Focus
Slow your breathing and become aware of the taking in and letting out of your breath. Focus on putting things aside so you will be open to what God is saying to you today.
Read
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. 4 Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.
Reflect
I can remember growing up in New Jersey my mother use to have me help her make peanut butter sandwiches for the homeless. We did this so much that it became apart of my lifestyle. We could be driving home from food shopping and she would see a person with a sign, that would read something similar to being hungry. So I knew what our next move was going to be. We were going home to make sandwiches and return to the person and hand it to them, smile and drive away. After doing this we went on with our day never to discuss the matter again.
Today’s scripture talks about wisdom, and how we should not boast about the things that we do. Everything that we do for other people does not have to be caught on camera. Also, remember that we do not have to boast about helping someone in need. If we help someone in need it should be because we want to. We should not help someone to be recognized by humankind for doing such things.
Remember a wise person knows that their reward comes from the Lord, and not from humankind. So when you help someone do it for the right reasons and with a sincere heart and in secret. Do not boast about it for the whole world to know.
Pray
Dear God thank you for those who helped me when I was in need. Please grant me the ability to do the same for someone one day. And allow me to do it again in secret and not boastfully. We ask these things in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Go with God!
