By
Beth Johnson
"A
soft answer turneth away wrath:
but
grievous words stir up anger" (Pro 15:1).
A
soft answer is not necessarily a weak answer .
"By long forbearing is
a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone" (Pro 25:15).
The
soft answer seeks to cover transgression in order to seek love.
"He
that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a
matter separateth very friends" (Pro
17:9).
We
should not love strife.
"He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and
he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction" (Pro 17:19).
We
should always be seeking peace, not trouble. "It
is an honour for a man to cease from
strife: but every fool will be meddling" (Pro 20:3).
King
David was a man after God's own heart—a man who was able to fight but
longed for peace. "My
soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for
peace: but when I speak, they are for war" (Ps 120:6-7).
There
are times when there can be no peace—especially with false teachers.
"To
whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the
gospel might continue with you" (Gal 2:5).
It
is always necessary to contend for the faith of God.
"Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly
contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude
3).
However,
as much as possible, we should live at peace with every man and remember
that the fear of the Lord (Ps 34:11)
is always to seek peace with God.
"Depart
from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it" (Ps 34:14).
