Biblical Essays
“FIVE WORDS”
(1 Cor. 14:19)
It is often wonderful to consider the way in which the words of Scripture seize upon the heart. They are “as goads and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies.” At times some brief sentence or clause of a sentence will lay hold upon the heart, penetrate the conscience or occupy the mind in such a way as to prove beyond all question the divinity of the book in which it is found. What force of reasoning, fullness of meaning, power of application, unfolding of the springs of nature, unveiling of the heart; what point and pungency, what condensing energy that meets us throughout the sacred pages. One delights to dwell on these things, especially at a moment like the present when the enemy of God and man is seeking in such varied ways to cast a slur on the inspired volume.
The foregoing train of thought has been suggested to the mind by the expression that forms the title of this brief essay. “I had rather,” says the self-emptied and devoted apostle, “speak five words with my understanding, that I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” How important for all speakers to remember this. We know that tongues had their value. They were for a sign to the unbelieving. But in the assembly they were useless unless there was an interpreter.
The grand end of speaking in the assembly is edification, and this end can only be reached by persons understanding what is said. It is impossible for a man to edify if we cannot understand what he says. He must speak in an intelligible language and in an audible voice; else we cannot receive any edification. This is surely plain and worthy of the serious attention of all who speak in public.
Further, we would do well to bear in mind that our only warrant for standing up to speak in the assembly is that the Lord Himself has given us something to say. If it be but “five words,” let us say the five and sit down. Nothing can be more unintelligent than for a man to attempt to speak “ten thousand words” when God has only given him “five.” It is regretful that something like this should so often occur. What a mercy it would be if we could only stay within our measure. That measure may be small. It matters not; let us be simple, earnest and real. An earnest heart is better than a clever head. A fervent spirit is better than an eloquent tongue. Where there is a genuine, hearty desire to promote the real good of souls, it will prove more effective and more acceptable to God than the most brilliant gifts without it. We should earnestly covet the best gifts, but we should also remember the “more excellent way,” even the way of love that always hides itself and seeks only the profit of others. It is not that we value gifts less, but we value love more.
Finally, it would tend to greatly raise the tone of public teaching and preaching to remember the following very simple rule, “Do not set about looking for something to say because we have to speak, but speak because we have something that needs to be said.” This is very simple. What a poor situation – a man merely collecting matter; as much as needed to fill up a certain space of time. This should never be. Let the teacher or preacher attend diligently on his ministry. Let him cultivate his gift; let him wait on God for guidance, power and blessing; let him live in the spirit of prayer and breathe the atmosphere of Scripture. Then, and only then, he will always be ready for the Master’s use. Then, and only then, his words, whether “five” or “ten thousand,” will glorify Christ and do good to men. But in no case should a man rise to address his fellows without the conviction that God has given him something to say and the desire to say it for edification.
