Gunslingers And Bomb Squads

Gunslingers and Bomb Squads

Proverbs 20:3- It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

In the Wild Wild West, men were considered men by how they could fight. If someone mistreated you or spoke falsely against you or any of your family, the manly thing to do was to challenge them to a showdown. You’ve seen the movies. There is a dusty road running through the middle of town, frightened women and children peaking out the windows and two big cowboys staring each other down, just waiting for the other to draw their gun. Pretty macho, huh? Well, if you ask me, it seems pretty dumb! I understand that this may be “how the west was won”, but many times men would needlessly die because they were just looking for a fight. Remember how the gunslinger all dressed in black would roll into town and some wanna-be cowboy would challenge him to a showdown just to see how good he was. This kind of foolishness is what our passage is referring to.

The Bible reminds us that it is not an honorable endeavor to go looking for trouble, controversy, or a fight. However, it is honorable to cease from strife. Thankfully we no longer find ourselves standing in the middle of a dusty street looking down the barrel of a colt 45, but if we are not careful, we can find ourselves meddling in controversy, and many times the controversy isn’t even ours. Someone comes complaining about how they were treated, and we jump right in the middle of the controversy slinging around our opinions and personal experiences about the subject. Perhaps, a controversy arises and instead of using a soft answer to turn away wrath, we bristle up and start firing away at our Parents, Spouse, Children, Co-worker, or Friend. In situations where there is an opportunity to add fuel to the fire, we should look to be more like the bomb squad than a gunslinger. You see a gunslinger looks for a way to shoot down anyone who stands in your way. He makes it a habit to seek out a fight. He loves to controversy. On the other hand, a bomb squad only responds when called upon. They run in, defuse the situation, and then get out. They are not looking for trouble, in fact I imagine they like it when work is slow.

So what about you? Are you a gunslinger looking for a fight? Don’t get caught seeking out trouble. You are going to have enough challenges of your own today without sticking your nose in other people’s controversy.

Proverbs 25:8-Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

2 Kings 14:1-14- Tells the story of King Amaziah and how he went looking to pick a fight with King Jehoash of Israel. Read the passage and see what happens to King Amaziah. This story may help keep us from looking for a fight.

Fast Food or Fast Words

Imagine what it would be like if you went to McDonald's and ordered a 2 cheeseburger value meal with a Dr. Pepper (there is really nothing else good to eat there). You swiped your debit card when the cashier turns around and immediately lays your food on your tray. Now that would be fast food! When it comes to having our food served to us we always want it fast. Slow is never better, unless you are making homemade ice cream, then it is worth the wait.
Throughout the Bible, God teaches that our speech should not be like fast food, but rather like homemade ice cream. It takes a good 15-30 minutes after you put in all the ingredients to get something out that is edible. Look at what the Bible says about speaking slowly.

Proverbs 14:17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

Proverbs 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

You see, when we feel mistreated, misquoted, or misused our tendency is to serve up some “fast words” in our defense just so we can get back at whomever attacked us. Sometimes we get a few facts concerning a particular situation and then we respond quickly and hastily before we get all the facts. This is foolish. For example, last night Bro. Kevin got on to A.J. Strom for texting during church. Everyone knows that A.J. wasn't texting, as it would be highly out of character for him to do so, and that he was in fact using the Bible on his i-touch. Everyone in the youth group knows that, but Bro. Kevin didn’t. Sometimes my son Elijah will respond improperly to my help. We could be out in the yard and he could be standing in a pile of ants, and if I pick him up, he will start to cry. In a sense, he is serving up some “fast words”. He doesn’t see the big picture or have all the facts.

How about you? Are your words and your responses fast or slow? Every Christian should strive for slow words. The next time you fell like exploding, giving someone a piece of your mind, or giving your opinion before you have all the facts, remember that God doesn’t want “fast words”. In fact, no one really appreciates them. If you go around just spouting of foolish words all the time, you become a fool. Let’s be swift to hear, slow to speak.
Helpful Hints

1. Think before you speak
2. Ask God wisdom in what to say before you say it
3. Never speak when anger, you will always regret it