Christian's Handbook 1

Handbook 1 is a collection of Christian articles containing spiritual wisdom and knowledge derived from Christians' personal experiences in living daily for God.

Listen To Yourself

Handbook 1: Article 95 - How's Your Kingdom Coming?

People talk about what is important to them. Young mothers talk about their children. Hobbyists talk about their hobbies. Sick people talk about their health. Most people like to talk about their jobs. Everyone talks about the weather.

One would think that Christians talk to each other about God at least on Sunday. A custodian, new at his job, at a fair sized church in Sacramento, California, had this experience. After the service and an exceptionally fine sermon, he moved among visiting groups of people, straightening and picking up and overhearing their conversations. He expected to hear them discussing the pastor's message, some truth that hit home for them, or some questions and comments on the ideas expressed in the sermon. Instead they were talking about their recent purchases, trips, family or, on occasion, church business. Never about spiritual matters. He was disappointed and disillusioned.

It is a basic truism that you also spend the most time talking about those things that are most important to you. What is your main topic of conversation? What did you speak about on the telephone, over the backyard fence?

Now for check-up time. Rank the following conversation subjects in order of the time you spend in talking about them:

  • Personal relationships (spouse, in-laws, friends, neighbors, coworkers)
  • Personal affairs (marriage, health, parenthood, sex, etc.)
  • Television programs and related subjects
  • Politics, world affairs
  • New acquisitions
  • Money
  • Juicy tidbits
  • Yourself (needs, views, hopes, problems, successes, failures, fears)
  • Hobbies
  • God (including your faith, the Bible, and related subjects)
  • Others

"Every useless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified and by your words you shall be condemned."

Matthew 12: 36, 37

MC


« LastNext »

  1. An Invincible Summer
  2. Open My Eyes
  3. My Tongue
  4. Our Tongue
  5. Listen To Yourself
  6. A Book of Remembrance
  7. Prophecy and Prayer
  8. Test the Spirits
  9. Talking to God

« Last 9Next 9 »