Do you ever watch a television show where all the characters are smart, witty and always have the perfect comeback? Discouraging, isn’t it? If you are like me, you think of some really great thing to say about thirty minutes after it’s too late. It’s encouraging is to see those smart witty actors interviewed on a talk show. It is then we discover they are not the quick-witted, literate models of linguistic talent portrayed in the show. Instead we find out they are like the rest of us. They just have good writers.
That’s what I need. I need a good writer to prepare clever lines for me so I too can look brilliant in every situation. But life doesn’t work that way. I think Jesus’ disciples must have worried about how they were going to manage when He was gone. That must be why He said to them in Luke 12:11-12 not to worry about it. He promised, “When they bring you into the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take no thought how or what thing you shall answer, or what you shall say: for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what we ought to say.”
That’s encouraging. But it doesn’t help with the day-to-day interactions. Perhaps my problem is I want to look witty so I can outshine everyone else. Maybe if I were willing to let others look good I wouldn’t need to find that perfect remark. Romans 12:10 says, “Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” Instead of waiting for the other person to take a breath so I can interrupt, I need to just smile and say something nice instead of something witty.
Written by Roger Bothwell on October 29, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org