PRESS SEND OR DIAL O?
"How much will this cost me?" Those who choose to be wise should answer such a question before buying things or acting on things. Jesus taught that if a person desires to follow the Lord, then they must be willing to hate father, mother, wife, children, brethren and even their own life (Luke 14:26). Jesus wanted us to get the truth that we can love no one or nothing more than we love Him. When a person thinks about becoming a Christian, much thought needs to be given to the idea that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Grow in my love for God to such a degree that nothing will take His place in my heart (I Peter 3:15).
What we try to explain to the world of unbelievers is that when one loves God, it leads to a deeper love for those around us. A husband learns to love his wife in the same manner in which Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). A wife learns how to reverence or be in respect of her husband (verse 33). Children who make that decision to follow Jesus learn, likewise, to honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1,2). Brethren within the church practice kindness toward one another because we develop a heart that is tender (Ephesians 4:32). We forgive one another because Christ has forgiven us, when we obeyed Him.
Jesus used this example. When a man wants to build a tower, what is the first thing he does? He sits down and counts the cost (Luke 14:28). In this early stage of evaluation he decides, do I have enough money to do this? In short, he is asking himself, can I afford this or how much will this cost me? Physical matters require good business sense. You cannot spend more than what you take in. Abraham Lincoln stated, "you cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift". Even though our present world revolves very much around credit, wise people still consider, can I afford this?
What about spiritual matters? The passage in Luke 14 is not about building buildings but rather building lives. Jesus used this example because He had just addressed the truth about bearing the cross and following Him (verse 27). The building of the tower then points to a person looking at the call of the gospel and then making a decision. Can I afford this? Better still, can I afford to reject the offer of Jesus the Christ? For the most part our decisions are made in what is in our own best interest. Oh, I might want to drive that brand new car but if I cannot at this time afford it, then I make a decision based on what is in my best interest and say "no". What then is in my best interest in terms of the call of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Let us say, for example, that you have a problem with a brother in the brotherhood. Here are your choices. You sit down in front of your computer and you slander his name about something you heard about him. You finish your letter, and here is one option you have. You hit the "send" button and the letter goes out into "cyber-space" to be grabbed by whoever has access. That is one option. A second option is that you take your phone and dial "O". A voice will come on the line and ask you how they can help you. You tell them you want, "directory assistance". Once you get directory assistance you give them the name of a city and the name of the person you wish to talk to.
Having secured the name, you pick up the phone and call the brother whom you have a problem with. You can tell him what you heard and then he has an opportunity to explain his words or actions. Which is more costly? In terms of dollars and cents, getting directory assistance is more costly. However, in the matter of souls and the names of good brethren being slandered, hitting “send” is far more costly. At the heart of such problems, the example by Jesus is appropriate. Why do we not ask, what am I trying to build or better yet, what am I trying to tear down? If I am to follow the Lord, I can love no family member or friend more than I love Jesus.
If I love Jesus however, it only deepens my love for those around me. Because of such love we need to spend more timing looking into the perfect law of liberty before we hit the "send" button (James 1:25). Slander by definition is the utterance in the presence of another person of a false statement or statements, damaging to a third person’s character or reputation. Send or dial O, which will it be?