I had a boss once who about five minutes before I opened my store walked onto my showroom floor and got mad about something. He was saying one word at a time rhythmically as he threw each item. Meanwhile my staff froze and a line of customers watched through the glass doors. As I began to quickly pick up the items, he asked what I was doing. I had to clean up before I opened. When he apologized a couple of hours later, I told him he was like a nuclear bomb. He comes in, explodes and leaves a huge mess that I’m forced to clean up while simultaneously trying to repair relationships he’s actively destroying. I learned how to bring peace as a boss while working for him rather than chaos.
In 1 Samuel 25 there was a very rich man named Nabal. David had heard that he was shearing his sheep and knew he’d be giving a feast soon. He sent ten men to greet Nabal in his name and to remind him how David’s small army protected his shepherds and livestock. The men were then to request some food. Nabal quickly got angry at the men. He said, “Who is David? Why should I give men I don’t know my food?” David got angry and got together a group to go to Nabal to kill him. When Nabal’s wife heard what happened, she quickly loaded animals with food and went to meet David. She apologized for her husband’s behavior and her peaceful approach convinced David not to kill everyone in their camp. David thanked God and her for keeping him from killing everyone.
Proverbs 15:18 says, “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes” (AMP). What affect do you have on people when you walk in the room? Do your actions cause strife and tension or do they calm others? Nabal and David were quick to anger and caused strife in the story above. Thankfully Abigail was patient and used wisdom to bring peace and calm. Your voice, your demeanor and tone all have an affect on those around you, especially when things are stressful and tense. A calm word of wisdom in the midst of chaos can bring people back to their senses and diffuse even the most stressful and tense situations. Be mindful of your words and actions today. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be an agent of peace who calms disputes.
Photo by kevin laminto on Unsplash
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 