Rules Of A Godly Life: Part 2: Rule 10

"Make a habit of not discussing or judging another's words unless you know you have heard and understood aright what they meant to say."

I find that it is so very easy to misjudge what someone is trying to tell you and then misjudge them in the process.  Please, if someone is saying something to you that does not sound right, ask clarifying questions.



Questions like:
1.  This is what I hear you saying ... is this what you meant to say?
2.  How would you apply what you are saying?
3.  What scriptures from the Bible support what you are saying?


Only after asking these three questions of them do you really have the information you need to analyze your own reaction to what they have said.  You may then need to ask yourself some questions.


Questions like:
1.  Do I have a prejudice against what they are saying?
2.  Do I have a prejudice against them and so cannot accept what they have to say?
3.  Am I reacting to what they are saying or to my feelings about what they have to say?



Now, having clarified what the person has actually said and having clarified your prejudice and feelings, it is time to ask:



1.  Are there other scriptures that support what they are saying?
2.  Are there scriptures that negate what they are saying?
3.  Are there ways of interpreting these apparently opposing scriptures so that they support the statement instead?


Finally, having given all diligence to understanding what has been said and considering all these things it is time to ask God to confirm the truth to you.


James 1:5
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Have any of my readers applied these tools before with success?

I would love to hear your success stories!

Rules Of A Godly Life: Part 2: Rule 9

"Do not make fun of another's weaknesses. Instead, think of your own shortcomings. Gal. 6. We all have our weak points, and there is none of whom others say not, "O that this or that were different." Either we are, or have been, or may become subject to most anything, even as others. Therefore, show patience and sympathy toward your brother's weaknesses and mistakes. At the same time, do not strengthen him in sin by your nonchalance or by neglecting brotherly admonition and reproof. If you wish to admonish a brother, be careful to bring your reproof at a suitable time; for a reproof at the wrong time may easily do more harm than good, especially if the rebuke is too sharp or not tempered with gentleness. A reproof is like a salad, it needs more oil than vinegar."

Rules Of A Godly Life: Part 2: Rule 8

"If someone with good intentions gives you advice which turns out to be not good, do not hold it against him.  For even a good counsel sometimes fails, and there is no one on earth who can tell what the future holds.  No one is wise enough or has foresight enough to do so.  Do not scoff at the advice of unaccomplished brethren who have your welfare at heart."


There is much in this rule that I do not agree with.  God places his Spirit in man and directs man and gives gifts unto men to assist others with counsel.




Remember Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon?

Both of these servants of the Most High God were able to give good counsel because of the Spirit of God within them.

Also consider 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

But most especially, let us look unto the Lord for counsel, for his counsel never fails.


See Proverbs 3: 5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all of thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."



In our family we seek the counsel of the Lord in fasting and in prayer and in the study of his word.  When counsel is sought we often write up lots with different options, allowing for "none" or "other" and, after agreeing together to know of the Lord what we should do or how we should act, we pray together calling on the name of the Lord to guide the selection of the lot and to protect the selection of the lot from the influence of the adversary.  After the lot is selected we act in faith to carry out those instructions.

You may question this use of lots, but it is supported in both the old and the new testaments.

Consider Numbers 26:52-56 KJV
 "And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.  To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.  Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot:  according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.  According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few."

Also Acts 1:20-26 KJV
"For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein:  and his bishoprick let another take.  Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.  And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Mathias.  And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.  And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles."

Rules Of A Godly Life: Part 2: Rule 7

"When you need advice do not seek a counselor on the basis of his prestige or esteem among the people. Go to those who have experience in that concerning which you seek counsel.  For if a man accustomed to recognition above his fellows gives you advice, and you do not comply with his recommendations because you feel they are impractical for you, he may be insulted and become your enemy."

Rules Of A Godly Life: Part 2: Rule 6

"Do not speak evil of friends; rather, speak well of them wherein thy deserve praise. What is not praiseworthy keep to yourself. Slanderings and scornful gossip are poison to friendship. If you are present when others speak disrespectfully of one who is absent, search first your own heart before joining in; without doubt you will find there the same (or greater) shortcomings. This should move you to better yourself, and yet keep you from speaking evil of others and belittling them."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k0RzhVJSxE&feature=related

Rules Of A Godly Life: Part 2: Rule 5

"Confide to no one your personal secrets unless you have beforehand found him to be worthy of your trust.  Here is one way to prove him and learn to know him well:  confide to him some secret of small importance; if he keeps it to himself it is an indication of his trustworthiness.  However, it is not wise to inform any friends carelessly of all your secrets.  There is a possibility that at some later time you may have sharp differences and then he may use his knowledge to your harm."

This rule reminds me of the Words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John, Chapter 15:9-17 KJV
9: As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you:  continue ye in my love.
10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11: These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12: This is my commandment that ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13:  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14:  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15:  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth:  but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16:  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:  that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17:  These things I command you, that ye love one another.




Also, I am reminded of the Words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel penned by Matthew in chapter 13, verses 10-12 KJV.


10: And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11: He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12: For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance:  But whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Rules Of Godly Living: Part 2: Rule 4

"Be not too ready to believe everything you hear, and do not repeat everything you hear, lest in this way you lose a friend and gain an enemy. When you hear complaint or gossip about another, thoroughly investigate the actual circumstances before offering your criticism or passing your opinion."