Day 14 - The Cynical Tongue

Day 14 – The Cynical Tongue

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way is sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 1:1

Oh boy, getting into some territory that I need to clean-up! Never, ever, in my wildest dreams did I think I could become a bitter cynic. It happened and how did it happen? Let’s look at one of the greatest cynics in the Bible.

When David went to see Goliath, he became indignant. He confidently stated that he would personally take care of the uncircumcised Philistine. Circumcision was Gods covenant and protection for the Israelites. David understood that Goliath had no covenant nor protection from God. David was secure in God’s promises. David’s brother, Eliab, didn’t have that confidence in God.

‘Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your onsolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.” But David said, “What have I done now?’” 1 Sam 17:28-29

Eliab, whose name means ‘God is my father’, scorned David’s confidence and motives with his cynicism. Cynicism is like venom; it poisons the atmosphere. Resorting to this will poison your spirit too and anyone you are around will be infected. Find one cynic in church, at work, at home, and soon anyone who is not confident in God and secure of themselves will start chiming in to the negativity.

God forgive me—I went through a protracted period of this cynicism at work. I just felt overlooked, overworked and undervalued. Normally, my sisters-in-Christ would have buoyed me and prayed for me. But I cut them off and found excuses not to pray. I hung around with people who were just as dissatisfied as I was. We moaned, we groaned, we gossiped, we pontificated “if only”, we hashed and rehashed the past, we just gave up.

Those were not happy times for me and it carried over into my personal life. Husband and children heard all about how bad it was at work how no one appreciated my contribution. Finally, God intervened. It certainly wasn’t what I anticipated and it was a hard lesson to learn.

My dearest friend at work, Mary, suddenly got ill and I took her home. I dropped her at her house assured that she would call her husband. I called and called that night—no answer. The next morning, Bruce, her husband, called to tell me Mary had an aneurysm and would certainly die soon; she died that morning. How utterly devastated, sad, guilty, wretched, wicked and scorned I felt.

Mary always had a smile and a kind word for me. She was my cheerleader and comforter when things went wrong. She refused to let anything get her down and she would cheer me up by saying, “Good morning sunshine” to me everyday. I resolved then that I could no longer blame others and anyway, where had this bitter woman come from anyway?

I retired that cynical tongue. I cooled the toxic relationships and God intervened in those that were difficult for me to give up. I realized my blessings, my life and family, which God was sustaining. The very people I was bitter at were the people who comforted me during my grief. They cared for me and all of my thoughts about them were wrong. Someone once called me “poison” and I was so offended to this day I have not spoken highly of that person. I am convinced I need to make that right with him; God doesn’t make mistakes.

I was fortunate to be asked by Mary’s family to give her eulogy. It was one of the most difficult moments of my life—but I was ready before God because I prayed. I asked Him to speak through me, to soften my heart and open my mind; give me the beautiful words to speak your love and mercy Lord. And Philippians 4:8-9 were what He gave me:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

Affirmation: I am blessed because I do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly nor stand in the way of sinners nor sit in the seat of the scornful.

Thank you brothers and sisters in Christ for allowing me to share a part of my heart today and I pray that God engrafts His words and His law into your heart so that you may stand in righteousness, holiness and place of honor in God’s eyes. Sister Lisa