AUGUST 20

1 Thessalonians 5:11

                                 HELP EACH OTHER

“ Thank you for our food and for Mom and Dad who work so hard,” Jack prayed aloud at dinner one night. “And please, God, help Nick do better at school.” He finished his prayer in the name of Jesus, and said “Amen.”

Mom passed the spaghetti to Jack. “I’m glad you prayed for Nick. How is he doing?” she asked.

“About the same,” Jack replied. He laughed. “He’s so weird, and nobody likes him.” Jack shook his head and went on to criticize Nick and list some of his faults. “And you know what else?” he asked. “We’re supposed to have our bug collections all done by Monday, and Nick is barely started. He’s lazy!”

“How many bugs do you have?” asked Jack’s little sister Allie.

“Lots,”saidJack.“I even have a praying mantis.We learned that they’ll eat almost any insect, including their own kind.”“Does your praying mantis really pray?” Allie wanted to know.

“Of course not!”Jack laughed.“It’s called that because of the way it puts its front feet together. Did you think it said a prayer for one of its friends and then ate it? Maybe it was saying grace!”

Dad looked at Jack thoughtfully.“Some people do that,”he said.“ They say a prayer for someone, and then they eat that person.”

“People don’t eat each other,”Jack protested.“Not in civilized countries.”

“ They don’t eat each other physically,” agreed Dad. “But gossiping, criticizing others, and finding fault with them is referred to as ‘backbiting’ in the Bible. The Bible also speaks of ‘devouring’ one another. So saying unkind things about people behind their backs is a little like chewing on them, isn’t it?”

“Jack did that,” piped up Allie. “He said Nick...” Mom quickly stopped the little girl from saying any more. “If we really want to help others, we’ve got to quit hurting them and find ways to encourage them,” added Dad. “We need to remember what God says about the way we are to use our tongues.”

Thought: Does someone who’s a little “odd” need your help? Someone the other kids criticize and laugh about? Or maybe someone who’s just a bit shy?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I confess I’m guilty of talking bad about others. Help me instead to pray for him or her. Then look for ways to help. Help me to use my tongue to give encouragement, not criticism. is is my humble request, in Jesus’ name – amen.