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

 But while avoiding hypocrisy in word and with the tongue we should try to avoid needlessly hurting and offending others in word and with the tonue by our very frankness.   For example, a congregation invites an outside speaker to give a public talk. When he arrives to keep his appointmet, the congregation servant or chairman learns he has his talk written out and will read it.  In the face of this the servant or chairman could say:  "A written talk! Why, the public here do not wanty to hear a talk read.  They want to hear a talk given  ext emporaneously." Or, he could say: "I am confident  you spent much time in composimg that talk and it will be  a good one.  We look to you to give it your best reading and to make the manuscript just live to us by the fine expression you put into it." 

Under the circumstances the first comment would tend to discourage the public reader before ever he started reading it, taking out the fire and enthusiasm tha the had been feeling at the very thought of reading his carefully prepared paper.  It would thus result in his reading it in a timid, apologetic, inferior uninspired way.  The second comment would show that the preparation the brother had made in composing the paper and fitting himself to deliver it was appreciated and this would encourage him to  his very best presentation so the the audience would hardly think it was reading and would get the fullest benefit out of it and enjoy it hugely. After the reading was all over, the servant or chairman could express his own genuine appreciation and offer the suggestion: "Brother we should also like to hearyou give a public talk extemporaneously  some time.  It takes a bit more courage to do it,but by getting  filled to overflowing with your material and getting very familiar with it we know you can do it.  We shall be glad to have you try it on us."  The second type of comment is therefore the practical, considerate one.

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