08/05/2020 - WORDS SEASONED WITH SALT

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Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6

Having your words governed by the Lord will make you a winner over temptations. He will give the necessary salt to build your life and that of others. This should be the concern of God’s servants. The words build up or destroy, depending on the power or the “spice” placed in them. Therefore, if we do not want to be responsible for any harm in someone with a weak mind, we must ask the Father for balance in our statements.

Amnon, one of David’s sons, fell in love with his half-sister, Tamar, a very beautiful young woman who fascinated him. He couldn’t take it anymore, but he did wrong. His father, being a man of God and wise, would be the best person for him to expose his feelings. However, he opened up with a cousin (2 Sam 13: 1-5), who gave him bad advice. An individual without divine anointing should never give guidance on these matters.

The Scriptures do not say that Jonadab, son of Shimea, David’s brother, was a servant of God or that he had the anointing from on high. But he describes him as a canny man, who was not fooled, was smart and was always willing to do anything, regardless of who would suffer. One must be careful with who appears giving advice, especially if it distorts the Word of the Lord. If you hear such a person, your future will be in danger. This was the case with Amnon. Mercy!

When the cousin heard his account, he showed a direction that undoubtedly came from Hell, whence the wicked of the wicked. Run away from them! If you are unarmed or in trouble, they will be just the servants Satan seeks, leading you to sin against God, family and others. Only those who do not live in the divine presence fall into the error of the shrewd. Caution! Your honor and that of others are worth a lot.

Jonadab sought to know what Amnon suffered from, as he lost weight day by day and was sad. Upon hearing that his cousin was in love with Tamar, he soon showed that he had the “perfect plan” in his hand, saying: “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ” (2 Samuel 13:5). Amnon forced her. Absalom learned of the sad fact and vowed to kill him. Is it worth sinning?

His half brother kept his promise, and Amnon died. Why does a child of God look for the wrong person to seek help if he has the Counselor as his Lord? Ask the Father to guide you in speaking. That way, you will never be prey to the devil again. There is a right way to talk to people, and only God can put the right “spice” for you to be received with dignity and respect by everyone.

We cannot imagine the pain of David, the man after God’s own heart. Nor is there any use in philosophizing about Amnon’s fear of Absalom, or whether he was devastated by his mistake, and then when he was being killed. It is best to flee from sin and seek the Lord’s help. Never get involved with the devil’s practices!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares