Patient Persuasion
How does God instruct us to use persuasion?
Verse of the Day
“Patience can persuade a prince, and soft speech can break bones.”
Today’s Devotional
Have you ever heard of a man named William Wilberforce?
William Wilberforce lived a life that embodied the lesson of today’s verse. With patience and gentle speech, he persuaded a nation to end slavery. He was a British politician who entered the House of Commons in 1780. In 1784 (or 1785), Wilberforce became a Christian. His spiritual advisor was John Newton, who had been a slave trader and the Lord convicted Newton’s heart that this was not the path for him. Due to Newton’s repentance and faith, Wilberforce accepted Jesus and his Savior. In 1787, Wilberforce began to use his political position to try to end slavery in England and its territories. He is described as eloquent and tireless in his efforts to release his fellow man from slavery.
As I researched his life, I noticed that he was able to enlist colleagues that were normally in opposition to him on other issues to support his efforts in ending slavery. Wilberforce did not let “party” or other issues keep him from persuading his colleagues of the importance of antislavery legislation.
Here’s what really stands out to me: Wilberforce began his efforts to end slavery in 1787. Over the years, there were defeats, partial victories, victories in “law” but not in deed, and major setbacks all along the way. Yet he never gave up. Twenty years after he began, a bill was passed in 1807 to abolish the slave trade. While he was encouraged by his success, he did not stop there, because this bill did nothing to free those who were enslaved at the time of the bill’s passing. Eight years after he retired and had passed the abolitionist “torch” to a friend and colleague, slavery was abolished in England in 1833. Wilberforce died three days later. My guess is that he died content in a job well done. He lived and died having the reputation of being a kind and gentle man who was passionate about freeing his fellow man from slavery.
When we read this wisdom from Proverbs, that patience and gentle words will be effective with people in authority (or anyone, for that matter), the problem tends to be that our instinctive reactions do not align with the wisdom being taught. An article from letgodbetrue.com says, “Can you win a person in authority? Gentleness will overcome power. What works best with a hard or angry person? Submissive yielding will defuse revenge. Here is precious wisdom to be successful in relationships. Instinctive responses will seldom work. [People] are moved more by patient reverence than by bold debate. Though your cause might be important and right, wisdom calls for careful and respectful appeals. The world teaches the opposite of this wisdom, and the results are horrible. Demanding your way and expecting an authority to consider your opinions or demands is proud rebellion and creates bitterness.”
We see biblical examples of this wisdom in how David dealt with King Saul. (1 Samuel 24 and 26) My personal favorite example of today’s verse is in 1 Samuel 25, where Abigail diffuses a potentially deadly situation created by her husband Nabal. Abigail chose to come to David with gifts of food and drink, she humbled herself before David, she took the responsibility for the situation (which her husband had created), and she apologized. She didn’t scream and yell at her husband for the (foolish) way he treated David. She actively sought peace. Her words to David were humble and respectful. And she succeeded in her efforts.
Patience in these kinds of situations must surely come from God. This seems like all the more reason to seek Him first. Wilberforce surely would have given up if he were not continually leaning on the God who saved him. Abigail would not have had the wisdom to diffuse a situation created by her impulsive, angry husband if she were not seeking God’s counsel. May we be people who patiently and persistently seek God, who as a result will teach us how to use soft speech and patience to release His Kingdom in our world.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
How has God’s patience with you changed your life?
How effective have you been when you were demanding versus when you were gentle?
When and how have you been persuaded? What worked and what didn’t?
How can you seek God first today?
How and where do you need God’s wisdom for how to be more patient and gentle?