If you want me to listen to what you have to say then you have to show me that you care. You can’t say you care and then show me something else but instead I need to know you have listened to me and first know my story. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Otherwise, you are pushing an agenda and selling propaganda that I don’t need in my life.
Why do you think Jesus met the poor and the sick and the down trodden where they were? The religious leaders criticized Him for it but that did not matter, for the people He came to reach had His attention. Jesus did not come to buy or sell ideals but instead His purpose was to free those who were entangled in the legalism of those who thought they knew the way.
Head knowledge is great but if it does not reach the heart then it is born of man and not what God intended. What’s worse are those who take this head knowledge and try to push it on others. You know this is what you are doing when people refuse to listen because honestly they don’t want what you are selling! Jesus did not do this, first He met the wounded where they were; He came to them and offered a better way but never once did He force them to believe.
Luke 17:11-13 KJV
(11) And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
(12) And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
(13) And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Luke 19:5 KJV
(5) And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
Matthew 19:21-22 KJV
(21) Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
(22) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
The one who is pushing an agenda will continue to push until the one they are conversing with yields, surrenders, or walks away. Tell me something if you win the argument but the other one walks away in tears what have you won? The rights to say you were right? Have you convinced that other person or do they feel like they were not heard? What does God think about this type of behavior? You may be arguing for God but find yourself alone and hollow even though you have claimed the flag. Is this the example Jesus gave?
Why was Jesus able to challenge people without discouraging them? Because people could sense that He knew them and understood where they were coming from. Read John 4:1-26 and Matthew 15:21-28. Why was Jesus able to challenge these women yet they did not run away or get angry? He met them where they were and led them on a journey. He did not push or prod but He did make sure truth was revealed and when their journey was over they had come to the conclusion that Jesus knew what He was talking about but not because He told them so rather because He allowed them to discover it for themselves. Jesus did not have an agenda but instead came to show us what real love is all about and that is why people listened then and still do today.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 KJV
(1) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
(2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
(3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
(4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
(5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
(6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
(7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
(8) Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
(9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
(10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
(11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
(12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
(13) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
The next time you are knee deep into a discussion about doctrine compare your thoughts and purpose with 1 Corinthians 13. If it does not follow these guidelines then you need to stop, rethink it, and try again. If you conversation is outside of this standard then you are most likely causing pain and division and unless anyone gets the wrong idea, this is first and foremost a message to myself but what matters to the individual is that they test their own purpose and heart.
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