“Accused bank robber Thomas Love may want to invest in a typewriter or a computer printer. He was arrested Saturday shortly after he slipped a note to a teller at the WSFS Bank in New Castle, Del., demanding money, but no dye packs, police said. The teller handed him back the note. “After receiving the note, the teller could not decipher what Love had written, and handed it back to him, and asked that he rewrite it so that it could be re-read,” said a news release from the Delaware State Police. Love, either panicked or frustrated, took back his note and left the bank with no money. After he fled, the tellers conferred and determined that it had been a robbery attempt. They called the police and a description of the suspect was given to state troopers and New Castle county police. A police officer located Love and arrested him for attempted robbery. Love was unarmed and no one was injured during the incident” (Christina Ng, ABC News blogs via Yahoo News, 10-12-11).
This story illustrates the need for clear communication. In this case, poor communication had a good result -- the failure a bank robbery. But in the vast majority of cases, a lack of communication causes problems. When people don’t communicate clearly, everyone suffers. Marriages are fractured. Churches are split. Friendships are destroyed. Businesses go under. Nations go to war. The fallout can be devastating and far-reaching.
One who desires to communicate clearly will avoid empty words (Ephesians 5:6, false words (2 Peter 2:3), arrogant words (2 Peter 2:18), and wicked words (3 John 10). To a citizen of God’s kingdom, a “yes” means “yes and a “no” means “no” (Matthew 5:37). To borrow the words of Paul as he dealt with the struggle in Corinth over speaking in tongues: “...unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken?” (1 Corinthians 14:9).
Lord, please help me to communicate clearly in every area of my life.
God loves you!
Mike
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