If you agree...then you can speak

How often do we push our point until we are agreed with?

Do you remember as a kid getting in trouble for saying shut-up. Back in the day with the "s" word meant something else. "We don't say that word jonny, it's not nice." It seems we still say it in different ways. When we just keep talking, we don't listen, and we push our point until the person or people we are talking too acquiesce to our request.

Elihu in Job chap 33 basically tells Job to shut-up, unless Job is willing to agree with him. He goes on and on describing how Job's suffering must be the work of a persistent God trying to set Job strait, to get him to confess some hidden sin. This must be the reason. So he tells Job to sit quiet and listen while he teaches him. Unless he speaks in a way which shows he agrees with Elihu and is willing to confess his sin. Otherwise Job, shut-up!

I am reminded of the article Rich Mullins wrote about the nuts and bolts of Christianity. He told of how he had a conversation with his friend. He explained all the nuts and bolts of Christianity to him and he did it so effectively his friend couldn't comeback with any sort of argument on the subject. Then the friend said to Rich, "I just don't want to believe in your Jesus." There was nothing more to be said at that point.

What do we do when people don't agree with us? Do we keep pounding them done until they do? I guess the more significant question is, are we aware of them enough to slow down and actually find out what is on their heart and mind. If we give all the arguments in the world to prove our point, but don't know where they are coming from or what they want out of life, how will we ever speak to their need.

When we go to by a car we check out the mileage, the price, the mechanical engineering. But when it comes down to it we decide on it based on our needs and whether we like the color or not. We need to know the needs of the people around us and understand them if we are ever to articulate the gospel in a way they will accept it.

May we learn to see the need of those around us, understand who they are, and then share the picture of God from the vantage point and perspective that will make the greatest difference in their lives. We won't have to worry about trying to get them to shut-up because the will be so interested in what we have to say for the need that will be met in there lives.