People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes.
How often, in talking with people, do we feel.... we are right; our idea, our position, our interpretation is correct, and we're ready to fight for it. Forget the fact that we may not be correct, or that there might be something we're completely ignorant of. The truth is, that sometimes we know better, and sometimes we don't. But the scripture teaches us, and I've learned from experience (most of the time), that arguing, forcefulness, and violence in my own voice are almost guaranteed to start a futile and ugly war of words. People are naturally defensive, and often, naturally offensive.
But we can be the ones to break the pattern…with a gentle answer. If our heart attitude is “Come, let us reason together, hear each other out, respect each other, speak softly, and trust the Lord for the outcome", and our tone of voice carries that spirit, we can actually help the other person to calm down and prevent a war. The fruit of the spirit is…..self control. What a blessing!
The Truth
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)
