良言一语三冬暖，恶语伤人六月寒。
Imagine if I were to continue writing this article in Simplified Chinese script. Even if I were to write in excellent prose and share some inspiring truths, it wouldn’t add anything to your life (unless you know Simplified Chinese). The reason is obvious. Intelligibility precedes understanding. Everyone can understand that!
Paul wrote, “I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language” (1 Corinthians 14:19). The point of his words is clear: Let love be your highest goal as you use your gifting to build up the church.
By way of illustration, Paul compared two gifts—speaking in tongues and prophesying—to teach that love and building up others must always be the modus operandi in the exercising of our spiritual gifts. Without negating the gift of tongues, Paul said, “I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:5). Why? Because prophesying has a threefold effect: It “strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them” (1 Corinthians 14:3). The one who speaks in tongues, on the other hand, only builds up himself.
A Bible teacher paraphrased 1 Corinthians 4:12 this way: “Eagerly desire, as a result of God’s gifting in your life, to be able to bring the truth of the Word of God to bear upon the fellowship in which you worship at the level of teaching, instruction, correction, and rebuke.”
So now that we have taken Paul’s words to heart, what was I saying in the first sentence of this devo? In English, it means: Words have the power to build up or tear down.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 17:1-26
More:
Read Ephesians 4:4-16 for a summary of Romans 12–14.
Next:
How have you been edifying and building up other believers in Jesus by your words? What spiritual gifts has God given you which you can use to help His children?
pjp on September 19, 2011 at 7:50 am
Tnx a lot Poh Fang. Great read. Encouraging.
bearpair on September 19, 2011 at 1:52 pm
A-MEN, Poh! So true, & well said. BTW, who was the author of the excellent commentary at the end? Thanks!
poh fang chia on September 21, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Hi bearpair,
Apologies for not replying earlier. I was away in a place with limited access to the Internet. The Bible teacher is Alistair Begg.
Cheers,
Poh Fang
bearpair on September 22, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Ah, excellent teacher! Again, thanks for the good words of encouragement! Terry & Pat, Everett, WA
mike wittmer on September 19, 2011 at 2:15 pm
I wish I could read Chinese! I recognized the word for “man,” but that’s it. Thank you for this memorable reminder that faith requires knowledge–so basic and yet so often forgotten in our times.
And I can’t wait until the New Earth, when I’ll have forever to learn Chinese!
OnMyWayHome on September 20, 2011 at 12:24 am
Thank you for your Words of wisdom in both areas.
I need to seek the higher gift is the first one, how I will seek and find this I do not know. However I will endeavor.
The other is the translation of words from another language is better from the one who knows and not from a website.
From two sites their translations.
A good advice language winter is warm, speak daggers is in June cold
Good word are three Winter, verbal assault cold in June
winn collier on September 21, 2011 at 1:44 pm
thanks for the reminder to speak words of faith, hope and love.