But First, Do No Harm

James 1:19-20

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

 I hate Facebook right now.

"This is my opinion!" scream the people, all desperately wanting to be heard.

"You should agree with me!" shout the silent voices.

Oh, the words are all different. Some are even saying, "We can all have different opinions, it's okay!"

And yet they all want you to agree. They want someone to stand beside them.

My dear friends, please be careful.

We are so often quick to voice our opinion.

"It's our 'right'! We have the right to say what we think, right?!?"

But do we?

What has God called us to do?

John 15:9-13

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

Friends, please be careful when you voice your opinion.

You have influence on those around those around you.

People trust you.

I see it as a series of walls. Perhaps God has placed a person (or several people) that you can influence and share Him with. That direct favor is one of the most precious gifts I've ever known. 

An opinion spoken to the crowd builds walls in the middle of the direct path. How sad to cut off something so precious for a single sentence!

I encourage you to step away from the crowd. Find the person God's given you favor with. Use the bricks to build a path to their heart rather than building a wall.

In other words.

Use your opinions to engage, not shout.

Use your words to bring people together, not push them apart.

Use truth to show Christ, not yourself. 

God has given you favor in the lives of those who do not know him.

Do not shatter that trust because you have a right to speak.

Is speaking your mind worth alienating a friend who needs the love of Christ to be shown to them personally?

I'm not saying that it's wrong to speak your mind. By all means, stand up for what is right!

But first, do no harm.