A Nazarene pastor shared how his teenage daughters received frequent chastising from a woman in their church. Her mission? Censoring the dress of the pastors' kids! The holier-than-thou actions and hurtful remarks led to the sisters avoiding the woman whenever possible. In an effort to be "spiritual," she was hurting not only the feelings of the girls by focusing on what she did not like about them, but damaging her relationship with them as well. A day came that changed all of that.

The girls witnessed a sight that left them greatly relieved and amused. Whizzing down the street in broad daylight was the middle-aged, reprimand-giving woman from church, sitting astride her husband's motorcycle, clad in a leather mini-skirt. Such promoters of unsolicited advice mean well, but seem to forget what is appropriate as they tackle corrective measures for everyone around them.

One older gentleman has a standard response for those who have come to him through the years with remarks that begin, "The Lord told me to tell you . . ." He replies, "That's interesting. If God has something to tell me, I'll trust Him to tell me."

The next time we're tempted to take on "corrective" responsibilities that the Lord never intended for us, perhaps we could bring to mind these wise words from Proverbs:

• Proverbs 6:16-19: There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
• Proverbs 10:19: When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
• Proverbs 11:12: A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
• Proverbs 12:18: Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
• Proverbs 15:1: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
• Proverbs 15:4: The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
• Proverbs 25:11: A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Compiled by Carmen J. Ringhiser, former managing editor of Holiness Today.

Please note: All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of original publication but may have since changed.