的。
16在何处有嫉妒、纷争,就在何处有扰乱和各样的坏事。
17唯独从上头来的智慧,先是清洁,后是和平、温良、柔顺、满有怜悯、多结善果、没有偏见、没有假冒;
18并且使人和平的,是用和平所栽种的义果。
Forests, Sparks, And Wise Speech
"Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." - James 3:5
James is a practical person whose writing is full of descriptive, helpful images. In this passage about wise speech, he talks about training horses, steering ships, sparking forest fires, taming animals, testing springs of water, and comparing fruit trees. The variety of images here helps us to explore the importance of wise speech from several angles.
Perhaps you have noticed how even a simple phrase that's out of order or misunderstood in a conversation or on social media can bring a painful and immediate backlash that breaks trust and disrupts relationships. It's like a great forest fire that's ignited by a small but poorly timed spark. Sometimes it may feel safer to say nothing at all in order to steer clear of trouble, but the message in James is that our pure speech is needed to create Christlike community.
Forestry experts will sometimes say that a forest fire can be necessary—to break seed pods open and to feed soil with the nutrients of ashes. Big, difficult conversations can also be necessary at times, but we still need to be wise. Our speech shouldn't be about building up our own reputation as clever critics or about taking sides and being divisive. The only way to know what really needs to be said is to remain rooted and connected to Christ through the Spirit and the Word.
Lord, it can be hard to know what to say sometimes. There's so much controversy and pain in the world, and we don't want to make things worse by saying the wrong thing. Help us to know how and when to speak so that our words can bring peace and healing. Amen.
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