Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 1293 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

The Right Response – Ask Gramps

Wisdom – the final frontier to true knowledge.  Welcome to Wisdom-Trek! Where our mission is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Hello, my friend, I am Guthrie Chamberlain, your captain on our journey to increase Wisdom and Create a Living Legacy.  Thank you for joining us today as we explore wisdom on our 2nd millennium of podcasts. This is Day 1293 of our Trek and time for our Philosophy Friday series.  Each Friday, we will ponder some of the basic truths and mysteries of life, and how they can impact us in creating our living legacy.  As we continue on this trek called life, sometimes we have questions about life, so our Friday trek is a time where we can ‘Ask Gramps.’   Gramps will answer questions that you would like to ask your dad or granddad, but for whatever reason, this is not possible.  No matter how old we are, I know that all of us would like the opportunity to ask dad or gramps questions about life in many areas.

We may mix it up a bit on our Friday episodes, but will strive to keep them down to earth and enjoyable.   If you have any questions that you would like to ask Gramps, please email them to guthrie@wisdom-trek.com

So the question for this week is:

“Hey Gramps, as we begin this new year, it is my desire to be more civil, kind, and gracious in my communications with others.  What wisdom tips do you have that will help me with this. 

The Right Response

Even among Christ-followers, the topic of civility may produce little more than eye rolls and groans.  We all have difficulties with our speech, especially when confronted by those whom we disagree with.  Some people may think, This is the digital age, after all.  Every voice deserves a platform, and everyone’s opinion is considered worthy, regardless of its merit or proximity to truth.  The problem with that thought process is that it is not Biblical.   If you spend any time scrolling through Twitter, or most other social media platforms you soon realize that the level of vitriol and lack of respect appears to be out of control.  Unfortuneately, many Christ-followers are also involved with spewing hate and half-truths, with little knowledge or concern for whom they may impact.

When writing to the believers in Colossae, the Apostle Paul urged them to mark their speech with grace, especially when engaging with those who are not believers.  Colossians 4:5-6

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.Some Christians confuse ‘grace-tinged’ speech with a lack of conviction as if civility and conviction can’t co-exit.  Not only can they co-exist, but they are allies in the battle of ideas, both in private engagement and in the public square.

As a Christ-follower, you are called to something higher, to speak with grace, kindness, and love in an increasingly uncivil society thick with the rising cacophony of vulgarity, boorishness, hated, and lies.  Unfortunately, public officials and most news media outlets are some of the worst offenders.God is concerned with both what we say and believe, and also how we articulate it.  Our tongues should reflect the difference between light and darkness, and they should adorn the gospel well, rather than adopting the base rhetoric and arguments of the world.

In an increasingly verbal world, with every word we speak, type, or text, we must ask ourselves:  Does this bring glory to God?  Is what I am about to say building up God’s kingdom here on earth?  If not, then just don’t say it.  Very few, if any,  minds will be changed by your rebuttals.  Let me close with one more tidbit of advice from Ephesians [4:29]

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

That is a wrap for today’s question.  Join us again next Friday for another question on our ‘Ask Gramps’ episode.  Our next trek is Mediation Monday, where we will help you reflect on what is most important in life.  So encourage your friends and family to join us and then come along on Monday for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’If you would like to listen to any of the past 1292 daily treks or read the associated journals, they are all available at Wisdom-Trek.com.  I encourage you to subscribe to Wisdom-Trek on your favorite podcast player, so each day will be downloaded to you automatically.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most of all, your friend as I serve you in through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this Trek of life together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain….reminding you to ’Keep Moving Forward,’ ‘Enjoy your Journey,’ and ‘Create a Great Day…Everyday’! See you on Monday!