Just live

"Blessed is the man, who having nothing to say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact."

(George Eliot)

I will be the first to admit there have been times when my words came too freely, showing just how 'ignorant' I was on a particular topic. It is as though I thought having 'much to say' on a matter made me look like I actually understood it! I will be the first to admit now that I really knew very little in some of those areas where I had offered all of my 'lengthy discourse'! Whether it was the zeal of youth, or the pull of my pride, those days of having to give the longest, or loftiest of answers are not as important to me now. I find the simple truth in the hands of God does way more than the most profound of discourse from my mind and mouth.

The answer’s simple: Live right, speak the truth, despise exploitation, refuse bribes, reject violence, avoid evil amusements. This is how you raise your standard of living! A safe and stable way to live. A nourishing, satisfying way to live. (Isaiah 33 :15-16)

How do we 'raise our standard of living' and thereby decrease our need to give wordy evidence of the fact we really have what this world needs? I used to think the longest blogs would drive a point home, but have come to realize the best ones may actually be some of the shorter ones! Eliot said it well - we don't need 'wow' this world with our 'wisdom of words'. We 'wow' this world with the way we live, not necessarily the way we share our extensive wisdom!

Live right - make right choices, aligned with the Word of God and the principles laid out therein. We don't need to always share why our choice is the best because the evidence will be in how our lives are blessed when the right choices are made consistently. 

Speak the truth - not with volumes of words, but at the right moment, in the right manner, and to open ears. I think is taught in the words of Christ when he referenced not throwing our pearls before swine. Some are not ready to listen - others need only hear the hope we have and their lives are dynamically changed.

Despise exploitation - nothing is worse than someone doing or saying something because of selfish ambition or pursuit. Words often will reveal just how much 'selfish desire' is behind the actions one is proposing to take or has already taken.

Refuse bribes - stop to think for a moment about words as that which persuade or induce someone toward a particular action - we are to refuse the bribes that persuade to take any actions than those of love and right-living according to God's instructions laid out in the Word.

Reject violence - words can leave someone as though they have been 'treated roughly', can they not? Refuse to listen to them, but more importantly, refuse to be the one who is using words in such a manner.

Avoid evil amusements - words will reveal where we find our entertainment or diversions in life. When those 'amusements' are not upright, they pull us downward and others will be pulled with us. 

So, no need to declare how it is we will live - just live the way God asks of you and your life will declare it louder and better than any lengthy discourse you can bring! Just sayin!