The inventions of man in recent years are truly fantastic. We read in our daily papers about man-male satellites and space ships and people are considering trips to the moon with no more misgivings than they experience when contemplating an ocean voyage to the “new world” a few centuries ago.
No matter how wonderful these modern inventions seem to us, they come as no surprise to God who knows the end from the beginning and who has gone on record thousands of years ago that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God”. (1 Cor. 3:19).
The inspired word also tells us “The fool (foolish one) hath said in his heart, there is no God,” and we now hear of Russian scientists who feel they have proved that there is no God and there are no angels because Russian satellites have not encountered any in their tries through outer space.
Many men feel very confident of their own ability and think they have no need for God. Indeed, in some circles, religion has been described as a sedative for the masses.
Into this inhospitable atmosphere we are told to go and preach the gospel and to pit the power of words against the lure of the achievements of men, which seem to border on the miraculous. It is small wonder that the method God has chosen is called “the foolishness of preaching” for it surely must seem a foolish and ineffectual thing to those who are not interested. There is good reason, however, for this choice of method. The gospel is to be spread in this way “so that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (I Cor. 1:29).
We are not to work for our own glory, but for the glory of God. Everything that we do or say should have this end in view. You will recall the well-known passage in Matthew, “let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, And glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”
So, also, in our preaching, it is only fitting that we should do all to the glory of God, for without Him our words would be sterile and fall to the ground, producing no result. We may “plant” and “water”, but it is God who gives the “increase”.
Words, properly used, can be powerful things. Jesus, the greatest teacher the world has ever known, depended largely on words as evidenced by Peter’s reply when some of his disciples turned away from Him, and He said to the twelve, “Will ye also go away?” Recognizing that, even though they were not always pleased with His words, they were the only means of becoming wise in the way of salvation, Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6: 66-68).
Peter, on another occasion, was told to preach to Cornelius who had been warned from God by a holy angel to send for Peter and “to hear Words of him” (Acts 10: 22).
Any effort of ours which is to be blessed by God needs to be the very best we can do. We not only need to understand the gospel message, but we must be able to put it into words that our listeners can comprehend. ” … unless ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be understood what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air” (1 Cor. 14:9), We are all familiar with the history of the tower of Babel and the confusion that resulted when men could no longer understand the words spoken by others. It is not the eloquence of the speaker, but the clarity of the message, that is important. “If I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.” (1 Cor: 14: 11).
Let us, therefore, seek out the truth from the Scriptures and also be able to use the proper words to convey our meaning to those who have a willing ear. We must ” . . . be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
A thorough, comprehensive knowledge of the Scripture is a necessary background, because we can’t tell what we don’t know, and we can’t tell it well enough until we know it well. Just to recognize things when we hear them is not enough.
Since words are the means God has chosen for us to use in spreading the knowledge of the gospel of salvation, let us learn to be skillful in their use and gain every advantage we can by handling them properly.
There is an added inducement to be effectual in our efforts to preach for “they that turn many to righteousness (shall shine) as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). Freely ye have received, freely give.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One