Sanballet or Barnabas: whose voice do you have?

I am studying Nehemiah 4 for this week's sermon. While looking at the first few verses I was reminded of the power and potential of our words. As work continues on the wall project, the enemies are increasingly angered. Specifically Sanballet was "angry and greatly enraged (v.1)." It is interesting that his initial attack is talk. Because he is enraged, he "jeered at the Jews." He knew that if they were discouraged and if their confidence in God faltered, the work would stop. So he set out on a path to "jeer" them into submission.

On one level it seems silly. Talk should not stop construction. But for anyone who has been hurt by the words of another, we know how a well-timed insult can lay us on the floor. Even though we know this, this kind of talk still fills our relationships and hinders our families and churches. We get angry; we lash out; and the work of God in our lives suffers.

How much better would it be to follow the pattern of Barnabas? When the Gospel spread to the Gentiles, the church sent Barnabas to check it out. Barnabas was "a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith (Acts 11:24)." He went into the church and the first thing that he noticed was grace, which made him glad (v. 23). How many times do you walk into your home or church with eyes that are trained by grace looking for evidence of grace. He probably saw all sorts of less than ideal conditions in the church, but he noticed grace. Thus he was able to "exhort them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose (v. 23)." And "a great many people were added to the Lord (v. 24)."

Do you see the difference? One man used his voice in a vain attempt to stop the work of the Lord; they other to expand it. Every day we have the same opportunity. God has given us a powerful tool by giving us a voice. We can use if for good or evil--to build up or destroy. Perhaps today we will look for ways that God can use our tongues to expand His work in the lives of people. Perhaps today we will forsake words that destroy others and hinder grace. The power of good and evil resides in the tongue. How will you use it?