True Love Is Practical - "NEITHER IN WORD NOR WITH THE TONGUE"

 In another case one of the servants of a congregation might talk at a serious meeting, Thursday or Friday of the week.  He gets into field service arrangements for the coming week. He proposes a certain type of field service for a certain open evening.  "Now, how many in the congregation will take  part in this activity that night?  Kindly raise the hand." Up go four hands among an audience of over fifty.  Thinking to shame the majority of them into a larger participation in the activity, the servang might  say:  "So only four  are supporting the organization, are they?  Such a  comment would be injudicious.  it would be certain to stir up resentment because of its inconsiderateness.  Support of the organization in its activity is not gauged by special activity suddenly brought before the congregation  that night. What will the others  besides the handraisers be doing the rest of the week in the way of regular field activities.  That must be kept in mind. So the wiser comment would be:  "Well, now. we are glad that four can volunteer right off.  If there are any others  who find later on that the  can arrange to join the four in this activity this particular night. I shall be very glad to hear from them. And let the rest of us keep on faithfully  at our regular activities this coming week." This commebt would avoid our stumbling in word and would cut and hurt no listeners but would encourage all.

There are proper ways of shaming people with a view to their taking the right course.(2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15; Titus 2:8; 1 Peter 3:16) But never be caustic.  Consider, too, the years of the individual in the truth or in physical age.  "Do not severely criticize an older man.  To the contrary, entreat him as a father, younger  men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters with all chasteness." (1 Timolthy 5:1, 2, NW) You may think an individual who is older in years or in the truth is slackening or not up to standard.  Do not twit him by comparing hi to his face with an odious thing or an odious class, thinking you are correcting him or reminding him to his face of his shortcomings.  By such remarks you may do injustice and are likely to cause deep hurt painful offendedness.  Youthful bustle does not always mean tha tmuch is being accomplished, nor does an aged, slowed -up pace mean that little is being accomplished where there  is a patient, steadfast plodding along wiht regularity.  So do not be severe in criticism or comparison.  If comment you feel you must make, try tact.  Note how tactfully Paul handled Peter (older in the truth) for his condut that did not harmonize  with his enlightened faith but bordered upon hypocrisy  through fear of the circumcized Jews.

Next time: True Love Is Practical  -"NEITHER IN WORD NOR WITH THE TONGUE"

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