Noisy?

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 13:1 

 

Okay, I must confess...I watched "Dumb and Dumber" and the odd thing is, I got an idea for this devotional from it. 

 

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:1-4 that even if he had ALL the answers to ALL the questions, no one would listen if he didn't have love.  Think about it. Have you ever had someone just start preaching to you instead of listening?  Have you ever have someone try to TELL you how to deal with heartbreak instead of just sitting with you while you wept?  Have you ever had someone ignore you question so they could "witness" to you by condemning you with Scripture?

 

I took a college psychology class.  The professor wrote the book and his wife wrote the study guide...neither of which we used in class (but were required to purchase).  The professor obviously knew his subject, but he didn't seem to grasp the idea that in order to teach the subject, your information must be understandable by those you wish to teach.  This was a freshman class being taught on a doctoral level.  Needless to say, by the third class most of the students had dropped it, because the professor was just making noise to these students.

 

There's an old adage (older than me, if you can believe it) which says: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."  And it's true! People are not idiots.  People know when you actually care about them and when you are just making noise.  Which is why I love the quote attributed to Francis of Assisi: "Preach the Gospel...and if you MUST, use words."  SHOW people that you care! Be the EXAMPLE of the Gospel instead of just telling people about it.  REFLECT the love of Christ!

 

You see, if we don't SHOW that we care, nothing we say will ever matter!