It’s Our Job

“Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless – that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.”

1 Peter 3:8,9 (MSG)

That’s our job, to bless, Peter says.

So, am I doing my job? Or do I “one-up” everyone? Must I always have the last word? Or do I bless?

Humility has everything to do with blessing someone who doesn’t deserve it, who seems to deserve a tongue-lashing. But that’s not my job. Blessing is my job.

In every relationship there are times confrontation is necessary, but even then, we can share in a positive way.

“Don’t use bad language. Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing.”

Ephesians 4:29 (TLB)

This verse gives us a good “word test”. Is what I’m preparing to say good? Helpful? Will it give a blessing? If yes, out with it. If no, put a lid on it.

I tend to be full of things to say, especially when I’m angry. Having the last word is a temptation when I have a great comeback to someone who has insulted me. The words well up inside until I am about to explode. I have to make the choice to hold my words or let them fly. Too many times I have picked the latter and really, what did it prove? Possibly that I am extremely quick and very rude, which reminds me of this verse in Proverbs…

“As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.” Proverbs 11:22 (NKJV)

Not a pretty picture.

So any time we get the chance to give an extremely brilliant, yet equally ugly remark to someone who seems to have earned it, certainly we should bless him or her instead. A few kind words go a long way in making someone’s day, and there’s always something good to find if we take time to look. If we can’t think of something nice to say, keeping our mouths shut will be blessing enough.

Blessing. It’s our job.