Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

August 20, 2019

by Pastor Hawtree

BIBLE READING: I Corinthians 14

19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

I love the principle that the apostle Paul teaches in this chapter. I am not going to even get into the whole “tongues” issue and debate. That would just take too long to discuss. What I do want to point out is a wonderful principal and the basis of what Paul is teaching. While Paul was discussing the subject of speaking in unknown tongues, Paul shares the truth that each of us need to take to heart:

“I had rather speak five words with my understanding…….. than ten thousand words in and unknown tongue”.

Paul says that it would be better to use less words and have a person understand the truth, than to use many impressive words, and the person not learn a thing. Having grown up in church my entire life, and almost being in church every night of my life, I have heard many preachers over the years. I have heard many that used impressive, lengthy words as they bored to death and confused those who were listening. But I have heard many preachers that may not have been the most educated or deep, but who taught God‘s Word with simplicity and made it so understandable. Those are the preachers not only that I remember, but that impacted my life.

Now if anybody knows me, they know that I love to dig into God‘s Word. It excites me, but I always strive to somehow make understandable what can be confusing. To make simple what can be complicated. I’m not the best at that, and I am trying my hardest to get better, but I would rather use fewer words and have people understand more, than to use more words, and people to understand less.

Sometimes you may think that you cannot witness to others because you don’t have all the answers, and you don’t know everything about biblical subjects, and you don’t want to appear to be dumb, uneducated or unprepared. May I say with the average person, that is not an issue. All they desire is for someone to help them understand the Bible, not to arrogantly beat them over the head with it. Paul was an educated man, but he knew that people would only learn what they are able to understand.