What a Sting!
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1
Scorpions are not pretty arachnids! In fact, they are the stuff that nightmares are made of especially if living in a dry arid climate or the jungle. Anywhere from 2 ½ to 8 inches long, these aggressive carnivores can put a hurtin’ on your day if stung. Strangely, they can even glow under ultraviolet light. They do a mating dance, have live birth and can live about 8 years in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity. Isn’t that all interesting information?
When they are hungry and can’t find available meat, they will eat their own young. You weren’t expecting that were you? Why am I sharing all information about scorpions? I honestly believe that we have some similarities. Don’t worry, I don’t think our similarities include cannibalism.
Sometimes we sting others with our words when we are hurt, cornered or threatened. God made the scorpion to defend itself in that way, but that certainly is not how He made each one of us. Even within the body of Christ, we can have those revengeful feelings against our brothers and sisters in Christ. We all have those momentary thoughts about what it might be like if so-and-so would just disappear.
In the most irritating situations, we are often exposed to great life lessons. Are we going to verbally attack and wound them, then watch them emotionally limp off into the sunset? Or are we going to be honest and tell them how we are feeling and love as He did? Tough choice! I have done both but have regretted watching someone fade out of sight. They are often heard saying, “If that is how a Christian acts, I don’t want any part of it.”
Just to make sure you are getting the comparison accurately, let’s talk about children and scorpions. A young child can die as a result of a sting because their immune system is not well developed! How many times have we said stinging words to our own children and watched the spirit drain from their eyes before the tears started?
Yes, we can learn a great deal from nature, can’t we? We don’t want to be like a scorpion but our more primitive side wants to arch our backs and insert that stinger when we are angry or hurt. We can be grateful for that Holy Spirit voice that yells, “Don’t do it!” Hopefully, then we pray!
Father God, thank You for showing us a better way to live! Help us to share Your love with others instead of stinging words. We want to be more like You. AMEN.