A few years ago I had the privilege of participating in a short term medical mission trip to Honduras. Not having medical training I could only be useful as a go-fer. When the doctors and nurses needed something - I would go fer it. When I wasn't needed for this chore I was able to spend time with the people of that country and their children. I did not speak their language and when I wanted to communicate with them I needed an interpreter. Playing with the children was fun and teaching them an American game was amusing. We struggled to understand one another as there was not always an interpreter available.
I would use pantomime to instruct the children on the rules of a game. It became apparent to me I needed to speak the same language if I was going to teach them a game. It would be necessary for me to speak so they could understand me if I wanted to have a relationship with them. I also learned how much they respected my efforts to speak their tongue, how much more willing they were to listen.
That is exactly the lesson Paul is teaching us today, and the Corinthian people in his day. When we speak in a foreign language no one will understand us without a translator. We will only be the entertainment and not the messenger.
No comments:
Post a Comment