31 Days of Wisdom and Worship – Day 15 – Pastor Ryan Binkley

“A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

 

Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

 

A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them.”

Proverbs 15:1, 4, 18 NLT

 

Wisdom

 

I was with my brother on a night on the town in London when I was in my early 20’s right out of college.  My dad had taken us on trip to England and Scotland with a group of his business associates and we decided to head out one night after dinner and see the night life.  This is when I just rededicated my life to the Lord and I was just getting back into church.  We visited several places and nothing seemed to be that exciting and the world was becoming more and more less interesting to me.  Afterwards, we were on our way home and I stopped and got a slice of pizza from a street vendor.  My brother hailed a cab and as I was walking toward the cab a man came up to me and put a knife to my throat and demanded my pizza.  Now, at this time in my life I also had some anger issues I was overcoming and sometimes they would lead to fighting.  I quickly sized up this individual and as I was deciding what to do my life went into slow motion and slowly I could see what was going to happen next.  I saw us fighting, me getting away, but also me getting arrested in London late in the evening.  I knew we had a train ride to Scotland the next morning and a golf outing planned as well. Somehow, I knew that if I resisted and fought this person that I was going to miss that train and cause my dad to miss it as well.  Then in one split second, I said to the man, “here, have some pizza”.  Pizza saved the day. But it wasn’t just the pizza, it was also knowing when to have a cool temper.  I saw the other day in the news, where a man came out of a pizza parlor to two men who were fighting.  He stopped them and offered them pizza and all three of them took a slice and ate. The fighting was over and pizza won out again.  I wonder how many fights would be solved and arguments would stop if someone would say, “hey, let’s get some pizza”. Or something, anything, just to change the subject, lower the tone, and say everything is going to be ok.  A gentle answer deflects anger and is a tree of life.  I made it home that evening and took a great train ride to Scotland the next morning and played on one of the legendary golf courses in the history of the sport. I went home that night without pizza but came back home alive and with a great memory.  Maybe the pizza guy has found Christ since that day as well, I truly hope so.

 

Worship

 

“O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God! Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.”

Psalms 25:1-3 NLT

 

Father, I put my life and trust in Your hands.  Thank you for delivering me and not letting my enemies destroy me life.  None who trusts in you is disgraced and I thank you for saving me and keeping me all the days of my life.  Teach me Lord, to walk away from danger and to not allow trouble in my path.  Lead me into truth and in Your arms of protection.  I love You and give You my life today. Lead me in Your way forever and ever. Amen.