Daily Jewel

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

“Positive Re-Enforcement”
“…fools openly spread slander....” – Proverbs 10:18b (MSG)

“He who hunts for flowers will find flowers; and he who loves weeds will find weeds.” – Henry Ward Beecher
,br /> “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what which is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” – Ephesians 4:29

In summary of what has been accomplished in this, the “Daily Jewel.” Nine chapters in full have been completed with chapter ten currently on the docket. Of these nine plus chapters 254 verses have been reviewed with 337 messages written which indicates that several verses have had need of more explanation—or attention as the case may be.
Allow me to also mention that each message can require upwards to an hour to write—some longer while others less. However, time to me in this matter is meaningless simply because of my passion for not only the Word of God but especially so for the Book of Proverbs. This makes these messages far more a “labor of love” rather a task to dread.
I said all that as a precursor for my next statement and for what will be the context of this message—so here goes. The verse being highlighted is the second part, which Proverbs (as written by Solomon) is apt to do. The first part of the verse as stated from The Good News version says: “Anyone who hides hate is a liar…” from which I attempted to get to the root of how hatred gets inside of us—even if or when we may not recognize it.
Now we come to part two. And it is here that I must admit I have been at a loss for direction. I have made three attempts with this verse with each one all coming to a miserable end. Praise the Lord for modern technology and a delete button. After several failed attempts I believe I have discovered the reason for my lack of insight.
I have attempted in my adult life to dedicate myself to a couple of principles: First, as Jesus commanded to serve God with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength. And second, treat others with respect, dignity and honor. On the surface it would appear the first principle is the more difficult of the two to accomplish and/or maintain, but in truth—it is the second that many (myself included) find more difficult to uphold.
Much of that has to do with this fact that for many years I lived under a shadow of continuous negativity. The kind of negativity that invades the heart and makes it near impossible to see the good in anything or anyone. A person I was close to was bitter and treated the people in their life with contempt—even and especially the members of their own family. They were always upset with someone and trusted no one. This negativity and contempt typically came out in the form of their attitude and the way they spoke to people and what is even worse, the way they spoke ABOUT people. I would call it "slanderous" simply in the way unfounded accusations we made.
What does this have to do with the verse from Proverbs? The word (and action of) “slander” is the embodiment of negativity. There is absolutely no redeeming value to spreading misleading and false information about an individual. I liken it to that of a tsunami—it is not the initial wave that is the most damaging but the continual surge that affects everything in its path.
It dawned on me that the reason for my lack of direction for this verse could be the result of the fact that I have been on the receiving end of this form of negativity. I felt a “surge” of emotions that could have destroyed not only my relationship with this individual, but it also impacted my relationship with the Lord. To be quite honest…it hurt!
After years of living under such a cloud of negative attitudes, and then allowing those careless remarks to affect my spirituality I have resolved to live my life in such a way that regardless of my personal feelings—I desire to provide positive reinforcement whenever and however I can.
Maybe that is why I really like the quote I listed above from Henry Ward Beecher. He’s right! If you want to find the bad in something (or someone) you will. But what has been achieved?
I know there are those who do not deserve to be treated with respect and honor. However, I am not in the position to choose who receives my respect and who does not. There are those I trust more than others—and certainly those who I am much closer to emotionally—but according to the Word, I have a responsibility to spread the “Good News” and to live in a positive way.
I did not say I was perfect—n in this effort nor have my noble aspirations been carried out according equal to my desires—but it begins with attitude—a positive Christ-Like attitude filled with Grace. That, and a desire for flowers rather than weeds.
Pastor J. T. Carnell