"Everything is meaningless," says
the Teacher, "completely meaningless." Keep this in mind: The Teacher
was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened
carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them. The Teacher sought
to find just the right words to express truths clearly. The words of the wise
are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a
nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep. Ecclesiastes
12:8-11
Consider the Teacher’s actions. He
LISTENED. He STUDIED. He CLASSIFIED. He TAUGHT everything He knew. He searched
out the right words to say. Sometimes it is how you say something that makes a difference
in how people perceive what you are intending to communicate. The words have to
mean something to them. If the words are in another language…or the vocabulary
is just too bizarre then no one will understand it. Search out the right expressions
to use when you are speaking to someone—so that they “hear” what you say—specifically
what you intend to say. Wise Words. Are your words like cattle prods? Painful
yet helpful? Painful words are not always easy to understand or accept. Those
words might be helpful in the long-run—helpful when making decisions or
choices. Has anyone helped you by giving you words of wisdom, even if they were
painful? I have been on the receiving end of wise words that were hard to take
and difficult to accept, but I knew that the person who was speaking to me was
guiding me in what was good, right and true. I knew that I needed to change my
ways. That was many years ago, but I still remember the feeling that though the
person thought I was wrong in my actions, she cared about me enough to correct
me. That is how life should be—meaningful with care and love, not empty without
wise words to guide and direct. Are you adding meaning to the lives of those
around you?
Prayer
~ Lord God, I often pray and ask You to help my family and friends to make good
decisions. Help them once again today to make good choices…and to use wise
words as they help others around them. Life doesn’t need to be meaningless. You
make life meaningful.
© 2016 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT)
unless otherwise noted.
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