2:165 – Honey Or Vinegar? What Do You Prefer?

#faithbites #faithjourney honey

How do you like someone to give you feedback? Do you want it in an angry tone telling you everything you did wrong? Maybe you like it with a bit of sugar telling you what you did right and where you could improve? Perhaps, you want just the facts in a kind an caring way. I don’t know of anyone who wants to be yelled at. I prefer honey in my tea then vinegar.

What does this have to do with faith or walking with Jesus? I see so much hate from people to other people if they aren’t like them. Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Black, White, Latinx, Immigrant, Muslim, liberal, conservative, pro-choice, pro-life, and on and on the list goes. Does the hate make any changes for the better? In Taylor Swift’s new song “You Need to Calm Down” , she has a couple of lines that ring true. “You are somebody that I don’t know But you are takin’ shot at me like it’s Patron” or “Cause shade never made anybody less gay”.

I’m no Swiftie, but she brings up a good point. Are you trying to change someone or help someone with your feedback? If so, try using words of love (honey) rather than words of hate (vinegar).

Scripture

• For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, – Romans 6:23
• When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”- John 8:7
• Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. – 1 Corinthians 4:5
• Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. – Proverbs 3:34

Reflection

Let’s start at the beginning. We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. If we aren’t perfect, should we cast stones at others? Who created us to be judge, jury, and executioner? No one. We are told to love our neighbors. Even Jesus dined with sinners. He turned no one away.

You may say, but Sol, this is the Gospel, where is the law? Sure, the law tells us how to behave and not behave. If we want to educate and help others understand the law, we need to be kind and welcoming to them. We need to be in faith with them. Not everyone will hear the law. Even we can’t keep it. But we can have faith in Jesus, confess our sins, and be forgiven. God made all people in his image. It is up to us to follow Jesus and love our neighbor. We should want the best for them, not for their pain, destruction, and decimation.

I am far from perfect. I look at people sometimes and think, “Man, that person is an idiot”. I’m getting better at it, but I still do it. I don’t, however, chastise people for their beliefs, their behaviors, or who they are. I pray for them and hope that Jesus opens their hearts.

Charge

When you see someone not like you, take a breath. Look at them as a child of God, and ask yourself, how can you help them? Is it making a sign that says God hates them? Probably not. Maybe it is welcoming them into your home, your church, and your heart. Showing them the love of Christ that they have never seen before. His love changes lives.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the diversity you have made on this world. You have given us free will to explore who we are and to learn about you. Help us to show only love when we encounter people who are not like us. Give us your strength, when we see people who we believe are violating your law. Instill in us a sense of humility and compassion so we may reach out to them in love, rather than in anger. This is not easy in our challenging world. Lord, in your name, hear our prayers. Amen.